She prowled along the edge of the shore, her strides long but slow as she peered down at the greenery. It was mostly short grasses, but there was enough lichen growing that she was tempted to gather some and bring back to her semi-permanent camp. It would be good to soften their beds at night, or even to pack any wounds. With how aggressive the majority of her cousins were she was constantly having to patch them up after their scuffles with each other, or any predators they came across. While proper healing wasn't originally part of her skillset, she'd had to learn very quickly once they set off from home. Now it was something she begrudgingly did so none of them died from infection. Iðunn scratched with a paw at the lichen, using her blunt claws to rip it up from the roots so it came away as a thick and solid piece. The soil was damp enough that it clung to the roots, and she wondered for a few moments if perhaps she could transplant it closer to the wall. That way she wouldn't have to venture out here every time she wanted to collect some. she sat back on her haunches with a soft sigh, a contemplative expression on her face. The day was young yet, the sun only just beginning to reach its highest peak in the sky, so she had time to do something else before taking some back. Perhaps a quick hunt to fill her belly would be a good idea.

While he was in Boreas for his mothers' funeral he opted to do some exploring, to clear his mind before the event was to take place. The cool northern air did him good. He'd missed this climate and the terrain that accompanied it. His ravens, Galinn and Glámr, flew above him. Glámr looped through the air before swooping down and pecking at Galinn. Soon the pair were squawking and squabbling as they tumbled through the air. Úlfr kept right on marching, knowing the raven brothers would settle down soon enough. Their spats never lasted long.

He worked his way along the edge of the shore, sniffing here and there for signs of prey or beached sea life that he could scrounge for a quick snack. What he found instead was the scent of another wolf. An older femme with an earthen pelt. "Hail! Are you a native of these lands?"

Her deep thought was interrupted by screeching of birds, and it only took her a few moments to locate the pair that were in an entangled mess in the air. She quickly identified them as ravens, recognising the characteristics as the same as the ones back at her birth home. Along with the birds arrived a wolf, as tall as her but built more densely with well-defined muscles. He sounded friendly enough, if a little too much for her taste. Wariness of strangers was built into her very bones, and she perused him over with a blank expression for a good few moments, before offering a shake of her head. Iðunn then turned her gaze to the pair of birds in the sky where they were continuing to squabble with each other, the hint of a smile on her face. Ravens were her favourite bird, and she had thought often about stealing an egg or a baby bird to raise one herself. They were immensely useful creatures, and would be perfect for sending messages between herself and her family. "Your ravens, what are their names?" She asked, letting her native language flow easily off her tongue with crisp pronunciation. If he had two ravens as companions, then perhaps he too knew the language. And sure, she could just ask him in the common tongue he had spoken to her with, but this was more entertaining, and it left her an opening to leave if the situation didn't go as intended.

Úlfr waited patiently to see if the woman would answer. He'd met a number of wolves who spoke different languages and he did not yet know if she had understood him. Eventually though she responded, shaking her head. "Ah, just as well. Then I need not ask for permission when hunting." He didn't smell any packs about but there were still roving bands that would get a bit testy about loners hunting their primary prey. The woman asked about his ravens and he stared in surprise as he realized she spoke in the tongue of one of his mothers. Was she from the far north as well? Having been born and raised in Boreas he had never seen the great homeland but had often heard stories of it.

Úlfr quickly regained his composure and barked gently to his ravens to catch their attention, hoping they would listen. "This is Galinn," he nodded to the raven that landed at his right before turning to the one on his left. "And this is Glámr." He did his best to speak the northern tongue, finding some solace in doing so. "Forgive me, but are you from the clans of the far north?"

