A delicate paw lifted, but then settled back down to the outer borders. Patience was not her virtue, but nor was invoking the wrath of a pack she had decided was as good as any to join. Pacing gently, the she-wolf cast her eyes back to the borders of the lands, waiting for someone to notice her – anyone.
It was possible it would not take them long. She had only been here a few for a few minutes, but the view from where she stood was beautiful, and she was eager to rest her weary head. Traveling had been hard on the usually immaculate Gaia – her fur was slightly disheveled, and her slender form was now lean in the beginning show of hunger. The life of a lone wolf had not settled well with her when she parted from her birth pack, and so she was quick to make the correct decision now – find a home, with wolves she could perhaps call familial.
The soft spring breeze ruffled her fur gently as the morning sun gleamed, causing the girl to exhale softly. They would come – and she would try to prove herself. And her days of wandering would be over.
If not for having an excellent reason for doing it, Saena would've regretted throwing Reek and Tavi out of the pack. After all, they had been alpha male and beta female and had taken care of many things that Saena took for granted on a daily basis. Now a sole leader, she was regaining her footing as a Phoenix wolf, and finding it exhausting. Patrolling the borders with half a month left in her pregnancy probably wasn't the brightest idea, but she wasn't in the brightest of moods, and was at least momentarily contemplating whether dying would be easier than living and whether she would even fight back if some crazed trespasser attacked her.
As she rounded a bend, it was not a crazed trespasser she found, but a poised if travel-worn female wolf. The scent of her met Saena at about the same time sight did, and she lifted her downcast eyes a little higher to glance over the girl. Slender, perhaps, with a gilded coat of silver and gold that practically glimmered in the cool sunlight. Saena was on the rougher side of things these days: rounded, with smudges of dirt in places she couldn't reach and eyes sunken with lack of sleep and crying alike. Still, she managed to prick up her ears, lift her head, and close the distance with the tiny bit of dignity she could muster.
"Can I help you?" she asked, and was disappointed but not surprised to hear her own voice come out quieter and less confident than it had ever been.
Gaia was a proud creature, but never one so foolish as to challenge the hierarchy of a place she desired to be. The forest before her was lush, seemingly resourceful, and the perfect place for a girl like her to settle. So, naturally, she set to place it upon her ‘collection’ list.
The woman that greeted her was less than within her prime – if only by worn appearance alone, and Gaia’s heart instantly went out to the fatigued looking creature. Pregnancy was apparent upon the woman, and the silver and gold girl cast a quick glance around to note that none trailed after the pregnant woman – they simply let her out alone.. manning the borders by herself?
Beneath the ragged appearance, Gaia could see true beauty there – a luscious pelt of ivory and tips of copper. Yes, this woman was a sight to behold likely on better days, and Gaia lowered herself respectfully, her mint eyes casting themselves upon the woman’s shoulder. “I am Gaia – I wish to join your pack, ma’am.” Her tone was sing-song – untainted by life thus far, and anticipation fluttered in her chest.
Gaia. Such a pretty name, she thought, without knowing anything of the history behind such a name. Cultural lore wasn't her forte, not by a long shot, but still, she appreciated the way it sounded, and probably more so the way the wolf who owned it submitted readily. On a normal day, Saena would test her potential subordinates in some way, but the pack had recently taken a hit in the form of Reek and Tavi. Padding the ranks was important, and besides that, any wolf sensible enough to submit on the borders without necessarily knowing the rank of the wolf meeting them was worthy in her eyes.
"This is Phoenix Maplewood and I am its alpha, Saena," she introduced in lieu of her usual interview. Instead of conducting said interview or even asking what the female's skills were, Saena stepped the short distance between them and sought to rub the scent of the maple wood on Gaia's coat, accepting her without any further testing. In the days to come, she was sure Gaia would prove whether she was worth a home in the maple forest or not; there was no need to make her prove it here.
Nevertheless, out of curiosity, Saena asked, "is there any job you prefer doing over others? We are diverse here, but anyone can fit in." At least until the pack was nearly full again, and then the alpha female would become picky once more.
Saena -- the regal of Phoenix Maplewood. It was such an enthralling name for her new home, and she gazed up at the she-wolf with the hope that this wish would indeed become true. She awaited the need to lsit off her resume of sorts, but it did not come, instead, the woman practically invited her in without pause, her svelte ivory form rubbing her scent upon her. How wonderful!
She practically beamed at the woman, her tail flowing through the air to reveal her contentment of this decision. At the question, Gaia made to slowly stand, though remained humble upon her stance. She was a fair creature with a bit of a diva attitude, but it did not mean she did not offer respect when due. "What is it you seek the most? I hope to round myself out in many skills," she chirped in return, a small smile pressing to her lips.
