Wolf RPG

Her return to the Teekons came with a cold wind carrying snow flurries. A sharp violet eye on them for but a passing second. More would come, in the weeks and months ahead. A little cold was nothing she couldn't handle. It often went hand in hand with the wet paws that came from her native land.

The season did mean she would have to consider being more resourceful in terms of fetching a meal. For now, she was still sufficiently healthy. Well fed the night before on a careless hare, food was not on her mind. Something else was.

Aliki did not recognize the glacier she had arrived at, having moved in from the west. She had not been in this neck of the woods before. Her memory was good enough that she knew her old haunt of the Lake was not too far off. 

Strange scents of a collective of wolves tickled her nose. Border markings. A pack. She was curious. Cautious as she tip toed the line, dark crown low as she sniffed. Slight hackles along her spine displayed her uncertainty. Who were these wolves?

The village had enough bodies now for full caches and a strong guard. Soon they would have ulax built for sleeping places and work rooms, further protection within the glacier itself that would save Moonsong if the winter proved too dangerous. Kilgitsuk was on high alert (along with most of the villagers) so, when he caught sight of a stranger approaching from the west he made himself readily available to intercept.

First he had to cleave a path down from the glacier's lower reaches, partially explored as they were now, and that took time. When he crossed the heart of the village he gave word of a visitor, and more eyes turned westward; but he would check them out and deal with them himself, if they proved hostile.

Kilgitsuk neared the western limits of the village soon enough after that. He called with a rumble; his posture was rigid and he approached with a bit of a swagger.

I greet you, he called to them; he saw a dark face and slim gray body, becoming more aware of the stranger now that he was close. You approach village Moonsong. What is your purpose?

The myriad of wolven scents interested her. She dissected each one belonging to it's owner as best as her nose would allow. 

An outsider could only learn so much without shifting their status. Normally, were these lands unclaimed and if she were dealing with one, or even two individuals, Aliki would have obeyed her base instincts. Advertising her presence and assertive personality by over marking with her own scent.

Not here. It was not proper wolf edict, even for someone more rooted to their instincts, like herself. Boundaries were to be respected. Unless you were stupid or were asking to be attacked. The Water wolf was neither.

A rumble gleaned her attention, prompting her dark head to lift. A pale but confident figure of masculinity. Her already raised hackles flattened, but remained slightly raised in between the rise of her shoulders. Intense purple eyes fixed on him for but a moment, before averting to his cheek. The slight raise of a left paw and the slow retreat a little further from the border, signaled she was non-confrontational.

Aliki was not used to speaking with others. It was not that she couldn't. More often than not, she elected to let her body do the talking. This time, her voice was low and wisp like, from lack of use. "Only to settle my self curiosity. This...Moonsong...I do not believe I have come across them before." She sniffed to clear an itch inside her nose. "Although...I have been absent for many moons..."

The woman claimed to be curious. He remained wary and inspected her scent for signs of anything that might be dangerous—illness, injury, or ties to those that meant harm to Moonsong. He found nothing to be truly concerned about.

This village was only recently formed, he explained; this was why she did not know of it, or recognize any scents. Then again she had mentioned being away from the area for a long time, and of this Kilgitsuk had many questions that would go unasked.

The head of our village is a woman named @Ariadne. Her people also claim the mountains that way, and a day's hike up those mountains there, he motions towards Moonspear first, Moonglow next, and lastly the Tidepeople, and a village by the sea, a day or two north of us now. All this to express the power of the sunshine-people and their wide control of the area.

"Ah, that would explain quite a lot." The more words that rolled off her tongue, the easier she found her voice to use. After she had drawn back slightly, she lowered herself to her haunches, tightly. Neck slightly lowered, ears and eyes alert. Ready to leap away if things turned unexpectedly. 

Silent, she filed the tidbits he offered. A young woman led this village. Others, relatives most likely, laying claim to others nearby. A flutter of her eyelids in a blink showed she was impressed. "She sounds accomplished. Well connected." A head tilt, one ear turned to the side. "What is she like?"

Sensing no immediate threat and even the potential for the atmosphere to warm slightly, she introduced herself. "I am called Aliki. For a time, I made my home at the not too distant Great Lake. But, that is no longer."

The woman was suitably impressed. She showed no sign of threat towards Kilgitsuk or the new knowledge of the village here, and had questions for him.

Ariadne is kind-hearted and wise. She welcomes many to the village—if you should be in need of a place, I could call for her. He was not aware that the village was in need of more women for a women's circle, or he would have been a little more open, perhaps more insistent.

