Hoshor Plains stick your fingers up your partner's nose

He might have considered the pack in the forest near the shore, but it was near the shore. Too near the shore. He was a corsair, and there was as much salt water in his veins as there was blood, but Dragon had been bred and raised in lean times in already food-spare places. The sea provided, but in winter, the winds and storms were often too harsh to bear. So his folks had taken to moving inland for the season, and he, knowing nothing else, continued that practice here on his own. Once he got around the other crew's ship, he met up with another river, and followed it southeast. That was their practice also - to keep near water as much as possible, even if it was fresh. Water was life; it was the blood of the land.

To his west, more forest, to the east, an expanse of flatlands and a long reaching mountain range. Dragon wiggled his ears as he looked upon their tall peaks. Hah, some of those peaks would make quite the crow's nest! Though up was not his direction of choice, mountains often meant valleys, and valleys were cute, like the coves of the inland - sheltered, protected. It was difficult to tell if that collection of peaks had some little paradise in between them but, eh, probably worth a look, so thought Dragon.

So he turned northeast, leaving the river behind for now. It was mid afternoon, the sun was high, and the day surprisingly warm. Thus, his swaggering gait was leisurely, and he paused only to sniff the air here and there.

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she needed a change of pace, vuk decided, and so she departed the borders of blackfeather wood, intending to spend some hours outside its reaches before returning. the brightness of the sun upon the snow all but blinded her, so accustomed had the she-wolf become to the gloom of the woodland wherein she now dwelt. for a moment, vuk's spirits were lifted, until she recalled what the last winter had brought her — she sought to keep a small spark alive in her soul before it dissipated altogether and the wolfess was left with her thoughts.
vuk ranged aimlessly, hungry but not enough to hunt, though she loped after a herd of deer which regarded her with disdain — a single, small wolf posed no threat to them. the plains forced into her a sense of exposure, and after some time vuk turned to watch the peaks in the distance, naturally drawn. the sight of another wolf some feet away gave her pause, if only to admire the odd colour of the creature's coat and odd swaggering gait.[/tr][/td][/table]

There was a strong musk in the air that he did not recognize. It stalled him, and he stood, nose in the air, for quite some time. Eyes closed, he concentrated on the scent, drawing it in deep. He derived a certain pleasure from scenting, and that alone was enough to keep him occupied. Enough so that he did not know another drew near to him, until the breeze shifted and with it went that scent and his occupation.

She was a petite female, garbed curiously in white and ink. His ears flicked backward for all but a second and his tail twitched as he inwardly chided himself for not noticing her presence sooner; but his guardedness was not what it was when he tread the shores of home. He did not feel the same wariness here, where wolves were oft pleasant and where food was abundant.

"Ahoy," he called, levelling his gaze upon her.

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the man called to her and vuk's ears folded nervously, but she drew near all the same. "hello," she breathed timidly. her eyes swept his strong frame and she wondered what he had meant by 'ahoy,' outside of a greeting. the patchwork wolfess did not offer her name, not yet, but turned her turquoise eyes upon the distant peaks, wondering what the man saw in them. "it is a n-nice day," vuk murmured again, rather lamely, in the interest of making small talk.
it fell rather flat, she felt.[/tr][/td][/table]

She was a timid creature. Those of her character were rare on his old shores; they did not last long. The fangs of those bolder and more aggressive were not kind. She would have been seen as a mere opportunity. He, too, would have looked at her as such if he was as hungered as he had once been. But his gut was not so starved these days, and he was inclined more toward devilry than savagery.

He regarded her with a quirked brow as she stuttered as she attempted to make small talk. "Aye," he agreed as his eyes focused on hers and he stepped toward her, his nose reaching for her scent as he extended his muzzle. He did not know to whom she belonged, but the mixed odors of her coat spoke of her allegiance. "Shouldn't you be with your pack?" He inquired, as he carefully monitored his periphery without alleviating her of his unwavering stare.

