- Havamal 43

The Titian seemed to trust the cat at this point, so without much delay, Kuhn began to lead the way, his stride full of intention. Now and then he would look back at Tiberius to check on his state of mind.

It would be good to get the wolf's mind off of his problem, by keeping him moving, in action.

After covering a long distance together, the two arrived at where Thrax had told Kuhn, he would wander. Unfortunately, it was a large expanse so the great bear could be anywhere.

Typically, the cat favored being more silent, loud creatures often irritated him, but they didn't have the luxury of time. In a wide stance the tiger inhaled then without warning, released a deafening roar, rattling from his chest, sending plumes of heated breath into the brisk air. In the next moment, one could Kuhn's voice echo across the landscape.

Closing his mouth, he looked sideways at Tiberius, his expression contrastingly soft after such a violent vocalization.

@Thrax @Tiberius
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It was perhaps the curiosity that was his distraction, his saving grace that kept him from spiralling once more, from focusing on Olive. Focusing on Olive being in the clutches of the fucking bastard. Of focusing on Olive, kidnapped and nowhere close for Tiberius to whisk her away so easily. Curiosity it was, for where Kuhn was taking him. For who this someone was that had had him eager to bring the titan to them, given the information he had been told. Tiberius was walking with heavy steps, mimicking the bear that so many called him after as his golden eyes looked around, both guarded and curious.

Eventually, his eyes followed the movement of Kuhn as he drifted off to the side and the titan paused, watching him and within moments, the cat let out a loud roar that vibrated through to Tiberius' bones. He blinked, ears swaying backwards as if to protect themselves from the loud noise that phased off as Kuhn cast his gaze to him. In a fashion that was not his own, he eyed Kuhn warily, "tha' is a call if I's ever 'eard one," though the cat hadn't been quick to tell Tiberius who they were after, Tiberius could accept waiting for the grand reveal.

@Thraximundar ^^

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 As luck would have it, the great bear was not wandering south fraternizing with other packs. No, he was seeing to himself by hunting the seals that ranged the westward points of the tundra. His morning had been spent napping away and he'd only awakened when his stomach had given him a warning rumble. Time to eat. Was what it said, waking him from his pleasant dreams of times gone by. 

 After following the call of his rumbling gut, he had found a hole from one of the beasts. There he waited until he was able to grab one and forcefully yank it onto the frozen snow. One swipe of his paw at the screaming creature was enough to kill it and secure him a meal. He was going to drag it somewhere else to eat... but that's when he heard the call. He dropped the carcass, his head tilting to the side with small ears twitching as he listened. Hmm... it sounded like a tiger, maybe? Oh bother, he never bothered with learning which calls went with which--

 A lightbulb went off in his mind and it all clicked. Tiger. There'd only be one tiger that would be summoning him with that din. The dear lad Kuhn! He didn't want the fellow to think he was being ignored so he stood on his hind legs and then opened his mouth to let out an answering roar. He was coming. Perhaps he could share the seal with the young lad and ask about what had happened with Khadne before they went out on a hunt. Ah, how he would enjoy hunting with the fellow. 

 He dropped back onto all four paws heavily, picked up the seal like it weighed absolutely nothing, and then lumbered towards the sound of the roar. 

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 It was a little while later when he could see the night-striped shape with a darker one at his side. Perhaps he'd brought a friend for him to meet! Now that was quite a treat! His bloodied muzzle curved upwards into a grin on his craggy, worn-torn face as he confidently strode up to them. No fear at all and the only thing he radiated was friendliness, despite the fact that his formidable form and effortless dragging of a massive seal would say otherwise. 

 He dropped the seal when he was in friendly conversation distance so that he could properly speak. "Good afternoon, lads! Kuhn! Have you come for that hunt? I'm most delighted that you brought a friend! What's-- what's--" He stopped and realized that the air was certainly not one he would expect from a friendly visit. Something was amiss. "Is, ah, something the matter, son?" His gaze drifted from the tiger to the wolf, concern etched into his yellowing graying muzzle.

