@Heph @Rodyn - tags for reference, he can be greeted by anyone!
he'd slept near to the base of the ancient willow, it's roots run of woven embroidery beneath the earth's surface. when he awoke it was with purpose and a warmth to his aging bones.
he was a peaceful man, benevolent in his ways of life. but he was not so ignorant to imagine that all were as he. he knew of the west village, their scent carried on strong winds to the east. he would go to them, pleasant and bearing gifts.
he walked near to their borders now, a soft hum rumbling from the depths of his chest. and clutched between pearly fangs did he carry a bundle of young sequoias. saplings that he thought could be planted amongst neighborly soil in a sign of good faith.
a part of his new home gifted to bordering friends.
Heph ambled along the borders, dipping in and out to find new pathways. Always more sights to see and things to discover. Each new thing a faint ping in her chest as she realized she had one less person to share it with. It felt difficult, she was not conscious of the letting go, well she was conscious of it but she was not consciously enacting it. And yet her mind seemed to linger on Samani less and less. It felt like a betrayal and yet she could not stop the slide of days and time.
A new scent, on the fringes of her wanderings interspersed with the smell of sap and trees. She saw a figure in the distance and wondered who they might be. Her tail let out a friendly wag. "Hello?" She called out a bit ahead of herself as she trotted to greet them.
he was near enough now to call for company, but words halted his course before he had a chance to do so. earthly ears swiveled atop his crown as he turned to the sight of a greyscale woman, her friendly posture echoed in his own figure.
he took a few steps in her direction before carefully placing the bundle of saplings at his paws. "blessed day," he greeted with a sway of his tail as he gave a dip of his maw in neighborly greeting.
"my name is barbatos," he introduced, attention briefly turning to glance in the direction he'd arrived from. "i have plans to settle in the deadwood neighboring these lands," he started, sights set back on the sea-woman now. "though i wished to properly meet the neighbors before i began to do so."
friendly relations with those who settled amongst these lands was a top priority for the dryad. he sought to build a sanctuary in the sentinels, and could not easily do so if he was met with hostility from the bordering village.
The wolf put a bundle of saplings to the ground and she glanced at them for a moment, but her attention soon turned to him. SHe took it as a good sign that their new neighbor seemed to wish friendly relations, and a smile curved over her lips naturally. "A pleasure to meet you Barbatos." Unsure of how much he had already gleaned of Moontide she offered an introduction of her own in turn. "I'm Heph, the beta of this pack, Moontide." She wondered if he had also sought out the saltshores on Stravenger bay, but did not ask after Vaire or Rhaegal. Though she was curious how the pair were doing the journey was short enough that she had little excuse not to visit herself.
Her mind ran through the caches made, though much of them would be needed come winter, and for Rodyn's return she thought they could spare a pelt at least. Setting down roots could be a trial indeed and even if help was not welcome she could offer. "Consider us properly met, although if you plan on settling I think we can spare some of our furs as a welcome. Winter will be arriving, and it's a good time to settle."
she introduced herself along with the name of the village she helped lead. "the pleasure is all mine," he responded, making a mental note of the name moontide and sticking it somewhere he wouldn't lose it.
a part of him felt the strings of his homeland tug on his heart at her offer of furs. it was a neighborly custom on the southern shores to offer gifts to the villages you wished a healthy relationship with. he was delighted to find it seemed to be the same here.
"you are too kind," he shared in regards to the furs, crown dipping to a grateful nod at the offer. "i have brought a gift of mine own," he let out as he leaned down to nose the bundle of saplings. "young, healthy sequoias. with time they will grow to great heights and be unshakable. it is my hope our villages will grow in the same way."
The presence of the saplings explained she smiled warmly, offering her thanks. "I thank you, we'll plant them with care and hopefully between us they will grow as you say." Though the she-wolf had never heard of gifting trees she could appreciate what they stood for, or would come to stand for with any luck. But she found this start promising and had hope if nurtured properly it would be well.
There was a light laugh in her words, low and warm, as she replied. "I can hardly be kind enough for a manner as charming as yours." Turning her shoulders she gestured to invite him to follow her. The sequoias would stand tallest somewhere higher up the plateau though not at the top where the rain would not linger long enough to feed them. And all the caches she knew about were placed further in.
She spoke lightly, merely making conversation yet curious nonetheless. "Are you familiar with the ocean?"