Just a stone's throw from the officially boundary, she rested, perched, upon a small outcropping of rock. She had settled here perhaps half an hour before, mostly to rest her tired legs a spell and then of course to admire the vantage point this granted her. For not being very far up the mountainside, it provided a good view of the nearby borders and just beyond. Her minty eyes were keened their way despite the deepening darkness.

The sun had set maybe a few hours before. The night was young, but awfully long. Winter's darkness seemed to be at its height and yet, not all things were bad. The days were usually mild still, humidity oddly high for this time of year, and frankly, they continued to see more rain-showers than actual snow. It had been particularly cloudy as of late (enough so to make her suspect snow more than once, but it never followed through), which continued into now. Only on a brief occasion could she spy the tiny sliver of a crescent moon that came alongside this winter's dark solstice.

Nevertheless, she watched, and waited -- whether or not the night would be stark still or not. She remained.

For a good while, it was quiet. Which she did reason was the way her borderlands ought to be. They usually did not find themselves with a large lot of trespassers, and joiners were generally an occasional thing. Sometimes she'd scent loners that had come close but that was about all, and it seemed none of that was happening tonight.

So, Nishu's approach was noted with a curious lift and tilt of her head. Greetings, she chuffed first and foremost when he paused just a ways away from her. She didn't beckon him closer or push him back, deciding he was just fine as was. Just the same, she stayed on her little perch for now. It is, but not the.. most enthralling the mountain has to offer, she intoned. It was most useful for watching the borderlands, which were often notably bland. Still. It was a practical spot that allowed her to steal a rest and maintain her watch all at the same time.

Then, considering him at a greater length, she knew she had smelled him here and the. Usually alongside Rain. Are you settling in? she asked, ever watchful of his subtle gestures and expressions.

She listened, nodding softly. While the sea had impressed her, and she had gone through a brief phase of almost-infatuation with the coastline (then the waterways that branched from them), the mountains had eventually summoned her back. The sea is impressive, but I will always prefer the mountains. Something unsaid about them, and something she could never put into words, they would remain her preference for many, many moons.

Well, perhaps settling was not the best word.. adjusting? I know it is not quite like Ankyra here.. she rephrased and smirked, curious if his day-to-day routine was any different than it had been in Ankyra.. since fundamentally, a pack was a pack despite their bizarre beliefs. Obviously the scenery was different. To go from the coast itself to the mountain was a drastic difference. But she did know he spent a good share of time with Rain. Surely that differed from before, when he was pledged to the coastal wolves.

Then to his question, she answered easily. As a pack we established early in the summer, she said. There was the vague chance to explain how it had not always been her mountain, nor was settling here necessarily of her choosing. While she was very fond of the mountain, perhaps it would have turned out differently. Then again, maybe not. I lived in the nearby region for about a year before that, and my home land is a mountain.. so I appreciate that they are not for the weak-willed.. or the clumsy-footed. Even if she did not know how winter would handle here on this particular mountain. It was on her mind, though.

She listened and considered this. Naturally, she had noticed his penchant for eye contact. It was not typical, true, and there was a fine line between just doing so and doing so with dominant intentions that not all could understand easily.

And true, they were a young pack. Even younger was her time as alpha.. which while she had grown into the role, it was not yet complete. She had much to learn with every day and winter would prove to her many things. Good thing she was skilled enough at learning on her feet.

I do. Since I lived on mountains before, and am somewhat familiar with the region's climate, I have some ideas.. should we need them, she said, tilting her head thoughtfully. With her focus pulled in so many places at once, times like these were when she hoped Jace would ascend again soon, or if not, that another beta-candidate appear from the masses. She was less in a haste to find a counterpart alpha, though. That would need to be a particular wolf. But all of leadership all at once was a heavy weight to carry.

I wonder how the mountain will do, too. Last year, and not necessarily here exactly but in the general region, it was mild up until the end of the season. Then they had been struck with bitterly cold weather and lean times. She had only been a loner at the moment to make it worse. Perhaps the effects had felt most glaring to her, a creature of the fringe hunting spaces and scavenging opportunities at best. Here there would be none of that. The mountain was alive, and its surrounding territories were largely for their taking as well. And I do know that last winter, the territory at our own base, Northstar Vale, supported a pack for the end of wintertime and into spring. They moved on come then, but I suspect there to be acceptable winter hunting there too.. in the case mountain grows sparse, she considered aloud.

The assurance of a plan seemed to suit him, and he spoke on about Rain. With a small 'hm' noise, she nodded softly. She would take note of that, and wondered where his expertise all was. He certainly possessed some measure of combat skill but how fared his strengths when hunting, among other things? Soon, she would find out.

When he mentioned not encountering the rest of the Sunspire, she found herself unsurprised. While their core was close, they seemed to function well independently. Usually the wolves here were around, but their territory was varied and there was always plenty to do if one looked. Still, she considered who all to mention to him.

Ah, not really. Some around here usually keep to themselves, but are not unfriendly so long as they are met with the same, she said. He probably would have already met the friendly Vienna had it not been for her injuries keeping her rather rooted. Jace, Summer, and perhaps Sumayl would likely be the ones to hinge a lot on respect, considering their places as longstanding males here.. and not to mention the stubbornness of some of them. There was Cuan, too, but Ame did not know the tawny male as well but he had always been amicable towards her in their interactions. The same stood for GhostWatcher, Seronda (which she hardly noticed around), and Tytonidae. A few have lived here since the beginning, or nearly so, and I am guessing they may be some of the first you will meet. Jace is one of the original three founders, alongside myself.. and his sister is Vienna, but she is recuperating from a cougar attack presently. Summer, too, has become well established here. There were others, too, but until she knew his full interest in having names and quick notes on various Sunspire wolves to help him know what he was getting into, she would keep it relatively brief.

She didn't think it was a pressing matter to meet the whole of the pack, either. Ame had not been quick to integrate when she had first joined the Creek -- it hadn't seemed right, and at least she had known a few wolves here and there. Circumstances at the Sunspire had been different so naturally, she was more socialized here than before.

He zeroed in on the cougar and she nodded. Big cats, usually solitary, stalk-and- ambush style predators. Ame herself knew them best through others. In person, her interactions were few. They are not necessarily attached to one type of terrain, from what I understand, but they do like places with good cover to use to their stalking advantage, like rock outcroppings and dense brush, she explained. There was no certainty of where exactly to find them though, hence their losses when it came to encountering the one that seemed to have an affinity for Sunspire wolf flesh. It seemed that encounters only came when one was not fully prepared to face such a creature.

She got the sense that what she shared with him would be put to good use. He was confident, too, and Ame wondered how much of it was in the utmost of truths. She did not doubt he was capable, just like she believed her own confrontation with the cat to end not in her own death, but there was a looming worry of the feline's ability -- which she had yet to see on her own, in full even. Only the aftermath, and her brief tango with the albino one on the borders. Not full measures. They are fierce, no doubt. Given the right opportunity, there are several here who would be quick to see the thing fall, she said. But the right chance has not come.. she grated, biting back frustration.

Then, she stood and stretched out her legs, then her back, taking her time on the motions. She had rested up nicely enough to give her a few more hours of moonlit work before retiring to sleep early in the morning -- and closer to when others would begin to arise for the day. She wanted to see to the borders one last time, so after a good beat of silence, she decided to conclude this. I am setting off, I will see you again soon.. she offered in means of farewell. Vague enough, she chuffed one last note to him before jogging into the night's depths.