A thick mist had set upon the winding river in the early 'morn, though an oncoming gale from the south threatened to blow it to smithereens. For now, it held the waterfront fast, and shrouded distant sights with its dewy, gossamer layers. Though dense and churning, the fog could not hide the sharp, tantalizing scent of the saline coast beyond the freshwater stream which eventually emptied into the vast sea. It was an ominous and enigmatic dawn; one that lent itself perfectly to shielding a creature from more unsavory neighbors.
Aisling was no stranger to the protocols of avoiding another's claim, and though this land was alien to her, the she-wolf figured rules remained in tact. The forest between the ridge and mountain had been exceptionally nerve wracking to traverse, but once she had cleared the treeline the pressure seemed to lesson some. The lords and clans of her homeland were a staunch sort, fiercely defensive but also wise and pacifistic, and though the pallid woman hoped these wilds harbored a similar sort, one could not be careful enough.
A precious twig of juniper and thrush of honeysuckle was clutched gingerly betwixt Aisling's slender jaw, an omen of good luck and a memory of a place far away... the life she had built, the ones she had loved, the friends and family she had cared for... all gone in the blink of an eye. Now, alone without her kin to lean on, the waif forged a new path despite the heartache that still lingered.
Slipping through the Ravensblood was like slipping into an old, worn pair of jeans. Jinx had once patrolled the game trails of the deep forest in savage pursuit of any who dared approach the Ridge, primarily out of boredom. Now, she used her knowledge of its winding paths to her advantage, and emerged on the other side unscathed.
This stretch of beach was perhaps the only stretch that Jinx frequently visited. The Totoka River was of particular interest in carrying her occasional offerings out to sea, where she believed Atka and Sos might better receive them. Today, she brought no offerings but her own presence to bathe in the salt water, but her stroll down the river eventually revealed a willowy wolf clad in platinum and gunmetal who instantly stole her attention.
She continued walking along her side of the river, but kept her eyes on the grey-furred Aisling when she abruptly asked, “Sos or Atka?” It was a ridiculous question given that most wolves didn't even know the names of their true Gods, but Jinx, it seemed, was in a ridiculous mood.
Though the bitter scent of lush vegetation and the pungent aroma of seaside overwhelmed the veiled morning, it was not enough to mask another wolf's scent within the stale, windless air. Aisling could smell her company before she could see it; detecting mountainous pine, arid slate, dank bark, lechin, woman, and wolf... all bold odors which stood out against the river's edge. Slowly, akin to a specter or phantom, a glacial shape appeared along the bank, and the foreigner's pace slowed to a stop to better scrutinize the she-wolf who appeared on the same trail.
She was a harsh looking creature, juxtaposed to Aisling's rather soft and demure features, fierce and impeccably white save for muddy toes that seemed disappear amongst the embankment. Cinerous ears cupped curiously to receive the other, though her face and body remained placid as to not nettle the first wolf she had seen since arriving. The scrupulous, firey gaze of the younger native could easily be felt, and Aisling's jaded eyes shifted away as to avoid confrontation.
'Sos or Atka?' the other queried — for the statement was certainly a question.... but of what? Aisling could not tell. Were they clan names? Territories? Was one a friend and the other an enemy? If she answered incorrectly would the ivory wolf attack? The sweet dew of honeysuckle grazed her tongue as Aisling's jaw clenched a bit tighter, calm but uncertain in every aspect.
Aisling instead introduced herself as something else, something resembling the spidery language that Tiarnán utilized. Suddenly, a new, equally insane and incomprehensible question had come to light in the Alpha bitch's mind, which took the forefront despite being asked for an introduction: “Are you a warlock?”
It kind of made sense, she belatedly thought. She thought she'd heard "lock" in those words somewhere. For the time being she ignored the lone wolf's question, though she did hold onto it, keen to know if there was another warlock in these parts (even though Tiarnán was no such thing) and if she could harness this one's abilities as well.