Spring had come, but winter clung to the mornings, dusting the new greenery with silver frost. Blaise had always preferred to wake up with the sun, though it was more a natural routine than simple preference. No matter the hour that she fell asleep, she always woke at dawn. She was a creature of habit, drawn out of her dreams by the peace and quiet of the early daytime. This was her first morning in Northstar Vale. The female almost could not believe she was here, a pack wolf once more. She had enjoyed her time as a wanderer, but she did not regret her decision to come here. Despite her quiet nature, the gray female was lonely and without purpose when she had no one to serve. She was a little afraid that something would go wrong - that somehow she would not belong here. But there was no use in having those vague fears. All she could do was try to prove herself useful, and hope to be rewarded by friends and relationships. The small female blinked sleep from her cobalt eyes and pushed herself up. She had spent the night in a sparse grove near the borders, now she was eager to leave it and explore her new home. Maybe meet someone new. Blaise left her bed of new spring grass and started off toward the center of her packlands, her gait both graceful and energetic. |
Normality could very well have been seen as an illusion, yet there was no denying that it gave some comfort to those that sought it. The weeks following the fall of the mountains had been slow and progressive for those healing from its onslaught, and those left to care for the wounded. But gradually normality was returning to the Vale, even if the tensions were strained by recent events.
However, mornings were still greeted by the diligence of the warriors, each taking to their duties in earnest and without complaint. The warden Alpha of the Vale had resumed her duties as well, taking to the borders of their haven to ensure their scents were will marked and maintained. Dawn was her light to guide her way, and still its cast its warm glow even as she returned to the near heart of the mountain woods. Their numbers had grown since her last inspection of the fold, and as with all she sought a proper greeting to the newly inducted.
As was her ritual, she walked the pines with a small offering in maw; a plump hare found along the outskirts of their land, its fur clinging to the winter pelt of winter even as its brown began to show. Her steps were sound, a march of purpose through the fragrant pines, til they slowed nearest the threshold of the Vale’s sacred heart. It was there she came to a halt, setting the offering at her paws to free her weathered maw as released a short and swift summoning bark. |
For just under an hour Blaise explored her home, and as the time passed she grew more impressed by the Vale's beauty, more grateful that it was here that she had chosen to make her home. It seemed, too, that she had arrived at a good time. Signs of winter tragedy remained, broken trees and the bones of animals claimed by an avalanche's fury. She had never witnessed a disaster of such proportions, though her mother had told her about them, and the terror with which they cursed all living things. The timber girl tried not to let her emotions follow her thoughts. It must have been horrible for these wolves - her new family. Among the skeletal victims, Blaise saw no canine remains, but that did not mean that the wolves of Northstar Vale had been spared suffering. Before her imagination could wander further, a brisk summoning bark cracked through the quiet evergreens. Her ears pricked instantly, heart racing with excitement and anxiety alike. Perhaps the call was not meant explicitly for her; nevertheless, the gray she-wolf instinctively followed the sound. It brought her to a tawny-furred female, who stood waiting in the forest, a plump hare at her paws. Blaise lowered her stance before the highly-ranked wolf, ears pinning to her skull, tail folding down until the tip rested between her heels. She drew up to the female, donning a friendly smile. Hello, she greeted softly, her blue gaze held to the other's face. |
In her wait, she assessed the nearest remains of the travesty. A few trees lingered still, gnarled and bent from the force of the crushing wave of ice and rock, yet in their place where the snow had eventually melted, stood small buds from seedlings dropped by the passing birds, giving a sense of renewed life to what had once been destroyed. Such glimpses were a symbol in the eyes of the warden, that life and prosperity could blossom from the ashes of destruction. One needed only to be patient and care for the potential that remained. It was shameful that she could not see this before her absence, though she was glad to have found this enlightenment now.
The autumnal wolf was pulled from her thoughts by movement, the tell-tale shift of soft floral as it gave way to a small form. The summoned came forward, her posture lowered in recognition to the rank of the female that stood before her, though Xi’nuata was quick to dismiss it with a croon of her raspy chords. She had not called the female to exhibit her rank, but as an introduction and proper greeting into her new home.
