Today was not a very busy day back at the pack. Kodiak had finished his patrols for the day, and the pack was well-stocked with prey, so the warrior figured he would get to know the pack-lands a little better. Today he headed in a different direction from his general patrol route, opting to go towards the tall mountains in the territory, frozen fang pass, where it always snowed.

The mountains were much like where Kodiak had come from before arriving at Helidos, the cold snow and bare mountain cliffs felt familiar.  It amazed the warrior to some extent  how quickly the climate changed as he rose up.

Currently, the black and white furred warrior was skirting around a rather tall mountain, slowly ascending up the rocky face as a relatively light snow fell, which meant he was pretty high up already, at least past  the snow line. Kodiak only hoped the view at the top would be worth it. He picked a smaller mountain near the edge of the range, or else the air would have gotten too thin before he reached the top.

Once Kodiak reached the top he sighed slightly, content. Here, at the top of the mountain, just above the clouds he felt like he was on top of the world. Down below him he could see the entirety of Ernyx lands and off on the distant horizon he knew was where Helidos lands and farther beyond that his old home.

Surprisingly the brute had been able to wander from the den in which his mate and their pups stayed. He had been worried for them, but once he discovered they were safe with Warrior Chiara, he set out to discover more of his own lands. The seat was bearing down on his back, absorbing the sun's painful rays on his darkened hide. Feeling exhausted, he headed for the pass. The only place he knew to be close to zero in temperatures. Stretching his legs out, the Alpha moved from his den. His tail curled about his back, enjoying this stance a little too much in the days since leaving Helidos. This was his pack now, he had the right to patrol as he wished. As he made his way closer, he could feel the chill attacking his muzzle. A twisted smile appeared on his face as he continued into the land. His paws felt the cold between the pads and his toes, being mashed and stuck there snuggly. Moving farther into the land, the white specks began to fall from the sky, like tears from a cheek. The little white dots stuck to his black fur, showing their great contrast between them both. But he had little to worry about here. He was tough enough to withstand the blustering winds and flurries which flushed down upon him. Climbing the mountain, he looked over the snow covered peaks, how treacherous and gorgeous they were. Was that why he loved Esmeralda so much? She was dangerously beautiful a temptress he knew, but possibly something much more.

A scent soon spiked towards his nose, attacking it along with the falling ice particles. At first he wished to snarl, but quickly stopped his impulse, holding it in. The smell was familiar, mixed with the scents of what was his and Helidos. It could always be a new recruit to the pack. He quickened his pace a slight bit and moved up the mountain. As he neared the top, the sight of the other came into perfect view. "Didn't think I would find a wolf here... Ever actually, now that I think about it."

With each gust of wind came an eerie howling as it flowed over the top of the mountain, playing a constant note over the bare rocks. Snow came with the wind, accumulating on the ground in small piles around the male, some spots of snow managing to stick to his coat, making clearly visible white specks on the darker sections of his coat which was slightly puffed out now to offer a insulating layer. Kodiak inhaled the cold air deeply, sending a refreshing sensation down his throat. He definitely found Ernyx worth coming to now, if there was such wondrous territory here, so close to what he was used to.

As he laid down in the snow, simply relaxing as he watched the snow carried by the wind off the edge of the steep mountain he heard an audible crunch of snow behind him approaching. Turning his head back, Kodiak saw a black wolf approaching him tail raised in dominance. This could only be one wolf that Kodiak knew of, and he was quite surprised to find him here, it was the Alpha Steele.

As the male rose from his relaxed position he thoughts instantly went back to the Alphess, who he had not had the best first impression with. Hopefully, this time would be different. Once Steele approached, Kodiak lowered his head, and tucked his tail between his legs, careful not to raise his head higher than Steele's. "My Alpha, I had not been expecting anyone either." he said, his head still lowered as he peered at the snow at his feet.

The large Alpha looked over the other wolf. He thought he knew this wolf before, possibly meeting him in his old pack. But he suppressed those memories, torturing them as he thought of his new pack, and the evil things he would do to Azul and his family. "So, you have come to feel the intensity of the winter's grasp over these lands? It's a shame snow only comes during the winter. But not here, all year long wolves can find the snow hares and anything else they truly like." He looked over the great ridge, seeing the jagged edges of the cliffs along their sides and below. But even in his absence from his family, he could only think about Esmeralda. Their whole relationship had been as jagged as these mountains which huddled around them. But in the end, he won. In the end, he was the champion. He looked back to the smaller male and gave him a devilish smirk, "so what do you think of Erenyx, thus far?" He was not looking for any particular answer, he just wished to know the honest truth of the Warrior before him. He wondered what any wolf thought of his new lands. He enjoyed them all, even the ones which he rarely visited. But this was home, this was his. As he waited for the other to speak, he began to speak once more. "I cannot wait for this winter to come, my pups to grow. Together, the pack will teach them the know how, the ways of fighting, and above all, killing. This pack shall flourish with wolves in the next coming moons and we shall build enough force to take over even more land. Land that once belonged to Alpha Azul himself. It shall then lead to my glorious reign."