Morningside Cuesta first discovery

Despite the circumstances of his arrival - having no memory of his former life, and only knowing the name of his homeland  - Malik felt rather upbeat and positive about his situation. The weather was fair and he wasn't dying, so what more could he ask for? Sure, it was a little startling to wake up in a muddy ditch alone and with amnesia, but it was better than being dead or beaten within an inch of his life.

He trotted with a spring in his step, taking in all of the beautiful sights around him and just appreciating the breathtaking location he had been dropped in - or... However manner he was deposited. He couldn't have picked a better place to -

"OOP -" Malik scrambled backwards as quickly as his paws would allow him, narrowly avoiding toppling over the edge of a steep bluff, carved out of a seemingly unsuspecting hill. If he had kept walking like he had, he would've fallen right over the edge and really busted himself up - or worse.

"That was close..." Malik breathed a sigh of relief, calming his heart rate as he stood atop the bluff and looked out over the expanse before him. In the distance, he could see a river - not exactly clear and blue like he was used to, but the light reflecting over it made the water shimmer. A warm smile pulled on Malik's lips - even the simplest views were enough to really make him appreciate his situation, but he would have to be more careful... Don't want to be too cocky and wind up in another ditch.

Today's agenda wasn't going to be one to pull her far from the Bypass--or rather, such was the scout's intention when she set out. The road would dictate the goings entirely, but she was not intending to go looking for anything too ambitious. She simply decided to circle wide around Legion's claim, perhaps explore in more depth to its east where she did not often venture.

So far, her travels carried her on simply, and she was busy keeping an eye out for any manner of things, be it other predators, prey, or anything in between. As she navigated the landscapes, she was forced into carefulness by the scene, and years had made her adaptable enough to know not to rush it. With nowhere else to be, Jomyo was in no major hurry anyway..

When she caught wind of an unfamiliar wolfscent freshly in the area, she decided to track after it casually enough. She eventually found sight of them, and although she approached from behind, she did not mask her presence--not wanting to come across as a malicious, lurking sort of company. Enjoying the view? she asked afterward, still closing in slowly but with a careful eye on the wolf she did not know.

Malik's fur rustled and raised along his spine as he flinched away from the sudden voice - oh, he was upwind... Of course someone else would know he's there. He was just relieved there were other wolves here, wherein his natural instincts should have made him wary of strangers, but he supposed that was the loner in him - starved for companionship. Wolves are stronger together, after all.

"Oh - Yeah," Malik chuckled, his muscles uncoiling and relaxing as a relieved smile filled in his muzzle. "I almost slipped and kissed the cliffs, though."

The young wolf next to him had an experienced sageness about her, despite not looking much older than him, hopefully a native of this land? "Hey, do you know where we are?" Malik questioned, hoping his intuition was correct and that she knew this place.

The Eizokusei stayed still, albeit carefully watchful, as surprise seemed to run its course--but in a breath, he seemed to settle, and receive her warmly enough for being a stranger who had just come upon him out of nearly-nowhere. By nature of her bearing, all experienced in approaching others and on a lifetime made largely of her passing acquaintances, she did not fret an ounce. Nice save, then, Jomyo replied, offering a gentle sway of her tail too. He was much better off here instead of splattered at the base of some cliff, after all. Legion didn't exactly have an experienced medic she could've pointed him towards had that been the circumstance she found instead..

I've heard it called Morningside Cuesta, she said, having picked this up in passing from locals, but she did not know the land's history well enough to speak more upon its finer details. I'm not sure why Morningside, exactly.. I'd hazard a guess and say something about the views here.. but Cuesta, I can definitely see. It can be surprisingly steep.. she smirked. The pack I run with, Legion, claims Noctisardor Bypass over there, she gestured towards the landmark in the distance, off towards the west. And I'm guessing you're new to the area, yeah? I'm Jomyo. she supplied.