“Hello,” she dipped her muzzle kindly in turn. Her voice was hardly above a whisper though the word itself was clear. Gingerly she stepped aside to allow ease of access to the offered hare. “…for you to eat,” formally she implied, letting her bi-colored eyes lower from the female to the hare. “It is best that you are fed before you meet the others of the Vale.” |
The tan-furred wolf made a gesture of dismissal to Blaise's posture. This startled the girl, though not in an unpleasant way. In Aether Hollow, low-ranking canines were always expected to physically display respect towards leadership, at least initially. It seemed that the tawny woman had not even expected this behavior. Though a little confused, Blaise let her ears raise and her shoulders straighten into a more comfortable position. Blaise was further assured that things were done differently here when she was offered the hare, told that she should eat before getting acclimated to the rest of Northstar Vale. Her smile grew softer, blue eyes warmly appreciative. Thank you. That's very kind. She remembered how hungry she was only as she took the hare into her jaws and began to eat, the thick sweet flavor welcome on her taste buds. She had fared surprisingly well as a lone wolf, considering the difficult weather, but she remembered always being hungry. The hunger became such a constant sensation that Blaise soon took little notice of it. With the likelihood that she would be well-fed from now on, she felt strange, sharp pangs in her stomach at the enticing smell of a meal that was all hers. But the hunger pain ebbed away just as quickly as it had begun when she finished eating the hare Xi'nuata had so generously given to her. The gray wolfess set the remains of bone and fur aside, licking the last of the blood from her muzzle. My name is Blaise Oceanne, she said. What is yours? Blaise thought it best to introduce herself before they continued with whatever Xi'nuata had in mind for this encounter. |
The warden had only her experiences to use as a basis when comparing the conduct of the Vale to other packs. Though the dynamic had shifted with the change of power, she held fast to the belief that all were to be greeted and offered kindness to reflect the first impressions of their encounter. Rank was important to the pack as a whole, certainly, but in the warrior’s presence when company was sought, it was not necessary to scrape even if it was extended out of respect. Such courtesies were for the fold, not on an individual basis.
However word with her mate showed that he did not expect the same.
Her thoughts were dismissed by the luring sounds of feeding, drawing her attention to the present and the grey wolf in the middle of her feast. Her tail swayed pleasantly to see her efforts consumed with such enthusiasm, though her expression remained quite neutral bar the subtle brightening to her mis-matched eyes. She waited until Blaise was finished before replying, after all time for a moment was at their disposal to converse at leisure. “Xi’nuata,” she replied quietly. There was no surname for her to speak of, unfortunately. Yet habit had taught the woman not to take so much stock in aspects that had been lost to her. Rather than dwell on it, she continued. “I am your Alpha as well as warrior and guardian to your home. My mate as well. If you have not already, you will meet him in due time.” She nodded slightly in promise of this.
“Before then, I must ask what skill you bring to the Vale. But let me assure you, you will not be cast out if you have yet to find your path.” Her gaze softened as she let her eyes rest on the grey bridge of the smaller muzzle. “We only ask that you let the Vale guide you toward your purpose for not only your betterment, but for the pack as well.” |
She was permitted to finish her meal in silence, surprised by how comfortable she felt eating before the Alphess, who merely watched with her tail swaying gently, seeming to enjoy the appreciation that Blaise had shown.The woman gave her name, Xi'nuata, and Blaise noted how exotic it sounded, well-suited to the regal wolfess. Next Xi'nuata mentioned her mate, claiming that the gray Xi would make his acquaintance soon enough. The shy girl would ordinarily have felt wary of another encounter with leadership. Such things were necessary to pack wolves, but nevertheless met with anxiety. Evidentally, though, Xi'nuata was not a domineering leader consumed by her own ego, which was the stereotype that Blaise had always feared encountering when she thought of seeking acceptance into another pack. Perhaps this male would have a pleasant, comfortable presence just as his mate did. Well, I... began Blaise when asked about her skills. Fortunately her parents had made it a priority to teach herself and her brothers basic skills in fighting, hunting, and first aid, allowing each pup to choose their specialty and hone their skills from there. Being small and lacking any impressive amount of physical strength, Blaise had chosen healing as her primary skill. I know a fair amount medicinal plants, and I can tend to those who are injured, or fall ill. She tried her best to make her soft, feathery voice sound strong and confident as she spoke, wondering if the recent avalanche had already created patients who would need her. |