The woman introduced herself and it was only polite to share his own name, Kilgitsuk; I do not know of any great lake, but... I know what it is like for a village to fall. He paused a moment to close his eyes and offer a small bow of his head to Aliki, a momentary silence for what might've been lost.

What did you do in your village? We are mostly hunters. Perhaps she was like-minded.

Aliki did not smile often. But hearing of Ariadne and her kind nature, did bring a warm look to her eye. "I would not mind meeting her. I should forewarn you first, that I am not necessarily looking to settle. Not yet." A leveled, honest look. "I want to weigh my options carefully."

"Kilgitsuk...what does your name mean?" Another question, more curiosity. He misunderstood her terminology of the Lake. For to her that was all it had been. "It's not far. A little ways southeast."

She found it interesting how he referred to the former Lake pack as a village. "I am not so sure I would call it that, but yes. Packs form and dissolve. It was a rather...raw pack. Instinctual."

Her eyes gleamed. A small smile wanting to come to her lips. "But my homeland....the White River, we are hunters. Fishers. Strong swimmers. It is where the rivers merge with the sea. We make water our strength." Had he heard of such specialized wolves? She was on new ground, today. It would be a lie to say if she wasn't the least bit curious about the lifestyle of this Moon Village.

If she did not plan to stay, he would choose not to call for the woman as she still recovered from her injured leg; that would only take longer if she worked too hard. As for his own name, the man obliged.

It means 'hawk-in-snow'. Kilgitsuk did not feel inclined to explain further on it. That it was his trader-name, that it was inspired in part by Ariadne's mother.

As he listened to Aliki, he learned that she was a seaside wolf, and her people sounded much like his own. He nods. The water can be useful to hunters, and dangerous. Many of us come from the north where there is only ice to tread, and deep water.

He did not proceed to call for Ariadne. She did not hold it against him. She nodded to the meaning of his name. Hawk in snow. 

"It is indeed. A powerful element. Generous when used properly and respected." She felt her posture had loosened. She actually was finding that the words shared with Kilgitsuk were refreshing. And his company as well.

"Is Ariadne of Northern descent as well?" He may have told her of her connections beyond this glacier, but never that she was a native, born of village Mooglow. "If it wouldn't trouble you, I cannot deny that I am curious to hear of what Moonsong is like." 

My choice will be much easier, that way, her eyes seemed to say.

She is, though of a different people from my own. He answered, nodding. There are many people in the north; no doubt you've encountered some in your life, whether you know it or not. The seal hunters, the ice runners, my own of Tartok; these are some that make the village home.

As for the village in greater specificity:

We are a village of men, mostly. There are many hunters and warriors here; our days are spent protecting what Ariadne has built while we wait for the spring, and the choice she is expected to make. He was not shy about this fact. Villages often rose for this purpose. Beyond that, Kilgitsuk was confident in himself as the only real choice — but he did not feel it mattered enough to voice this to a stranger.

I will call for her then. He said next, not knowing what else to say. She might be fond of more women to talk to, at any rate. And with that, Kilgitsuk's voice carried for @Ariadne to hear. A woman of rivers has come to see your village!

"A woman of rivers has come to see your village!" Kilgitsuk howled.

Ariadne looked up from her project—the fur she was preparing for @Ajei—and quickly pushed it aside. She breathed a sigh of relief; her prayers for more women were being answered! Once she had gotten up and left the den, she paused and howled to let them know she was heading their way.

She was as prompt as possible in her current condition, and she stopped next to Kilgitsuk and nosed his cheek in greeting before turning to the woman. This woman greets you, woman of rivers. How may I help you?

As she listened with open ears, her genuine interest was apparent. "Who knows how many I may have encountered in my travels, then." Now, she at last allowed a true, slight smile. "And if I stick around, I am certain I will meet more."

She had little opinion on how the males outweighed the females. Numbers of the different genders could vary in any pack. But hunters and warriors...this appealed to her. 

He would call for her after all. She felt wanting to open her mouth to say it was no trouble, but stopped herself. As a member of the pack, if he deemed it fit to summon Ariadne, she would let him carry his choice. "I appreciate that, thank you."

When the Glacier woman did arrive, it was after a bit of a wait. Aliki saw why, in the compromise of her leg. But she hardly minded sitting by in the meantime. Ariadne was pretty, warmly colored as opposed to her own stormy coat. 

"And to you. I am Aliki. Kilgitsuk intercepted me, and admittedly, got me quite curious of your village. I would like to know more of it, before considering a place to settle."

They waited together, and as Ariadne appeared Kilgitsuk felt immediately terrible for calling for her; she should have been resting, but instead here she was to speak on the behalf of her village. He gave her a look — meaning to only glance and humbly nod, and effectively being star-struck as she came close, not wanting to take his eyes away.

