[UN] Uncharted

[Whimzica]

[Placement purposes- Kesi is headed towards Tundra/Rounda,
Khaless is headed towards Freezy/Glacia/Tsia. ]

Kesi lifted her head at the noise on the wind, glancing back the way she'd came. She didnt particularly want to retrace her steps- the howling call had come from behind her, where she'd passed already. Her green pelt showed up too well against the snow, and so she tried to keep to the pines if she could, following her original path southward.
---
Khaless loped through the trees towards the call, trying neither to hide nor to silence her footfalls in the snow. She wasnt hunting, though if a morsel crossed her path she wouldnt mind giving chase. Khal was much more inclined to find out who had called, and why. It was possible they were struggling in the harsh weather, and though not concerned for any save her pack, Khal wouldnt miss an opportunity to add loners to Xa'los if she could.. Her eyes darkened a bit as she mulled over the other possibility, and she bared her fangs silently. She'd dearly love to meet an Alchemist in this weather.. easy prey indeed, those soft Ikal, hand fed from Alphonse.

[StarScarred]

Faceless merely laughs softly at the returned jab, seeming completely unconcerned of it. He has, after all, managed quite well on his own all this time, even despite his somewhat smaller size. He's quick, and smarter than most of his prey, though it won't make any difference if they can't find any.

"Just try to keep up. I won't share if I have to do all the work." He turns his head back just long enough to flash a grin at Thanatos-- white on white on white-- and picks up his speed a little.

The trees are rushing by, and the only sound is the blood pounding in his ears, the exhalation of his breath in the frigid air, and the pounding, crunching bass of his feet on the thick snow. At least, until a lone, wavering cry, distant and faint, shivers through the trees. It's very far away-- little more than a whisper, really, and it's hard, at such a distance, to tell where it's coming from.

"Wonder who that is?" He calls to his brother, but it sounds unconcerned. He isn't about to go wandering off on some hair-brained idea to look for the one making the call.

[yeomso]

The brothers continued their journey in the opposite direction of the howl, taking the mountainside path near the forest's edge. While Tundra was well blended, the snow had made Rounda's brown coat stand out.

Rounda coughed out a grunt as he looked towards the forest. The snow was not as piled, and the dirt would help him blend. He gave a quick look to Tundra before jumping down from the icy path and taking the lower path closer to the pine forest.

Tundra kept his brother in eye shot as he continued to take the upper path, always ready to jump down if in danger or if Rounda needed his help.

[SpaceDadDisapproves]

(Forgive short crappy post. Muse is fighting with me and doesn't seem to want to continue. *growls at it*)

The sisters soon come across Tsia. After a short bit of eyeing each other, the three relax their body postures. "So, you are looking for someone to hunt with too then?" Freezyiana asks, getting just a small nod from Tsia. "Well, luckily my sister and I are looking for others to hunt with as well. The more the merrier, I say. I'm Freezyiana and this is my sister, Glaciana."

"Tsia. So, the three of us are a group now then?" Tsia says softly, ears flicking slightly at the growing cold. At the nod from the other two, she drops beside the both of them and they start loping towards the outskirts of the forest once more, not knowing any others had heard the howl.

[Volchitsa]

Thanatos kept up with his brother with ease, longs legs giving him that extra bit of distance. It didn't hurt that Thanatos loved to run. Especially when he came across someone who could keep up, and it was his brother at that. Their family was...odd, in many ways, and they had their issues as pups, but he did not hate them. Faceless was actually being quiet tolerable, so far.

The howl and his brother broke his train of thought. The howl was faint, obviously to far to make him care. "Probably another hungry Ikal." He grunted, not really caring who it was. He seemed confident that Faceless and himself could find prey and he didn't feel like sharing with a third wolf. Besides, hunting after stray howls means more time wasted on not finding food.

And Thanatos was hungry.

---

Coal black eyes eyed three wolves through the bushes and smile curling across the Ikal's muzzle. Perfect Alistair thought to himself as he pushed through the bushes, leathery wings twitching at his back and a false look of friendliness on his face, "Ah, how fortunate of me to stumble upon the three of you. It is so dreadfully hard to be a loner at this time of year." He comment smoothly, approaching the three males. "Would it be possible that you by chance need an extra set of eyes for hunting. You clearly are able to stand on your own, but I may help fill your bellies faster?" Alistair knew how to appeal to other Ikal this time of year. They were all hungry and even the orneriest of them will accept help from a stranger. And if not, well, Alistair had ways of dealing with them too.

[SilverShieldwolf]

Wyntar stumbled as the stranger appeared from the bushes he had just been at. He wasn't use to other sneaking up behind him. "Well, we might be willing to have someone else with us."

Hearing the voices, Tourak and Samui went to see what it was. "Hello, stranger." Tourak watched the other male with a careful eye. "Extra help would be welcomed, but then again. That just means an extra stomach to fill."

