I LIKE TALL BUILDINGS SO I CAN LEAP OFF 'EM A bracing chill ruffled his thick coat, bringing with it memories of home. He wove through the trees, happy to be out of the wind. A raging blizzard had driven him to the shelter of the trees, where the weather couldn't batter him so relentlessly. His mother had told him a story of when she had once found a little girl who glowed, in a great redwood forest in these lands, and reunited with her niece. Strange to think that he had cousins he had never met roaming about, and that he might find them one day. Monstrous form strode confidently through the trees, tail loosely trailing along his thighs. Crown aloft, the male felt little fear for anything he might find here. A good fight would do him well- he wanted to hit something. Make something feel pain so he could forget his own. Something was decaying nearby. As if on cue, his stomach rumbled furiously. A quick change of course brought him to the frozen corpse of a mangled elk doe. She had starved to death in the land of plenty, evidently too little, too late. All the better for himself. The hide was tough, frozen nearly solid. Tilting his broad cranium to one side, he parted his jaws and gored the doe's flank with one of his thick tusks. A few more swift blows, quick upward motions of the head, and he'd mangled the flesh enough to tear the frozen strips away and work them into something edible. It was bloody work, but food was food. "speech"

Even after his near-death encounter with an avalanche, Kai wasn't deterred from continuing his winter in the far reaches of the north. Perhaps avoiding mountains was a smart idea, but truthfully... he probably wouldn't, if he felt inclined to explore near one. Fearing danger wasn't part of his life plan and he wasn't about to start being cautious. How boring would that be? Either way, he had far more important things to worry about than natural disasters - at least in his mind. He was growing tusks. Actual, goddamn tusks. The unquestionable aching in his jaw had been replaced by lost teeth and, what had initially felt like new teeth growing behind them, had slowly revealed themselves to be tusks. What the actual fuck. He was pretty sure his father's had grown in when he was a boy, but then again he'd never actually asked him, but he had a feeling they hadn't magically appeared when he was four. Maybe he was just a late bloomer? Like, a super late bloomer? Though he wasn't unhappy about the growths themselves, they hurt like a bitch and soured his mood. At least now they were starting to look like something, small little growths creeping from the top of his mouth and peeking just outside of his jaw, as the rest of his teeth were slowly adjusting to make room for them. He sighed a bit too miserably as he wove between the trees, as quickly as he pained face would allow him. He was hungry, and that too soured his mood, considering hunting was a bit of a pain in the ass right now with his sore face and all. As soon as the oversized male smelled something in the air - the prey wasn't fresh by any means, but perhaps preserved by the winter cold. Curious, Kai pressed on, noting the scent was accompanied by the smell of another wolf. What he didn't expect to see, once he drew nearer, was a breathtaking male, about his size, with actual fucking tusks. Between the male he'd met with antlers not long ago, and his own growing tusks and now this, Kai was floored. He knew wolves existed with these things - hell, his own father had tusks - but he hadn't met others like his family in these lands until recently. Even from a distance he could tell that Deion's tusks were quite different, but still decidedly tusks. Well.. damn. He hesitated for a moment, a rarity for Kai, before approaching. "Looks like quite the project you're working on there," he commented conversationally, casting a slight grin to the male with the brilliant coat, casting his gaze quite appreciatively over him. He was gorgeous, there was no mistaking that, and he had no issues with making it apparent that he was ogling him.

TWO THOUSAND SURROUNDING US, THEY TRAVELLED TWO THOUSAND KILOMETRES, TO HANG OUT WITH US Subtle pawsteps through the undergrowth, and crunching snow beneath them. The titan raised his great crown, jaw working at the frozen slab of meat between his teeth. There was a dullness to his gaze, not unlike a bored bull- unafraid of whatever might approach and disinterested by the notion of company. The cosmic male watched a grey-scale wolf approach, marked with a rich, ruddy crimson here and there. As the male got closer, it seemed that he had a pair of his own tusks poking out from his lower jaw. A hint of a grin tugged at the corner of his maw. Perhaps this place wasn't so boring after all. "Looks like quite the project you're working on there," the stranger commented, voice husky without the gruffness that was prominent in the male's own vocals. Perhaps he preened a little under the smooth, appraising gaze of the mercury eyed man. Just a little. "I may as well get some use out of these," he replied, thick accent wrapped firmly around his rumbling vocals. "what else if not tenderizing a bit of meat?" the rhetorical nature of the question was implied, but he quirked a brow nonetheless. Making note of the trim, slender build of the stranger, he couldn't help but trace the pattern of his facial markings with his own gaze. Simple, and yet elegant. Starry banner sweeping neatly across his heels, he allowed his attention to move from the male to the carcass at his feet. Ah, the scent must have drawn him in. "I'm willing to share, if that's what you're here for." he added, gesturing to the doe with the end of his muzzle. The celestial goliath made a point of easing his bulk to the side, making room between the splayed limbs of the carcass for the large male. Attention was riveted upon the gunmetal form of the stranger, waiting for him to make the next move. A little body heat in the cold of winter wouldn't hurt, now would it? "speech"

