@Valette i guess? anyone else welcome too but please keep it moving!
This land was strange.
It was cold, wet and full of hungry beasts clawing at each other. No different than Africa in the last respect, yet Zola desired to survive. She had taken strides emotionally - she would not be going back to her beloved homeland. Not unless humans found her again and graciously ferried her across the ocean.
No, if she was to survive she would find a new tribe. Somewhere she could keep her beliefs and be respected. So this day, she settled on the border of the one she had come across. A call was given to the tribe leaders, or elders, whomever decided to come. She would converse with them. She would listen.
Perhaps she would be accepted.
West had taken things a bit slower as of late. Once more the silence of waiting filled the air, yet drowned him in a deafening beat as paws carried him along the borders. Once more there was a gap between Ursus' attacks. It felt as if the wolves of Easthollow had fallen into a vicious cycle where they could only wait for what would come next, or for the bear wolves to finally give in their blood pursuit. So long as he stayed though, he would not allow them to spill the blood of his family. This blood was on his paws and his alone. He would be the one to bear the worst of it.
A call broke the late morning air, unfamiliar, but friendly as it called for the leaders or elders. West found it a bit strange that they would call for elders...then again his grandpa made appearances at the borders still, but his mother had made it sound like his father would no longer stray there. Well, either way, it would probably take longer to wait solely on his mother since she was hanging around the den and Greyback lately. Since he was already at the borders, he'd follow the call until he spotted the earthen woman, Are you the one that called? This is Easthollow, my mom will be here soon, but I figured you shouldn't be left waiting.
A young man would appear before her. He proclaimed his mama would come shortly, yet he did not want to keep Zola waiting long. Her head slipped down, acknowledging this. She was inwardly thankful that she not be kept, further that she had some companion for the time being. "Mimi ni Zola" the woman said, pausing after it and visibly scrunching her features "I am Zola." A quick correction.
"I call, yes" she went on "I not from here. Dis Teekons not home. But I wish to last. Wish to be useful" Zola lowered her eyes, a touch of homesickness in her eyes "Easthollow seem good place. Is mama tribe leader?" She was confused why a young man's mother (she thought the woman would be young too) would be leader. Women were elders, healers... not leaders. Then again, she had challenged this sexism herself.
She spoke quickly, her words appearing jumble at a glance to the point where he thought he was still lost in his thoughts until she corrected her language. She wasn't from here, and it was clear that wherever she was from, they spoke something different. It wasn't a tongue he recognized though. Northern Innuit and French were the only two he had encountered until now, but it was kinda cool so even with the language difficulties he held on to her words.
Uhh, mimine West Tyree
Nailed it. West simply nodded as she spoke, useful was good. She looked strong too, another body to prevent Ursus' advances. In his opinion, Easthollow was a good place even with the recent troubles. Yeah, you could say that. She's the Matriarch here and my Dad was Patriarch, but he's stepped down. You have tribes where you're from? You don't come from the North do you? I have family up there, but they speak something different.
Chances were she wasn't related at all, but that didn't really matter here. Everyone became part of the family eventually so long as they pitched in.
She couldn't help but crack a smile as he attempted to speak in her tongue. "Mimi. ni. West Tyree" Zola repeated slowly, making sure to pause between 'I am' so it wasn't 'Iam'. "Magharibi - is West in my tongue. We not have word for 'Tyree'" The fact he was willing to converse with the woman and try... it spoke of a good omen. The young one said that his mama was a matriarch - she was familiar with this term.
Did all tribes here have different ranks? Zola flickered her eyes away from West Tyree's face, nodding to where she knew east was. "From across ocean. Big place. Summer all year" her ears pinned against her skull "Africa. Humans take me from savannah while hunting" the woman explained to him "but I escape. Too late" the ghost of a snarl on her voice, lip raising slightly "end up in Teekons. Not know how to get back. Accept I cannot."
It seemed West had beaten her to the border. The female approached with a quick and light trot. Her tail was carried high but not in an unfriendly matter. It was just to state her rank. She slowed down until she stood next to her son. She offered him a smile before focusing her attention on the female. "I'm Valette, Matriarch of Easthollow," she commented.
She assumed the female was named Zola, at least that was what she caught when she approached. She looked at West, probably one that wanted to join, but she rather wanted to hear it from him before asking the female.
She corrected his dialect, but honestly, after half learning two languages, he wasn't surprised he got it wrong. The woodland boy couldn't help but chuckle as she offered her name for West, I thought my name was a mouthful already
He listened carefully to her story, even if half of it didn't register. He had never heard of Africa or humans and the ocean, but admittedly summer year-round sounded nice. The snow was ok, but then the cold really hit. In summer the days felt lazy and he could lay out in the grass. Sounds like a nice place...I'm sorry you can't get back.
Speaking of the Matriarch though, Valette was quick to arrive and introduce herself before looking to him. This is Zola, she's hoping to join. She was taken from her home and can't get back so...new start?
He glanced once more to the stranger with a small nod for confirmation. We're a family-based pack, so long as you put in the work you become one of us.
It would never be a replacement for the family she lost of course, but it was something at least in strange and unfamiliar lands.
There was a clear language and knowledge barrier between them, but Zola did like this boy. He had kindness and spunk - to go to the border all alone, he must be strong. The woman to appear next was older, leisurely proclaiming dominance that the African woman did not understand. Her tribe was based on equality and was just learning to accept both genders.
