Wading through the snow, leading the girl through the expanses of the North. Rhazien and his new little friend made their way to the most northern point of the continent. It may have been easier to take her to the shores of the Polar Sound to find their prey. But, Rhazien knew the dangers that accompanied that idea. Sephiran would want to eat her alive. His nephew was such a jealous creature. If he showed up with such a tiny, cute little girl. All hell would break loose, and Rhazien wasn’t done playing with her just yet. And so, they ended up in the frozen expanse of open tundra. A man-made structure from the past acts as a landmark to confirm their arrival. Leading her past it, and closer to the water's edge. Rhazien suddenly stopped once the earth morphed into the ocean beneath the frozen ice. ”Right out there.” He said, motioning towards the sudden drop off of ice, which was still a good distance away. “Can you hear them?” It wasn’t the typical, seal-like bark she was meant to hear. These predators sounded quite different- vocals consisting of cricket-like thrills, cat-like hisses, and low, eerie moans.   ”Speech”

Confidence and stupidity was something Delphi had an insurmountable amount of. Though she was intelligent in her own right, she was also... dangerous. For such a tiny girl, she had the world wrapped around her pinky finger. Held high, hoisting it all for everyone to see, she would ensure that they knew who was in charge. Her. So as she stood beside the bear, watching the man lick the gore from his lips and present a new challenge to her, she wouldn't deny. A challenge was exactly what she needed. Blinded by the security of safety from those that protected her, Delphi followed the stranger north. Farther north than she had ever been before.

The expanse of the tundra that sprawled out before her was both intimidating and beautiful. Ice and snow shone in the afternoon light as the sound of paws crunched in her ears. Wind pushed at her blood-stained body and she allowed it to carry her to the edge where the land began to give away and nearly frozen water pushed back up against it. Stopping with her toes curling over a piece of ice, she looks out to the dark depths that he motioned toward. If she stayed still enough, focused just right, she could hear the noises. Clicking, moaning, guttural noises that she couldn't put a face to. "What are they?" She asks, gaze moving back to the shadowed man.

Ears twisting, nostrils quivering. Rhazien was testing the air, trying to pinpoint their opponent's location, while the girl listened for their existence. What are they? Allowing a few moments of silence to pass, so she could get a good listen. Rhazien shifted his gaze to her, flashing a sly, devilish smile. “Leopard seals.” He said, wanting the information to sink into her mind before he motioned for her to follow him farther onto the ice. ”Deadly predators who live in the ocean, stalking prey from beneath the ice.” Walking more slowly, knowing their silhouettes could be seen far beneath the surface of the ice. Rhazien knew it was only a matter of time until they were noticed. With each step, he was careful not to click his claws against the ice, balancing primarily on his paw pads. “They can hear the clicks of your nails miles beneath the surface. And once they know you’re here-“ His gaze was sweeping the area. They were nearing some holes in the ice, where the predators came up for air. “They will hunt you.” Suddenly, there was a whooshing sound beneath them- resonating in the thin space between the water and the ice, creating bubbles they could see at their paws. Ears pinning back, and pelt bristling. Rhazien glanced at the girl one more time. “If it pulls you into the water-“ Beneath them, a dark, massive figure swam by, before vanishing into the water’s depths. “You’re dead.” And suddenly, as if on cue, their opponent appeared. Leaping out of the nearest hole in the ice, a female leopard seal flopped onto its belly, using her flippers to prop herself up and look at them. Sizing them up, hissing, and clicking its jaws. The wolf pair were being challenged by the predator of the sea.   ”Speech”

Leopard seals.
Water creatures were not Delphi's expertise. Bears? Cougars? Wolverines? Sure. She could tackle any of those any day, but the things that lurked beneath the surface were foreign. Honestly, it was terrifying. Especially as she notices the smirk that lingers on his lips. What had she gotten herself into?

Following his lead onto the ice, she can hear her claws scrape at the slick surface. There would be no traction here. It is when he mentions the nail clicking does she realizing she's been making a mistake. Freezing, Delphi turns her chin down to look at her paws. Dammit. Before she can look up, bubbles are pressing beneath the ice. A loud whooshing sound is filling her ears. His warning is... dire, serious, even more terrifying than his last statement. Seriously, what had she gotten herself into?

Moments later, the leopard seal is revealing herself from beneath the ice. Water runs down in drizzles along her slick blubbery body. Jaws full of piercing sharp teeth clack and click in their direction. Long whiskers tremble, testing the air as the seal's eyes remain on them. A challenge. Delphi didn't need any words to know what the leopard seal wanted. A meal and Delphi was the perfect size. She swallows hard. This was turning out to be quite the unexpected adventure. Was he waiting for her to make the first move?

