Fili sauntered among the willows, his long banner sweeping behind him. Paws kissed the frozen ground. He was out here with his brother, gods knew where he had gotten off to. He stopped and looked around, a light snow fell around him. The delicate flakes sticking to the branches of the willows. His optics scanned as far as he could see. No sign of him. "Hey Kili! Where are you?!" he yelled, waiting for his younger brother to reveal himself. The wind blew through the willows, making them rustle. The song of nature. Yet the song was not complete, as most of the animals that made up the harmony. Were hibernating, shying away from the bitter cold, yet they all had to stay out. They had to hunt, it was difficult in these months. Hard to find food. But they managed, both of them would work as a team, sharing kills and hunting spots. Huddling together for warmth. They were survivors. He sat down, waiting for his brother. He wanted him to get here soon, they needed somewhere to spend the night, a cave would have been ideal. They would have to leave soon, there was no shelter here. They would have to find somewhere, it had been a few days since they had last slept. So, as energetic as he was, he still had to sleep. "C'mon Kili." he muttered. "Talk." Think.

?Home is behind, the world ahead, and there are many paths to tread through shadows to the edge of night, until the stars are all alight.? Hunting, Kili had decided, was only fun to a point. It was great fun as soon as you set out, and great fun just before the kill, but in between? Hardly the stuff of legend. No songs would be sung of he and his brother traipsing through the woods, miserable and cold. As such, some time ago, he had wandered away in search of something more worthy of his attention. He was not far from Fili, as usual, and in fact was just close enough to hear his brother call out for him. Kili perked up and smiled, wondering if his tawny sibling had forsaken the hunt for the day. About time, he mused, turing himself towards the sound. We're the only creatures foolish enough to be out amongst the snow. Deft pawsteps carried him quickly to his destination, and he found his brohter searching the wood line. Most likely, for him. A mischevious glint came to the young brother's eye and he slunk down, relying on his dull coat and a prevailing wind to keep him hidden. Kili sidestepped carefully, angling himself so that his brother's back faced him. It was slow going. Just as he was about to charge, he heard his brother mutter, "C'mon Kili." Grinning like the devil himself, Kili bursh from the brush and howled, "As you say!" The younger wolf leapt, aiming for the sandy wolf's hind quarters, and laughing all the while. "Talk." Think. "You."

Fili yelped and jumped to his feet when his brother launched himself at him."Jesus Kili! Don't sneak up on me like that, you scared the hell outta me!" he turned to face his brother. He swatted at him playfully with his paw. He grinned at his brother, still seeing the funny side even though Kili had scared him. "Do I seriously need to bring a few briar branches to kee you nder control?" A sly grin crept to his ebony lips. His brother was never going to hear the end of this. They had to sleep, "Come on Kili, this is hopeless, there's nothing out here. Let's find somewhere to sleep. I've had enough of the damned cold." He sat and waited for his brother to respond. "Talk." Think.

Kili flopped over onto his side, laughing to the point where he could not speak. He was hardly ever able to catch his brother beside surprise, and it wasn't for lack of trying. Even his brothers sly remark about briars could not dampen his mood, for all that it made the younger male wince. It was an experience he'd sooner forget, but he knew he would not be able to. He lay on the ground panting out his last chuckles. His brother bid him to get up, and he himself had no greater love of the cold than Fili. "Aye, you great sodden clod, you," he said lazily, standing and bumping his hip against his pale sibling's. "There should be a river down this way, the way the hills are sloping. Like as not there will be some roots to curl up under. It should serve!" The younger brown wolf did not wait for his brother's compliance, but instead took off into the brush at a brisk lope. Patience had never been a virtue of his, of course, and he wasn't planning to develop it now. "Speech" Think

His brother rolled around laughing and he couldn't help it either. A chuckle escaped his ebony lips. reply was heard to his comment about Kilis' little, erm, situation with the briars, Aye, you great sodden clod, you, followed by a playful nudge. There should be a river down this way, the way the hills are sloping. Like as not there will be some roots to curl up under. It should serve! he was about to answer when his brother bounded away. Not bothering to wait for him. Fili picked himself off the ground and headed after his brother. He wasn't really going that fast, Fili ran to catch up. He was beside him in about ten strides, since he and his brother were matched evenly. They ran and walked at about the same pace. So it was easy for Fili to catch up. Once he was beside his brother he looked to him, still walking, Hey yeah that sounds great since you decided to ask. He broke into a sprint, Race you! He yelled at his brother, Muscled legs took him as fast as he could go. Heading towards the river, he didn't actually know where it was, but he had a rough idea.

"Speech." Other Thought

?Home is behind, the world ahead, and there are many paths to tread through shadows to the edge of night, until the stars are all alight.? His brother broke into a sprint, catching Kili more than off guard. He followed him, a trail of curses flying from his lips as he tried to gain on him. Hell, they didn't even truly know where they were going! Still, that didn't quite matter. What could be better than roaming the hills with his own kin? Hunting, living among the cold and damp, growing strong, having adventures! Every day was new and unexpected, and marvelous! While the slightly vapid wolf was reminiscing, however, he seemed to forget that he was also sprinting through the woods. The tress among him her not quite to oblivious. One reached up a root and hooked him by the paw, pulling him to the ground in a great heap. His curse was muffled by snow and dirt, which he spat out as rapidly as I could. "Fili, I want a do over!" He let out a dull chuckle, shaking out his fur. "The forest is cheating!" He added, as if that gave weight to his statement. "Talk." Think. "You."

He grinned as he ran, he howled with laughter as his brother tumbled. "Fili, I want a do over! The forest is cheating!" He could barely run in a straight line, let alone sprint. His head turned round as he saw his brother shook himself off. But he wasn't watching where he was going, and he ran straight into a tree. He hadn't been going that fast because of the hysteria, but it still hurt. "Shit!" he yelled. Then broke down laughing. The pain was subsiding a little already. "'Scuse my french dear brother, but it seems your bloody right, that tree seems to be attracted to my head." He howled with laughter again, and walked over to his brother. "Maybe we should take it a bit easier this time? Eh?" he began at a brisk lope though the forest, not waiting for Kili to follow, he always would. "Talk." Think.