Jigano snorted - but softly - to clear his senses as he perked his ears towards the hunt ahead. It was strange to be hunting in a herbivore's body; the instincts were all wrong, but he still had a fox's heart hidden within that plant-eater's chest, and he tossed his head (careful to keep the jewel firmly tucked in his lip) as Aisha went prowling around the long way to the cover of the trees.
He'd been keeping an eye on this group, talked to Rory about them, concerned that they might come too close to the farm and stir up the dogs. Fierce and loyal as the dogs were, they weren't boarhounds. They'd get hurt or worse trying to chase the wild pigs, gored or trampled by the bristly beasts. There were no piglets in winter to worry about, but the big males could be unpredictable, and this trio were trouble waiting to happen.
Aisha was lucky in her approach, padded feet silent atop the snow, and body held low enough to the ground that the piggy eyes of the foraging group missed the brief flashes of gold over the drifts as she moved behind them and into position. Isuma flew overhead, sharing images of what she saw with her companion as they planned their assault, and once she saw Aisha had found a good place to wait she signaled Jigano.
The horse set his head down and bunched powerful muscles, charging through the snow drifts - leaping more than running, a jerky, violent motion as he plowed towards the wild pigs. They were unprepared for such a surprise, and the two females turned to flee, running on short legs towards Aisha's hiding place.
The male, unfortunately, froze a moment in surprise, then turned and let out an oinking bellow, charging straight for Jigano's slender legs.
He'd been keeping an eye on this group, talked to Rory about them, concerned that they might come too close to the farm and stir up the dogs. Fierce and loyal as the dogs were, they weren't boarhounds. They'd get hurt or worse trying to chase the wild pigs, gored or trampled by the bristly beasts. There were no piglets in winter to worry about, but the big males could be unpredictable, and this trio were trouble waiting to happen.
Aisha was lucky in her approach, padded feet silent atop the snow, and body held low enough to the ground that the piggy eyes of the foraging group missed the brief flashes of gold over the drifts as she moved behind them and into position. Isuma flew overhead, sharing images of what she saw with her companion as they planned their assault, and once she saw Aisha had found a good place to wait she signaled Jigano.
The horse set his head down and bunched powerful muscles, charging through the snow drifts - leaping more than running, a jerky, violent motion as he plowed towards the wild pigs. They were unprepared for such a surprise, and the two females turned to flee, running on short legs towards Aisha's hiding place.
The male, unfortunately, froze a moment in surprise, then turned and let out an oinking bellow, charging straight for Jigano's slender legs.
