The Ostregas.
It was clearly a name with meaning. @Jarilo had given Toad some insights when she had come to the mountain, but much of their talk had been about the territory's inner workings. He had been kind enough to show her around so that she needn't get the lay of the land on her own. Jarilo and Kukutux had shown her such graciousness that the chocolate canine was positive that this had been the right choice.

The Beta had given some implication that there were stories to be learned. This was certainly something that excited her, but more so was the thought of at least properly meeting with Hydra.

Toad wasn't sure what to expect. Part of her hoped that puppies would tackle her on site — this was something that gave her great joy. Meeting the Alpha female was something she had been looking forward to since her arrival.

In her jaws, she carried two ground squirrels. The result of a decent hunt along the rocky elevations, she thought it proper to bring a gift to the mother. She had, after all, told Jarilo of her hunting capabilities. She intended to prove herself worthy of that confidence by ensuring that the two new mothers and their puppies were as fat as possible.

Toad arrived near where the Beta had shown her Hydra could be found and looked around. She looked rather foolish with her mouth full of the furry rodents.

Toad's fluffy tail wagged low of its own accord as the mother came into her sights. Her movements were stern and stuff at first, but she appeared to relax as Toad bowed her ears. Dropping the squirrels gently on the ground, she gave a grand smile and watched the puppies flounder about, tackling and pulling and flopping on the grass. I am indeed! It was clear from her tone that she was quite pleased to see one of her pack leaders. It was easy to see Jarilo's likeness in her firm features, the strength of her leadership evident in the way she carried herself.

Toad sniffed politely at the dark fur of the Alpha as she drew closer, her own posture rather folded and courteously lowered. There was a sense of satisfaction from the proper welcome. Somehow, it felt as though Moonspear was fully a part of her after these words were spoken, though nothing physically had changed.

The children were next introduced, and Toad's polite posture melted some into a sort of antsy dance of delight. It had been what felt like an age since she had seen such young children at play. Of course the rain wouldn't stop them, she chuckled, looking at each of them to attempt to decide a winner of their games. Fierce little tykes — but in my experience it's often the girls that topple the boys at this age, she looked at the mother and offered a slight wink. In her family, she had noticed that the girls did indeed grow into fierce little spits sooner than boys. Eventually, they would often be beat once their brothers outgrew them.

She stood there for a moment, forgetting herself. Oh! I brought you — well, probably them — these, she knelt down and nudged the squirrels with her nose. They were fat rodents from a good summer of grazing and gathering.

Toad grinned as Hydra described that even as adults, the women of her family could be fiercer than their brothers. It was now obvious from seeing and meeting Hydra that this must be true. The Ostregas seemed a grand family, and if Hydra was any example to go by, it was clear that the Ostrega women were a force to be reckoned with. Though Toad herself had a large and stretching family, she felt hardly like a creature of such aspiration and substance, though she was no pushover. The chocolate storyteller wondered what Dirge would be like, and wondered if a woman like this would choose a mate with as much of a powerful stance as she.

Toad's tail wagged lightly behind her as her leader expressed pleasure at the gifts. She sat down slowly, watching the children continue to play from the corner of her eye, thinking about how to answer. Very well, thanks, she said politely, and thought hard about what she had gotten up to during her welcoming period in the pack.

Everyone's been quite welcoming thus far, she said, thinking of Kukutux. Then, she chuckled softly to herself as she thought of her strange conversation with @Meerkat. Actually, maybe too welcoming in one case. It was meant as a joke, and she quickly clarified. Young Meerkat has decided she wants to set me up with her brother, Bronco, since I am, she changed her voice some to a lightly mocking British tone, a single woman.

Toad found the conversation entertaining, and figured Hydra the Fierce might find it equally so. The thought of her pairing with anyone so early into joining a pack seemed simply ludicrous. Her joking was seated less in thinking Meerkat was silly, and more in her own self-consciousness about her eligibility as a woman for.. anyone. She's a very sweet girl, she said.

Toad's smile broadened. She couldn't help but be a little excited to meet Bronco, though probably not for the reasons that Meerkat was hoping for. The girl had described her brother as handsome and a good hunter, and silly to boot. Toad had always liked to meet new people, and she was hopeful that Bronco would fit nicely with his description.

She shook her head, and then nodded at the blind date comment. Yes indeed, although I don't think she'll actually blindfold me, Toad joked. If anyone could manage to convince her to be blindfolded, it was probably Meerkat at this point. The girl was tenacious.

The pups were still going at it. The coffee she-wolf couldn't believe their energy. Hopefully they would sleep well that evening. It will be a fun time I'm sure, she followed. A temptation to ask the Ostrega something quite personal would probably have stopped most newcomers. Toad, apparently with no issue being obstrusive, asked away. So how did you meet your husband?

Toad listened, clearly absorbed. Love stories were all well and good, but she had always been quite terrible at telling them; this was simply because the real thing was often boring and yet fascinating to her. As usual, Hydra didn't tell a tale of destiny or raw passion. Instead, she told it how it was: common. It was just as easy to see a love in her leader's eyes as she looked to her children. Though she didn't say it, that storybook passion was indeed present.

A soft sigh followed as Toad nodded. I can't imagine there've been many couples that see the future from the get go, she said, chuckling. Although, I guess that's why matchmakers like Meerkat are so useful, Toad half-joked. While she knew it unlikely she would meet her match based on the whims of a prepubescent girl, it was a fun little fantasy to think about.