Deepwood Weald smoother than a storm

backdated for the 22nd, @Simbelmyne and others welcome to join

with her business at moontide concluded, nephele had spent her time between formal assemblies meandering along the coastline, enjoying the view and foreign scents for a day or two before packing her things and pressing onward. when she rounded back, it was to the familiar scent of her former leader that she followed.

it was not a difficult trail to keep to, though it was a bit of a surprise to find that she did not need to travel far to find it's source. had she known he was so close by, she would have made to greet him sooner so that she might return to the plains and recuperate before heading off to discover more neighbors.

as she neared the weald she slowed to set the last of her satchels aside. there was a difference in the approach of these borders than the others. she knew who resided here, and her call for @Dutch though still diplomatic, was held with an air of familiarity.

At this point, Simbelmyne did not 'glow:' She wallowed. Her sides bent outward at an almost unnatural angle, she moved with short, stiff steps and huffed lightly with each breath that she exhaled. Her emotions ranged from euphoria to despair, and with ease she shuffled through them like a professional card dealer. A pigeon camera might have revealed insight into the tumultuous adventure that her pregnancy had been thus far- and now she wished only for the children to arrive.

She walked to encourage labour- whether or not it would work only time would tell. Her steps brought her to the borders of the Weald where she plucked her way along in peace until the melodic sound of a voice called for Dutch. She snorted, and her ears pinned momentarily. Who was calling for her husband, and with such fondness? 

She couldn't help herself; she steamed along, until she caught sight of the pretty nymph who had called out. She looked familiar- smelled familiar too, but Simbelmyne couldn't place her name. She flicked her ears forward but there was a catlike focus to her gaze as she looked with growing envy at the slender woman, envying the tidyness of her build. She too had once been like this- but now, oh how she bulged!

She looked to the small bundles on the ground, assuming the woman had brought them, and it tempered her ire somewhat to think that perhaps she might have come bearing gifts. "I am Dutch's wife, Simbelmyne," She said- taking some comfort in being able to lay claim to her man. "You have come to Morningside. Peace be."

she fiddled with a stone between porcelain paws as she expectantly waited for the arrival of her former chief. when the rustle of nearby motion alerted her to the presence of another, nephele was quick to assume the position and stature of an ambassador. however it was upon the sight of the side-bursting woman that she lessened the tension in her muscles, if only for a moment.

there was, deep within the core of her, a pang of jealousy brewing within the stormcloud. worry had begun to take root, that perhaps she was to be doomed, that her season would not come this year and that she would have her most primal desire stripped of her completely. she knew the season was coming to a close, she knew her opportunity was running thin, but this was not the time or place to fret over what she could not control.

"greetings, my name is nephele," she introduced with an amicable smile. an ear twitched at the difference in name she once knew, morningsong — now morningside. "i believe we may have shared a home once," she revealed with a quick glance to the glacier. given the woman's familiar scent and her relation to dutch, nephele assumed this was the one she had not met during her time on glacier.

"dutch had asked me to seek him out once my husband and i had settled our own pack in the plains. i am here to fulfill that request." she gave a quick glimpse to the satchel tucked beside her, but did not move to pick it up yet. "i come also with the interest that our two groups might find comradeship in one another."

Nephele. Of course; no wonder she seemed a bit familiar; the name helped pull the pieces together, and Simbelmyne felt lightly ashamed that she had been so hasty to judge. She couldn't blame all of her confusion on 'baby brain,' as she hadn't been terribly social when she'd first joined Dutch and his band. She hadn't been terribly social since then, either- even Dutch had noticed. She tried to maintain her composure, and shook her head apologetically. 

"I am sorry; I am distracted," She said with a soft sigh, wondering if Nephele would empathize. "We did; it has been some time and I was not...well ingrained into the pack," She said. Obviously, she had done much better since, given the fact that she was married and with child. Nephele had been a scout, had she not? She couldn't remember the details, but knew that this woman was not a stranger. 

Nephele seemed much less of a threat when Simbelmyne learned that she was married already- and settled, with her own pack. A success that Dutch seemed to have predicted. "He will be glad to hear; congratulations," She said, summoning a faint, but tired smile. She looked to the parcel as Nephele did, but chose not to ask. Perhaps she'd been carrying it with her for a different purpose. She seemed to come looking for an alliance, however- something that Simbelmyne felt might be better discussed with her mate...But she chose not to back down from the topic, knowing he would trust her with a certain amount of authority. 

"This would be good for us both," After all, the opposite would surely lead to tension. "Are you looking to join in the sisterhood shared between all of the Moon-packs?" She asked.

a shrug and a brisk "neither was i," was all that was given in response to the reasoning the woman provided for them having never previously met. it did not matter what the reasoning was, nor who either of them were before now. it only mattered that each currently held authority, and that was all nephele cared for in the moment.

to the compliment she offers a brief dip of her head in thanks, followed by a prickle of ears to the question that followed. "no," she responded after a moment, a pause given before elaborating further. "i suspect the values between yellowstone and the moon-packs are different." she could see a connection bridging them together, but not one strong enough for either to cross without the bridge crumbling beneath them. no, their link to the moon-packs, if any, would be that of allies at most.

"they are of interest for us in allies and trade though," she shares, a diplomatic smile given as she pulled the satchel before her. "as is morningside," she tacks on with a gentle push of the gift towards the woman.

She had reason now to regret not getting to know Nephele better- they, perhaps, might have been kindred spirits, if they had both put in the effort to get to know one another. In spite of that sentiment, she did not feel propelled to create a fast friend in the woman; she knew she would have children soon, and would likely fail any duties as a companion once she could focus only on her needy young ones. 

Another time, perhaps; but hopefully in this lifetime. Nephele seemed the sort who might remain as good a friend in spite of distance or time spent apart. Coming with gifts, and having spoken amicably with Dutch, she made a likely ally. 

It didn't bother her in the slightest that Nephele's pack would be independent; they could have their own beliefs and values, and still be as treasured by their allies. She offered the woman a smile, and nodded her head. "We would be happy to have you," She said, eyes flicking down to the package offered for a moment, though she wasn't sure what was in it. "Dutch will be pleased to hear of your success; is it "Yellowstone" that you call your pack?" She asked.