Four figures made their way through the dense swampy region of L'Hatzif, searching for signs of a wild nukap sounder. Though they'd tracked hoofprints for a ways, the prints had disappeared when the group encountered a particularly wet area where the waters completely covered the ground. As it was, they walked through ankle deep water, forced to use other means to track their prey.

Cellex splashed happily in the water. Her shorter legs meant the water was nearly up to her belly, and she could float if she tucked in her limbs. Her tail wiggled as she tossed water with her long nose, enjoying her first trip to L'Hatzif. "Ah! Cold!" Crown shouted in surprise as the water hit her. She had been lost in thought about where to look for the nukaps. Hivoo waded over and pressed a tail across Cellex. The younger tsab had wanted to come along so badly, but now she was worried it may have been a bad idea. Zubin too waded over. "We have to be quiet guys! The nukaps might hear us coming, and then it'll be all over for us. Cel, your tail is magnificent! You're incredible at swimming! Do you think you could swim as Silently as possible down that way" and the blue tsab gestured away towards the deeper areas of the water. "And scout ahead for us?"

Cellex excitedly nodded her head, making little ripples through the water. Zubin smiled at her and continued. "Remember, don't make a sound, and don't leave the water. Swim back and tell us if you see anything, and if you can't see us anymore, you've gone too far!" The salty wriggled away through the water, indeed silently.

"Shouldn't you have sent her that way instead?" Crown piped up, pointing off towards the right, into a dense vegetative area. Hivoo cocked her head, looking into the greenery to try and spot what Crown might be referring to before replying. "I'm not sure I follow. What's that way?" She asked. Crown looked off for a moment before saying "that area has land. And cover for the nukaps. Wouldn't they have gone that way in all likelihood?"

Zubin smiled and shook his head. "I just wanted Cellex to be able to have some fun without hindering us from tracking. If she happens to find something useful then great, but she's just along for fun." Zubin explained. Hivoo jumped in after her dad had finished speaking. "But, actually the nukaps prefer mud and damp, and that way looks relatively dry and full of shrubs. I don't think we'll have much luck that way." Crown nearly pouted for a moment, still convinced her idea was a good one- and indeed it was for other creatures. Nukaps just seemed to be different.

Zubin spoke again. "Actually we will probably do better splitting up a bit. There's too many ways they could've escaped to so how about we all pick the direction we like best and then report back here if we find signs of them." Crown and Hivoo nodded. "Im going to stay along the bank so I can keep an eye on Cellex too." Zubin affirmed, heading towards the left side where the swamp water turned from a massive murky pool to a definitive wide, slow-moving river with banks. The tree and mushroom cover was tall here, but Zubin could already see places along the bank where the cover fell away to reveal swaths of mucky patches leading off into more land region with shrubbery. The waters rose just tall enough that a splash from them could keep the mucky areas damp and appealing for their prey, and might yield a success, despite being close and convenient.

Crown huffed under her breath and started off towards the area she'd pointed out, determined to prove the tsabs wrong. Hivoo looked off to see Cellex still, presumably happily, weaving back and forth across the murky river. Seeing that she was safe, Hivoo waded somewhat deeper into the water to the region where the swamp was still ambiguous murk, but began to have patches of land. It was possible the nukap had splashed through the water and left prints on the tiny islands in the water.

Pushing through the dense overgrowth, Crown kept her eyes peeled for any sign of wildlife activity. Though she looked for prints, tufts of fur, and trampled plants, she found nothing. Hivoo too searched for prints in the small islands, but found nothing. No scent in the air to indicate the nukaps either. Though Zubin looked at the promising wallows, there were no fresh signs of the nukaps- only long cold and empty intentions of where bodies had at some point laid; the smaller impressions in the soft earth, like footprints, had been washed away with time.

Shockingly, Cellex appeared behind Zubin and tapped him on the back hock. The blue tsab jumped in surprise, but quickly recomposed himself once he realized who had poked him. Cellex was excitedly wriggling and pointing down towards the deep water. Zubin followed where she pointed. Though he didn't see anything he, felt she must've found something. "Did you find them?" He whispered excitedly. Cellex licked her lips and nodded in reply. Zubin let out a soft chuckle. "Well then, let's go find the other two and catch some nukap!"

Having had absolutely zero luck and receiving only twigs and leaves stuck in her fur, Crown frustratedly exited the overgrowth to find the tsabs she'd traveled with. She almost hoped they had had the same luck as she so no one could say "I told you so". Zubin spotted the purple Tark'ee wandering back into view and waved to her, beginning to walk that way with Cellex in tow. Hivoo also rejoined the group, giving up on her islands. "What'd you guys find? Nothing?" Crown asked, getting ahead of everyone. Hivoo nodded. "Nothing. No nukaps that way." And she gestured with her tail in the direction she'd come from.

Cellex held her head high as Zubin began to speak. "Actually, Cel found something!" "What?" Crown said, in disbelief. "All the way down there where the deep water is?" Zubin nodded. "Apparently. I say we all go for a little swim and check it out."

Hivoo offered Cellex a fist bump. "Great job kid!" Crown just followed behind the tsabs wondering what had possessed the nukaps to go to the trouble of swimming through deep water. As if reading her mind, Hivoo whispered back to her "actually this makes sense. The sounder knew we were on to them and used the water to mask their strong smell. I bet we'll be able to pick it up again after we get closer."

Indeed, as the hunters drew near, they not only caught glimpses of multicolored nukaps behind a thin cover of bushes, but their pungent smell hit them again. They could all make out a bright red one who seemed to be dozing near the edge of the bush cover. Crown pointed towards the nukap and Hivoo and Zubin nodded. They were ready to strike silently. If the water had disguised the nukaps' smell, there was a good chance it was hiding theirs as well, and they could strike with an advantage. Cellex nearly fully submerged herself, hiding in plain sight, and watched as the older hunters made their hasty swim towards the nukap. Someday soon she'd be able to join them on hunts, but for now she studied their techniques and watched, eager to learn as they took down their prey.