Kai was many things, but quiet was not generally one of them, so it was really no surprise when his arrival didn't go unnoticed for long. Being sneaky wasn't really his style, and neither was wariness. It seemed this stranger had a similar demeanor, and he appreciated the nonchalance - wolves who were uptight all the time were so dreadfully boring. He returned the slight grin, unused to the way his lips curled around his baby tusks, though he was growing used to the feeling. If only these damned things would stop aching all the goddamned time... He welcomed a distraction, and this tusked beast was a sight for sore eyes... quite literally. He didn't seem displeased by his arrival - in fact, he looked quite pleased, if Kai had to guess - and his grin widened a touch. "A smart idea," he agreed smoothly, noting the man's efforts were worthwhile. He knew that food was often tricky to find in the midst of winter, and mother nature's leftovers were as good a meal as any. He found a single brow raising at his comment, though said nothing as the stranger returned a simple examination of him. Was that why he was here? Good question. The scent had intrigued him, but he was as hungry for company as he was for food. "Ah, that's not the only reason I'm here," he offered, somewhat suggestively, that impish smile returning to his features. "But it is one of them. Thank you." He nodded, grateful for the offer. He knew he wouldn't starve to death on his own but he welcomed a shared meal and wasn't too proud to offer a word of gratitude, not when words came freely. He moved to settle in beside Deion, letting a lull settle into their conversation as he focused on the frozen carcass before him. He made to begin tearing into one of the doe's other legs, tearing a strip of hide away to make work of the flesh beneath. It wasn't as tender as he would've hoped, but a few long chews softened it up and made it quite edible. After a moment of thoughtful silence, he tilted his head to the other male. "Name's Kai Jarvela, by the way," he offered conversationally, only a faint hint of his family's native tongue slipping through in the way he pronounced his last name.

CAUSE I LIKE HIGH CHANCES THAT I MIGHT LOSE The silver male was not displeased under the scrutiny, but rather seemed to all but welcome the attention. "Ah, that's not the only reason I'm here," he assured, the hint of a smile toying at his chiseled features. "But it is one of them. Thank you." he continued with a small nod, plodding forward through the snow to join the titan at the belly of the doe. The warmth of his body was welcome in the chill of winter, though the cosmic male had fur to spare. They ate in silence, with the behemoth working away with his tusks to get through the frozen flesh of the elk's belly. If he could get through the softest parts, perhaps the organs inside would still be edible. Cold, surely, and more than likely they would be just as tough as the rest of the doe, but rich in nutrients that were hard to come by at this time of year. "Name's Kai Jarvela, by the way," the stranger said, forcing the celestial wolf's attention from his task. Blood stained the majority of his face as it oozed from the scored flesh of the doe, and he had a dazed look on his face from being diverted away from what he'd been doing. "Deion Aeris," he rumbled, blanking on pleasantries for a moment. Ah, yes, there they were, flashing across the forefront of his mind. "a pleasure to share this meal with you, Мој драг." A decidedly devilish smirk toyed with his features, his gaze roving over the much leaner bodice of the other male for just a moment. There was a look about the male that announced a distinct age difference between them, but Deion wasn't one to care much for such things. Pretty was pretty, whether they were male, female, or a few years older than he. Just like that, the titan tore his gaze away to continue tearing into the doe's gut. He was so close, and he was eager to see the conditions of her entrails. His canines scored the flesh, and his tusks tore it the rest of the way. The distinct squelching signaled an impending disembowelment, and the male took a step back. Regardless, blood stained his pale forepaws, and her guts were freed. Pink and glistening, though missing the steam rising from the snow that he loved to see at the start of a meal. "May I interest you in something better than frozen flesh?" he asked with a grin, casting his vibrant gaze back upon his companion with a lifted brow. "speech"

