it's not that polaris was avoiding the wolves of easthollow. on the contrary, she'd lingered closer to the pack than she was even accustomed to since her return whilst trying to tackle the freshly cut guilt at having been absent when they'd needed her most. but she found herself avoiding the innermost parts of the hollow and its eternal sentries, unable to bring herself to face the fallen that she'd never even gotten to meet. she knew it was irrational, unhealthy even but the questions were tenacious with their attacks and so she fell victim to their hissed jeers all too often; if she'd been here, or even in the neighbouring territories then perhaps she might have caught scent of the fanged behemoth and given the wolves the time they'd needed to escape and prepare, or if they'd just had one more set of jaws to protect then perhaps polaris would not have to know even more children now that had had a parent unjustly stolen away before them. it is why she lingers restlessly on the borders, jaw tensed hard despite the groaning ache of pearly fangs when she starts at the call to sound not too far off. 

there is a moment in which she simply stares dumbly in the direction in which the song's vocalist was located, glancing off to the side as if expecting to see the equanimous presence of valette striding through the shivering blades but no, it was just her. and so, shaking her head roughly in a vague attempt to clear it somewhat, the dove took off at a nimble trot; curious despite herself. it doesn't take long for the prodigious woman to breach her line of sight and the svelte girl slows, scintillating gaze vigilant in its press as she glances about to confirm that she was most definitely alone. eyes skip briefly across her pallid figure, coming to rest unwaveringly upon her own honey kissed look as a polite smile graced angular features. "welcome to the borders of easthollow" she'd announce, quite enjoying the thrill to ripple along her spine at the weight of such words before lilting "what brings you here?" the musk of wolves does not drag at her hairs and the girl finds herself quite enjoying the tantalizing tang of the untainted world wafting towards her from her company.

slender brows arch, she wished to enquire about easthollow? lambent look narrows, curiosity heightened, but she keeps ahold of her tongue whilst allowing the wayfarer to provide her explanation. huh, head tilts to the side as she rolls this unexptected ask over in her mind, blinking at the expectant gaze piercing intently upon her. "well" she muses, thoughtful frown pressing upon angular features as she thinks back to the day she'd first approached the stalwart borders of easthollow. "i am no leader, so i can not guarantee that this is exactly what they'd say but going off of my own experience trying to join here...i believe easthollow values loyalty and family over all else, the leadership is fair but strong. if you seem honourable and willing to work to look after the pack and those within it i think you'd stand a good chance at joining, and once you prove that you mean it you can advance from newcomer to family" ears splay a little sheepishly as she grins and adds "that is what i believe from my time here anyway, it's a really great place"

shifting her weight as the clement breeze tickles at the fringes of her neck, the dove adds curiously "why do you ask? you're without a pack right now, right?" was she perhaps looking to find a home within the eternal stone's grasp? or simply an intrigued soul with an enquiring mind?

intrigue touched eyes lingered ardently upon the flaxen woman at her words, head cocked. what a fantastic idea! and she found herself victim to stirring envy once more, restless paws fluttering on the border at such an enthralling task and what information could be up for grabs. other packs simply fascinated polaris, from tranquil easthollow to the barbaric nightwalkers and all that existed inbetween; the way in which wolves created these entire homes from their own dreams and fantasies...it was all rather spectacular. her head did however, give a quick shake as she declared "i call that nonsense and i don't even know you! a pack is a home, as long as you wish to do what you can to care for those within then you are worthy of a place in my opinion." an adamant smile perched upon charcoal lips, mismatched look stolen away for a moment by the delightful song of a swooping bird riding the breeze that hummed above. smiling after it, she continued to murmur "that sounds like an amazing plan though, learning about the requirements of other packs. in fact i am quite jealous, i've always been enthralled by how different each pack can be depending on those who lead it."

