Swiftcurrent Creek long into the abyss

with the cloudless sky and briskly cold but sunny morning to guide her, the general's daughter makes quick work of eating what remained of her meal the evening before: a plump raccoon. it wasn't much for either meal but it saved her time and most importantly energy. it was enough.

bellaxtrix was quickly growing frustrated with simply surviving on enough.

it is that thought, that singleminded drive that brings her towards the borders of the closest pack. she knows nothing about it, none of the scents strike her as overly familiar upon her approach.

when she is near enough but far enough away to remain in that realm of respectful to their borders, she tips her head back and lets out a howl: announcing her presence.

Arric heard the inquiring call and on long legs, he moved towards it. Blue eyes taking in the pack lands as winter still hung tight, but there was the beginnings of spring, or the coming of spring. The scents, the sights. The way the ground would unfreeze and freeze. Yea it wouldn't be long now.

He arrived to meet the gaze of a femme. Draped in silvers and blacks. The creek seemed to bask in darker colors for the most part. He chuffed to let her know he was there and then waited calmly looked at her. 

You've approached Swiftcurrent Creek. How can I help you?

the commander does not wait long.

her gaze takes him in for a moment lingering upon the strange marking 'round his eye before it diverts; submissive.

swiftcurrent creek.

i am in search of a pack to join.

This wolf stared at him longer than he was comfortable with, but he supposed in part it had to do with the ring around his eye. Where he got that he didn't know, though his father had told him that Vienna was white and gray so maybe his father's sister gave it to him.

What can you offer a pack in return for lodging and safety?

Arric stood looked her over. She seemed strong, able bodied.

i can help fill caches, best to start with the obvious.

i can fight — i am a trained tactician, and a skilled diplomat. she does not come right and say she used to be a commander — a leader — but it's sprinkled in the words she leaves unsaid.

a shift of her weight, ready for what questions may come next.

Ears forward he listened. She was a hunter, also a tactician and diplomat. They could use that possibly to their advantage. Especially if those other wolves came back. 

Blue eyes studied her. He had nothing more to ask, mostly because he knew there was nothing really to ask until they were able to see how the girl was.

Alright, we have two allies already. We would probably like more. There was some trouble recently. And we have pups on the way. Our leader is Akavir. I'm Beta, m'names Arric. What's your name?

skip Moss as needed :)

From first glance, she could tell that Arric had the situation handled. But being a guardian, Moss was content to continue her patrol given the fact that the stranger had drawn the pack's attention with her howl. Dry grass and a thin layer of snow crunched beneath her large feet as she meandered toward them, a giant mountain shifting with a timeless grace. She inhaled, reading the woman's scent as she did, and passed a glance over her for anything that could be a red flag. 

She appeared to be a relatively normal young wolf. Tough, and in decent shape for her size which indicated that she could hunt well enough to feed herself. Moss did not notice the intensity of her gaze, though; it was a feature shared by warriors. She appraised the woman's features as she came to Arric's side, and found herself wondering if she might be facing a fellow mercenary. The thought appealed to her. 

She tilted her muzzle to regard Arric. It didn't seem like she was needed- but she didn't mind lending her presence simply as a display of the pack's devotion to maintaining its borders, and harbouring giants in their midst.

the presence of the woman draped in stony grays does not go unacknowledged by the commander. a glimpse spared in her direction, taking in her appearance and size.

gaze snaps back to arric, the beta.

the alpha: akavir — not present.

quietly she tucks these names away.

bellatrix.

Blue eyes met the gaze of Moss. He offered her a smile. Pleased to see she was still taking her warden duties seriously. She was a good wolf. Akavir had not spoken wrong when he had said so. Little quiet for the likes of Arric, but that was alright.

Well Met Bellatrix. Come along I'll give you a tour. And then we can maybe do some hunting. Moss can show you where the borders are to start marking too.

He included the lady with a cant of his head. Letting the newcomer know that Moss was important as well in their pack lands. She was respected.

the commander opts for physical language, offering a nod of her head as she is invited along for a tour.

it'd gone as well as she could've hoped for, though finding her place here: on familiar shores among strangers... but she would not forgo the trials and tribulations she has faced to get to this point in her life.

strong. fierce. the general's daughter would always be a commander, even if it was only in her heart and soul.

can you tell me swiftcurrent creek's history while we walk? if i pursue diplomacy ...i should know it's story. a quiet request.

Arric seemed to approve of Bellatrix, though this wouldn't likely inform Moss' opinion very much. She preferred to make judgements on her own, regardless of the calls that her leaders made. She sauntered along behind them as they went, quiet, willing to merely be a guide as they moved. 

She would listen to the conversation, though; and her ears flicked when she heard the word diplomat. She didn't like newcomers asking much about the pack, though it had nothing to hide in its history. There was always the chance they might be a spy, though if this one seemed to have a reason to want to know, she could be an exception.

Arric frowned and was unsure what Akavir would want shared and what he would want kept closer to the vest. But he could do the basics. 

Akavir and I are the founding members. We settled the creek, because it was home to Akavir's family at one time. Those are questions for him though I'm afraid. I don't know all the details.

Arric moved and pointed out different landmarks, places that stuck out to him. He explained of the small trouble they had at their beginning. Because they preferred having patrols for this reason. You never knew if they were coming back.

from what arric shares: swiftcurrent creek is a relatively new pack.

there isn't ... any history. at least, in its current incarnation.

new packs tended to have issues on the diplomacy front: with no solid history to back it up but for now, bellatrix tucks those thoughts away.

i see. she offers softly, thinking that she wouldn't pry but she should definitely meet this akavir ... if only because he was the alpha of the pack.

she is quiet, studious as arric and moss lead her along the territory, making mental note of the places arric points out as they go.

Moss lumbered along, pausing now and again to inspect markings left behind by other wolves, or adding her own to them. Their numbers were growing, it seemed; there had only been a meagre few when she'd joined the pack, but they seemed to be attracting some attention. Mostly women, she thought- which wasn't a bad thing, as the pack had been mostly men when she had joined. 

She was lightly surprised to see Arric confess that he didn't know much about the pack's founding. Some aspects of Akavir's relation to the land were still known only to him, it would seem. She could respect a wolf who kept their history to themselves, though it didn't make for much of a story for the newcomer, Bellatrix.

Arric didn't become bothered about many things. He joined his scent with Moss's as she moved through the lands. He helped out or added. But other than that, he was happy to be tour guide and speak on what he did know.

Arric gave a soft shrug. Akavir will share what he wishes,it's him you'd need to speak too.