the sky above was dark gray, a brumous morning- as winter heralded it's arrival on this strange land. though he had yet to explore more beyond the mire, instead focusing on learning the new territory until it was as familiar to him as his own paws, he knew that this being the southern portion of the land -- it had to be warmer here than elsewhere. his breath billowed out before him, as he fluffed up his thin fur against the chill, as he moved through the icy mud. he took his time to learn the ins and outs of the territory, noting the different channels of water and mud, the briars that blocked it from the outside world. every scent, he paused and studied.

there was a strange vastness to the mire's border, and he had wandered alongside it- studying how it dipped down, leading to the coast. salty air, and brackish waters. it wasn't his ideal home, but it could be worse, he supposed. plant life, somehow seemed to be thriving despite the cold weather- still safe from the first snows, and he had come to a halt. eyes lit up, as he saw some calbar bean plants, and he grinned- the expression both savage and manic, as he took in the plant.

the plant had begun to dry and wither, to go to seed slowly. he stood up on his hindlegs, reaching up with a paw to bring a branch down towards him, so that he could see how healthy it was, and nip at a stem above the seeds, dropping them to the earth for his collection. it was satisfying, to find something so.. potent in the mire's lands.


+5 study the landscape of an area (sleuth) || + 5 learn the extend of a prides border (sleuth) (em) || +5 gather poisonous plants [calbar bean] (assassin)

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I set fire from the inside

Like a shadow, he stalks. Just as pure and white as the snow which befalls the sullen Mire; Lamb is ever present in these lands. He pads gently after @Valen, and his gaze fixates curiously upon him – although outwardly it appears gaping and empty. He stares.

Some days it feels like all he can do is stare, a helpless observer to a world which never stops turning. He watches in silence as Valen combs over the plant life, yet he yearns so deeply to ask – to tend to his ever growing curiosity. For the world, for what he does not remember.

But he wont. He can’t. ( Lest he face a bout of cruel jests, that is )

So there he remains. An observer to a scholar, and an unwanted presence in his tender moment of victory. He shatters it like glass with his mere existence alone – imposing and far from ignorable, he is the unspeakable elephant in every room.

Oh, how he wishes to go speak to his friend. So wise and resilient was he – all things Lamb was not – and such a noticing brings forth envy, but could a mind such as his truly comprehend emotion in that way?

Perhaps, he too, is smarter than most take him as.

Nevertheless, instead of taking action on all his hopeless wishing and internalized hatred, the boy merely huffs at Valen – a plea and a greeting all the same. Oh, please! Come say hi to me, friend.

Invite me into your world.

I feel the fever rushing over me

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with a satisfying cr-ack, the stem breaks beneath the pressure of his teeth, and the seeds and bit of bark fall to the earth, landing near his hindlegs. valen is careful as he snips a bit more, letting it fall to the earth as well, before he carefully comes back to stand on his four paws- letting out a soft huff.

a rumble- a huff, announcing another makes him turn his head slowly, to see @Lamb. valen's empty gaze stares at the other, considering him for a moment, before he huffs softly, and turns back to his work. "what do you want?" he inquires, his tone flat and not particularly caring to hear the answer. he does not know how to be soft to another, how to care for anything other than his craft and his traps, so he asks the question- hoping to get the interaction over with, sooner rather than later.

beyond the white male, valen can just see the tiniest flurries of snow as they begin to descend upon the mire. distaste prickles along his spine for the season, as he huffs irritably, giving his half mane a bit of a shake, to both warm himself and cover the burns that litter his face and neck.

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havok the ironfist
With the oncoming snowfall he, too, descends upon the duo. Silver eyes analyze them both, first watching @Valen and taking in the fruits of his labor before shifting his attention to glare at @Lamb. There wasn't any one good reason as to why Havok disliked that one so, there was just something about him that got under his skin - and on his nerves - and he wasn't the only one that happened to. Ears flick as a soft breeze picks up, buffeting thick creme fur. The cold was his friend, was the thing he was born into - it was apart of him.

"He wants nothing more than to learn," the ironfist sneers, an almost mocking tone to his words, words coming out in a forced manner from a twisted jaw. Colossal form pushes through foliage so that he is now in full view, limbs covered in muck and mire as well as his underbelly. His mane, however, was kept neatly preened and washed, something Havok was learning was a lot harder to do living in such filth. It was where Luther called his home and so must he.

I set fire from the inside

He understands not the situation which he plunges himself into – headfirst and reckless. Poison is a subject he knows very little of, both before and after his exposure to the world, yet he cannot help but to stare. @Valen's work is practically seamless, and Lamb is helpless from admiring.

If only he could make Valen understand.

Yet...

He is so engorged that he does not even notice @Havok's approach – not until his voice rings out from behind him. With a vacant stare, Lamb turns to face the approaching warrior. The words which fall from his mouth captures all which he himself yearns to say, yet the sarcasm laced between them is all but unnoticed by the boy.

"Yeth," he confirms, and his body turns to stare at the alchemist once more. He knows not that he has likely dug his own grave, nor the extent of just what it is Valen handles; he only knows his excitement. His foolish, foolish excitement.

I feel the fever rushing over me

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