Noctisardor Bypass Our great glory, and our great tragedy.

She'd rested for days on the Frostfire Ridge, regaining some strength with the consumption of a large rat she'd caught, and was reluctant to leave the comfort she'd found there. No other wolves had passed through during the time Nyx spent there, which she'd been glad for; it gave her the opportunity to let herself relax and figure out her next course of action. With the cold season came the reminder that she was unlikely to survive it alone, however, and she made the decision to venture deeper inland and away from the coast.

Despite her longing to reunite with Dirge and Saor, the golden Ostrega knew that her chances of finding them were slim if she didn't take care of herself first. She reluctantly pushed thoughts of her siblings aside, setting her sights on seeking acceptance into one of the local packs at least until Winter slackened its fierce claim of the Teekon. It would be difficult, she knew, as the established groups might be unwilling to accept a loner on a temporary basis, but she would feign promise of the world if they wished it of her. Where Nyx lacked in honour, she was cunning and convincing - a fox in a wolf's form.

It was midday by the time she crossed into the valley between two peaks, and a flurry of snow causes Nyx to briefly study the sky above her. There is no blue present, for thick grey clouds have banded together with the promise of heavier snowfall, and she frowns deeply as her vivid eyes focus on her intended path. The land is cold but dry and wind has begun to pick up, creating a strong possibility of drifts should the weather continue to worsen.

Quickening her pace, the agouti she-wolf made her way toward the nearest patch of woodland and jogged between the foliage, heading deeper into the forest to wait out the worst of the snowfall. 

A low grumble escaped leathery lips as the brute observed the evident signs around him, his wandering gaze peering up toward the miserable, clouded heavens above. Snow - it was everywhere! On the canopy of the trees, as well as the ground he walked - it had even settled on the fur of his back! Ugh! He watched quietly as countless flakes of ice continued to drift down from the heavens – blanketing the world around them in a glistening shade of stark-white. Winter had finally taken its hold upon the Teekons. 

Paws stepped carefully, 'crunch crunch' - was the sound that followed with each taken step, the thick layer of snow being audibly crushed beneath his bulking weight as he moved tardily through the valley. He was tired and hungry- which only irritated the brute more as he allowed a long-drawn out sigh to slip from his mouth, the warmth of his breath hitting the cold air and instantly becoming nothing but a mere mist before his eyes. Neako stopped for a moment, noting the bitterness of the wind as it surged through the land, each gust becoming more and more frigid than the last.

No longer could he remain out here, in the open - the snow was starting to descend quicker than before and the wind was becoming more of a nuisance as it battered against his night hued form – a strange, needle like sensation prickling over his body as his fur bristled on end at the air currents wintry touch. The loner didn't fancy remaining out in the open any longer than necessary, especially in growing conditions such as this and quickly, the brute surveyed the area, golden stare searching for a place to wait out this bothersome weather and just up in the distance, was a woodland that could provide just that.

Hope you don't mind :3

Thanks for joining! Thought Nyx assuming him as someone else might be interesting.  ;P

Snow clung to her ears, head and dorsal, though she was quick to thoroughly shake it from her pelt as she paused in her tracks beneath the shelter of a dense canopy. Lowering to her haunches, Nyx set about licking the dampness from her chest and forelimbs, teeth carefully preening the pale fur there.

So focussed on keeping her fur clean and dry, the young Ostrega barely registered the presence of another. She heard movement among the trees, though nothing that caused alarm, so she chose to ignore it. Only when the distinct sound of paws on the forest floor heading in her direction, did the raven-tipped wolfess lift her vivid eyes and fix her stare to the dark features of a lone male, where a pair of eyes kissed by fire stood out on an obsidian face.

In the dim light of the forest, her immediate thought? Brunneus.

Wrongly assuming this stranger to be the dark-furred brute she'd rejected, Nyx at once bore her fierce fangs and a low rumble within her breast warned the other to keep his distance. She was not afraid of Raddei's arrogant son, but with her departure from Ormarr came the expectation that she would never see the snake-worshippers again. She had bested him once before, reduced him to a cowering heap on the ground, and was confident that history would repeat itself should Brunneus decide to creep closer.

The raven brute managed to venture near the wood, close to his goal of being sheltered from the irritating snowfall that continued to blanket his fur. Thankful to be almost there, the large nightly painted brute was about to step into its cover – that is - until the distinct sound of a low rumble caught his attention. Quickly the bulky man came to a halt, large head turning to allow his fiery stare to fall upon the sight of a mixed brown and cream painted female, one that was currently baring her pearly fangs at him. The loner merely watched the woman, expressionless and gaze cold, a singular ear twitching a top his skull as his gruff voice spilled from his lips, ”What's your problem?” He barked, feathery tail giving an annoyed thrash behind him as he continued to stare at the aggressive female.

