Nova Peak barriers of trust will fade

no word from the wolves of the creek, and yet many shadows moved east of sapphique.

sobeille wished to learn why.

last she visited these cold mountains she delivered an otter not yet old enough for arrluk’s bride price. today, she stopped at a promontory with the slack body of a seal cub, its drag marks in the earth indicating it’d caused her great trouble.

before, the borders carried a wisp of visitation; now they teemed with presence. sobeille’s howl rose up along the grey skies, calling the northman.

The sky hung heavy with clouds. Gray and dreary, Raven's Call often had her eyes lifted to them. Watching for a change in hue or the familiar haze of rain on the horizon.

A stranger's voice calls for their guardian. The blackbird girl moves to investigate.

A red hued girl with a black hood stood at their borders. Salt worn upon her pelt, and a seal pup at her feet. A heavy one.

Rarely had the blackbird dined upon the ocean mammals, but she knew that their fat was rich. It would valuable to the nursing wolves of Winsook and the babes.

Raven's Call did not posture upon her approach. Her ears cupped forward to the sea-girl.

You have found Winsook. What do you seek?

skorpa of stjernberg, sobeille recited as bands of grey clouds roved behind the approaching woman. not the hardened eyes of the woodsman, this she-wolf -- framed in soft silvers and deep charcoal, sobeille was satisfied to look upon her.

and since she was female, she was owed courtesy. sobeille dipped her proud head.

i be sobeille. we spoke before. placing paw upon the felled pup, sobeille pushed it forth. it seemed skorpa had seen his vision actualized and founded a home after all.

perhaps this pretty thing was his wife.

Greetings Sobeille. I am Raven's Call. The blackbird girl smiled politely and gave the sea-girl a wave of her tail.

She sought Skorpa.

Slowly, Raven's Call glanced over her shoulder, as if the guardian might materialize. He shouldn't. She would chase him back to his wife with teeth if she needed to.

A heaviness settled within Raven's heart as she readdressed Sobeille.

If you have a message for him, I will carry it. He and Ayovi are new parents. Ayovi's complications still danced in her heart. The worry and dread that laced her thoughts. But they did not hold place on her tongue. Not to a stranger. No, it was not Raven Call's right to speak at lengths of it.

Placing a gentle paw of the seal pup, Raven's smile widened. Three healthy babes, your gift will be greatly appreciated.

Mismatched eyes held on the sea-girl. Awaiting her answer.

though she much preferred the company of women, a candle's flicker of irritation stirred in her heart to hear she would not be received by the woodsman.

in sobeille there existed a great sense of entitlement -- and skorpa, she reminded herself, was only a man. all the things she planned to say crumbled by this unanticipated event -- but truthfully, this was a learning moment for the emerald, and raven's call was lovely to behold besides.

as a charcoal paw claimed the blubbery body of the seal pup, a desire rippled across her skin she took pains to disguise. de maman should eat dat all, den. de blubber an' offal makes strong milk.

a pause as she regathered her thoughts. since raven's call had been direct, sobeille would be in kind. i come to ask questions. mebbe you be knowin' de answer to dem. so i ask you. her eyes roved over the compelling clash of lavender and honey in raven's call's gaze. two t'ings. one -- a band came an' raided my 'ome. i ask you if you be knowin' of dem.

two. i be seein' many wolves movin' to de east. i wish to know of deir purpose.

making a couple of assumptions for Raven's Call, but trying to keep them vague

The blackbird's face lost its smile at the grave news Sobeille presented. Lines drawing upon her brow and her eyes hardening.

I know of no raiding bands. Few wolves visit Winsook. Something Raven's Call immediately became grateful for. Winsook was of a stable population, but many of its ranks were pups or nursing wolves. They would be vulnerable to such a threat.

I know little of the wolves to the east. I know that there are two other packs in the taiga, but my understanding is Ayovi and Skorpa have had the most dealings with them on Winsook's behalf. It was little information to offer, but was the honest truth. She was not raised to speak much on hearsay, but she hoped to throw Sobeille a bone for her troubles. I would need to clarify with them, but there may be conflict brewing between our neighbors. That may be the changes you are sensing.

Truthfully, Raven's Call had hoped to be of more help. Her eyes strayed from Sobeille's gaze as she looked inwardly. She chewed the inside of her cheek as she mulled over her next actions.

Her gaze returned to Sobeille, earnest. If you can give me directions, I can come seek you out after speaking to Skorpa and Ayovi? Would you be able to tell me what these raiders look like, or what they have stolen?

sobeille said nothing as the smile fell away from ravens call's face -- but she noted the sincerity with a strange species of gratitude.

it seemed winsook was sheltered from the strife at sea. she wondered if this safety would always be so. last she had seen skorpa, she had laughed bitterly at the notion of peace and had seen the measured glint in the northerner's eye.

perhaps he now knew why she laughed.

i would like to know of dis conflict. her eyes said the rest: so i can prepare me and mine.

as for what they took? sobeille could not hide the quirk of her lips, as if the pirates had only stolen rations or meager supplies.

every'ting.

my maman, my tante, my cousin, and de futures of sapphique.