Around mid-morning, after she’d cleaned up her new room and brushed out her fur, Clove headed out of the castle- daring to venture into the neighboring territory, with two objectives in mind. Wanting to expand her knowledge of Auster, she sought to navigate the garden that quite honestly, didn’t look like a garden. Additionally, she wanted to work on her tracking skills- and if she were feeling confident, maybe she could hunt something down on her own. She remembered a packmate talking about a deer herd that lived here. She could take down a fawn or doe by herself… right? Crossing into the expanse of woodland, Clove was careful to stay downwind. Testing the air for any familiar scents, and trying to find traces of the deer herd. Her eyes roved across the terrain, noting the small smattering of stone foundations that appeared beneath some patches of grass. It looked like the wall of the castle. There was also a herbal scent in the air- one that her brother Solaire would undoubtedly appreciate. Oh! Finally, she came across a clue. Deer droppings. And they were fresh too! Leaning down to inspect them, she sniffed at it, crinkled her nose, and looked beyond the pile, searching for tracks.   "Speech"

According to Tate, they weren't staying long. Something about having to pick something up from Bramble, who knows-- Erik tended to tune his brother out. The boy had a lot to say, most of it was... much. While his brother handled things in the castle, the viking bastard walked the woods. Taking it in, tense but curious.

Up wind of him, a few things. The first was somewhat familiar. Not Ember, but one of her siblings. The second? Deer. Taking the scent in for a long moment and choosing his direction, the boy took off at a loose jog.

Coming into focus through the trees, Erik's gaze landed on Clove. A friendly rumble in his throat, a little twitch of his tail-- friendly, by Erik's standards. His gaze tracks down, landing on the deer droppings. She's picked on the same thing he did. The boy's gaze is keen as it rakes across the soft earth, licking his nose and scenting the air. Getting a better sense of direction, Erik picks up the impression of tracks in the soft earth to the east. Loudly clearing his throat and throwing his muzzle in the direction he'd spotted the tracks, the boy takes off after them.

"Speech"

Well, Clove was certainly an inexperienced hunter- it was evident by the surprise that washed over her face, when another wolf suddenly appeared behind her. She hadn’t even heard him walk up! Nearly jumping out of her skin, she whirls around to face the stranger- only, it wasn’t a stranger. “Oh- Erik!” She recognized him from their visit to Heiðinn, and he’d also showed up to the harvest ball. Now that she thought of it, he spent a lot of time with Ember that night… and the day they visited Heiðinn, too! She made a mental note to ask her sister about it later. Maybe she could tell Ember about Akito and Rogue. She’d forgotten about her hunt for a moment- but when Erik started inspecting the deer droppings, her mind flipped back to the task at paw. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder why he was here. Didn’t he live in those mountains? “How are you? What are you-“  Suddenly, Erik was taking off down a path, leaving her behind. “Hey, wait up!” She said, loping after him. Eyes looking across the terrain and down the path, which was adorned in the hoofed tracks of a deer herd. Well, it looked like her solo hunting trip had turned into a duo- which was fine for Clove, because she was a socialite at heart. Still, it felt a little weird running around with a boy she hardly knew- but at least he was focused on the task and not her. Coming around a bend, she took note of the woodland trees that grew in clusters off in the distance. The perfect place for deer to lay in some shade. And the tracks seemed to be heading that way too. "Speech"

Erik doesn't dwell on the fact he's hunting with someone he hardly knows. Hell, he knows more about her than he does most of the loose hunting parties he's been a part of on the road. Something about traveling with Tate and picking up strays along the way. They all needed to eat, and they'd be more successful together. Facilitating the social interaction was usually his brother's job, but that's... fine. He can handle that too.

Gaze hitting the clusters of stately, shady trees, Erik's ground-eating gallop slows. First to a jog, and then a walk. Steps slow and predatory, rolling on the outside of his foot. As quiet as he dares, sticking to shade on his own. The scent of deer was stronger, droppings fresher. One deep breath, and then another.

As the breeze kicked up around him, Erik's gaze is drawn upwind once more. The herd, moving quickly. At the rear, a small doe with a limp. Erik offered a grumble to catch Clove's attention, a tip of his muzzle. Making sure the girl saw what he did before they made their pursuit once more.
"Speech"

As they approach the trees, Clove matches Erik's pace- slowing down from a lope to a trot, until eventually, they are stalking through the underbrush like predators. The scent of the deer was very strong now- sending a wave of thrill through Clove, excitement eating away at her belly. This was a first-time experience for her- hunting with a boy she hardly knew, without the watchful eye of her parents and the safety net of a pack at her rear. Following the scents upwind, the herd finally comes into view. Clove stops, surveying them closely- heart pounding in her chest, a prickling sensation settling in her paws. It was exhilarating. A doe with a small limp was falling behind the quickly moving herd- a suitable target for them, if Erik agreed. Shifting her eyes to him, she noticed he was already staring at the doe. Their gazes meeting, as they shared a silent agreement. Turning back to the herd, which had already covered several yards of ground. Clove started stalking forward again, being careful with her paw placement, to avoid stepping on twigs or leaves that would alarm the deer. Soon they were almost within striking range again. Her eyes shifted back to Erik, waiting to see if he wanted her to initiate the chase or if he was going to do it.   "Speech"

They creep forward, already in agreement. Erik holds his head high, every step tense. Careful. Watching. Damn near holding his breath as they close in on their prey. Head spinning, heart pounding, it's a tale as old as time. The hunter and the hunted. This is where he feels the most alive, after all. With so much danger lurking just beneath the surface, the boy is grateful for any outlet he can find to express himself.

