Navigation - Kennocha Lake

Hold onto your heart, I've seen the signs before A running start and sudden stop sent Pyralis skidding across the vast frozen lake, tail wagging as she finally lost momentum and butted up against one of the pillars that jetted up through the ice.  She had a grin on her face.  Ok, there were some possibilities with this terra.  When Amon had his next litter she was going to line up some chunks of ice and use the whelps as bowling-  well silly her!  Why wait for a new litter when she could simply borrow Seth for a few hours and use him as the bowling ball!  Perfect.   Pleased with herself she shifted her weight, claws digging into the ice as she tested the terrain.  What would it be like to battle on such a surface?  She leapt forward a few times, the first time nearly falling on her face but after a few more tries she started to get the hang of it.  Pyralis had no idea where Amon would decide to make their home but if it should involve ice she needed to be prepared to battle on the terrain.

ooc: is it ok to say that they haven't seen each other in some time? Let me know, if not I can change easily! Phenex watched his fiery sister play on the ice. Play? It didn’t seem the right word, for Gods do not play. They practice. What ever could she be practicing for? Winter? It was true that this lake was oddly frozen even though the trees’ leaves still hung stubbornly onto their branches. They had all turned the colors of fire as the season shifted into autumn. Water from other regions had yet to solidify and yet here stood this lake, frozen solid. Yes, Phenex decided, she was practicing for winter. They had not seen each other in nearly a year. He had not seen any of his siblings in that time, though he had moved through lands far and wide. Only within the last few days had he finally found where his family flourished. With a small huff that produced a thin cloud the younger wolf walked forward. His steps were coordinated and measured. Not so much careful as purposeful. His black claws dug just enough into the slick ice so that he had traction. His paw pads stung against the cold, not yet hardened enough for the cold of winter, but he didn’t show it. The younger wolf made no attempt to hide his approach and knew that she had likely known he was there for as long as he had been watching her. Once he was close enough he slowed to a stop and looked her up and down. She was in good health, as he had remembered her. Just as tall and graceful, she towered over his squatter frame. Where she was built as a generalist, able to do all the things well, he was built like a bull; short and wide, all muscles and little speed. Finally, after his green eyes had raked her frame throughly, he looked at her bright yellow eyes and his lips quirked in a tiny smile. ”Long time no see, Pyralis,” he said, his voice deeper now than it had been last they’d met, when he was but a yearling. Now at two he was matured, though still far younger than herself.

ooc: Yup you're good!

Skidding across the ice once more Pyralis flexed her toes and slid to a stop. Her legs were bent and her tail shifting to aid her in keeping her balance. Yes, she was starting to get the hang of this. It reminded her a bit of playing on the ice as a child. She remembered jumping and throwing her weight into the ice as hard as she could, trying to make it crack and then she'd rush toward the shore laughing and carrying on. It had been dangerous sure, but in her mind any element of danger had been squashed by her curiosity and her wonder. Where had the years gone? It was hard to believe she was 4 years old now. Practically ancient! Pyralis was about to continue when she caught the sound of claws on ice and as she looked up she saw the stocky frame and the cinnamon coat of her younger brother Phenex. She grinned at the man as he spoke. "Ahh… Phenex, it's been ages! How is my little brother?" She hadn't see him in about a year and it was so strange to see how much he'd matured. Time moved far to swiftly and it seemed to pick up speed every year. "What brings you out this way? Are you looking to meet with Amon as well?" "Talk" "You" Think

Her dark head shot up and gazed upon him. Phenex found himself transfixed by the lick of white fur that divided her face, as he usually was. It was such a curious marking, one not shared with the rest of the family. Phenex was pretty sure he knew its origin. He had a nightmare dream of the Gods, as he normally does, though this one had felt more like a memory not his own. They were angry over Father’s gain of influence on the mortal world and struck with a bolt of lightening. The brilliant white bolt of electricity found its mark on the prenatal Pyralis. They thought it would kill one of the seedlings of Father but Pyralis defied them all. Their whole family lived to defy. Phenex felt a warm glow at her greeting. It wasn’t pure affection that caused this immediate response, though he felt the same familial devotion for her as he did most all blood. No, it was pride that encouraged the flame from within. She was a fine example of their Demigod status, successful, strong and in the prime of her life. He let out a huff of air, wondering if it was all too obvious that he too was looking for their sibling. Amon wasn’t Father, and yet he held many of the same strings and power. ”Have you found him yet?” he asked, obliquely answering her question with that single phrase. Amon was setting up the pieces, placing the armory, tactfully planning their future. His nightmares dreams hadn’t told him yet what the outcome will be, but they promised it would be spectacular.

ooc: So sorry for the wait!

The gathering of the Abraxas all in one place heralded their rising, Pyralis was sure of it. They had to be getting close to the goal of achieving their rightful place and regaining their full divinity. Perhaps that is what called her to hunt for Amon again. Surely the hands of fate were at work here and their turning was in her families favor. She nodded at Phenex's question. "Yes, he's heading down to the southern lands, to Auster. You know the whole family is gathering. There is still much to do but each day we're getting closer to our goal." She'd never been fully fixed on that goal until recently. Her restless spirit had moved her away from her family into the gaping jaws of hellfire and out again, into raging seas and stirring calm. The ultimate end of the Abraxas? She never used to care about it one lick but now that the pieces were finally starting to move, now that the game was finally beginning, she found herself ensnared in it. "Come! Explore these lands with me. We were originally going to settle here in the north but there is more opportunity in the southern lands and only a single pack. Still, the area has its beauties, and its challenges." "Talk" "You" Think

