Wolf RPG

@Kaskara

It was almost a month ago that Saena left the plateau behind, and she hadn't looked back since. The wilds were too beautiful and compelling for her to feel homesick, and she didn't regret a thing. Sure, at times she missed Blue Willow or Pura, but it was usually fleeting. Her bad memories were greater than her good ones. Leaving was the best thing she could've done for herself, a fact she confirmed every time she stood atop the ridge and looked out over the wilds beyond.

Her followers were few right now, but it wasn't something Saena dwelled on. Instead of thinking about it too much, the young female was active. Presently, she stooped over a hole dug out on the ridge's northern base. She parted her jaws, dropping a hare minus one leg into the darkness, and immediately turned to fling dirt over it. As she finished up, her eyes wandered to the tall mountain on the horizon, and as soon as she was satisfied with her work, she began trotting north.

She didn't dare get near the pack territory she'd smelled on her first day this far north, but lingered in the grassland that stretched between the ridge and the peak. For a while, she merely stared up at the tall peak, its top far above the ridge's own, and wondered what they might do if ever they discovered her claiming land mere miles from their base. Then, as if it didn't matter at all, she sat down, lifted a hind leg, and began to groom her thigh, heedless of her surroundings for a brief moment.

Life had been kind to them with Nova Peak as their base. The Northwoods were calming and relaxing, while the Tangle kept any unwanted visitors at bay. The Bitcurrent was tiny in comparison to its namesake, but it threaded through their territory, bringing fresh water and some wide, shallow spots to fish and swim in. Kaskara would have been content, if only for a persistent nag that made her rethink every possibility. She was happy here with her family, but there was one prickly spot that kept her from being truly happy.

So today she decided to head south, away from the heart of their claim, to investigate the outer rim of the Peak's mountain range. It wasn't a big one, and most of their territory covered it anyway. But Kaskara didn't want to be beholden to its crags today, and so left the mountain territory for the flatter grasslands of the south. That was when, to her chagrin, she noticed a pale wolf bathing itself atop a small rise. Kaskara watched the wolf closely, her orange eyes bright against her dark coat. As she neared, Kaskara let out a low bark, alerting the wolf of her presence while also giving warning. This was neutral territory, true, but it was too close to her land for comfort.

Kaskara closed the gap between them with a few long strides, keeping a few yards away from the other. Her eyes watched the girl groom herself, and after a moment she finally spoke. "Hello." Simple, direct, precise. Kas didn't know what else to say, so simply remained standing there, gazing at the young woman, curiosity bright in her eyes.

Before Kaskara's greeting, Saena finished fully grooming her left hind leg and was about halfway through the right. When a brisk voice reached her, she glanced up with her head still tucked between her forelimb and her hock. Her tongue poked out comically for a second before she smoothed her fur one last time and straightened up. Kaskara was both taller and thicker than Saena, but more because of Saena's petite stature than Kaskara's grand size. The female was actually pretty average, but notably muscular. The former Blacktail's eyes roved over the unfamiliar chocolate of her coat, hitched briefly on her shoulders where her coat appeared frosted, and then wandered to her orange eyes for a fleeting glance before she looked away.

There was no mistaking where the other wolf hailed from. The direction of her appearance was irrefutable. "You're from that mountain," Saena guessed quietly. She couldn't imagine that Kaskara knew anything about her plans, but nervousness found its way into her stomach all the same. She'd intended to not reach out to the mountain pack before laying claim to the ridge, but now it seemed like a childish and foolish thing to do. Surely an established pack could obliterate her humble beginning out of mere ire if some damage control wasn't done before discovery.

But first, there was the matter of introductions. Kaskara didn't know it yet, but Saena would soon try to negotiate a compromise with her... but she wouldn't dare without first knowing who she was speaking with. "I'm Saena," she greeted, making herself accessible before politely asking, "and you?"

If her mind had been anywhere else, Kas might have laughed at the comical way the other sat, with her foreleg lifted over her head to get a better angle at her thigh. She did chuckle, very softly, but let it fade with the wind. The younger girl sat up straighter and studied her for a brief moment before guessing that Kaskara was from the mountain behind her. The outrider nodded briefly, then voiced her answer as well, in case she hadn't seen the gesture from the distance. "I am."

Then the girl introduced herself and Kaskara's ears flickered briefly, surprise lighting her eyes. "Saena. The name is familiar. I'm Kaskara." She watched for the girl's reaction, wondering if she remembered her as well. Kas couldn't remember actually meeting Saena, but Junior surely had mentioned her before, yes? "Are you of the plateau pack?" she asked softly, taking one step forward.

