Northstar Vale Souvenirs de Toi

Viskani soon found herself patrolling her borders once again, marking as she went. Looking out into the field between her own territory and that which belonged to the ridge she could only frown. Not out of sadness or fear, but rather she was wondering, wondering what would become of the two packs.

After a short moment she turned back to the path laid out in front of her. Things had been going well for her own pack as of late; two new members, and women at that. Both seemed to be plenty capable, one could even heal. With Chesley's injury the extra paws would be plenty needed.

Yet even still she worried, imagining the worst. But she could not fail, not after how far they had come. Not after the promise she had made to those back home.

A strong breeze ruffles at Mnemosynes auburn coat. He closes his eyes, intaking the comforting scent of air, lush greens, and comfort.

Nowadays he often takes long walks not to hunt, but to discover new areas for him to claim to bed that night, or just because, because he never needed a reason to wander. Belonging to nowhere and nothing but the plants and trees before him. 

He spots a small moat of water glittering in the sunlight, his throat suddenly feels parched. The young wolf prances as soundlessly as he's capable to the river.

Mnemosynes could only wonder of what the journey the world could lead him today. 

The wind carried something new, the scent of another. They did not not smell of the ridge, and that alone brought Viskani some comfort. After a pause, she began to follow the scent - they may not be in her borders, but if they were near then it was only right to defend them.

Tail high she soon spotted a younger male lapping at the creek that flowed through the vale; her vale. One foot in front of the other, she began to make her way towards the boy. "You there - you do not intend to cross our markers, do you?" The question carried some malice, an opening to challenge her. It was a test.

Men were not to take the lead here. She would show him this whether he had breached her borders or not; he was too close.

A booming voice echoed from afar, startling Mnemosynes from his focus on the riverbed. He looks up ahead of him to spot an elder she-wolf assessing him from across. At a glance, any wolf would find her at a disadvantage, especially like wolves Mnemosynes, who bypassed her size by a significant margin, but by how the wolf carried herself she'd might as well be larger than the tallest coniferous. Mnemosynes refrains from bowing his head. 

She's talking to him he realizes, that he's crossing markings, and..wait. Tilting his snout up with another sniff and there it is. A smell different from grass, leaves, and soil. A scent undoubtedly marked. 

In his mind Mnemosynes scolds a small part of himself that managed to ignore all warning signs of other territory for a drink of water. 

He shrunk into himself out of habit instantly wanting to run, but Mnemosynes forcefully plants his paws on the ground. Understanding that should he run, there would be consequences to face for the misunderstandings he planted and let sprout.

"sorry," His voice wavers bit, he clears his throat, "I'm sorry, I have no wish to cross your borders, I'll go."

Mnemosynes clumsily scoots up from the river putting a more larger distance from the other as possible.

Awkwardly, he consciously stays put. Would it be too rude to dart off before a reply?

Carefully, she began to circle the boy. She kept some distance between them - a practiced expression of regality and indifference painted on her face. He had backed down and listened well so far; she was impressed.

Analysing the boy, he appeared healthy - nearly as large as Chaudry with a leaner build. It caused her to hesitate. If she chased him away, would she be chasing him into the ridge? Would they take him in?

In a moment of rare petty behaviour, she made a decision. She would offer the boy hospitality so long as it prevented him from going to the other side of the field. "Have you ate recently my dear?" Her words came out softer, as though speaking to a child.

Stopping her circles she approached, she continued. "You look deathly thin. Let me feed you something - the vale has plenty." He looked far from thin, in fact he seemed to be primarily muscle. She was channelling her inner grandmother she supposed.

It was as if a thousand eyes were staring right through Mnemosynes as the other circled his figure. The offer of food from across the vale is tempting, especially considering hours of eating entirely depended on his clumsy attempts at hunting.

On the other hand, Mnemosynes felt like he would be facing much worse fate than a scuffle under her care judging by the level of scrutiny in the wolf's eyes.

"Thank you, but I'm alright." He replies, turning away, hopefully conclusive enough to avoid further question.

In comical timing a loud rumble reverberates from within his stomach. 

tags are for reference!

