Moisture hung in the air from the water that plummeted steeply into the slate lined pool. Gossamir had drunk her fill and was now laying on the banks contentedly listening to the water and enjoying the spring air. Even if it was a bit humid. She was settling in well to her new home and had taking to exploring every inch of it. The grasses were growing in thick now and she flipped on her back for a second to sun her belly before deciding against it. She didn't know the creatures that inhabited this terra well enough nor did she know their habits. Early spring was also a dangerous time as hungry bears were emerging from their winter fasts, hungry and ready to devour anything, even a young, stupid wolf. Shaking out her coat Gossamer headed for the rocky trail to get a better look at the falls. It would be a long climb but she was up for a challenge. Besides, hadn't Deteste said they should work on building up their strength? She seemed to remember her saying that and a brisk walk up a steep mountains seemed like an appropriate way to do so. Sharpening my words...

Today Ritsuka was setting off on a mission. Oh yes, a mission indeed. Now don't get it in your little heads that the tan brute was following Gossamir's sake for the sake of getting with her. No, the male was merely familiarizing himself with his packmates. He had met up with Qanik and now it was time to move on to others. They couldn't function properly as a group if they didn't know each others strengths and weaknesses. Besides... Gossamir, being around his age, had caught his attention. He wanted to test her strength and resolve... and see just what kind of fae he would be dealing with in his pack.

Gossimer's scent had lead him to waterfall peak, the sounds of the water crashing in the distance. The brute was jogging along, emerald green eyes searching for the familiar form of his packmate. Finally he would see her, starting up the rocky trail. Well looks like if he was going to join her he was going to be in for a bit of a hike. Ritsuka came to a stop, calling out to the fae.

"Yo, Gossamir! Care for a travel partner?" There was always the chance she would shoot him down but... well... he'd just follow her anyway.

The hike was long but beautiful, dozens of lupine flowers were in full bloom now, coating the area in rich violet tones. Above her the songbirds seemed to be having contests with one another and as always there was the roar of the waterfall close by. Gossamir was picking her way lighting through some overhanging moss when a voice caught her attention. She turned around to see Ritsuka her pack mate and she frowned. What did he want? She was rather enjoying this quiet time to herself but at the same time she supposed it couldn't hurt to have a little company. After all, they'd have to feed themselves eventually which meant she'd be hunting with them. She had to make sure this male wasn't some testosterone fueled idiot likely to get himself trampled. She shrugged. "Not really, but if you think you can keep up I might allow to travel with me." She grinned and winked at him. Gossy wasn't really sure why she did it but then she'd always been playful. Might as well get her jollies out of this little meeting. Sharpening my words...

Gossamir's reply hadn't been right out friendly, but it hadn't been an automatic rejection either. The brute would smirk slightly at her comment. He wasn't some overconfident idiot who would rush ahead and nearly break his neck rushing to keep up with her, but the brute saw his goal and set forth. He would step with paws carefully testing the ground, and yet moving at a reasonable pace. The brute would move with purpose, though the climb wasn't exactly going to be some simple stroll through a flower meadow.

As the tan brute got closer to the female he would speak again, keeping his wits about him so he didn't mis-step or anything. "So what is your opinion of Tortuga thus far, Gossamir?" He wanted to pick her brain. Get to know her on a more intellectual level. Besides... She could very well become his rival. They were around the same age after all. Emerald green eyes would shine with interest. Gossamir was different than Qanik, to be sure, though the other wolfess was still rather nice.

