Totoka River come up and get me

In her days of roving alone, she had devoted herself to a thorough scope of the coast starting with the cliffs for the north-most reach. When she circled back inland near the mountain Kiwi had roosted on, she still didn't detect major activity suggesting a powerful claim yet, so the yearling Drakru cut a route guiding herself back south, first past Rusalka to creep a little there, then on down the coast once more to see what else she could sniff out in covering more ground down the coastline.

It had proven worthwhile to see where the wolf traffic congregated, and where the prey seemed thickest. She kept an eye out for suitable allies, too, but those seemed few and far between--but this didn't surprise her, not after their every attempt for grotto had fizzled out eventually and even her interest had waned given the timing. However, she simply kept going, ears up and eyes keened, until she reached the river and slowed herself up for a change in directive.

She lingered around near where it reached the coast, and the waters were brackish but familiar to her senses. There she scoped at greater length, nose low and prowling along the bend of the waters where she could occasionally wade and keep her fur wet. Wanting to keep more of this handy, she simply followed their course inland. On the way, and after surfacing onto the bank dripping wet, she was left to wonder if she might see anyone else today--now, the hottest part of the afternoon was almost over, so maybe once evening came closer, the other creatures might really come out too.

The sun has been slowly trickling through the sky as Ulysses stalked his way through Ravensblood Forest it had taken hours, but the prey he was finally able to catch would feed him for a few days if he lets it. He’s caught himself a fawn just old enough to see the tell tail signs of those snowy spots along the ridge of her back disappearing. The mother gave him a run for his money and a healthy gash on his forehead that bled a little longer than he thought was normal.

He’s made his way out of the forest and can feel the sand slipping in between his massive paws as he reaches the coast. The fawn still dangles from his maw and the fresh splash of blood still stains his face and neck as he carries the body along with him from the back of her bloodied and broken neck. She’s small enough that her hooves just barely drag through the sand, though Ulysses’ massive bulk and height give him an advantage.

He can see the coast just a hundred feet away and is surprised to see another wolf. His moon like eyes catch on the form, body still, large ears swiveled forward, attempting to weight out whether or not they could be a threat. Though Ulysses doesn’t fear most, he would rather avoid conflict if possible.

For most of her perusing of the area, she kept her nose skimming low.. only glancing up here and there, but content to let the landscape cut her route where she followed the river's suggestion. Here with the roll of the waves meeting the sands not all too far away and she was in contented spirits, at least for a wolf on her own for now--what with her greater causes all far away.

But even over the din of all the other scattered scents and the seasalt heavy on the breeze, she definitely picked her head up tall when she smelled blood, distinct and metallic. Not so long after, she could lay her eyes on the one responsible.. and at first, at a distance, she was not sure what she saw exactly. A massive canine, wolf-enough, right? With the deer's dangling legs, his kill secure in his teeth.. Opalia did take an extra second to register this. She was no stranger to sizable folk, but there was something else here she couldn't entirely name, and this translated quick into curiosity.

However, a good sense of self-preservation kept her tamed and when he seemed to size her up, she stared back intently, pausing her own steps when she knew without a doubt that she had been seen. The winds were not playing well to her favor, but she was almost certain he did not smell entirely like this place.. so she wanted to rule out the likeliness of him being territorial. Seeing his prey, though, meant he had something enviable by a hungrier wolf. Simply enough, Opalia narrowed her mismatched eyes at him, still perplexed, and sure she had never seen someone entirely like his kind--so she was on her guard. Her stance was still confident, however, suggested in extra by the uptick to her tail--she dared him, or anyone, to underestimate her, but she had little here to lose, and wouldn't have an issue if he didn't.

Hei, the Drakru eventually chuffed towards the stranger, her typical Dragedan greeting serving to test the uncertain waters, if he wasn't immediately on his way.

