Ouroboros Spine New beginnings

Raising his head in caution, Valerius pricked his ears up, he suddenly seemed in the position to become more aware and attentive to his surroundings. The young tawny wolf had come a long way avoiding misunderstandings and situations where he could get himself injured by rogues or dangerous strangers. After days of exploring and wandering, he found himself at a pack's border, or so he believed, relying on his nose so far hadn't disappointed him. His icy cornflower gems wandered through the setting he found himself in, flora of all varieties surrounded the area, including pine trees and a few shrubs. I hope I don't startle anyone around. The Acerno brute could only stress about his intentions being misread.

Valerius shook his nerves off, he had come a long way to start backing out now. He took a deep breath and let out a soft howl, calling any pack member nearby to come to his location. He couldn't picture how the interaction would go, but he only wished to become himself useful in this territory he could soon become familiar with. He stood confidently, tail laying flat behind him, and his ears still pricked with caution, carefully situating himself between the border and wilderness. His scent was covered with oaky and herb like essences from brushing against the shrubs in order to find this place, it shouldn't take them long to hear or sniff me out.

 

Again, it was the Eta who would arrive on the scene -- though lacking the stress that had brought her forth at Lilitu's inexperienced howl. Still, as the rumbles of a deeper baritone -- undeniably male -- reached her ears, the botanist was moved to respond vigilantly. 

She drew from the blackpine to face the male, tail and ears rising halfway in a lackluster show of dominance. She was higher than he in this land but if he possessed a good nose, he would be able to sniff out that she was not chieftain here. 

"Greetings," the artisan murmured, soft as a burbling brook, when she had stopped some safe distance from him. Her ears gave a brief tic, waiting for his words.

Orbs fixated on the smaller she-wolf as soon as she stepped into his focal view. He wouldn't have pictured being greeted by someone who appeared to be more interested in dyes and plants than being here, even so, he flickered his ears downward and bowed his head respectfully to the assisting fae. "Greetings. My name is Valerius Acierno, and I've come forward in interest of joining your pack." His gaze studied the light pelted superior in front of him, wondering how a soft looking she-wolf be in charge of checking up on the borders. Instead of feeling cocky towards her, he felt a need to aid her in some kind of way. Showing any sign of sensitive towards her could give a bad impression, and he couldn't be fooled by the physique of anyone.

She might as well be very skilled in agility or stealth. Val was definitely giving her the benefit of the doubt, besides, he couldn't deny he found respect towards her line of apparent work. She might have different reasons to carry that scent, yet here I am assuming. Shaking the thought away, after he introduced himself he kept his head slightly low and proceeded to direct his tail below him along his hind legs in sign of respect.

Heyyy! I'm Sly, PST time zone here :)

Heyo! Rachel ® here over in Central timezone. Welcome!

The rabbit blinked doe-eyes of peridot, carefully committing the foreign sound of his name lest she butcher it whenever the time came to attempt saying it. "I welcome you, Valerius, " she lilted, the words slow and formal as was the norm for the introverted wolfess. "I do not hold the power to permit or deny your presence here," came her next murmur, apologetic and diffident as her head dipped in a slight nod. "The moon and star would have to offer you sanctuary and I do not speak for Moonglow's leaders." She was sure they had heard from the ulaq, but Kukutux was likely still too injured to make the walk to the borders. If @Sialuk did not appear from the conifers' depths, if mayhaps she was gone hunting, then the botanist would call for @Raimo -- who was one of the few she had met so far and seemed to be a leader of sorts here, at least the leader of the tribe's hunters. If the moon and star could not be present then perhaps the spear was available to speak with this possible recruit.

"What do you offer in return?" The yearling asked as she waited, thinking perhaps it might be prudent to garner information for those higher in the ranks than she, to pass along when one of them arrived. She did not think it an odd question nor a rude one; she assumed the man to be familiar with the custom of trading and bartering.

Raising his head to a more comfortable level, the bronzed brute nodded with a mouthed 'Thank you' as he carried on listening to the fae. His ears twitched with curiosity when stated her powerless position in this situation, interesting. Processing what he interpreted as pack beliefs, he started to wonder what will proceed if no superior was to make an appearance. Valerius tilted his head slightly in thought with wandering frosty gems as he realized he might need to spend the night in the wilderness again; breaking his ever so planning mind with a low sigh, he focused his gaze back at her.

