Duskfire Glacier footprints in the snow

This has a joining tag but if he doesn't mesh feel free to chase him off.

The herd continued moving north, and the wolf was persistent enough to follow. They left swaths of stone exposed from their many bodies and that made travel easier. He no longer needed to find traces of their scat, or follow graze lines, or struggle against the weather, to find their path. But as the wolf moseyed along after them he found another scent which was just as persistent as the elk, something he had not counted on. There were patches of frozen urine tinting some sections of snow yellow, and when he found some trees they were gouged by claws or the soil by their roots was dug-out. The wolf knew the signs of his kind well enough to be wary of them; a pack was near, and he was nervous to go further. The elk herd had slipped over those markers without a worry. The singular wolf that followed after them was no threat, but certainly a whole pack would be — yet they seemed adamant on continuing their course, but the pale wolf could not follow them without potentially crossing in to territory that would invite him harm. He was stuck, and growing frustrated.

She had met a few wolves on her recruiting mission, and she had sent back the ones who had looked promising, but much was out of her hands paws regarding whether or not they would attempt to join. Not only that, but Takiyok would need to accept them as well. She had been back for a few days, and she was gearing up for another mission. In fact, she was headed out when she spotted the loner lingering near their claim, and she immediately went toward him.

Neasa's fur on the back of her neck fluffed up, and her grey eyes narrowed in on him. You looking to join us? Because if not, you'd better get lost. Maybe not the most welcome of introductions, but Cyclone didn't want some stranger lingering so close to her claim.

The wolf was roaming in short bursts one way, then another, his tail whisking out behind his tall figure as he tried to make up his mind. He could pass through the territory and keep his path aligned with the elk herd (which would potentially invite aggression from the resident pack if he wasn't quick enough), or he could turn around and find something else to trail (which he had never tried before; the wolf had come from a long line of northern beasts that feasted upon these herds). He was undecided when a dark shape descended upon his position from the hillside.

Upon spotting the wolf and their commanding posture, his back-and-forth antics stopped and the fur of his own spine raised, hackles bristling until the stranger was close enough to speak and be heard. They used a tone that he found mildly threatening but the wolf could not find fault in that, he knew the unspoken laws and was trying his best to avoid a confrontation or a battle. But he was hungry, and the herd had slipped out of his proverbial grasp.

It had been a while since the wolf had to employ his voice, so he did not immediately respond with it - instead, his forequarter bent low as if he were inviting the shadow to come closer, to play a game, and dragged his paws through the snow; an over-the-top bow which transformed in the next instant to the wolf standing tall, but curling his tail low. In the language of the wild, he was saying I am not a threat. And when he was standing again, he shook the snow (and the tension) from his coat.

Ok, so he wasn't in it to ruffle her feathers, but he hadn't answered her question, and Cyclone was not the patient type. Her own stance relaxed a smidge, but her eyes remained hard and cold, resting on his figure. He appeared to be able-bodied, and considering he had not waltzed onto the glacier like an idiot, she figured he wasn't completely stupid. Considering those were the two main requirements for staying, she thought he was a decent candidate. But alas, he would have to have some desire (however faint) to join them if she expected to recruit him.

Well? she asked, one eyebrow lifting higher than the other expectantly. You staying or going? If he was staying, she would call for Takiyok, but if he was going, she would gladly chase him away from the pack's claim.

He presumed by her lack of aggression that his display had worked - but then she spoke again, and he knew he would have to speak up or stand there like a loon.

The herd — he started, stepping in to the borderlands excitedly while his tail puffed and bat around excitedly, they're right there! He just wanted to keep an eye on them the way his parents taught him. Maybe sticking around here was the best option for doing that - hrmm. 

He chuffed and slunk back through the snow and glanced at her, sheepish in his expression but trying his best to contain himself for the sake of his company. I stay, I watch the herd? Hunt them? Feed you -- if that's okay.

Neasa remained on edge, not wanting to let up her guard despite his cheerful demeanor. She narrowed her eyes at him, wondering what he was getting at. He spoke about as well as some of the wolves she had met here. Maybe they spoke the same language. Wouldn't that be a treat? Takiyok would like that, wouldn't she? It was her decision, after all, and if she had somebody coming to her door, hopefully she would be inclined to take in this newcomer.

Not up to me, buddy. You wait right there, and I'll call for @Takiyok. Cyclone threw back her head and called for the leader of the glacier, hoping that it would put her in Takiyok's good graces.

The call halted her patrol of the opposite side of the territory. Snowy ears turned towards the sound and with little hesitation, the atausiq left her task and headed towards the summons. 

She found Neasa at the edge of their claim with a stranger. Taki moved to stand next to her dark packmate, citrine gaze suspiciously studying the male. I'm Takiyok, the leader here. She began, eyes still fixed on the man. Do you need something? she asked next, pairing the words with a raised eyebrow. Maybe he was looking for a pack. Hopefully he proved valuable enough to be an acceptable addition to their ranks if a home was indeed what he was here for.

She turned and called for someone - and while Wendigo was eager to stick around for the potential of a hunt, he was growing anxious just sitting around and waiting. The call did little to assuage his nerves; if anything the sharp sound bothered him, so he was already turning away and roaming off before the call died away. When the pale wolf emerged he'd be close enough to hear her comments, but his ears lanced back upon his head; he took the arrival as more of a threat than an invitation. It didn't help that Takiyok was an impressive northerner, with a sharp expression and dominant posture. He huffed and lurched in to a run, leaving the area for the time being — and, sadly, his precious elk.