For posterity’s sake, it might have helped her if she had kept some memento of the dark female. Yet at the time, there was little that could have been spared other than literal fur or flesh. And of course, that wouldn’t have amounted to an agreeable impression. Instead, Xi’nuata was left to wander by way that she could gather from the forest itself, taking note of the many scents, those lupine and not, and hoping one would lead to if not near her intended destination.

But there was hope.

Coming toward her side, the autumn wolf smiled at the presence of a familiar face. Her eyes brightened and tail swayed modestly in glee at the odd-eared face she had traveled a good ways to see. “A little, yes,” she smiled unabashedly as she walked over with a slight bound to greet her dark companion. She extended her muzzle in the hopes of fondly gracing a black shoulder. “I had come to see you! But lost my way… or perhaps I did not have a ‘way’ to really follow.”

Fate was indeed a romantic sentiment, but that was not to say that it couldn’t have been the reason for their reunion. It could have been the pull of some higher power that encouraged her to venture out this day among any others. And again it could have been that same force that brought her onto the ‘lost’ path, only to be found by the very individual she sought. There was more than coincidence at play, or so she chose to believe.

“I’m well,” she replied, smiling gently without missing a beat to their excited rhythm. In truth, she was overjoyed, but thought it best to retain some semblance of composure whilst they spoke. “Since last we saw each other, I became a part of the Vale in the mountains.” Her head tipped back subtly with pride though there was a noticeable swell of her breast as she continued. “It is a welcoming place. One day I will have to show you the territory. It is sizeable, but well hidden. And you?” Despite her attempt at calm composure, her heavy paws pranced her forward, nearly butting her chest into the dark female’s shoulder. “How are you doing? Is all well?” She inquired, taking notice of her companion’s ruffled state. She hoped nothing unfortunately had happened since their last meeting, though the reality of that likeness was present in the forefront of her mind.

The warrior was eager to hear how Pump was doing in her own home, but there was a hint in her voice that suggested not all was well as she told. She thought better than to pry, though concern knitted her brows none the less. Ever the open book to read when it came to expressions worth sharing, and in a sense, feeling. “Standards?” she questioned, not quite understanding the meaning behind it. Had she known that it was pertaining to one’s expectations, she would certainly have sympathized given her first encounter with a pack she had intended to join. But her fault was that she was ignorant of most interpretations of things. Though it was that same ignorance that made her intuitive to seek clarity for what she did not know.

At least in the aspects that mattered, of course.

“Has your Alpha not tried to help you?” with what it was, she did not know. But as with all packs was it not the role of the superior to see to the comfort of their underlings? If her companion was not happy, perhaps they were neglectful. Though, she did not pass judgment so quickly.

She would not have called the mentoring role of the Alpha his sole job, though it was their obligation to be an open ear to the members of their pack. It was an important role that has highly lacking in her prior home before the Vale. One that contributed to her isolation and continued regression into lacking self-confidence. Of course, it did not help that she was ignored by him as well…

“Well…” the woman hummed softly in thought. “It is more of the Alpha’s privilege and his responsibility. As my sire would say; ‘an Alpha has two ears for a reason- one to hear the fodder of the forest, the other to hear the voices of his pack.’ If he does not turn his toward you, then perhaps you should bend it?” Her smile would suggest an attempt at a joke, though there was some truth to her suggestion even if poorly conveyed. Of course she did not mean for physical harm on her friend’s leader, but rather she use her unique voice to take his attention.

OOC: <3 thank you!

Xi’nuata hoped that her friend would take her words to heart and seek out her leader to speak with him. Since being accepted by the Vale, she came to value the input of her leaders as well as the comfort they brought her whenever she mind seemed troubled. However far and in between the feelings might have been. If the same could be found by Pump, she would have been glad. But it was up to the dark girl to decide if she would go through with it.

In the meantime, they set aside such thoughts and favored instead something more enjoyable to talk about. Smiling, the warrior was all but bursting to speak of the Vale. “It is a large haven,” she began. “Surrounded on all sides by mountains. A small paradise even in winter. The forest is always green and sometimes covered in snow after a fall. But there is always a warm spot even when the snowfall is heavy.” Her tail waved eagerly as she continued seemingly without breath. “We do not receive as many visitors since it is difficult to get in, but we find comfort in each other and everyone does their part to make sure our haven is fed and secure. It is so warming, Pump. You must come visit!”

She would have loved for her friend to visit, but there was the reality that not all were adapted to scaling the treacherous mountains. They were second nature to the mountain-born wolf, but to others they might have appeared as frightful things. Dangerous, looming peaks with promise of death upon a faltering step. But she believed such fears could be averted with strong guides. A sure foot ahead to ensure safe passage. Of course she not have allowed her friend to travel the mountains alone, but politely resisted in pushing the idea further. As long as there was a thought toward it, she was content.

“Oh, of course,” she smiled whilst tipping her head in agreement. “Perhaps you can visit once we are in spring? There are so many flowers in the Vale now, you would think it has already come! It would be wonderful to see what grows when the season has truly come.” Her tail waved merrily at her legs at even the thought of the warmer season. “I would enjoy sharing that with you.”

“As long as it is in your thoughts, I am happy,” she assured her companion with a smile. She was understanding that not all things could occur simply because she wished them to at the time. There were also personal thoughts to effect it, of which the female found no bother in. As long as there was an attempt, she was satisfied, and would look forward to the time when she could play host to her friend. Hopefully the others would not mind it.

And speaking of them…

“…I can say that there are enough that we do not run out of food,” she offered somewhat indirectly, more so to keep the exact number from knowledge. While she trusted the female before her, the same courtesy was not yet extended to her pack. First hand, she had experienced the inconvenience and complication of having word travel and thought it best to keep the same occurrence from transpiring in her new home. “But enough paws,” she continued carefully “-that no corner of the territory is without eyes. We are plentiful.” Her muzzle titled with a slight apologetic curl. “I hope you do not take offense, but I cannot tell you more than that… At least not yet.”

“Religion?” As far as the female was aware, there was no such thing to suggest the like in the Vale. Each had their own belief sure enough, but beyond that she had only ever heard the wishes of the Alphas for peace. Though she was not certain if that qualified as a religious aspect. “I do not believe the Vale has one, no. But its founders did come from a pack separated into factions. It is something that we have adopted into our own ranks. But I suppose we… keep to traditional order as well.” Though truth be told, she had not seen much of it outside the warrior faction. In there was an inlaid necessity for rank assertion at least among its members. Outside however, in mingling with the monks and healing clerics, it was less evident, near non-existent.

But the question did raise her curiosity for one in kind. “What of your pack,” she inquired with a muzzle tilt. The smile on her face remained light and genuine, interest apparent though polite in her reluctance to pry.

OOC: Shall we fade?

The religions of wolves was just another aspect the female did not feel like she understood, as with most other things that resided outside her realm of comfort. But as she was inclined to, she accepted the uniqueness as belonging to the individual and simply solidified further her own resolve in self. Whatever others did to bring them comfort was to them, and them alone. She shook her head when asked regarding the mentioned deities. “It sounds like it would be an interesting hobby,” she offered none the less in the spirit of polite conversation. And indeed it was interesting. But her curiosity was not present to bid she inquire about it further.

“But perhaps you’d like to walk and tell me about your hobbies in the pack?” The warrior was itching to move around again, if only to see a bit more of the grounds, perhaps even the Ridge itself, before she had to start on her journey to home. She pawed the ground lightly in invitation, smiling as she took a step forward.