Snow eventually began to cape the male's back, the quantity increasing rather quickly the longer the brute remained out in the open and not under the forests protective canopy. Neako knew this and his eyes narrowed some, a low rumble of his own sounding as his paws guided him into the forest, ”Jeez, can't one get out of the snow in peace..” The brute said with a snort, his paws shifting in the snow as he cautiously positioned himself a decent distance away from the woman, his stare remaining fixed upon her form as he decided to claim a spot to one side of her – finally away from the irritating weather outside, but stuck with what seemed to be unpleasant company.

She fixed him firmly with her bold glare, toxic yellow eyes never leaving the dark brute's as he turned to look upon her. Nyx noted the coolness of his stare, the same dumb, blank expression that she recalled on the numerous occasions she'd told Brunneus to piss off, and was about to spit those same words to him again when he barked his offense at her.

But the voice was different. It was deeper, stronger, older.

The she-wolf blinked, breaking her threat by flitting her gaze over his features to take in the finer details. His muzzle was ashen where her enemy's was obsidian, the fur of his cheeks much fuller. She blackened somewhat, though remained bristled as she furrowed her brow in embarrssment for mistaking this stranger. She sheathed her fangs then, though maintained a frown

"Thought you were someone else," she muttered in her own defense as he took no heed of her previous threat and strode into her personal space anyway. Nyx followed him with her electric eyes, twitching a whisker in annoyance.Of all the forest, why did he seem so intent to creep around where she'd chosen to wait out the heavy snows?

Huffing through her nostrils, the tawny Ostrega set about licking at a paw once more, though her suspicion remained as her unwanted companion settled nearby.

An ear twitched as the woman spoke and Neako felt his eyes roll impatiently at her remark, the amount of times he'd heard that same line during his travels was near uncountable. A long sigh escaped the brute as he began to fidget on the spot, attempting to make himself more comfortable, "Hm, that's one that never gets old." Neako uttered sarcastically as his fiery gaze gradually peered up at the snow laced canopy above them, "Frankly, I'm pretty glad I ain't the poor bastard you thought I was with a welcoming like that." The bulky loner said with an amused chuckle, amber eyes slowy glancing back to the cream and brown painted female, the man eventually offering her a small smirk of sorts.

A bushy tail gave a couple anxious flicks upon the ground as Neako briefly surveyed the woodland, not keen on the idea of travelling into its depths and preferring to remain near the forest edge. The brute knew that the snowfall wasn't going to stop for them any time soon and a grumble slipped from his grey muzzle, knowing fully that he didn't really fancy venturing any furher out there in that weather either. And as the time had passed, the more bitter the winds felt against his side as their forces swept through the land, bringing with it more snow.

A gurgle sounded and Neako's attention soon went to his stomach, the man blinked for a moment as his ears flicked back to lay against his skull. Ugh. Lifting his head to peer at his current and seemingly unfriendly company, the man frowned some, "You wouldn't be hungry too, by any chance?" He asked with a slight tilt of his head, an unkept tail gradually curling about his paws as he watched the girl silently.

He shuffled in his place, seemingly getting himself more comfortable - much to Nyx' frustration. She frowned deeply, still bristled and still pretending to ignore him, as she continued to swipe the moisture from her beige fur. Her vivid eyes shot to him once again, however, as he spoke with sarcasm in his tone, noting that he was glad he was not the one she'd initially mistaken him for. Staring at him pointedly for a few long, lingering moments, the golden Ostrega tried to decide how to respond. Was there really any point in continuing to be a grouch, when her newfound buddy to wait out the storm was at least trying to be pleasant? She twitched her nose, uncertain.

And then she returned his smirk with one of her own. "He really is an asshole," she tacked on, straightening herself somewhat as she followed the other loner's gaze out over the whiteout beyond their forest. Snow flurried hard and fast, the wind casting it into drifts at the woodland's edge, blocking their view any further. Nyx exhaled, knowing she'd likely be in for a long wait before the weather showed any sign of improving.

Nearby, the familiar sound of a rumbling stomach caused a raven-tipped ear to flicker in her company's direction. Nyx flicked her tongue over hr upper lip, for the gargle reminded herself of her own empty stomach; as a loner, the opportunity to hunt as part of a group presented itself rarely. As she quietly considered offering to pair up with him in search of prey that they could share, her unusual way of apologising for her earlier attitude to avoid actually saying "sorry", Nyx turned her proud head to look at her swarthy companion. As she did, he piped up, beating her to the chase, and she grinned. "Fading away as we speak. I'm game if you are," she said, gathering herself in preparation to follow him deeper into the forest should he move to take lead.