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Few souls ever ventured North on their own volition, and even fewer yet traveled to the barren land for any reason short of depressing. Sure, he would cross paths with the occasional spiritual or two migrating North for the yearly auroras, but they were far and few in between. His usual encounters were with those who typically didn't want to be found at all, scarred souls that wanted to get lost and hide away from the world for awhile.

Worse yet were those who came to the North to die. He'd dug more than his fair share of graves in the past and it was getting hard to remember where each body lay. The trees were the key, the twisted and gnarled spires one of the few landmarks to withstand the ever shifting plains of white. Many of the dead woods were marked, scratched with strange marks and signs pertaining to whomever was laid to rest at it's roots.

Subaru wondered if the other kage would take notice; if the young spiritual would realize he'd taken shelter in a graveyard.

He'd set out with this destination in mind, it had been a long time since he'd walked among the fallen and paid his respects. It was an important task of course, but his time was also spent preventing such an outcome. Guiding souls, both those spiritually and physically lost. Not that he could reach every lost soul that came wandering up North, but he tried his damnedest that was for sure. Anything to not have to dig another grave.

His approach was slow and deliberate, though years in the North left him sure-footed and quiet in the snow, his approach was by no means silent. The blankets of snow were a security blanket, few could blend in and fewer yet could traverse the snow without the telltale crunch.

He paid the other kage little heed as he passed by some of the marked trees, pausing at each for a silent moment and brushing the fresh layer of snow from the etchings gently with his tail, careful not to loose any of the dead bark that barely clung to the trunks. There was almost a ritualistic feel to his actions, a few barely audible words and a bow before he moved on. Finally when there were no more trees between the two of them he sat before the other kage keeping a respectful distance.

Auras weren't Subaru's forte per say, but there was something to be said about good old fashion observation. Body language spoke volumes. He sat perfectly still during his observation, his head tilted to one side and his eyes unblinking. The moment passed quickly though, and with a blink the spell was broken and Subaru relaxed, his whiskers and tail twitching in the slight breeze that passed through the trees. Finally he spoke, his voice soft and his words cryptic.

"Come to pick out your own tree?"

(( *Dusts Subaru off~* =D ))

Troubled, that much at the very least was clear; cautious, yet lethargic and seemingly uncaring. While he didn't seem particularly keen on having company, Subaru's patience knew no bounds and he would stick around as long as his presence didn't agitate the other male further. He wanted to keep the other kage engaged, keep him talking to try and glean some sort of understanding. Only then could he begin to try and lead him back from whatever dark place his mind had buried itself into.

"The trees belong to the spirits that reside in these parts, no mortal can lay claim to the North. It tends to bury those that try." He was a wanderer by nature, like many who took up residence and lived in the North. "I set foot in these lands with the same intention when I was younger." A hint of nostalgia aside, everything about his words and posture were nonchalant and unassuming. The last thing he would've wanted back then was some stranger preaching to him.

"Feel free to remain amongst the the trees. Perhaps the lost souls will enjoy the company of someone other than myself for a change." His gaze met the other male's for a brief and meaningful moment before he stood and drifted off to another cluster of nearby marked trees.

"They are...a rather quiet bunch I must say." His expression was quirked, a touch of amusement on his face. "But the barrier between us and them is a little obscured up here. They usually find a way to make their presence known if the situation requires such an act." He was surprised, pleasantly so, at the other kage's interest and even more so when he fell in step with him as he walked amongst the trees. "But sometimes just knowing that they're there is comfort enough."

He paused at a tree himself, taking time to brush the snow away to reveal the symbols. One marking seemed common amongst each tree, a strange looped 'L' entwined with an 'F' located at the bottom of each tree. "Lost, but never forgotten. That is my task; to speak for those with no voice and keep their stories alive so others shall not fall prey to the same mistakes that those that came before them had."

He turned towards the other at his last question and was hesitant, a moment of silence that allowed him to detach, as if the mere question had brought up memories he'd rather leave buried. Yet he replied all the same. "I know they're here because I dug each grave and laid each body to rest."

It was hard to remember, to look at the trees and recall the moments he'd found each body; the twisted corpses that had been claimed by starvation and the snow and the occasional predator. It was easier, much easier to remember them all alive; detached, bitter, and lonely, but alive nonetheless. With life there was still a chance he could save them. With life there was still hope and that was rare thing up here in the North.

It would have been easy to continue to mull over his previous thoughts, to slowly sink down into the familiar depressing waters he was used to treading. Instead, he chose to let them go, to let them drift away like so many snowflakes on a wayward breeze. From the other kage's body language it was clear he was taking some sort of comfort from his surroundings, it would only make sense that Subaru would do the same.

"Signs...." Subaru mused, if there was one thing the kage knew better than spirits, it was signs. "Signs are meant to be followed, it's in translation that the message sometimes ends up a little...garbled. Only time shall tell, really..." He smiled faintly. "I for one am happy for a little conversation."

But of course, he'd clearly misplaced his manners, probably buried in a snow bank somewhere waiting for a thaw that would never come. "I am Subaru," he stated simply. " I do not think they will mind, but if the trees start dropping snow on you, or you awake to find yourself in a foreign snow bank....live and learn they say." There was a vaguely amused expression on his face

"I prefer the caves myself. Safe from the storms and whimsical tricksters, corporeal or otherwise."

"Well, Subaru..." he began, flicking snow away that had begun to gather on his bushy ears, "you've helped me feel much better, and I do appreciate that. For once, I feel as though I've met someone worth trusting." He found it difficult to speak so candidly, he was generally far more reserved than that but lately he felt his heart had been splayed out of his chest.

Jorn could tell the other Kage knew best, though he had no idea where any caves were hidden. Perhaps a hole, preferably not filled with a corpse yet, could do the job just as well, though his word of warning about awakening in a bank of snow had him worried instead of amused-- he truly did not want to disrespect the dead. He felt bad enough pawing around on top of their graves.

As he felt his apprehension and regret subside, he realized how weary he really was. "If you know of a place, I would gladly take it for the night."

Monty bristled when the familiar kage seemed to look right through him. He understood the intention, or at least thought he did. The prospect of company and a more comfortable hideaway were enough to bring him around. He waited for the two to pass. Okay, so maybe he was a bit nervous about the company part still. He followed them from a distance. Not really bothering to hide.