with the dawn

With the rut of many animals in full swing, Cairo had chosen to spread his hunting further from home. He’d made a harness with the help of Ardyn, and he wore it now as he padded out of the Rocks. It was no masterpiece, but for what he needed, it would suit fine. At either side dragged two travois poles, and over his back draped a rolled hide with loops of braided leather and sinew stitched securely along the edges. Once he had his kill, he could lash the hide to the poles and load the travois with the kill and the various components he needed. With his old armor having been devoured, he was after elk.

Really, bison was better, but their stores were low at the moment, and he’d have to gather the hunters and bring a few old bulls down for the toughest hides, and to let the population fill with younger blood.

He came to a stop by a spring, tongue lolling in its usual ridiculous manner before he drank his fill, eyes scanning a little aimlessly, mostly for danger. He only really noticed the other wolf when a breeze fluttered the greenish fabric, and though he was generally a brave sort, there was no mistaking the visibly jolt of surprise that he wasn’t alone.

If he was being honest, his mind hadn’t been on his surroundings. He’d been thinking about how much fun Nolan would have had on this hunting trip, or that Lia would have been thrilled at the prospect of scouting a hunt, that they could have parted out the kill between the Armada and Valhalla.

So he took a surprised step back and studied the cloaked wolf, before greeting, "My deepest apologies if I intruded… Wasn’t paying attention.”

He wasn’t certain if the wolf wanted to be left alone, so on the off chance she did, he angled to leave and head toward the valley.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think