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vuk would have shied away from the intent she thought was beneath his words, had not what cicero said come to her mind. her strength lay in the visible weakness of her form. and so she smiled gently and nodded. "p-perhaps. i w-wanted t-to e-explore b-before the l-large s-snows," vuk let the other explore the scents woven into her pelt, reaching to do the same. he was alone, it seemed, and she wondered why he had not sought a pack now that winter had begun in earnest.
"y-you run w-with no one?" came the woman's gentle tones, her eyes shining with an open interest in the swaggering creature. the little smile remained as vuk's ears swiveled toward the wolf, waiting to hear his response. [/tr][/td][/table]

He regretted asking a question. She stuttered and stammered the entire way through her response, and he felt the heat of irritation rise in his ears. The corsair could be coldly impatient and judgemental outside of his own crew, and ruthless in his own way. But he kept his fur flat and his expression open; his satiety lending him tolerance. He would not lash her ears with cruel mocking, nor menace her with his teeth for his own amusement. He settled to his haunches, relaxed but aware.

"No," he answered. He was not one to divulge a great deal to strangers, but certainly she knew the answer anyway. His scent was distinctly his own — a strong musk laced with salt, water, and bones. "Don't need anyone, either." There was no wolf more suited to the life of a loner and traveller than he, or so he thought. He knew of none who could match his prowess at catching prey and scavenging edibles. It was for this reason he served his old crew as a long runner — a scout — because he would not starve during his task.

But," he followed up. "Perhaps I'll join up with someone."

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he was an odd, abrupt man, vuk decided, and the clip of his brief sentences made her wonder if she should add words of her own. her eyes found the earth and then traveled back to the wolf seated on his haunches, to which she made a gesture of her own, settling before him. yet their silence was not quite affable, which unnerved the she-wolf. clearing her throat, vuk gazed briefly at the mountaintops rearing into the cold air and smiled gently. "hunt w-with me?" the tyro asked softly.
the fear of rejection did not frighten the patchwork wolfess so much as the idea the man would say yes, for she knew him not and was unsure if she wished to be alone with his short sentences and swaggering gait. but vuk knew this dread came from some wellspring not evoked by the man before her, and so she swallowed it down and waited for his response.[/tr][/td][/table]

Drat. He thought she might be unwittingly encouraged to talk about her pack and tell him something interesting. But he could not argue with her request either. He was used to foraging alone, for larger game had been scarce in his life, and he was not quite in need of food, but the corsair never turned down a chance to eat. So, he peered at her for a moment through narrowed eyes, briefly considering any ulterior motivates. Then he shrugged.

"Alright, lass. Your lead." He stepped aside, partially bowing as he extended a leg in front of him to invite her forward and ahead of him. He might have looked the part of a gentlewolf, were it not for his toothy smile and general coarse appearance.

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he agreed, but not before scrutinizing her with a look that almost caused the she-wolf to quail. vuk did not know why she was so unnerved by the man, but smiled quietly at him as he bowed, allowing her to lead on their hunt. setting a ground-eating pace for him, vuk felt the strength of her legs returning — it had been far too long since she had run, or even trotted a long distance. her ears swiveled toward the low grunts of the giant ruminants who roamed the grasslands in tiny herds, but their wide, cold faces and small curled horns deterred her. they were much too large.
but there were calves among them, and so vuk slowed again to regard a small group of bison, tongue lolling as her turquoise gaze narrowed to count them and seek out the smaller bodies. only two cows comprised this herd; she did not see its bull, and two spindly-legged calves cavorted near their mothers. vuk turned her gaze then upon her companion, eyes questioning his for advice.[/tr][/td][/table]

Let me know if I am not wanted I shall delete my post! <3 (or if you want we can have more horses :D)

Atna was grazing between the bison. The giants were rather friendly towards them once they realized the horses were not out to hurt them. They were a great help for Atna and their herd. After all they would plow the snow away meaning the horses could get easier to the grass. Atna often lifted her head to check for predators, and watched the bison if they sensed anything.

The male was mostly worried about her yearling son, Tseax. She didn't want him to fall to predators. She was still his little baby, even though her sides were heavy with the next foal Nechako fathered. The scented the air, feeling that something was off. She eyed at the others, wondering if they sensed something.