The giant stag was always cautious when it came to the packs that were scattered around the northern reaches. Every hoofstep was cautious as he approached the island, careful to stay out of the boundaries so clearly marked by the wolven kind. His verdant gaze could see far past the icy oceans though and he took in the incredible island he saw. Rannoch could guess that it was once a volcano with the shape it formed and the relatively young forests that were springing up. It had certainly been like this far longer than he had been alive though. Cautiously he moved over the beaches, ears swiveling as the thawing oceans tried to drown out all of the sounds around him.

"Rannoch"

There was an allure to the lands that drew Maelstrom away from the den. Something about how the icy tendrils of the north’s freeze seemed to encapsulate the world around him. His too large of paws carry him over stony ground that is slick and sharp. Already he has nearly sliced his tender skin on a few pieces where he had not been careful with where he stepped.

What drew his curiosity today was the sunken volcano and its steamy bowl of water. Already the water levels had risen since he had first spied the place a few weeks back. Looking up to the slopes, trying to figure a way up, his attention is quickly drawn to the crunch of hooves.

His head swivels first to stare at said hooves and then slowly draw his gaze upward until his head is craned all the way back. The… deer? Moose? Caribou? Whatever this guy was, was more massive than his father had ever described a prey animal could ever get. Astounded by the fact that he was given a chance encounter with such a creature, it took a moment for the pup to find his words.

“You!” Maelstrom calls out, uncertain if he should go closer or not.

Rannoch, despite his appreciation of the environment, was being extra cautious of the wolves that called these lands their own. He did not live by the rules of wolven kind, but he would have been quite foolish not to take in account their marked territories. The island was very obviously marked, the huge bowl shaped mountains containing its own ecosystem. Being the deer he was there was a curiosity about the taste of the grazing, but not so much he was going to test his luck.

While his gaze took in the gray of the old volcanic rocks, the young trees, and the tender grasses, his ears flicked back and forth to pick up any sound of wolf that might try and sneak upon him. He was alerted to just that as a pup, far too small for his paws, appeared from the foliage. He didn’t startle at the sound of his voice but Rannoch did stomp a large cloven hoof on the dark earth as he was called upon with a simple “you!” The young wolf seemed cautious, but he could call for back up quite easily.

"You.” He returned, pulling his head up a bit higher so the pup wouldn’t get any silly ideas. "You are a youth of this pack?” He followed up curiously.

"Rannoch"

Ice prickles at his toes, a stark reminder of just how deadly the island around him could be. Sheer sheets of ice cover the ebony rocks, making it near invisible. One wrong step and he could go falling into the frigid waters that surrounded the old volcano. Unwilling to risk his life, the pup keeps his distance from the massive deer while also trying to stand on a patch of dirt rather than rock. While the dirt is still rock hard and gives hardly any more advantage over the icy stone, he still feels somewhat better about it.

Especially when the massive bull turns his way, stomping a hoof in response to his callout. Violet and mauve eyes go wide, the hair along his spine bristling and tail tucking between his legs. Was he about to be stomped to death!? Maelstrom can't help the quiet 'eep' that escapes his lips. Frozen with more fear than curiosity, he stares back at those bright emerald eyes as the giant elk speaks to him.

"Yeeeesss, I am," Maelstrom replies slowly, tentatively, his fear slipping away as he continues to regard the animal. "Why do you wanna know?" His eyes begin to narrow, lips pursing suspiciously.

The Irish Elk had stomped his cloven hoof upon the ice laden rock. The season was changing, but there was still a strong grip of ice and snow over the landscape. However hard spring was doing its best to fight against old man winter. The deer was made for this kind of weather and terrain, his cloven hooves very much like a caribou’s dexterous digits. He easily scaled and traversed the ice and rock that made up the shores.

Rannoch’s warning was received well by the pup, his eyes went wide and his nervousness became more visible as his answer was given tentatively. The wind blew over them both, bringing with it the promise of spring. The ocean’s waves were more powerful now as the waters began to thaw out.

The boy assured him that he was indeed a pup of this pack, questioning Rannoch’s question. "I was just wondering if you were perhaps the wolf to come to for a tour around the borders.” He went on, a tilt of his head and playful wiggle of his large ears.

"Speech"

Unlike the elk, Maelstrom would not be able to easily scale the icy hellscape that lay beside of them. No matter how much he wished himself capable of bounding over the rocks that built a wall around the interior lake, he would probably never get to see it. Why The Syndicate wanted this place as one of their territories was beyond his comprehension. For now, he would attempt to explore. Perhaps inspect the pine trees that magically grew between the boulders or the snow that seemed permanently stuck to some of the rocks.

Maelstrom does perk up at the elk's request. "A tour?" His brows raise in question, a smile appearing at the wiggle of Rannoch's ears. "Oh, I could do that, I suppose," he tries to shrug as if it weren't a big deal. As if he truly was the tour guide of The Syndicate. "Where do you wanna start?" His head cants, curious, eyes turning away from his... guidee to scan the landscape one more time.

"Maelstrom"