Drifts and Flurries [Inverno]

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It was cold and crisp, and unmistakably winter. Snow had fallen over the past days and night's, leaving the hills blanketed in deep drifts of white. The black lady lay curled up under the bush she had adopted as her own. She didn't care about the cold that seeped through her pelt. The chill was nothing compared to the icy numbness in her heart. She had lost Reece. He wouldn't even deign look at her, and if their gazes met by chance, they were filled with loathing. She didn't know what cut at her more - his lack of company or the fierce emotion in his eyes. All she did know is that she missed him. Missed his sardonic comments to her moments of silliness, and missed his deep thoughts on whichever topics of conversation they happened to chance upon. She'd been putting on a brave face, though. Forcing smiles onto her features and generally trying to mimic the brightness that she used to carry. There was no need for the world to see her troubles. She'd just learnt the hard way how dangerous it was to get too close to someone. Something cold landed on her nose, and opened her eyes. It was snowing again, fat flakes that spiralled lazily from the sky. She huffed, getting to her feet and stretching cautiously. She may as well go hunting. Lying around camp with his scent all around was not helping to ease the pain in the slightest...and the pack was hungry. They were always hungry, with winter firmly upon the land. She took a moment to centre herself and quirk her lips into a faint smile. A few deep breaths later, and her heart-ache was safely buried and hidden from sight. Pulling her cloak of deceptive lightness more firmly about her shoulders, she headed off in the direction of the male Shri had vaguely introduced as their scout She'd noticed him slip away from the dens not all too long ago, and figured she may as well have some company. In the state she was in, she might well do something stupid if out hunting alone. She followed his tracks easily enough, her nose pointing her in the right direction when the snow began to hide his tracks. She increased her pace slightly, moving at a fluid trot until she could see his figure up ahead. She cast through her memory for a name, her lips forming the words moment's later. "Hello Inverno" she called softly, slowing her pace so she didn't arrive in too much of a shower of snow. They weren't well enough acquainted for her to suddenly pop up out of nowhere. She let herself fall into step beside him, her gait smooth and relaxed. "I was wondering whether you^d be up for a spot of hunting" she continued easily, turning to give him a faint smile. "The snow will hide our scent well enough, and I'm sure I saw a small herd of deer further east a few days ago." "Speech"

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Rich brown topaz eyes stared off into the distance as he sat at the entrance of his den. Keeping alert Vern's ears were constantly moving on the top of his head, listening to the silence the winter brought to the lands. Bjorn was around somewhere, but Vern hadn't been able to find him, who knows what his good friend was up to. He and Bjorn had only been apart of this pack for a short while, the faces of the members still new along with the scents that mixed into the territory's. Vern was really only familiar with the alpha female's scent and her face. She had been the only one he had had interaction with. She accepted him into this pack and gave him his rank. He knew there was more members to the pack, but honestly he couldn't even imagine what their names were or who they were. Being the only pack scout he had little time to interact with the others. He devoted himself into patrolling and checking the borders, trying to make up for the wolf power that the pack currently lacked. He was making himself a pack member and had found he was vary comfortable with the pack and the lands. It was his home and he strongly felt that Bjorn had made the right choice when he chose this place. Vern gave him all the credit, because he had no thoughts on joining a pack in another territory. No Vern had wanted to claim their homeland and start a pack of his own. Him and Bjorn's brotherly bond ran deep and Vern didn't want to dare end it, no matter what his dreams had once been. Now it barely crossed his mind, their homeland and their birth pack.

Grunting quietly the large male rose onto his feet and shook out his pelt. Pushing himself forward the male headed off the do some scouting. It was too early to start at the borders so he figured he would head in the direction of the small herd of deer he had come across yesterday. He was hoping to count numbers and try his best to keep track of their movement. Winter was sure to take toll on the numbers of the herd and who knows maybe he would get lucky and more deer would have joined with that herd in hopes that numbers would ensure survival. He moved quickly wanting to gain ground as swift as he could before it started to snow again. He wanted to give himself time, they may have moved which meant he would need to track them the best he could in this weather. His long legs and well muscled body moved smoothly through the deep snow allowing him to move quick enough. Pausing he looked up and growled lowly as he saw flakes began to fall from the sky.