Samui sighed and gave the stranger a grin. "Being a loner, even now is a welcome thought." Even though he was grouped up with the other two, he never let them forget he didn't like it at all.

[Volchitsa]

A slight smile stretched on Alistair's muzzle as he glanced at the young Ikal before looking at the elder two. Young ones were always easier but older ones sometimes give him problems. "Oh, I agree, but even I can admit when help is needed." He gave the blue Ikal a grin, circling around to his back. "Seems even you know that since you are with two others." The Ikal clearly didn't like groups, but seemed to know the benefits at this time of year. Alistair shared his sentiments toward other Ikal. He only liked them when they were useful.

His eyes turned back to the eldest wolf, continuing to pace around the three. "Yes, but more eyes also means more chance at finding prey." No desperation was held in his tone and his gait was calm and smooth. He paused in his pacing, staring the elder straight in the eye. "Well?" Alistair didn't feel like wasting more time.

[Whimzica]

Kesi paused, her ears flicking to try to catch more sounds- that noise sounded almost like another set of footfalls. She kept going then, but a little slower, trying to catch another sound over the crunch of the snow. She wove between the thick needled pines, offering what cover as was available for her pelt. She shook herself slightly, shaking off the flurries stuck to her coat before rounding another pine. She saw a glimpse of a brown pelt and lept forward out of the trees, mistaking Rounda for prey in that split second. Once she had cleared the trees, she saw him for what he was, though, and she checked her sprint, snow spraying a bit as her speed came to an adbrupt halt.

[SilverShieldwolf]

Tourak wasn't sure about the new guy, but he wanted more food before too long. "I agree that we could get more food." He kept an eye on the male, trying to see what the other two thought. The grey Ikal leaped at the thought of another joining them. The more he could learn from the older males the better off he would be..

Samui sighed at the thought of another adult in the group. He wouldn't of really minded another younger adult, but he figured it would be better than nothing to teach. "Sure, whatever. The sooner we go, the better."

[SpaceDadDisapproves]

Freezyiana, Glaciana, and Tsia continued on, eyes scanning for any sign of food as they prowled. They all heave sighs of disappointment, not even seeing signs of any of the smaller prey. "Perhaps we should head back into the forest then...? There's a bit more cover there. Might be able to find something eventually." Tsia suggests, which the other two nod, then they turn and start loping back to the forest.

[yeomso]

Seotun looked at the mouth of the cave from his resting spot. Though he was in the shelter of his den, the cold air froze his breath and seeped into his body. It was undoubtedly winter.

Slowly, stretching out his limbs, Seotun stood up and walked towards the entrance, eyeing an Ikal that chosen to rest in the open. "Foolish thing..." Seotun grumbled to himself as he stiffly walked towards his (hopefully temporary) companion.

---

Her ears twitched as she heard the old Ikal walk towards her. She didn't turn to look at him. Ever since she was rescued from the Alchemist, Darielle hasn't spoken any more than a few words to him. She wouldn't even go into the shelter, lest she be too close. She owed him so much for her freedom, but she was not an Ikal. She was human, despite her appearance.

---

"Get up." Seotun said abruptly. "Go inside or you'll freeze to death." He was a few yards away from Darielle, still within the slight warmth of the cave. How could she sit out here in the cold? "Would have been a waste of effort if you died here."

A howl was heard in the distance. Seotun's ears shifted so he could hear the sound better. "A hunt." He wondered where his pack was. Maybe it was their call, yet the howl seemed foreign. "Get inside. There are other Ikals about."

[Whimzica]

Khal flicked her ears, catching soft sounds in the scrub beneath the trees. Though Khaless was not out for hunting, still she marked signs of smaller game as she passed. Khal took a roundabout way through the trees, the howl of earlier not repeating itself for a convenient direction. She paused briefly, scanning the trees up ahead of her. There! Movement again. Khal slipped between the trees softly, violet eyes sharp as she proceeded.

[SpaceDadDisapproves]

The trio stop for a moment, eyes flicking around and ears perked up to catch the sounds around them. Glacyiana turns her head to the left slightly, narrowing her eyes as she looked around. There! Movement! What is that...? It was still to far away to see clearly, but she thought it looked like another Ikal headed their way. "Slow down you two. We might be getting company soon." She says softly, making sure her posture didn't appear hostile, just wary and curious. The other two followed her example.

[yeomso]

Rounda ears twitched as he heard the Ikal rush towards him; it the Ikal had not stopped Rounda's counter would have been a second too late. But she did stop, and Rounda quickly spun around and snapped at the female, only missing her with his jaw by hairs. Quickly, he jumped back, increasing the distance between the two of them. He stood tall, showing his teeth as a warning: Do not dare move.

Tundra heard the snap of the jaws before he saw the attack; within a second he was already on the dirt ground near the forest. He stood apart from Rounda, in a position that put Kesi in a pinch between the two brothers. Tundra lowered his body to the ground, ready to attack. The two brothers were never the type to give their opponents time to relax.