He hadn't spent a whole lot of time out in this area of the west, even growing up south of here in Aerie's old lands - now apparently claimed by another pack. His plans for the future required him to be much more familiar with all the lands, preferably on both continents, so he needed to be doing a lot more wandering than he'd done as a kid. Maybe even do some *ahem* tactical exploration in some pack lands for fun. Right now though he had plenty to occupy him without getting too bored... when he got too bored, he'd find himself trouble.

The mud squished beneath the baked surface of the former lake as he walked across it, a bit unpleasantly actually and his steel claws would definitely need cleaning after this, but it wasn't too bad. The land was pretty wide open and unless he was super distracted he'd be able to see anyone coming well before they got close enough to get the drop on him, so it was with a confident swagger that he meandered, learning the lay of the land. Well, as swagger as you could get with mud under your paws. Maybe more of a confident stagger.

Red had been out and about exploring, and Ripper decided he wanted to do that, too! Medusa said it was fine, and even if she hadn't, kids would be kids and did the things they weren't supposed to do, so that brought Ripper out this way toward the desert lands! Was it a good idea? Probably not. But when did Ripper ever listen to reason let alone have good ideas? He reached what looked like a lake! Only it didn't have water, and was replaced by a cracked mud bed instead. He could see the occasional rock littering the surface, and he wondered if this place ever filled with water or if it was always like this. Giggling, he scurried his way into the lake bed, only to find his feet sliding out from under him the moment they made contact with the slick surface. He fell over onto his side, legs flailing as he rolled and stumbled, mud covering his fur. He managed to haphazardly get to his feet, fur sticking up at odd angles as the entire right half of his body was caked. He looked at himself for a moment with a frown as he contemplated what to do... Eh, might as well keep going! A little mud wasn't going to stop him! But now that he knew he could slip around here, he used his talons to dig into the mud for better grip. It felt weird as it slipped under his claws and between his toes, but it still wouldn't stop him! Cackling as he hopped and bounded forward in no particular path forward, he stopped when he realized he wasn't the only one around here! Colorless gaze squinted against the sun to see what it was. Ooh! Another wolf!? A large, hulking figure in the near distance! "Hey you!" He called out, and uh...well, he supposed that was all for the moment. "Ripper||"Menace"

Wendigo watched with some bemusement as a kid covered in mud came bounding towards him - if the wind was any indication, a smelly muddy kid. A loud smelly muddy kid, apparently, who called out to him as soon as he was spotted. Rats. "Uh.. yeah, hey yourself, kid," he returned, lip curling half in disgust and half in amusement. Had the scrawny thing never heard of a bath? The wind gusted, making him cough slightly at the renewed scent. "Fuck, kid, you fucking reek like a week old maggoty carcass." Perhaps it would have been more diplomatic to be less blunt, but tact jad never been Wendigo's strong suit - all his diplomacy involved fang and claw.

The moment the other guy so much as looked at him and even dared say a word, Ripper took that as a "yeah feel free to approach me!" and immediately started hopping through the thick, slick mud to get a closer look at the guy! He swore he had seen somethin' a little flashy on his face, and he just wanted a closer look! But when the stranger said that he smelled, Ripper came to a halt several feet away, turned to look at himself, took a whiff, grinned, and then looked back at him. "That's just the mud that Ripper fell in! Ripper hasn't rolled in a carcass for a week!" Okay, that definitely was not true. He had rolled in one maybe a day or two ago, but who was keeping track? Not him! "Ripper||"Menace"

Wendigo couldn't help the crack of laughter that erupted from him at the boy's words. Not at all offended by the idea that he was being accused of smelling like a week old corpse, no, just thoroughly convinced that it was just mud and not corpse because he hadn't been in one for a week. "Oh, ho, not for a whole week eh?" He grinned back at the kid. Gross, yeah, but hey he was a funny guy and far from boring. With a purely internal sigh he voluntarily stepped closer, tilting his head to study the scrawny gangly adolescent. Man, if those markings weren't so extensive and so pale the kid could almost have been his, which was a weird thought and made him freeze mentally a moment. Kids, shit, he probably would have to have those someday. It's not like he didn't... like kids or anything, hell most of the wolves he'd met and enjoyed their company since he'd returned had been yearlings or younger and Marrow was probably the best friend he'd ever had, but yikes, kid kids? Woof. Scary thought. Shaking it off he nudged the smelly kid's shoulder, knocking off some mud, and laughed again. "Have you ever considered swimming? You know, for... exercise?" And to reduce the smell of old death. "Anyway - I'm Wendigo Saxe. What's your name, kid? Ripper, you said?" He assumed the kid was referring to himself, anyway, though the third person threw Wendigo off a bit. Actually not bad, got people all off balance when they meet you, don't know how to deal with you. It wasn't his bag of tea, but he wouldn't knock it.