His eyes and his nose lead him towards where the herd had been the previous day. He was highly unaware that he was being followed. It wasn't until she spoke that he realized he was being followed, and by reaction he stopped and turned his head to look at the slim black furred female. His eyes traveled up to her silver ones, his tail lightly wagging in a friendly greeting. He was surprised that she knew his name and at the same time felt horrible that he didn't know hers. Eyes fallowed her as she moved up beside him, beginning to walk again the male walked with her. His ears pricked towards her offer and inside he smiled. What a perfect moment for her to fallow him about a hunt. He was always up for a good hunt and he was heading right towards where he had last seen a herd of deer.

"I think a good hunt is a good idea and perfect timing may I add. I was just heading towards where I had seen a small deer herd yesterday, if we are lucky they are still there. If not I doubt they would have moved too far," he replied with a smile. "Now I'm sorry to say I don't think I have seen you around before, are you new to the pack?"

Inverno was quite relieved for some company for once.

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It amused her slightly that the chap hadn't noticed her following him, but her heart was too empty to do more than accept the fact. To his defence, the snow muffled everything. Tracks, scents...the lot of them. She felt her lungs expand more freely at his friendly demeanour, her own tail wagging slightly in response to his. Well, at least they weren't likely to get off on the wrong paw, she thought faintly as she fell into step beside him. It was a comforting feeling, for one who felt suddenly, painfully, alone. A friendly face and a good hunt would do wonders for her bruised ego. She let her gaze shift sideways, taking in the athletic figure beneath the patchwork coat. Shri had mentioned that he was their chief scout, and Nocturne now knew why. Either that, or he was in such good shape simply from the amount of time he spent out and about. Without properly questioning him, she'd not know the precise answer. Given that she'd seen his face only briefly over the past few days of pack life...she banked on the latter. Not that she was about to complain, really. A pack needed a good scout, after all. Threats to one's livelihood were never good, especially not in winter. She pricked her ears as he spoke, a proper smile curling her lips upwards. Gracious, it was an odd feeling after days left to her own, sorrowful devices! She'd missed the friendlier side to her - the brighter side, as Reece had always put it. Her heart trembled in memory of the male, and she ruthlessly pushed him aside. Thinking about his lost friendship would bring her only more grief, so she may as well not get started in the first place. "Perhaps we've been shadowing the same herd" she replied, one silver eye resting on the amber one closest to her. "And you're right, they've not moved much lately. I guess the lands a little more sheltered eastwards, so they'll be finding sufficient nourishment." She done a fair bit of canvassing over the past few days, determined to chase Reece from her mind and eager to pull her weight in the pack. This place was lighter than back home...probably because Shri was alphess. It meant ladies like herself were more use than simply a pretty ornament that could bear pups. At the cautious apology from her pack-mate, she realised with a start that it was possibly quite rude of her to call him by his name, when they'd never formally introduced. She took a harder look at him, determining that he wasn't particularly upset about it. She breathed a silent sigh of relief, turning her head so she could look at him fully. "Oh yes, I'm new. My companion and I joined shortly before the first snowfall." It was with difficulty that she didn't choke on the word 'companion'. "I'm Nocturne", she continued hurriedly. No need to dwell on things that couldn't be rectified. "Shri was kind enough to point out your scent, but it is nice to meet you in the flesh." She grinned, shifting their course slightly to angle them towards where she thought the deer might be. There would still be a bit of guesswork involved, though. The fat snowflakes that insisted on falling from the sky would hide their prey's tracks beautifully. Still, she and Inverno had the entire day to find the herd and bring down a suitable meal for the pack. She wasn't about to let herself get stressed over something as minor as not having a nice trail of hoof prints. "Did you grow up around here?" She asked out of the blue, curious about her companion and interested in filling the silence that had fallen between them. It hadn't been uncomfortable, per se, but the last thing she needed right now was silence. A good conversation would take her mind off less happy thoughts, and it was always nice to know more about your pack mates. One did have to live with them, after all. "Speech" OOC: @country

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He felt rather relieved to see her tail wag in return and that smile, he had to admit when it was paired with those pretty silver eyes of hers it was vary captivating. Vern wouldn't outwardly speak of these thoughts, he didn't know her to well and he didn't want to start off on the wrong paw. He was in need of some relationships in the pack, to officially kick off the new chapter in his life. Shri and Bjorn were the only two in the pack he had had some interactions with, Bjorn being like a brother to him and Shri his alpha. He had a strong feeling that today would be a good winter day, even if him and this female didn't take down a meal. A warm smile spread along his face, returning her cheery personality with his own. His left ear swiveled in her direction as she spoke and he nodded in agreement.

