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Caine and Malkav knew the woods like the underside of their hooves and paws. They had searched through every inch of it at some point or another. They made a good team, hunting together. Caine would drink the blood of the victims and his companion would dispose of the rest.

In fact, they were on a hunt at the moment. Malkav had caught the scent of something unusual. If it was enough to make the wolf curious, then it was enough for the large, pale stallion at his side. Perhaps the two would chance themselves upon a meal. Caine was growing tired of stealing vegetables and fruits from the villagers. While he needed to eat real food to survive, he always craved the bittersweet taste of blood. Hell, if he could drink that over water, he would. He hated the taste of water, or rather, the lackthereof.

Malkav increased his pace so Caine knew they were getting close to the cause of the scent and before long a shape started to form beneath a tree. Caine couldn't quite make it out just yet but as he neared closer he could tell that it was a basket. It was the kind of basket that sheltered young soquilis.

Was it empty? Why else would it be left out here alone? Malkav dashed forward and circled the basket, sniffing and wagging his tail. "Something's inside," he growled happily, "I can smell it. It smells so good. Strange.. really strange.. but good."

Caine could smell it too. He wasn't sure he shared his friend's opinion. He had been around enough soquili to have an idea of what they smelled like and this was something new to him. Something he couldn't quite grasp. The little instinctive alarm in his head went off and he became wary of the basket. Still.. whatever was inside was young right? Ripe for the picking? Not like it could fight back.. and everything bled.

Caine turned at the noise. At first he was going to ignore the creature that had made the sound as certainly, he had killed many many like it in these very woods. However, he could sense that this was no ordinary creature. It had unusual markings upon its back. "What do you think, Malkav," Caine asked his wolf companion who had stopped to stare as well.

"Interesting," he replied, "Be on your guard." The little wolf took a step forward and howled back into the wind. "We found this meal first, mate, it would serve you well to be on your way. There's no need for trouble." Normally the wolf would more than welcome an extra meal or enjoy a good fight, but something was really strange about the creature before him. Almost unnatural. The scent was vaguely familiar as well and he found himself glancing once more at the basket. "Maybe that's the mother, Caine," he whispered, "they smell similar."

Mother? It wasn't possible was it? That was a soquili basket after all. Caine might spend a lot of his time away from others like him but he certainly knew what this basket was. It wasn't possible for an animal to be a parent. Unless of course... the animal had its liter IN the basket. That was certainly a possibility he hadn't thought of. He wasn't prepared to give up this meal, mother or not.

"If she knows whats best for her, she'd leave," Caine replied. She could always have more babies if she lived. There was no reason for her to have to die today as well, besides, he would be a shame to have to kill such a beautiful creature. He had an affinity for creatures with white pelts or coats.

Malkav, however, was unsure. He sensed something really strange in the creature. Something that Caine probably could not understand as well as he. A part of him wanted to nudge the basket forth and be on his way but he was hungry.. and he could almost taste the meal that sat nearby. His mouth started to drool at the very thought of it. It had been too long.

Once again, Malkav found himself wanting to do just that. He wanted to move. He wanted to be gone from this creature as fast as possible. He continued to sense something darker in her. Something strange. He had no clue what it was but it was bad. Really bad, and while the wolf and soquili made a damn good team, they were not immune against death. And that's what he saw in the creatures eyes. He saw death and he didn't like it.

"I think we should respect her wishes, Caine," the wolf agreed. He stayed between the creature and Caine, attempting to protect the soquili as much as possible. He owed Caine that much for sparing his life and giving him a home.

Caine, of course, had other ideas. While the creature was hostile and he too, had sensed something strange, she was smaller than him. She was outnumbered. Sure, she had teeth and claws but so did Malkav. The stallion was not defenseless either. He had mighty hooves and a horn that had seen its fair share of blood. It wanted to see more. It was what kept him rooted in this spot. It had been too long since he had tasted it. He was sick of water. Sick of vegetables, grass, trying to scavenge around for food. While it filled that hunger pain, it did not appease that craving. He needed blood.

"It is you who should move," the stallion finally replied, "Make new babies. If you're good.. perhaps we'll spare one of them in this basket. Depends on how many you've had, I guess. We aren't above compromise."