Get Along There

Enrico stopped to add scent to the border markers - an event that always seemed to cause Asriel great amusement despite the fact that snow leopards also marked their territory - before continuing on with both his patrol and a highly animated though amicable discussion with the snow leopard on the merits of ambush versus cooperative chase for hunting. The two had been patrolling the borders much of the day and engaging in conversation most of the time. They weren't hunting, so there was no need to be quiet to sneak up on a target. He saw no need to worry about chasing away a would-be intruder who heard their voices - after all, was there much difference between them frightening them away with their voices or their teeth? Either way it kept the borders clear. If there was more risk of spies, such as if they were at war with someone or he had seen previous signs of incursions, he might be inclined to ghost his way around the border in the hopes of catching them. Today, though, he and the snow leopard were relaxed and talkative, though still vigilant, as they made their way around the border.

Occasionally, he made a mental note to come back later and investigate some sign that prey animals were using a particular place, like the trail a small herd of caribou had worn through the slushy snow and ice that spring-melt had left atop the ice of their frozen territory. He was an alpha now, not just a hunter, but as far as he was concerned that merely made it even more important that he put the effort in to hunt. He had yet to figure out a way to hunt the seals who came up to breath at the holes further out on the ice... but when he did, he would call the pack together to hunt them. It would be fun. Perhaps they could hold some sort of a... seal festival, to celebrate their success. The small pack deserved a little party anyway, simply for surviving the winter if nothing else.