Hattori was thankful for the frozen pathway as he crossed from the mainland to Ardens Glacies, as from sight alone he could tell he would have caught his death swimming in these conditions. To call this place an island seemed overly generous, as in reality it was merely a strip of land with water filling the gap in the centre. But at this time of year the freshwater was frozen solid, a vivid canvas of blue that stretched from one side of the rim to the other. As he made landfall, Hattori noticed the budding forest that had taken root on the isle, spruces and ferns well at home amongst all the snow and rock. Weaving off between the trees was a set of hoof tracks, some sort of sheep perhaps?

"speech."

The changing world seemed even more beautiful and haunting in the farthest reaches of the north. It was rare she stumbled into other wolves out here - especially all this way, crossing a small sliver of land out to an island of sorts. Instead she was often left with the company of her own thoughts, which were admittedly more somber than usual these days. Even for a creature as steadfast as Kiela it was hard to shake the unease that these unusual times brought about, though she did her best to ignore those thoughts and focus on the present. She felt a chill wash over her as she veered around some young pine trees as she navigated the gentle slope, only noticing someone nearby when she was far too close to ignore him. He was quite unlike anyone she'd ever encountered, a splash of bright orange amongst the drab winter landscape. She watched him for a long moment before she made her presence known, her words husky and low. "Ah - hello. I did not expect to find another here," she admitted, her voice laden with a thick accent.

Glancing away from the hoof tracks, Hattori's brows furrowed. Just like the loner he hadn't anticipated company, not out here where the wilderness was vast and expansive, but he supposed islands had a way of drawing in wanderers. A big shape in the distance made even Hattori want to have a look around, and he was hardly an adventurer. When the loner spoke he had a hard time understanding her as her accent was thick and drawly, but he had a rough idea of what she'd said. Maybe.

"It is quiet, yes." He responded in turn, his manner of speaking far removed from her own. "At this time of year, I would not think a loner would remain this far north." From scents alone it seemed safe to assume she tended to keep herself to herself. Perhaps she simply liked it this way, to be cold and alone.

A heavy wind blew through, rustling the trees and causing deposits of snow to land on the ground with a muffled thud. He side eyed the movement, wondering whether they ought to move to cover to get out of the wind till it died down.

His own accent made him equally difficult for her to understand, even more so than the comparably fast-talking wolves that she often encountered in these lands. A bit of company wasn't such a terrible thing though - she'd been less receptive to it once, but now that she was used to the sort of wolves that inhabited these lands she knew most had somewhere to return to, and would not get in the way of her solitary existence.

His comment gave her pause for a moment. "The north... is what I am used to. The cold does not stop me." Were those the right words? Kiela found herself faltering. These strange times and the impending winter had made her more solitary and it'd been days since she'd spoken aloud to anyone. "This wind - maybe it is best we go elsewhere?" She suggested at the sudden gust that sent snow falling from the tree branches above. She worried that there might not be better cover here, but it wouldn't hurt to look. This forest seemed relatively young and many of the trees were small but maybe they'd find shelter anyway amongst them. "I'm Kiela," she added quickly as she started to move. Whether he followed or not was his decision.