King Elk Forest tamarack pines

@Tzila

the forest called to him from the mountain. though he knew that he was capable of finding thick trees and woodland expanses, the wildcat had set his sights on the forest to the west. after several long days of trekking across unforgiving terrain, tusk had found himself in the heart of it with nothing but his lean frame and his lightless yellow eyes to show for it. the savage had not hunted along the way, but he anticipated that there would be a great deal of potential in the wild wood; trees housed prey of many sorts, and this was increasingly likely due to the thick layer of snow that had settled across their earth. with the looming branches overhead and the thick boughs of the trees, the forest floor had only but a dusting of the chilling winter touch.

in time, tusk knew that he would return to the mountain, and the mountaineer who had joined him on the rocky peaks of the jutting structure. before then, the wildcat longed to roam through the woodland in search of long-legged hares and clever turkeys. he struck out in his search with a low frame and a careful prowl; the image of a savage predator. the razorback hairs along his shoulders and spine stood like rigid reminders of where he ought to return to, and for any who would pass by him. the dull yellow of his gaze sought any movement from the brush at the base of the trees – he was a hunter, and his gut seemed to rumble with the reminder to fill that need.