Ramble On [Khellus]

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Summit had found success hunting in the foothills as the sun slowly inched towards its zenith, but he had found refuge in the shadows of the Kinath as the sweltering summer heat intensified. Near the base of the mountain range, free to wander and explore, the pale wolf admired the size of his prize – a huge pronghorn who had made the lethal mistake of wandering too far from the safety its herd had once provided. Left on its own, the pronghorn had been a simple kill. The quick jerk of the neck, one fast movement, and the ill-fated prey was finished. Summit preferred these hunts, the kind that went smoothly and swiftly – not because he was a lazy brute, but because he hated it when his kill took a while to die, lingering on as they awaited the inevitable. A wolf must have meat to live, he knew that, but Summit was not the type who took pleasure in the slow suffering of his meals.

Do it fast and clean, his mother had taught him, and be grateful for the life sacrificed, for someday, we are all destined to meet a similar fate. The thought made his heart ache painfully within his chest, as if his familial tragedy had happened only days before instead of the months that had dragged along. Their time had come too soon.

He hoped to climb the Kinaths that day, but finding a path to the tallest summits had proven to be a challenge. The peaks of the Kinath were inviting to the brute. Being an arctic wolf in the summer presented a problem, and he wanted to get away from the dry heat that threatened to drain his energy entirely. Streams were beginning to dry, the plants were turning brown. He savored his meal, eating slowly, though he knew the smell would attract predators in the area. It seemed as if very few wolves had come by here recently, so he knew the lands were unclaimed – at least, he thought so, and hoped. He wasn't in the mood for a frivolous fight.

Summit desired only free lands and free range, the ability to stray wherever he pleased without repercussions, but his dreams were not a reality on Anikira. There were packs with alphas and laws, warriors and the like, wolves who didn’t take kindly to the presence of unknown males. As the thought occurred to him, an unexpected lupine scent caught his attention. He didn’t want to be perceived as a threat or a willing fighter, despite the physique of a gladiator inherited from his warrior father. His great snowy head lifted from the carcass to glance around cautiously.

words: 445
tag: @ginaneko
ooc: I figured this was close to Tiayr
(down at the bottom of the mountains).

[Deleted]

After a brief confrontation by a wolf he eventually learned was named Goliath, Khellus worked his way slightly farther south towards mountains that were only slightly visible in the distance over the hills he had been wandering through. Following the shadow-like mountains that were against the clear, blue sky, the black and silver male strode along at a quick and steady trot. He ignored the burning of the sun on his fur, instead focusing on expanding his knowledge of the region and its territories. Even with a few animals dodging his sights, he continued on, not caring much about food. He couldn’t explain it, but something was pulling the brute towards the peaks that were ahead of him.

It took him a while to reach the base of the mountains, but he made it nonetheless. Lifting his gaze, his grey eyes locked to the highest point he could see. It seemed as though, from the angle he was looking at, that the peaks stabbed the clouds and sky, vanishing into the depths of the space above him. As he stared, a slight breeze began to blow, bringing a mixture of scents to his nose. Tilting his head slightly, Khellus attempted to read what exactly it was. There are a few things here. There’s blood, probably from a kill, the scent of death from whatever was killed, and a single wolf. That wolf is probably the one who killed the creature.

The brute turned his head in the direction the scent was coming from. He stared ahead for a few moments before taking a half step towards it and hesitating again. If he suddenly appeared in front of the wolf while they were eating, he would probably be attacked. As he stood there thinking, a low growl rose from his stomach, triggering a defeated sigh. At this point, it didn't matter that there was a chance of being attacked. There was meat around here, and also a chance that the other would be willing to share with a traveling loner. Deciding it was worth the risk, he continued onward, following the scents the wind had brought him. As he approached, he crouched in the shadow of a large rock, watching the wolf, wondering if he would be noticed, preparing himself for a potential attack.

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Summit peered around, chestnut colored eyes scanning the vicinity for any potential trouble. He was large enough to defend himself, but violence had never been the snowy brute’s strong point, much to his warrior father’s chagrin. Still, he had learned pretty quickly that life as a loner meant being careful, being wary of one’s surroundings. He had to be a step ahead of whoever could be watching him at any given time, he knew. The subtle sound of the other caught his attention before he saw the dark stranger. The scent suggested the newcomer was another male. There, obscured by the shadow of a large boulder, Summit could barely see him, but knew that he must be there – the loner’s scent was thicker in the air, mingled with the smell of his prize and the surrounding foothills dotted with trees.

Despite his misgivings, the white wolf made no attempt to move. His meal sat by his forepaws as his posture straightened, eyes straining to get a better look at the hidden silhouette. He remained standing, but he did not square his shoulders or stand defensively. ”Peace to you, stranger. Have you a good reason to lurk in the darkness?” It was a polite way of asking, Are we going to have a problem here? Usually, it was plain to see a stranger’s intentions within the first seconds of meeting them. If this proved to be another sanctimonious, self-satisfied fool with more muscles than brain, Summit would walk away. There was no need for confrontation. Those sorts were not worth his time or the energy he would waste defending his prize. He had his dignity, but he also had common sense.

words: 280
tag: @ginaneko
ooc: super late and kinda short
but I just had to respond! <3