Glancing from Rhazien back to the leopard seal, she was unsure what her first move would be. As long as she stayed out of the seal's range, she possibly had a chance. Her own fur begins to bristle as she faces the challenge. There would be no way she'd back down now. She couldn't allow this man to see any weakness. No way, no how.

"Follow my lead," Delphi smirks, the veil of fake confidence falling over her tight expression as she bursts forward. Risking slipping and falling, Delphi charges the leopard seal. Barking as loud as she can, clacking her jaws as aggressively as she can manage, Delphi keeps a few feet of distance, but puts pressure on the seal. Even if she couldn't scare it off, surely Rhazien's larger size would be far more threatening.

Shifting his gaze to the tiny girl, while keeping the leopard seal in his peripheral vision. Rhazien could see the uneasiness spread across her face, despite the confidant facade she tried to portray. It was a natural reaction after all- one could never be too wary when facing off with a beast of the sea. She’d been up for a challenge before she saw their quarry- was she still up for it now that she could see the threat in the seal's beady, black eyes? Delphi was frozen for several moments- perhaps gauging her options, considering turning back and fleeing. But alas, she would catch him by surprise. Instructing him to follow her lead, before charging forward into the fray. Rhazien released a throaty, baritone laugh- amused by her determination, even if she was severely outmatched. He let her take the lead, wanting her to navigate this newfound challenge. There were so many things to consider- keeping your balance, staying out of the seal's reach, avoiding its jaws and powerful tail, and of course, not falling into the ocean. While she approached directly, barking and demanding the leopard seal’s attention, Rhazien moved to the right. Slowly trying to encircle the beast, testing the ice with each step, wary of the danger thinner ice could pose. He was large and heavy- it would only take a moderately thin section of ice to splinter beneath his weight. While she had it distracted, Rhazien shot forward and took a bite out of its tail- which caused an immediate reaction. It whirled around, snapping at him, trying to smack him with its tail in sync. He had to stumble back, fumbling across the slippery ice, struggling to keep himself from falling over. All while keeping in mind how close he was to the water’s edge, to avoid being thrown into the ocean.   ”Speech”

The leopard seal barks in return. Tail slapping against the ice and teeth bared in her direction. Delphi is acutely aware how dangerous the situation is. It's not as dangerous for her as it is for Rhazien. Her tiny size allows her to slide and move about the ice with hardly a care for the thin spots. She doesn't weight nearly as much and has no regard for the possibility that she might slip under. She does see the edge of the ice though. If the seal were to try and get around her, taunt her toward the water that splashed up against the ledge of ice they stand on, it's probably how they get most of their prey.

Still, she continues to distract the beast. Barking in its face, dancing back and forth, paws tapping and body hopping to evade the lashing bites of the seal. Happy to taunt and distract, she sees from the corner of her eye that Rhazien is testing the ice, carefully moving around the seal's line of sight to get closer, and close, and closer... Until the seal is suddenly screeching out of pain and anger. Twisting until both tail and teeth are lunging and slapping at the larger wolf.

Delphi takes her chance. Rushing forward those last few feet, she jumps and bites down on the corner of the flipper which it attaches to the body. A softer area that wasn't so densely made of fat and thick skin. Pulling away with a chunk of fin and meat in her mouth, she spits out to the side as the seal turns back on her. The injured flipper swings out and connects with her legs, knocking her off of her paws. Cursing under her breath as her shoulder slams into the ice, she scrambles out of reach so she can get back on her paws and return to the fight.

Gripping the ice with his claws, it takes several sloppy attempts until Rhazien successfully regains his balance. As expected, Delphi took the opening he created- attack the seal’s blindspot, grabbing onto the corner of the flipper where it attached to its abdomen. The predator is quick to retaliate, pivoting on the ice effortlessly with its slippery skin, knocking Delphi off her paws with a single swipe. Tsk. With the water’s edge in his peripheral, keeping in mind the distance between himself and the ocean’s depths. Rhazien lunges forward again, viciously biting down on the leopard seal’s side. Digging his nails into the ice, trying to anchor himself the best he could, he wanted to keep it from chasing after Delphi. But of course, the beast was relentless- whirling around to try and grab him, nicking his shoulder with its teeth. And then, it started to shift- racing across the ice on its belly, dragging him as it started to flee towards the nearest hole in the ice. It happened so quickly, Rhazien didn’t immediately let go- being pulled towards an impending doom.   ”Speech”