Though they were a 'herd' some times a few of them broke off to wander in other directions. At the end of the day, they would join up again. This worked well for Taiga. She had to hunt some time and she didn't want to do so in front of the other pre... plant eaters. Kyren and Oscar had wandered off in search of prime grazing and the massive feline had continued her course into the deep, dark woods. Much to her surprise, Rannoch followed her rather than the others. The cat had feasted the day prior, so she wasn't terribly hungry. If her stomach started to growl, she could always catch something. For now, she was content with traveling alongside her company. The woman cast a side-eye at the tall herbivore. "How did you end up here?" She'd been cast out, but surely the same hadn't happened to Rannoch. He was too quiet and sweet for anyone to think ill of him. Besides, as far as she knew, he was a prime specimen of elkhood. Not that she knew what elks looked for in other elk, but... Wide, snowshoe paws sank into the mossy ground with each step, surprisingly quiet for a beast so large. There was still a bit of a limp on her back end as the paw that had been trapped was still rather sore. It was healing every day, however. Soon she would be back in top shape. Perhaps she would part from the group after that. Perhaps she would stay. Taiga hadn't quite decided just yet. "Speech"

The herd really didn’t feel the same without Beru. Oscar had kind of sort of become the defacto leader, his age was really what was guiding them. The donkey was always out in front, but Beru had been the one in the back, bringing up the rear and making sure they were all on the path. He wasn’t so sure the ass really filled her foot prints. He was also very loud. Rannoch was a quiet creature, he didn’t often speak and was always listening. Maybe that was why he had veered off and followed the massive lioness.

She was quiet, her paws were nearly silent as she walked along with him, she didn’t speak any more often than Rannoch did. The young stag was oddly comfortable around her despite the obvious danger she should have posed him. Her vow remained true and he hadn’t so much as seen a drop of blood on her pelt while she was around them.

As they walked Taiga did speak to him, her voice like nothing he had ever really experienced. It was soft and smooth, but held a deep note of calm confidence. How did he wind up here? He knew she came from the same background he did, the ancient lands. Not that he remembered them. "I crossed the ice bridge when I was very young, only a few days on the ground.” He explained as they walked. His senses ever alert, ears swiveling and nostrils flaring with every few steps. "I was separated from the herd and I was unable to return home.” He continued softly.

By now she was very nearly healed. Her part of the deal was upheld, she hadn’t touched any of them since she had been freed from the snowy death trap. "Can I ask you the same?” He questioned timidly.

"Speech"

The old world beasts walked in relative silence, Taiga being the one to break it with her softly posed question. Dark ears swiveled as the big deer began to speak. He had been lost as a child. Simple as that. It was a sad thing, but Rannoch didn't look any worse for wear. There were no scars on him that she could see. He was big and strong. Perhaps he was a little timid, but that was an herbivore trait, wasn't it? Well... Oscar and Kyren weren't exactly timid, but most plant eaters that she'd come across had been. As the question was directed back at her, the charcoal and snow feline released a contemplative hum. "I was chased off," one shoulder rippled with underlying muscle as she shrugged mid step. "I asked too many questions, rebelled too much, didn't listen to orders. The pride's new patriarch didn't like that, so away I went. Ended up here." Again she cast the elk a side eye, a single ruby pool landing on the big ungulate for a moment. "Not that I mind. I needed room to grow anyway." And grow, she did. The pair neared a fallen tree and Taiga noted how thick the bark looked perfect for sharpening her claws. Padding to it, the striped feline released the pale, curved claws from her soft paws and slid them through the bark. The scraping and cracking sounds filled the air while she repeatedly cut through the tree skin. Cats always had to keep their claws sharp. Dull claws meant a dead cat, she'd been told more than once. "Speech"

He had searched for his mother and the herd for a long time after he had been separated but as the way of the world was, he had been lost so he had been left behind. A calf that could not keep up with its mother would die by the wayside. Rannoch should have died, but here he was. An affront to the natural laws. He had given up his search and he found a herd of smaller deer to travel with and he had survived. Against all odds he was still here, struggling to survive.

Rannoch returned the question, mostly to be polite but there was natural interest. He’d never spoken to a cat before, they were far too dangerous to try. Rannoch had never really had an interest in the predators that hunted him and his kind. He had to be alert and wary of them, if they hadn’t found Taiga as he was their herd would have been on the menu for the great cat.

Instead he was being given her origin story, walking easily with her in the wilderness. It was an almost other worldly experience. She told him of her questioning nature, and her herd sire would not have such thoughts present. Unlike Rannoch she had no issues going out on her own, or she did with the ungulates having found her. She might have been dead if the herd hadn’t found her.

His mind wandered as they continued through the forest. His big hooves silent through the summer underbrush. Part of his was thankful his antlers had yet to fully grow out, once the velvet peeled away he would have to be extremely careful in the forests. His thoughts were interrupted as Taiga pulled ahead of him and leapt to the great felled tree before them. Of all the places he had been, this forest felt the most like home. Like its ancient roots connected to his origins.

Emerald eyes watched as the cat stretched and revealed the weaponry of her paws. Rannoch did not avert his gaze as he watched her, marveling at the specialty equipment she carried specifically for killing. While he was finding himself appreciative of her presence, this was a reminder of the natural order, of the relationship the two of them should have. Predator and prey.

