Idle chat among the hunters died down. Where jokes and exchanged stories were, there was now silence and whispered orders. Being big and loud, while important, was their second plan. Taking the beast they were tracking by surprise was highly preferable. Minimal bloodshed and ammunition wasted meant more supplies for the next hunt, and less potential competition drawn their way. But if all else failed, and the thing they were following decided it didn't want to be hunted, then scaring the thing into submission was their best chance.<br/><br/>During the walk, distant sounds caught Viktor's ears. An engine of some sort? Maybe a power tool, it was hard to tell. A few very high-pitched squeals accompanying it made him consider turning the group towards the sound, but that led to another worry. If the source of the noise wasn't friendly, he didn't want to risk anyone being shot. But at the same time, with the creature out here, he predicted that the noise would attract its attention. "Damn it," He grumbled, motioning towards a few of the other hunters. "We're scoping it out, c'mon. Everyone else, wait here."<br/><br/>The order given was followed, and Viktor began moving forward, quickly but quietly. The sound of snow being crushed beneath his steps was almost unavoidable, but he could at least lessen how obvious it was. At most, it might sound like a small animal running around in the snow. If luck was on his side, the sounds would be drowned out by whatever that roaring engine was attached to. As he moved, he kept his arrowgun low and pointed to the ground in a non-threatening manner. Avoiding accidental confrontation would be preferable.<br/><br/>As he came up the side of the hill, Viktor kept himself low enough to peer over the top without making himself immediately obvious. His eyes surveyed the group within the clearing. None of them seemed actively hostile, but he knew better than to assume anyone was unarmed. A glance back at the other hunters, followed by a few exchanged nods, gave him and the others a mutual go-ahead to stand up and come atop the hill. Lowering his weapon, Viktor pushed himself to his feet, standing on the hill's summit with the others flanking him. He pulled his mask off his face, leaving his hair somewhat messy and his skin stinging from the sudden reintroduction to the cold, but making himself visible. People tended to talk better when they saw a person, not a pair of eyes through a balaclava.<br/><br/>"Hello there," Viktor called out, speaking in a clear tone of voice. At the greeting, a couple of the other hunters waved as well. Viktor's eyes, for a moment, hovered towards the tortoise, and the smallest smile appeared on his face for just a moment. He'd always liked those things. Getting back to the business at hand, he also gave a small wave of greeting, awaiting to see potential reactions before making another move. "You from around here? This place looks pretty well-worked." Clearings in Redwood were a fairly obvious sign of some sort of civilization nearby. The trees, despite their poisonous nature when raw and untreated, held great bounties for anyone who bothered to cut them.<br/><br/>In Viktor's opinion, however, they still smelled like ass.