Aliki spoke up and that brought Kilgitsuk back to himself. This woman is Aliki, from a river village. I told her some about Moonsong and she is interested. He explained to Ariadne, as he offered his support to her. He would watch and guard, and otherwise fade in to the background while observing.

With the information given, Ariadne shot Kilgitsuk a thankful look before turning her attention to Aliki. What would you like to know about my village? she asked, eager to answer whatever the stranger threw at her.

Kilgitsuk was not forgotten, but the River wolf's attention turned largely to Ariadne now. "Yours is a pack of hunters and warriors, I am told. Many, likely of northern heritage." Her eye darted once, back to the gray man, confirming the earlier information he had passed to her.

"What I am interested to know, is what your culture is like? What life is like in Moonsong?" She was as relaxed and open as she had been with Kilgitsuk. But also plainly honest.

"It will help me better decide if I may be a fit for the pack. For you as well. My...way of life, has been and always will be centered largely around water, in all it's forms."

Ariadne nodded as the information from Kilgitsuk was re-hashed, and a question followed that gave her pause. She considered it momentarily, wanting to provide the best answer she could.

Village Moonsong is about togetherness—about caring for your fellow wolf. We know here that we are only as strong as our weakest member, and provide for all in our ranks, and within the ranks of our sister packs, Moonglow, Moonspear, and Moontide.

As for the bit about water: There is water in our territory, if that is what you are wondering. It is high above the glacier, a river that feeds into a lake filled with seals. It is quite a sight to see.

Aliki took it all in. Togetherness. Caring for every wolf in the pack. She seemed contemplative, but not over what Ariadne had said. It was her very own nature she considered. Aliki had shown here today that she could be civil and hold a decent conversation. Throughout her life and up to the time in Greatwater Lake, she allowed the instincts she had been born with to rule. 

If she were to join them in this village, could they accept such a side of her?

There was also water. A good sign. Any sustainable territory needed water source. The lake would probably be a favorite haunt of hers if she joined these wolves.

She drew in a breath, before calmly explaining. "Water has always been a central part of my life. My homeland was surrounded largely by it. My family and I are specialists, more so than the average wolf might be." Aliki was not bragging. She was simply stating the facts.

"We also lived heeding to more...instinctual, raw behavior, let's call it. Not aggression or hostility. Just a little more natural communication." But as Ariadne saw, Aliki could be flexible. Civil. "It is a part of me still very much intact. I say this so there may be no surprises." She fell silent again, eyes curious for her evaluation. Whether or not she deemed her a good fit, Aliki would take no offense. Her mind was not yet decided. She was only testing the waters.

Ariadne nodded, curious to learn more about Aliki's people. However, she held her tongue for now; this wasn't the time for idle chatter!

I see nothing wrong with your ways—we have a few wolves in our village who act similarly, she'd seen the ferociousness of the north; the abilities of the silent; all were welcome in her village. Ss long as you do no harm and contribute, I would have no issues with you joining us.

She nodded openly, somewhat assured that there were others, similar to her nature. "That is good to know." She stretched her spine, feeling her muscles flex. Somewhat sore from travel. 

"I would not cause any disruption, and I have played an active role in packs before." Contributing, would be no issue for the River wolf. But she was not ready to settle, yet.

"Ariadne, I thank you for your time and information." An open, appreciative glance to Kilgitsuk. "And yours as well. I need some time to roam a little more, to consider my options. You yet may see me again in the future." 

As tempted as she was, she would not cave in yet. Aliki made her decisions carefully, and a little more solo time to digest this information would be to her benefit. With a courteous nod to the both of them, she turned to make her exit.

Their words shared, Kilgitsuk watched and waited to see if Aliki would be joining them; but it was not destined for the moment, and she turned to leave. A frown crept across his face momentarily, shed just before he turned to look at Ariadne; he gave a shrug. I suppose that is that. At least word would spread of the village. Maybe Aliki would return to them when winter became too difficult.

I am sorry for calling you away from the ulaq, Kilgitsuk mentions once they are alone again, together. He gives her a sheepish smile, and begins to walk with Ariadne towards her sleeping place. Let me escort you back, if you'd like? She could lean on him if her leg gave her issue.

Aliki decided not to join, at least not today. That is fine, she said. Take all the time that you need. We will be here. Deciding to join a pack was a big decision, and she didn't blame the stranger for needing more time. Safe travels, she wished, watching as the other turned to leave.

It is fine, she replied, turning to Kilgitsuk once he spoke. These things happen. As for his offer—she nodded and smiled bashfully. Please, she said, giving him space to lead the way back. Although she didn't necessarily need his support on the walk, she took it and enjoyed his nearness.