The heat sinks into the thickness of his navy tinted double coat. The warmth of the late day makes him want to hang his spotted tongue out the side of his mouth and roll about in the sand of the ever stretching coast. Lying alongside his kill like he’s on vacation, occasionally treating himself to a dip in the salty water. 

Or that’s what he planned on doing. As he locks eyes with this stranger wolf he’s suspicious of their intentions, but not all that worried. The most he suspects is a fight over the kill he carries, hopefully it doesn’t take a turn in that direction. 

He’s upwind so he’s sure they know mounds about him already just by his scent, yet he knows so little of them. They’re curious it seems, as they step ever closer to him. Ulysses can see the soft creams and the shimmering gold detailing their coat. Ulysses himself tilts his head, the kill dangling and dragging in the granules of sand as he decides to sidle ever closer as well.

Though he doesn’t go straight towards them, he takes a half-circle trail towards them. His face and those misty eyes transfixed on them in the orange hues of the evening light. The side of his body faces the stranger to give them a better view of his size: his most important intimidation factor. The hulking form of hard muscles shift beneath his coat as he slowly circles his way towards them, not knowing what could be in store.

Soon, she knew without a doubt that she had gained his attention and she granted him that much unabashed, to the point of lifting her head a bit more to peer hotly back. As he arced towards her, she was on her own best alert, and it was safe to say he become her focus too as the curl to her tail starts to tip upwards more. But, Opalia had learned over the months that it is always necessary to keep some focus back for herself. She has a role to play in it as well.

The strange wolf bears himself for her to behold, and the yearling is still quiet for a long, heavy moment. She looked, if only for an instant, to still be deciding her exact course here. Alone, conflict isn't an option she should wisely press. It is tempting when she wants to break the mundane routine of her everyday monotony (even lacking many comrades to spar with lately to keep the blood moving for reasons not strictly because survival demanded so), but unwise for a lonesome rogue like herself.

Thinking of which, she isn't sure what she may get out of him but it's worth an attempt. Do you run with any pack? she asked of the behemoth for her next attempt to engage him, at least verbally. Largely, she kept her sights off his prey, though stayed keenly aware of it with her nose--for now, he is more interesting to her than food when she is busy scoping for her next opportunities.

But where he very clearly has his size, she lets the stranger see that she was not afraid of that alone and not going to repelled so easily. She was confident in her speed, and her agile feet--if it came to that. There was a lot before then, she hoped.

Taking one silent step after another in the soft granules of the bright orange, sun kissed sand; he continues to make his way closer. He can see the way she lifts her tail slightly higher and knows she’s not as afraid or intimidated as most have been just by his sheer size alone.

Ulysses knows he’s got her full attention as her eyes never leave his approaching form. It doesn’t seem like she’s too interested in what he holds in his maw, but seems rather curious about him instead.

Ghost white eyes catch on her own as he finally stops a comfortable distance away. With about six feet keeping them apart he drops his kill gently to the sand. Vaguely sighing on the inside because his food is going to be a bit crunchy now. His brows furrow when his own mist like eyes can actually see the color in the other wolf’s. Her eyes are different colors he notes, a beautiful sky blue in one and a fascinating pinkish hue that looks just that much more amazing when the sun’s rays bounce off of them.

He tilts his head lazily and remembers that she had asked him a question. “No.” He says with a shrug. “Do you belong to a pack?” He asks a light smile gracing his muzzle. His accent strong but not enough to where she couldn’t understand him. “Would I be less or more of a threat to you if I were?” He takes another step forward, “I don’t think it’d matter anyway, you don’t seem like you’re intimidated anyhow.” A low laugh seeps out at the end of his sentence, trying to lighten up the air around them.

In no way could she deny the small glimmer of satisfaction she felt when he did finally deem her worth a reply, and an answer at that. Not teeth, though maybe she was ready for it deep, deep down. She had sized up a bear once before too and, well.. Nevertheless, she held fast to her ground, and let his pause determine the distance still. No, not here. Opalia replied. Not anymore, and not with all of her fellow drakru far away from her these days. It was her most glaring weakness and she was constantly mindful of its presence, as unbecoming as it felt.

