Isabella

OOC: I'm a bit rusty guys, bear with me :) The summer was not something Isabella enjoyed, she could handle the heat yes but that didn't mean she liked it. It made water scares and since the fox colored wolf believed int he Spirit of the Ocean and loved both her and all of the water she granted the land, she felt it was a season that went against the Ocean. Alphonso on the other hand, loved the heat it made him comfortable anywhere. The leopard gecko walked beside the slow moving wolf. Her steps were slower than normal but that didn't mean the rest of her changed. As hot and tired as she was her head and tail were up high and her blue eyes scanned the waters beside her. "Ah, don't you love summer Madam Izzy?" Alphonso joked earning a empty glare from the woman. Looking forward once more Isabella walked on alongside the river glad the moving water cooled the air around them. With her sure steps she felt she would not fall in the waters and even if she did she felt she would be able to stay up in the waters despite her small size. "My words are for all.""My thoughts are not."

The roar of the rapids made his throat burn with thirst. Paw after striped paw the graceful leviathan picked his way out along the rocks and to the edge of the river that cut it's way through Alacritis. Gracefully bending his head he lapped at the water, enjoying the spray on his face and the feel of the cool liquid sliding down his throat. Licking his lips he rested back on his haunches. Sk?lingr was tempted to take a swim but he knew better than to fight the rapids. As might a creature as he was he knew he was no match for the might of mother nature who could smite him at any moment as if he were no more than a flea. Sk?linger began to travel along the river at a steady, silent jog. All rivers led somewhere or came from somewhere. He followed the direction where the river was flowing from, curious if it was from the mountains or perhaps a lake. He let his mind wander as we walked. The warm afternoon sun was beating down on him but the coolness of the river spray was helping. He was suddenly aware of the scent of wolf and as he slowed to a stop he saw her. A reddish femme with ice blue eyes. His tail twitched as he analyzed the scent. It did not ring of a pack and the land seemed unclaimed. Sk?lingr gave the femme a nod in greeting, uncertain of how she'd react to his presence as he'd had a large variety of reactions in his life. He figured it might not hurt to ask for some directions though. "Miss, I don't suppose you'd know if there is a lake nearby, hm?"

Isabella

Isabella was lost in her own thoughts, in the silence as she moved along until there was a strange scent in the air. It was a new scent, one she had never caught before. Pausing she lifted her head and tired to identify it. Alphonso noticed her changed and moved beside her paw looking forward as well. "What is it?" He asked with a tilt of his head. Isabella didn't look at him as she spoke."I do not know. It reminds me of a mountain lion, in the few times you can catch their scent anyway but this is different, very different." There was a hint of curiosity in Isabella's voice. It wasn't often she found a scent she didn't know and that mean she could learn something, and learning was one of the few things that excited Isabella. Looking this way and that it wasn't too long before she saw whatever it was that held the scent. It was massive, larger than any any creature she had seen save for a bear. I was definitely feline with long whiskers, fur like fire with shadowy stripes and emerald eyes. Judging by the size of the feline Isabella would make a quick snack for it yet it seemed he, as the feline was male by scent and voice, clearly didn't see her as food by his question. This was a surprise to her, she was always taught to fear mountain lions as they were thought to eat any wolf they saw on sight. This feline however seemed polite and only wanted to know where less rough waters are. For a moment Isabella was silent, watching the creature a moment. There was no need to size this feline up, it was large and that was enough. She didn't know much or reading feline body language anyway yet seemed honest. Isabella nodded in response to the question. "Ah yes, my apologizes on the I have just never seen anything like you before. There is a lake and some waterfalls but they are claimed by wolves. However there is crisp clear water to be found in a cavern not far from here. Up the river and by the mountains there is a cave that is easy to miss if you don't look close or follow the scent of water. It is pleasant in the cave so long as you mind your step and the water is worth it." Isabella's voice wasn't as empty as it was before, there was a bit of curiosity and eagerness within it, hidden not so deep under the icy voice. "But if I may ask before you go Sir, what are you? And where do you come from."Isabella felt a nudge at her paw and looked down to Alphonso who looked up at her with expecting eyes. "Oh, again I apologize. My name is Isabella Ventflurrer, a loner in these lands." Introducing herself she gave a dip of her head before Alphonso spoke. "Are you a leopard?" He spoke in a happy eager voice. "I'm a leopard gecko, all of my kind know leopards are large cats but we have yet to see one. I have spots and you have stripes but perhaps we are kinsmen by name?" Isabella almost laughed. "His personality is certainly large enough to be named of someone of your size." "My words are for all.""My thoughts are not."

