[Trade] Having a Cow

                Everyone knew the chances of surviving to adulthood without parents in the isles. Hatchlings left on their own wouldn’t survive more than a few hours and juveniles a few days to a week. Adolescents though? There was hope, especially for those that had already found themselves in a good, supportive, friend group. Or who had their siblings to rely on.

                Pink still wasn’t sure what category the two brothers fit into. Surely they had not been abandoned as hatchlings. They were far too healthy for that. But maybe it was right as they reached the time they were considered juveniles? The two had gotten into quite a lot of arguments that she never remembered them getting into when they were younger.

                And now, as adolescents, Pink had no doubt Riptide and Waverunner would grow into fine men. After the last fight, that major blow up where she had stepped in to comfort Wave, things had started to settle down. Waverunner had gone back to himself, happy as ever and a free spirit. All while Riptide had stopped channeling his concern into anger that came out in bursts towards his brother. Whenever his concern became too much, Rip would seek Pink out and talk.

                He would lay out all his worries, concerns, and allow himself to be vulnerable so long as it was just himself and her. Pink was happy to see it. She never needed to say much, thankfully, she just needed to be an ear for Riptide to vent to. Occasionally she would give him advice, or what she thought he should do, but she figured he wasn’t always looking for solutions. Just someone who wasn’t his brother to talk to.

                As winter came in full force, Pink had started to grow concerned for the boys again. While she had a cave that she shared with her father, she wasn’t sure where the brothers were. Her father was a full grown, aggressive, Cryo who had years of life under his belt that gave him the knowledge of where to find food in the cold months. But the brothers?

                The thoughts plagued her as she laid at the entrance of the cave she and her father were resting in. She could hear the bones crunching from the older male as he ripped into the carcass of the deer they had hunted earlier. Outside snow was falling, peacefully drifting down and deadening the sounds of local wildlife. It was serene and comforting, but only to those with a warm home and a full stomach. She’d go out and find the brothers the next day, make sure they were okay.

                Pink didn’t sleep well that night. And by the time the sun rose the following day, she had already been up an hour or two but had just been laying around and trying to rest. She informed her father where she was going and when she thought she would be back before setting out.

                The snow had stopped sometime in the night, but there was still a good foot or two on the ground. She hoped that when she got out of the mountains there wouldn’t be as much, and even less by the time she got to the beach where the two frequented. Thankfully, her silent prayers were met. The grasslands around the highlands she called home only had a few inches of snow. And as she got to the beach there was nothing but a small dusting of snow.

                She stopped there, on the beach and looked around. The waves were calm, the ocean looking like solid glass in the midday sun. There was just a small bite of cold in the air, but otherwise it didn’t seem quite so bad. She didn’t need to worry about the brothers having to deal with snow and the cold it brought. But as she turned her head and spotted Waverunner, she had other concerns.

                “My dude!” Wave called, a stupid smile plastered across his gaunt face as he trotted over to her.

                Pink smiled. There was almost nothing that could make that Cryo sad, and it amused her to no end. Even with how small he looked. She could see his bones protruding here and there, but he still moved with a quickness that was unlike something she’d see from someone so starved.

                “What are you doing out here?” Riptide asked, making Pink flick her head to her other side where the other Cryo was making his way over to her. He was not as skinny as his brother, but there was far less muscle on him. His tail not quite as thick as it should have been and his skull was far slimmer than she’d ever seen it.

                “I came to see you both. The snowstorm had me concerned. That and I haven’t seen you both in quite a while. You both are way bigger than what I remember you being. When was the last time you ate?” Pink replied and cocked her head quizzically to the side as she eyed the pair.

                Waverunner moved to stand beside his brother then sat down and tilted his head up as he thought. Pink could almost hear his stomach growling at the sheer thought of their last meal.

                “A week ago, I think? We had a fish that washed up! Bro! It tasted so good! Like…so good!” Waverunner said excitedly after a moment and looked back over at her.

                Pink narrowed her eyes a bit as she heard when their last meal was and then looked to Riptide. He confirmed the information with a nod.

                “Have you hunted anything? Or tried to?” Pink asked.

                “We were on our way out when we picked up on your scent. There’s a herd of cows not far. But. Well, we were going to take our chances to try and get one.” Rip said and carefully lowered himself into a sitting position as well.

                She could hear it in his tone. A cow would’ve been a meal they sorely needed, but bringing one down in their state would be next to impossible. Riptide sounded as if he knew that full well, but didn’t want to bring it up blatantly and have his brother worry. Wave would be the one that would talk them out of hunting if he so much as thought Riptide would get hurt. Which was damn near a guarantee given their current state. But with her there…

                “Come on. Let’s go check out these cows, then. I’d be happy to lend a hand.” Pink said and motioned for the brothers to lead the way.

