Northstar Vale The only feelings I have for you are rage and pissed off-ed-ness

She stood still on the ridge, gazing down at the valley below. In the summer, it had to be beautiful. But nothing truly was, now, in this barren, colorless period between the flame of autumn and the ice blue of winter. Still, perhaps it would be a place to stay, for a while. She knew very well she ought to find a pack before winter set in in all its fury, yet she was in no hurry too.

neither was she in any sort of hurry to struggle down into the valley, and considered a moment the easy alternative which would be to plummet straight into the valley from were she stood. Certainly fast, yet with a larger chance of an untimely death. Sighing, she allowed herself a few more moments before she would attempt the climb.

The dried carcass of a long-dead squirrel thumped against the ground as its courier, a pale-furred wolf, dropped it from her jowls. It rolled to a stop against her paws, carried by the angled slope of the valley. She meant to deliver it to Warbone, that he might inspect it and chew on it and otherwise entertain himself, but Saena's attention was now focused upward, drawn by a conspicuous dot of a creature higher up. It was the scent of Minna drifting down from on high that truly drew the lead bitch's attention, though. She would not have seen the wolf in the mountains otherwise and would have paid her no more mind than a gnat had the wind not given her away.

Saena was very conspicuous against the still-brown floor of the valley with her white pelt, and didn't doubt for a second that she had been spotted. How could she not be? Whether Minna would tempt fate by coming down to the vale and approaching its first female was what she remained still for. She welcomed others into her territory, as long as they were utterly respectful of the pack that called it home. It no longer felt wrong to will them to pass the boundaries. Strange, yes, but she didn't think it would ever stop feeling strange. She angled her head back to herald the timber wolf above, and voiced her encouragement with a short and loud, hhuoff, of a bark.

A pale dot far beneath caught her attention, a curious, her ears twitched as they swiveled atop her head toward the wolf, gaze peering downward intently. Intrigued by the one beneath her now, she rose and scented the air more thoroughly, noticing only now the scents, few but fresh, that marked this the location of a pack. 

She had had no interest in attaching herself to a pack before she absolutely had to, yet this place, along with the woman's encouraging bark. Unsure a moment, she considered turning her back and leaving. Yet this she did not act upon, instead stepping forward cautoiusly and beginning the descent downward.

her nimble form certainly proved helpful as she descended the rise, pausing once in her descent to see the wolf she now determined to be a woman much closer. Within a few more minutes she had finished her descent, perhaps a little laboured but intact all the same. She paused a moment before approaching, and when she did it was with a low and respectful stance, drawing near and greeting the the other with a quiet chuff when she halted at what she figured to be a respectful distance, stance the same as if she had approached any other established pack's border.

Saena watched patiently as the wolf wavered, then disappeared from sight. Her nub of a tail switched back and forth curiously as she scanned the ridges above, but grew still once more when Minna reappeared, lower and nearer now. The first bitch's ears twisted and she dipped her hindquarters to sit, only moving once more when Minna's paws brushed the ground of the vale and the woman drew near. At this, Saena rose to her feet once more, leaving the dried carcass where she'd dropped it, and swept forward.

"Hey," she greeted simply, and only now did she assume a posture of authority, with legs stretched so she might stand tall and ears erect and forward. Her bobbed tail remained in line with her spine, but the change was hardly noticeable from when it was down, so short was it. The majority of Saena's body language occurred in her face; her eyes were wide, confident, and fixed firmly on Minna. "You approach Saena, first wolf of the Duskvale pack," she announced herself, feeling mighty proud as she said it aloud.

There were many things the bitch sought to test with this encounter: Minna's temperament, her response to dominance displays, her reaction to a pack wolf's approach, maybe even her willingness to lie on her back and allow Saena to sniff her privates and become intimately familiar with her. All of these things would determine how Minna was treated while on Duskvale territory, whether she was passing through or looking to stay. They had no need for words in their interaction, and yet Saena was a loquacious creature, and even as she stepped closer—close enough to possibly invade Minna's space, if the lone wolf would even tolerate it—she asked, "what is your name?"