Submission was not a thing to them. "Amani iwe nawe" peace be with you "Matriarch V-Vuh-Vaa..." a pause "lette" Zola appeared flustered, the name foreign to her in many ways. She hoped she did not seem foolish. It sounded like velvet but also not. Her large neck hung, closing her eyes respectfully as she continued. "your son speak truth. I wish to join."
Tribes were large family units, generations of culture and religion and history... This was as close as she would get here. "I am Zola Abara" sounded it out carefully this time, adding her surname as they were 'family'. "I hunt. I fight. I defend small. Tell stories to elders. Keep all company" she was willing to pull her weight here if allowed "I have... much to learn. I wish to be taught dis land. Dis language. Easthollow seem kind."
Raising her head, she would look to West Tyree. "Family kind."
Valette had to smile when the female couldn't really pronounce her name. It was rather uncommon to her since most could easily speak her name. "Val-et," she helped the female. Her face had turned friendly as well, after all it really seemed like this female was also kind. "We have some space in our family," she assured. West did a really good job here. She looked at her son with pride look on her face. He really could one day lead this pack.
"That sounds like a lot. I hunt as well, so we can hunt together. We will teach you how to hunt bison," she spoke in return. This was probably an animal she also didn't know. "It sounds like you really want to be part of this family. So why not let you try," she commented. "You will start as a newcomer but if you put in the work you will become part of our family," Valette explained. "Easthollow will help."
Thankfully it seemed his mom also took a liking to Zola. She seemed nice and she had a lot of strengths that could only benefit the pack. It was good to hear that she could fight and defend seeing how it was his primary concern now. They had defenders, but well...a lot of wolves were older in Easthollow. Something West wished he could change, but it's not like he could materialize some wolves his age. Oh! Yeah, they're really big so it takes the whole pack usually to catch one, but it's probably my favorite meal.
He always liked hunting, even as a kid before he could really help...or maybe that was just eating, but still. I'm usually around the borders too so maybe I'll see ya there?
A weight was lifted off her burdened shoulders. Zola blinked once, twice, before registering that Valette had accepted her into their tribe. "Matriarch Va-let" she would say, adding the title of the woman for respect. The woman straightened, her head rising sharply and her frame proud "no family worth unless fighting for" she vowed "I find food now, tribute for tribe. Ask my gods to look down on Easthollow too."
Her face turned to West Tyree, cracking a smile. She gave a nod to the young man, gladdened he had vouched for her. "I most hunt zebra, but I will bring down bison. This I swear" she nodded, waiting to be dismissed so she could return to their camp with food. Zola meant what she said - she would give proper tribute to Easthollow in the form of prey. She would start as soon as she was able. "but mayhap little critter first, yes?"
Amber eyes twinkle in amusement. "Thank you for accepting me" she added with clarity, slowly and pronounced.
Valette really liked this female. She seemed like just the type to join Easthollow, loyal and hard worker. She liked it. They could use some new wolves in their family, it always caused for another dynamic a better dynamic. Most of her kids left so there were a lot of adults in the pack than young adults like West. "Thank you, Zola," she spoke and sidestepped as a sign that she could enter their territory.
"Zebra? I never heard about them? What kind of animal is it?," she asked curiously. She was the main gamekeeper here and highly interested in wildlife. "Bison cannot be taken down every time," she warned. "Especially not alone." Valette nodded then as a reply to her. "Go ahead. We have rabbits and voles out in the fields," she explained. "Feel free to explore." Valette had to smile at the female. "You're welcome."
last from me sorry weird closer
With Zola accepted with the intent to be on her way, West would take his own leave. He still had to finish his patrol, after all, so with a small nod of his head, he excused himself from the two with a half-smile. Let me know if you need anything
Assuming there would be no questions directed his way, he resumed his walk.
It went much smoother than she expected. Perhaps the Teekon-wolves were just as desperate to survive as her tribemates had been. Though the tribe was made entirely of family units, marriage giving them new numbers and new faces, and rarely let in outsiders. Zola expected to prove herself to the wolves of Easthollow before being let in.
"Is taller than wolf, white. Black stripes. Like your deer. Is easy to hunt, runs with herd."
She expected a task. She expected a quest. She got welcomes. The earthen woman stood after she had been accepted, watching West Tyree leave and Valette giving her permission to roam. But Zola did not go to their camp; she would do as promised first. Find prey. Send an offering to the gods - if they looked down on her here. She hoped so.
"Is not here" Zola said almost forlornly. "dis zebra. Not survive Teekons. Hunt deer and bison instead. Va-let... what if I not survive Teekons, even with help?"
Valette dipped her head in thanks to her son before turning to the female again. "Like a deer?," she asked. "I have never seen one with stripes, and black and white. Interesting." She was very interested in it. "How did you get here?," she asked curiously. "Did you travel that long?"
Valette softened. The female was sweet. "Nonsense," she assured the female. "You made it this far, so you can definitely survive, plus you are part of a pack, a family. We look out for one another," she stated with a from nod, and then smiled at her.
"Across ocean" Zola would respond, trying to bury the burning homesickness and doubt. This was not like her. She did not doubt. She was strong, and she would survive. But in the face of unknown, she had faltered. Only slightly. Valette would assure her. Her tail swayed lightly.
"human captures me."
But that wasn't important. She could tell Valette later.
"Thank" the earth toned woman gave a nod before twisting her body.
"I come back to family once hunt is over" she promises her tribe leader before marching off. She had to get the unease out of her system, and that would only be possible with exercise.
She hoped she would not get lost.
exit!