Clove is lighter, likely faster, even if he had the longer legs. His gaze flickers over the girl for a moment as they close in on their prey, lowering his head. Inviting her to initiate, and he would be here to catch and hold their prey when the time came. Speed versus strength, he certainly knows his limits. There's something electric about him. Tense, burning brightly. A tale older than time itself, he's grateful that he doesn't need words. Their teeth would do plenty. A grin playing across his rough-hewn features, Erik was excited. Ready.

"Speech"

Erik gave the signal for Clove to initiate the chase. Nodding back to him, taking a deep breath, and collecting herself. Clove settled her weight into her haunches, readying herself to leap out into the clearing and chase down the limping doe. But there was a moment of hesitation from her- nerves getting the best of her, which made her wait just a second too long. So when she did lunge forward, she was sloppy and uncoordinated. Paws sliding in a mud spot, causing her to fumble, falling chest first right in front of Erik and the deer herd. Of course, the deer were instantly alarmed- sprinting in all directions, fleeing into the trees. Clove gasped, still a little disoriented and overwhelmed by her mistake, scrambling to get back up which caused her to bump right into Erik who was trying to race past her. Oops. He went tumbling in front of her, and she, still trying to stand, almost fell on top of him. Leaving them in a mangled mess of legs and fur, while their prey vanished into the woodlands. What a failure.   "Speech"

As they take off, it seems everything is coming together as planned. Erik's muscles tensed, ready to chase off after the deer. Head lowered, ready to push off the ground with damn near explosive speed. Ready, heart pounding in his chest, taking off what should be a heartbeat after Clove--

Until he's not.

The persistent rain had left the ground soft and muddy beneath their feet. As Erik had tried to push off, Clove was going ass over tea kettle. Gasping, scrambling, and then neither could remain on their feet. "Jävlar--" Both slamming into the ground hard, coming down with an almighty thud. The air knocked from his lungs for a moment, he was left panting, fighting to collect his breath. Aching. The boy is a tangled heap on the muddy ground, trying to catch his breath before he can even think about disentangling himself. Ow.

"Speech"

Squirming around, trying to untangle herself from the heaving, heavy mass of Erik. Clove was getting drenched in mud. Every time she tried to pull away, somehow they got more entangled- moving against each other, bodies twisting and pressing into one another. It reminded her of the puppy piles she’d done as a kid with her brothers and sisters- only, she was wrapped up with a boy, alone in the woods, getting muddier and wetter by the second. It was so embarrassing. Finally, with some maneuvering and some very loud, breathless grunts. Clove managed to pull herself away, head-turning in a final twist and then bam! Her nose brushed directly against Erik’s, their lips almost touching, cheeks grazing, as he turned in tandem with her. Her jaw dropped, eyes widening, face lighting up bright red. That was it- she simply couldn’t handle it anymore. She’d reached the pinnacle of embarrassment. Wishing she could shrivel away into dust and waft away in the wind. Quickly she rose to her paws, stumbling away, ears pinned and eyes shifted away from Erik. She'd never recover from this humiliating moment- she was sure of it. "I-Im sorry!” She stammered, turning on her heels, and racing off into the woodlands in the direction of the castle. Hoping she'd never have to face him again and remind him of this day. -exit- "Speech"

Soggy, scrambling against the ground, unfortunately it seemed that they were making things worse instead of better. Erik couldn't help but give an incredulous, brassy chuckle. The whole thing of it felt so incredibly ridiculous, meanwhile he's trying not to squash the far more delicate girl in the process.

Nose to nose for a heartbeat, orange eyes going wide. The boy went tense, stiff for a moment. No long quite as loose and silly, heart pounding in his chest. Freezing, the proximity of a pretty girl (let alone one he doesn't know well), enough to send a shock through his system. Woah. Breath catching in the space between them, forgetting for a moment that Clove is anything more than a pretty girl that's way closer than he's used to. She flushes brightly, goes back to rushing and scrambling before he can even come up with something smooth to say.

As the girl rushes away, a flustered apology tumbling past her lips. With a chuckle, Erik rocks back into the mud. rolling for a moment. Thoroughly covered in dirt and soaked to the skin, laughing, having gotten a good run and getting to hang out with a pretty girl? Not a waste of an afternoon at all.

"Speech"