Thump, thump, THUMP. The ice beneath the mocha male's paws groaned with each step, threatening to shatter. The mocha brute's russet orange ears would swiveled forth at the beginnings of each noise, his pillars quickly reacting to lead him to safer ground. Here, he stood upon the wreckage of a human vessel, the S.S Antiox. The summer child did not know of what humans were, as his lands had never seen them, only heard of in tales told by the elder members of the Four Seasons. They healed each wolf, and the child had learned many herbal uses from him. All along the vessel's stern was ice and large heaps of pure white snow, not yet touched by wolf paws. The summer child's honey yellow pools gazed at the tip of the ship's nose. Such a sharp end to it, like a spike of ice. Suddenly, the brute remembered the cold creeping up his spine as he gazed about the wreckage. Shivers crept up his back, stopping at the small of it as his ringed pillars would lead him to a small cave in the ship. He would be warmed by his own frosty breath there. His haunches would reluctantly land upon the metal floor, as he curled up, his plush tail curled about his body. 'How are the Winter wolves able to withstand this bitter cold?' The man would ponder upon this thought for a short while before his honey colored gaze would settle upon the entrance to the strangely cold cave. His chocolate colored neck craned as the child stood up, a peculiar smell tickling his nostrils. The child would raise his chocolate nose to the wind, his maw opening and closing to taste the wind. In the midst of this action, flakes of snow would begin to fall, all the more accumulating the already existing heaps of snow. The smell triggered a thought. 'Magenta eyes, white pelt, grey markings. I remember her. One of the children of Winter. Easily recognizable by her sweet scent. But, why is she here? I'm the only survivor... or so I thought.' "Speech" 'thoughts'

It was nice to be somewhere new for a change, with different scenery to accustom oneself to. Her feminine hips swayed from side to side as she meandered over the gathering snow. Eyes of a dark mauve hue scanned the landscape, picking out little details without particular emotions being stirred upon her defined features. Paw prints in the snow, taking a path across the less than stable ice of the lake, presenting their owner to be someone less than knowledgeable in how to explore winter lands. Intrigue sparkled in her magenta pools, and her own tea cupped paws of the palest ivory set off after the fading scent. It was familiar to her, and brought a small grin to her dark lips. A cousin of hers, it seemed. But which one? Most likely a Spring of Summer child, since they knew next to nothing of snow.

Powerful, lithe muscles bunched in her hind limbs as she leapt onto the deck of the ship. It was frozen into the lake bed, never to move again, hopefully. Dark talons clicked on the warped wood of the deck as her gaze flicked calmly over her surroundings. It was stronger now, the scent. Dainty limbs would take long strides across the splintering wood of the ground, her paw steps none to quiet as her claws clicked along the ground. Tall ivory audits could dimly capture the sounds of breathing, the faint chattering of teeth. A dark cavern, accessible through a tall entrance in the shiny fabric from which it was borne. As her cranium poked through the doorway, she caught sight of a russet pelt with quite intricate markings.
"Looking for me, cousin?"
She would inquire, her heavenly alto lyrics pouring from her regal maw with all the ease they always did. A smirk would creep onto her lips as she regarded the shivering heap of wolf on the ground, trying to warm up after being out in the growing cold.

One brow would raise quizzically as she stepped the rest of the way inside. There didn't seem to be any other reason for the Summer wolf to be out in the northern lands, what with his pelt being nowhere thick enough to withstand the biting cold. Her petite haunches would fall gracefully to the cool floor, long, plush banner wrapping about her paws as she regarded her relative curiously. It was quite amusing, to see him being so obviously foolish. He hated the cold, everyone knew that. So what brought him out here?