Sk?lingr always enjoyed watching the reaction of others to his prescence. It only furthered to fuel his pride. He was a pice of nature's artwork, cut form the fabric of her ferocity and her coat of elegance. His kind was rare, precious and dangerous. The young wolfess stared at him and he waited patiently for the awe to pass. The wolves of Alacritis would have to get used to his prescence as Sk?lingr had no plans to go anywhere else and the territories of wolves were of little concern to him. He would go where he could find prey. The beast listened politely as the femme wolf spoke of a lake and waterfalls claimed by wolves. He smirked softly to himself. It made no nevermind to him. While a pack of wolves could indeed be a thread he did not know many that would risk the lives of their comrades to take down a creature such as he when no obvious threat was offered. Sk?lingr was confident in his ability to at least slay two or three out of an attacking pack before he was felled himself. And death? Sk?lingr did not fear it. There was always a chance that he might see his family again in the the life that came after. Hopefully, if there was such a thing. He didn't really know. "Thank you for the information?. I do not no that I am much of a cave beast truth tell. I think I may chance the lake, I could use a good swim in this damnable heat." He shook his coat for emphasis, the thick woolen hair rippling down his taut, muscular frame. Sk?lingr chuckled lightly to himself as he wondered if the femme was all there in the head. She spoke in a monotonous voice, almost like a dead thing. Placid and still. He half thought of charging her to see if he could jerk something in her soul but he was quite thirsty. The cat was about to continue on his path before she spoke, a note of something in her voice. Something alive. Was there life in this one after all? Gracefully he turned to face her again, ears perked forward as she introduced herself as Isabella Ventflurrer, a loner, and before he could answer her questions or properly introuce himself another voice chimmed in. Sk?lingr blinked for a moment before spotting the little yellow lizard that was accompanying Isabella. He let out a jolly laugh at the little creature and nodded as Isabella spoke. He rather liked her as far as wolves went. Normally he tired easily of their company but this Isabella sparked his interest. "Indeed he has! What might be your name my lizard kin? I am Sk?lingr and I'm no leopard but I am feline. I'm a tiger, a Siberian tiger, which gives me my massive size. I come from lands far north looking for new territory to settle as I'm now of age? I'd also hoped to find more of my kind but?" His voice trailed off. What he wouldn't give to see another tiger. Any kind of tiger. "It is good to meet you Isabella. A loner, though? Is that not unusual and dangerous for your kind? Pardon me I don't mean to intrude but I have always seen wolves in pairs or groups."

Isabella

A feline swimming was not something she had ever heard of, she thought they heated water for the most part. This was indeed a unique meaning and she was learning so much from it. It did made sense to her the large cat would not mind entering pack lands, yet i was just normal for her to avoid inhabited lands. "Yes well, in that case the lake would be best. Though it may be possible for you to stop on the border and roar for assistance, if you have an escort at least wolves will not brother you, if they are decent that is. It may save you trouble but I doubt wolves are much of a threat to you in small numbers." At that she looked at the cat's paws then back its eyes, no doubt it had massive claws and its fangs were nothing to ignore. Still pack wolves were rather brave in large numbers. The feline seemed a moment like he would be on his way and her chance to learn anything from him would escape her but he seemed rather interested in her question. For that she was glad and for a moment a smile came to her face unbeknownst to her. Realizing it was there she resumed her neural expression as the feline, who relieved himself to be a Siberian tiger spoke. She was thankful for the presence of Alphonso for perhaps he held interest in their pairing. Sk?lingrk said he was from the north,his fur and massive form would be well suited to the could so it was no wonder he was sneaking water to swim in. Isabella noted the change in Sk?lingrk as he spoke of other tigers. She did not know if tigers were social but then again she wasn't the most social wolf in the world and even she liked to see other wolves every now and then. As Isabella pondered this Alphonso squired with joy as he looked at the tiger who had addressed him. He would had been happier to meet a leopard but Sk?lingrk had called him kin! That was exciting, amazing and it did everything to boost Alphonso's pride. "Oh! In my excitement I forgot to give my own name! I am Alphonso, you can call me Al. I don't truly have a surname so I use Madam Izzy's. I hope you find more of your kind, heck I'd love to see more too! If you ever happen to run into a leopard can you do me a favor and tell them there are geckos named after them? I'd still like to see one some day, not that it isn't amazing to see you." Alphonso was still squirming his entire body as he spoke and was clearly excited. Looking down at him Isabella chuckled lightly, the combination of learning and seeing her friend so happy made her drop her guard a bit before she turned to the tiger when he addressed her. "Ah yes, we do often live in packs it is much safer that way but packs have rules, leaders, and have some ways I don't agree with. I do not act well with leaders unless they are ideal to me, not power mad, not blood thirsty, loyal and honest. It's hard to find a wolf of power like that and harder to find a pack who values life but will also let me be free among them." Though the words would be something others considered private she did not mind sharing them, they were a fact and to her there was just no point of lying. Taking advantage of the situation Isabella brought up more questions. "Do tigers live together? Once you find a home will others gather? and what of a social structure? Oh and what of fur? Wolves come in many colors as I'm sue you've seen but what of tigers?" Isabella was so excited her tail moved a bit and her eyes softened considerably. She acted like her normal self, a young wolf with a good heart that was eager to learn. Normally Alphonso would have nudged her to remind Isabella she was ruining on and being a bit invasive but he was just as excited as her. Luckily she remembered herself. "Do excuse me if I am asking to much of you Sk?lingr. This is indeed a good meeting, but one where I fear my curiosity is getting the better of me. If I am going to far or you feel I am rude please let me know." She pulled back a bit stopping her tail and making sure her voice did not give much away. "My words are for all.""My thoughts are not."

