Serpent Lake a warm patch of sun

40F // Partly Cloudy

Kiir wandered the rocky shoreline of the lake, wishing it were warmer. Of course, they'd been wishing it were warmer since they'd left their homeland. Still, this place reminded them of home as no other place had since traveling so far. In the distance, Kiir could see a flat-topped mesa jutting up from the steppe. Perhaps they'd go and visit it, revel in its colorful walls. For now, they only hoped for a relatively warm patch of sun in which to nap. The waters of the lake were thawing with spring, but were still fairy frozen, and Kiir thought his fishing would probably yield nothing. Alas.

he had not yet moved on, and was rewarded with another stranger for it.

a coyote, easy to see. he approached them for no other reason than he could. which was perhaps not the best reason ever to approach somebody, but it was better than doing it out of maliciousness.

how had the stranger approached him the day before? so calm and collected with but one question—

do you want to hunt?

Kiir glanced up from their meandering, eyes taking in the stark black coat against the alluring orange eyes of this stranger. "Eh?" Kiir said, one large ear swiveling in the male's direction. They quirked a smile, tail wagging slightly. "This One would hunt with you, yes, but..." They cast their gaze outward, toward the lake, then in the distance, toward the steppe. "What prey do you see? Spring it may be, but barely. All the warm furry creatures are hiding away, no? And the lake... she is sleeping, still." Kiir cocked his head to the side. "Perhaps we shall hunt little scaly beasts who, like This One, are searching for a warm place to nap."

the man spoke in an usual way. not that gennesis would point anything like that out, his own speaking patterns came from things said to him rather than traditional thinking.

his orange gaze squinted, looking out around the lands. trees in the distance, the mesa looming in a forbidden way. the man offered scaly beasts, although revealed he had been looking to rest. someplace warm. nowhere here, he thought loosely. he too desired somewhere warmer.

it is better to rest on a full belly. he answered with a thin smile. perhaps they are trapped under ice, waiting the warmth.

Kiir released a long-suffering sigh and stretched, bowing down, bending their spine. They stood up straight again with a shake, eyes twinkling. "Kiir will follow you, then, and hunt what you hunt. Yes? Then we will share the spoils." They turned and grimaced at the lake. "Perhaps we should wait to hunt fish, though. This One would prefer not to get wet. The water is far too cold for a swim." Kiir eyed the lake longingly for a moment, lost in the memories of their puphood, splashing in the Oasis waters with friends. Home was a long way away.

gennesis was confused.

had the man not mentioned scaly beasts? was he not implying fish with that sentence?

regardless, he only grunted softly. yeah. the deal was fine to him and he would guide them to what he could find them. assuming the male would follow, he would move to do just that.

which would be the fresh tracks of a small trio of hares.

the "scaly beasts" was referring to lizards and snakes and stuff! sorry lol

Kiir padded along silently beside their larger acquaintance. Well--taller, more like. A glance at the dark male's pointed snout and ears suggested mixed heritage, though it was impossible to tell without asking. Kiir kept their eyes mostly down, studying the hare tracks as they followed them.

Quietly, so as not to alert any potential prey, Kiir asked, "Your name? If we are to hunt together, This One would know what you are called." They paused. "Kiir is Kiir, of course, but you may call me whatever you wish." They flashed a quick coyote grin to their hunting partner and then looked down at the hare tracks again.

ur good! <3

gennesis.

he drawled lazily, eyes still set on their path. they grew closer to their targets with each step.

gennesis drew his body down towards the ground, a sneaky crouch that collapsed him into a more familiar coyote sight than that of any wolf heritage.