Phenex nodded slowly at her confirmation, filing away the information to digest at a later date. She had found Amon and knew, as he had felt, that there was a rising. Phenex’s intangible senses told him that their goal was closer than ever before, that soon the Abraxas family would hold the crown they had a birthright to. The young male had been told about their future the same as the rest of the family had. They were destined to defy the Gods and rule the mortal realm. The goal was and would always be to ascend back into their rightful place among the immortal world. They would only find their way there through brutal force, their father had promised them. Taking over this land was a good step towards that goal. ”Yes, sister,” he replies to her quest in his quiet but self-assured manner. He was eager to head south and find Amon, to catch up with the de facto leader of their crew, but spending a little time exploring on the way down would be beneficial. After all they would still have to concur this land after they defeated the south, right? ”How many of us are here?” Phenex asked as he got closer, speaking of the Abraxas family. He bumped gently against her shoulder, sharing the warm of his massive torso with the one who had been playing on ice. ooc: feel free to godmode Phenex following Pyr if you want them to start moving as she suggested ^_^

Pyralis walked on, brushing past one of the icy pillars that jutted up from the lake. The whole place was a frozen expanse. All in all it was actually pretty boring. She felt her limbs longing to take her south to warmer weather and the possibility of thriving life, possibly spoiled life with big round eyes and squishy bellies. She grinned at the thought. Amon did mention having a great bison hunt at some point. She glanced at Phenex as he asked her another question. "Oh, there are quite a few of us. Our eldest siblings Ana and Adra and a number of Amon's progeny. It seems more and more of us are arriving each day. I believe Razi is around here to. Well…. not here, but farther south." She paused in her travels, claws extending and raking against the ice in thought. "Honestly, I've had enough of silence and frozen wastes what do you say we head farther south? I'll show you the lands we're living in. It is a long journey though. Have you eaten?" It wasn't in her nature to mother over her younger siblings but to get to where the other Abraxas were they'd have to travel across an entire continent. "Talk" "You" Think

Phenex fell into step beside his elder sister, only a pace behind so as to show her respect and allow her to lead the way. They angled their bodies south; a move expected by the male. She had said that Amon had travelled towards the warmer winds. Phenex was no stranger to the winter - none of the Abraxas were, their homelands had brutal winters - but he was no fonder of the freezing temperatures then the next wolf. Warmth meant growth, growth meant prey, and prey meant food. Phenex was fond of the tender meat of young ungulates, it slid down his throat so much easier than the toughened meat of winter. As Pyralis listed off names Phenex nodded and felt hot pride swell in his chest. The Abraxas were gathering. He knew it was meant to be, he could feel the winds shifting every so softly in their favor. As more of the demigod blood collected their fates would line up and they would finally be able to take over the mortal realm, as had been foretold. Razi in particular was an interesting announcement. She was the same age as Phenex though she had been grown in a separate womb. The seed of their father had germinated them both but they had been raised almost entirely separate. What little he knew of her he approved, as he did the rest of their royal bloodline. She was quick witted and intelligent, far smarter than himself. ”Yes, lets,” he agreed with her easily. His goal was to get to Amon, after all. Why would he refuse? ”I took down a summer-fat turkey yesterday,” Phenex rumbled, licking his chops in memory of that sweet avian blood that tasted of nuts and insects, ”But I wouldn’t say no to another meal. What prey lay within these lands?”

ooc: if you want to hunt afterwards we can start a thread up at the Bifröst for the family, does that sound good? Also let me know if you're used to quicker posting. I typically post weekly b/c work stifles my muse the rest of the week but I can certain expedite one or two threads.

Pyralis sifted through the thoughts in her head, wondering if Amon had found a territory within Auster for them to settle. If not it would be difficult to find him. They'd have a whole continent to search after all but she was confident in her tracking skills and her howling. With the new territories swarming with their kin they were bound to connect with some of the others eventually if she could just get things started. Her tongue snaked across her lips at the mention of turkey. Mmmmm she did like a nice fat turkey once she'd picked through the feathers. "If you're lucky caribou but I have seen naught but lemmings and ptarmagins. OH, I take that back, and penguins." She chuckled at the memory of the slaughter she'd participated in with Mara. "Though, we didn't eat them, we fed those to sea monsters." She'd have to bring the kids back up north some time to show them but it would be a monstrous journey and to be honest once she was in Auster she really doubted she'd venture all the way north again. Oh, who was she kidding? Pyralis the vagabond? She'd be back. She always came back. "So what do you think? Want to try hunting small game here or shall we head farther south and see if we arrive at better pickings?" "Talk" "You" Think

Phenex licked his chops at the very suggestion of caribou. He had been traveling solo for many months so his meals had been small, much like her. Though he had never had penguin. He had never even heard of such things. The largest meal he had had in last few months was a mule deer. It had been half eaten, the smell of cougar thick upon it’s bloodied pelt. Phenex was not ashamed of eating someone else’s food; if the cougar had wanted it for later she should have put somewhere a wolf couldn’t reach. Sea monsters? Now that was for more interesting. The sea was a beast all on her own, breathing  and rumbling. She had moods, as the wolves did. Sometimes she was sleeping and calm and others it was a roaring terror. Of course monsters roamed her depths. She had to have protectors just as the land did, wolves who swam her waters and kept the balance. He hoped one day he could meet them. Perhaps Pyralis could introduce them. ”Let us head towards Amon,” he said with a nod, ”Then, as a pack, we can take down something far… larger.” One demigod was a force to be reckoned with. An entire pack’s worth of them? Unstoppable. ooc: we can end this thread next round, if you want! Maybe we can do a Abraxas group hunt thread next, see who's interested?