The sun had begun its slow descent in the sky, cruising rapidly toward the horizon. The colors that it painted on the horizon were breathtaking - reminiscent of her own coat, really - a brilliant palette of deep colors cascading across the sky, from purples and pinks and faint hints of orange where the sun peeked out from behind cloud cover.

Maybe a different sort of wolf would find the whole display peaceful, but Tethys didn't have such a mindset currently. For some reason she'd been feeling unusually short-tempered these days, her mood only partly self-induced. Lately she'd been admittedly slacking on her training, though she felt motivated to keep pushing herself toward greatness.

That didn't mean she was happy with her progress though. Realistically she wasn't sure how fast she ought to be pushing though, and she wasn't about to ask. Mulling over it as she went, she caught the scent of prey - something that made her stomach rumble. The sound of bird chatter alerted her to the presence of a few ruffed grouse nearby, fighting behind one of the submerged trees nearby.

Had Wilder ever mentioned that he very much preferred wetlands? Boggy swamps with mud up to his ankles? Yeah, definitely his go to residence. So why he was up this far north in the middle of summer was perhaps beyond his knowledge. He could tell it hadn't rained here in months. His nose felt dry and the pads of his paws crackled with every step he took. Some might've called the area beautiful, but from what he could tell, it was bland. White, white, and more white. Maybe some grey and green where the tops of trees stuck up randomly. Wait, stop his tracks. Tops of trees? His brow pinches together, bewilderment suddenly filling his features. That wasn't right... He was tall, but not... that tall.

Uh, okay... well actually, not okay. His chin tilts toward his chest, vermillion eyes peering at the thin coating of snow that blankets the... ice that he stands on. Ice! Oh, no, that wasn't cool. Actually, it was pretty cold and hard as a rock, ice actually? Was there a difference? Fear zips through him at that moment. Getting off of this hellscape was priority number one! Turning about face, Wilder picks up his steps and begins to hurry back the way he came until the sound of rustling feathers and screeching birds catches his attention.

The wind shifts and the scent of grouse drifts over. Ooo, okay, maybe he could stay a little longer. Even his rumbling stomach agreed! Turning then to start tracking the grouse, he finds a girl a bit younger than he also watching a group of trees that shakes every so often. Ah, had she found the grouse? Carefully now, Wilder makes his way with his nails clicking against the ice over to the sunset painted girl. "For a pretty gal such as yourself, I didn't expect you to be much into hunting," his voice is quiet, but bold. Was it his way of flirting? Maybe. Was it good flirting? No, it was pretty insulting, but Wilder wasn't exactly raised by... anyone so manners and tactfulness are not his strong suit.

WILDER

A silent sigh fell from her lips as she traversed the flat expanse of ice and trees. Her attention was on the few grouse that hopped about nearby, though she found her mind straying slightly. Being focused on two things at once wasn't a problem though, especially not with the way her stomach was beginning to growl, more intensely now that the scent of the prey grew stronger. Snatching one might not be too hard, but two would prove more difficult... the second would no doubt no running as soon as she struck. Maybe it wouldn't be too hard though.

Her nose wrinkled when she realized she wasn't the only one with such an idea. His arrival was noticed before he spoke, her brows pulling together as she turned to face the stranger. He better not be here to ruin her hunt. She averted her gaze to the grouse in the distance, who thus far seemed unbothered by Wilder's arrival, before looking back to him.

"Why not?" Any attempts at flirting seemed to go right over her head, always, and this was no exception. His question simply confused her. "How else am I supposed to eat? By asking the prey nicely to drop dead?" Tethys kept her voice low, hyperfixated on not wanting to startle the grouse away so quickly. "Are you after them too?" She wouldn't be upset if so; surely they could each grab one. She doubted she'd be able to take many more down, not without stalking them for awhile after she caught the first, so sharing didn't sound like a problem to her.

As he stands beside the girl, his gaze turned toward the rustling trees before them, Wilder wonders why they would live in such a place. It's barren landscape brought about much of nothing. Surely they weren't living off of the tree branches? It would be hard to get lost here and though there was tree cover for them to hide in, he didn't see many bugs being capable of surviving. So what was it about the snow, ice and trees that invited the grouse to stay here? Lack of predators? It really was cold. He felt the chilling wind press against him, a shiver running down his spine. Maybe he could ask them. Ha!

Before he could keep on examining their surroundings, the girl is speaking. His ears fall back a moment and his mouth opens then closes. Clearing his throat, Wilder feels a tad embarrassed at his shitty attempt of a sexist joke. "I'm sure they'd jump right in your jaws if you did ask," he replies back, trying to sound witty with a smirk hovering on darkened lips. He had to follow through or he would surely flop on his face. "I wasn't particularly hungry for grouse, but my stomach isn't picky," Wilder comments as he returns his focus on the birds that roost in the trees ahead of them.

"If we come in from the sides, we should be able to snag one for each of us before they spook," his eyes flick over to her, wondering if she thought it a good idea.

WILDER

Relating to others was not at all her strong suit, and non-Armada wolves somehow seemed even more foreign to her. Many of her siblings were more like her than not; they tended to be a little more serious and studious than some wolves could be. For a moment she wondered what sort of wolf this stranger was, but she supposed spending a few minutes with him might tell her that. At least hopefully. Already she was struggling to figure out what exactly he meant, and what exactly he might want.

That he might've just come across her and wanted someone to hunt with seemed too simple a conclusion to draw. Tethys wouldn't settle on that until she was sure.

"I'm not so sure about that," Tethys answered after a beat. The implication still lost on her, she was glad when they moved on to things she could understand, like hunting. She gave a slow nod in response. "Not sure I've had them before." She had no qualms about eating something less than ideal though. Such was how life in the north often went, especially during seasons when prey was more scarce.

Hunting alongside someone else was always rewarding though, even if he wasn't quite so thrilled about the target of their hunt. "That sounds like a good plan. Let's do it." A nod to signal that she was ready was given before she set off, moving over the frozen ground toward the birds. It wasn't like it'd be a terribly difficult hunt, but it'd still take some effort.

Focusing now, she picked up the pace when they got closer, making a wide arc around the group of grouse. At the right moment - or at least what she hoped would be the right moment - she moved to strike, kicking off hard toward the prey animals. Immediately they began to scatter, but with a heave forward she managed to snatch one of the birds between her jaws, aiming for its neck and giving a good hard shake as she did so.

Wilder is pleased that Tethys agrees with his plan. He thought it was rather good himself, if he had any room to say so.

With the plan laid out, he focuses on the task ahead of them. Kicking off into the snow and ice, Wilder heads for the same area as Tethys does. Taking that wide arc until the right moment, he lines up with the trees and group of grouse. Vermilion eyes zone in on the birds, picking a particularly plump one that roosts on a lower branch as his target.

Darting in quickly, he launches himself at the birds as they scatter, startled by his and Tethys' sudden appearance. Jaws snap loudly until they find purchase around the neck of the plump one he'd wanted. As his body is pulled back down by gravity, he too gives his head a rough shake until the bird hung limp in his mouth. Quick, easy, and no blood to spill.

WILDER