The cold wind blew across the barren landscape as Caius moved across the expanse. Within his armored suit he couldn't feel the chill but the HUD on the screen in front of his face told him the temperature and he was glad for the power suit's insulation. How his companions dealt with it he'd never know, though he imagined that the fur helped. The five wolves ranged around him in silence, occasionally stopping to sniff the air and change direction. Caius followed their movements, relying on their senses to find their way across the wastes. Even in the aftermath of the desolation visited upon the world by humans the senses of an animal were still as reliable as ever.
Casting his electronically augmented gaze across the horizon he scanned for the sign of whatever it was his canine companions were tracking. There still wasn't anything to be seen across the frozen ground but he trusted their noses. The furthest out of the wolves stopped suddenly, lowering itself to the ground as it gazed forwards intently. The other wolves followed suit, creeping forwards to join their companion as Caius turned his gaze to follow the attention of the wolf. There, sure enough a large elk stood attempting to graze at the grasses beneath the compacted strata.
“Good job.” he murmured to the wolf who had found the prize, ruffling the wolf between the ears.
Standing slowly, Caius drew his bow and an arrow. The nasty winged metal tip was a specially designed head with a hypodermic needle in it. Provided he penetrated the hide of the elk the sedative would do the rest and wear the elk down rapidly, enabling his wolves to run it to ground. Nocking the arrow to the string Caius drew back, his powered armor assisting in the draw and easing the pull. His HUD told him all the information he needed to ensure a strike and he adjusted his aim accordingly.
Taking a breath he released the string and the arrow whistled forwards and sailed across the distance. The wolves noticeably tensed and as the elk kicked and shrieked they were off in pursuit. Cauis replaced his bow to its sheath and began to jog after the wolves as they sprinted towards the wounded elk now running across the hard ground. The chase wouldn't last long, the sedative would bring it to heel and the wolves would take care of the rest.
Keeping his eye on the prize, Caius watched as the wolves rapidly closed the gap and corralled the terrified elk. It reared and threatened to gore them with its antlers but they maintained their distance, waiting for their chance. The elk's movements became increasingly sluggish and that was when one of the wolves darted forwards and clamped its jaws around the elk's throat. It didn't take long for the wolf to bring the sedated elk down and by the time Caius had reached the melee it was over. The wolves had retreated, waiting patiently as Caius cut the hide from the elk and removed the antlers. Finally he took a few choice selections of meat. When he was finished he stepped away and allowed the wolves to close in for their share.
They always waited for him to finish but he didn't like to make them wait. The longer he took the more antsy they became and he didn't want to tempt their instincts overmuch. While the pack feasted he vacuum sealed the meat he'd taken for himself as well as the hide, placing them in the backpack that he carried on the back of his armor. The business side of things handled, Caius looked back to the wolves as they continued to eat their fill. They'd be a little sluggish after ingesting the sedative and would rest for a whie until they'd recovered. Whatever they didn't finish he'd take and treat for later to help sustain the pack during their ongoing trek.
A lot of people out here in the wastes thought he was insane for traveling with these animals but in his own mind he was making use of one of the best tools available to him in this new world that had been forged by human folly.