The morning after her near death experience, she led Strai the opposite direction from the way they had originally entered the mountain warrens. Keeping it roughly secret from him where she was taking him, she couldn’t hide the smile on her lips. While she was still a little uncertain about the boy since he had almost allowed her to fall off the cliff, his other actions were showing her he was not all that bad. Maybe he was just misled or mistreated. Delphi thought about this until she could feel the breeze washing in from outside.

“Not much farther!” She said excitedly to Strai from over her shoulder. The path went up a little bit until she was suddenly blinking against the harsh morning light that peeked through thick northern clouds. Standing at the edge of cliff, the view overlooked the Polar Sound. To their left, the pathway dipped steeply downward and went along the valley’s slopes until it reached the bottom. Below, she could already see a fine blanket of snow and a rather large herd of reindeer. This spectacular view is what she wanted him to see. No one else was ever really out here.

She felt like she was on top of the world.

“It’s a bit of a trek, but I know Vidarr will help us bring an animal back up if we kill it,” Delphi says, unable to contain her happiness as her shortened tail wags happily behind her. “C’mon, we’re wasting daylight. The herd doesn’t stay here during the day. Too dangerous,” she mentions it as if she has spent her whole life watching the herd. Which, really, she has spent quite a bit of time whenever she had nothing better to do.

Turning to the left, Delphi begins to make her way down the path and toward the herd of reindeer at the bottom.

Strai followed after Delphi, sighing (mostly internally) as he did so. He didn’t recognise the path they were taking, and she was being mysterious about the whole thing. He wouldn’t admit to it, but he was curious, too. She was one of the only wolves in the Viking pack that associated with him, and while he would loudly declare he would rather be on his own, he found it did matter to have company. If that company was as annoying as Delphi. When they reached the edge of the cliff, he paused. Taking in the sights. He felt almost on top of the world here, with a vast network of life sprawled out before him. The slow creep of morning added a burnt orange taint to the thick blanket of clouds. Alright, so the sight was pretty impressive. “We don’t need his help” He said absently, as he followed her down the path, towards the reindeer. He wondered if she would have a plan of action for when they got down there. "Delphi" & "Strai"

Internally, Delphi was disappointed when he didn't comment about the view, but then she remembered it was Strai. Getting anything nice out of him was always a struggle. Pushing the feeling aside and trying to not take it personally, she continued the scramble down the thin pathway. Forcing herself to be excited about the morning's adventure, she tossed a look behind her toward him with a roll of her eyes. "Ya say that now until you're the one dragging the reindeer back up this way!" Delphi calls to him before sticking her tongue out at him. Focusing back on the trip at hand, she stays quiet for most of the walk. It isn't until they are nearing the bottom and she is leading him to a thick expanse of brush does she addresses him again. "Do you want to take point or shall I?" There is a wicked grin on Delphi's face as her eyes shine up at him. "I was thinking I could go around and cut one of the small ones off and try and scare it toward you so you can take it down?" Her voice is questioning, hoping that her plan is good enough for him. "Delphi" & "Strai"

"You'll be doing your share, even if you can only carry a hoof!" He warned her, a smile flitting across his muzzle as he teased the short wolf. As he climbed carefully down the side of the mountain, he took another pause to take in the view. The landscape here was different to home, but he could pick out sights that were almost familiar. He couldn't help a squeeze of longing as he looked at the Plains below. 


They made it to the bottom without any incidents, and her plan had him turning his full attention to her. No, she was making it far too easy… "scare it? And how are you going to do that, show it your tongue?" He asked her mildly. But her plan did make sense. His size would make it easier to take on the charging reindeer. He would be able to so a full head on attack, but he could take out its legs while it ran. "Let's do it" he agreed.

