we crawl

Silent steps failed to disturb the peace of the day, just as he wanted. Above him, the scurrying skitter of tiny claws and paws on rough bark alerted him to the many lives that existed far above his own head, while the briefest shift of dust-snow on the ground told him of the small mammals upon the ground. Steaming breaths burst from dark nostrils in a calm and steadied manner as the beast took in his surroundings, fawn brown ears flickering constantly in his quest to gauge all there was to know about these lands. He'd never seen trees lean in such a way and had stopped for many a moment before he'd considered entering these woods -- perhaps there was a reason they bowed so thoughtfully away from him, as if they'd seen his coming and stooped to welcome him.

This line of thinking hadn't lasted long as the tall male had stepped into the welcome shelter of the trees. Harsh winds, laden with chips of ice that stung his face had driven him towards the leaning wall of trees and thankfully it had eased upon his entrance. Dusk was beginning to threaten and Renier knew he would need to find somewhere a little warmer to curl up in. Gone were the days when he could rely on his brother for his steadfast warmth and he would have to fend for himself. Swallowing past the bitter grief on his tongue, the de Clairmont vagabond continued his search, sharp golden eyes taking in the forest around him in silent watchfulness.