Crooked Teak

Crooked Teak nodded and stood when Stargazer did. "I look forward to hearing your decision," he told her respectfully. "I hope I've been of some assistance." He dipped his head slightly and turned to walk out of the cave to find Night Hawk. He spotted him fairly easily, though he nearly blended in with the forest. "Night Hawk!" he barked. "You're coming hunting with me." He didn't even bother trying to make it sound like a suggestion.

Seeing Silent Water sitting motionless, Crooked Teak turned his attention to him while he waited for Night Hawk to come over. "If you don't have anything to do," he told Silent Water, "you can make yourself useful by joining us on our hunting trip." He beckoned to Silent Water and scanned the area to see if there were any other wolves loafing about. It seemed that everybody else was busy, as they should be.

Looking at Night Hawk and Silent Water, Crooked Teak sized them up in his mind. It would likely be one of them who became Panshea. Seeing both lazing around camp like helpless pups didn't encourage Crooked Teak much. He hoped whoever was picked would be more motivated as Panshea than they were right now. Without a word to them, Crooked Teak turned to stride into the forest, obviously expecting them to follow.

Crooked Teak

Hawk's Nest came rushing over. Crooked Teak had apparently missed him when looking around for extra wolves. His over-enthusiasm led him to nearly barrel straight into Night Hawk, who by contrast looked like it was some major inconvenience to have to go hunting. Crooked Teak almost smiled at Hawk's Nest, looking down at him. "Yes, Hawk's Nest, you may join us." He gave Night Hawk a judgemental look as though to say, See? This is how you should be - enthusiastic about helping your pack.

Upon being joined by everyone else, Crooked Teak took off for the woods, keeping the pace quick despite knowing it might be hard for Hawk's Nest to keep up. He always pushed Hawk's Nest to better himself. He spotted the deer a moment after Night Hawk, and had already opened his mouth to give orders when Night Hawk started talking. Crooked Teak flattened his ears and growled under his breath as Night Hawk gave orders. This was the problem with hunting alone. You tended to forget that the pack hierarchy still stood out in the woods. This wasn't exactly how Crooked Teak would have handled it. He was a traditional hunter: he tended to keep the pack together and target sick or elderly animals. But he knew many of the pack liked to show off their prowess, and he wasn't about be one-upped.

"Remember your place," he snapped at Night Hawk quietly before beckoning Hawk's Nest. He hung back slightly, wanting to let Hawk's Nest do most of the hunting so that he could learn a bit, but before they could even get close enough to pounce, a yelp rang out through the forest. It sounded like one of their packmates. The stag and doe perked up their heads. There was still a chance to get them, but the safety of their packmates always came first, especially after what had just happened. "Night Hawk, Silent Water!" Crooked Teak called to them, starting to bound in the direction that the yelp had come from.

Making sure everyone was behind him, he slowed as he saw Raven Shadow sitting on the ground. "What happened?" he asked her immediately, looking her over to make sure she wasn't hurt. She seemed to be rather scratched up, but it didn't look like she'd been attacked. Crooked Teak was tempted to ask what she was doing hunting alone again, but refrained.