                Riptide took the lead, she and Waverunner following after him as the group trekked back through the forest and then to the plains. They stopped in a small outcropping of trees and crouched down, Riptide pointing in the distance. Pink made her way closer, carefully creeping up right next to him and looked out to where he pointed. She spotted the black blobs of the cows in the distance, bedded down in the field and were all relatively close together where they lay. Rip then nudged Pink, getting her attention back on him as he motioned to the trees they were in and then around the area to where the cows were.

                She didn’t need words to know he wanted to get closer, sticking to the trees so they could sneak up on the cows. Pink gave a quick nod and the group set off again. This time slower, making their way quietly through the woodland. And after what felt like ages, they had gotten close enough to the cows that she could see them in detail and knew there would’ve been no way for the two to bring down one.

                The cows were well fed, healthy. One would’ve even been a challenge for her. But with the three of them, there was hope.

                “The one closest to us, we need to separate it from the group. I’ll get on top and try to go for the kill and you two keep at its feet so we can all try and bring it down. That way we’re not running after it for very long. Sound like a plan?” Pink whispered and looked at the brothers. They listened and both gave a nod.

                “Let’s go. I’m starved.” Riptide said, getting back onto his feet slowly and before Pink could give any sort of signal, Rip was gone.

                He let out a roar as he broke from the trees, making the herd of bovines look over and scramble to their feet in a panic. Waverunner went out next, calling aggressively as well as he rounded on the cow that was closest to them. Cows had started to scatter, a few had turned and were charging at Riptide just as Pink ran from the trees as well. Waverunner circle around their target before she could get back to the rest of the herd, thankful she wasn’t the type that seemed to want to fight.

                Pink darted over and launched herself up into the air, landing heavily on top of the cow as it bellowed in fear before running off. She bite down at its neck quickly, eyes darting around to try and find the brothers and was happy to see Waverunner biting at the heels of the cow as they steered it away from the herd. It took a moment longer before she saw Riptide, still by the rest of the herd but was running the opposite direction of them with a few of the more aggressive cows after him.

                She lost track of him after a moment, but her focus was quickly brought back to the cow she was on.

                Waverunner had managed to latch onto its back foot, biting down hard and tripped it just as it kicked back at him, its hoof smacking the side of his head as they all fell to the ground. Pink and Waverunner scuffled for a few minutes, Pink happy the male hadn’t been knocked out from the force of the kick and was still pulling the cow leg behind it to keep it from getting back up. Pink quickly readjusted herself, getting on top again and brought her mouth to the neck of the beast, biting hard and refusing to let go as it thrashed.

                Before long it fell still. She kept the hold for a few more minutes before finally letting go just enough to rip at its neck to make it bleed out so they could be sure it was dead. The last thing they wanted was to be tired and resting and then have the cow get up and run off when they were too tired to go after it.

                With a loud huff, she slid off the cow and plopped onto the ground beside Waverunner and glanced over at him to see the extent of his wounds.

                “That’s gonna leave a mark. It, like, kinda sucks a lot.” Wave muttered and turned to face her.

                Pink cringed at the sight, his left eye already swollen up and closed, that whole left side of his face bruising, “You feel okay though, otherwise?”

                “Yeah. Just really hurts. But where is-“ Waverunner had started to say and turned to look for his brother.

                “I’m right here. You look like shit. You went for a back foot, did you?” Riptide asked, coming out from the treeline nearby and glanced Wave over as he sat down with the two.

                “Yeah. I know you said don’t ever go for the back feet, but I couldn’t get to the front.” Wave replied and frowned.

                “It’s fine. You both did incredible! Look at this. Just the two of you brought this down. Get something to eat, go on.” Rip said and smiled, going to nudge Waverunner.

                Pink and Riptide watched as Wave didn’t even question it, turning back to the cow and started to rip into it happily. She smiled, happy to see that not only was Wave going to get the food he needed, but at the fact of what they’d just done. An entire, full grown, cow had been hunted. If they had all been healthy, maybe it would’ve been easier. But with the state the boys were in, Pink had started to severely worry about not just bringing the prey down, but how badly the two would be hurt.

                “Well. You did good, too. Don’t forget that. Without you we would’ve had a bunch of angry cows all over us, trying to fight.” Pink said and smiled over at Riptide as she moved closer to get something to eat as well.

                “I do what I can. Thank you for the help, Pink. None of this would’ve been possible without you. I want you to know that.” Rip said as he stepped up to the carcass as well and tore into it.

                As much as she didn’t want to admit it, Pink knew the truth of the matter. But at least now the boys would make it through the colder days of winter. And even if the carcass didn’t last that long, she knew they would be okay. Together, as a group, the three would be okay.