It was strange being in a pack again, let alone having company and Gossamir found herself between comfort and annoyance. Rather than chase the brute off though she decided to just relax and see where this went. It might be useful to her to find out where this brute stood. He was a pack mate after all and she supposed they'd be hunting and maybe even fighting together so it was a good idea for her to get a grasp of him. Gossamir's pace slowed as the climb became more difficult. She was careful to place her paws where needed and was thankful for her sleek, light frame that allowed her easier navigation of the rocks. She laughed lightly though as she glanced back to see the brute taking his time as well. Good to know he wasn't some horny teen boy trying to get woo her. She had better things to do. "You doing alright there Ritsuka?" The femme continued her climb as she pondered his question. She shrugged. "I like the idea of it. A pack of individuals rather than a collective hive but it's sooooo quiet around here. We should organize a hunt! OH!" Gossamir whirled around as she was struck by an idea but her sudden movement caused her to slip and she slid down within feet of Ritsuka, just catching herself before she ran into him. Gossamir cleared her throat and turned back up the incline to put more distance between them and to gather herself. "Um? oops. Well, anyway. You wanna go coyote chasing?" She grinned mischievously. Sharpening my words...

Ritsuka would cast green orbs up towards Gossamir's turned head as she glanced back at him a nod and a chuckle being the start of his response. "I'll be alright, so long as I don't suddenly decide to get cocky with mother nature." She seemed a bit more ready to socialize now. Heh, had she, he wondered, thought he was some typical male with only sex on the brain? Hardly. Time would come for that sort of stuff, and maybe a family, but right now he had to focus on making sure he'd be able to protect the ones he loved, should he ever gain them.

Gossamir would start to explain how she felt in regards to the pack. Hmm... yeah... it was nice they could focus on their own training and whatnot but at the same time it was still quiet. Honestly if hadn't caught their scents each day and sought out Gossamir and Qanik he wouldn't have even thought that there were any other members here in Tortuga. Come to think of her... he had caught other scents in these lands but other than Deteste hadn't met any of them so far. This pack seemed... perhaps a bit too broken? Maybe organizing a hunt wasn't such a bad idea.

Ritsuka's eyes would widen a bit as Gossamir would have some, idea, or revelation, and spin, sending her sliding downward. How careless! He would make a move to brace himself, to act as a not so cushion-y barrier to stop her. Of course that might send him back into movement but, eh, he wasn't thinking about that at the second. It didn't matter anyway, Gossamir would manage to get a hold again before she crashed into him, and a very, very quiet sigh of relief would pass Ritsuka's lips.

Ritsuka would respectfully wait for her to gain her space back, ears perking with curiosity at her suggestion. Honestly he had never heard of such a thing. It sounded a bit reckless and... fun. His own mischievous grin would spread across his face, emerald green eyes glowing with the fire of accepting a challenge. "Sure, why not? I'm game." Perhaps deciding to hang with Gossamir could lead to quite the interesting day. It certainly seemed so anyway.

""

Sapphire eyes rested intently on Ritsuka as she wondered if he'd join her in her little game or if he felt it was tasteless. Some wolves reveled in the art of killing the pests but others found such acts of violence to be disgraceful and shameful but Gossamer found it thrilling. Besides, the coyotes were competition and they would kill wolf pups if given the chance. She was doing the ecosystem a favor, certain of it. "Sure, why not? I'm game." A wide grin spread across Gossamir's face. Ok, maybe Ritsuka wasn't so bad after all? or a goody-two-shoes at least. "Excellent!" She turned around and started back up the trail, nose sniffing for any scent of their quarry. "Let me know if you find anything. Those jackals are everywhere. Bound to be one near? by." She grinned as she noticed a coyote carrying a rodent of some sort in it's mouth, a . The crunch, crunch echoing earily against the roar of the waterfall. That same rush of water had prevented the coyote from noticing the wolves. Grinning Gossamir slinked forward. Prepared to cut the coyote off when Ritsuka pounced behind it. Sharpening my words...

Well, on the plus side Gossamir seemed pleased with his response. He could feel excitement already starting to well up within him, that rush of adrenaline at doing something that could very well be dangerous and yet enjoyable at the same time. They were going to have to watch it though. If they went slipping and sliding here either one of them could get seriously hurt. But that was all part of the fun of the game, right? The chance of injury. A distant thought would pass through his mind. What would his family think of him for making such reckless decisions like this? A small bit of longing would pang in his chest, but that was chased away as, at the same time Gossamir did, he noticed the coyote.

