Winter Wonderland

Winter was hard and long even on the islands where, rationally, it should not be. But like many other things on the islands, they were there anyway. These times were the hardest on the creatures who lived there; food was rare and often withered for herbivores, which then caused the carnivores to struggle as the cold and frost made it hard for some to even leave their den. In general, it was thought of as a miserable time where many did not survive to the snow melt. However, not all across the islands had this problem- some creatures were meant for the snow.

Hooved tracks in the fresh snow made tracking easy. A large elk, a creature non-native to the island with its ancestors likely brought over as exotic pet before they were abandoned to the wild. This creature was made for the cold, and with its large size and huge antlers would have been a match for most modern carnivores who could keep up. However, modern carnivores were not the threat it was facing.

In the frosted woods, two apex carnivores lurked. One was pale as snow itself, darker brown markings and spikes along his back helping him blend in amongst the trees. A lashing tail was still, making as little sound as possible as the snow muffled his footsteps forward. Close by was a second carnivore, fluffy feathers adding extra protection from the cold. This was a female of the species; she was a mottled brown with striking grey and white markings. Both of the pair had large rosette markings over all else- striking and intimidating. 

The elk had no clue what was coming until it was too late. At some invisible cue it burst forward into a sprint, but the albertosaurus were close. Too close for it to escape.

With a burst of speed Boreal was the first to break the treeline, teeth digging into the back leg of the elk and stopping it in its tracks. With a shriek the herbivore bucked, trying to lash out with its sharp hooves, but Glory got there first, digging her teeth into its neck and dragging it down beneath the weight of two carnivores.

The fight did not last any longer. Boreal raised his head, shaking it slightly as he licked his teeth. The pair had not had a meal nearly as good as this for a while, and had grown thinner even with how much they tended to thrive during the winter compared to others on the islands. 

Glory had already dug into the meal, sharp teeth slicing through bone and flesh alike in order to consume as much as possible as quickly as possible. The scent of blood would quickly attract other carnivores and while the pair were strong and confident, it was best to not risk anything in such a time. Letting out a low grumble, Glory nudged against the distracted Boreal, offering him a chunk of their meal. Boreal let out a soft huff, gently taking the offered food as they gently brushed snouts. Despite the risk and the fact that adrenaline was wearing off, this was a tender moment for them. They continued eating, quickly stripping the flesh from the bones and consuming all but the largest of them. Boreal was especially invested in the antlers- holding one in his mouth, he chewed on it for a moment before letting out a satisfied huff. 

A nearby howl split the air, and the two finally rose- there was not much left from their kill, but there was plenty left for the scavengers to scavenge. Bellies full and warm for the first time in the week with the satisfaction of a good hunt, the two carnivores felt more playful then they had in a while as they made their way back to the den. Letting out a soft hiss Glory nipped at the tail of Boreal, before quickly darting off once he turned to look back her way. It was a race and it was on. 

Despite Boreal usually being the faster of the two, the race was made even by the antler he held in his jaws. Together the two but frighteningly swift carnivores raced through the trees, dodging and weaving around branches and trees together. 

As usual, it was Boreal who won as he reached their densite first. The two had made their territory in a densely wooded area that lead into a cave that was just big enough for the two of them to live comfortably. The cave was well loved, piles of bedding made from Glory’s feathers and various scraps of other animal pelt and bone. Huffing softly Boreal placed the antler on the ground, while Glory moved to the corner of the den furthest from the entrance and started to scrape at the ground. The soil in that corner was soft and sandy, and they had made sure to gather extra pelts around it to both hold in heat and hide the precious cargo underneath the sand. 

After a moment Glory backed away to reveal a small clutch of eggs in the soft sand, surrounded by a pile of soft feathers from Glory herself. Gently lowering her head, Glory nosed the eggs in concern. Eggs laid during the winter were at a much higher risk than eggs laid during the warmer seasons because of the cold and increase in predators. Going hunting together had been a risky gamble, but it had paid off well and now they would not have to leave for several days. The eggs would hatch around the start of spring, meaning it would at least be easier to support their growing family in the coming weeks. 

Boreal joined Glory at the ends, gently reaching down to brush against them with his own nose. Letting out a low croon he nuzzled against Glory, the two rubbing their crests together gently as they brooded their eggs. Soon their hatchlings would be here, and things would change. But for now, everything was calm- even in the winter.