there's no torment 'neath the stars

Now that he was feeling a touch more grounded in the world again, Jarilo raised a low howl from the foothills of the empyrean mountain--he intended to trek out beyond, see what he might see. As ever, would stay on the lookout for the fragments of their family, and while he was at it, range out in the interest of re-learning the lay of these lands. It would be to their advantage to know what they had nearby.

Alongside the obvious motives, there was one great beacon that set his course: he had seen the old tree a distance that warranted a closer look. He was certain it had never been this near to them before. The great reaching boughs had readily drawn him in, and the dark Ostrega headed its way.

He finally closed into its proximity near the last of the day's daylight, and even from a good distance, realized the water that surrounded the tree's massive base. Not at all like anything he had seen before, he kept moving on towards it for a better look at its finest details. At this rate, knowing these mysterious wilds, he kept all expectations wide open.

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would like to gear towards some skill point posts, ecologist-stuff especially for him -- all welcome ^^

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Runar had been to the tree before, though it was impossible to say he had seen it all. The roots here traveled for miles, a winding underfoot that could trip even the steadiest of travelers. It was how he had met @Shale after all. It was a wonder how the tree had grown to be so big. It reminded him much of his grandfather, and, well...now him he supposed. Runar's bulk had filled in as he neared the end of his yearling spurts, but a tree did not grow in quick bursts. How many years had the roots clawed their way, surely reaching the depths of Hel.

For as strange as it was, Runar found comfort here. Perhaps it was because his family was convinced it to be the Tree of Life. It was a powerful presence, fitting for the tree that connected the nine realms. However, it would seem his visit would once again take place in the presence of another. “Hail, traveler!” His voice boomed, but without the authority he often held back home. Here he was a man like any other, but still warm like a friend of old.
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Jarilo let the earth, and by powerful extension, the tree guide the course of his route. He didn't know what lie ahead, closer to the trunk of this great entity. It seemed wisest to let it tell him where to go, so with this winding route, he let his paws fall into place, right where they needed to.

He was in no hurry, pausing here and there generously to investigate, and keeping a slow look-around even when he did carefully press on. In every direction he looked, he could find something to see--or smell. At a glance, the wood, and the root system, seemed about like any other but there was.. more detail in it, a texture he had not seen before on the mountain, and perhaps a different type of weathering? A new to him tree species, potentially? He could only surmise, but his mind whirred at the possibilities, hungry to understand--and catalog this phenomenon in case he never got to see it again if the world's shifted tomorrow.

His ears flicked up when a voice rang out, with his head rising seconds after to set his sights on the source. Jarilo's stance stayed within his easy-going neutrality, peering curiously towards the stranger. A sizable young wolf, tall and wide in almost equal measure. Over the water and the vegetation, he didn't have the winds playing in his favor to tell him a lot more. The ranging Ostrega also did not have the neighbors, whoever they might be now, particularly fresh in mind--definitely not enough to identify anyone on sight. But, he wanted to be friendly as long as they were too. “Hello there!” he whuffed back, the soft sway of his tail to indicate his good-natured approach. “Do you know this place?” he asked, just starting to make his way over towards the other.
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