Honeyed Pasture trek along?

The golden stretch of grass was something to behold, even in winter's grasp, which squeezed so tightly the fronds into the earth; yet little yellow bridges still fought through it, here and there. It was like something out of a childhood, a rolling field of snow and softness to run through, to feel the bite of cold and the foolhardiness of life.

He had walked a while, only pausing as the dusk settled on the meadow like a whisper. He sat, sighing out a frosty breath. Galen shook his head, knocking flecks of snow free of his snout and head. He didn't know where he was going exactly, almost following the sun on his back - searching.

His stomach reminded him he hadn't eaten since morning, and there were no streams around for him to fish from; as far as the eye could see. He snorted to himself, he didn't have the best chances anyway. He could see dark shapes far ahead, snow and lowlight glinting off their backs too. A pair of mule deer, maybe.

Pangur too, stalked the beasts ahead, albeit from a different angle; she followed tracks that had been there since the previous day, all the way from the forest of Forneskja. Light feet caught up with them quick. Nobody would be angry at a hunt or two outside of the territory; all it meant was that Pangur had a much more tiring trip back home, hauling her kill.

By now, she'd come a little too far to be satisfied on rabbits. She kept low, and within her own cover; the tall grass a blessing as it defied winter's touch. Ahead, a buck! antlers barely visible from here, it grazed alongside a partner, backs slicked with evening frost, twinkled as the setting sun cast rays of gold and purple.

A fine huntress most days, but ever too zoned in, she startled when she noticed the other hunter nearby, cloaked in a gold more brilliant than her own. The rustling of her misstep alerted the deer to their positions, and they dashed in mere moments. Pangur's ears flattened to her head, and she whipped back around to look at the stranger, almost menacing for a moment.

Ah! Hallo! She greeted with a cheery twinge, now that silence was not needed, and began a slow trot over. Pangur was not one to give up so easy.

The start of the deer across the pasture was enough to startle him too, his head whirling to the sound that had firstly disturbed them. His foul luck made him fear for the worst, a bear or cougar on a late night prowl - one hungry enough in winter's landscape to try for a wolf. Instead, he was relieved, as the opposite stranger perked up.

Immediately, he was given to relief. It threaded tension away from his shoulders and spine in an instant, morphing from something wary to something warm. A respite from the frosty air. The merest of company was welcome on such a dusk as this.

Hello! He replied, brows raised as he smiled, all without teeth. His ears folded, a tick meek. I apologize if I interrupted your hunt.

Pangur shakes her head in response You did not! She assures with a rise to her voice, almost melodic, a light, carefree cadence on her tongue as there always was. They can still be caught, no? We just walk further. She would shrug, hazel eyes trained now on the horizon, whose golden glow bathed the land; all beauty such as that; the work of the gods. Her placement here, to hunt alongside a soon to be not-stranger, the will of the gods.

Pangur's reverence was silent, a thought dancing away in her mind.

You will come, yes? We can split it between us! Already she bounded ahead, the illusion of choice offered to him while really she just ushered him to follow. There was more than just invitation in her voice, there was challenge, playful and light, eager to be met. Over the shoulder, she called with a grin What are you called? I am Pangur!

The light optimism of the other was deeply welcome, swaying his otherwhile worries out of mind in an instant. Galen dipped his head in agreement, they were unlikely to move far, given the dark hour fading, and they had startled merely at a sound, and not the sight of the hunter on their heels.

He was already rising to his paws even as his face then drew into a meek expression - her invitation had been so casual, he could hardly bumble out a: I've always been more of a fish—

Galen was quick to follow, embarrassed clumsiness fading the further they moved. His tail swept in wag all the while, excited by whatever little adventure had happened upon him by mere fortune. His voice was sweet, clearly genuine and amicable, Pangur? I am Galen!

tag for ref >:)

Galen. Now not-stranger. Pangur's face could only hold so wide of a smile, she was invigorated! Now with company to help with the takedown. His friendly greeting was a warm delight in Pangur's eyes, an expected outcome, always; someday it would get her into trouble but ah- Pangur was too lucky for that...

She catches his previous mutterings and spares a glance over the shoulder, a quirked brow and narrowed expression given his way. You have been a fish? She remarks quizzically, but could not keep her teasing grin from showing. JAt least she made herself laugh.

Ah what luck of hers! Coming upon a man of his stature, he made a good stand-in for her usual hunting companion @Solharr, she wondered now if he could match him... A trickster's gleam twinkled in her eye as she looked back at Galen's gold-spun figure. Pangur bet he could have wrestled the deer to the ground with ease, while she would chase, corner and disorient, already her mind spun wild with plans!

Do you catch deer much? She questioned with a curious lilt of her head, then looked back down to the tracks that spread out before them. She needed to know what she was working with before she got ahead of herself, a bad habit repeated many a time.

Galen sputtered a nonsensical sound, looking every bit abashed with every word he fumbled through. He took it all well in hand, turning the mocking tone over like, well, a fish swimming through a stream. There was little that could offend him, and this was the least of it.

However, even as clumsy as he had started, the wild and fanciful look was one he didn't miss. He was quickly wary for their health.

Not so much anymore,He answered, strides a little smoother now that they had found their pace. His eyes hooked on the tracks but paid them little attention in the moment, tilting his head. I usually hunt on my own.

He seemed a little ashamed, but it was the truth. Galen's strength had never been fully in his speed, let alone while he was but one wolf himself. He had gotten used to not having someone to cover for his weaknesses as he covered theirs. He perked up a little after a moment, light and airy face replacing his brief tension, teasing on his own behalf, I hope that doesn't disappoint.

Pangur listened while they walked, slowing her own eager pace a little, it would do them no good to startle the deer again once they finally caught up. She liked the way he stumbled over his words, it must not have been often that others made his company; a notion confirmed as he spoke of his solitary hunts. She held no judgement despite what the shame that touched his voice, Pangur still burned bright with hopeful optimism.

It is no problem really! She says assuringly, shaking her head. We will be lucky, you will see. Pangur's jaws widened with a grin, she spoke with a playful sort of certainty; sure, the buck's hooves could easily crack a skull, though she remained unbothered by the dangers. She had hunted enough deer, both before and within Forneskja.

I will chase when we find them, I can slow it down, and keep its attention on me- its antlers spared just for her. She would be taking them home when all was said and done! She needed to earn them. -You can come from behind it, all you must do is shove it to the ground, and ah, maybe bite a few times for good measure.

Her tail swished and skimmed the top of the snow as a wave of ease settled on her shoulders. You agree?