Stavanger Bay passion fruit

Special mention for @Smokestep but anyone's welcome to come greet her. P.S. she is on the borders and hasn't crossed.

It was the smell of saltwater and fermenting fruit that beckoned her forth. Lanky, lean form moving at a brisk pace. She would have kept moving towards the scents had she not been slapped in the face with the musk of others. A pack.

Her tail twitched behind her. No water or smelly fruits were worth getting beat up for. She reclined and a stick-like leg lifted to lazily scratch at her ear. Maybe she could hang around for the season, gobble up as many smelly fruits and fish as her belly could hold. Her tail beat against the rugged earth just thinking about it. She may have been a drifter but she was a gluttonous one.

Eagerly she tossed her narrow head back, a high pitched sound emitting from her.

It was not a good time to come knocking on the borders of the Cairne's claim; the sleepless dredge was always hunting for a target upon which to unleash his innate rage, all that terror that he could not utilize while under the command of the far more passive Smokestep. He patrolled frequently, slept little, and could barely eat (the entrails of his kills or morsels from caches would often be strewn about the beach, ruined and uneaten). No, it was not a good time to come face-to-face with the bushido.

But fate took hold swiftly — the moment the scent of someone new came to him through the thick brine of the sea air, Tetsubo set off to intercept. He thought of nothing else but the sensation of teeth sinking in to flesh—he was not subtle in his approach, bludgeoning the path before himself as he roamed and hunted, until finally the sound of her call rang out and he leveled his dead-eye stare in that direction. At this point his pace increased—the creature veered, and with a snarl bellowing forth from his gut, he lunged for her.
​

Luckily for the girl.... or perhaps unluckily for Rosalyn... she heard the call as well.  But when she arrived, Tetsubo was already at it, chasing away a perfectly polite prospect before they'd even said a word no doubt.  The hell was this guy's problem?

"Oi, shitbrains, back off!"  She yelled, galloping forward.  She wasn't completely sure he'd comply... she wasn't a Cairn, after all, that magical dog whistle of his.  But their crew wasn't big enough that they needed to drive off any comers either, and she wasn't a huge fan of this guy.  So she would try.

discussed a miss with JB!

This was not what the drifter had expected. It was a rare event that she played by the rules and now that she did it seemed to want to bite her in the ass.

She found herself quickly reeling back, lanky legs pushing out to shove herself back from the creature heading towards her. Her voice was caught in her throat and perhaps that was a good thing. If she had been able to make a sound it likely would have sounded like a cougar and wolf decided to put together an opera performance together.

"Oi, shitbrains, back off!"

It was a narrow miss for her thanks to the voice that seemed to stop the assault. She fell backward, her lean frame slamming back against the earth thanks to lanky limbs struggling beneath her. It was between wheezy breaths for air that she felt the sourness bubble up within her. "Ay!" She shouted back, specifically towards the brown-toned female. "T'fook is his problem?!"

Which probably wasn't the best thing to be saying when she was still vulnerable on her back.

He was so close, but that voice shot through the air and through his mind, causing the grimace of his fangs to snap shut like a beartrap — collapsing on air when he'd rather they grip at flesh. Tetsubo could hardly imagine anything at all, but he could picture the scene well enough: his teeth sinking in to the skin of the prone wolf, the squeal of pain that would crescendo around him, the taste — Oi, shitbrains, back off!

It would not go his way. The creature lurched to a halt as his teeth sliced the air, his heavy coat shifting across his broad back like a mane whipped by a frenzied wind. The beast turned its attention back to that voice, subtle and seething, and then was stationary. The target slipped out from his shadow and recoiled with their own words, flailing upon the soil with their limbs splayed heavenward like some kind of insect. If only he could crush it — no, he would hold still for instruction from the first mate.
​

Ohey... he actually did it.  But she'd forgotten; insulting him was like insulting a rock.  You might feel better for a minute, but then you realized, you were yelling at a fucking rock.  And then you just felt kinda embarassed.

Apparently her position rated her enough consideration to at least be listened to, and she breathed out a huff, rolling up to where the other wolf was splayed.  "Aye, sorry bout that.  Generally we at least answer a summons an see if we like what we see afore snappin."  Rosalyn eyed Tetsubo.  "I don't think he likes much, though.  What were you wantin?"  It was brosque, but friendly enough... now that he wasn't going for the immediate kill, she felt like they had a moment, but she didn't trust him still.  So she kept him warily in her periphery, knowing if she stood in between him and what he wanted, he wouldn't hesitate.

