Wolf RPG

Somewhere between Marauder's Keep and home, a desire to see more of the Wilds and its inhabitants took root within her. It was not travel lust, for she did not wish to travel far, nor for too long. But she thought it not only wise but exciting to wander some, striking out from home and wilking as far as she wished. It was not like the days of her travels to the Wilds, where she had nowhere to go and nowhere to return to. Here she could pick a landmark, seen from a distance, and travel to it. And here she always had the Sentinels to return to. 

Today she found a sweep of cedars, columnar trees that supported a their green canopies. It was a lovely place, and as she darted from tree to bush to tree again, she sang in her high, bright voice. This forest was her mission, and she would see and learn all she could from it before returning home.

Aspen was trailing through the trees at the outskirts of the territory marking trees as she went but she caught scent of a Wolf not one familiar to any pack she knew of. 

The silver queen followed the scent tail high and proud until she spotted a female wolf just off in the distance. She let out a chuff to get the fae's attention. Aspen was curious as to why the female was this close.  She had the scent of  pack on her but not one local.

Dodging and dancing through the trees as she was, Starbuck did not notice the woman until she was called to. She stopped, the sound giving her pause, and searched among the trees until she saw the woman. Hail and well met! she called, taking note of the woman's posture and adjusting herself accordingly. Then she approached, for they were on neutral territory, and though by scent she knew that the wood was borded on two sides by packs, she was careful not to stray too near to any of them.

Aspen watched as the female quickly turned and came over but adjusted her posture immediately.  

Aspen offered the female a warm smile and dipped her head in greeting. "Greetings, I am Aspen, Alpha of the royal fire court pack that calls the Glade their home," she stated this time leaving out her title for a change. "Who might you be?" She asked with her now signature head tilt.

The pale woman is quick to provide her name and station, and so Starbuck quickly followed suit. I am Starbuck of Donnelaith upon the sea. And indeed we are well met, my lady! You are lovely, perfectly suited to reign as queen of the fair glade. Though she was a lover of flattery, she was just as quick to dole it out as she was to accept it. Indeed the woman was beautiful, her stomach swelling and her entire body aglow with the joy of pregnancy. You are with child, she said, softly

Aspen smiled warmly as the fae's followed suit stating her name and where she was from. Starbuck from the sea. Gosh she was a long way from home. Aspen smiled wider when the woman complimented her stating she was well suited to be the ruler of the gladend and such. " Why thank you Miss Starbuck, I greatly appreciate your compliment. From the sea you say. A long way from home no?" the silver queen said with a small tilt to her head. What brought this lovely female to the woods so far from her home. Adventure perhaps? Though the wolf remained alert still not 100% convinced the fae's was of no threat to her family.

The fae's also brought up the fact that Aspen was with child to which she replied with a nod. " That I am, you are very observant. I bear the children of my mate, the king, Alder, " the queen stated proudly her tail swaying happily.

A long way from home indeed! But she was young and tireless. Her long legs carried her well, and the miles never grew boring. Not so far when each league brings more delights than the last, she piped. Ah, my lady, you carry precious princes and princess. If your husband is King, that makes you Queen, does it not? She bowed as she would have to the Queen in her homeland, then straightened up. If you would like, I can recommend some remedies for the more... uncomfortable aspects of pregnancy.

Aspen nodded as the wolf spoke explaining it was not so fat when her journeys each brought something new to offer. " That is very true," she added. The wolf then brought up her pups as soon to be princes and princesses. Twas true they were blood of royalty. 

" Aye, what a wise wolf you  are. I am in fact queen of the gladend, alongside Alder. We run the pack as a royal hierarchy each member treated as one of the family once they have proven themselves worthy." she stated always happy to share various details of her home. " My children shall be brought up the way that Alder and myself wish we had," she said in a slightly more serious tone.

Starbuck surprised her when the wolf offered to give her some herbs that would help to ease the discomforts of pregnancy. " That would be greatly appreciated, in the meantime, if you don't mind my asking, tell me more of your home, the one by the sea," Aspen asked curiously. The queen was a fan of the water and found places to be quite serene though she hadn't the time to have gone and visited the coast or any packs that inhabited the beaches and coves.

Starbuck listened, rapt, to the queen's explanation. King and Queen, like in the stories and fairy tales she had heard in her youth. Though these were the stories of the West, and thus less popular in her homeland, she loved them just as dearly as the stories of the gods. Your home sounds lovely, she said, demure. 

The woman accepted her offer, and Starbuck began to think of those that would suit pregnancy best. She did not know the area well and did not want to make the poor woman go gallivanting around the forest with her. I do not know where to find them here, for we are far from my home. I will tell you the names, for a wolf of these woods would better know what was available, she said. Red raspberry leaves will serve you best. It will make the birth easier and better enable you to feed your children. Seek out peppermint leaves as well, they will relieve any nausea you feel.

When she was finished, she prepared to speak of her home. Donnelaith resides beneath the boughs of the sentinels, great guardian redwoods which we take shelter beneath. Fog will often roll off of the sea and shroud our home in mist. There is no more beautiful sight than when the sun rises among the mists. None, except perhaps for you, my lady, she said. Flattery will get you everywhere.

Aspen nodded in thanks as Starbuck complimented their home and then listened as she listed out a few herbs to keep an eye out for or to mention to one of the medicine wolves here who would know where to find them. Red raspberry leaves and peppermint she repeated in her head several times. "Got it, thank you for the advice. I appreciate the thought. I will be sure to mention it to our medic here and get her to locate some for me. Got anything for nerves?" she said respectfully but adding a chuckle to the end. She was sure no amount of herbs would prepare her for motherhood but she thought she would ask anyways.

Starbuck began to speak of her home and it seemed like a very beautiful place. "Perhaps someday I might visit Donnelaith and see this beauty for myself, I hope that you would not mind a visitor sometime," she spoke warmly with a friendly smiled but that smile widened at Starbucks compliment at the end. "Why thank you starbuck, that is very flattering. Say, do you want to grab a bite to eat. We can hunt in the valley near our territory," she said offering a small shrug and a slight tilt of her head.

She smiled softly, sympathetically at Aspen's joke. No matter whether it was veiled in jest or in stone, Starbuck could recognize the mother-to-be's nervousness. Nothing but good wishes and the assurance that you will be a wonderful mother, my dear lady, said she. Though the words might have sounded empty, for Starbuck only just met the woman, the seer wholly believed in her words. Though I doubt it will be easy, I believe you to be equal to the task.

And again her smile widened from polite to bright as Aspen accepted her compliment with all of the grace and humility Starbuck expected of a queen. As much as Starbuck was friendly, she was sure to be respectful, and she bent to the will of the queen. Of course, my lady. It would be an honor and a pleasure!

Aspen chuckled lightly as Starbuck explained that there was nothing she could do for nerves but wish her well and Starbuck stated she believed the queen to be equal to the task of motherhood. "I sure hope so," the silver fae mused. 

Starbuck also agreed to a hunt and so a hunt is what they would do. Though there was not a huge amount of large prey in the valley left for winter would be here soon, Aspen saw no problem with hunting a small rabbit or something each. Besides the territory was unclaimed so the food was free to those who wanted it. "Let us go then," she said with a flick of her tail as she took up a slow trot heading in the direction of the valley. Perhaps the queen had made another friend outside the glade. No one said friends in other places were bad, especially ones such as Starbuck.

Perhaps Aspen would in fact journey to Donnelaith at some point to speak with her and her alpha of an alliance though they were quite aways away. You could never have too many friends. Besides their immediate neighbours certainly didn't seem super friendly.