Nazario,
Lion of Prideless
Played by Howl
The lion had slept little for many weeks. He looks and feels like shit. Nazario is getting by just. At least he could keep himself busy by scouting and that's exactly what he did. Heading further west it gets colder as he enters a forest. It's not freezing but every step westward feels agonising in how exhausted he is. Everything feels colder now. He can't sleep any more not for longer than a few hours if he's lucky. The sun filters through the trees lightly blessing his pelt with warmth but the soon changes as he reaches the edge. Dusty leaves give way to a stark white substance, is this the white powder they call snow? Nazario was well travelled but the snow wasn't something he had ever encountered before, he's heard tales but never laid eyes upon it until now.

What's this? Tentatively he reaches out with his right paw and quick as a flash he's back on wet mud. No siree he is not going on that. At least not yet. It's like sand but different. It's so cold, freezing even and it's soft but not sand soft but other parts seem hard and Nazario has not had enough sleep to deal with such fucking weird bullshit today. Falling with a thud he lies on the border slumped against a stump. No matter how tired he is he dares not sleep and even if he did dare he couldn't sleep still. His body was on autopilot mainly, he felt a deep ache inside his soul. Since when did his limbs get so heavy? Why did his skeletons haunt and taunt him so!?

His breathing slowed he needs this rest. Even if he cannot fall asleep the stillness is much desired. Looking out across the white land all there is more white and nothing. The sun is brighter out beyond the treeline. Nazario is used to cold nights, not cold days. Note to self never come here ever again. Yet he presses onwards because he's a dumbass who thinks with his dick more than his brain. It's still strange, alien. He has yet to form an opinion above what the heck is this? The soft snow soon turns harder and his feet sink in with a satisfying crunch. Is it normal for your feet to be numb? Is that regular for this environment? Curious he was but he could not articulate his thoughts.

Snow does not agree with him, but he will not let it beat him even when half dead. Further, he heads into desolation. Not even a bird passes overhead as he ambles deeper into the tundra. You'd think he'd gone crazy with his straight-line walking. It's silent and not that nice silence either, it's the eerie silence the one you want to chase away. No Depeche Mode we won't be enjoying the silence today! Eventually, he sees something of interest. Blessed be he won't be offing himself today. A grove of pines looks interesting. It has been a while since he ever saw a tree, it's the most action he has had in hours.

The pines unfortunately scatter but they give up their secret. Another is here. Nazario studies them at quite the distance away. They're red and have a least a small mane that's as far as he can discern. Meandering closer he gets a good whiff ah female and from the looks of it roughly his age. He chuffs in greeting “Ciao.” he spoke pallidly, unfortunately, Nazario was still worn after all these weeks of nothing but skeletons haunting his dreams. He at least attempts for her “What brings you out here, cara mia?” hopefully should they meet again he's sleeping better then. Unfortunately, she is not getting his best, what a shame.

@Erenvel