@Tetsubō @Rosalyn

Once she felt she was safe enough, she wiggled and pushed herself to a standing position again. Her head was held protectively low as he tail settled in a low position - giving the occasionally annoyed flick. Maybe the blockhead just had one too many smell fruits to eat or maybe he really was just as violent as she just witnessed a glimpse of.

"Ah was thinkin' of tryin' to join yer group." She admitted as murky yellow eyes glanced at the male. "But if yer got others like 'im I might have ta revoke my interest." Slick wasn't trying to hide her dislike for the male. If she hadn't been in the company of the kinder lady she might have spit at his paws just to drive the point home.

The stranger gave adequate submission (not that such a thing would usually curb the gargoyle's antics) and seeing as Rosalyn was dealing with them, Tetsubo saw no reason to linger for long. The beast needed to loose his rage somehow, and there was no way to do that here. As much as he loathed to depart the territory's fringe, he felt as though Rosalyn was an adequate warrior — just adequate — and this interloper seemed even weaker, so his strength wasn't necessary. He grunted and turned away as they spoke, and began to head off to continue his rounds (or beat a tree, whichever came first).
​

She watched Tetsubo leave and annoyance left, making way for a sort of irritated acceptance.  Apparently this was going to be the way of things now.  "Nay, only one o him, thankfully.  Rest of the crew's pretty harmless... if they like ye."  She peered at the girl.  "Though, if the likes o him are enough to scare ye off, maybe ye should move on."  She smirked a little as she relayed this one, a glint in her eye as she lifted her head questioningly.

A heavy snort left her at the lady's words, not the kind that was made out of disrespect but one of dry humor. Slick couldn't bring herself to laugh after almost being mauled just for stopping by to see what this place was about. Nah, but she could appreciate the lady's humor.

"Ah'm not scared but smart ah'nuff ta know it ain't my time ta be losin' my nose - or more - ta a beast like 'im." There was very little she was willing to lose at the moment just for some fish and smelly fruit. "There's a time n' place fer everythin'. Ain't there?" She chuffed softly as she gave a genuine grin to the auburn wolf.

She was game enough, Rosalyn thought with some appreciation.  She didn't argue, but she didn't leave either, instead (correctly) judging the jibe a joke and mostly dismissing it.  "Smart one then," she said, moving in slightly closer to better chat now that they were alone.  Secretly she was glad Tetsubo wasn't set to watch her... he tended to unnerve her.

"You got me there.  Are you not a fighter then? Do you do something else?"  Now her tone went from teasing to questioning, trying to judge the worth of her to the crew.  If she wanted to join, she was likely welcome.  But a lifetime gig needed to be amenable on both sides.

The questions were warranted and Slick had no problem dealing with reasonable authority. "Ah'm a pretty good fisher and nah too bad at scoutin'." She answered honestly at first before an almost teasing grin slipped onto her face. "But if ya need a fighter, Ah can fight...fer a price." She gave a good-natured wink, rocking on her heels.

"Slick's t'name, by t'way." Even if she didn't manage to secure a place here, she figured the brown furred women deserved a name for memories sake.

"Hmm," She appeared to consider a moment, then the lilt was back.  She appreciated that the other seemed to take her teasing in stride - it was part of a necessary crew comraderie, after all.  "Suppose you'll do.  So long as you see havin the likes of him" she indicated behind "at your back instead of your front seems a fair price.  But so's you know, it's a life gig.  Captain's orders are to hunt down any deserters."  It was fairly obvious what happened to those they caught, but she'd spell it out if need be.

"And my name's Rosalyn.  First mate to the Captain."[/b][/b]

sorry for the shortness of this reply

Her grin never faded even at the more serious words. Ah get it. Slick gave a quick nod of her head. Not that she was particularly fond of live commitments but as long as the smelly fruit and fish were present then so would she.

Well, pleasure ta meet ya, Rosalyn. The lean female said with a few soft sways of her tail. Were they good now? Was Slick free to go stuff her face with smelly fruits and avoid the neighborhood beast?

She seemed eager enough, and Rosalyn saw no reason to deny a willing crewmate... she fit the bill anyway, obviously of the more sly than physically strong end.  Which they could honestly use in her opinion.

"Then welcome to Ironsea," she said with a smile, nodding to her.  "I can show you around or leave you be, either's fine.  I'd just introduce yourself to the Captain at some point."  He was obviously final word, and if he didn't like her, well.... cest la vie.  

feel free to fade if you like!

Ah'll show meself 'round and find tha' cap'in of ours. She said with a grin and a nod to the auburn gal. Now that she was officially a part of this Ironsea she could find a place to fill her stomach before becoming social. Slick knew she was far better company when she wasn't particularly hungry.