The air around him was frigid and thick with snow. Ankaios tucked his chin down towards his neck and closed his eyes against the buffeting wind, trying his best to stay upright. It was autumn, the gods had no business inflicting conditions like this upon the land. Only days ago it had been fairly pleasant, he could not for the life of him come to terms with how things had changed so quickly. The cold bit through his coat, thick but not thick enough for such rapidly dropping temperatures. He knew he needed to find shelter, and fast. His trek across the sea, that bout of island hopping, floating and drifting, had eaten away at what little fat had been stored on his bones. He peered through the gathering darkness, trying to pick out any sort of shape or mass that might be looming up ahead. Dusk was falling around him and he knew time was running out. He might be able to make the night through if he found a snow bank to curl up under, at least get him out of the winds, but that was still a pretty big "maybe," and nothing close to a risk he was willing to take. He began to trudge forward once more... Before long his muscles were starting to burn. He felt the exhaustion but none of the heat that was supposed to come along with it. Hmm... Concerning. He did not need the monolith rising up out of the land until he very nearly bumped into it. Only a few body lengths separated him and its mass before he could discern that it was even there. He paused for only one breath before pulling on his last dregs of strength, mumbled a quick prayer and turned himself over to the hands of fate. He turned to the right and began walking along the length of the feature. He knew stones often would tilt this way or that, and perhaps he could find some sort of inlet to shelter within... It was better than nothing, right? "Talk" "You" Think

"I'm your white knight with the devil on his shoulder" The encroaching darkness was friend to the shadowed entity that had begun to call this rough terrain home. It was under the blanket cast by night that he emerged from his place of rest, and showed evidence of the nocturnal behavior he had fallen to. There was no challenge in the rocky mountain side he had begun to frequent, and it wasn't for the prey that he had taken to remaining here. Through his patience wore thin with the many days that endlessly passed him by, and the lack of a sign in any way or form of the person he awaited. The cousin's had been smart enough to decide upon a base of operations, the choose of the Swiss cheese styled mountainside had been simple enough – the knocks and crannies offered vantage points to those that took the time to learn them. More so then this, it was an easy place for a stranger to find themselves lost amongst and fall prey to the dark nature of the boys. Now, the Titan remained for more reasons then originally decided, with the disappearance of his partner in crime. He found the trouble he caused was not nearly as fascinating without an audience to admire his handy work. The last rays of the waning sun would find him on a high ledge, nestled in the shadows in his vantage point that over looked a large portion of the territory. with the slope of the rocks above him, he was well sheltered from the wind and snow that had begun to stalk across the land. From here he would find himself in a position to scoop out the stranger in amber that trudged painfully through the chill of the dawning night. Entertainment, clearly provided by the hands of fate would not be over looked. He leaped lightly from the height and landed on the stones below, his paws sinking into the crisp layer of snow that had settled there. He shivered as the chill winds found him, before swaggering onward across a predetermined path towards his victim. When he was close enough for his voice to be heard above the wind he let it roll our between them. "Hail, stranger. Are you in need of a place to wait out the storm?" he inquired, his voice mildly curious. "Speech"

The stranger would appear as suddenly as the monolith had, and Ankaios froze in his tracks the moment he spoke. Caught somewhere between suspicion and relief, he tried to keep his face neutral. It was hard at first to make out shape or size in the frozen murk, but Kai could tell the male was large and built well. Because really, nothing tops being caught in a blizzard like being lured into something even worse... He forced himself to choke his suspicion down. Of course the conditions had put him in an even worse mood than usual, but it was starting to look like if he played his cards right, he might live to complain about it another day. He blinked the snow from his eyes, and realized the tips of his ears were completely numb. "I certainly wouldn't be opposed," he called out over the wailing wind. "I only hope it's close by?" Perhaps that was too much to ask, but then again if he died on the way it was much less likely that this stranger would kill him! With that happy thought in mind Kai hunched his shoulders against the wind, rolling the ruff of his neck upwards to try and hold in what little warmth was left to him. He could not remember the last time he'd had a good meal or a decent night's rest, and that wear and tear was dragging at him. Well, let's get this over with, then, he thought to himself with a smirk, cheerfully thinking of all the different ways he might leave this world and how each and every one of them would be better than standing out in this insufferable blizzard even one moment longer. "Talk" "You" Think

Cry 'Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of war His prey would startle, freezing like a deer caught in headlights as the seductive words enticed a vision of warmth and sanctuary from the harsh conditions of the day. He was not left waiting long before the crimson stranger gave his answer. Of course the words where agreement, what choice did the man have? To die in the cold embrace of the blizzard or follow a stranger to his lair. “Nay, fear not, your journey is a short one” Basilysk promised him, and with those warm and cuddly words Basil would give a slow turn and begin the rise upwards again, leading a path through through the snow and towards the safety of the crevice that marked his current temporary home. It was slower returning to his cave then had been to leave it, although his carefully placed steps and easy going spoke of a well traversed path and a complex knowledge of the path beneath the layer of snow. He would lead Ankaios to the cave beneath the ledge he had waited upon, with the outcropping of the rocks above them in created a roof even before they got inside and it would be here the Ancora descendant shook out his coat, stamping his feet on the stone before slipping inside. "Talk" "You" Think

