Totoka River And as the clouds roll by

She could smell them; the scent of a pack, just beyond these waters. She watches when the tides rescind, and so the path shows itself. What a fascinating place, she thought, and also a desire for it to become hers. Though better to say ours toward the thought of Wintersbane; but at the same time the greed couldn't consume her.

Umbra knew better then to cause trouble, when she could smell the abundancy of many near those shores. Curiosity, who they were. She thought best to discover around, to see the potential enemies, or possible allies. Especially since the kraken knew the danger down by the coast, and for if they ever draw near, should she have protection to back up the claim on the beach.

The Sealord had to watch closely.

 

And so did he come to cure the woman's curiosity with answers. Alas, the last time they had met he lived still upon the pine forest amongst allies. Now, he was home once more. He strode the sand bar towards the mainland, to see the black female staring out towards their claim with a curious eye. Perhaps with a means to learn of the place, maybe to join, he did not know. As he neared however, amber eyes trained on her, his nose twitching to pick up her scent, he knew her to be the gravely injured woman he had tried to help some time ago. She had survived after all, so it would seem. Hello again, sea shadow. He'd not a name for her so for the moment called her this as it seemed so fitting.

The scent was recognizable. It was just like the man who helped her demise alongst the cliff, the one who said Yuelong was his sisters pack. Irritably so her tail flickered, but she had a friendly encounter with the red man and would not simply attack due to this factor. The pack itself wasn't an issue, but the fact Yunxu was in it angered her. She wouldn't want to interact with him once more..

"Umbra," she said, "call me Umbra." While the name 'sea shadow' amused her and delighted her so, she wasn't too fond of nicknames that lasted long, especially to acquaintances.

"You are from Yuelong?" The Sealord asked.

Umbra, the black sea farer would give her name to him then and he lowers his head in a manner of greeting and understanding only to lift it up then once more with her question.

I am. He spoke, drawing nearer and stopping only once at a favorable placement between one another. I am its Shàngjiàng, what our pack calls its Alpha. And though he is such and he is near his claim, his stance is not dominant and prideful, but lax with eased confidence only. I'm Aiolos, if I hadn't been able to tell you before...

"You did not seem like an ordinary man." There was a strange tranquility coming from him, in a way that gave her unease. It was like no matter what he would face with but ease and a neutrality, while Umbra would rage in the storms like a kraken emerging from the abyssal ruins, he like a mermaid, silently singing in mourning to the fallen soldiers. 

"You live at the island right?" It was quite a claim she would admit. Being surrounded by the ocean, if enemies came there was only a few ways to enter safely, and if the group knew the isle to the back of their paws, they held a terrain advantage. Though at the same time, there would be no escape..

Did I not? Almost rhetorical, but she could elaborate if she wished. A small smirk toys at the corners of his creamy mug as he wonders curiously. Had she expected then, that he had been a Leader? Or maybe it was something else entirely. Kukutux thought the same of him, who to her thought he was very different-like wife, but he would never say that aloud. 

Yes the island is ours. He confirms, jutting his muzzle to the island just off the coast, fitting with a sandbar to reach it and the rivers that flowed into the ocean from inland was an east way to mark where to go from the forests beyond. A perfect sanctuary away from problems of the inland. Having found her first badly beaten, surely she was aware of some of the dangers of being among many wolves. Not to mention avoiding most trespassers or enemies- no pupnapper, thief of caches, or any other would get to the island without being very obviously noticed from afar.

"Too calm and relaxed, it is not something to see often in the wilds." She assumed that behavior was the factor he had somesort of backing to give this sort of vibe. She did not mean to call him as weak or the sorts, but more impressed someone was able to take in the persona without the hint of annoyance. Most of time those who take these traits were the type of personalities she hated the most, and prefer to avoid them as so.

"An island is always useful, but it can also be your end. There is no escape."

One could easily think the beachside to be calm and relaxing and thus the wolves who lived on it adapting the same happy, free spirit. It was true at times, but the sea was also quite dangerous and the coast line very exposing. Only those adept to living on a coast could manage. It was why many fell in love with the ocean yet failed to be able to claim a portion of it for their own. 

This is true. He admits honestly to the woman, for he knows that any home had its faults as well as its advantages. If our enemies wished to block the strand to the mainland, we would be trapped on the island if we didnt wish to risk engaging. He knew of this and yet... 

His fiery eyes turned out to the sea, to where the large island rest just outward. However the rocky hill and forestry around it provides plenty of shelter. Of course, there isnt any large game there. But small prey within and plenty of sea food in the ocean can well provide. As often it did. Rarely did they need to hunt larger game and if they did, they sea lions were not far. They were more so hunted when prey was scarcer and the fat in them provided much energy in the winter. The enemy would have to wait out for quite awhile, if they could adapt to living on the beach. And then, a small smirk, And we're lucky enough to have plenty of allies who could box them in from behind. When he was finished with his assessment, speaking to her from a warrior's tactical view, he wondered what other questions she might have of the island. Not knowing yet of her placement on Stavenger, he wondered if she might take the island to live.

"Advantages and disadvantages I suppose." She nodded as they weighed the factors on isle itself. There was quite a few advantages of knowing so, but she couldn't help but shake the fear of no escape for those who could not swim.. For the sea-faring wolf, she had been thrown from the cliffs and forced to learn as soon as she was but a few weeks old, and remembered watching many die as she swam to the beaches. Unfortunate, but so is the way of life. The weak will die off.

"Where I am from there was no allies. However they were a large and powerful group of warriors.. Coming here made me realize you are weak if not without others." She couldn't help but weigh the thoughts of an ally, as Umbra agreed if you have many to your name, advantages could come, especially to war..

She felt weak.. Unable to defend a cliff.

Aiolos couldnt help but agree with her first statement and nodded as such. He knew with his home, as much as any others, there would be left with advantages and disadvantages. As for placement around the ocean, Aiolos had quite favored and adapted to life on the beach and on islands. His opinion couldnt help but ne a bit bias of course. 

As long as your stronger then all those around you combined, perhaps allies is not needed. He speaks on behalf of her former pack where she hailed before here. Here, there are many packs of all division and beliefs. Not one of them which could conquer all the rest if need for war. It makes for more tension fighting for hunting grounds and more of a need to have allies which you agree with then packs you did not.  

The redden man shrugged then and after a time of them speaking a bit on it further, Aiolos felt the pulling need to return to the island of which they spoke. I hope the Moon and Sea bless you on your endeavors, Umbra. And with a dip of his creamy mug, he left.