"What will you do… without your herd?” He asked her as she removed her claws from the thick bark in the tree. His flank twitched lightly as he tamped down the rush of fear such a sight gave to him. She said she didn’t mind being alone, but was that true? He didn’t know much about the lioness but he had realized there was one trait they had in common. They were supposed to be a part of a group, there was a drive to be a member of a greater whole. Herd, pride… they weren’t meant to be alone.

"Speech"

With claws freshly sharpened, the big lady dropped back to earth, claws sheathed within her paws once more. You couldn't even tell that they were there with as fluffy as her paws were. Taiga continued walking through the redwood trees, looking upwards every now and again. It seemed as though she and Rannoch belonged there among the giants, as big as they both were. All of the creatures around them were dwarfed by their size. She didn't mind it. The young elk's words met her ears and Taiga gave a slight shrug. "I'll be fine on my own. The creatures of this land are small and easy to kill. I don't need a pride to survive." That didn't mean that she didn't miss companionship or sleeping in a pile of warm bodies. She missed her brothers and sisters. Her aunts. Her mom. Her father had never really been in the picture and she'd caught glimpses of him here and there until he was ousted by the new, younger male that had in turn ousted her. "You though," she began, "You should stay with your little herd. You three can keep each other safe. There are a lot of things that would try to eat you if you were on your own." Had the trio not found her and given her aid, she very well may have tried to eat the big deer. Taiga's pink nose wrinkled as she remembered the taste of elk and lips pulled back to flash thick canines momentarily. No doubt Rannoch would taste the same, but the thought made her feel ill. It was... strange. "Especially when I leave," said the cat, swinging her russet gaze over to look at the red deer. "Don't let your guard down. Just because you're big doesn't mean you're safe, okay?" She knew what a pack of wolves or hyenas could do. She knew even more what a pride of lions could do. Numbers meant size even if the predators as individuals were small. Taiga worried for the trio. This was also strange. "Speech"

Rannoch flinched involuntarily as she leapt down from the massive log. It wasn’t because she was being threatening, but the young stag couldn’t override his instinct. He wasn’t supposed to be here with this cat, he shouldn’t have ever been so close as to count the dark spots over her back. Despite the similarities the differences were far too obvious for the flighty creature. Her smooth voice soothed him a little and he relaxed slightly, not that the great elk every truly relaxed.

Taiga assured him that she would be fine on her own, and really the deer had no reason to not believe her. Still, he couldn’t help but project his own feelings onto her. It was hard to be alone and even harder knowing there was not more of your own kind. She didn’t need a pride to survive no, but would she thrive? He was far too young to offer comment or advice, they were far too different and what was his opinion worth to a lioness?

She turned a ruby eye towards him and offered exactly what she believed that he should do. They both knew he was different, obvious against any other herbivore in Boreas. No matter what herd he made himself a part of he would always stick out, he would always be the target. "I can’t be alone again.” He agreed softly as she went on. Rannoch saw her pull her lips back to reveal deadly teeth, and part of him wondered if she knew the taste of elk flesh.

"I know. Far too well.” Since he lost his herd he was constantly escaping the jaws of death. He’d seen the look in those wolves eyes he saw the glint off Taiga’s teeth. Danger was always around every corner. His ears flicked at the thought, continuing their constant swivel despite the lioness beside him. "Kyren and Oscar are a good substitute for the great elk herd…” There was an unspoken ‘but.’ Yes, they had easily become his herd and his family, but they would never be his kin. What kind of future would he have as the last of his kind? Once his life ran out…Rannoch tried to banish the thought.

"Speech"

The flinch was obvious and Taiga did her best to slow her movements. Yes, he was flighty, but he had reason to be. The cat didn't have to ask him if he'd been hunted. She knew. If an herbivore hadn't been hunted, then they had more luck on their side than most. Perhaps they were born with a natural wariness just like cubs were born with a natural wariness. She was older than the elk, but not by much. Taiga had been run out of her pride very early in her life and she still had some of that wariness, but size and experience had worn it down. Would Rannoch ever be less nervous? As they spoke of future plans, the elk agreed that he could never be alone again. "Stay with the others and you never will be." At least Oscar and reindeer boy would care for Rannoch in a way that the lesser elk herd hadn't. They would protect him like one of their own. The red elk knew the dangers of the world, he admitted, and it was just as Taiga expected. He was glad to have the smaller herbivores as his herd and Taiga nodded. "That's good. Stay with them. Protect them and they'll protect you." There was a niggling feeling in the back of Taiga's mind. They could protect one another, but not forever. The predators of the world were tenacious and at some point, one of the three would be picked off. Taiga didn't like that thought at all. In the short time that she'd been with the trio, they had become her pride. It was strange, but not entirely unwelcome. "Maybe I'll stay around a little while longer," she offered. "Teach you three about predators. Make sure you're more prepared for when I leave." Part of Taiga hoped that the trio would ask her to stay, but she imagined that they wouldn't. Why would three leaf eaters want a predator like her to stick around? Surely she made them uncomfortable. Rannoch's flinching proved that. "Speech"