At the very least the stranger was well-mannered as he spoke, having asked instead of assuming the answer, to which Iðunn simply canted her muzzle to the side in acknowledgement. As she had no claim on this land he was free to hunt whatever he wished, and perhaps he could be useful in assisting her to take down a larger and more ferocious creature that would benefit both of them with a full belly. The wolf seemed surprised as she spoke, and delight filled her as he responded in turn, hearing the dulcet tones of her home language meet her ears, sounding almost musical to her. She hadn't been expecting him to understand, never mind be able to speak it back to her, and just as swiftly her posture became more open and welcoming, her lips turning up in a small smile. The names of the ravens brought forth a light chuckle, and she crooned softly at the birds in greeting, wondering if they too were able to speak. The wolf's pronunciation wasn't perfect by any means, but just hearing it spoken to her from someone who was not her family was good enough for her, and her own ability to speak fluent common was certainly not nearly as good. Her brows raised at his question, and she thought for a moment before responding, deciding it didn't matter if he knew about where she had come from. "Yes, my family has only recently arrived here. It is... warmer than I am used to, but the prey is more forgiving." She could only hope the winters would be cold enough to remind her of home, but not too harsh that they risked starvation. "Have you been there?"

Úlfr listened with fascination as she explained that her family were new arrivals from the far north. He could understand her need to adjust to the temperature. He much preferred the climate of northern Boreas than that of the southern half of the land where the pirates currently dwelled.

She asked if he ad been there and his smile faltered. He'd often dreamed of venturing there but his family had made oaths to the king of Fireside and he could not imagine visiting the lands without his mothers. For one, he did not know where the Finnvi homelands were and even with directions he would be gone for many seasons. At the time he'd been a warrior of Fireside was well before he was sent to the pirates. He could not have abandoned his duties so easily.

"No, I haven't. My mother often told me stories of her homeland. But I have never seen it." Perhaps one day he would. Galinn watched the she-wolf with interest, calm and quiet as he often was. Glámr was the more brazen of the two and he reached out and pecked at the side of Úlfr's left leg. "Úlfr, you promised food." Ah, yes, so he had. "We are on the hunt. You're welcome to join us and split the kill equally."

Ah well, that was a bit of a shame. The homeland was quite a sight to behold, and she found herself often dreaming of it, part of her wishing she could return. But being here was for the best, as someone had to make sure the others practiced the proper rites and upheld all the traditions correctly. They needed her out here, and she was willing to provide them all the guidance and knowledge she had to offer. "It is quite beautiful up there," she said with a dip of her head, remembering the days when she would spend her free time exploring and foraging, back before her duties took up most of her days and nights. One of the ravens then tried to get the other wolf's attention, speaking of food that was promised to him, and she grinned openly at that. Maybe she would try and find a raven of her own, someone to keep her company while she was out doing her tasks away from the prying eyes of other wolves. The wolf then turned to her, offering to share whatever was hunted with her, and that was an offer she simply couldn't refuse. "That's a very kind offer, I simply cannot refuse it." Iðunn stood up, gently shaking out her fur as she scented the air. The lands were still foreign to her, and she wasn't sure what prey would be around, so would defer to the other wolf's judgement seeing as he had lived here for a longer time. "What is the best prey to hunt around here?" Her sharp gaze returned to him, and she would follow his lead wherever he thought it best to take them to find a suitable creature to hunt.

Úlfr believed her. His mother told him stories of the fjords and the summer sun that lasted all through the day. This land that her currently walked through he imagined would be some what like the lands of her old home. No tthe same of course, but a small, sweet taste of it.

The woman agreed to his offer and he was glad for her assistance for the prey he had in mind were caribou. "This time of year the caribou are calving. Sometimes the herds enter this valley for its rich grazing and seclusion." Úlfr hoped to snag a calf. It would be enough meat to get him and his companions through without wasting much for he had no intention of dragging a kill several days if not weeks back to Fireside. At least now he had a hunting partner who could make good work of her share.

"Galinn, Glámr, let us know what you find." The ravens took off into the air, their dark forms rising swiftly into the air to glide gracefully through it. This was their usual routine. His ravens would scout for prey then report back to him. He and the hunters would arrange a plan and bring down the prey then they all could enjoy fresh meat.

