Blackwater Islands got a river for a soul

A gentle fog clung to the islands, tangled in the firs, as she walked unseen beneath the mossy boughs. The dark of her coat served a perfect camoflage for the Matriarch as she stalked through the Thistlewood in search of @Kalika. She didn't raise a howl to the sky for fear of disturbing the other residents, and because she wanted this to remain a private conversation. There were matters in the works Akantha wanted the young Initiate to take part in, and she desired her opinion before moving forward with a decision.

Her nose twitched as she caught the faintest hint of her on the wind and turned east to follow it. Signs she was near became more readily available—a few tufts of pale fur were scattered here or there, caught on saplings and ferns, dispersed from the host as she moved throughout the territory. Spring was well upon them now and everyone was beginning to blow their coats in preperation for warmer weather, Akantha included. Her thick fur was not as immaculate as before; she looked windswept and bedraggled, with random clumps revealing the sleek summer coat beneath.

Akantha emerged onto the gravel beach and cupped her ears as she stopped to look out at the water where the clouds met the sea a hundred yards off. Soon the morning would transition to afternoon, and the fog would burn away to reveal a partly cloudy sky, but for now she was content with the world as it was.

Kalika heard her Matriarch approach, so she wasn't surprised when she spotted her in the distance. She climbed down from the flat topped stone she had been resting on and made her way toward Akantha at a trot, slowing as she drew closer. A sweet smile curled over her muzzle and a glint came about her eye, showing the affection she felt to the older, darker woman. Akantha, she cooed, How are you? Often times, relationships between subordinates and their superiors went unintentionally neglected, though it seemed that the kinship Kalika held with Akantha was undying. She sat back on her haunches with her tail curled around her in a meek fashion, her ears flattening only slightly back.

Going to set this post-Galateia so she can talk about it with her. :3

Thankfully, Kalika had a keen sense of when she was needed. The sound of paws scraping against rock drew her attention to the pale Initiate, and the sight of her sent a wave of relief down across her spine. She bore a great deal of tension between her shoulders, partly due to the healing wounds, and also because of her anxieties regarding this meeting. They all needed it to go well, or they would be faced with yet another relocation. Akantha spent many nights praying to the Mothers to set them all on the right course—she did not want all her efforts to be for naught.

When she drew near Akantha, in an unusual show of affection, reached out and placed a gentle kiss to her Sister's forehead before quickly retreating back into her own personal space. She, too, seated herself and curled her tail around her hindquarters, protecting her feet from the biting wind. "Worried." She admitted suddenly and twisted her ears back against her uneven mane. "I dislike waiting." she grunted.

Akantha allowed a moment for her to catch her wayward thoughts before continuing, "I found a woman washed up on the shore of Ankyra." She said, the fierce curve of her mouth pulled into a tight line. "She does not have her memory or, at least, not yet. I lied to her," Akantha admitted. "told her the Sea had spoken her name to me, Galateia, and that she belonged to us. A Nereid. By all rights... she is one, born of the Blessed Deep, and readily accepting of our ways. A part of me wonders if this really is a gift from the All-Mothers and I was not just saying so to play her sympathies." 

"She is recovering from her ordeal. I want you to keep this between us, and especially from her. We don't need to find out she's actually very important to someone, and they send their warriors down for our heads."

Kalika could sense the tension held in Akantha's posture, forcing her own brow into a furrow in response. She nodded along to the Matriarch's words as she tried to comprehend the shared load. As a training diplomat, Kalika had plenty of experience in slight pulls of the truth though never had she gone so far as to convince another that she was who she was not. Once Akantha finished speaking, the young femme turned her head away for a moment of thought as she tried to piece together a response.

You have no reason to worry, Kalika began, You can trust me. If she has no recollection of her past life, then it shouldn't be hard to create one for her. It would have been more of a discourtesy to let her roam without a cause than to bring her into our ranks where she will be treated as every daughter deserves. She gave Akantha a comforting look and placed her paw gently on top of her tail, being careful not to apply much of her weight on the fragile limb. You can trust me. I would never betray you.

She retreated back into herself after taking a deep breath and trying to move less from the emotional side of the ordeal and more into the logical aspect. How much does she know of our ways? I can give her an orientation of sorts, if you would like. What rank will she be given to start in?

Akantha was glad that Kalika took a moment to absorb and recant the information before coming to any conclusions. It was that trait, among others, that the Matriarch valued in the younger woman and why she sought her out for such sensitive matters in the first place. The support and alternate view she offered was invaluable and she felt secure in her decision to, eventually, elevate her to High Priestess. But she would have to bide her time and see if all the other facets of Kalika's life among them would allow her to do so.

