Horizon Ridge between greenwood and castle

Located where Horizon Ridge meets the Ravensblood Forest, on the north side of the trees... Specifically where the light green, dark green, and gray are clustered on the map. This is for @Merrigan and/or anyone from Teaghlaigh since he's on the fringes of their claim!

He had not seen Rhona yet, and it worried him. She was capable enough on her own (they had discussed that very topic after meeting one another) yet still, the knight worried. He thought perhaps his vanishing had offended her. In that case, what reason would she have to find him again? It was entirely possible that she had found something of value on her own too - a pack, a friend, something which she desired that could make her happy. Pendragon chose to dwell on the more positive possibilities and imagined Rhona was somewhere good, and she was happy. It made his guilt for leaving (and brooding) lessen somewhat.

It helped that he had found Uma — that they had hunted, and his belly was not so empty now. If the world was populated by so many virtuous and helpful beings, then maybe being off of his island was not such a bad thing?

Pendragon had crossed the river prior to finding Uma, and now he was even further. He'd found a few small hillocks and crossed them, and now was perusing the fringes of a forest, one that smelled vaguely familiar (in the sense that some trees and plants that grew on this mainland were prolific within the Vale) and he sought them out. As he delved, the terrain became more mountainous, and he was reminded again of home; he saw a sprawling patch of wild onions already in bloom, and near to them the bowed heads of colombine — and his soul ached for home.

As the shadows of the trees passed overhead and strange birds called out, he paused. Pendragon looked skyward for signs of life, turning his ears in every direction they could to try and pinpoint where the songs were coming from, but they stopped, and it was silent. He bowed his head to inspect the columbine again - reaching and sniffing with his dark snout - and picked up more than just the floral scent of the buds. There was wolf here - a layered scent which made the hairs on his spine stand on-end.

In almost every place she had been so far, there was the lingering stench of wolf. She had met several wolves so far, some friendlier than others. She was sniffing along a berry bush, eating a couple when she smelled someone approaching. Lifting her head she stalked forward, vivid green eyes watching a male wolf as he smelled something with interest. Chuffing deeply she stood up, ears flicking upright as she gave a hesitant wag of her tail though her eyes were narrowed. Merri was getting nervous, it was spring the flowers were blooming and though she was not in season it was approaching. She had only been through it once before and she hated it with a passion, the way men swarmed her like flies to a carcass.


Waiting for his reply she shook her pelt , the stench of many wolves assaulting her nose. "Shit. A pack?" she asked and cast a glance around her.

He was surprised to find the scent, but also not. It made sense that in such a great wide world there would be many kingdoms; however, Pendragon did not wish to be on bad terms with any of them. He hoped that their guards were more lenient, or at the very least, that he wasn't close enough to be detected. And then another thought came to him — what if..? — He was about to turn inwards from the columbine and investigate a copse of trees beyond the mere fringe of this territory, because there was the potential of finding a home here. Yet as soon as he took a step, Pendragon froze, for he heard a voice.

The voice surprised him even more than the many scents did, more than the initial discovery did -- it was a girl. The language she used was sharp, abrupt, and crude, not at all fitting for a lady. But she didn't seem alarmed by him, or defensive. In fact she seemed just as stunned as himself. Another homeless stranger? How very peculiar! This land was so vast, but Pendragon had yet to find any wolf beholden to a kingdom. No guards, no knights, no kings!

Rather than leave the stranger on her own (which may have been wise), Pendragon chose to seek her out. She wasn't far from him, and had a pleasant air about her (aside from the language). He crooned an inviting note in her direction, tail lifted slightly and wagging as a signal for friendship; and while his posture was a bit stiff, he tried to calm himself by the time he reached her position.

Greetings, fair maiden, came his orotund voice, booming between the trees with Pendragon's usual confidence, I believe we have found someone's home - and I assumed by your shock and awe, it is not your own. Neither is it mine. Perhaps... We should move on? Before we are discovered, and made fools of, he could've added, but chose not to.

His signals were one of a non threatening man, so she let her guard slip slightly eyeing him in a more curious way. It was when he spoke that a feminine and quite pleased smile stretched across her lips. Fair maiden? He spoke like the men of her homeland had when they saw her, adressing her as her position: The princess. Flicking her ears she gave a small wag of her tail to signal that he was fine near her, before responding to his suggestion.

"Aye I think it would be best. I dont need any trouble, Specially not with a kingdom" she responded with a curt nod. Turning and leading the way she gestured with her head that he could follow her if he so wished, either way she couldn't care less. A proper princess she was not, she was more of a fight then love, then a lover. Though she had one of those in her homeland.

The thing about Pendragon, putting aside his home and its teachings for a moment, was that he thought everyone was a princess, or a prince, or somewhere in-between. It was the only way he could see each individual life; no creature could exist without the union of a king and queen. The value of that person, whoever they were, remained constant. The fact that he had been right each time he'd encountered a stranger upon this new soil only strengthened that logic for him.

And in seeing the subtle change in her reaction, the wag of her tail and the calm acceptance of his suggestion, Pendragon knew he had been right, again.

No, of course, he murmured as he followed her lead - but as he joined her in stalking away from the borders, he made another suggestion: Let me escort you, miss. In case we are found out by the residents here — it would not sit well with me should you be hurt. Perhaps he was displacing his affection for Rhona upon this new charge, but it mattered little. He needed a duty and Pendragon, the studious wannabe knight, would do what he could.

She gave a soft snort of laughter as he stated he wished to play her guard, and quirked an eyebrow. Did he think she was some weak little whelp of a woman who would play damsel in distress? It was quite amusing to have someone offer her their protection when she could probably take them down in minutes, but she played along. "Thank you lad. However if it comes to a fight, I can take care of meself" she said with a mischievous look.


From here on she really had no place where she was specifically going, so she decided to ask him if he  had a plan "Are you going anywhere Specific? I have no current place to be headed at this moment" she asked with a swish of her tail.

This place was strange indeed. It should not have surprised him so much that a woman could be as powerful as a man, even with the dimorphism in play, plus this was not the first time he had been told this fact about someone of the fairer sex; yet still Pendragon was stunned, and walked alongside the girl without making any kind of retort to that first statement.

Her question brought a subtle gleam to his eyes, and his blank expression became a touch sadder - then, taking a breath and trying to expell the oncoming sadness with his exhalation, he said: I am aimless. There is no place for me to be, which is fine for now - my present company is quite pleasant, and I would not wish to be anywhere else.

So he had nowhere else to be either. That was interesting. The next thing he said brought her attention to him, she couldn't tell whether he was flirting or just giving a compliment. Choosing to take it as the latter she smiled "Aww you are a sweet one. By any chance would you care for a spar? We have no place to be, and i have only fought one other since roaming these lands. I quite wish to see how you do" she requested as she sat down.


There was a mischievous, and challenging glint in her eyes as she smirked, tilting her head to the side and looking at him "Unless you are afraid to get hurt?" she asked tauntingly, though all in good fun.