Her ears perked up at the mention of caribou, specifically at the calving part. They would be easy enough to take down if one could distract the mother long enough, and it would have enough meat for the both of them, plus maybe a little extra for her to drag back to camp. She didn't need to eat as much with not being as bulky as her cousins, and they would definitely be grateful for a freely-provided meal. As a bonus the ridges of the valley would make it difficult for their chosen prey to quickly escape, and so she thought it to be a worthwhile endeavour to at least give it a go. "Caribou will make a good meal today." She had picked up on the name one of the ravens had called the male, and could only assume that was his name, but it would be rude to assume, especially of a wolf that was by blood a part of her home. "Your name is Úlfr?" It was not an uncommon name by any means, and it brought a small smile to her face, if only for a brief moment. "My family calls me Iðunn," she quickly added on. Looking up to the sky at the ravens in the distance, Iðunn hummed thoughtfully and softly under breath, wondering how swiftly they would return with word of the caribou the male had mentioned, but also thinking about where he was from considering he had only heard of her birth home from his mother's stories. "Where do you live then, if you've never been to the far north?"

Úlfr had been so focused on where the woman was from and then on hunting that he had forgotten to introduce himself. He swiftly nodded. "Yes, that is what I am called, it is a pleasure to meet you, Iðunn." He withheld his surname for the time being, partly due to his uncertainty if he should claim both his parents last names or just the Finnvi name. It was… complicated.

"I live in the south of Boreas, near the sea. It is a lovely view, with beaches made of obsidian stones that reflect the light from the sky. However, the summer weather is miserably hot. I came north for some relief." He'd have had no problems if the pirates had chose to make their home in the north but his pack mates seemed much the fair weather type.

Soon the ravens returned, landing down before the wolves. Glámr hopped about excitedly. "There is a sizeable herd 2 miles south of here. Dozens upon dozens, with young." Úlfr nodded, mind swiftly setting up a plan. He was not a tactical hunter by any means tending to keep his plans short and simple. "If we come in northeast of the herd and get them running to the southwest we can shepherd them toward the narrow entrance to this valley. That should help thin them out and separate the slow and weak from the fast and strong. Iðunn, does this sound good to you?"

"Oh, the pleasure is all mine," she said with the hint of a smile. It was like a breath of fresh air to be able to converse with someone who wasn't one of her cousins without needing to pre-translate what she said in her mind before saying it aloud. So for once she was more than happy to talk with a wolf who was by all accounts a complete stranger, and yet she felt a sort of kinship with him due to their heritage. Iðunn raised a single eyebrow at the mention of living further south, and near the sea no less. Surely that meant it was more of a beach than the icy cold ocean she was used to. She was, however, in agreement that the southern summers were too hot, already feeling a bit warm some days here, which could only mean it was unbearable hot where he lived. "I don't blame you for seeking refuge up here." It was then the ravens returned, and with good news at that. She listened attentively to Úlfr's plan, nodding along as he spoke. It was a good plan, and she trusted his judgement as she did not know these lands very well. "It is a good plan. You take the lead and point me where you need me." Iðunn was more than happy to be directed if need be, and wasn't often one to take the first attack during a hunt. That was left usually for either Víðarr or Sanngriðr, sometimes Róta if she was feeling particularly fiery that day, whereas she herself liked to stay back and only jump into the fray at the most opportune moment. She then turned to face the south, motioning with her muzzle for him to lead the way so she could follow closely behind.

Iðunn agreed to his plan and he nodded with a gentle grin. Good, then it was time to get this hunt underway. "Excellent, let us begin." He turned and stalked off toward the northeast, moving swift but low and using the grasses to his advantage. His ravens took off into the sky, awaiting the chance to aid the wolves in the hunt as well as to help with directing them should they need it.

As he neared the herd Úlfr's pace slowed, his movements more careful. He didn't want to spook the herd too early so now was the time for patience. After a few more moments he settled into position northeast of the herd and waited for his hunting partner to be ready.

Once she was he barked sharply and sprang forward. The sudden appearance of wolves startled the herd and they scattered, running in a panic with most heading southward. The ravens swooped down, pecking at the caribou and heckling them to help herd them southward toward the narrow passage that led into the valley.