Kaskara confirmed her affiliation with the wolves of the mountain. That was two females so far, a smaller, heavily pregnant one (suggesting she was at least a high ranking wolf) and this burly woman who probably served as a guardian for the pack. From the look of her, Kaskara could fight a well-grown male wolf without any problem. She certainly was not an enemy that Saena wanted to make today, or any day going forward. That meant this mission of potential diplomacy would have to be handled very delicately.

Or perhaps not. There was recognition in the other wolf's eyes, and upon her introduction, Saena squinted. She knew the name from the plateau, but had long forgotten why. The memory of Junior's false death clouded her memories of that time wholly. The name lived in her mind somewhere, but nothing else. "Not anymore, but I remember your name from there, I think," Saena confirmed, "I just... don't remember what happened." Possibly it had to do with Peregrine's departure to the Caldera. Possibly it was that Kaskara was a drifter and couldn't stay in one place, though that seemed unlikely given she was with a pack presently. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she thought she knew she'd only heard about it rather than witnessed it.

"Anyway, like I said, I'm not there anymore. I'm actually planning to settle and build a pack on the ridge back there," she said, gesturing to the squat little rise in the background. She watched closely for any sign that this was unwelcome news—she had no doubt it would be—and so, to diffuse any tension that might arise in her former pack mate, Saena said, "I'm hoping to make a peaceful deal with your wolves."

Kaskara nodded to affirm her memory. "I was a member there briefly, before Junior's supposed death. I'm ashamed to admit I accused Blue Willow of the girl's death, and was thrown out because of it." Since then, she had amended herself to Blue Willow, and had even seen Junior a few times since her supposed demise. Kaskara was glad the girl was not dead, though her current whereabouts where unknown to her. Perhaps Saena knew. "I know Junior lives, but I haven't seen her for many moons. Do you know how she fares?"

Saena's explanation that she wasn't with the plateau anymore brought a frown to Kas's face, though it was minuscule compared to the broil that began in her mind. The ridge she pointed out wasn't close to their pack, per say, but it was close enough for some discomfort. Her bright two-toned gaze studied Saena as she further explained that she wanted to make a peaceful deal. As Beta, Kaskara had the rights to discuss this, but anything formal would have to be approved by her brother and his mate. "I am both beta and outrider for my pack, called Nova Peak." She paused, wondering what else to explain to her. "Though I assist with the decision making, my brother is alpha. He would make the final decision regarding any possible pact between our packs."

"Junior is awesome," Saena confirmed. As there was no longer any reason to hide her sister's whereabouts, she added, "she's living with a pack in the north somewhere called Thief River Falls. I think it's outside the wilds. She's a Beta there, has a mate and everything." The perfect life, really. Saena didn't move nearly so quickly, but imagined she would be in a similar place as Junior one day, with a doting mate and a kingdom all her own. She was well on her way to one of those goals; the other was still almost a year out for her.

Kaskara confirmed she was from Nova Peak and that she was Beta. This title was good enough for Saena, even if Kaskara insisted she needed to have any decision approved. The Blacktail didn't think her offer would be poorly received. "I will inform any wolf of the ridge that they may not hunt north of its borders, leaving you and yours free reign over the land around your mountain," Saena began, feeling it was a generous offer and knowing the Rise would do well within their forests and with access to the plains in the south, "and in return, you allow us to live on the ridge peacefully. I understand it may be close, but I don't plan for hostility, and any who try to incite it, I'll deal with. It calls to me, so I don't want to try to find something better." Saena knew she couldn't.

"Do you think your brother would be okay with that arrangement?" she wondered. Kaskara's reaction would probably mirror Scimitar's, but having it verbalized would put aside any uncertainty that Saena had about it.

Kaskara smiled at her memories of Junior and the thought that she was happy somewhere, with a mate and leadership duties. "That sounds about right for Junior," she commented with a chuckle. Saena, knowing Junior herself, would probably agree with her on that point. If she had known Saena's thoughts on mateship, Kaskara would have given her a few words of advice. Don't move too soon. Make sure he's the one. She had seen too many pairs split apart for lifestyle differences and she didn't want yet another young woman to make that mistake.