she'd blink back to focus wholly on the woman's lustrous eyes, trailing a paw idly along twirling blades of grass whilst enquiring "the other pack you spoke of...may i ask who they were and what you discovered about them? i am always eager to learn what i can about the other souls of the teekons- oh! i also never got your name, i'm polaris"

an exuberant smile is flashed at her words, feathered plume swaying languidly at her hocks. in her opinion, the traveller's resolute ability to commit to her yearn to discover the ins and outs of nearby packs despite believing it to be unconventional made her character all the more attractive. not that polaris even regarded it as odd, it made perfect sense! after all, if she'd been more considerate of investigating the backgrounds of other packs then perhaps her flank wouldn't be scarred, a sneering reminder of her time spent with the vile nightwalkers. a swift nod is granted before trilling "i'm happy to help! and i know i can't talk for my leaders but i'm confident that if you'd ever like to, you could find yourself a home in easthollow! i'm sure you've something to offer even if you fear you don't, from the bravest soldiers to soft spoken storytellers- they all provide something for their home!" she didn't care what anyone thought, she would stand by that statement forever. a pack that catered for a variety wolves all carrying different interests and skills would always stand stronger than those who regarded certain skills as 'weakening or pointless'.

ears flutter to attention, vigilant look aflame with curiosity. spook, legion? unfamiliar to her, a new pack or from further out than she would've guessed? she did loose a laugh at their value, grin growing sheepish in nature as she admitted "well i don't think they'd ever take too kindly to me looking for a home there then, i am quite an awful hunter" and frankly, she was okay with that. the lack of independence was a pain in itself but she'd gotten by with small game as a lone wolf and if she did succeed in learning to fish...gosh that conversation with valette and west could've happened years ago, how had it only been about a month? even casting a glance at the whirpool of tainted memories that roved within that span of time made her weary. but she was never going to let herself feel bad for the discomfort to catch ahold of her when it came to robbing the lives of 'prey animals', now that was unorthodox. tilting her head, she'd muse "i haven't heard of legion though...are they near here? if so they must be new, but if they're further out i guess it'd make sense i didn't know them...there's still a lot i've yet to see, but thank you! i appreciate the knowledge, i want to be a scout you see. perhaps a master ranger someday!" she couldn't imagine anything better, getting to help out others whilst exploring all the world had to offer? and getting a title to hold for it? spectacular. 

"nice to meet you too yllka" haunches would relax her into an easy sit as she continued to murmur "are you new to the teekons then? or just from one of the other packs?"

"well there you have it" she hums, eyes aglow with amused delight "both of us lack what some would deem the most important skill of all, giving that it provides us with food and all that and yet, you look pretty healthy to me and as far as i'm aware i'm doing quite alright myself so to hell with anyone that decides otherwise" ludic grin remains perched upon animated lips as she drops a note to add, voice hushed as if revealing a grand secret "i am confident that a wolf's best quality is loyalty and kindness, and any wolf that would declare that such a thing makes you soft are the exact type that you wouldn't want in your company" and there was an intensity to the press of that scintillating look she wielded, her intention to prove that the wolves that thrived in the shadows of cruelty and violence had reason to fear those that fought on the path paved by blazing light as intact as ever. she'd stumbled after the recent spanners the world had flung her way, wearied figure having considered succumbing to the darkness that snapped eagerly at shaken heels more than once in the last month but she was recovering. and more than that, she was angry, she would not break down and cry in the face of the dark; she was going to destroy it.

"hmm interesting" she muses, looking off towards blurred peaks "i'll have to check them out sometime, thanks again" teekon born too, so had they, like her, been of a different pack previously? or simply wanderers of these wilds that had decided to finally set down solid roots? she blinks back to star touched eyes to agree "i guess it is, i've honestly never even thought of it as a skill, just something i absolutely loved to do but i guess it is kinda considered that. but i suppose anything you're passionate about is a skill in itself" shifting her weight, she is embraced by fervent curiosity at the woman's revelation about being from outside of the teekons. she gives a small shake of her head, ears twisting a little as memories stroked tender claws along her conscience "nah" she murmurs, slender shoulders lifting in a small shrug as she'd intone "i was born just a little ways away from here, near a creek close to those mountains" an airy gesture in her birthplace's vague direction "pack's been gone a while now, i uh have been in a few places since but none really felt like home until i found easthollow. one of them was outside the teekon's though! that's the only time i've been outside of them" tone hitches up again, more sprightly in nature once she's past the mumbling about swiftcurrent, fearful that should she let too much emotion leak in that recent wounds would open once more. "that's pretty cool that you're from different lands though, i'd say you've seen quite a lot on your travels"