Delphi rolls her eyes and lets out a fake laugh. Yeah right. Her help carry the animal back up that slope? Strai was crazy if he thought she was going to help in any way other than encouraging him to be strong. Ha! But they would have to take the animal down first before they get to that argument. Which undoubtedly would be a challenge since they were both pups and she was... extremely small for a wolf. They'd taken on bigger predators though so what was one baby reindeer compared to a bear or a cougar?! Her smile falters though as he questions her tactic and teases her to boot. "I don't see you coming up with anyway!" She says back in a snarky tone before sticking her tongue out at him. "Think that'll work?" Delphi says before smiling. Quickly slipping into a more serious demeanor, she is glad he agrees with her plan. Turning away from Strai, Delphi makes her way around the reindeer herd. She watches them, picking out a younger reindeer who appears too young to be alone. That one would be perfect! Picking up her pace, Delphi travels through the brush until she is on the opposite side of the herd from Strai. Lowering herself to the ground, she creeps forward and stays downwind. Taking her time, ensuring she wouldn't spook them too early, Delphi readies herself. Her mom would be so proud! At the right moment, Delphi bursts forward and shoots straight for the young reindeer. Her jaws snap quickly and loudly as she aims her saber fangs at the reindeer's ankles. Its loud bleating and alarming cries alert the other reindeer. Suddenly a whole bunch of hooves are in her face and though the young reindeer is skirting away from her to find safety, the older reindeer are charging toward her. "Delphi" & "Strai"

“It is pretty terrifying.” He agreed as she stuck her tongue out at him. But now was the time to put the plan into action,and Delphi was already moving away from him. He got into position, crouching in the undergrowth so he’d be harder to spot. He peeked through the gaps to keep an eye on Delphi and the herd. He could barely see her, tiny as she was. He was a little worried the reindeer would turn on her. But he was sure she would be fine. She just needed to separate one. Easy peasy, right? But as he watched, she snapped at a small reindeer, only for the adults to suddenly charge at her. Strai shot out of the undergrowth with a fierce snarl, puffing his body up to look bigger then it was as it charged. He let out a yowl, trying to startle the deer as he raced towards Delphi. Those hooves would be deadly, and he was terrified that he would be too late. "Delphi" & "Strai"

Terrified and determined all in the same moment, Delphi lashed back at the attacking reindeer. Her paws swiped out and her fangs jabbed toward the stomping hooves. It was all thanks to Strai's charging force as he came screaming in her direction. The sudden appearance of a second wolf startled the reindeer and sent them scattering. One small pup was fine, but if there was a second, they probably believed the rest of the pack was sure to follow. She grins momentarily at Strai before snapping at a few heels in the process before turning on a dime and heading for the younger one she had initially startled. Racing after the young reindeer with her chest heaving with shallow breaths, Delphi caught up quickly. "Now's our chance!" Delphi yelped at Strai as she fought to keep stride with the reindeer. Snapping and lashing out at the youngster, Delphi could feel her claws and teeth ripping at the delicate tendons on its back legs. "Delphi" & "Strai"

His charge worked exactly as he wanted it to, and the herd scattered. Including the one that had been attacking Delphi. That left the wolves free reign to work on the younger deer, which Delphi immediately began to turn to. Strai trotted after her, his heart still pounding from the image of tiny Delphi surrounded by giant reindeer.

He picked up pace as the terrified deer and Delphi did. He was no longer in position to ambush the creature, and he saw the new tactic Delphi had developed. Take down its legs, and the deer would fall. He raced along it’s other side, and grabbed for the leg. His feline-like claws cutting deep into skin as the deer - both it’s legs suddenly giving way - crashed to the ground in front of them/ Strai leaped ontop of it, cutting its throat quickly. Glancing around as he did so to see if any adult reindeer were around.


"Delphi" & "Strai"

Delphi should have been a bit more worried about the whole being attacked by adult reindeer. But when she was around Strai, she felt... almost invincible? As long as he was around, she surely would be safe. Right? At least this time, her assumption was correct. The rest of the herd had scattered, not wanting to tangle with two wolves, and left them to take down the young reindeer.

She barely glanced over her shoulder as Strai caught up and sliced at the reindeer's back legs. Delphi lets out a triumphant howl as she watches the reindeer fall to the ground. Stopping beside their kill, out of breath and her tongue hanging from the side of her mouth, she watched as Strai cut the reindeer's throat and ended its life. "Fabulous job, Thrall," Delphi poked fun at him with a cheeky smirk. "Are we breaking it down here or dragging the thing back whole?" She asks as she looks over the decently sized reindeer.

"Delphi" & "Strai"