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The cat only nodded his muzzle with a slight grin at the Titians comment. As luck would have it, his call was actually answered from far across the landscape, the echos of the massive beast returning to them. Glancing over to Tiberius, Kuhn looked pleased.

There was a reason Kuhn had been vague, he needed his comrades thoughts to be on something else besides his problems for awhile. Hopefully, the vagueness would keep him guessing, and his mind on track.

Though, the cat tried to hide his concern for his friend, his whiskers reached out, as if he wanted to, touch the man, let him know it was going to be ok.

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After some time the great white bear was in front of them towering in all his grizzled glory. The thud of the seal hitting the ground was testament enough to the strength of this creature.

Kuhn was about to answer smiling a bit, though the bear was quick to pick off Tiberius' state of mind. In a way, it was true he had come for that hunt...


Nudging his head in the direction of the wolf, he figured he should let his friend speak first.
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In all honesty, Tiberius hadn't known what to expect. However a bear... would certainly not have been on the list had he made one. A Polar Bear, to be exact and seemingly chummy with the feline. He was a big man, clearly aged and been through shit himself, if his scarred body was of any indication and Tiberius then understood. Kuhn had brought him to someone that would be a fucking good opponent against a goddamn Walrus. Had he not already decided to say fuck it to Shiroshika making an enemy of Kuhn, he would have then. Fuckin' good friend, that.

He looked a little lost despite the blossom of hope in his chest, the bear catching on to Tiberius' plagued mind. "Walrus kidnapped m'girl," Tiberius grumbled, rolling his shoulders as he released a growling sigh, still furious at his own failure. "Couldn't save 'er 'fore 'e dragged 'er away wit' 'im," he wasn't always so open and vulnerable but... he wasn't exactly in his normal state of mind, was he? "Kuhn said 'e 'ad someone fer me ta meet," if the bear was willing to help a complete stranger, that was. ^^

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 He waited patiently as Kuhn turned to the dark wolf, as well. All ears were on him as he began. What came out of the fellow's mouth was quite strange. A walrus taking a wolf captive? That quite mystified the man and it showed on his grizzled face. Still, he waited until the man had finished speaking before he would throw anything out there. He reclined back on his haunches and let out a pensive "hmmm". A deep, baritone noise in his throat. "This is all quite strange, I'm afraid. I've never heard of a walrus being interested in anything else beyond other seals and mollusks. They're usually quite docile until messed with." What on earth was this strange walrus doing trying to kidnap wolves?! He supposed there was a first time for everything. 

 "I wonder why..?" Perhaps he was off in the head or-- Bah! This was no time for pondering such things. Time was of the essence. He knew walrus didn't eat meat in the same sense that they did, so they had no fear of that. But that left them completely out of the realm of why this happened, they were in the dark. "Regardless, we cannot allow for kidnappers to get away with such atrocities without facing retribution. This is just not the natural order of things!" He frowned and for a moment there was a wild flicker in his eyes, a spark of his old battled-hardened self, come to the surface. "What sort of walrus was it? Boar or sow? How large? Was it alone? I've hunted plenty of walrus in my day but it is not an easy task but always quite rewarding." Especially when one was sewing discord among the locals. "To put it shortly, lad, Kuhn has brought you to the right place. Killing walrus is part of polar bear culture! My name is Thraximundar and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, son."

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In reality, Kuhn hadn't even seen a walrus before.  All he knew is that it was like a seal but bigger. So he just listened to the bear's questions and long winded musings and kept silent as he did, the cat momentarily licking at the back of his own wrist. Even though it didn't look like it, the cat was listening; secretly endeared by the bear. 

Mid lick, Kuhn broke for a smile, once the old man gave a moments pause.  "So it looks like i'm taking you up on that offer." Leaning back on his own haunches with a wicked smile, "Of course, once we are done with him, we will eat well", he added once again attempting to downplay his own desire to help his friend, perhaps out of some insecurity about being seen as too soft.  

Maybe his excitement wasn't well masked, shuffling his feet, and flicking his tail into Tiberius.  One way or another the tiger's usually difficult to read features where now lit with a warm joy, thinly veiled with a toothy grin.

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