Spring’s canvas displayed a variety of paints. Their different shades splattered the dark sky. Leaving behind a remarkable contrast of colorations. Amongst them, each sparkling white dot shown brightly. To give off a profound impression of life. It was what always drew Cressida away from the confines of her siblings. Their warm bodies bundled together beneath the softness of their mother’s embrace.

She found herself pulled towards it. Gravitating to the wide mouth of their den to settle just outside of the gapped entrance. Those unmatched eyes of hers capturing every moment that presented itself. Lost in a world that was only meant for her and hers alone.

Ears would find themselves moving about to every single sound. There was absolutely nothing she did not catch. Nightly calls of wide eyed birds from high in the towering trees. Rustling leaves from distant branches danced in the cool breeze. The flutter of something or even the shuffle of a creature on the melting white blanket. It didn’t matter to her because this had became her sanctuary. A moments time to be alone.

Cressida could hear the soft slumbers from those behind her. Gaze every so often shifting to check that none had awaken to disturb her peace. Not like she didn’t care for the comforts and presence of her beloved siblings. It just wasn’t always preferred in situations such as these.

With a subtle scratch to her left ear, she pressed on a bit more. Away from home and began to wander to a nearby tree. At the base lay a hollowed out opening. Her nose easily scenting out and investigating to ensure it was indeed empty; before, slowly descending into the welcomed darkness.

The world around him was quiet aside from the soft snores of his siblings and the gentle press of paws against dirt. Upon the precarious shift of warmth and pressure, Maelstrom's eyes open, that shifting of mauve to violet blinking wide, soaking in the dim surroundings. Everyone appeared to be asleep around him minus one. A certain starry-coated pastel sister that was soon slinking from the entrance of the den. One of his brow's lift, wondering where she was off to alone, unsupervised. Unwilling to miss out on any potential fun, he makes work of untangling his limbs from those of his other siblings. Keeping his body low to the ground, chest nearly brushing the dirt, he lags behind a few feet or so. His piercing gaze is still directed on Cressida, but also to the world around them. White pinpoints scatter above them, stars had been what mother called the blanket of celestial wonder he so lovingly enjoyed staring at. Tall pines reached for the darkness as if wanting to grab a star for themselves. They would sway gently in the breeze, a note of warmth keying nearby animals in that winter was receding and spring was soon on its way. Much of this didn't make sense to the young boy yet, but he would soon understand most of the intricacies of the world around him. For now, he would utilize the soft dirt and leaf litter full of pine needles and berry bush leaves to muffle his steps. Still keeping pace with his sister as she ducked down into an abandoned den hole beneath a tree, he stalks her. Patient, waiting for the right moment to pounce. MAELSTROM

1/3 explore new land - the polar sound
1/3 tracked another character

Various scents overwhelmed her senses. She couldn’t quite decipher what was causing the smells. And yet, she wanted nothing more but to explore it even further.

One small, dainty paw would reach out to dig at a pile of rubble. Rocks, twigs and what appeared to be dried leaves scattered away from her assault. The pungent musk was becoming stronger with every second that passed. It only urged her to continue on. Using both paws now to speed up the process.

Cressida nearly screamed out. When she finally came upon what was causing the aroma. Beneath the gathered debris lay a carcass. Bones still intact, held together by the fading of fur and old flesh. It was quite a sight seeing something like this up close. Of course she’d seen her mother eat something similar; but, hadn’t had much need to be curious of such until now.

Using her puppy teeth, she attempted to drag the morsel out the same way she came. Only. It was proving to be a bit difficult due to her size. This made a huff of annoyance leave. Standing just outside the empty entrance. Whilst her new find sat in wait.

Maelstrom notices how the trees bend in the wind that picks up through the night. Was a storm to be coming their way? And with it, more scents come toward him. The scent of deer traveling deeper into the valley of the sound. The scent of new life sprouting from beneath a layer of frost. The far off sound of water cascading down steep cliff faces and through eroded stone. Everything was new and enticing, a whole world to explore, but he also had something else to focus on too. From his hiding spot in the shadows, he could hear her yelp in surprise. Staying close to the ground, crouched as low as he could, he waits. The sound hadn't been one of pain or fear so he felt no urgency to rush in after her. No, instead, he waits, training his patience as he sees her begin to drag something out of the abandoned den. From her posture and defeated expression, he wondered if she did need help... Well, that wouldn't help his game of stalk and surprise now would it? MAELSTROM

2/3 explore new land - the polar sound
2/3 tracked another character

Cressida simply shrugged off a feeling. It was one she’d grown accustomed to. Though, she couldn’t quite pinpoint where it was coming from. Ever since she could open her eyes she found herself feeling the emotions of others. At a mere few days old, it didn’t register what this was. Only until now did she start acknowledging the act itself. However not being able to find the correct word. This was what currently feeling.

Her skin rippled and shuttered under her unique coat. The carcass forgotten as she let her gaze sweep over the space behind. Face indifferent; yet, lips drew back in a way that distorted her features into an unheard warning growl. ”Who’s there?” Cress voice wasn’t much to match how she felt. But it didn’t stop her from trying.