The man's easy movements were mostly lost on Ankaios as they trudged onwards, who kept his head down against the prevailing wind whipping down over the rocky slope to whistle on into the valley below. He couldn't do much more than follow the deep tracks left by his guide, and hope that this wasn't a mistake. Before long they terrain would level, and Kai noticed a ringing in his ears... silence. Not a complete sort of silence, but the unmistakeable lack of noise, somewhere peaceful up ahead. He perked and found a new spark in his step. It was only moments before he was led around a bend towards a gaping crevice in the stone. The grey man would disappear into the void, and Kai could just barely make out the look of him shaking the snow from his pelt. Perhaps it would be courteous to do the same? He tried to ignore the feel of tedium as he did what he could to keep from tracking snow into his home. His eyes took a long moment to adjust to the gloom, but he got the sense from the smell of the air and the loose, echoey way the wind disappeared within that this was no mere dimple in the rock face. "An impressive home," he remarked, voice sounding unnaturally quiet to his ears, having be adrift in the gale for so long. "You are lucky to call it yours. And I thank you for your hospitality. I should gladly pay you back once this squall is over and done with." He voice was prim and proper, as he had been taught. He knew that only lowly curs spoke easily, that only illbred wolves would have no reason to curb their thoughts once they became words. His mother had taught him so. He fought to keep a conversation going so that it would not prolong into an awkward silence. "Do you have any companions here?" Surely there was room enough for more; it would be selfish of the man to keep such a splendid place all to himself, right? All the same, Kai knew better than to voice the entirety of his thoughts. It would not do to irritate his temporary host. He began to lift and bend each limb while he waited, testing the feel of them to discern the extent of the cold's damage. "Talk" "You" Think

"I'm your white knight with the devil on his shoulder" The bitter chill of the blizzard had already started to soak through his coat and it was with relief that he moved into the shelter of the home he had claimed. At least now he wasn't simply left to his own devices and the boredom of waiting out the tedious storm. Turning, and seating himself with his back to a wall he eyed the man he had led here, a speculative and expectant glean in the shine of jade eyed. Yes, this was definitely a more interesting turn of events. His ears twitched as the Mahogany man spoke, his words more easily distinguished in the void apart from the storms tantrum. The silver-tongued siren curved lips with barely displayed amusement at the complimentary description of his home, among other sweetly spoken delights. ”And what, pray tell me, would you be willing to offer me?” His tone was soft, rising only in a chord of amusement. He made little movement now that he had settled into his home, the positioning of his limbs and the expression his face bore spoke of a man at ease. “Nay, for the moment, there is naught but the two of us” "Speech"

The man settled into his home with an air of practice. He seemed comfortable, at ease, relaxed... Ankaios reluctantly began to follow in his footsteps. He sat down for starters, and tucked his tail at his side all neat a prim. It was about as relaxed as he ever got, truthfully. When the grey man spoke, Kai fought to keep his eyes from narrowing. Was that.. Was that mockery? It seemed like the stranger did not think he was capable of offering anything worthwhile! His coat puffed out a bit, goaded now, and after having offered someone else servitude in the first place! Still, it would be below him to quarrel. "I would offer you your choice," he began, voice silky and calm, "but you strike me as a devious man. I hope you don't mind my saying so, it certainly does not come as an insult. I would gladly provide for you your next meal, if that would suffice. You have provided for me, after all." It was the way the man walked, the cool competence in his gaze, the health he retained even in among the harshest of seasons in an unforgiving climate. Devious was the closest Kai could get to pinning the feeling down. It was a sort of respect, perhaps. The man seemed like he was taking the whole world in one drop at a time before he chose to act. Kai could appreciate such a trait. "My name is Ankaios, if that sort of thing matters to you. Ankaios Aeris." He considered that the man might wish to leave the debt unpaid until a later date. It would do him no good if he did not have a name with which to search, and Kai truly did have every intention of leveling this playing field. He was not accustomed to debt, and he was suddenly feeling very secure in that wariness. This uncertainty was no fun at all. "Talk" "You" Think

Cry 'Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of war Basilysk got the distinct impression that his blatant disregard to the mans worth had ruffled his feathers. That the Auburn beast still spoke in courteous tones, explaining his offer, provided Basilysk with amusement. The arrow marked Siren chuckled softly into the gloom of his cave, his response to Ankaios's words. him, he thought devious? ah, there was more truth then perhaps Kai even knew in those words. “Aye” was his agreement, through if it was in acceptance and acknowledgement to the mans description of him – or in agreement to the offer, he did not explain. “Ankaios Aeris” he echoed, and the tinge of a smile on his lips seemed to say to the man that he would not forget. Through, to what purpose he would hold the name to memory was most certainly unclear. He dipped his head into the sweeping bow of a 'noble' man before he would speak again. “Basilysk Ancora. Please, feel free to call me all and any versions of a shortened 'Basilysk' he invited, his words hinting that this was in someway a joke. Or perhaps that was simply how he viewed every part of this greeting, situation, or world. "Talk" "You" Think

His host did not offer much by way of comprehension, and Kai could only guess that he had found his offer acceptable. That soothed him somewhat; at least the grey male had some sense. Anyone with eyes could see that Kai was possessed of a strong, lean figure. He was a born hunter! And he would have absolutely no trouble in finding the man a meal, so there! He resisted the urge to 'harrumph.' He also took in Kai's name with ease, seeming to roll it over on his tongue and testing the feel of it. The stranger offered his own soon after, but there was something queer in his voice. He would give permission to invent a nickname of sorts, but Kai was having trouble telling if he was serious or not. "Basilysk," he said with a nod, trying to buy himself another moment to think. He was so flippant about it! Or perhaps this was just his way... Kai couldn't be certain. He hung somewhere between further irritation and confusion. "Well Bassy just sounds a tad too intimate," he said at last, in a dry tone, "so I suppose your given name will have to do for now. Of course, my associates call me Kai, if nicknames suit you." He wanted to be polite, after all. He allowed that nicknames were convenient; they provided both information and brevity all at once. Of course, offering something so informal to an utter stranger only proved to ruffle him further. This was going to be a long night... "Talk" "You" Think