Heph was in her element, with so many wolves and so many new faces to see. She helped Moontide set up camp, checked in with others where she saw them with brief greetings and heartfelt thanks for coming, for bringing their hunters and healers and watchers so that all may come away stronger. She had never seen so many wolves gathered in one place before, her tail wagged and she did her best to step carefully to smile politely and not tease too much, aware that she represented Moontide as well.
If anyone needed help she would offer what strengths he could as she was excited for Rodyn to call a start to the hunt, nervous energy rising in her.
all welcome!
Indeed, the thrum of wolves on the horizon had drawn the attention of a certain spider.
Idly, she wove her way through the crowd in search of food or mischief, making a point to brush against the pelts of many others so that her scent would not seem too out of place.
A popular woman stood out from the rest, one that passer-by's seemed to greatly respect and greet more frequently than others. She seemed like a woman in charge. Drawing closer, the word Heph was prominent in conversation (she wouldn't have called it eavesdropping, more blending in).
"It's Heph, right?" Sidling up to her with a confident swish of her tail. It was a gamble, but Tiberia was ready to melt back into the throng should she come up empty handed.
The sound of her name had her stopping and turning to greet with a smile the wolf who had spoken it. Looking at the other wolf was unerringly like looking at a sibling her colors were more separated and dusted with hints of brown, Heph noted the marked intonation of words. "Indeed." She confirmed, she searched her mind for the scent and the sound and the sight of the face, but she was fairly sure she did not know the wolf before her. It made sense that some in the gathering would know her name without her knowing theirs - she had offered several of the alphas present to make introductions and she supposed they may have given a description of her to any number of wolves as someone to help. Her voice was warm, a hint of teasing. "A pleasure. I'm afraid we haven't met, I'd certainly remember a face like yours." A light to her eyes, but she moved on from it quickly.
Her voice tilted up into a question, unsure why she had been sought out. "What can I do for you...?" She trailed off, allowing the double question of both the wolf's identity and her intentions to hang in the air. The wolf smelled of the many camps, but Heph could not detect the scent of a pack beneath it - the stronger scent that would have spoken to belonging - perhaps she had merely missed it or this wolf had come by an invitation by some other means.
"Pleasure's all mine," lips quirked in a satisfied grin once Hephs's identity was confirmed. She was pretty in a way that reminded her of soft feathers that one could rely on for a comforting sleep even after the roughest of days. A stark opposite to herself - a thought that almost made her laugh.
Though the lightness of Heph's expression was quick to fade into something more inquisitive, she found herself preening inwardly at the subtle compliment. "Have I got somethin' on my nose, is that why?" playful, yet careful. Testing the waters. "Was wonderin' if you could tell me what the fuss is about - I'm pretty new 'round here." It could prove useful when she returned to Caligula to know the happenings of the flatlands, especially if their residence was to be something more permanent.
A woman like Heph could be a spring of information, should she find what made her tick.
Boldly, the spider moved closer until her breath tickled the wispy white hairs of Heph's cheeks. "You can call me Lola." The false name slipped naturally from her lips, eyes twinkling as she awaited a reaction.
Heph listened with a smile, that curved and revealed a flash of playful teeth at the other wolf's willingness to play along. "Just a set of silver moon eyes." She said, a tremble of laughter escaping her as well. But her ears were keen when the other wolf asked, it seemed as if she belonged to no pack and had not been invited after all. Heph had invited each pack and pair who had come with information on location, time, and activity, if they had passed that on naturally a wolf would know. But they were not on Moontide's land and she was easy in the presence of the stranger. "Lola." She spoke, an edge of laughter, perhaps a bit less playful for she was surprised at the wolf's closeness. And though she enjoyed the game, and the light did not leave her eyes she unconsciously used the shakes of laughter to put some more space between them once again. For though the brown-eyed wolf did not know it yet, as lovely as she found the lilt of the interlocutor's voice and pretty as her silver eyes and night black snow white face these recent days she found herself preferring eyes like autumn leaves and the familiar rumble through the silence of many steps walked in tandem.
But some information was more easily shared than others. "Wolves from Moontide, Moonspear, Moonsong, Moonglow, Sunmote Copse, Sappique, Brecheliant, and Hearthwood gather here to hunt bison. When the hunt is over some will stay to tan the hides and package what they will bring back to their packs before returning back to their territories." She said, speaking each pack's name. "Where are you from?" The wolf had mentioned being new to the area and Heph was ever-curious about new places to travel.