Acutely aware that she was within the territory of another, her tail remained tucked and her gaze averted, stance low. The woman greeted her casually, introducing herself after a moment as Saena, first wolf of Duskvale. She had now a name for the Vale, some knowledge of those who dwelt within. She could scent them easily now, the group, and realized that the woman before her alpha. Her ears flicked briefly in surprise, and she had absolutely no wish to disrespect this woman, and she remained rooted as the woman approached.

And when when she stepped forward, closer to her then she would have preferred, her stance became more respectful still, head bowed until her name was asked and she replied evenly. "Minna." And though she would likely never display such submissiveness at a border, the fact that she was within a territory and before the alpha had her roll on her back, ears splayed back and legs tucked close to her chest as she asked of the other, "I seek a home" Perhaps a little impulsive, but something drew her to this vale.  Her words were even, she was calm externally, but in truth a little uneasy.

She didn't expect such easy submission, but she appreciated it when it came. Minna's head went low as Saena pressed into her personal bubble, but not only that, the woman let herself fall to the ground in passive submission. Saena's stubbed tail wagged as she came to stand over the lone wolf, placing one paw on either side, and bent to sniff at first her chest, then her belly, and finally her genitals. The more civilized Saena of the past would never have dreamed of doing this, but her instincts bid her to now, and she wasn't disappointed. From it, she could tell Minna's general feelings, her age, her breed, her recent locales, and some other details.

With the loner in such a compromising position, Saena could in theory do anything she wanted, including threatening the other wolf's life, but she'd been given no reason to. She lifted herself off of Minna as easily as she'd straddled her, and stepped back to give the lone wolf room to rise. Her ears planed to the sides of her head as she dropped the formalities and, licking her chops, said, "you've come to the right place." Now was the time Minna could take to inspect Saena, if she wanted to. The lead bitch would tolerate it for a few moments if the loner wishes to give her a similar examination, although she would not roll over for it. She stood still, awaiting it, and when it was concluded (if Minna took the opportunity at all), she looked back around to the woman.

"Come, then," she beckoned, hoping to lead Minna to where the rest of the pack lounged about. "My partner, Warbone, must meet you, and the pack will be the ones to determine if you fit with us or not. We spend most of our time together. You will find that all are involved in everything here, and no wolf wants for company should they seek it."

She said nothing before straddling her thin body and thoroughly inspecting her, Minna seeking to hold still and calm and, thankfully succeeding. When Seana finished her inspection and stepped away, Minna held still a moment longer before rising once more, ears swiveling forward as she spoke, though stance still submissive, feeling it would do well to do so seeing the woman's earlier pleasure at her submissiveness. She smiled at the words, glad to know that this could be a place for her.

When the first wolf allowed her a moment to give her own inspection, she did so cautiously and respectfully, not as thorough as the woman's own, and when she finished did she withdraw with more information of Saena, similar to what information the other now had of her. This interaction driven much by instinct was different, but not new or odd. "Thank you"

though she had not simply the first wolf to accept her, but all of the pack. The thought was odd, and certainly made her a little wary, yet where Saena led she would follow, for there was no sense worrying. Never did her stance become quite neutral, noting that even if she had passed initial inspection she was not of yet a member of the pack.

He materialized on the horizon as if he had heard his name; though if Warbone were to admit it, he'd been stalking after Saena. She was prone to venturing, a remnant habit of scouting he supposed -- a habit he wished to relieve her of eventually -- but he found no harm in her being apart from the group, except the fact that he was always intensely aware of every second she was gone. In remembering the unfortunate incident that had befallen him months ago, it made him anxious to know she was alone...

Except, when he found her, she wasn't alone at all. Beside his companion was a small, tawny woman. By the looks of her, she was underfed but no beyond repair. She seemed respectful to his partner's idled dominance, which put him somewhat at ease as he eagerly closed the distance between them. His tail angled itself horizontally, wagging back and forth as the cyclops paused importantly before the roaming pair. His eye met Saena's first, his expression lifting with mixture of relief and barely masked rapture, before he set an appraising gaze upon their guest.