The truth of the matter was that Saena knew little of her subordinates' varied skills, but she wasn't about to let anyone know that. Her disconnect had been ill-timed and indeed the pack she now ruled alone was very much alien to her. She sought to correct it, but she also sought to hide it, and so she lifted her shoulders in a bit of a shrug.
"We've got our bases covered here," she said, which wasn't strictly a lie, "but if guarding happens to be your calling, we haven't anyone who specializes in it." Naturally the borders were well tended by wolves regardless whether they liked it or not, but it was the one thing she could call to mind. "Or if travel is more your thing, scouts are always welcome as well." It pained her to admit that her time scouting was going to be severely limited in the near future—perhaps to the point of impossibility—and so Saena was unlikely to maintain that particular skill. In light of that, she didn't mention her proficiency, but instead told Gaia, "I myself am a hunter, but if that's what you love doing there's always room for more." Especially with Tavi gone, but that thought came and went in the bitter blink of an eye.
She turned and gestured for the newest member of the maple wood pack to enter her new home. The usual interview would happen over the course of weeks rather than at this very moment and she felt confident that Gaia would pass it with flying colours, if she was as enthusiastic as she seemed here.
She almost appreciated the openness of what laid at her paws now – something about the ivory woman stirred an ease in the yearling, and with a softening of her mint eyes, the poised girl dipped her muzzle even further in humble gratitude. “Thank you,” she spoke, her tone soft, and yet the tilt of her muzzle revealed her own quizzical nature. “Can I explore my options? Or will you need an answer now?” The question was soft – a hope that the woman would not take her for lazy, or in avoidance.
She simply wanted to explore her options, if she was able to. “Are there healers here?”
Much of the time, Saena required an answer immediately, but this time she shakes her head and says, "take your time." There's no point in forcing the Phoenix wolves to pick up trades right away. Saena knows there are wolves who go through life doing everything and specializing in nothing, wolves who have no need of trades. Such wolves aren't useless and she isn't one to treat them otherwise. She would rather see Gaia pursue something enjoyable for her.
The next question has her wracking her brain. Her familiarity with her wolves' progress in various areas is shaky at best, and once again she finds herself regretting how reclusive she'd become prior to Reek's mistake. "I think Spring might be into healing," she says uncertainly, "but otherwise, no. Our last healer left recently for... someone else." She leaves it at that for now, sparing Gaia the nitty-gritty details about her broken mateship. Gaia is, perhaps, the last wolf to be spared Saena's rant.
The woman was so gentle with her – encouraging her need to figure herself out, and within moments, Gaia felt a surge of relief that she had chosen this pack above the others she had passed. Her eyes were gentle as they studied the woman, and she gave a nod in response to her words. “I will sort myself out as quickly as I can,” she noted, her muzzle dipping slightly lower to reveal her gratitude. “And I will make sure it benefits the pack.”
"Great," says Saena, glad to know their newest recruit is eager to make herself useful. Saena values hard work, and while she's matured enough to not shove the idea down others' throats, she's very receptive of those who show initiative. They travel a short while longer through the wood, and then Saena turns at a point where the trees thin and the babble of a stream is apparent, halting them both. "My den is just beyond here," she explains, "it's a private place right now, but the pack seems to den in the surrounding area. Make yourself at home, get some rest." She thinks about adding come find me when you're ready to begin, but leaves it out. Instead, she says, "come find me if there's anything you need."
She had been equivalent to a princess once – perhaps not by mere title, but the simple fact her parents had been the Alphas of her home and had raised their children for the day they would gain Mount Pandora as their own. Gaia of course had her eyes upon such opportunities, she was young and ambitious – at least, until her desire to see the world had won over any notions of being opportunistic, and so the pale girl had set off.. and now found herself at the doorstep of Saena.
She had never had to earn favor before, having always been given it through her heritage alone. Now, with the need to prove herself, the pale she-wolf felt the rise of determination set fire in her veins – a determination she had never felt before. “Thank you, Saena, that is very generous,” she murmured quietly, allowing the woman to finalize their meeting. She would seek out the area the pale Alpha had mentioned, and she would indeed make herself at home – after exploring parts of the beautiful Maplewood.
Her lips pull into a smile that says, "don't mention it." The least Saena can do for any of her wolves, including those new to the pack, is make an effort to get them settled in. She's been lackadaisical in that department lately, but with the loss of both Reek and Tavi, she's thrust back into the role of ruler and is remembering well the value that good relationships could bring. She's determined to make her mark as a leader, in the same manner Gaia is determined to make her mark as a pack wolf.
Bobbing her head in farewell, the Alpha turns into the deeper part of the wood and heads back to her den for a nap.