She followed him northeast, keeping up easily with his swift pace as they moved through the tall grasses to try and hide their forms a bit as they got closer. Her legs bent as she crouched alongside Úlfr, moving much more slowly to get into position. The very tip of her head peeked out to watch the herd of caribou to see if she could spot a calf hidden amongst the adults. It took a bit of searching, but eventually the smaller form ambled into view, none the wiser than soon, if the two wolves were lucky, it would become their next meal. She had no remorse for the calf, as this was simply how life worked, and was even salivating at the prospect of tearing into its tender flesh. At Úlfr's loud bark she sprung forth from their hiding spot, shifting off to the right to put a bit of distance between the two wolves so that none of the caribou would even think of trying to turn back around once the passage began to narrow. The calf was near the middle of the herd as they bolted away from the wolves, but hopefully it would lag behind the rest and leave itself open to be easily picked off. The two ravens swooped down on the caribou, heckling and harassing them further southwards. They made good hunting companions, and she decided she would definitely find one for herself. Hunting 1/3

Úlfr's claws tore up the ground as he propelled himself forward, snapping at the adult cows closest to him. He heckled them, spurring them onward before dropping back just slightly to observe the racing masses. He let older, healthier animals break off, intent on the young. Ahead of him the fastest and strongest animals surged forward, gaining the most ground. Slowly, but surely, the mothers with young began to fall behind. In particular a calf that started in the middle of the herd was swiftly falling behind. He searched for Iðunn among the masses and saw Galinn keeping pace with her, denoting her position.

Úlfr barked out another call, zeroing in on the calf. Its mother was still close by but he was certain he and the ravens could work as a suitable distraction in order for Iðunn to make the kill. With a snarl he dove in for the cow, snapping at her side. She turned, trying to kick out but the swift wolf managed to stay just out of reach.

A few of the older and stronger cows split off to the side, but Iðunn let them break away and squeeze their way behind the two chasing wolves. It would just make it easier to get to their desired target without any extra cows in the way. The fastest of the caribou had begun to reach the narrowed passageway, while the cows with young were falling behind, leaving them open to her and Úlfr. She could already almost taste the fresh blood in her mouth, and that spurred her forth as she snapped at ankles to drive the other cows away and off to the side. Her target was the young calf that was starting to slow, originally starting in the middle of the pack, but now slowly and getting closer.

Her ears twitched at Úlfr's announcing bark, immediately changing course to zero in on his position in a flanking motion. She could see one of his ravens flying above him which made it easier to spot him in the chaos, and as she saw him dart forward to snap at the cow, Iðunn moved to hone in on the calf. She trusted him to heckle and distract the cow mother enough for her to take down the calf, or at the very least injure it to the point it could no longer run and the mother would hopefully abandon it to save herself.

She stretched herself out as she ran, jaws open wide in a grinning snarl as she pounced on the calf's back, her teeth finding purchase on the back of its neck. Iðunn could feel its legs buckle beneath her added weight, and roughly shook her head with a series of low snarls to rip at the flesh and hopefully unbalance the calf enough that it properly tumbled and fell to the ground. This meal was not going to escape her, not if she could help it.

Hunting 2/3

ooc: Sorry for the wait! I some how missed your tag.

Úlfr danced and wove, moving closer to the cow to catch her attention then shuffling back as she tried to wound him. He had one particularly close calll when she kicked out to the side. He could feel the air move over his head from where the hoof just missed him. Yikes! For being such large creatures they were certainly flexible. A strangled bleat alerted Úlfr and the cow to the Iðunn attack. The cow abandoned him for a second before his fangs caught onto the back of one of her legs. He attempted to sit, letting all his weight drop suddenly. This coupled with the cow's forward momentum caused her to stumble and fall. Mud splattered about and the cow flailed struggling to get to her feet. She took off, leaving the calf for dead. Úlfr quickly turned back to see how Iðunn was doing.