"A friend of yours?" he rumbled without much softness, unwilling to relinquish the stranger of his naked stare.

The pair didn't need to travel far to encounter Warbone. Saena thought they would make it back to the pack before finding the scarred patriarch, but he was away from them, like Saena herself. It was the first time she wondered if she spent too much time away, for seeing Warbone away from the tribe sent a bolt of worry through her belly. Who led them, if not he? Surely there were wolves among them capable of taking up the mantle should the need arise, but Saena would prefer that that never happen. It seemed it was time for her to stay closer to home so she could ensure there was always a leading wolf present.

Warbone's question was met first with Saena's approach. She was unabashed as she strolled forward to meet him, but she was also distinctly submissive. The first male ruled over all, at least when she didn't contest him as she was wont to do from time to time, and it showed in the backward slick of her ears and her lowered posture as she came to greet him. She licked up at his chin, rounded to his good side where he could monitor her, then turned to face Minna, remaining politely subservient to Warbone as she did so. "Minna," she clarified with a soft smile. "She came out of the mountains, and seeks a home. I thought to bring her forth to meet the pack, and see how it works out." Duskvale offered many challenges to any who sought entry into its ranks, and here stood Minna's next, and the final obstacle to meeting the pack itself: the lead male.

They encountered another soon, a male, scarred and with but a single eye. She was silent yet observant of their exchange, and when Saena acted submissively toward the male, she had only to assume that he was the first male. He stared with a gaze that seemed to pierce her, and she was careful not to meet it.

A title was not given, nor was a name, yet Minna felt fairly confident on her assumptions of the first. Thus her posture became carefully submissive yet again, ears folded back and tail tucked, and though she did not roll onto her back as quickly as she did when meeting Saena, a single obvious display of dominance from the male and she would oblige, for to agitate was not her intention. 

Saena rounded to the male's side, until she stood alone, and she pushed away any nervousness as she remained calm and respectful, gaze averted. "Greetings" she said softly, making no introduction for Saena had already, and waited should the first male ask something of her, either through words or of body language.

Warbone felt Saena's submissiveness rather than saw it. A rumble in his chest marked his approval of it, but his eye remained steady on the stranger, hawkish and deeply judging. His opinion of her was waned by the woman now at his side. Ordinarily, he would be interested in her age -- with a preference for the sexually mature -- but he didn't even wonder at it this time, perhaps unconsciously knowing better than to show any physical interest. It kept him still for a moment, but when he at last heard Minna speak, the warden seemed to reanimate.

He drew forward slowly, his body seeming to rise despite the fact he was already standing, and he took up the space directly in front of the potential valer, his tail wagging and his nostrils working her scent into his system. She was respectful enough for him, as he felt no driving desire to impose himself upon the she-wolves of Duskvale -- he thought this to be Saena's task -- and when he was satisfied with his up-close examination of the fawn agouti recruit, he snorted in approval.

"Come," he encouraged her by pressing his broad muzzle into her shoulder. "You shall meet our pack." Turning from her, he set an approving eye on his mate, the term springing to mind the moment he looked at her. If it had been left to him, or perhaps if the season had been a more forgiving one, he would keep the vale to just themselves and their children. But as things were, they needed others; wolves like Minna, to file along behind them, and start a legacy he hoped would survive for generations to come. He stepped forward and nibbled the pale woman's russet ear affectionately, before nudging her forward to take lead of them.

Saena stood back respectfully as Warbone lurched through the gap separating him from the lone wolf. Where Saena was petite and dainty, Warbone was large and imposing, and if anyone would intimidate a new joiner, it would surely be him. She pressed her ears forward as she awaited his judgment, and her lips lifted into a pleased smile when Warbone touched Minna's shoulder and bid her join them in seeking out the pack. Duskvale could use more women, even though it was more competition for Saena, and she was glad to know that Minna was one step closer to being a part of them.

(She never stopped to think that all this attention could put a wolf on edge. Minna handled it admirably well, and Saena could only hope that all others who sought the vale pack would receive the curiosity and intimate ministrations of its lead pair just as readily.)

