Secret Falls grey sweatshirt

AW but tag for @Astrid and @Otter

He hadn't left Astrid's side much the last few hours. Mathuin was nervous he would get lost again. The thought of taking another wrong turn scared him. As long as he was near the honey girl there was no chance of any turn being a wrong turn, though. They climbed over logs, ran around trees, and washed in cold water together. He never understood how she was so happy but then again he never complained about it. The yearling fed off of her energy. Speaking of food...

"ASTRID!" He barked out to the honey-hued girl. "You wanna find something to eat?" His voice was more easy as his tail swayed behind him. Surely she had to be just as hungry as he was. He wanted something to eat and while he understood they might not be able to take down much they could at least get something. Hare, marmot, lemming. He would settle for anything despite how nice a hunk of deer sounded. Or moose. When Astrid brought up the idea of a moose hunt the other day he had developed a bit of a craving. Granted he was smart enough to know there was no way just him and his friend could take down a whole moose. That was wild talk.

Astrid pulled her nose out of the bush she had been thoroughly investigating as her friend called out to her. Whether or not her friend Mathuin was there, the girl was guaranteed to be sticking her nose in something. She wasn't overly concerned when she and Mathuin got split up the day before, she knew that sooner or later he would find her again. Though she much preffered having him by her side than not. She looked towards himm, golden ears perked high as she listened to his suggestion. Almost on cue her stomach hungrily gurgled, making its needs known. Despite Astrid's sunny demeanor she was not, in fact, a plant, and needed more than sunlight alone for sustenance. 

Her tail wagged as she walked over towards him, happily bumping his shoulder with her own. "Yeah, I could do with something to eat," She agreed, her tail swishing low and steady at her hocks. She turned her doe-brown eyes on Mathuin with her brows lifted. "What should we hunt today? Rabbits again?" She asked, slightly tilting her head. Again, her stomach grumbled at the thought of food. She laughed, then hummed, "Though I could really go for something a bit bigger than a rabbit... Whadda you think, Mat?" She asked, her tail picking up it's swishing pace.

Astrid + Mathuin

Two Pure Peanuts

There is a moose carcass that has been scavenged by coyotes nearby. +15 Health

The scent of the breeding season had lifted from the land, and the marks along his snout, ears and flank, that had been laid on him in reprimand for partaking in the festivities, had healed over. If there was any evidence left of his daring besides the memories of those who had witnessed it, it would be in the swelled sides of a female. Or two or three. Perhaps he would chance a trek back home some time to see just how successful he had been.

But for now, Otter's mind was clear to consider other things: a pack for example. Loner life had its perks but it was too quiet for him. Boring to be more precise. He had haunted the lake for the past several nights, resting and feeding to replenish the calories lost in travel. Now he moved south in exploration, a lofty jog carrying him along as he plied his nose to the winds and the soils, hoping to detect the scent of other wolves.

He crossed a fresh path shared by two wolves. One male. One female. Both young. Otter was no master, but he had more than a smattering of tracking. Nose to the ground he followed their trail until his ears, cupped forward, caught the sound of voices. He made no effort to conceal his approach. Branches rattled as he pushed past them and his paws scuffed and thumped the ground without care.

"Hey!" He called out, slowing his cheerful jog as he drew near. "Hey, how's it going? Room for one more in this party? I'm Otter."

He was glad when @Astrid agreed, granted when did they ever really disagree. "Ehh, rabbits don't sound too appealing." The large yearling admitted. He was a large growing teen! He needed more than just rabbits! Granted by disappearing into the world on his own he lost the chance at getting something bigger that small rodents. At least he now had Astrid which was an extra set of paws, still not enough though. "I think that'd be amazing." His tail wagged furiously behind his fluffy form and he bumped himself into the honey girl.

