Moonsong Glacier clothe yourself with all the rough alikes

@Whip

A light snow fell as Akantha scoured the jagged reaches of the glacial retreat for food, and things of interest. Normally she would have preferred the bounty of the sea, but their access to it was tenuous at best with so many packs nearby. Their party was near ten strong now, perhaps higher for she was not the most social of the Sisters and could count on her toes with relative confidence the faces she knew to be pledged to the cause. The Consorts, young, would suffice for now. They would mature, the ritual would proceed, and the Sea would bless them with daughters a'plenty. Though she did not speak of it to Meteora, Akantha quietly hoped she would prove herself worthy to bear the year's young.

Presently, however, she was far more concerned with rooting out a few meals to bring back to the group. Her paws, used to the supple give of the ocean sands, were not holding up well to the rough landscape. Already her pads sported a few new cuts, and though they were nothing to be concerned about medically, they did leave an obvious trail of pink-tinged prints in the snow. But the bullheaded amazonian was undaunted. A flash of agouti-fur amongst the shale caught her attention and she stopped dead; her breathing stilled, her eyes dialated, and she flared her nose to take in the scent of the pika. 

She crept forward, stiff-legged and ready to spring.

Tagging for reference sake :P

Here, with these women Whip now followed, he found his characteristic silence to be his greatest asset. Whereas in the Caldera, among his own family, Whip's emotional detachment had been a detriment to the relationship between he and kin, and even his own wellbeing. With these Sirens however, Whip found his distance to be advantageous. They were a harsh bunch. Stern, and full of disgust directed toward him for reasons he did not yet know. They called him a consort, among other things in a language he hoped to one day learn. He kept his head low out of neccessity, but in doing so, he did not hunger. Brutal as they were, Whip knew the Nereides were his best, or rather, only chance of surviving the winter.

And the snow fell -- and it fell heavy.

He stuck close to @Meteora when he could. He mirrored her in silence, learning what he could to make his life among their branch easier. But there were times that Whip desired to be alone with his thoughts. It was the last, and most important, freedom that he felt he was afforded. So, he took to the glacier for solitude. As he trudged through the fresh fallen snow, Whip thought of his late mother. He liked to pretend that he was still on that long trip to Sleeping Dragon with both she and his brother, Gannet. Sometimes, he would turn, believing that they would be a few steps behind.

But they weren't. What he did see was a Siren, and she was looking his way. He halted, keeping his head low and body still with waiting.

The little rock rodent emerged from the hovel once more, some grass stuffed in it's fat little cheeks, and settled down on the shale threshold outside of its den. Her nose flared and she rolled her shoulders, coiled her legs, and sprang. She bounded over the rocks and snapped at the empty where the pika once sat. Bewhildered, she whirled, and caught sight of the stupid creature's ass as it shimmied into an escape route at the base of the boulder. A growl of frustration ripped through her and she dove after it, shoving her muzzle into the hole and gnashing her teeth. Akantha's nose was immediately flooded with the strong, musty scent of rodent, and she could hear it shuffling further and further out of reach.

She yanked her nose out and shook her face free of dirt and snow before turning, finally, to the coltish boy standing a few yards off. He was obscured a bit by the snow, but the fresh scent of the Nereides marked him as one of their own. Akantha cupped her ears and she moved towards him, mouth twisted into a scowl. It was unclear if it was simply from his presence, or her failed hunt. Regardless, she reached out to nose his shoulder roughly confirming her suspicions that he was, in fact, the boy from before. "Why did you follow?" She grumbled, unable to even consider that he wasn't out here for her benefit.

As the woman approched, Whip remained completely and perfectly still. He didn't even blink out of fear that she may be provoked into lashing out as Meteora did when Whip found himself out of line. Did he fear them? These Sirens? In part, yes. However, he knew they were his only chance to survive -- and where else was he to go? At least here, unhospitable as his situation was, he had a home. He had a purpose, which was something Whip had never felt he had. Not even among family did he feel like he belonged.

By now, the woman was closer. He could see the scowl knitting deep lines though her brow. The drudge bit his lip and waited in silence. With her muzzle, she touched him. Yet Whip did not flinch. He remained still; statuesque. Then, she spoke. Her question was one he had asked himself many times over. Why did he follow? Why did he stay? The answer was simple. "I have nowhere else to go," he replied, casting his gaze downward as he spoke. There was no family to go back to. Nothing.

Akantha churned his words over and over in her head until they lacked meaning—she snorted. Why would a male willingly walk beside them unless he truly had no where else to turn? She'd heard nothing of any kidnappings; she would be the first to know if there was a plan to do so, after all. So what the boy said must be true and there was no other explaination or need to consider it further. "Meteora must have found some worth in you. Come on." Akantha said, brushing past him to continue on across the snowy slopes.

Though she was normally content to walk in silence (and alone, no less), she imagined it would be more useful to swallow her irritation and talk to him. "What has she told you so far?" She asked, clambering over a large rock rather than chosing to go around it. Akantha did things the hard way, most of the time.

Whip answered and Akantha nodded, needing nothing more than confirmation he wasn't just drifting in their wake. She motioned for him to follow and the pair headed off in search of food to fill their bellies.