The way his gaze was ravaging Deion's body didn't seem to be unwanted, which only encouraged his faint grin to brighten. He was glad for the company, and even more glad when he moved to sit beside him. The warmth was more than welcome and he found himself instinctively leaning toward him, not enough to encroach on his personal space, but enough so that he could feel the warmth ebbing from his pelt. Unlike Deion, he couldn't use his new tusks to aid in tearing the frozen meat - in fact, the aching in his jaw was currently making this task quite a difficult one, though he was trying his best to ignore the pain and certainly not to let it show. When Deion turned to him, he took a welcome pause from the eating, tongue snaking over his lips and briefly relishing the feeling of those unfamiliar tusks that were growing from his upper jaw. "A joy to meet you, Deion Aeris," he tested the name on his bloodied tongue, grinning once again at the sound as it fell on his own ears. His ears twitched at the sound of an unfamiliar tongue, different from his family's native language, but still harsher than the language he'd come to know in these lands. Huh - how interesting. He paused his own dining to watch as Deion dug deeper into the belly of the doe, using his tusks expertly to tear into the prey's entrails. The faint smell of blood he'd followed to find his way here was much stronger now, the smell of flesh and blood pleasantly filling his nostrils now. "Depends what you're offering," Kai answered, after only the briefest moment of hesitation, his words laced with playfulness. "And what you'd ask for in return." The suggestiveness of his words could be easily discerned as he cast a curious glance at him, but he hoped for enough subtlety that he could divert his words into something different if Deion didn't seem receptive to what he was hoping to imply.

HEAVY METAL BROKE MY HEART A friendly greeting was more than welcome after the trials of his travels to these lands, and all the more so from a pretty face. To his question, Kai seemed to respond amiably. Perhaps, even, suggestive in his reply. "Depends what you're offering," the ashen male replied coolly. There was the hint of a tease to his tones, more than appreciated by the celestial titan. "And what you'd ask for in return." his smooth, lilting vocals added the coy suggestion almost absently. As though it were nothing. A grin crept onto the male's features, brow lifting curiously. Well, well. If he was being honest with himself, this male was well out of his league. Based on the definition of his features, and the scent of him, he was a bit older. More experienced, certainly. Those eyes, like quicksilver. He was still grieving, deep down, but he would more than welcome affection if it were offered. Catharsis. Roving eyes trailed once more over the ruddy markings across his features, the bands across his ankles. What he wouldn't give to know more of his male, and yet now he had the opportunity to cut straight to the chase. "You know, I must admit it's a bit chilly so far north." he began, rumbling baritones turned husky. An attempt to turn on the charm. Tongue slipped from his maw, cleaning gore from his muzzle before it could freeze upon his fur. The meal was all but forgotten. He was solely focused on the gilded male before him, svelte bodied and bold. Attention shifted briefly away, a quick glance around them. The woods seemed empty, no one would happen upon them out in the open. "I wouldn't mind some company, perhaps some shared warmth, if you had the time or care." the offer left his maw wreathed in mist and innuendo, accompanied by a barely-there wink. He was having fun, sue him. "dripping with sarcasm"

Art by risketch

Kai's taste in wolves - in men, in particular - had always been quite.. specific. He was far from shy, but expressing interest always left him open to vulnerability that he wasn't quite accustomed to. And how could he pass up a tusked beast like this one? His pelt reminded him of the glowing lights of the northern stars that his kin worshiped so deeply, and he was instantly enamored. Luckily, Deion seemed more than responsive to his suggestive tone, and Kai's grin only grew as each moment passed. If Deion thought Kai was out of his league, well... Kai was essentially thinking the same thing. The male before him was likely years younger than him, but Kai couldn't help but feel that this Deion was a gift from the gods themselves, served to him on a silver platter - and he suddenly found that he was starving. If he'd been uncertain what the other male's intentions might be, his confusion was suddenly washed away in a few simple, husky sentences. A low hum of pleasure suddenly slipped forth from his parted jaws as his tongue lolled from his mouth to lap up any blood that might remain on his jowls.  "It's chilly indeed," he agreed smoothly, the corner of his mouth quirking in a slow, sultry smirk. Kai was usually all talk when it came to flirting, but something about this male had emboldened him, and he wasn't about to let this opportunity slip away from him. "I have as much time as you want, gorgeous." Such was the life of a rogue, thoroughly unburdened by responsibilities or the restraints of time. For all he cared, they could spend the rest of eternity in these woods, living a life of pure hedonism - the thought elicited a soft chuckle from him. "Mind if I have a taste?" He wasn't talking about the meal they'd begun to share this time. His eyes were sparkling now as he took a bold step toward Deion and gingerly grazed a tusk against the side of Deion's throat, if he let him.