Saena's eyes sought her companion's face as Warbone trudged back to her, and when he reached into the soft down of her ear and nibbled, she growled approvingly, a sound deep and low in her throat. If there wasn't business to attend to, she might've attempted to rouse him into a spar or a chase, but her playfulness was kept at bay long enough for her to peer back over her shoulder, and then she was nudged to the head of their three wolf column. This felt natural to Saena in spite of her subservience to her partner, and she stepped ahead of them gladly, eager to bring Minna back to meet the other Duskvale wolves. They didn't have to go very far before she could spot them milling about in the shade of a leafless tree. Saena closed the distance between them and the pack with several high-spirited bounds, and summoned them with a yap as she spun around to present Minna.

@Zephyr Maverick @Tryphon @Calliope @Dagfinn @Onai @Vixen You guys are welcome to join to help "judge" whether Minna jives with the pack or not! You don't have to if you're too busy, but we'd love to have ya! <3

Zephyr was a restless spirit, shed as he had his emotions of the past -- he had a purpose now, to be with the unit and to provide. When not one but both of his Firsts were not with with group, he grew anxious. Though he didn't dare leave the rest of the group behind without Warbone or Saena, he paced the fringes of their group, ears cupped forward atop a high head and apple eyes scanning the horizon. 

Eventually, the dusty brute came into view, and he was followed by the tailless woman as expected, but when a third, smaller and tawny form came into view as well, the Maverick's snowy paws turned and he trotted their way. Saena bounded foward and yapped, letting the overprotective man know all was well, but even though he sent a few excited barks her way too, it was right to Warbone and Minna did he go, nose flaring to take in her scent and tail stiff behind him, fighting the urge to curl in the presense of his Firsts.

Although she was already particularly fond of Saena, Vixen had yet to warm up to the rest of the pack. They spent a lot of time together, that seemed to be the way things worked with these guys, but usually Vixen would keep to the outskirts of the group, silently following orders. This was a new side to her, who had always been known for her sass, but her context was completely different too. Around these guys, like she had with Alastor and Zoratto if even for a second, she hadn't yet felt the need to push herself atop.

She'd been grooming the fur of her chest when the firsts came back, but with Saena's call came the end of her recess. She got up and padded diligently towards the couple, who'd brought along some company this time. Zephyr was quick to come up to her, stiff and obtrusive as he scanned the new girl with his nose, and Vixen followed the lead and approached immodestly, matching Zephyr's tail height with her own and daring to take her spot in the hierarchy. It was about time.

Dag had been making his presence known around the territory. Though they were not as focused on marking borders as other packs, Dag still felt the need to leave his mark wherever he found another's. Deer poo? Piss on it. Raccoon tracks? Piss on it. Blood from a little scuffle between two packmates? Piss on it. It was a good way to let others know that he was in the loop, he was keeping track of these things - but mostly, it was just something that entertained the young male.

And, let's be real, his packmates were probably most happy when he was entertained. When he had time to himself, he spent it with them, and he wasn't entirely sure they appreciated his idea of bonding. Keep-away. Tag. Roughhousing. Gnawing on each other's feet. He'd yet to annoy any of them into rage, but Dag knew how quickly the tides could turn.

"Saena!" he called as she approached, her name a whine of pleasure. They always saw Warbone around - him and his grouchy-grumpy-mean-looking face. Dag liked him, but Saena's presence was special, was a treat when she deigned to grace them with it.

Hopping to his feet, the rangy male pranced toward the other intending to begin some sort of merriment - only to hesitate when his eyes and nose and ears and Zephyr told him that there was a stranger in the mix. Unafraid but overly curious, the young male's head cocked almost comically to the side. "Rakeet!" he barked, hailing the woman as he approached, tail windmilling behind him as he stopped beside the first female, greeting her first and gleaning what information on the tawny woman had rubbed off on her pelt.

His head dipped further as he came closer to Warbone and the stranger, his eyes darting between the first male and his smaller companion to gauge the mood before he sought to ghost his muzzle over the other's fur before drawing away once more. "Who's this?" he asked brightly, looking to Saena - because they didn't talk much, and because she was cool.

