The Silver Island had been just as good a place as any for him to land, but alas - it hadn't been alluring enough for him to linger long. He was a traveler, and he sought someone like Cecily to keep him company. Or else, he would be someone else's Cecily. The lass Misha had been interesting enough, but he felt the overwhelming desire to move on. Muddied silver coat ruffled in the wind as he cast his beige mask in a new direction: East. He suspected he had landed on the southern part of the land, and so rather than going north and further away from the sea, he would march along parallel to his salty love. Silver gaze cast longingly to the ocean, but his weary limbs told him he could not afford another swim just yet. He hadn't eaten in gods knew how long, and yet he'd only just noticed the emptiness in the pit of his stomach. He knew he had not the speed or the desire to catch a land animal, and so he adjusted his course south and east - back toward the sea. Thankfully enough this sandy scrap seemed to hold enough tide pools to fish in. Body twisted around the circumference of the nearest one, surveying his options. One crab lay dead, likely starved. There were no fish, and there were very few crustacea to choose from. Still, he was far too tired to be picky, and so with ease he snatched up an unsuspecting crab from the mere inches of water. It was almost too easy to tide pool fish.

CRACK!

The crab split open, dying in one fatal bite of Hascal's fangs. He waited not to devour his dinner, picking out every tasty morsel - including those that he normally ignored. He not only just appeared half-starved, he felt it too. Eyes rolled as he swallowed his last bite, knowing it was not nearly enough to satisfy him - but it would keep him alive. He lay down near the shattered shell of the creature, resting his muzzle upon his forepaws. This certainly was a lonely place.. wasn't it?

"Speech"
'thoughts'

Steel didn't know exactly what had happened in Sawooth. A woman had came to them, declaring the pack her home -- and nobody had fought for her, or tried to defend their claim on the land. It struck Steel as strange but he was just a boy; what did he know? His knew his parents were tired and that they wanted nothing to do with politics. They hadn't even stopped to say goodbye to their brothers or sisters, nor had they said goodbye to his nephews Psalm and Hymn. Everything had happened so quickly, and all he knew was that his parents didn't want him under control of whoever had appeared to take the pack. They'd left quickly, with a strange sense of urgency. Where they were bound, his parents did not tell them but he felt very much like even they didn't know. His father had told him he never wanted him to be a prisoner -- and it seemed like it was important that they leave, even though they left the rest of the family behind. It had taken them so long to get here, days slowly rolling into weeks, the winter growing more bearable as they moved south into foreign lands. A sigh escaped the boy's lips as he wandered the shoreline. Though his father had given him some guidelines as to where he could go, he had a significant amount of freedom here. The land seemed relatively uninhabited this far south. Large paws carried him along the cool sand as his crimson gaze searched the horizon. It felt like just yesterday he had been a pup, and while he was not yet an adult he certainly felt like he was on his way there. His childlike curiosity had faltered, shifting into a cynical sort of wariness that felt difficult to contain. He was frustrated that he had to leave his siblings and those that he had grown up around, and he was sad that there was nothing his parents could do to change things. He knew they were old and growing weak, but this only angered him further; he could not change things for them, other than by hunting for them and caring for them however he could. The sight of another would shake the boy from his somber thoughts. The grey-pelted boy would creep forward, eying the stranger from a great distance. Steel had been taught to be wary around strangers, and this one certainly seemed strange -- was he eating some kind of sea-creature? The youngster would frown, head tilting to the side as he drew a bit closer to him. "That looks gross," he said plainly, nose wrinkling as he eyed the male and his meal.

Had he been in better spirits, or else more aware of his surroundings, he likely would have spotted the lad long, long before he did. But alas, he had missed the boy's arrival on the shore altogether. He was greeted with a simple 'That looks gross,' which he responded to with a rasped chuckle. "Ahoy, lad. Don't knock it 'till you try it." The whelp couldn't have been a year old at best. He appeared large for his age, but he had yet to fill in with the muscle that came roughly a year after one's birth. Hascal remembered when he'd started to fill out - how thrilling it had been. He and other lads used to wrestle and brawl, all for attention or pitiful dominance. "Be ye hungry, lad?" came his sailor drawl - thicker than usual. There was a tiredness in his voice, but the rasp all but masked it for the most part. "I can catch you something." He tilted his head as if the statement were a question, though it was obvious that he could catch something for the boy if he wanted to. Salmon tongue swiped across his lips as he retained his comfortable position from before. The boy was hardly a threat - and so he wouldn't bother to stand.

"Speech"
'thoughts'

Though his father had taught him early on that life wasn't fair, he had been taken by surprise by just how deeply unjust this all felt. He was allowed to leave the same pack where his brothers and sisters remained as prisoners; it didn't feel right. He knew that all his parents wanted to do was to give Steel freedom and safety, but at the sake of leaving the rest of his family behind? Part of him was thankful while another part of him wanted to return to bargain for his siblings' freedom. His conflicting feelings were a large factor in his current mood, and it directly affected the slight scowl that the young boy wore as he gazed upon this stranger. "And why would I want to try it?"   Steel would inquire. His seriousness was partially because of his own ignorance, and partially because it looked just plain gross. The male's voice had a strange drawl, like he was from somewhere quite different from Alacritia. Quickly he asked if he was hungry, offering to catch him something. Eyes would narrow in slight suspicion as he considered. "Maybe," he would say finally. "Can't promise I'll like it though."   He was unused to talking to strangers, especially ones so different from himself. The boy kept a safe distance from the stranger, still eying him warily. "What's your name?"   He'd ask curiously. Though he was hesitant still, he didn't have much else to do -- and he was a welcome distraction, if anything.