"Looking for me, cousin?" The voice jerked the summer child from his thoughts, as the pearly woman appeared from the rising mist of snow. Her magenta irises were shining right at his own honey colored gaze. The young man's body straightened as he stood, honey pools wide with surprise. Had February and several other of the Winter wolves survived the disaster? What was left of his siblings, and the other cousins he once knew. They seemed to be so distant from his mind now, the man could only stare at the woman. He could only scan her petite features, before walking forth, seemingly forgetting that he was cold, his muscles pulsing as he stopped in front of the damsel, his frosty breath clinging to the air, and blowing onto his own pelt, frosting it whiter. The summer child could only close his eyes and bury his maw in his taller cousin's neck, seemingly searching for all of her, as if she weren't real. He pulled back and gave his kin a small caring lick on the shoulder, giving a small sigh as he did so. "How did you survive the quake?" The mocha pelted man wanted answers about his family, and if any other wolves of his tribe did survive, where were they? "Do you have any idea if any others from the Four Seasons survived?" The man did not wait for an answer, silently speaking to the pearly dame. "At least some of the two solstices survived." Solstices were the two main tribes of wolves, as they alternated roles in leading with the seasons as the lands would morph into different shapes. Between these periods, smaller packs, known as Equinoxes would lead during the in between seasons of Spring, the time announcing rebirth and renewal, while Autumn announced melancholy. It still struck the man that some of his kin had survived. "Speech" 'thoughts'

As the russet man got to his feet, it came to her realization for probably the millionth time that he was smaller than her. His incredulous stare held hers as he closed the distance between them, standing almost nose to nose with her, and then burying his face in her neck. For a moment, she was shocked. Had it been that bad, then? Were they the only survivors? A tea cupped paw raised from the ground, wrapping about his body and resting on his shoulder as she rested her cranium upon his bowed neck. Magenta pools fell closed as a relieved smile crept onto her dark lips, and she stroked her cousins shoulder with her pad. It was good to be reunited, even if that meant there might not have been hope for the rest of the family. He pulled away, and she dropped her paw back to the warm space under her tail. As Gus' tongue caressed her shoulder, she returned the favour and lightly dragged her tongue atop his crown, smiling at him.

Then the fateful inquiry was posed, not that it was surprising. A small sigh escaped her lips, shrouded in a puff of mist. She managed a sad smile, petite shoulders shrugging.
"I was in the northern lands at the time, checking for any signs of the caribou herds. When it started, I ran to the meeting place, and found no one there. So, I headed for the sea and prayed the rumors were true. And what about you, August, how did you manage it?"
Her explanation was rough, the most essential details given. It didn't matter now, it was over and she was here. However, that did not stop her from being curious about how Gus had managed to survive. He would have been in the warmer areas, and there could have been any number of disasters there.

Another question, one she did not have an answer to. For all she knew, they were all dead. Even worse, she had not landed safely when she escaped the falling ground and this was heaven, or something of the like. All she did was shrug now, frowning a little. Her cousin was just as alone as she, and there was a possibility that it was just the two of them now. Well, they'd have to make do with that. He admitted that it was at least good they had survived, especially as part of the Solstice packs.
"Yes it is."
She murmured quietly, her honey sweet voice laced with the barest traces of sorrow. Her frosty breath created a veil before her face, where only her eyes were visible upon exhale.
"What do you think we should do now, August?"
The alabaster femme inquired, raising an eyebrow curiously. It was not her business to be deciding what they do, she was still tired from her journey. Maybe they could both use some rest, and then collaborate on a plan. No matter, Gus could make their plans for now if necessary. The ashen tip of her plush banner twitched absently as she turned her gaze outside for a moment.

As the damsel's rough tongue lapped over his cold skin, he could no help but to get closer for warmth. As the pearly woman spoke of her story of survival, the mocha boy could only nod, then told his own tale. "I was at our denning site, helping my mother, Summer, tend to the herbs and heal our wounded warriors from recent hunts and fights with the rebelling rogues in our lands. Then the earth began to convulse and swallowed all I knew. The last words my mother said before she was torn by the earthen gods was to flee to this land they call Alacritia." The man's honey gaze settled above to his taller cousin and then stayed put as her chest rumbled when she spoke. "What do you think we should do now, August?" The summer child's orange ears swiveled forth as he heard the query, pondering it briefly. What would they do? How would the story continue from here? The young man simply replied, Ina righteous voice he used often as a child for fun. "We will look for our other cousins, and perhaps start the Solstices and Equinoxes once more. One thing I have noticed about these lands, is that they almost represent the seasons. The north, here, representing winter, the east representing spring, the west representing summer, and the south representing autumn. This could truly work out for all of us..." "Talk" "You" 'thoughts'

Her cousin pressed a little closer now, no doubt seeking warmth in the wintery air that surrounded them. His own story proved to be a little more interesting than her own, despite the insinuated losses. With the tale came a name, Alacritia. So that was the name of these lands, the fabled site of refuge for them. She nodded her head slowly, acknowledging his speech while she absorbed it. She had not been with her own mother, nor her siblings. Guilt threatened to assuage her now, for simply abandoning them. However, it seemed pointless to fret over it now, the past could not be changed.

