Fox's Glade Life is a journey and only you hold the key

Neako's dark form moved wearily through the valley, the bulky brute's paws carrying him at a slow and casual pace as he pushed tiredly onward through tall grass. His body ached as he roamed, the night colored male's golden eyes peering around at his environment, black ears swivelling atop his head as he listened to the sound of trickling water to one side of him, bringing to his attention that a stream, luckily, ran through the terrain. And now with water on the mind, the lone wolf gradually trailed off route, turning himself to walk toward the running water, his leathery nostrils flaring as he scented out the fresh aroma amongst the pungent perfume of the surrounding flowers.

It doesn't take long till Neako's amber eyes fall upon the sight of the glistening water, his attention being drawn to the scattered rocks and distant spruced trees that were decorated about the land. In truth, the brute didn't know exactly how far he had traveled, but knew full well that his paws ached and that he need a well deserved rest. But before lowering his head into the stream to take the cooling drink he so wanted, the speckled male couldn't help but cautiously observed the area once more. And when he felt comfortable enough, Neako finally lowered his muzzle down into its cold depths, his salmon colored tongue quickly lapping at its cold surface.

(May I? :3)


Cry needed to familiarize himself with the land, and that included venturing to other chunks of it. He had already completed the eastern front's defense, as it's walls were a bit shallow, but a few rubs across splayed trees was all it took. So he took off, keeping an eye out for any other possible ration-enhancements, wolves, and terrain differences.

His goal was to be the est he could possibly be, as he always aimed for, while keeping an eye on things. Mulling over the list, he ticked off 3 then 4 different jobs he had tackled within the limited time of his residence, while trotting on throughout the land. He was well out of the borderline now, and while it wasn't mandatory to remain in it, especially if on a hunt, as long as he didn't wander into already charted territory of other wolves, he should be fine.

The dark prince had come to notice how different the neck of woods he was in now were, as he felt a completely different ambiance. The forest gave a different vibe than that of the home's, and he couldn't put a claw on the variation. But soon he felt the softened soil around his coal shaded pads, and the shadow made his deduction of a nearby water source. Cry confirmed it, not only coming to be within view of the stream, but seeing someone drinking from it. A very large someone.

Cry wasn't thirsty, but he felt a bit less open about making his presence known, so he sat, waiting the stranger to finish his drink. He could engage the stranger in a conversation, but he watched the mass of a wolf from distanced length. He did not move for the conversation, as he chose not to take that option. Just as he was capable of starting the conversation, he was not one to enjoy talking.

Icy glacials kept on the wolf, awaiting the next motion of the lupine from the shadows.

Of course :3

 

With his thirst quenched, the male gradually lifted his head from the surface of the stream, his tongue escaping his mouth once more to quickly clear away the few droplets that fell from his muzzle. And whilst he straightened himself, Neako's ears arched forward, listening out carefully to the noises around him, his nose twitching slightly as a gentle breeze swept through the land, eventually wafting the scent of the other male in his direction. With this, the dark brute remained quiet and still, his amber gaze searching vigorously for the other that was present and it wasn't until Neako turned his head, did his gaze finally fall upon a similar hued male, silently sat watching him from a distance.

Neako stared at the male in return, a singular ear swivelling to the side as he tilted his head some, whilst the night painted male continued to silently watch the stranger in complete confusion. 'What was he looking at?' Clearing his throat briefly, Neako allowed a small chuff to escape his black lips, an unkept tail giving a casual sway behind him as he slowly began to stroll in the others direction, ”Can I help you?” He asked curiously, socked paws bringing him to a stop as he came within a respectable distance from the male, not wanting to get too close to a complete stranger.

"No." he murdered the oppertunity before immediately chastising himself. He had to remember that niceness was appreciated more than honesty, in some occurrences. Smoothly, he recovered.

"Unless you have a taste for venison."

Cry knew most lonewolves would be incapable of taking down large meals by themselves for the most part, but with Cry's speed and manuverability paired with this lupine's fully capable size and power, he was sure if he could slow the doe down enough the giant counterpart would be able to lock down a pair of jaws somewhere fatal.

Patiently Cry awaited the response to his offer, winter gems locked onto the golds that oddly resembled those of his uncle. He considered relinquishing the rest of the hunt information, but held the secrets close. If this wolf was willing, then he would. A bit cruel if the wolf was starving, but that meant the company would be all the more willing, would it not?

Sorry for the wait and terrible post, extra hours at work are gradually catching up on me :/

The stranger's response was quick and rather blunt and Neako's gold eyes remained focused upon the dark form of the other wolf as they stood silently before one another, but it wasn't until the stranger spoke once more, did Neako's night colored ears arch forward. Slowly, thinking the idea over did the lone male's head give a few simple nods in return to the surprise offer, ”For venison, I'm willing to join you in a hunt.” He said with a polite dip of his muzzle, his messily kept tail giving an appreciative sway behind him as he silently studied the male, though more attentively this time.