She couldn't place his accent herself, but she spoke a bit clipped--a remnant of her own roots raised in trigedasleng, but most likely, he wouldn't know that either. Honestly, it would probably depend on which pack you ran with, she supposed truthfully, all for her wildly varying opinions of the few she did know enough about to pass any judgement--such as in comparing Rusalka to Elysium. All the while, the gona stayed still, watchful, and careful to angle her neck right at the finest line of defense and confidence. Leveling with him was just her best attempt. You are not wrong. not so easily, anyway. she smirked, trying to, at least. So excuse her for needing a greater cause than just sheer size and unfamiliarity  alone. It was fine if he underestimated her; she knew what she looked like, but in her finer details, Drageda has raised a sharp guardian. So are you here passing through this area? Or is it just for the good hunting..? she asked, going for that much next.

He watches her intently as she speaks, looking down at her, politely keeping eye contact, and wiping the smile of his maw. He wouldn’t want to antagonize anyone, he doesn’t know what makes her tick. Though her first reply makes him nod in agreement, since he doesn’t know of any of the packs around, it makes sense. Her second reply makes his whiskered lips twitch, wanting to break into an easy smile again. 

She’s confident. He thinks. He notices that she has an accent as well. Though just as he assumes she doesn’t know where his originates, he knows not where her accent reins from either. His large ears swivel to face her and the noise of the tides shifting. The water all of a sudden looks way too inviting.

Ulysses begins walking past her after she asks her next few questions. Leaving the kill where he dropped it and turning his back on a complete stranger are both odd decisions, but he’s confident in said decisions. He sidles to the shore, “Both I suppose?” His own answer makes it sound like he doesn’t even know. “Not too sure what to do with myself now to be honest.” He chuckles humorlessly. “I’ve been honing my hunting skills, can’t get enough of it really. Trying my best to be as uninteresting as possible.” When his paws finally hit water and he’s standing in the shallow end he gazes back to her. “It’s been harder than you think.”

Ulysses shakes, plumes of long fur flurry about the sky. The heats starting to get to him and he wants nothing but to hang his black and pink tongue out the side of his mouth. So he goes ahead and does it. “How about you? What’s got you running around these parts? You seem to be doing pretty good.” He asks, genuinely curious about her.

On all of her guards, her attention slides along with him as he moves towards the water, prompting her to pivot just enough to make it easier. It is only with a passing, terribly fleeting glance that she notes his kill, unattended, and clearly not forgotten by even her.

Still, his answer seems to ring a familiar enough bell for her, and her ears tip backwards during her brief nod. I've been scouting the coast, waiting for my brother to return from visiting our faraway kru, she answers with a small punctuation of a sigh. Hopefully their father is still well among them and she's pin-pricked by a bit of envy for her brother's potential reunion. But, she also fears seeing what time and toil has done to him.

Anyway, for now she omits her duty in her vague watch on the cliffs, Rusalka, Dalia's whereabouts, and any potential opportunity they may need to have going forward. Opalia doesn't know what her next few months have to offer yet and it is too soon for her to be worried; best not to bring it up unnecessarily. My homeland is north, as are our enemies, but heading south has seemed to work out for me while alone, she detailed with a few small steps closer where she peered at the waters, then him once again with the same curious glint about her. We were going to settle in the taiga but, worthwhile comrades to train with were too few then.. so I've only roamed since, and as he could see it here and now, she'd made it this far with her morale relatively intact--but not without that restless, aimless feeling she didn't quite like much.

Opalia wondered what he might think of that, and what else she may find out. She intended to scheme a coming route, at least until she turned back towards the northern coast. Maybe Dacio would return soon after, and all would align. However, time would tell, and she wanted to find out whatever she could from him before moving on herself.