Her cousin continued to address her query, his voice becoming comical as he tried to speak like a strong man, like he was in command now. His plan seemed relatively smart, straightforward. However, the thought of beginning again did not help them for what they should be doing at this point in time. However, she nodded her head once more in acknowledgment.
"It could, it could. But don't you think we should see what the rest of the family thinks before just going ahead and starting this again? Some of us might want to settle down somewhere else and enjoy life without the burden of Solstices and Equinoxes."
Soft lyrics would point out, her magenta gaze still fixed on the landscape outside. Some part of her wanted to see what the rest of the world was like, if it functioned differently from at home. What if she liked it better the way things were here? Would that make her a traitor to the family? Probably not, but the thought did pose itself. Her ash tipped plume flicked once more, tall ivory audits flickering as birds chirped outside. No doubt they were just passing overhead, migrating to warmer places.

As his pearly kin spoke, her voice rhythmic with the wind, the mocha pelted man only could ponder this thought. 'Beginning all over again? Is that truly what were made for? What we are carved out for? Without the burden of Solstices and Equinoxes? Giving up every one of our traditions to move on to pack life?' Orange ears would return to their normal, relaxed posture as lyrics poured from the summer child's inky lips. "To give up all we knew, to start new. We strangers to these lands, bringing hope to those who fell to the sand? Is this truly what our ancestors have laid out for us?" The man looked over to his cousin, looking for any strange faces upon the pearly lady's face, before continuing. "I like that idea. Starting new, starting a new story. A new journey, without the burden of the four tribes." The boy only gave a smile, his honey gaze softening. Walk, "Talk", 'Think'

Holy crap on toast thank you Starry!! Her cousin seemed keen to agree with her, and she found herself glad he did. Her tall ivory audits flickered as he spoke, capturing his words without much issue at all, despite how low his tones were. He went on to question their purpose in these new lands, and it seemed that she was not alone in having thoughts much similar to what he spoke of. "I think we were meant for much more, Gus." She murmured, nodding absently as she watched the tiny ebony forms of migrating birds grow smaller upon the horizon. When she noticed his gaze upon her features, she grinned fondly at him and nipped at his ear. he continued on to mention that he was fond of the idea that they might start over with different customs. "Indeed, I think we should give it a shot." Her honey sweet lyrics would murmur as she smiled down at him. Getting to her feet, she shook her thick coat. No time like the present, right? Her stomach was beginning to scrape at it's walls and demand sustenance. Stretching quickly, her plush banner arced over her head for a moment. "Let's grab some food, and then we'll see what happens next." She chuckled, the smile that crept onto her defined features something that came easily to her. She would nod her head toward the outside, where fat flakes were daring to fall from the growing grey clouds in the sky above. She preferred it to the clear cerulean heavens anyways, snow was wondrous. Swinging herself towards the door, the alabaster pelted femme would trot out onto the deck and revel in the sudden coolness of the air around her. Sighing, she would await her cousin and then allow herself to decide where to hunt. After all, she knew what she was doing in this land, she was the best hope of finding food in the growing snow. OOC: Sorry for shit post xD Walk, "Talk", 'think'

The Ivory pelted woman would disappear out of the cavern, her delicate claws clicking. The mocha boy's stomach gave a slight growl at the thought of food, and quickly followed. Snow was beginning to blind his vision, as he looked blindly at his kin, awaiting a reaction. "Teach me how to hunt in the snow, Rue. I would like to learn how to, so I can start learning how to hunt anywhere and be able to survive." Gus' russet orange ears would perk up as he heard several thumps of ice, over the howling wind, and squinted toward the noise. Not a mile away, a small group of three or four straggling caribou slugged through the snow. Each one looked weak and sickly, and one of which was a young caribou, forgotten by its parents. "How about those for a meal... Whatever they are." Unfortunately, the young man had never seen caribou before, only deer, horses, and other warm-loving animals. Walk, "Talk", 'Think'