"I will grant my loyalty and capabilities to benefit the pack. I'll learn what I have to learn to be useful." The latter referencing to the pack views, to which he presumed to be knowledge that won't be grasped in a day. Acierno considered having expertise in survival of the wild, therefore blessed with strength and a pensive mind. He felt a rush of incentive run through his bloodstream, thinking about being fruitful to a community inspired him deeply, therefore, he smiled softly towards the girl, "I will put my spirit into protecting my folk." Articulating about motivations brought serenity to him, eased his soul, so to speak. Valerious dominant appearance could be misleading to his fraternal self, someone who yearns to take care of others and maintain security to his home.

The yearling nodded, thinking that these were good things to pledge to their village but only time would tell if the words rang true. She had known many a man who could spin pretty words, wax poetry. Like flattery, it oft rolled off the herbalist's shoulders like raindrops sluicing off the feathers of a waterfowl. Her features remained polite and neutral, though she allowed a faint quirk of her lips lest she seem unfriendly, at his offer. She considered, as if she might actually be able to grant him a place amongst their tribe, spring gaze moving from Valerius' earthen pelt to the needles littering the forest floor. 

"You are a warrior, then? A guardian?" She asked and this was lighter, conversational as the timid mouse dared to curl cinnamon haunches beneath her neatly, tail curling close over her paws as she observed the man again with a quick, keen glance. He was strong, proud: standing perhaps half a foot taller than she and outweighing her by sixty-five pounds. They had @Adrastus (reference) to protect them but the artisan was certain they could use more fighters amongst their numbers though she was beginning to think this pack would soon be swamped with men.

The storyteller would keep the visitor preoccupied until someone showed up, which would give her a chance to get a read on this newcomer. He seemed amicable and genuine enough at the moment, though the wary girl knew all too well how people could put up a good front. Perhaps speaking with him might give her an inkling if he was one such wolf.

It was difficult to read the dove like she-wolf, her gestures and tones were hard to catch on, but Valerious didn't mind, if anything he felt respect for her. Didn't seem to be easily amused or charmed, not that he intended to enamore her, but he would start to grasp her expressions. "A guardian, but if you are in need of a different assistance, I can serve well as a warrior." Not being picky at all, but trying to see which way he could useful to them.

Valerius let a soft and meek side smile tug on his muzzle as he interpreted her settling down as a sign of less tension. "May I ask... Who are you? Or at least what's your name?" He had abstained from disrespecting her or overstepping by accident. It seemed fit to know the fae's name if they're starting to become acquaintances. Lightly shuffling his paws among the ground he kept composed, he was in no position to be overly-confident or comfortable, but longed to know his future in this scenario.

Had a long busy day yesterday ! I'm here now

For some reason, the name of Elenwë's daughter stumbles to her lips and she has to choke the shape of it back down, the only visible sign of this misstep being the heavy bob of her throat as she swallows thickly. "Lótë," the dove imparts, proud that the words do not flinch with falsehood. "Just Lótë." 

The mouse could not have said for sure how long they sat and chatted while the painter anticipated one of her superiors' arrival. When at last it came to pass that she realized no one would be drawing from the blackpine anytime soon, her sprucegreen gaze flitted with restless indecision -- lips pursing into a thin line as she thought. At last, her spring gems lifted to Valerius again and she gave a beckoning gesture of her head as she stood. 

"If you would come with me. I will take you to the Moon and the Star. Or perhaps the one our wisewoman calls first hunter -- he is something like leader to our men," the girl explained as she moved to escort him over their borders and deeper into the heart of Ouroboros. Still, she was cautious to share too much and named none of the wolves she had spoken of. 

She would bring him to the ulaq and see if the two who headed the circle of women in their village would allow the man to stake his own dwelling in the upper ring of the Spine. Perhaps he would join the circle of hunters and the numbers of those who would seek Kukutux's aide in finding a mate.

so sorry for the wait on this, I took a break for a min due to some medical concerns but I'm back now. @Kukutux and @Sialuk I figure behind the scenes she can bring Valerius to the ulaq and they would decide from there if he was accepted or not? If you guys were wanting to do a thread though just PM me and I'll get something posted.