Mount Apikuni nascent discoveries

at the base of apikuni.

He moved north from the lake at first, but found that the open air upon him was unsettling, and then turned towards the mountains. It was not so much the wind that bothered him, nor the pleasant warmth of the spring sun - it felt much like summer, oddly hot for the season - but the lack of cover that made Betelgeuse seek shelter. The mountains afforded some shade as they rose up to loom over him, and the closer he got the more populous the trees became. Perhaps here his luck would change? Betelgeuse had still not eaten since his arrival in these wild lands, and the closer he got to the base line of the mountain, the hungrier he became. He found a route which took him an hour's length up the mountain's base, winding between trees and diligently seeking the steady, rock-heavy paths; but this petered out, leaving him upon a ledge that overlooked a sheer drop, and he grunted in his piggish way — inexorably frustrated.

Hope it's ok if this takes place after this thread! Yay squishy timelines.

After meandering about in his birthplace for a night and a day, Kaertok moved north. He had never been a particularly sedentary beast, and he was not about to start now. At less than a year old, he still had a lot to see, and even more to learn. Heavy paws brought him up the mountains. His feet were steady, having traversed them for the majority of his (admittedly short) life.

Unknowingly at first, he had taken the same route as the stranger who was now only a dozen paces away. It was only halfway up that Kaertok had started to smell the scent trail left behind by his brethren, and by then he had been curious enough to continue. A rock kicked by Kaertok's own feet clattered down the rocky slopes, surely alerting the stranger to his presence.

The boy stood still, anticipation at full capacity.

There was nothing here. The ledge could barely hold him, and upon finding its end Betelgeuse had to back-track. He couldn't turn around until he'd walked in reverse for a little bit, and he was hardly coordinated enough for that. All his bulk got in the way of seeing what sat behind him, and he was much to irked to think about it for long. Once he'd reached a suitable spot (surrounded briefly by a net of tree roots), he carefully maneuvered in a semi-circle. 

He righted himself hastily, making a half-step at the air while trying to find purchase upon the ground, and was struck-dumb for a moment when his shining gaze landed on the pale boy. He let out a bellow which shook the trees and a flurry of starlings erupted from overhead, drifting between neighboring branches as they sought safety. Perhaps he could frighten this child to death — it did not matter to Betelgeuse from whence his meals came, meat was meat, and he was hungry.

If the stranger intended to frighten Kaertok, he was going to be disappointed. The boy did not startle, nor did he quiver at the bellow or starlings that whisked themselves away. Kaertok made no move to leave, nor did he attempt to approach more closely. Instead, the boy observed, watching the silvery-eyed stranger. Kaertok's ear twitched, and his peets flexed against the rocky ground below him.

Considering neither of them was above the other in a social stance, Kaertok did not lower himself to the ground, nor did he attempt to assert authority. The to-be Tartok stood and waited.

The boy witnessed him, and yet there was no reaction. He did not quiver in fear nor did he grow despondent, and Betelgeuse was left feeling (and looking) vaguely confused. In all his time alive there were few that stood against him. This boy wasn't inherently an enemy but there was no way for the sullen man to know that yet — he saw a watchful eye more than a fearful one, and was left wondering. So instead of falling in to his usual routine of tossing slurs and baring his fangs, Betelgeuse... Got closer. He slunk across the ridge with the same swagger he had begun his journey with, and when he was closer to the boy, he reached out with his distorted snout and sniffed at him plainly. The sound of the air catching in his nose was akin to a snorting pig snuffling about for truffles in the dirt, and when Betelgeuse became aware of the noises, he tensed and watched the boy for a reaction.

The other wolf drew near, and Kaertok stiffened, though he made no move to change his stance. The mood was tense, but not frightening or unwelcome, and Kaertok stood still as the stranger sniffed at him. In fact, when he was certain that sniffing was the only thing happening right then and there, Kaertok's tail waved back and forth gently, and he licked his lips. A sense of ease washed over him, and he sniffed back, taking a step forward.

Evidently they were of a similar mind. Betelgeuse used his words as armor most of the time, spewing profanities and slurs when faced with strangers to keep them at bay. Such things would not work here, and he was glad to have some quiet. Although he was still quite unnerved by the pale boy's proximity, Betelgeuse trusted his own physical nature and refused to become too nervous. They sniffed at one another for some time, and gradually Betelgeuse relaxed as well. He eventually pulled back a half-step, his mouth hanging slightly ajar as it often did while his tongue slipped out, and he turned his gaze away from the white beast.

In the next moment, he broke the silence with an uncharacteristically level tone to his deep voice: There is nothing ahead. Perhaps then the boy would move, freeing him from this ledge. If not then he would find a way to climb down - or maybe toss the boy down first and use him as a landing pad. Betelgeuse watched him, wondering if he could even speak. Perhaps words were of no use here, as often they were useless when wielded against himself.

Kaertok craned his neck, attempting to see if the wolf was lying, but saw nothing ahead, just as he was told. He had no reason to suspect otherwise. Even if there was something up ahead, Sungiwok did not think it was worth it to push past this adult wolf.

The boy nodded in acknowledgement and stepped aside, giving the stranger plenty of room to pass. Kaertok had no plans to go to the ledge, but would likely follow the stranger down the path instead, then go his own way.

The ghostly boy subtly moved, and Betelgeuse watched him. He saw the way he lifted his head and tried to look around the warrior's bulky body; he saw the curve of the boy's throat and contemplated many things to do with that as well, but remained still. Then, when the odd thing appeared to accept what was said, the boy turned and Betelgeuse was given space to move. He marchd a few defiant steps onward, but stopped nearer to the boy.

The beast's body bristled slightly due to the proximity, as if there was a collection of static between them, and Betelgeuse watched the boy - equal parts curious and suspicious - but eventually moved on. He kept his ears turned back so as to listen to the ghost, but otherwise kept his attention straight ahead. This was the opportune moment for the stranger to attack and drive him off the ridge, so Betelgeuse was wary.