The forest had become comfortingly familiar to Effie. She spent most days here, learning the plants and trees when she had no other duties to tend to. Today was no different; she moved through the giants on graceful paws, nose to the ground. She mostly wanted to see how winter changed things as it progressed. It snowed almost everyday now, and she noticed how the trees spared the forest floor from the brunt of the cold substance. It was still awfully cold though, and a shiver ran through her slender form and she walked. Her coat was thick but even then, it wasn't always enough to shelter her from the frigid air completely. She tried to ignore the cold settling into her bones and focus on her task. Maybe she would cut her work short today in favor of returning to the warmth of her den.
The traveler had finally found something worthwhile here in the wilderness, and he was growing increasingly agitated as he crept away from it; he knew that he would have a better chance of survival in this space if he knew what threatened him, what rivals there might be, and set out from the mountain to discover exactly that — but Tulimaq loathed being away from the mountain, and he only came to realize this as he crossed through woodland after woodland, and the silhouette of the tusk-like peak receded in his view.
He spied another mountain which sprouted and climbed so high that there was no end in sight; it was impressive, but Nimbus did not interest him in the same way that the great heights of his mountain did. He deviated in to the woods as a sheer wind picked up, and as he ducked around a particularly dense patch of spruce he was abruptly faced with the silhouette of a woman. She looked as if she belonged there among the trees. Tulimaq wondered what she was up to - reverting for a moment or two to his old self, the person who would venture far and wide to watch (stalk) people and learn all that he could.
The wolf stalked through the woods, and as he came over a slope covered in ferns and low-cropped nettles he noticed she had moved - perhaps on the hunt for something to eat, or gathering materials late in the season. The man huffed at the thought, inadvertently drawing attention towards himself, and should she notice him he'd mutter, Hello.
She was lost in her task, forgetting to remain aware of her surroundings as she was used to being in the safety of her fledgling pack. She continued to move and make notes, diligent in her task. She knew eventually her trips here and the hours she was putting in would be worth it. Soon there would be children to tend to and hopefully a husband to take care of, so any knowledge gained would be useful to ensuring the good health of her pack and future family. There were many scents moving through her nostrils, so many that she didn't even register the scent of the stranger. The huff startled her, and she visibly jumped, turning her head to look at the man with surprise on her face. She took a few deep breaths as his one word greeting sank in. It's not nice to startle a lady,
she chided before she realized what she was doing. She turned to face him fully and gave a polite bow of her head, realizing he was a man after all, and she should respect him.
My name is Effie,
she offered next, a smile parting her gentle face as she waited for his name in return.
He appeared to have startled her, but didn't feel any remorse for doing so. Any wolf worth their pelt would've been aware of their surroundings, possible dangers, and whatever else might lurk in the trees. She seemed healthy enough and able-bodied from what he could gather in his observations, yet she startled all the same. There was a softness to the contours of her figure. A leisurely quality to the way she moved and the manner in which she spoke — and Tulimaq was reminded of the wolves living with the standing stones. Passive beasts that Tulimaq found distasteful.
She introduced herself and he leered at her, thinking about how best to play the situation. If she was not mindful of her surroundings then what was she doing out here? Certainly not hunting. Perhaps gathering, like he'd thought, but would she be doing that alone? He glanced around at the woods for clues, wondering if she had an escort or not, when he realized she was waiting for something and her attention was still fully devoted to him. His brow creased at this, but he murmured in that deep tone of his, Tulimaq. Are you... Alone out here?
Her greeting was met with an awkward stretch of silence as she waited for his name in return. It finally came, followed by a strange question: was she out here alone? A less brainwashed woman may have seen the danger in answering his question truthfully, but Effie saw no harm in telling the man she was out here on her own. Why would she? All the men she had known only wanted to keep her safe; that was their purpose, right? well, yes, I am. I'm learning the plants here in order to find useful ones for my pack,
she answered amiably, motioning with her muzzle to the forest around her. She took a seat then, ready to answer any other questions Tulimaq had. Maybe he knew something about the forest and could help her out? That might be nice.
He anticipated being countered with a lie, or maybe the summoning of a guard. When she spoke the truth he was stunned. The burly wolf crept closer to her, brow furrowing, and then looked at the patches of exposed plant life she had likely unearthed before he arrived. An herbalist? They weren't rare exactly, but they weren't utilized in the same manner by Tartok. Each wolf of the wasteland knew enough to mend their own wounds and would share general concepts in passing, but none were dedicated solely to the medicinal lifestyle. It struck him as odd that she would be out here alone - and willing to admit it.
Your pack —
he remembers what Bat has told him, and picks spontaneously between the two she had mentioned, —Rosings, right?
She watched as he came closer, not completely uncomfortable with the movement, but thinking to any passerby, it might seem inappropriate for her to be in such close proximity with a strange male. Out of respect, though, she hid her discomfort and remained where she was. When he spoke the name of her pack, friendly interest lit up her face. Yes. That's my pack,
she answered with an elegant wag of her dark tail. Do you know someone from there?
Effie asked next. It made her even more comfortable that he was familiar with her pack. Maybe he knew one of her half-brothers? She hadn't met anyone outside of the pack yet, so it was perfectly reasonable to assume that her family probably had many connections here that she wasn't aware of yet. She wondered if maybe he was looking to join them as well. She was sure Grayson would be very proud of her if she found another man to join their ranks.
Ah, so at least some of what Bat told him was true. That was a good sign. Curious that a member of a budding pack would be out here in the middle of nowhere, and especially a woman. It wasn't like men were the only ones permitted to be wandering in the wilderness -- but if these wolves of Rosings were anything like the rest of the passive creatures of the wilds, that made Miss Effie a target.
I only know a few things,
he admitted to her readily, and I'm not entirely sure where the claim is, just that you live around here somewhere. I'm new to the area,
more or less but.. I'm curious. How long have you been here? Are there many of you?
What he really wanted to ask was, are you warriors, but the softness of the woman and her mind-numbing innocence gave him some inclinations.
So it seemed he only knew some things; maybe he had only heard of them in passing. She smiled politely as she listened to his questions, and answered only when she was sure he was finished speaking. Well, welcome,
she said first, her smile widening. We are a fairly large group,
she answered first, mentally running through all of her packmates in her head. We aren't too far from here--the creek just west of here actually,
she answered, lifting her nose towards the area they had all been living. She would actually prefer to live here in the forest, but it was not her decision nor her place to suggest a move. She tilted her head a little. Where are you staying? Is it close by?
Effie inquired with friendly curiosity.
I am living on the plateau, just north of here,
he lies with ease. Having come from a visit with the young Bat, he smells vaguely like the plateau but still strongly like the dark pines and red dirt of his mountain. It isn't the best of lies but he doubts this simple-minded woman will take notice. Perhaps I will visit,
he adds easily enough, but Tulimaq has already decided that a band of soft women is not a threat to his mountain, they seem to be barely a presence in this hinterlands. He bows his head to her and begins to depart — not sharing his name or further details on purpose. Thank you for your time.
Effie nodded her head politely. She wasn't sure what plateau to which he referred, but it didn't really matter. When he thanked her for her time, she bowed her head and replied, You're very welcome, sir.
She watched him take his leave, finally turning and walking back through the trees when his form disappeared in the distance. She wanted to study the forest a little more, and now that she no more interruptions, she should be able to direct her total focus to the task. Eventually, she would grow tired and return to the creek and to the place she had made her den to get out of the cold for a little while.