Until then, the matter of Galateia held most of her attention and the explaination the pale woman offered was exactly what soothed Akantha's unease about it. But the touch caught her by surprise, and she had little time to react before Kalika's earnest promise. Her eyes fought to find the swirling depths of her friend's own sapphire and she took a moment for herself to contemplate just how deep the trust ran, before nodding and looking away.

Akantha cleared her throat to answer, "Initiate. She knows nothing, but accepts and reveres the Mothers without question." She inhaled a deep breath and sighed it out through her nose. "Just get to know her, accept her as family, help her. Do what you usually do." Akantha added with a toothy smirk.

Kalika could see the slightly uncomfortable shift in Akantha's form so she straightened herself back and took on a more reserved stature, though her face held the same concern it had before. The grin was much appreciated, as she had feared that she might have made a bigger faux pas than she had originally figured, though this was quickly qualmed. What is usually done is what I do best. I'll take care of her. Kalika gave a wink and a smile of her own as she finished her sentence, if only to lighten the mood.

Are there any other concerns you have? I'm more than willing to offer up any other advice you might be seeking. If not, then I wouldn't mind a conversation, provided you aren't too busy. Though most things Kalika did with the Matriarch revolved around business, she had taken quite a liking to her personality and wished to know more about her leader, even if more just meant how she was enjoying the weather.

Akantha nodded once more and neatly finished up her thread of anxiety with a pretty little stitch. She tacked it up and away, and put it from her mind for now. Galateia would mend, regain her strength, and only then would they reassess exactly what needed to be done. Only then. Not now.

"A conversation," she began with a snort. Kalika knew better—that Akantha wasn't one for small talk, or gossip. But as she almost turned away from the ivory Siren, the note of sincerity in her voice bade her remain and weather the thought of it. A single ear twisted atop of her dome and she quirked a brow at Kalika with a slightly wavering smile. "Like what?"

Anything, Kalika laughed though her intentions were genuine, What concerns you in our settlement? What are you looking forward to? I want to be able to assist you in anything you need. If it was advice that Akantha needed, Kalika would deliver. A meal or a place to rest and she would seriously consider it. All of it was a part of being an advisor, which was something she wished to be dearly. But even beyond that, she wished to serve as a friend to her Matriarch, for both a genuine good somewhere deep within as well as for her own (slightly selfish) benefit.

"Many things," She replied with a casual dip of her scarred muzzle. "but nothing that needs attention." It was hard, but she wanted to thank Kalika for her willingness to serve in whatever capacity required of her. Each time they spoke, Akantha was impressed with the girl's dedication, and each time she drew the same conclusions that were slowly forming in her mind—the pale Siren would make an excellent leader. But such things required time and patience, both things Akantha was not favorable to.

The Matriarch stood then. She dipped into a stretch, paws extending far out past her body, and back popping as each vertebrae settled back into place. Once finished she stood to full height and shook out her pelt before addressing Kalika again, "Whip and I are going scouting in the morning. Will you mind Soteria while I'm away? We should be back by mid-afternoon." She asked, placing the responsibility on the younger woman's shoulders.

Having a lot on your plate was to be expected as leader, so Kalika said nothing about Akantha's slight dismissal. The next request came as a bit of a surprise, though it was nothing that she hadn't been somewhat prepared for. Of course, Kalika answered with an assuring nod, Anytime. Although scouting was one of her chosen trades, she didn't feel threatened by Whip. Not only was he a male and therefore less competition anyway, but it was good that they had wolves doing the work of a scout within and outside of the territory. Also, being in Akantha's favor gave her the added confidence which she needed to feel secure in her occupation.

I assume that is all? This was said not to speed their conversation to an end, but rather to close out what could easily become an awkward silence.

She smiled. "For now." ​she wasn't usually one to be enigmatic, but she did get a certain pleasure from it in the right circumstances. Akantha didn't get the sense that Kalika was attempting to steer the conversation but, rather, confirm they had reached the natural end of the discourse. Instead of departing immediately she took a moment to reach over and drape her neck across Kalika's shoulders, embracing the younger woman in a rare show of honest affection. The age disparity between them did nothing to lessen the bond that Akantha was quickly forming towards the she-wolf—if anything, her maternal instincts only drove her to cement them further. 

To the warmth of Kalika's core she breathed a quiet thank you before drawing away and departing into the nearby treeline.