Cressida Kali Saxe

table coding by bunni ♥[/code]

As Maelstrom lie in wait, his gaze continued to explore the woods surrounding him. The sound was surrounded by steep sloping sides of a mountain unknown to him. Something about the scent and decaying bodies along the territory's edge kept him from inspecting that any further. Each day, he has seen how the sun rises and falls with the moon rising and falling soon after it. Every tree, rock, bush, and animal in the area behaved differently depending on the time of day. In the morning, the larger predators would reveals themselves. Giant bears moving down the rocky slopes for a sip of water. Herds of reindeer and caribou quickly making their way up and out of the sound to soak up what little afternoon sun they could. The pup notices how each and every thing has a place, a reason to be where it was, and he couldn't wait to figure it out. Investigating the rest of the sound would have to wait for morning. For now, he was drawing closer to the end of his stalking quest of his sister. The thing about stalking, hunting, whatever one wished to call it, was that patience is the key factor. Lying in wait for that exact moment when it would be time to strike. Maelstrom yearned to practice that. To enjoy the build up of the anticipation as his sister scurried about the abandoned den before him. Let her fester in the feeling of being watched, but unknowing to who it was. The idea that he was unseen thrilled him. Watching her begin to sense that she wasn't alone. How her body tensed, face distorting into that growl-like expression. Yes, it was almost time. Just as her quiet vocals reach out to him, he darts from the shadowed brush he'd been hiding in. Paws slap the ground clumsily, still unused to their awkwardly large size. He nearly trips, but it helps him propel faster toward Cressida. Leaping at the last moment to try and tackle her to the ground, he can't help the puppy-like laughter that follows. If he's successful, he'll roll to the ground, landing beside her with a mischievous smirk. "Got you!" Maelstrom says breathlessly, panting loudly as his sides push in and out quickly. MAELSTROM

3/3 explore new land - the polar sound
3/3 tracked another character

Before she could even register what was happening, her body had been taken on a spin. The world turned upside down. Tumbling along with the familiar musk of her brother. Their furs blending into a mesh of peculiar shades. Until finally coming to a halt just a bit always from her new find.

”Mael!” Cressida’s voice came to be high pitched, yet stern in the way she spoke his name. His laughter drawing ears to pull away from the sound as she looked at him with annoyance. Baring pup like teeth in his direction. ”Can you help me?” Though her gaze displayed the irritation she felt, there was a glint of excitement behind that mix matched eyes of hers.

Standing to shake off the dirt and debris now holding onto her oddly colored coat, she ventured back to where her find remained. Glancing back to ensure her older brother was following before she looked back down. ”I can’t get it out.”

Cressida Kali Saxe

table coding by bunni ♥

Maelstrom could see the annoyance clearly written on his sister’s face. He bats a paw at her as a way of telling her to get over it. And soon she would as he watches her expression change to one of excitement, following her gaze to the den at the base of the tree.

Standing and shaking out his own fur, he dutifully follows Cressida over to the abandoned den and carcass. “So that’s what you were doing?” He questions, eyeing the larger carcass carefully. Ideas were already forming in his head for what they could use the bones and skin for.

“I’ll get it,” Maelstrom puffs out his chest and heads eagerly into the den’s mouth where the carcass lay in a rather awkward position. After some jostling and shifting, he’s able to grab the thigh of the animal with a wrinkled muzzle (it was rather gross tasting) and pull it out after a few hard tries.

Once the animal is out in the open, he drops the carcass, blowing a raspberry to rid his tongue of the taste of rot. “What’re you gonna do with it?” He asks Cressida, bright gaze turning to his sister.

”I don’t know yet.” Cressida looked over the exposed carcass. Her gaze swept from the base of the nose to the very tip of its tail. Some fur still lingered in various areas. But it didn’t bother her none. Using a paw to press down on one of the skeletal legs to hold it down, she began to tug at the ribs. One by one did she collect them. Dropping them at her side and proceeding to aim for the rest.

It wasnt long before they were all detached. ”You can have the rest of it if you want.” Casting a smile at her older brother. She was grateful for his help and showed it by offering the dead animal to him. There wasn’t much left to do now but to find some sort of something to carry her discovery back.


Cressida Kali Saxe

table coding by bunni ♥

Watching his sister pull each rib off of the spine, his head tilts curiously. "What do ya need those for?" He questions, taking a seat while she finished her task. Once she was done and had offered him the rest, his eyes wander over the decayed carcass. Wondering what he could use what for, his eyes linger on the skull. Perhaps he could use it for a mouse trap. The skull was rather still intact with a complete lower mandible so the upper part could be held up by a stick...

His mind turns and wheels grind as he formulates wanting to test out the trap. "Think I'll just take the skull," Maelstrom says quietly as he reaches out to grab the piece with careful paws, pulling it from the spinal cord until its loosened free. "Wanna help me make traps?" He asks, looking back to his sister once more.

"Maelstrom"

”Sure.”

Cressida eyed the skull her brother had chosen. It wasn’t much he could do. Especially since the piece itself didn’t hold value to it. Not like the ribs she possessed.

”Where do you wanna go?” Taking a seat, she waited for his answer. Her paw organizing the ribs in size. Each one a different color, width and length. She would most likely have to ask their mother for some help. However, as long as she had them was what mattered to her.


Cressida Kali Saxe

table coding by bunni ♥

Maelstrom looks up at Cressida as she sits and questions where he wanted to go. Canting his head, he looks around and shrugs. "We don't gotta go anywhere," he replies, giving her a scrunch of his brow in question. "I wanna see if I can use the skull as a fall trap," the boy replies as he scoots the skull forward to give her a demonstration.

Lifting the top of the skull gently, he puts a thin stick over the lower teeth before letting go. The skull drops and the small, sharp teeth end up snapping the little stick in half. "If I can find a way to hold the skull open and have it triggered by a mouse or something going into it, it'll trap them hopefully," Maelstrom says thoughtfully, going over the idea a few more times in his head. "Think that'll work?"

"Maelstrom"