The roar of the rapids was almost soothing to him but it was not a place he cared to stay for too long. Sk?lingr relied heavily on his hearing to track prey and also keep an eye out for danger, not that there was too much that could threaten him in the animal kingdom but mother nature could be cruel. There were always natural disasters that could cause him trouble. Sk?lingr listed politely as the little ice-eyed femme spoke of a lake not that far from where they were now. Ahh? it would feel good against his heated fur. He nodded. "I appreciate your concern but yes? I do not bother wolves unless they seek to bother me first but as it seems my kind have been absent some time perhaps I may ask." It would depend on he pack size. Some of the massive packs made him wary, the smaller ones a little less so. They could not afford to loose what few members they had by picking a fight with a tiger. Larger packs though could afford it? possibly even need it if there was a drought or shortage of game. He smiled as the gecko introduced himself as Alphonso. "Alphonso, eh? I fine name indeed!" Sk?lingr held a respect for most of the life that existed, even the smaller ones. They all had their part to play in this world? though the purpose of mosquitos and ticks still frustrated him to no end but even then they were a prey source for birds. Yet it made him wonder? how would the world change when he and his kind were finally gone, what part did they truly play in the grand scheme of things? Sk?lingr's ears perked up as Isabella began to speak of herself and of wolves. He only knew what he had seen through observation and was curious to learn more. The great cat nodded as she spoke. It made perfect sense to one such as he though it gave him no great confidence in the general morality of wolves that Isabella should have such a hard time finding a pack. "It makes perfect sense to me but then I am a tiger. My kind, like most cats lives independently. We do not do well under the rule of others though I have pondered perhaps allying with a pack. I do get lonely in my wanderings but alas if you are having trouble finding wolves of worthy moral fiber I am skeptical of my own chances." He laughed softly at the thought. He'd heard of some larger animals allying with packs but he had to admit the idea still seemed foolish to him. "Ah? but it is folly. I do not take orders. I have lived independent and free much of my life and I can not fathom being under obligation to anyone." A dark shadow crossed his face for a moment at her question as he turned to face the rapids for a second but slowly he turned back to her, pushing the negativity away. "My fellows look like me. We come in one color, orange with black as far as I know anyway. These strange times though have brought many new colors to creatures but it is of nature's will and this makes me glad. Long ago when humans lived there were white tigers but they were inbred to be so, forcefully." He paused and shook his head. "I am sorry, my kind live long and while I am young I knew of those that had lived during the time of the humans. My uncle was a white tiger, he was cross-eyed and suffered much. It is a color of? dark times to me though I try not to hold it against any I meet. They have suffered enough all ready." Sk?lingr offered the femme a smile. "I'm sorry, I have not talked to another creature in so long the words seem to just spill from me. I do not wish to burden you with such but there is hope. So many colors are coming to be in all species, perhaps one day it will not be a mark of shame among my kind." Truly, she was such a spirited young thing that he did not wish to dampen her spirit or her nature any but there had long been anger dwelling in his people. A long aged hate and sadness that sometimes would slip from him. "No, no young Isabella! I appreciate the conversation. Let us make a fair exchange of it, you may ask me anything and I shall do my best to answer but I have questions as well. Wolves hunt in groups yes? How? how does this process work? Do you actively stalk prey? Ambush it? Do you know why wolves started creating packs at all?"

ooc: sorry that took a depressing turn xD. I follow Big Cat Rescue so this is where I got the ideas behind Sk?'s view of white tigers: http://bigcatrescue.org/white-tigers-and-ligers/ they have some cute videos on their channel of their rescuee's I always watch one or two after sad things: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJhlguXpjWg