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Timul and Lio signed silently to one another as they approached the bend in the clearing, their breathing slow and controlled in stark contrast to the rapid beating of their hearts within their chests. With their awareness expanded and senses on full alert, the land hummed with activity: an occasional leaf twirling its descent from above, the faint babbling of water in the distance, or the skittering of rodents through the undergrowth. Lio felt his ears give a faint twitch as he accidentally crunched some small leaves beneath his toes. Timul snapped his head back at the sound too, and flashed his brother a reassuring smile when he caught Lio's evident embarrassment. Timul's hands flashed in front of him with quick, clear motions. It's ok Lio. It happens sometimes. Stay focused. Listen. Smell. See. Feel._Lio nodded and the tension left his body from his mistake as he answered in kind. _Thank you Timul. I will give my best.

They quickly settled back into the rhythmic pace of the hunt, trudging as silently as they could across the leaf-strewn expanse, both being careful to avoid the larger clumps of naturally piled leaves and stick to the outskirts of the main path. They shielded themselves from full view by blending into the multicolored backdrop behind them. With the rut well underway, this was a great opportunity to bring something back for the family. The sky was mostly clear for now, but a formidable ridge of heavy clouds was starting to billow over the tops of the distant mountainpeaks. Lio was studying his brother's near-perfectly silent footfalls in front of him when Timul abruptly halted mid-step. Lio watched the tip of his brother's tail slide slowly across his knees while his own bony stump wiggled against his tail-flap seeing the young buck standing in the clearing ahead, sniffing at the grass intermittently as it slowly walked away from the two.

With steady hands, Timul drew an arrow from the quiver at his back and readied his bow, keeping his eye on the buck ahead for an opportunity. Lio moved close beside him and pointed at a tall tree a short distance away. I'll move there. In case he doesn't turn. Better shot. Timul gave a grin and nodded, silently mouthing "I trust you."

Lio moved cautiously away thanking the spirits when the buck chose to stop its progress away. He imagined his brother's footsteps with each of his, moving silently with his body sunk down in a low crouch. Lio allowed his hands to drop to the earth, and continued forward on all fours. The drumming of his pounding heart intensified from the mass of nervous excitement nestled in his chest as he neared the tree. Waves of familiar warmth started to roll over him, and not long after sparse fur began sprouting in scattered clumps across most of his body. His tail lengthened further into a young brush, and Lio held his place as the warmth grew in his face. But Lio closed his eyes and focused his breath, digging his fingers slightly into the giving earth to hold back the call to change completely. If we need to track this one, then I'll finish changing.

He shook the lingering warmth from his face as he stood back up on now mixed feet, and spied the buck still in the clearing, its head pointing near the direction where Timul was still hidden among the brush. Lio recognized the opportunity and drew an arrow from his quiver, an arrow he himself had made he thought. Your life shall go to sustain ours, a family who calls this land home with you. I thank you for your many gifts you bring into our lives. Your spirit shall live on as your body returns to the earth. Lio readied his bow, carefully lined up his shot, and then let his arrow fly with a hard _thwunk_heard a second later.

The buck hitched once, twice, then raced off through the piles of leaves in the distance. Lio's ears twitched as his racing grew faint, then stopped entirely. Timul must have heard the same as he appeared from his hiding spot, and the two raced towards each other, crashing into each other's arms. They laughed and wooped in celebration as Timul gave Lio a big squeeze, taking the breath out of him. Timul overlapped his brother's hands in his, and flashed him a smile of immense pride, admiration, and thankfulness.

"You did great Lio. That was very clean." Timul added as he pressed his forehead to Lio's. Lio beamed a toothy smile, then snuggled into his brother's chest and neck, growling tenderly to his older brother.

"We did it together brother. It wasn't just me."

Timul rumbled a pleased growl in return, then hugged Lio a little tighter as he brushed his fingers through the thin fur at his neck, looking off in the direction of the fallen deer, knowing they had both done well by the land and by each other.