The cold bit at the tip of his nose. It was unbearable enough that Aquila nearly hoped this search would end up being fruitless and Caeso would not turn up so far from home in a place bleak and desolate. But in the spirit of not giving up he had to search here. He had to try else he'd wonder for far too long if looking here sooner, at all, might have made a difference? The fluffy brute didn't look particularly pleased as he paced along the frozen lands, soil rough below his paws and mixed with snow where winter had began to gather it up over the terafrost. His plush pelt served some to shelter from from the ambient cold but when a wind blew it wove its way between his bronze hair and sent both a shiver down his spine and a grumble out of his lips.

@Ástríðr

Unlike the male native that ventured into the frozen tundra she called home, Astrid was used to it all. The cold wind that snakes through her fur. Or the cold that touched the roughness of her paw pads as she traveled over the tundra. Ears twisting on top of her head. The wind occasionally tussling through her fluffy fur and the mane that snaked it's way down the back of her neck. Large paws hitting the ground with a soft crunch as she traveled back home, only to find another nearby and it caused her to change direction. The only one that needed to know where she lived was family or those she liked. Lost?

@Aquila 'She thinks.'

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The sound of Astrid's foot fall caught his attention. For a little second his heart fluttered with hope. This wasn't an area he expected a ton of foot traffic, foolishly his heart leapt to the conclusion he'd found Caeso. Instead he found disappointment. He looked to the maned woman and shook his head. No- Home was in the direction of warmth. He'd figure out the details later. -but someone might be. His tone was less curt and more dire, his visage seemed clearly painted with concern but Aquila held back the brunt of his emotions. As if it was anyone else lost and not the important someone it was to him. Have you seen a brown lion? Masked and answers to Caeso?

@Ástríðr

Well there was a first. She hadn't seen anyone look the way he did when she came into view. There had been other things but not that look. However, it disappeared and concern seemed to etch it's way upon his features and it left Astrid a bit confused even for a slight moment. Ears twisting as she would listen to him speak about someone possibly getting lost and as he did so, she breathed in his scent. If he is a native, and from Vermeda, then no. You are the first to make it this far into my territory. She would state. Teal jewels watching closely. Many knew that she resided here and left it at that. But some didn't.

@Aquila 'She thinks.'

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... shit The disappointment hit him rather hard, especially when he came up this far with low expectations to begin with. It was unlikely Caeso came up this way, he'd had no reasons to think otherwise. And still it hurt. Somehow he still let his hopes get too high and now once again they'd suffered. He frowned, he betrayed the illusion he'd tried to maintain. This wasn't just anyone. It was someone. And @Ástríðr's response the knife into his heart.

The Brooks lion glanced back southwards for a moment. Have you had much traffic from the strangers up this way then? A clear, don't want to talk about this Caeso guy as ever there was one.

She could see it. The hurt with mixed with disappointment. There was pity for him as Astrid would watch him closely. She didn't say anything. She would just let him deal with it on his own and in his own time. It was easier for her that way. She didn't know how to deal with other's emotion's. Or really any of it. She wasn't social and she sure as hell wasn't good with dealing with emotions; her's or anyone's. And then it went to the non-native's and her features shifted slightly. One to many. She would admit. And you? Does the Brook have many stranger's at their doorsteps?

@Aquila 'She thinks.'

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One too many could mean a number of things... was any one of them too many? Or had the wrong one found their way up here? Either way Aquila frowned. @Ástríðr was not of his pride not family but a native Amaryllian was a native, they'd looked out for others outside their pride for ages. Now so it seemed even more important they continue that tradition. More every day. Nymeria and Talisa have built trust with some of them. It would be impossible to disentangle their worlds if that need ever truly arose. They bring kind words, say the Brook is a safe and peaceful sanctuary... it always makes me wonder what is wrong with the rest of the prides that formed and lands they've taken. The whole of this land, of Maua's creation, could be the safe and secure place if someone had stopped to think maybe this whole land wasn't free for the grabbing? It doesn't look like anyone has tried to make a home up here yet? He partly stated, partly asked. He could not see the signs of settlement but she would know better than he if her territory was harboring strangers.

Ah, so he was part of the Brook as his scent entitled. A nod came from her head as she agreed with him. Nymeria has told me. She had made a visit to the brook though that had been some time ago and so she didn't know much more about the non-native's and how their lives affected the native's. Some violent, some not. She would state to him. Bluff's is violent. Confused and misunderstands easily. Astrid would easily begin remembering how the group in the Bluff's had misunderstood her when she went looking for information about the non-native's. Something she had found interesting. Nej, none dare to test the winter. But she planned on making her own tribe here.

@Aquila 'She thinks.'

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Bluffs? That caused a light twitch of his ears and intrique to form in his eyes. He pushed then for a little more information from @Ástríðr. That pale King with the red mane still rule there? He was gladdened for the shift in topic and for something to catch his interest like a flame's light to the moth. He hadn't thought about the lands he'd tried to fight for since the loss but hearing mention of the Bluffs brought back up the memory, a rush of curiousity was like a wave over him.

You are lucky, I hope it stays that way. He expressed with a tilt of his muzzle, a look over the barren landscape in many ways perhaps a last real bastion of the world he knew? The last place untouched the one he was least fond of growing up. Don't be a stranger around the Brooks, if prey gets scarce in the cold or if a more pelts would help keep the chill off in the night. He paused and then added. We must stick together. She seemed a proud woman, maybe one not in need of the offer but he felt it necessary to make nevertheless.

So he knew the male that had shown up at the borders of the bluff's. Interesting. Yes, rather tragic though. He seems a bit arrogant with a crown on top of his head. He was proud. Cocky even. Perhaps confident that he would have been able to win a fight with her. Yes, take in mind she had lost two fights since that encounter but there were places meant for practice whether that be in a spar or a real fight. But either way, Astrid needed to get back into shape. Teal jewels glanced around when he spoke and Astrid would feel her chest grow with pride. I plan to form my own tribe out here. If any wish to join a viking woman. She would admit, glancing in his direction briefly. There were not many that would do that. Not many that would be able to handle the cold like she and that was fine. But were there any brave enough to do that? I will keep that in mind. She would state, though would probably never ask. Ástríðr, is my name, you?

@Aquila 'She thinks.'

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