"Morningside Cuesta..." Malik repeated, looking at the sun-kissed land that sprawled as far as the eye could see. His head nodded in recognition. "Yeah, I can see it."

The mention of a pack immediately caught Malik's attention - he hadn't caught the scent of any wolves, let alone a whole pack, seeing just one had been a pleasant surprise. This brought some hope to the male, and his eyes brightened at the female with interest, speaking fast and eagerly. "Pack? So there are other wolves here?"

He realized shamefully that he had brushed off her introduction in his excitement, and sheepishly flushed. "Oh - Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude... I'm Malik, it's nice to meet you."

Content to have him seem happy with her given details about the place, Jomyo was quick into the nod that followed. Likely, he just had not made it far enough to encounter the region's packs. If she was one of his first, then good--she believed, because of the nature of her duties, and how long she had been wandering the Teekons by now. She liked to think she knew what she was talking about. Yep, a few, she answered. There's us, then another group north of us that claim land by a waterway.. plus, if you look south, there are others that way--at least two other packs before too much longer, and that's not even counting past the mountains.. she mentioned, sparing him the minor details about them unless he wanted it. Wolves, and their families, were scattered all across this region. It saw a lot of flux, true, but a part of her found the beauty in that, alongside those that did lay their roots to last. There was practically something for everyone if one knew just where to look.

I'd hardly consider that rude, she snickered a bit, though her expression didn't show much past the slow sway of her tail to say she was far from offended. Still, a touch humored: But, likewise. Are you heading somewhere in particular? Or just out to take it in? she asked, glancing over him at greater length then now that she had a name to know him by too.

The more details she revealed to him about the wolves of this place, the more relieved Malik became - this was great news! This place seemed so vast... He didn't doubt that there were packs spread far and wide, and with her confirmation and description of the packs inhabiting the mountains and valleys, he was likely to stumble into a few of them.

Just like he had unknowingly done right now...

"That's so crazy!" Malik laughed to himself in absurdity, but then perked up to hear Jomyo's question. "Ah? No, no, I'm not going anywhere... Just kind of flying where the wind takes me, you know?" He sat back on his haunches, and chewed on his lip to unsuccessfully hold back his eager grin. "So... Uh, what's your pack like? Is it very big?"

He wanted to ask her a dozen more questions, but decided to hold his tongue as to not overwhelm her... It was taking a lot to hold back his excitement.

Well-versed in the ways of the Teekons, she had mostly adapted to this as normal: a land sprinkled with packs, and in its good seasons, bustling with opportunity. It was a bit more concentrated in some places than her homelands had been, but those had also been lands ravaged by contention before her time had come anyway--and, any closer, it probably would have thrown them back into such strife. She had wondered distantly once or twice before if these wilds would ever reach that way.. but, for as long as they had peace and full bellies, she believed it best they enjoy it.

She nodded easily to his answer--understanding perhaps more than most the essence of simply riding the wind. Jomyo appreciated it. Plus, she was able to take his enthusiasm in stride, and honestly, was a good bit thankful he had questions like these to ask that she had decent answers for. It saved her from having to bring them up and he certainly was a willing ear. Not very big, no, but growing. We have a steady core, with yearlings, and others too, she mentioned, supposing by now she was probably part of that steady core, despite her initial plans to move on come spring. She was cozy.

We used to claim space by a waterway south of here--that was where I joined, but we came this way early in the winter after earthquakes made large prey hard to come by. The move brought us better hunting, more space for our own, and honestly, a needed fresh start. the Eizokusei replied, giving him a hint of history behind them. I'm a scout there, primarily.. so that's why I'm usually out roaming around, she added, for the present.

She would gladly field more questions for as long as she could, and use it as an opportunity to tell him not only about the region, but slip in mentions of Legion, then perhaps some of its finer details if given the chance. Maybe if she was lucky, he might take up some interest in it. They could use recruits of a sound mind, and able body--which he seemed to meet, at least if first impressions were anything to work from. But, she followed the flow of the conversation, and let it run its course.