Winter was a threat that hung, ever present, in the back of Asteria's mind. A worry, a concern that seemed to loom bigger and bolder every day. The passing of the seasons was enough to make her nervous, to leave her concerned. Just another thing to look over her shoulder for... larger than life. But then, what was her life, at this point? It was all the places she'd been, all the things she'd seen. The winters she'd spent in her younger years, watching the lights that danced across the sky in the north. It was the whales she'd seen on the coasts, and how beautiful they were. It was the fear that she'd felt the first time she'd seen a tornado, the fear and the terror and the wonder. The wonder. That was the thing that really and truly seemed to make her whole. The sense of wonder. But wonder wouldn't keep her alive. She knows better than that, too. Considering that she should move to warmer climates for the winter, Asteria turned sadly from the Knolls. Using the morning sun as her compass, the star-soaked creature turned south. Gaze bright, eyes peeled... keen. Always keen. Had to be, that was the way she'd stay alive out here. Had to be keen, had to be observant. Anything less than that could spell trouble, or even worse than trouble. Carefully, she crossed into the Swamplands. Beneath her paws, the earth seemed to give way. It was squishy, coming up between her toes. Unsteady. Uneven. Each step would need to be slow, methodical. It would take some time for Asteria to cross the Swamplands, and she was grateful that she'd started out fairly early today. Cautiously, she began to cross, a hope in her heart that it would be a rather uneventful passage. Gaze steady, Asteria was nothing if not determined. She'd waded through worse, right? "Talk"

He was spending the day navigating around the islands. Permanently wet and slightly colder than he wished to be, Gilgamesh finally found himself on the shores of Boreas. At the very northern edge of Obsidian Beach where the waters turned brackish, he turned to look back out at what was now his. His. Could you believe it? Not so many years ago, he was just a youngster himself, ambitious and ever-so-reckless, wanting to taste the oh-so-sweet taste of victory. Now that he could say that he had drank from the cup of kings, he quite enjoyed it. Nothing like having the ability to strike fear into everyone's hearts could make your belly warmer.

Though his numbers were lacking. Compared to other packs, they were on the medium side of things when he wanted to be larger. If there wasn't a risk of having to kick someone out, they definitely needed more. Turning from the dark waters that washed up on the shores he now called home, Gil looked at the eerie fog that swirled out from the swamps. Not that it was his favorite path to take toward the inner workings of Boreas, but it would do for now. He needed to scout out the range and the knoll so this would be the quickest way anyway.

Starting his journey that would hopefully only take a day or two, Gil hoped he wouldn't come across too much trouble. Mud slid between his toes as his paws sunk into the ground. It was soft here, almost too soft to walk on. Even with his wolverine companion, Urtur, tagging behind and his owl, Erish, scouting the skies, he felt shivers running down his crystallized spine. Every inch of this place reminded him of the Long Night. An event that still gave him nightmares, by the way. Sweat lines his brow as his yellow eyes flick back and forth, making sure to look at every bend and twisted branch. He was content to keep to himself until the scent of a female crossed his twitching nose.

Curious as he ever was (which surprisingly was an odd trait for such a lawless man), Gil turns his steps toward the woman. Following her scent, he is careful not to injure himself as he closes the distance between himself and the older wolf. Once he sees her shadowy figure in his sight, he stops and lets out a low chuff first to see what her reaction is. From his own darkened position, he watches carefully before deciding what to do.

"speech"

It was eerie out here. Very, very eerie. Asteria found herself deeply unsettled as she moved across the soft earth, feeling it mush under her paws, squidge between her toes. Certainly not a feeling she enjoyed, as if catching the poor sensory experience in her teeth. Like she could kind of feel it in her bones, too. It was less than ideal. She dug in as best she could, continuing her way through the swamp. All of it was uncomfortable, and it felt so... grimy. Cutting through the grime and the muck, Asteria continued south. But then, she's not alone. The man was downwind, but she could see his shadow just out of her grasp. She's being... followed? Stalked? Was she being stalked? Her pulse picked up, hackles lifting slightly. It's reflex. All of it was reflex. Asteria tried to move more quickly, still wading through the muck and murk. Not running, but moving with purpose. It's only when he really does let her know that he's there, does Asteria stop. Turning, her gaze settling on the shadowy figure. "Hello?" Her tone is gentle... there was no telling what he wanted. Though worried about what the encounter would hold, she's nonthreatening without being meek. "Talk"

Sensing her unease, it is hard for him to not grin. As of late, he hadn't much time for trouble and mischief. Perhaps this would be his opportunity to allow his wild side to have some fun. Keeping his distance slightly, his eyes never leave her. Following, watching, stalking. Even after his chuff and pause, she pauses too. She doesn't back down, but she is still hesitant. He can see it in her eyes. See it in her body posture. What was she thinking? There is no pack scent on her so at least he can't get in trouble that way.

His own hackles rise as her soft voice calls out. With his fangs popping down, he takes a few steps forward. Shafts of moonlight filter down through the trees and allow his yellow goat-like eyes to glimmer slightly. It is hard to be quiet in such a mucky place, but he still tries as he steps even closer. Words do not escape him yet as he prowls forward. Shoulders hunched, hair on end, tail lifted high over his haunches so that the tip of it brushes the crystals that line his back.

It is not until he can see her pretty blue eyes clearly does he stop. Mere feet away, he breathes slowly. Breathes her scent in as his lips lift into a small snarl. "Now, what is a pretty thing like you doing way out here?" Gil says, almost breathless as he lifts his head up to tower over her more.

"speech"