Viðarr was in a reasonably good mood as dawn broke. His head was high, eyes bright. Hell, for the first time in a long time, it had even seen he'd grown. Chosen of the gods, much like the priestess was. The gifts had shone down upon them, and Viðarr wasn't about to throw that away. The shadow had resolved to make them proud, and do what he could to thank them for their deeds. Though he wasn't sure what exactly had pleased them so, it was clear that he was on the right path. Grateful as always. Grateful as ever.

And it was with that good mood that the shadow set himself out on the trail. Prey... yes, a meal sounded good. He'd be able to bring something down for the family. Already they were preparing their stores for the winter chill, when it came. With a keen eye and swift paws, it wasn't long before Viðarr found a trail. Calving season for the moose meant that the large animals would be vulnerable. Excellent timing. Instead of needing the help of the entire family, he could hopefully take it on his own. The gods really were smiling on him.

The shadow was intense as he moved over the ground, head low, though his movements didn't stiffen. Viðarr thought for a moment as the winds shifted, pausing. Swiftly he moved to a muddy puddle from a recent storm, rolling in it to mask his own scent. Yes, couldn't allow the moose to know that he was coming. Covered in mud but not necessarily dripping, Viðarr returned to the scent trail, tracking to the west. Towards the waterfall peak, the trail that ran beside it. It made sense to him-- likely that they'd be near a water source. On the stiff summer breeze, he could smell them. With the early lights of the morning shining around his shoulders, Viðarr continued on the trail.

"Viðarr"

tracking & hunting 1/3

Her fur was finally growing back. Though it was still patchy and not as pristine as it used to be yet, she was pleased with the outcome. Even as her tail fur began to drag slightly on the ground, it was something she enjoyed. It had made her mood good enough that she felt ready to go on a hunt. Her bones ached to move, to run, to kill. An eagerness buzzed in her body as her ivory-dipped paws took off across the land. Mud splashed up her legs as she head north. Unlike other areas of Boreas, she'd found that better prey lingered in the denser woods. Fewer wolves meant more food.

Taking calculating steps through the brush, her nose picked up moose. Normally, she wouldn't be so keen on tracking down such a large animal, but due to the nature of spring, there surely would be a calf or an old one that would be easy for her to pick off. Making her way up the trail toward the sound of rushing water, her steps faltered when she caught a slight, very slight, whiff of someone familiar. Blinking her eyes a few times, she searched the dense wood for the wolf. At first, she didn't see him. Having rolled in mud and grown taller since they first met, Vidarr was more a muddy shadow than anything. Celeste nearly laughed but knew his tactic would be effective.

Hurrying her steps in his direction, she let out a quiet chuff under her breath to let him know she was there. Reaching out to press her nose against his side in a sort of greeting, her eyes looked up to his face that was a lot farther away now. There would be no words needed for now as she began to keep pace with the titan of a man. Though she hadn't rolled in mud, her scent wasn't as strong due to her lack of fur. She would save that conversation for later. Turning her attention back to the task at hand, Celeste followed Vidarr toward the water source to hunt down a moose.

Celeste Akizora

Viðarr's eyebrows lifted slightly when the girl came into view. Celeste was here, but she was... raggedy. What had happened to her coat? Was she going to be okay with the elements? Would she get sunburned? It was the height of summer, after all... she could care for herself, he knew that. Still, it wouldn't sate Viðarr's worry. He tapped his chin against the girl's forehead, smiling softly. His sister said he had a habit of taking in strays, and this was no exception. He's fond of the girl. No words were needed between the two, for now at least. They were on a mission.

Hot on the trail of the young moose, Viðarr moved. He was happy to lead the way, confident that they could stay reasonably upwind of their prey, and Celeste's lack of coat would do well enough to hide any lingering scent. Yes, they were in good shape. It wasn't long before his gaze fixed on a doe with two young calves at her side. One looked more sickly than the other, and seemed to walk with a hobble. That would be the easier one to grab, the shadow figured. He poked gently at Celeste's side with his nose, gesturing at the slower-moving creature from where they stood, cloaked in the shadow of the peak itself.

With that as a warning, he thundered from his spot beneath the trees. Though he wasn't fast, he was powerful. It surged in his bones, in his muscles. He felt alive in moments like this. His emergence would likely send the moose into a state of confusion, and in the chaos, they could grab the calf and dispatch it quickly. Strong. Raw power, as a matter of fact. Brilliant.