Clueless creature. It had no idea that they had spotted it. It was steadily munching away on whatever little rodent it had caught, oblivious to them, even though they had been talking, thanks to the crash of the waterfall. Ritsuka moved like a wraith, watching Gossamir slink to get into her position. He would shoot forward and land behind the mangy thing, letting out a loud bark to startle it and send it scurrying. Oh this was going to be a blast!

""

It was dangerous for a wolf her size to take on a coyote but that was what made the activity fun and thrilling. Plus she had a packmate with her. There would be blood, some of it hers, but all in all she was certain this encounter would end badly for the pup-killing scavenger. Carefully she took the time to spread her weight evenly across her limbs, tail out behind her for balance. She watched, sapphire eyes gleaming as Ritsuka snuck up behind the coyote? closer? closer? then BAM! He let out a bark sending the creature nearly straight into the air as it frizzed up. Gossamir let loose a howling laugh as it ran, skidding as it tried to swerve around her but it was loosing balance and she was already prepared. Springing forward with a snarl her fangs latched onto the side of the creatures head as she began to thrash, to rip and tear the hated flesh. It's front paws were slamming into in frenzied motions, bruising flesh and cutting skin. But it only served to fuel the fae's ferocity. Sharpening my words...

Ritsuka let out a laugh, unable to help it as the creature's fur went on end, startled nearly into the very sky by his bark. The coyote started to run, it's movements fearful as it tried to get away from the two wolves. Damned thing. The scavenger was nothing more than a pest, and though it was another living creature Ritsuka would not bring himself to feel remorse for it's death. He would move, grinning as he saw Gossamir moved as well, her jaws latching onto the side of the coyote's head. 'That's going to give it one hell of a headache.' He would think to himself.

He would skid to a stop, almost losing his balance as wel as he came up behind the coyote and sunk his teeth down hard onto it's right back leg. He would start to shake his head back and forth, blood from the creature leaking into his mouth as his felt the bone shifting under his powerful jaws, creaking and starting to break. He wasn't going let up at all, however, yanking his head back a little to make the creature lose balance a bit so that it wouldn't be able to lash at Gossamir with it's front legs for a moment while it steadied itself.

""

Gossamir struggled to hang onto the writhing creature. It spun and twisted in her jaws. Thankfully Ritsuka made his move and with a sharp tug the coyote fell face forward as it's balance was ripped out from beneath it. Gossamir let go for a split second as she got her fangs around the creatures throat. Shaking violently, blood spilling into her maw, the beast was soon dead in her jaws. Rats? she hadn't really meant to kill it that quickly. Gossamir liked to experiment on coyotes with poisons but her blood lust had gotten the better of her this round. Dropping the beast she turned to Ritsuka with a grin. "You're pretty skilled at fighting Ritsuka. We should spar some time." It was a casual offer and one that didn't need to be fulfilled right then. She supposed they'd better head back to the den site. "Come on, lets go get something to eat I'm starving." ooc: we could continue with a hunt or wait to start a new thread? or even start a pack hunt, lemme know. :3 Sharpening my words...

Down the dirty creature went. The filthy beast had no chance at all, and in a matter of moments Gossamir ended the pathetic creature?s life. Blood was splattered across the ground from the thing, though that didn?t really bother him. If anything Ritsuka saw what they had done as a blessing for the pack. Maybe they should go after more of these beasts at some point. The thought would cross his mind as Gossamir lifted his head from the coyote?s throat, a small smile spreading across his lips at her words.

?I thank you for the compliment, and I?d surely like that.? He would definitely take her up on the offer at some point, though he wasn?t going to do so right at the moment. It would be something he wanted to prepare for -- he had the feeling Gossamir was a much more formidable opponent than she appeared. How she handled the coyote, though the beast was inferior to a wolf, certainly showed such a thing. At her next words Ritsuka would grin. ?Well if you?re starving... Lets head a little closer to the den site and give a call to see if anyone might be interested in joining us for a pack hunt.? He was certainly game for such a thing.

""

Ooc:: Pack hunt on the way~