Saena's explanation of her terms were well thought out. Kaskara felt that her terms were fair and there was no reason Scimitar would refuse her. It seemed that even if he refused, Saena would go ahead and live on the ridge, risking the wrath of the bigger and slightly more established pack on Nova Peak. She reminded Kas of Scimitar in that way. "Your suggestions are fair, Saena, and I don't think he would refuse you. He knows what it is to love a place and not want to let it go." Kas didn't need to say that Nova Peak, while it held that spot now, was not their first choice. It was the better choice, though.

"Would there be any alliance between us, if any hostility is aimed at either pack from outside sources?" She had to know if Saena had thought about that. Not that Kaskara expected any hostility, it would be good to know an ally lived only miles from their southern border.

"He loves Nova Peak in that way?" Saena assumed. She couldn't imagine a wolf allowing anything to bar them from their chosen place in the world, whether it be a territory or a position in a pack. She lived for both, and had found both, a fact for which she was exceedingly lucky. Hard work aside, many wolves were not so fortunate. It seemed that Kaskara's brother had found a similar lot in life, and that made them kindred in a way. "I would not dream of disrupting you and yours either," she said conclusively. The pack would follow her word, and her word would prevent any displeasure from Nova Peak.

"We could negotiate that if ever it became an issue, I think," Saena said, proud that she could sound so grown up. The truth was that Saena wanted nothing to do with other wolves' wars. Committing herself and her wolves to Nova Peak now, before anything developed with any other pack, was something she would much rather avoid. She wished to share the north with them, but maybe not their feuds, not until she knew exactly how large the feuds were.

While Scimitar had never loved a place quite like Winterheart Neverwinter Forest, Kas knew that his love for the peak was reaching such heights. So when she answered Saena's question with a smile and a nod, she was not lying. Any one of them would die to protect their claim upon the mountain, and the inhabitants within, if any threat came to them. Kaskara especially would lay down her life for any one of those that lived there.

Saena's answer to her question was a calculated and somewhat evasive answer, but it was no less than Kaskara expected. It had been a test of sorts, one that Saena had passed. "I think that would be for the best." Dealing with issues of strife were best left to the time and place when it happened, and not before. Kaskara didn't want her thinking or discussion of said strife to bring it upon them, but it was nice to know that this young leader was no opposed to the idea of becoming allies if the need ever arose. "I can confer with him and return with his answer, though I think it's safe to assume he will agree. Shall I come back here or to your pack?" Kaskara would be glad to stretch her legs.

Kaskara agreed with her, and for that, Saena was glad. She'd never learned how to deal with other packs from anyone, but making deals that couldn't necessarily be kept seemed like a poor idea. Even if she had every intention of aiding Nova Peak in a conflict, Saena couldn't guarantee her eventual pack's cooperation or even that it would be large enough to lend a hand. That, and she knew Reek and Wynter had been dragged into a war once already. It wasn't something she planned to do to them again.

"We can meet out here," the Outrider said, similarly looking forward to an eventual chance to get moving. Redtail Rise would forever be her home base, but she didn't think she would stop Outriding anytime soon. It was too relaxing. "I should get back," she said, glancing over her shoulder toward the small ridge in the near distance. "There are a few wolves expecting me. It was good seeing you, Kaskara, even if I didn't really know you before. I'm glad things worked out for you."

Kaskara nodded and smiled. "What timeframe shall I follow? A fortnight?" Two weeks seemed plenty of time, but she wasn't sure if Saena would think it was too much or just right. Kaskara needed to get back to her family, too, and take care of things before the babies came. That way, when it was time to leave, she wouldn't have to worry too much about leaving the peak without resources. "My brother may want to meet you personally. I hope that would be alright." Saena was quite young to be leading, but Kaskara didn't fault her for that. She seemed to have a good head on her shoulders at least.

She had to think on it a moment, but then decided, "I'll come to you and call. I can't guarantee we'll be ready that soon." In fact, Redtail Rise would not speak again with a member of Nova Peak for over a month, much longer than Kaskara's projected timeline. They would be kept busy with other matters. To the suggestion that Scimitar would speak with her personally, Saena nodded and said, "that'll be fine. I'll see you soon, Kaskara," and turned to quietly leave.

Saena would call for her, and that suited Kas just fine. Plus, that meant she could speak to him on her terms, and work out all the questions he had for her. Of course Kas wouldn't be able to answer all of them, but she'd try. Scimitar would have to speak to Saena himself, and the girl-queen seemed fine with that. "See you later, Saena." With a smile, Kas nodded her farewell, and watched the girl lope off before she, too, turned toward home.