"I think we have and yes it seems that they favor the east and that it seems to be promising to bring them through the winter. It shouldn't be hard at all to find them when we get there," he replied.

He was optimistic and stubborn, paired together it helped him to accomplish whatever he put his mind towards. With the extra help he had today it would be a piece of cake finding this herd, he was positive of it. Vern was also impressed that she had been doing some canvasing. She must be good with cover because he hadn't seen her along his patrols. He was somewhat eager to see how she did during a hunt, to discover her skills and see how well they would work as a team. If he was lucky maybe a strong bond or relationship could be formed with this female giving him more of a strive to protect the pack. They moved at a decent pace, side by side as they talked with one another. He was happy to have a good conversation for once. She soon turned to him fully and he did the same, his orange topaz eyes looking to her face. She spoke telling him of when her and her companion? So at least another new face to perhaps meet with other then herself. He made a mental note so for later he could try and piece a puzzle together. It was odd for her to not mention a name, but Vern would not ask for it. He would find it out eventually.

"Ah I see, well welcome to the pack," he replied wagging his tail again. "It's nice to meet you also Nocturne, glad you decided I would be a good hunting company today."

Vern hadn't realized that Shri would be pointing him out to others, another mental note for himself. He needed to be prepared for maybe others calling him by name when he didn't recognize them. Out of pure habit the male didn't miss a beat and smoothly fallowed her slight angling. He worked well with others and was used to him and Bjorn leading each other around while appearing to both know exactly where they were going. He was rather tickled that this female had picked him out of all the others to hunt with. It wasn't often he got to spend time with the opposite sex, let alone an attractive one such as Nocturne. She spoke again and he smiled. The getting to know one another questions, something he hadn't had to answer majority of his life. Him and Bjorn hadn't really come across many wolves in their travels and when they did it seemed that their interactions were short. Other rogues didn't seem to have the time or be as friendly as he tried to be.

"No actually I'm not from around here. I was born in a small pack located in the north in a territory called Akeli Lake. Me and Bjorn were apart of the same pack." he replied. "How about you are you from around here?"

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At Inverno's words of welcome, she felt her lips turn upwards into the first proper smile she had felt in...the age that the last few days had felt. There was a softness to the male, an honest appreciation for the pleasant things in life that was rubbing off on her. He was relaxed and open, so different from the cool calculation she was used to. She exhaled gently, letting her current worries slip away in the face of Inverno's gentler soul. "Well, I have to give everyone a chance at proving their worth" she commented, a playful twinkle to her silver eyes. "Then I'll be able to make an informed decision on who makes for good hunting partners." She fell silent for a moment, scanning the whiteness of their surroundings with an assessing glance. No sign of the deer. "You've already made a good impression as a companion, though" she continued lightly, peering at the male. "So you've passed half the test already." The quietness of the snow-decked landscape settled around her shoulders, and she subconsciously dropped into stealth mode. The snow was thankfully not particularly deep, making their journey swift and her steps silent. It would have been far more difficult to move without a sound if the cold whiteness reached halfway up her legs. She was then forced to plough her way through it...or jump, both of which were more strenuous and less easy to keep quiet. No, the conditions were ideal for her to show herself in the best possible light. She wasn't quite sure why she wanted to make a good impression. Maybe just to affirm herself that she really wasn't as loathsome as Reece made her feel. Maybe because it gave her a sense of power, knowing that others knew she was more than just a pretty face. She was brought from her musings at the answer to her question, and she started at the familiar words. Her head swung round to face his, the eyes a little wider than usual in the sudden shock. Akeli Lake! She hadn't been there in...well, ever since she had committed the sin that had sent her on this perilous journey between light and dark. She hurriedly masked the dawning horror with a less telling look of surprise. "What an...unexpected coincidence" she managed, a little breathless at this sudden turn of events. Still, small pack to the north meant she'd not killed anyone from his pack. That was a relief - her past had been haunting her too much lately for her to lose another potential friend to her history. "I was born further east to a pack in the pine forests" she offered cautiously, not sure how much she could divulge without sending her next relationship up in a puff of smoke. "I have not returned home in almost three years - I do not think I'd be very welcome." There was no apology in her voice, nor was there regret. As far as she was concerned, her pack and their chauvinistic beliefs had forced her into committing crimes she'd rather have avoided. If they had been more open, more liberal...well, then she would never have needed to rebel as a pup. Had they been more cautious of her needs, then one wolf would still be alive today. "Speech" OOC: @country