Feel free to PP Tryphon in the background, he won't be getting too close.

In time he did return to her side, to the chasm between the mountains that she had called home. When he did, Tryphon was met by other scents and, eventually, other faces. It was easy to see which of them ruled alongside Saena - the seemingly wrathful, solemn Warbone - but the others were varied as well. He made note of their features in passing, tasted their scents, but kept to himself.

They were never far from one another. It was a different sort of existence for Tryphon; a great shift, actually. He had gone from being a lonely boy with only Saghani as his companion to this — the shifting, ever-present awareness of a family always nearby. They were scattered sometimes, but not for long. And when Saena called, it had already become second nature to seek her out.

Tryphon arrived after the others. He was more cautious than they were, of course. He silently stalked through the trees until he came upon the gathering: a dark beast (Zephyr), a fire-kissed one (Vixen, who ignited a strange sense of familiarity within him that Tryphon had thus far avoided) and a blue-eyed creature whose voice held strange words (Dagfinn). By creeping around them the boy could peek, his masked eyes finding the shape of a stranger just beyond, but he did not say anything, and did not approach too readily.

Warbone inspected her thoroughly, she remaining still, yet not entirely at ease, and when he nosed her shoulder as a signal to follow she did without complaint, dipping her head in agreement. It was a short while until they encountered the others, the group hanging around together in a manner that was far different from what Rosings may have done. They had often been apart.

they halted, as did she, and then Saena's yap brought forth first three to inspect her. Her tail was held low, ears back, and gaze averted, yet she held her ground, still and unmoving. An inky brute came first, then a woman who's pelt was a beautiful fiery hue, then finally a blue eyed male. She allowed them to inspect her without complaint, drawing in and remembering scents as they passed.

another stood a short ways off, a masked boy, yet did not come near. The sudden attentions of five wolves was in great contrast to the loner life she had been living for weeks, yet she gave little indication of her slight unease. Only one actually bothered to speak, the blue eyed one who asked of her identity. She opened her maw a brief moment, then closed it, unsure if m she ought to speak when the direction had been directed to Saena.

Last post from me, guys!

Warbone tried not to miss much -- visually, speaking -- but with only one eye, it seemed inevitable to happen. Mostly he missed things when he was focused intently on something singular; and for now his eye followed Saena, enjoying her mirth more than he ever could his own, and it brought a great peace to him knowing that he had helped shoulder this achievement for them. Reluctantly his gaze shifted, and now he was watching the pack mill forward -- a mixture of faces both excited and cautious -- which made Warbone lift his chin into an exposed expression of pride as he admired them all.

Minna handled the attention better than he could have hoped, and once she became more comfortable with her surroundings, he would be interested to see where she stood among them. His thick tail had taken up a steady wag, flailing back and forth, striking his packmates like a tender club as he passed in a circle around Minna, nudging her, encouraging her to be herself -- as bold or as timid as she liked. With a snort he parted through the group and trotted several paces away, nearer to Tryphon, leaving everyone to get acquainted come comfortable.

Seeing no conflict arise, he flopped down on the cold ground and rolled onto his side with a loud, lazy groan of contentment.

If you guys need Saena's attention for something, feel free to tag me to draw attention back to this thread, otherwise feel free to skip me and carry on until Minna is accepted or rejected by the group! ^_^

They came, as Saena knew they would, and they sought information from Minna in a variety of forms. Vixen and Zephyr went forth with stiff figures, truly engaging the spirit of the wolf as they stretched their wings and began to establish a hierarchy. Dagfinn's approach was more lighthearted and friendly, and to his question, she chuckled and answered, "this is Minna." Of course, the lone female—soon to be one of them, if none opposed—was free to speak for herself. Like Warbone, Saena was excited to see where Minna would fall among them, whether she would battle her fellows to rise or whether she was content to serve beneath.

