The brute lumbered through the woodland, knowing that his impending hibernation would have to come sooner rather than later. His gluttonous feeding had paid off and had now packed on almost enough fat to last until the new spring shoots showed from the ground. His head swung as he heaved his way like silent thunder through the woodland.
He happened across a shaded thicket only parted by boulders. He huffed and snuffled through the way, looking for anything that might be food. He clambered up onto a rock (it was the heir's rock, not that he knew) and cast his spring-jade gaze across the tree line. He could be comfortable in this woodland; if he could find his place to stay.
To sleep undisturbed.
He didn't regret leaving the mountainous Vale, and was only disappointed he spent time moving in the wrong direction at first. It was when he inhaled deeply again he smelt the male whose name he knew not. He didn't know how to communicate with the others residing here; perhaps he would never.
He could communicate with offerings and gestures.
That was all he could offer.
And all he would give.
The shadow seemed to be greeting him. He spoke few words but the air about him spoke in a different language. He was being friendly, for some reason. No other lupine had been friendly to the ursine, thus causing the strange action to hit him herd.
What was he feeling?
Kovertol tilted his head up, a shaft of filtered sunlight fell across his fur and made it ripple under its touch. Not unlike water in shadows. He dipped his head down towards the wolf, his jade eyes staring intently at Cry.
"Cry," he repeated in the wolf's tongue.
"Kovertol." he repeated in his.
Again, he could smell the fear from the wolf. Good. He had to keep some of his demeanour of cold and unfeeling to these wolves. Keep them thinking he could strike, even though he appreciated the way the male was communicating with him. Trying to make the relationship of two kings of the Keep work.
One wild and singular, the other tame and with the breath of a pack behind him.
It was then the ursine lifted his lips into a grin, yellowed, conical teeth showing the small happiness that he felt.
After that, words were lost. He could understand when a name was being told. And could repeat short words. But after that, he was as lost as a newborn. The grin fell when it wasn't returned, and realised that he had ignited another bount of fear within the man before him. Kovertol thought quietly. What could those words mean? Food? His brows furrowed and his lips fell, sheathing the teeth he possessed.
He could ruin the man before him with one bite, a feral swipe, a single snap.
But he wouldn't.
No, he would turn and step from the rock before lumbering towards Cry. He could say that name, it was easy for him. "Cry," he repeated with a pointed gaze to the wolf. What could he do? The ursine lifted a paw and spread it before him in an open gesture. Show me. If he showed him the trail of perhaps, say, the trail of an intruding pack it was not in his ability to help on the wolfs behalf. Hunting? Ursine folk didn't hunt this close to winter, they scavenged. He still needed to feed. Carrion would be plenty enough to top him off and go down into hibernation -- somewhere.
He watched for the reaction of the phantom.
The bear followed the man, watching his every action and appreciated the leisurely pace he held; seemingly for him. He watched how he rubbed up against the trees to mark them of his scent. This implored Kovertol to follow suit, integrating his scent along the trail the lupine king made. He observed the direction in which the man inclined his head; it was where the wolfish stench was strongest.
He didn't like being this close to their dens and, personally, he would've opted to hang further back. But still, he followed the beast, powerful in his own rights, along the path. He had hold over each wolf in this forest, he wondered if they too bore his scent that he now imposed upon the trees. When he spoke again, he seemed to be in turmoil, his voice held an anxiety that the bear could interpret as fear. Fear of the pack he harbored? Or harm to them?
It was then The blue-black mass caught the lupine eye; desperation and worry. What was desperation to him? What was happening?
The wolf kingdom should not be of a worry to Kovertol.
But it was in the best interests to keep this bond with the raven-wolf. Kovertol let go any anxiety Cry had been passing over to him through the airs tension with a long sigh and a snort.
The ones that belonged to Cry belonged to Kovertol.
Realisation stuck Kovertol, understanding formed new bonds within his mind and his jade gems blinked slowly and his stubby ears pointed to Cry.
His sandy muzzle stretched out to the face of the wolf, his tongue snaked out and applied a long lick up his face in marking. What lupine owned belonged to ursine also.
Then, as silently as he entered this forest the first time -- and happened across the fearful, courageous man -- he left the vicinity of the dens and stalked into the forest at his own leisurely pace, brushing up against trees as he went.
Cry explained himself as best he could, but he knew the bear could not simply understand. However, the fog cleared as within those jade eyes, something akin to understanding shone through. It was an attempt on behalf of the bear to grasp the intricate need of the Wolf. The ursine had began to follow what he was doing, marking the trees, and even offered comfort to the nervous ex-Nightmare. It was a peaceful moment between the two, and Cry almost apprecriated it more than what he should have.
It was a fleeting moment, but with the concept down, Kovertol marked the trees as he saw fit, imbranding thick and pungent BEAR, MINE across the trunks with ease. The massive sway disappeared back into the epics of the forest where his den supposedly was, and Cry watched the beast go, gratitude threatening to shatter the icebergs in his heart. It was clear that this would work; and now he could handle what he needed to do.
Tunring back to the forest, he made his way through checking the caches, and waited until nightfall. Then, it was time.
Archiving this masterpiece<3 bless you and your Kovertol because I love them~<3