Ani Survival: 8

The bard would mistake their own tracks as their targets too many times than she'd like to admit.

Survival: 14

Survival: 18

Not one to normally be good at tracking things, Demetrios is confident in himself this time around!

Vusgaar's  Survival: 10(adv. 5 from Catican help)

Survival: 7

After 3 days of travel, you find the tracks of several shifters. Following them for about a day, you eventually come upon a group of shifters whose clothes have the same symbol that you saw on Lirika's blades.

The three shifters are examining a set of tracks and talking among themselves, not noticing your approach.

If not the first to act, Vusgaar proves to be a close second in clearing his throat just noisily enough to draw attention. With that much in place, he starts to form a traditional reidan greeting, catches himself, and just says, "You are of Lirika's kin. Perhaps even those we ran with last. Be the latter true or not, we would speak of her of the common enemy for both the Qiku -- nay, our worlds at large. You will guide us to her. We, the edgewalkers that had aided her recently in uncovering the truth of our truest foe." He said as much calmly, and then placed a hand on his chest. "Vusgaar." 

The shifters turn, each giving the six of you a curious look before nodding. "Yes, we know of you," one says. "Tel-Lir is leading a patrol west of the Speaking Stones, tracking Kunigaal the Desecrator, one of the Kalaak warlords. But before departing the Council, she told them of you. I am Naar-Tok," he introduces himself briefly.

The Ursine Shifter in turn drags a hand down his face. "Naa-Tok?" He asked, confirming he spoke the name with the right inflection. Which for his part he truly tried without the reidan accent bleeding into his voice. "It is good to hear she has found prey. But, we have need to link up with her. Might you be a guide for us, or even give us a direction to seek her out?"

The shifter nods. "Go that way." He points northwest. "By the second or third day, you'll be close enough that they can find you."

A frown almost just touches the corner of Vusgaar lips, only to distorted by an almost defeated sounding sigh. "A greater journey than expected, but not as bad as can be." He admitted as he looked off to the northwest. "May we not be waylaid by the storms of last either, least we lose our chance." Vusgaar turns back to Naa-Tok.  "One other question. Have any other warlords been found, or has she been given the honor of heading those hunts as well?"

Ani would simply stand behind Vusgaar but off to the side, providing silent support as he directed the conversation. She'd pay attention to the nuances he decided to hide from them and would try to remember to mimic the same should she ever have to be the one to speak to these shifters. Once provided with the direction, Ani would look that way and break away from Vusgaar's side when he'd pause to ask his other question to do a basic scout.

Naar-Tok frowns. "We've found a few, all destroyed, eventually, sometimes with your people's help. Tel-Lir has been looking for Kunigaal since only days after the Council was officially convened. He is one of the Kalaak's greatest warlords, finding him has been...high priority."

"It make sense. It has a been a few days since... such progress well within-..." On he continued to mutter under his breathe, lost in his own world. Fortunately, it is long before Vusgaar looks up again, and giving Naar-Tok a curt nod. "Understood. We shall be off then. Have-..." The rest catches in Vusgaar's throat, and brows furrow in uncertainty.  Eventually, he just settles for another nod, and bidding Naar-Tok an awkward, "May your hunts go well, and fangs need never dull." With that, he'd turn to the others, ready to either fall or lead the way to the northwest.

Naar-Tok chuckles briefly. "Be cautious. The wolf is always waiting." His trio stand and begin following the tracks east at rapid lopes.

"We're always cautious."

Demetrios gives a curt bow to the shifters in thanks for their cooperation then begins to lead the group to the Northwest.

Vusgaar says nothing, but at least acknowledged their words with a curt nod thrown back in the trio's direction. More than that was unnecessary, or so his instincts told him. Realizing this sometime after however, he ground his teeth behind closed lips, and longed all the more to return home sooner than later.

(Apart from that, I think I'm good to move on to the next step)

(Sorry about the constant delays, I keep forgetting to post here)

The next few days are easy traveling, other than the cold and snow. Though you see an aukarak in the distance, it sweeps by without hitting you.

On the second day of travel after getting new directions, you see a couple shifters on the horizon. As they come closer, you recognize one as Lirika. She raises a hand in greeting as they approach.

Vusgaar takes a deep, long breathe as Lirika comes in sight. Then, the ursine shifter seemed to set his expression to one of professional indifference on approach; hailing her in turn with a raised hand, but stubbornly keeping any hint of emotion from his face.  Once within easy talk range he asked, "We heard from a few of your... pack mates about the hunt your on, and find our orders again coinciding, it would seem. How goes it so far?"