Every wolf had a place in the pack. It wasn't necessarily the place they thought they deserved, for many had higher or lower opinions of themselves than did all others, but all had a place. It was up to them to find their places, with Saena and Warbone ensuring that disputes did not lead to injury. She went among the pack briefly, greeting them with bumps of her snout or unabashed licks to their muzzles, but for the time being, she showed no signs of attempting to dominate any of them. Now was not the time or the place. She paced away as well, toward Tryphon and Warbone, but unlike her content partner, she remained standing. She was nervous for Minna, of course, and restless to boot.

Zephyr's attention was stolen momentarily by Vixen, grassy eyes flicking to her in both confidence and an unsure glint, but the brute dared to match and even slightly surpass the own height of his tail, ears fanning to the sides -- in the next moment, though, his gaze returned to the newcomer, packmate and potential challenge forgotten lest she take it a step further. He barely knew the woman, hadn't really talked to her -- this could be settled later.

A smile spread across his ebony maw as Dagfinn bounded up, friendly as ever -- Zephyr loved the excitement and boy-ish playfulness he could return to at but a suggestion from the male. One nibble, one bow was all it took to sent the brute man galloping after him some days, but today was not one such day: his grassy eyes again returned to Minna as Saena introduced her, smile still planted on his face and tail wagging despite its height battle with Vixen. He purposely didn't crowd her, letting himself gaze from afar -- he would not engage unless she did, and chose to instead turn and settle somewhere between the First wolves, sprawling to his side with a quieter sigh than Warbone's groan. The Maverick was content to lay there, casually licking his paws, sending his gaze out frequently to scan for either friend or foe.

Same for me -- I'll pay attention, but Zephyr's just gunna lay around for a little while unless anyone confronts him.

Dag was unconcerned with this hierarchy business - Warbone and Saena were above them, and that was it. Perhaps it came from growing up in such a close-knit family; there was the alpha pair, and there were the kids. Ranks beyond that were mercurial at best, although all four of the younger siblings had been willing to follow Laerke's lead.

He was young and he was foolish, but he felt he had claim to a certain wisdom where all their roles were concerned. So long as a wolf was doing what was best for the pack, so long as they did it out of love, so long as they all treated each other with the respect they themselves wished to be treated, all other things would work themselves out. But, again, he was young and foolish.

The dark wolf swished his tail at Minna, wondering at her disposition. Would they be friends, or would she keep to herself? Much was still uncertain in this pack, and sensing this, Dag simply gazed at the other, nose twitching as he picked up more and more from her scent. Could any wolf ever truly know another?

"Nice to meet you," said Dag, lowering his front into a playful bow before sliding his bottom down as well. "I'm Dag - and this is Zephyr and Vixen and... Tryphon," he offered, naming off his packmates in order of how well he could remember their names. He stumbled a bit over the last but recalled it just before the pause began to seem awkward.

Hopefully it's okay that he knows everyone's name. Let me know if I should change this.

Gonna pull Tryphon now.

The newest addition seemed to be acceptable. Nobody contested that the wolf was there among them, and some boldly approached so as to make nice. Tryphon continued to watch in the manner of a bored cat; his attention was drawn towards movement, but once his gaze landed upon each moment, he drifted. At least until Saena and Warbone withdrew, finding their way to the outskirts of the gathering, at which point they milled around with him. Tryphon watched Warbone acutely, then. He studied him as carefully and inconspicuously as he could. Then, when he grew bored of even that, the boy reversed — he pulled from the company of others and with a swift gait, resumed his study of the surroundings.

It seemed that the newness of the girl didn't spark much of an interest in most of her packmates... Aside from Dagfinn and herself, everyone else had slipped away from the meeting, leaving them to check on the new girl and, perhaps, say the final words for her to be truly welcome to Duskvale. Vixen looked around her casually, gauging her superiors' judgement on the female. There she noticed something: Other than Saena, Vixen was the only lass around, which felt too much like Tortuga for her to remain comfortable. "Welcome t' Duskvale, Minna," she said softly, casting a smile at the new girl and turning around to go back to her grooming. In her walk, Vixen's eyes invited Minna to join her, but her hips cast out any male that could even think of approaching.