"Do you smell that?" He asked softly. It was like some mystical been had heard their prayer because if Mathuin knew the smell of food (and oh boy, he did) there was moose not far from here. The scent of coyote mingled but it wasn't strong enough to deter him off his hunt. As he was about to take off there was a soft commotion and a voice calling out to them. Green eyes turned to see the stranger who had just joined them. Someone about Astrid's age but much darker than both of them. "Hey!" He woofed in return, a smile on his lips. This stranger didn't seem to be much of a danger to them. "I'm Mathuin and I suppose if my friend doesn't mind we'd love your company, @Otter." His green eyes turned to look at Astrid. The large yearling was positive she wouldn't mind but he wanted to give her the chance to speak out.

Astrid & Mathuin
The Adventuring Peanuts

@Otter

Astrid had to agree, rabbits weren't exactly her favorite, as easy as they were to catch. It seemed that her friend had just about the same feeling for the lagomorphs; they'd both had their fair share of the littler critters for dinner and there was only so many rabbits one really wanted to eat. Astrid's tail swished as Mathuin agreed with her idea, an excited yip slipping from her narrow muzzle as he bumped into her. 

As he spoke she lifted her own nose, scenting the wind. What a stroke of luck! Some moose nearby, though the girl wasn't sure the coyotes would really feel like sharing. But Mathuin was already on the move and Astrid shadowed after him. Before they could go any further a voice called out to them, Astrid's head whipping around and catching sight of the sable timber wolf jogging closer. 

"Hello!" Astrid sang, her tail swishing excitedly as she stopped to wait for the stranger to catch up. "Nice to meet you, Mister Otter!" She grinned, quite liking the whimsical name of the male. "Course you can! The more the merrier, right?" Astrid answered after Mathuin gave his own response. She stepped forward, bouncing around Otter and sweeping him in their fold. "We were just about to go check out that moose!" She explained to the newcomer with a beaming smile on her face.

Astrid + Mathuin

Two Pure Peanuts

No sooner had he bounded up to the pair of wolves did he too catch the scent of that relatively fresh kill. The wind blew across his face and whisked the smell of moose right into his nose with his next breath. It immediately divided his attention, although outwardly his forward gaze and alert ears would suggest he was concerned only with the wolves in front of him. But Otter was an eater, and where there were things to be eaten he was a thoroughly distracted wolf. To say nothing of the fact that moose was his favorite of all the large game, and his second favorite food overall behind the feathered flesh of waterfowl and upland birds.

"I'm on it!" He grinned back, the cadence of his waving tail picking up. Otter's eyelids slid down over his eyes as he tilted his nose into the air current and channelled all of his attention on drawing the scent from the breeze and pinpointing its direction. In his mind he could see the moose carcass laying amid aromatic evergreen needles and moss exposed by melting snow, as if he possessed some form of synesthesia. It was not a difficult track and he kicked off into a brisk and lofty jog.

"So," he addressed his companions. "What's your favorite parts to munch on? I like that strip of meat on either side of the backbone. Or a nice hunk of rump. Or a rib... I mean anything's good. I'm not picky."

Mathuin nodded his head softly. "Of course." He assumed that the more was merrier. Green eyes watched with a smile as Astrid used her cheery charm to invite Otter into the duo, which was a trio now. It would be nice to have a new face to explore with them. The large yearling didn't mind almost always being with Astrid but new faces were always a good thing to see. Especially one as chipper as them. Well, really as chipper as Astrid. Mathuin didn't nearly harbor as much energy as this Otter guy and his honey friend seemed to.

They set off towards the moose at a brisk pace. With the jog-like motion of the group, it didn't take very long to get to the leftover meal. His ears leaned forward softly as the dark male asked what parts they liked. Mathuin chuckled softly before responding. "As long as it's some edible meat I'm really not too picky." His green gaze turned to look at Astrid. "What about you?" The Whitebark would have no issues with eating whatever parts his two companions didn't enjoy. Truthfully he was just a hungry teen and wanted nothing more than to rip into the meal that laid before them.

Astrid & Mathuin
The Adventuring Peanuts