These slow weeks in the wake of Gunnar’s death had all but shattered her tolerance, rendering a seething disquiet in the Nornir, who had always conducted herself with caution. It burned now into fierce vigilance.
She returned to solemn duty but on a knife’s edge, tearing fervently into an investigation of strife along the southeast border where scents betrayed a thick gathering of wolf.
She paces along the highland cusp while a call for the skati @Inkeri and @Vale Enid trills the wind.
Summons on the wind drew her attention and she heeded her friend's call. Vale's ears cupped forward as she caught sight of the nornir in the highlands. The air of grief still loomed over Kvarsheim. A low hanging fog that felt familiar in some ways but still proved hard to navigate.
Vale approached her friend with a low wag of her tail, extending her nose to Tauris's shoulder. Gentleness to temper the hard edges that cut into the nornir's posture. You called?
Golden eyes set upon pale gray.
Is something wrong?
Inkeri heard the call and it sounded unpleasant. As if the nornir was unhappy. Ink followed it with solemn steps, and sea green gaze upon both the she wolves that had been here. The one who called and the other who'd been summoned as she.
Hello. Hello.
She winced at her stutter, but lifted her eyes to the border. A gentle sniff. Something wasn't right.
“Thank you for coming so quickly,” her tone is grave as she paces out to meet the women, grazing each with her chin and directing their attention to the south.
“There are wolves down in that gorge,” the air is tested again with her nose, “several of them. Will you investigate?”
Inkeri had lived in this valley the longest. She would know where there were routes to take through the range. Vale too was accustomed to navigating mountains. Tauris expected the pair would move together swiftly.
“If they intend to claim territory, we must be cautious- but assertive. They need to know a pack stands here.” A pack that would not hesitate to defend themselves. The nornir was hopeful that alone would be reason to reconsider the land.
Vale wagged her tail at the approach of Inkeri, stepping back to better view both women. Ears piqued, she lifted her nose. Testing the scents herself, nostrils flared as she worked to commit them to memory.
Leveling her head she turned to Tauris, If they plan to make a claim, would you like us to be hospitable? Present a good impression to hopefully avoid... trouble?
Her eyes tightened into a wince. Kvarsheim's relationships were still in need of repair.
Inkeri look3d downctowards wherecthe scent came. She knewcthese valleys well. She could easily go there. Turmeric would need to watch their children, but she could do it.
A soft smile to Vale though ahe was also uncertain. Gunnar would not be assertive he would have been kind and offered gifts or blessings. Leadership was changing with the demise of Gunnar and Inkeri was a bit worried for it. She knew change happened, but still.
A tilt of an ear as she waited for answers to questions.
Her mind followed the thread of potential problems- problems the nornir now felt it was her responsibility to foresee and quell before they had chance to take hold. A fourth pack in their valley could put a strain on their resources; would increase competition in their hunting grounds. With their cubs still so young and vulnerable, the stakes for Kvarsheim were too high to disregard.
But there was friction enough in the vale without her inviting more bad blood by impulsive choices, and before a thorough study of the new wolves. The conflict with the creek served as an instance of what she didn’t want; violence and dissension created from a lack of communication.
“We’ll be civil. Amiable, but honest. Let them know there are three packs established in the valley. I will inform Switcurrent Creek of their prescence, I intend to travel there today to speak with Akavir,” she informs. If nothing came of it, it was time for Kvarsheim acknowledge how they had wronged their ally.
“We should also send word to Riverclan so they are aware.”
Alright,
Vale absorbed the directive with a nod. Names, faces, numbers, and most importantly intentions. All beneficial information to remember in the meeting to come. Vale returned Inkeri's smile, stepping towards the skáti. Her faith being put into the more experienced woman, just as she trusted Tauris to address the current interpack conflicts.
She glances at Inkeri before speaking, hoping not to speak over her, We'll do our best.
Inkeri nodded. Our best. Best.
There was much to be learned and Inkeri had confidence she could do this. She did and she would. After all ahe had blossomed recently. Had learned more about herself. And what she could do.