Northstar Vale from this valley

AW but hoping for a @Rannoch. :) She's hanging out in the unclaimed area of the Vale, FYI.

She’d spent several days tucked away within the crevices of vast peaks whose names were unknown to her. There was much to see and explore there, but prey was hard to come by – Calliope was far from an adept mountain hunter. As the sky darkened with the promise of another late-afternoon storm, the yearling picked her way down the rocky slopes in hopes of scrounging up a meal.
 
A hidden gem nestled between towering peaks, the vale was lush with greenery and life. Calliope’s ears flicked forward at the sounds of a creek bubbling somewhere nearby. The misty glen was truly an oasis, but not one that had gone undiscovered. The telltale odor of pack wolves hung heavily in the air and Calliope made a point of not straying too close.
 
The echo of distant thunder prompted the female to cast a begrudging glance toward the sky. She’d likely need to postpone her hunt until the impending storm passed, but she continued to explore the unfamiliar land until the wind and rain forced her to take cover.

The uncharted territories had called to the young Alpha that morning, and he had answered their beckoning. Leaving @Rian with the news of his short departure, and inviting whoever was in earshot to join him, Rannoch soon slipped away from where the pack had settled and into the unknown. Though Rannoch often wondered, as he attempted to keep in the general proximity of where his pack had settled. The extent of his patrolling would carry him to the borders, to refresh them, but, there was something different about today that urged him to go a little further and see what was beyond their claim. 

Humidity lingered in his verdant oasis, keeping the mist around his feet as he explored. By the time that he was far enough from his claim was when thunder began to clap overhead. With a begrudged glance to the quickly-darkening sky, the blue-eyed Alpha's gaze soon fell to a figure in the distance. He had not scented her, as her smell had not yet reached him, and was quite surprised that it had taken him so long to realize that he was in the company of another. 

"Hey," he called to the other, picking up his posture as his voice carried on the strengthening wind. "Are you lost?" Giving the other the benefit of the doubt, as his pack was nestled behind the treeline that divided the Vale in two, he wondered what business she had here.

As she picked her way around the shadowy glen, a slow flicker of movement somewhere in the distance distracted her. She froze where she stood, tall audits swiveling forward atop her svelte skull to listen for the mysterious figure’s approach. The mist and overall shadiness of the value obstructed her vision somewhat, but Calliope was soon able to decipher the form of a wolf as he prowled nearer.
 
Perhaps he hadn’t spotted her as quickly as she had him as he gave her little notice for several long moments before he seemed to pinpoint her. His smooth baritone beckoned while his scent grew stronger upon the strengthening breeze. Head and tail drooping in response to his change in posture, Calliope offered him a soft smile before shaking her head.
 
“I wasn’t sure where I was headed in the first place,” she admitted, pale jade eyes reaching towards his burly, chiseled features. He was built quite sturdily and the yearling knew she’d be no match for him should he decide to confront her aggressively. She gestured with her muzzle in the direction he’d come from. “Are you of the pack nearby?” Although she already anticipated what his answer would be, Calliope was curious to know more about the wolves’ dwellings and claim on the area.

The posture in which the pale-haired maiden held herself was instantly ruled in the Alpha's mind as not threatening, and as such, he relaxed noticeably. Even though his relaxation was evident, Rannoch would remain on guard as he had learned in previous interactions as he expected the unexpected. Even with what he had quickly judged to be an innocent facade, he knew all too well that the female could change at any given moment and change the course of their interaction. For now, as they both were on unclaimed territories, he would give her the benefit of the doubt, but, if she did anything to breach the trust he had invested, he would make sure that she paid. 

Nodding to what Calliope said, Rannoch said nothing, but could only relate to the feeling of aimless wandering. He had done this in his time outside of the Teekons and was surprised that he had not run into any packs as she had. He did not dwell on this recollection, though, as she had drawn his attention in the general vicinity of where the pack lived. "I am," he replied, turning from where he had been gestured to and back to her with a smile. "It's my pack, actually," the Alpha elaborated, wondering what the pale wolf before him would do with the information she had been given.

The large wolf’s words surprised her and her ears pricked forward to convey her interest. He appeared young, perhaps similar to her in age. There was no easy way to tell. Twinkling irises swept towards the Alpha’s chiseled façade as another smile tugged at Calliope’s lips. “You don’t look weathered enough to lead a pack,” came her impish remark. She felt herself relaxing in his presence and hoped he would appreciate rather than resent her teasing.
 
Another clap of thunder rumbled overhead and Calliope cast a glance towards the darkened sky. “Are there any willows around here big enough to take cover under for a bit?” she inquired. The pale yearling shifted to face in the opposite direction of his claimed lands – she had no desire to encroach and test the brute’s boundaries. She was interested to learn more about his pack and how somebody so seemingly young had risen to leadership. Still, she waited to see if he would remain or seek shelter with the rest of his wolves.

Editing as Calliope went inactive!

Calliope's words did not sting as they would have a more sensitive soul. Instead, Rannoch saw the humor in her observation and smiled. "I swear it's just going to hit me one day," he replied lightly,  "All of a suddenly I'll be this weathered old man and the pack will kick me out because they don't recognize their leader."  Rannoch could not imagine this happening, but, it was sure funny for him to image. While this topic was still fresh in his mind, Rannoch ventured to think of what Liffey would do if he came back to her looking suddenly different. Would she still like him? Or would she not believe it was him? Though this tall tale was highly unlikely, the Alpha felt a pang of panic at this, and he silently attempted to reassure himself that it would not happen. 

A short roll of thunder broke him from his paranoia, and he also turned his attention to the sky as he suddenly reunited his thoughts with the impending storm. Knowing that he was all too far from the pack and that Calliope needed shelter, too, the Alpha nodded. "This way," he directed, beckoning his muzzle to a cluster of willows not too far from where they were standing. Without another word, The man slipped past his company and towards it, feeling rushed in their need to seek the shelter. The rain would start at any moment, and Rannoch wasn't particularly fond of getting caught up in a downpour. Though he wasn't certain that it would rain heavily, the Alpha had an inkling of the future conditions due to how humid the air had grown.

With the rumble of thunder as their background noise, Rannoch settled himself down next to Calliope once they found their refuge. Bringing them further away from his territory, the Alpha felt more at ease with her presence. Naturally, questions came about the area in which Rannoch had come from. Describing their claim and how it had come to be. Though he didn't give her the nitty gritty details, Rannoch provided enough to feed her curiosity. 

When the rained cleared, Rannoch directed the woman in the direction in which she was heading, offering her tips about the direction she was heading in. Once she went on her way, Rannoch lingered, watching until the pale female was out of his sight. It was only then that he returned to his territory, happy to have been able to be of help to the wayward woman.