She couldn't help but find herself amused at the sound. "It's better here than across the vale. The wolves of the ridge will not greet you kindly - they speak with teeth rather than words." She insisted, taking a step into the tree line.

"I hope you won't take my initial hostility too poorly, I'm sure you can understand." She was beginning to understand why she was taught not to act in such a way. It made things much more difficult.

She considered who may be in the dens if he chose to return with her - someone who would reflect on them positively. @Chesley, as dear as he was, was lacking in social skills, @Chaudry was no different - rather just on a separate end of the spectrum. The woman Chesley had returned with, @Paladé seemed to be.. rough around the edges, but @Kaaya Ayad was sweet. @Tousaint, of course, would never fail to make a good impression so long as this stranger did not see through his charms.

"I am Viskani - we call this area Montagne de Ciguë." She offered an introduction.

His path would ultimately take him to the very same flow of water that had caught the wanderer’s eye. His border patrol only half finished, he’d ranged inland a bit so he might slake his thirst before completing his rounds, but the sound of voices drew his attention. He slicked a wet paw over his ears, tidying the fur on his brow, and moved along the bank to find who it was that Viskani was talking to.

The timbre didn’t sound like one of her sons- though when he caught sight of the man, he would have believed that he might be one of her progeny- but for his subservient posture. From what he knew of Viskani’s lot, they were proud.

Madamme, He greeted, before his envious gaze flitted to the man. ’O be dis?

Mnemosyne makes a move to agree to the wolf's- Viskani's invite. That maybe this very circumstance is a sign from the universe that the path he takes today should be alongside her guidance.

Then, a new voice joins their side of the river. He had an air of somewhat grace as he walks towards them. First greeting Viskani in words he could not comprehend, a different language perhaps? Afterwards the stranger turns his violet gaze towards him, questioning. 

It took some time for Mnemosyne to decide on a reply. All he understands is that Viskani never mentioned any other individuals.

He's not very great with pressure of many peers, or talking in general.

Mnemosyne eyes move warily between the two but decides to not reveal too much, for now.

"Just a humble traveler." He says, offering a hesitant smile.

She eyed Tousaint as he approached. It felt to her as though he had been out and about quite a bit lately. "I've offered to shelter him for the time being." She looked to Mnemosynes, "You're welcome to stay as long as you would like, of course."

The boy's submissive nature would do him well here, she realized. It would quickly gain the approval of their more prideful members.

Shelter him? The tall man practically was a shelter. Most wolves could stand at the man’s shoulder and be protected from wind, or cower beneath his belly and be spared the bite of cold hail. Nevertheless, it seemed a good idea to have someone with so impressive a physique- and such a gentle nature- on their side. 

If dat be de case, I will show you aroun’ if you would like, He offered, willing to befriend one of their joiners if it might win him one ally in the Vale. It seemed Chesley and Chaudry had grown tired of him already. I be Tousaint, He said, with a bob of his head.

Mnemosyne's posture relaxes visibly at the other's introduction. Viskani and Tousaint, that's most acquaintances he had ever befriended in a week. 

'Well then,' he says gesturing to the two of them. "lead the way please."

She shook her head at Tousaint, frowning. "Let the boy rest first, hm?" She insisted, tilting her head. "He should eat before you have him walking around too much."

With Mnemosynes agreeing she turned back to the tree line to begin her trek back to their settlement.

The boy? 

Obediently, Tousaint nodded, willing to follow Viskani’s direction though once she moved out of sight, he glanced to the tall ruddy stranger again, and grinned faintly. 

He wasn’t a boy at all- he was a man, at least as old as Chaudry, he thought. And he looked well enough that Tousaint didn’t feel he needed to be babied though an empty stomach was something he couldn’t see. 

It be up to you, what we be doin’ first. I can take you somewhere to rest, fin’ you somet’ing to eat from a cache on de way. She be…Sometimes very maternal…She mean not’ing by callin’ you a boy. After all- Tousaint did not want this fresh newcomer to get the idea that he would be babied and coddled. If he was to live here, he would be expected to pull his own weight as well.

Mnemosyne flusters a bit, feeling a bit embarrassed to already appear so adolescent in the eyes of others.   

"Okay."

So then, Mnemosyne stands a little straighter as he follows the two wolves deeper into their territory.