The lad had a point. Why would he want to try something he thought to be disgusting or foul? It made a lot of sense, and yet Hascal couldn't help but chuckle. How he wished Illyria was here, she would have gotten quite a laugh out of this whole ordeal. To them, there was nothing but the sea and it's creatures, but to this lad there was all the rest of the world. The lad then gave him an answer. He might be hungry, but he wouldn't promise to like whatever Hascal caught him. Another chuckle rolled from tired lips as he stood to his paws. The seadog took a moment to stretch, and then tossed his muzzle in the direction of a tide pool - in case the boy wanted to follow and observe. "I'm going to check this one over here," he offered in further invitation. With a flick of his tail he was off, moving toward the tide pool. He knew there would likely be a crab or two, but given the boy's obvious uncertainty about them he hoped for a fish. As he moved toward it he heard the boy ask his name, and with a quick glance over his shoulder he would respond. "Hascal.. and ye, lad?" His pace slowed as he neared the pool, though it was slightly foolish given the fact that none of the creatures in the pool could hope for escape. Still, out of habit he slowed and surveyed what lingered in the mere foot-deep pool. "Yo ho ho!" he exclaimed as two yellow fish darted to and fro - avoiding his circling shadow. With practiced skill he would sweep one from the pool betwixt his jaws, shaking it once, twice to ensure it was dead. In a smooth motion he would toss it in the lad's direction before pivoting to see the boy's reaction. "Even a landlubber like you ought to enjoy that treat."

"Speech"
'thoughts'

The possibility of conversation with this stranger was far more intriguing than he had anticipated. Much of his life had been spent in the company of few, and those that were not family were even fewer; it was different to be in the company of someone he had no ties to, and no expectations of. Calculating gaze would study the male still, honestly curious about his strange manner of speaking and even stranger choice in food. He was serious for a boy his age, his expression guarded as he watched Hascal move toward the small body of water. Warily he would follow, finding it strange that Hascal would offer to hunt something for him before even knowing his name, or anything about him. Well -- it wasn't quite hunting per say but it took a bit of effort nonetheless. Another frown creased his lips as he padded after him, watching as he snagged a fish from the water skillfully before tossing it in his direction. Not bothering to try to catch it, he let it land at his feet, nudging it a bit with his nose. Did he owe him anything in return? Or was Hascal simply being kind? He figured it was more likely that he was bored and willing to put some effort into keeping himself entertained, and Steel was okay with that.   "Thanks," he said, grateful for the treat. It was with a bit of wariness that he would recline to his haunches, nibbling a bit at the fish. He'd only had it a handful of times before, and he didn't know quite what to make of it. "I'm Steel, by the way." He took after his dad in that he wasn't much of a talker, but interest still gleamed in his crimson gaze as he gulped down a bit more of the seafood.

Hascal could feel the burning red eyes delving into his back as he fished, could feel them appraising him, studying him. He saw nothing wrong with the way he behaved, and truthfully didn't believe that anyone else thought him strange - though it was obvious they did. Oh, to be oblivious. The boy hovered a good distance behind him, watching him as he caught the fish and tossed it back in his direction. Hascal would chuckle as the boy didn't even attempt to catch the morsel. It seemed this was a bit out of his element. The boy thanked him plainly and went about picking at the fish. Hascal could tell it wasn't something he ate on a regular basis. Still, out of hunger or politeness he began to chew on it, offering his name to the seadog. "Nice strong name," Hascal noted with a sea-rasped voice. "I'm new to this land," he offered before inquiring a bit more from the lad. "Be ye from here, or just passing through?" He had only met very few wolves since his landing on Alacritian shores, and he was interested to know those that inhabited this land. Had this lad been born here, or had he moved here with his family or on his own? It seemed he didn't live alongside the sea or he would be more familiar with it's inner workings - but Hascal suspected there was quite a vast inland portion of this land to inhabit.

"Speech"
'thoughts'

Steel watched him nearly unblinkingly, his face a picture of wariness so uncharacteristic of a boy so young. His father had taught him early on that strangers often meant danger, even those that tried to show otherwise, and the last thing he wanted was to have to call for his father to help him because he was being stupid. Tail would flick behind him as he gingerly tore flesh from the small flesh, enjoying the taste despite its strangeness. It still felt as though Hascal might want something from Steel but for now the boy would try to relax, though he was glad to maintain a safe distance between them as he ate. "Thank you," he said simply in response to Hascal's compliment about his name. "My parents and I are just passing through. We live up north." Though he didn't know much about how big the world was, he did know they had traveled south. The land seemed a bit warmer here and less unforgiving. He knew his father was from an even more harsh world, and he wondered if he truly liked these more moderate lands. "We don't really have a home right now," he admitted after a moment of careful thought. It was strange to admit aloud. He'd never pictured a life outside of Sawtooth, a life without his siblings and all of the Destructions he had grown familiar with from a distance, but everything had been turned upside down without warning.