A low rumbled escaped a large mass of black fur as he laid himself upon the grassy earth of the open valley, comfortably settled with a single hefty paw draped over a hare's torn, bloody carcass. The ground and air was cold from the chill of the growing winter, but the beast still nonchalantly began to gorge down on the small catch that he'd managed to obtain. Gradually, in time he chose to lift his head from taking a few vigorous bites of the dead animal, leathery lips and smokey grey muzzle - stained a striking shade of crimson as the male peered around the terrain with burning amber eyes. Neako watched as the breeze influenced the tall-grass to sway, making the vegetation to appear as if it were dancing gently along the outskirts of the land. A smile almost tugged at the corners of his mouth as a sense of calm washed over him as he continued to quietly observe his surroundings. In this moment, all was peaceful.
The smell of fresh blood lingered in the winter air, nose twitching, detecting the many aromas that were swept to his attention, markings of past and recent travelers that had come and gone. He grunted, golden eyes giving a brief examination of the land as the brute allowed a long salmon colored tongue to appear out from his jaws - to quickly lick at his blood tinted muzzle. Once satisfied, the night kissed loner decided to direct his attention back to his meal - lowering his head once more he continued to devour the rest of the minute haul and it hadn't taken the brute long to strip and be finished with the small animal as he gradually rose from the grass, brushing the few remains of his meal aside. He took a moment to gaze around the valley, his burning amber eyes staring out across the terrain as he contemplated on which direction he should take.
Paws were about to guide the man South of the valley, but before the bulky mass of night could turn himself to start his journey, the sound of a low chuff caught his attention and quickly, Neako turned his head, allowing his amber gaze to peer to the side of him. He moved himself, paws crushing the cold grass beneath his weight as he gazed at the unexpected visitor, the form of a light and sand hued wolf - standing just a distance away. Neako's tail swayed in the winter wind as he quietly observed the large, light painted male, gradually offering a low chuff of his own, followed by a polite bow of his head - the loner's golden gaze remaining focused on the stranger at all times.
Pointed ears pivoted a top his head, listening to the sound of the rustling tall grass that danced in the wind. "Didn't mean to disappoint ya.." He barked, briefly licking at his blood stained muzzle, "If I'd known about company, I would've shared or maybe even caught something bigger." Neako said with a smile, an unkept tail gving a small but friendly wag as he fell silent, eyes observing the unknown wolf still.
Fiery eyes watched as the other shook his head, Neako having taken note of the sizeable scar that decorated this ivory man's face and briefly, it made Neako ponder. 'Was this possibly another skilled warrior before him?' An ear twitched as the ivory stranger finally spoke, pulling him away from his thoughts and curiously, Neako tilted his head, golden gaze averting to peer at the finished remains of his last kill. As satisfying as it had been, the loner couldn't help but think that maybe together they could hunt down a much more pleasing prize. Something maybe a bit more rewarding for the stomach? With the idea growing in mind, Neako licked his muzzle and cleared his throat to speak, but before the words could leave his leathery lips, the stranger spoke once more and Neako blinked at the question. Gradually the loner straightened himself, amber eyes peering at the other man with a passionless flicker, ”I come from nowhere.” He replied, nearly allowing a low rumble to escape him at the unwanted thought process of home, but thankfully he'd managed to contain the urge and instead allowed his feathery tail to thrash momentarily behind him, ”..If you're hungry,” He began, giving a much milder sway of his night hued banner, he continued, ” I'm always happy to lend you a paw if needed.” Neako said with a nonchalant shrug, ”Maybe together we could find something a bit more rewarding.” The bulky loner suggested, offering the white and sand painted wolf a friendly half smile.
Sorry about the wait and short/sucky post D:
Neako wasn't one for sharing his life story to each new face he'd encountered in his travels, like some did often when meeting someone new, instead the brute kept himself to himself and it seemed to have worked for him so far. The darkened male was thankful that the other did not pry any further into his personal life and merely went on to accept his offer of a helping paw, to which his ebony ears swivelled as the nameless man spoke of a herd, soon pointing out their location to the left of him. The loner's head turned, bright gaze peering in the direction they would soon be heading and Neako offered a simple nod in response, his fiery stare watching as the stranger began to lope off in the direction just mentioned and instantly, the beast's sizeable paws guided him after the ivory teen, an unkept tail thrashing behind him as the darker male jogged after the other.
Following close behind the nameless boy, Neako scented the air and glanced out across the terrain, ”So, what's the game around 'ere like - when it's not covered in snow that is?” Yes. It was small talk and as much as Neako hated it, the brute felt that the silence that lingered between them should be broken, especially since they were hunting partners now, right?
His nostrils flare, targeting the specific scent of elderly within the herd. The smell is distinct -- the rot of age, decay in their bones and the musty scent of defeat as they move, knowing their life source is nearly spent. They move steadily, prowling closer -- 300, 250 yards away from the small herd composed only of a handful of women, their young, the alpha male and a feeble, elderly female. Surely part of a larger mass though presently separated from the majority. They would leave the elder to die once Vaati and Neako were detected.
"Mostly elk, deer, hare, bird. The occasional mountain goat who wanders down from the peaks." That had only occurred rarely -- the packs owning the mountain ranges usually caught them before they had a chance to wander. It leads him to believe the man is not from around here, new to the fact of their neck of the Teekon. Perhaps a good thing; it meant that he did not know of the dark woods and the tensions brewing between the surrounding forces.
Vaati halts as they approach 100 yards away, crouching lowly and indicating for the other to do the same. "There. The older one. They will leave her to our jaws once we charge, their kind do not stick around to defend their old and dying." He turns to the other, opening the floor for refusal or suggestion.