Open The Beasts in the Snow

[Ettan]

The 12th of Winter, 512 A.V.

The blonde and brown wolf was trudging through the snow with his nose low to the ground. He caught on to the scent of a snow hare and he lowered himself into a hunter's stance. He didn't blend in as well in the white snow as some of the more native creatures as he did in Kelea but he was quick on his feet and if he was quiet enough he might find himself with pray.

He let out a low growl as he got eye of the defenseless creature, staying hidden behind a small bit of shrubbery, which really wasn't shrubbery at all, waiting for the right moment to strike.

[Brighid Killian]

From her perch on the high snowy slope, the female snow leopard caught movement out of the corner of her pale eyes. She locked her eyes on it and was surprised to see it was a darkly colored wolf. She was unable to tell if it was a normal animal or Kelvic like herself.

She watched as it crouched ready to pounce on the small snow hare, she put her dome shaped head on her front paws and continued to watch the beast. Her muscles were clenched caught between the fight or flight response she growled softly.

Her thick pelt kept her protected from the harsh tundra wind as well as allowed her to bled in with the rocks and shrubbery on the icy slope. Her mind was curious of the invader, but she was smart enough to keep her distance.

[Ettan]

Ettan lowered himself deeper preparing to leap onto the small hare. Unfortunately it got scent of him fleeing leaving the unlucky wolf's snot to dig into the snow as he landed where his pray one stood. Letting out a frustrated growl the wolf pulled his now frosty nose out of the snow and shock the remaining snow off.

He lowered his head to the ground and place his paws on his snot that was now swore and cold before letting out a pitiful noise of disappointment.He was now missing Kelea, where his hunting skills were much more suited. He lifted his head back up and stretch his limbs, leaning back onto his back legs than forward on to his front. He was prepared to attempt his hunt again when he caught scent of another creature one that could be a much bigger threat. He sniffed and turned his head just slightly in the direction of the smell before letting out a defensive growl.

[Brighid Killian]

When he saw her, she rose to her feet. Her hair rising on end she lowered her head, her lips peeled back from razor sharp teeth and she let a slow growl trickle from her throat. She began to lower her self from the icy slope, her wide paws allowed her to walk on the snow rather then sinking into it. Her fur covered paws gave yer better traction, she slid faster down the slope until she reached the bottom. She was now about fifty feet from the wolf, her tail flicking behind her in irritation.

She sat back on her haunches and simply watched the wolf, her light grey-green eyes never wavering from his form. The wind began to pick biting through her fur, she paid it no mind used to the conditions. She was debating on weather to attack the wolf or wait and see what it would do.

[Ettan]

Ettan watched the leopard only from the corner of his eye. He stayed still in a stiff defensive stance. He's paws sunk just slightly into the snow. His coppery eyes narrowed as the wind blew through him. It nipped at him but his fur was still suitable even in this cold. There was nothing but a grayish land scape between them.

He knew she could see him clearly but if it wasn't for her scent she would most likely have caught him off guard and having the home ground advantage would have given him little chance if he wasn't a good tracker. He could tell she was a Kelvic from the slight smell of leather on her, telling him she times were cloths. This did ease him somewhat, though only so much.

He finally moved from his stance and turned now to face her completely. He lowered his head but not defensively but more as a way of friendly greeting.

[Brighid Killian]

As he turned towards her she hissed, and then shifted. In the leopards wake was a tall and slender female. Skin pale as the snow around them, her hair falling to her waist, in thick brindle tresses. She cocked her hap and crossed her arms.

"Ye can shift, I want to speak to you....." Her voice was slightly husky as if she rarely used it. Unaffected by the cold, her nude body was warm and at home with the icy landscape. She was still eyeing the wolf with a cold mask, her face giving away no information on what her intentions were or what she was feeling.

"Look I can tell that you are not from around here, I know you are Kelvic from the scent on you. So just shift and talk to me or leave me be......"She growled softly punting a pale hand to her forehead and pushing back her hair.

[Ettan]

The wolf hesitantly shifted as well into his tall and tone human form. His tan skin standing out as much as his yellow fur. Taking few steps forward, the snow nipped painfully at his feet. The cold was not as friendly to him as it was to her.

"I'm afraid I am not as used to the cold as you are in my human form. Perhaps if you joined me back at my camp I could get dress and we could have a more civil conversation. It is not far from here."

He invited her politely, not wanting to anger her, as well as he felt the two were probably not much different. He turned however to head towards it not waiting for her reply.

"Weren't you the one stalking me?" He said with smirk in response to her telling him to leave her be.

[Brighid Killian]

"Yes I was watching you, it is odd to find others out in these lands....."She chuckled mirthlessly, the voice cold. She eyed his form and nodded as if accepting him. As he offered her to follow him she began to back away, fear gnawing at the pit of her stomach.....

"I-I-I........Is it near the city?" She finally managed to get out through clenched teeth. She then raised her fingers to her lips and let out a high keening whistle. It was returned by a low nickering sound, at the top of the slope a large Frostmarch mare began the slow incline down the slope. The female met her halfway, she stepped up to her and unclasped the saddlebag, she pulled out a set of breeches, thick leather boots, a set of gloves, her tunic and her cloak. She dressed quickly, then she took her waist length tresses and began to braid them. She tied them off with a simple leather tie and raised her hood over her face. Her pale green eyes never left him as she did this.

[Ettan]

He stopped and turned back knowing his feeling was right about her. She was wild, just like him, though he found it hard to believe she seemed to be even less used to the cities than he was but yet she seemed fairly civilized maybe even more so than him.

"no worry it's not. I came out here to escape from the city walls myself. Now enough chat." He shifted again but waited for her to meet him before carrying on, his tail wagging in the snow.

[Brighid Killian]

She nodded and swung into the saddle of her mare, she gripped the reins clucked her tongue. The mare began to follow him, both her and the mare were used to the freezing conditions and paid little mind to them. Yet the female knew the male had no experience with them, she felt a small pang of sympathy for him but quickly buried it. The only way she had survived this long was being on her own, trusting no one and always being cautious.

Right now she didn't dare relax around him, instead she kept a hand on the dagger that was hidden in her cloak. She fingered the hilt of it, the weight comfortable in her hand. She scanned their surroundings again, the endless tundra stretched out in front of them, there were a few small winter plants but other then that the landscape was bare, covered in either ice or snow. The ground beneath them was slick and uneven, it would have caused a less experienced rider to stumble. But the female trusted her mare, as well as her skills to keep both of them safe.