Two Rivers Isle How to train your Hunter

@Cry

Basil has wandered rather far from his original starting point. So far he did not feel comfortable enough to really settle down anywhere. So he had decided to explore these wild lands a little bit more. It also helped him to find more spots to hunt and where every prey item or predator lived. Getting to know the lay of the land was important if he wanted to continue surviving.

Today he had been following a faint track of deer scent. If he managed it, it would be his first real hunt in a long time. Till now he only managed to feed of small animals and scavenge what he was able to find. Basil wasn't completely new to hunting, he has been one of the better hunters in his birth place but being alone did not bode well to his success. Wolves hunted in packs, using all the strengths they have. Basil was fast and agile but lacked a little in physical power to grapple with the prey. He was desperate to eat something filling though and thus had decided to follow the faint scent.
 
The area was close to a pack’s territory but thankfully the prey didn’t seem to come from there so Basil skirted along the borders to not have to walk a giant curve around.

There was enough stir in the wind to send the Phantom adrift the tides of time and space, to seek his solid soul and grip the land afoot with much more enthusiam than he had for the past few weeks. There hadn't been any conscious effort on his own end to supply himself with food, let alone the pack he heralded. There needed to be a change to that, as the body mass he had fought to build upon required sustenance. He couldn't part his wife from the children just yet, and he wouldn't be bringing the secrets into this task, as he needed them to bide their time and readjust to less ominous living structure for the moment. But enough of politics, his stomach and mind agreed upon. His glacial blues scanned the wilderness ahead, his mind sharpened by hunger and less by logic. His reasoning was only honed by the pangs as opposed to his years of experience; and it was made clear that no mere rabbit would bear him fill, today. It was time he contributed to his Family again, even if they were traitorous snakes lying in wait to strike him low. 

Deep midnight snout roved over the high grasses with no hesitation as he made his way clear of the Keep's tirade of junglesque woodland, and out into the open the man bled from the abyss of thickets. Eventually he crossed over the borders, passing a whisk of urine over the faded markers until he was temprarily satisfied, and made his way in the determined brisk walk to the Isle. So much wanted to distract him, from the paths he had taken to bring Kukutux back home from here, to the many trailings he had with Kai across these same lonely paths. But the retired Assassin only kept his mind on the hunt, finally latching his inken form across the colder waters of the Isle's grasp until he wadded ashore. 

A new scent lost itself to him, rigidly scraping up his flared nares until he narrowed the daggers of icicles at the invisible trail. Another was here. And from the deeply rooted trench of scent, they were perusing about, searching, as the windings and knots wove in and out of a single space. Releasing his squint so a much more relaxed gaze, he searched about as he could, hoping to spot the hunter before he was found out, himself. Never one to do well with surprises, but old habits died despairingly hard. So with newfound purpose, the Watcher of the Keep took to locating this single thread of cologne to it's source as hidden as possible. 

Time passed only by a few minutes before his auds picked up the rustles. Parting through the lowly shrubs, he listened for any sounds of agitation or even multiple facets of wolves, but only a single quadruped was present. A fellow lupine, and with a deep inhale, he removed his imperceptibility, revealing his tar bulk from the brush of leaves and trunks. "Greetings." His baritones fell forth in a gesture that matched the light dip of his head and slow swish of a void banner. Nevermind the studying glint in his gaze, nor the lurking monster that had been kenneled for now. "Would you maybe be free for a hunt at this time? I'm quite peckish."

Belly and snout close to the ground, Basil continued on his path through the long grass. His steps were careful, trying to be silent and not as destructive. The young lad’s ears perked when he heard the faint sound of his quarry. It seemed to be a small herd going from the sounds but Basil knew better to just believe that. Only if all of his senses assessed the situation would he take action. Especially since he is a lone wolf. In a pack, he would have his brethren to defend him if things would go awry. But here, all alone, he only had himself to take care of. So mucking up a hunt because he was a tad impatient might cost him his life, so careful stalking and planning was needed.
 
That said; his path was intercepted by another. A sturdier body than his own, cloaked in a fur as dark as the darkest night. Only two pinpricks of ice blue the young hunter was able to discern from the ethereal form. The other had appeared almost out of nothingness and for a second a shiver went down his back. But the other spoke and his heart calmed itself. It was no monster that was out for him but another wolf. A wolf that did not attack and actually asked something of him. Deciding the other would do him no harm, at least for now, he straightened his posture and eyed the other a bit longer before answering with carefully picked words.
 
“Greetings stranger. I have been intending to hunt yes; I would welcome a partner in doing so. My name is Basil.” and he eyed the other with amber orbs for a bit longer before turning them back towards the direction where the deer scent seemed to get stronger. “I have been intending to go for a deer. It smells slightly different than the ones that I am used to but I hope they do not differ too much.” he spoke the other and a muttered the last part to himself. The prey in this area was different. Some seemed to have the same universal scent but differed in some way. The young hunter hoped that they would also behave mostly like the prey he is used to hunting.
 
“If you would like to join me….” He spoke and switched his head back to the wolf made out of darkness before assuming his earlier stance to continue to get an overview of the prey they would hunt. Usually hunts needed some kind of trust between the pursuers and also coordination. But Basil did not intend to kill a buck. The young lad thought they would easily be able to take down a doe, even if they did not really know each other. A quick hunt to leave them both satisfied and then they may just part ways again. A partnership of convenience so to say.

He nodded, allowing appreciation to soften his typically apathetic features into something much more friendly. Perhaps this fellow would come to seek a home eventually- they were quite full up on prey in the Keep. And considering his destination to keep the Keep in full running through his reign, he would need able hunters besides his wife and himself. Considering how this would go, his judgement would be made. 

“Absolutely ,” he confirmed.

A shake of his dark hide allowed some waft to the stranger, an invite to smell his cologne for any long travelled distance hunting. “They could be caribou; they’ve trekked through here before looking for any additional berries that ripened over the summer.” Whether the things were deer or caribou, he was planning to bring it down and eviscerate it. He was that thirsty for a good fresh meal.

With a sight eye he watched the others expression soften slightly and see him shake his body. The other’s natural musk was released and drifted towards the fox colored male. With a deep sniff he tried to imprint the smell into his brain, so he would be able to smell the other during the hunt and know where he is. That reminds him, it would be good if he actually knew the other’s name. Basil noticed that, after he introduced himself, the other failed to do so. Maybe he forgot? Or was there some reason he did not tell his name? Whatever the case, Basil couldn’t keep calling him “him” or “the guy” so he spoke “What is your name by the way? What should I call you?”
 
The other’s words made him think. Caribou. He had not heard that word before. In his homeland they did not exist it seems but if the other thought they were Caribou than it must be true. It would be interesting to see and hunt one for the first time. Basil hoped he would be up for the task, as he would be going into it kind of blind. But he hoped that they would not be too different from deer’s. “I don’t know Caribou’s. They aren’t known from where I came from. Is there anything I will have to focus on while hunting them or also be careful of?” he asked the other and inclined his head to the way the smell comes from and took a few steps to maybe get the other to move with him. They should maybe already start finding them; it wouldn’t do if they lost them while they were talking.