Sawtooth Spire like two dogs caged

@Aariak. For the discovery of Kipinaruk Path (Twisted Path). It doesn't have a description yet, so I figured we could make it up as we go along, and create an official description based on what we describe here. :] Think rocky maze leading towards the top of one of the spires.

@Tonravik was watching the kids again. He'd spent the greater part of the morning occupying his time with their antics so when she returned just after noon it was time for them to switch. He'd slipped away as soon as he was able simply because he had one of those nagging urges on the brain that required him to take care of it sooner rather than later. Aariak. He needed to find Aariak.

The caretaker was integrating well. He spent a fair amount of time with the kids and was doing wonders to fill in the holes of their teaching. It was good to have the wolf around and better yet, Iqniq very much enjoyed the wolf's company. Thinking of him, Iqniq lifted his head in a howl to see where the wolf was at. He lingered for a moment, listening, before he turned his paws in the direction of one of the spires in the distance. He sent up a second howl, noting his location as he continued onward and hoped to meet the wolf there.

lol That was fast! :D

Aariak's best time to rest was when the sun reached it's highest at mid-day. Mornings spent on physical work, afternoons spent mostly patrolling, and every now and then he'd peek at the boys to see if there was a chance to pick a fight with Atuaserk or dig up some bug with Pingasut. They were grat boys, and although the other two were a bit more shy, Aariak knew they would soon hatch out of their cocoon.

His nap, although interrupted by the Alpha's call, had been invigorating enough. Aariak howled back to let Iqniq know he was coming, and with a yawn, the Inuit promptly stood up, stretched out, and set foot to what seemed like an exploration journey towards a high peak in thr distance.

Sloping up the terrain became less green and vibrant, and more gray and hostile. Sharp rocky peaks sprouted from the eart more often as he reached his fiery friend. Barking, Aariak announced himself and greeted Iqniq. He licked the Alpha's chin in acknowledgement and with a waggy tail awaited an explanation for the meet-up.

Haha. It was a super short and super vague starter! It should get better from here. :]

The forest thinned towards the base of the spire. The soft, earthen ground became rockier and far more precarious to navigate as all the scree piled at its base. He picked his way over the loose stone as he ascended a bit higher. Satisfied with his position, he turned his head over his shoulder to glance back towards the tree line. Aariak was on his way. Did Iqniq need to send up another howl? He pondered it a moment before deciding against it and turning his eyes back towards the spire. Could they reach the top? Maybe. Or maybe they'd wear each other out before they got there. He couldn't say.

A bark announced the pale wolf's presence. Iqniq hopped down the slop a bit to greet the wolf. Aariak's lick to his chin was returned with a light nudge of his muzzle. Greetings aside, Iqniq was eager to explore. A light wag lifted to his tail as he beamed eagerly. He'd been feeling a little lazy what with watching the kids and all. It was time to hit those slopes and get a proper workout in. No doubt the caretaker could uses a little more strenuous exercise to make up for all the holding back they did when play-fighting with the youngins.

"I'm getting fat. Let's hike this spire." And get in a little endurance training. Perhaps they could run intervals up the slopes as they navigated between the large, jutting rocks. It'd be precarious, but Iqniq was up to the challenge of endurance, speed, and agility. "And try not to get lost..." he added looking upwards at the trail. There were parts where the ground dipped between towering stones and blocked out views of the outside world. Navigating that area might be tricky... He eyeballed the intended path for a moment and contemplated what might happen if they got lost. Naahh.. Worth it. "We'll be fine."

Oh god I'm so sorry
I've been so busy
and I have so many threads with Aariak for some reason D:

And just like Aariak expected, there was a very good reason for the Alpha's call. He was getting fat.

Aariak chuckeld first, but then nodded agreeing with the plan. He'd been looking at those peaks for days, trying to figure out what it looked like from up there, so hiking it seemed an amazing idea.

The terrain ahead of them looked incredibly irregular, and the rocks, srpouting from all and toards all angles, made it look more like a puzzle than a mountain. The caretaker weighed their chances as well, and just like Iqniq decided that it was worth a shot.

"Lead the way?" Aariak said, sort of joking after Iqniq noted the importance of not getting lost.

lol. Everyone wants to meet him!

His question raised, Iqniq turned his gaze towards the twisted path in front of them. The beginnings felt harmless and looked as though they'd be decent to navigate. The rest of it? He hadn't the slightest idea what they would encounter, but that was all a part of this now wasn't it?

"Let's go then." There as nothing quite like getting lost than putting yourself in a position where that was very likely to happen. He picked up his paws and slipped into the narrow pass that immediately took a turn and spit them out in a place where sheer rock lined in vertical walls around them.

Iqniq glanced over his shoulder, looking back to Aariak. "How's your endurance holding up these days?" he asked, picking up the pace a little bit as he rounded another corner. Dead end. He backed up and tried another path.

Aariak followed through the narrow pass that took the two males into a place unlike Aariak would have ever imagined. Like walls, the rocks that shoot up from the floor caged them and took them through narrow and well defined hallways to unknown places.

The male smiled at Iqniq encouragingly, and picked up the pace behind his Alpha. They shared that love for fitness, it seemed, and Aariak was happy to take the challenge.

Backing up from the dead end Iqniq had lead them to, Aariak chuckled behind the guide. "Are you lost yet?" he joked, not knowing what they were really facing. Distracted by the rocks, Aariak followed Iqniq around a quick turn, but lost the male's fiery coat around the corner. He couldn't have out-ran him, could he? He quickened up the pace and took a turn he thought was where Iqniq had gone, but he, too, found a dead end, and Iqniq was nowhere to be seen.

"Very funny!" he barked sarcastically, turned around and ran through the narrow passages to find his lost leader. "Where are you?" he barked loudly, but his voice bounced back at him on the many walls and spikes sprouting from the cold stone floor. And then silence.

"Shit..."