Broken Timber Pines Fire and Ice

For @Ember | Afternoon | Freezing fog 5 ° F

No longer could Eirian deny the onset of winter and the dying days of Autumn's last breath. The once fiery painting of molting topiary still strong enough to evade joining their fallen brethren now cast into a world where the icy shades of ivory and dull greys reigned supreme. Only the hardiest of vegetation still clinging to what leaves remained on their twig thin branches. Today was no exception as the rays of afternoon sunlight that should have been present to glisten off the freshest of fallen snow appeared void, a freezing fog with equally cold temperatures encasing the land below shoulder height in a blanket of thin white.

The current weather, though, would not deter the Asurn brute from his task at hand. Another loop around the pack's perimeter to ensure no hooligans, or another desperate thief attempted to sneak over into claimed lands unnoticed for an unearned bite to scarf down. The rare inhale of that swarthy whelp's fading scent near their border to this day still infuriated the dark agouti man, but that troublesome wolf was no longer a threat to Broken Timber Pines if their chase had left any impression at all. The Pines wolves were not to be trifled with.

Citrus optics passed over the snow dusted silhouettes of the fallen redwoods and cedars Eirian could manage to see through the fog, a shake of his mighty skull warranting the departure of hitch hiking ice crystals that steadily collected along the tips of his hairs lining that of his shoulders and ridge of his snout with each stride forward. A constant plume of vapor resonated on the air from flared nostrils as Eirian created a low toned bombinate sound in his throat to pass the time, each passed marker refreshed with a new addition from the man's musky odor by rubbing a flank against the various trunks. Small tufts of shed winter coat remaining behind as proof he had traversed by.

Now, Eirian was a wolf in a love hate relaiontship with the cold. He despised the way the snow squished between his toes with each step, like now, and the way the trees liked to use his bulked up frame as target practice. A clump of gathered snow always managing to fall square on his head when he least expected it. Today was no exception as he took another step forward along the borders, a soft splat sounding as a pile of snow slid off the weighed down branch of a firmly standing redwood above right atop his skull. "Son of --!" He exclaimed loudly with a jump as his paws ceased motion, vigorously shaking his pelt to rid the snow flurries. Not again.

(This post was last modified: Dec 17, 2015, 10:02 AM by Eirian.)

She couldn't help the giggle that bubbled up her throat and into the air, chin tucking against her plush chest as she attempted to stifle the snickering. She found childish amusement in watching the trees assault her pack mate, unable to truly sense the annoyment that such misfortune caused the man. When the waterfall of mirthful noise ceased she wriggled forward through the winter landscape, the silvers within her coat blending well within the banks of snow and fog.

"Hey Eirian," she greeted with a lopsided grin as she closed in, tail dusting the snow behind her. The man wasn't someone she'd ever sought out before, and really she couldn't recall ever having a proper conversation with him. But he was a pack mate, and had proven himself quite actively to her parents, so to the young girl, the guy was pretty cool. So when she'd caught him making his rounds, of course Ember wanted to join. Maybe he could teach her something!

"Can I jump in with ya?" the request bounced out once Ember was at his side. The princess absolutely did not expect to be turned down, and it was clear with probity within her sunshine, simply because why wouldn't he want her help? Having known nothing but friendliness and warmth, she would never have been able to anticipate the true nature laced beneath the Asurn's thick skin.

There is a deer that was killed by a lynx nearby. +10 Health

A cruel fate decided by the roll of crooked dice could be the only reasoning for Eirian's misfortune with the plummeted pile of atmospheric water vapor frozen into ice crystals being spectated by another. The sudden crescendo of blithesome laughter from a source unknown, unseen by citrus eyes for the time being warranted an equally sudden rise to the temperature of his once cold kissed skin. A flushed pink shade of embarrassment well hidden; and thankfully so, beneath a plush winter coat. Whipping a mighty skull to and fro in a surly search for the culprit of such disrespect, tangerine irises came to descend upon a ghostly form emerging from the fog once his head angled back over a dark tinged shoulder. 

"Ember." Eirian greeted stoically with a simple nod once the transmogrifying fog wafted away enough from equally pale hued fur to be certain it was a twin daughter of Iopah seeking his presence. The lopsided grin countered with a less enthused half tug of somber lips on the Asurn's behalf. The pristine bred Timber was not one fond of whelps, his genetic heritage and childhood upbringing lending a hand in molding the thoughts he now held true to today. Pups whom didn't show signs of harbored strength and possibility for greatness to the Asurn bloodline were swiftly disposed of allowing those with potential a chance to survive and aid their cause. It would take only the strongest of the strong to dominate their larger cousins. Yet, a taboo in contrast to his beliefs had come to take root in Eirian's mind since joining the pack, one that would not allow harm to befall a child if so could be prevented.

A brow quirked skyward at the request made by the princess, a small shrug of his shoulders the only physical answer she would obtain. "Suit yourself, pup." He spoke as limbs returned to beating a well worn path along the border, a rusty haunch pressing into the exposed surface of a still standing sentinel cedar while citrus optics honed in for the next marker needing to be doused in urine. 

(This post was last modified: Jan 15, 2016, 12:39 AM by Eirian.)