It was just the beginning of winter and the frigid weeks that had been plaguing the land in November were a sign of the harshness to come. The amount of snow that had fallen overnight had been more than expected. While the brook wasn't as covered as other areas, Icefang had gone on a quick stroll to see how much of the land had been touched. The plains had a thick blanket as expected while the areas with dense coverage had less, although the snow still managed to sprinkle the ground. She grits her teeth, feeling the ache in her bones a bit stronger today but she would shrug it off and continue into the jungle then the small section of swamp that she could access without trespassing into the mire. Part of her was tempted to test Luther's ire, but she decided to be good today and remain well outside of his borders. Paw pads welcome the transition from rough to soft terrain as she enters the swamp area. Her stride is relaxed as she casually strides through, eyes and ears alert for any additional company.

@Mircea

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As least the snow had arrived when it was supposed to, this time. Mircea had spent the last few weeks preparing winter's looming arrival, working where he could to ensure that the Savante's meat and herb stores were prepared to counter the dwindling resources sure to accompany the dying season. Even so, the dappled beast is inclined to lay his own eyes upon whatever damage the first snowfall had wrought.

There were some herbs capable of surviving the first freeze, if they were hardy and lucky enough. It would not hurt to pay the jungle another visit, to how its overflowing abundance of flora was holding up. The answer, it seemed was 'not as terribly as it could be.' He lets what plants he does find be, lumbering past their frost-touched leaves with a mental note of where to point the healers when the warmer months came back around. Instead, Mircea's attention would stray more towards the trees themselves, his large paws shifting from crunching over sparse patches of snow to squelching into cold-stiffened swathes of mud as he wandered into the jungle's deepest depths.

Rotting bark and splintered logs scattered amidst murky pools of remarkably questionable water paint a rather grim picture of the swamp, but the ghoul pays it little mind. In fact, he's already adding his own mark to the gnarled trees, long claws biting into the wood with long, forceful strokes again and again, imperfections splintering away with the bark - though his true intention was to strip the tree's clinging moss away into a small pile at his feet. An simple, easy task, if a bit dull.

Not that Mircea minded working in silence. The flicker of white in the corner of his eye, however, suggested that he would no longer be alone regardless. "I'd not imagined someone of your coloring would stroll so easily through this place." He remarks unceremoniously, pausing to turn his skull towards @Icefang ♔, brow arching as he considers her pale mantle.

He doesn't need to look to know his own ivory ankle and tail have already been hopelessly smeared in the swamp's clinging filth.

+10 Maintain your weapons (sharpen claws) (x2)

ART BY MOOGLE, CODE BY DEE

The splintering of wood captures her attention, the ivory serpent turning her skull as she pauses in her steps curious to the sound. His voice only guides her as she picks him up from a distance, his darker pelt helping him to blend into the background of trees and shadows. Icefang smirks as she pivots from her random course to head towards him instead. “Should I fear getting dirty?” She asks, almost innocent as her tone takes on a soft note. She recalls seeing him briefly in the passage, but does not remember if he spoke a name or title. There were so many faces to run into there and unless they came home with her, most slipped away like a fast paced breeze.

“This is my second home,” she offers as she stops a few feet before him noting that he has some mud covering him. Unlike her, it is hard to tell if those areas match the rest of his pelt or do they obscure a different color underneath. While she struggled to distinguish him in this dark place, she stuck out like a spirit passing by. A brow quirks as she glances at the moss piling at his paws. “It seems to provide you benefits too.” She recalled the plant being used for medical supplies. He seemed unharmed, but perhaps it was his pride that needed it.

@Mircea

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