Licking his muzzle, Neako shifted himself to one side of the stranger, the loner's warm golden eyes looking away to peer around the land for a moment till he gradually turned attention back to the nameless wolf, soon allowing his burly voice to sound once again, ”I must ask though..” He started, head tilting to the side curiously, ”..why is a pack wolf willing to share a meal with a loner?” It wasn't a done thing where Neako came from, but for a second the night colored male thought, maybe he should've kept quiet on the matter? And just be appreciative of such an offer to have come his way? But then, when it came to such things, Neako couldn't help but remain the wary brute that he was.

no worries. I'm  not always here, myself. Life is life. W_^V

”For venison, I'm willing to join you in a hunt.” The loner had replied. Wise choice. It wasn't too hard for Cry to see where the loner had went for their decision-making reason, so Cry didn't succumb to irritation with the question the dark wolf had sent his way. It was what only those who used common sense would come to the conclusion of. Basics. Food. It was a good oppertunity to get good food. Teamwork would give a higher chance of success. Better and more nourishing meal that petty small game. An oppertunity to represent the pack in a professional, and even 'friendly', positive manner. So many thing's Cry could have responded with, but the assassin remained silent for a second more as he considered what to say back. His second was up.

"It's better than eating rats."

Glacials turned from the brute as Cry nosed a slim muzzle in the eastern sector of the Wilds. A small gathering of deer he had ocme across while he traveled, but he ignored the herd as he knew he couldn't come close to taking one down by himself. He had made note of an older and weaker stag that kept with the group, but Cry had done nothing to attempt felling it.
Well nothing, until now.
And if they could get to the group before they moved on, a meal would be assured.

"The herd I traced is in that direction," he began as he kept his gems where the eastern forest was. "Half a mile from this spot."

The brute's dark colored ears twitched at the sound of the male's voice as he replied and Neako's golden eyes gleamed in the dense light that caught his stare as he slowly gave his head a nod in agreement to the stranger's words. Though in truth, Neako had never dined on rats himself, but the thought alone was a rather unpleasant one to the lone wolf. Even if had crossed his mind once or twice during particularly hard times in the past.

Neako watched the stranger momentarily till finally allowing his husky voice to escape his lips, ”Indeed it is.” The brute said with a half smile, his dirty, unkept tail swaying gently behind him as he licked at his dry muzzle, the growing thought of having a decent meal becoming more and more appealing to the bulky loner as he pondered on it further. And soon, the loner found himself peering in the direction the ebony male had motioned, his stare following the male's gaze as he spoke, pointing out the location of a small herd, about half a mile or so from where they currently stood. 

His amber eyes gradually averted away from the trail and back to the similar colored male before him, his gray muzzle parting as he replied smoothly, ”Well, since you were the one that tracked them, I think you should be the one to take the lead.” Neako said with a friendly smile and a slight wag of his tail, dark ears arching forward as he then offered the male a firm nod.

Cry chuckled, and though it may have been dry almost bordering sarcasm, it was still a pointed illustration that Neako had gotten some shard of humor from him. It didn't last long, but it existed once upon a today. The shadow prince only assumed the loner had perhaps had some as his solitude didn't offer much quarry in the world of olves, but then again, he wasn't one to talk. Though it may have been seen as arrogance from his end, Cry knew all too well how foul rats tasted. He was deep in the loner life, and even while he pledged loyalty to Ganador, he kept finsing himself leaving the lands to search...to search for what? What could provide him with anything other than what he needed in pack life? What exactly was the voided man needing?

Winter gems settled on the massive wolf who offered him point position in the hunt, and he fought the urge to nonchalantly shrug. After all, he did give the direction of where the quarry lay, but manners and practicality were oil and water, and if he were to be making an ally with this wolf, it would be best to not be...well...uncaring. So he simply nodded, and responded with "Very well."

They were well out of range for any scent markers to begin, so Cry filled the silence as they began their journey- something very uncharacteristic when it came to him. "Where do you hail, companion."

Sorry for the wait and short post :( <3

When hearing the other male's response, Neako gave another silent bow of his head, his unkept tail swaying idly behind him as he waited for his new companion to begin the journey. And once the dark stranger began to move, the bulky male's own paws shifted upon the ground as they finally started their quest. The loner kept his stare forward, that was until the stranger broke the lingering silence between them and Neako averted his gaze from the path ahead and slowly to the similar colored companion at his side, ”Not from around here.” He smirked some, his tail giving a soft swish, a gentle wag of sorts as he let out a laugh, ”I come from a land East of here..” Neako said, nose pointing beyond the creek and many rivers and streams in the distance, ”There's nothing for me there..” The brute added with an almost icy look within his eyes, ”So now I roam the wilds.” Neako replied as grey socked paws carried him casually along side the other male.

”How 'bout yourself?” The bulky male asked curiously, deciding to throw the stranger's own question at him, ”Unless you've always been with your pack?” The brute said with a tilt of his head, his pace steady as he journeyed with the still nameless male.