"Viðarr"

tracking & hunting 2/3

Curving her lips up in a smile as Vidarr's nose plunked itself on her forehead, she knew the man would have many questions for her. Thanking the silent gods above that he wasn't going to disrupt their hunt for words, she turned her focus back on the task at hand. As they moved silently through the brush, upwind from the watering hole, her eyes flicked over to a brown figure when Vidarr nudged her. Her aquamarine gaze took in the sight of the cow and her two babies. Unlike wolves, moose didn't commonly have more than one so she wasn't surprised that one of them looked sickly and hobbled along. Boy were they in luck today.

Keeping to the shadows as Vidarr pushed forward, Celeste followed in suit. Her smaller stature may not be as strong as Vidarr's large body, but she was agile and quick. Surging forward, ahead of Vidarr, Celeste pressed upon the sickly and hobbled calf. Startled, the poor baby shrieked out for its mother. Unfortunately, the mother cow had taken this as a sign to leave as quickly as possible with the healthier calf. Confusion and fear lit up in the calf's eyes as Celeste moved in closer to it.

Celeste Akizora

Amusingly enough, Viðarr himself is the silent god. The god of vengeance, the slayer of Fenrir... Viðarr is all of these things. All of those things, and more. The shadow trusts in his connection to his namesake, and he's comfortable in this way. Comfortable with himself, and comfortable in the way that they're able to move together. Viðarr can't help but be grateful for Celeste and her eagerness to hunt with him.

They are nature, the balance of things. Celeste was fast, balancing out the brute force that comes from the shadow. They'd make quick work of their prey. There was no humanity in playing with your food. Viðarr is steadfast, lunging forward and taking the creature by the hind legs to head off any escape. They both crashed into the ground, and Viðarr was already panting. He's a large creature, and moving quickly isn't without effort. The calf kicked, flailed, but he remained steadfast. He'd hold, and leave Celeste the opening to take the last shot.

"Viðarr"

tracking & hunting - 3/3

A flurry of legs and massive bodies beside her go tumbling toward the ground. Her eyes catch Vidarr lunging toward the sickly calf in hurried movements. Something in her confirms itself that Vidarr really is a beast not to be messed with. The amount of power and strength it took to even level with a moose calf was an entity all on its own. Impressed, Celeste moved into action without another thought. Swinging her hind end around as her paws skidded along the dirt, her furless body lunges forward. Opening her mouth wide with ears pinned back, the petite girl dances over the flailing body of the calf.

Reaching forward and landing a firm hold on the calf's throat, just beneath the part where its head connected to his neck, she bites down. Blood fills her mouth, warm and sticky, as she tenses her muscles. Standing firm on all four paws, she thrashes her own body to help break open more skin as blood splashes onto her legs. She can feel its heartbeat stutter and slowly start to fade away as her eyes watch the calf's eyes flutter and go still. Every breath is labored as she draws in air. Exhaustion settles into her as the adrenaline seeps away. This had been a good hunt, even somewhat of an easy one.

Once she knew the calf would not move anymore, she releases her hold and licks at her bloody lips before looking over to Vidarr. "Good hunt, ol' boy," she chirps with a wag of her tail that has uncurled itself from between her legs. "Before you go asking questions. Yes, I'm alright. The whole fur thing was a misunderstanding with a cloaked fellow," her smile is wide as she sits down next to their kill. "I might have even found myself a hunky boy to live with for the time being. Not sure if he'll keep me around, there's this other girl he seems to like just as much," her shoulders shrug, fending off any hurt feelings she might have about it.

Celeste Akizora

Viðarr takes a moment to catch his breath, allowing his heartrate to slow back to normal. Gods, was he really tired that easily? With the recent growth, he'd been a bit more tired than usual. Things happened, he supposed, when he was chosen by the gods. Dully, he wondered if the priestess had encountered the same things, with her new fangs growing in. Viðarr would ask her on a day when she wasn't so fucking crabby. (Had the shadow not been so dense, he'd realize that she was likely cranky because she was tired, but we'll let that go for now. Poor bastard.)

"Who are you calling old," the shadow grinned, joking happily with the girl. She seemed to know what he'd ask next as well, and that brings a brassy chuckle to his throat, ringing through his chest. There's something comfortable about it all, and he's pleased. Carefully, he licks the blood from his lips and then his chest, not wanting to attract any predator attention as they settled to take a look at their fresh catch.

A boy? At this, the shadow raises his eyebrows, shooting a look at Celeste. "Do I need to come have a talk with this boy?" It's a skeptical look, a protective look. Yes, it was good that she'd found somewhere to stay, somewhere that was safe, but boys... well, boys didn't always have the best intentions. His pale gaze upon her was careful, studying. The boy had another girl around. His brow knit. "You let me know if I need to talk or talk with him, yes?" Feelings, you see, weren't the shadow's strong suit. Hurt feelings though, those could be solved with teeth. Those were something that the shadow could handle well enough for both of them.

"Viðarr"