Nes is simply seeking permitted passage through. Tagging leadership,
@Sanja and
@Taktuq, but anyone else of Kvarsheim is welcome as well!
There were stronger scents here than the moors. Nes wondered if someone happened to inhabit these lands. Surely it would be wise to check before traipsing through carelessly.
Glancing around slowly, she looked first to see if anyone would come into view. After a few minutes, no one came. So, to try her luck further, the dusty brown wolf lifted her head and sounded a call, asking for anyone to meet her — if anyone even was here. But if no one came, she would continue through with the hopes she was not met with angry teeth and claws.
The mother had come out of hiding for an hour or so. She stretched her legs with a run, seeking at first a fresh meal, but instead of something to prey upon Sanja heard a call, then turned her attention towards the territory limits.
She did not think to check on her brood, as they were asleep, but also far from her mind as she sought freedom from them.
The spritely figure the woman saw, dressed in soft browns, was a stranger. She stopped at a distance to observe them; then as she drew closer, chuffed but said no words. Her tail was high behind her, meanwhile the rest of her posture was alert and wary.
Nes waited, and waited, neck impatiently outstretched while her eyes searched for any approaching sight. Eventually, to her surprise, someone came. Leveling her muzzle and settling her posture, she barked a small "hello".
Awright thare!
She spoke, tone soft, but energized. It'd been over a month since she'd held an interaction with another.
Ah apologize if ah hae bothered ye...
Quieting herself, Nes considered the fact of whether she'd disturbed this woman.
The woman greeted her as normal, prompting a curious step forward from Sanja as she sought scents, but before much could be gleaned the stranger burst with sound.
It wasn't so far-off the tones of common that Sanja could recognize it as speech, but the inflections erred in a way that made her lose track. Moreover, the eruption had startled her.
This, Kvarsheim. Why you call?
She bristled and stepped back with tension in her jaw, immediately nervous. Her ears went back, then forward, while her shoulder furs prickled.
The woman seemed startled, backing away a step or two. Nessa's eyes widened slightly. Had she upset the woman?
With a small, apologetic whine, the young wolf lowered her belly to the ground with her muzzle lain afront her paws. I-i'm sorry...
A'm swatchin' fur fowk 'ere, ye see... Bit a dinnae ken whaur tae fin' thaim...
Distress claimed her. She'd come so far, but was no closer to finding them. If even this wolf couldn't help her, how would she know how to find one who could?
Sanja did not understand much of what was said. It took time for her to understand people without their accents, but this one was thick, and only some of the sounds hit their mark enough for her to translate.
Looking for something or someone; that's all she could glean.
Not here.
She answered, knowing only that this was a total stranger and nobody like her had ever crossed paths with the stones before. Sanja could have been wrong (she had been den-bound for months); but she was certain of this much.
Only Sanja, here. Sanja,
she motioned to herself, —family.
Last from me!
Not here. Just the words she wanted to hear...
Nessa's head fell for a moment, lifting slowly only when the woman spoke again.
Sanja...
She repeated in soft tone. Then she spoke of something... of family.
Yer fowk?
Her ears fell, plume flicking behind her.
Ah see.... Weel, ah wull lea ye tae return tae yer fowk. A'm sure thay wull hae missed ye.
What a foolish wolf she was. Nes felt far more guilty than perhaps she should have. But she'd dragged this kindly woman all the way here for nothing, when her family was likely off patiently waiting for her return.
Ta fur yer time, lassy.
Nes dipped her head as a sign of farewell, and if her departure was accepted, she would turn back the way she came. She'd bothered this territory too much, so she would find another way around.