Otter Creek maw

a little to the west of where otter creek is labeled! hoping for some Paleo puppies! @Siku @Anselm @Emmerich (tags for visibility, but NO pressure to join! <3)

her first trip away from home! 
the excitement struck her truly now that they were well enough away from Akashingo. and with her mother, she saw all manners of new things! but much, in the Winter, was the same. naked trees and white earth; but the alder tree was new to her. she marveled at the catkins that hung over the stream that was frozen over at the point the camp rested near.
Toula wore a silver foxfur this evening. it was a little bit thicker than the mink; one thing Toula had discovered already was that life beyond the redsands was cold! were this not a grand adventure, this might be a bother. but Toula delighted in seeing her breath given form.
a chittering sound distracted her; Toula looked to see a river otter, sliding upon the snow. she giggled softly at this, and drew a little further away from her attendants to observe. one followed after her, to be sure she was alright and did not get lost, though gave the Amiirad the illusion of privacy.

The young wolf had not journeyed far from Paleo.

After listening to his brother tell stories of his time away from home, Emmerich had grown restless and eager to explore for himself. The young wolf had no intention of leaving the hollow where his family lived. He felt he had been dutiful to their pack, to their borders, and to the visitors who he had met on the edge of the claimed land.

Prowling as a hunter, Emmerich smelled the otters on the biting wind. He scanned the undergrowth for them, eager to see if he could catch something to eat. As he positioned himself to stalk, the young wolf heard a lingering laugh that fluttered overhead. His ears drew to a point while the yellow of his eyes sought the noisemaker.

Stepping through the brush, the young guardian saw a girl with several others. Emmerich remained stiff, but his curiosity was urging him closer.

Hallo, he offered in the voice of a young man.

it seemed her attendants were as enchanted by the moment, or perhaps Toula's joy, as she; the voice of another, a stranger, had the Amiirad gasp in surprise. but as she turned to face the one that had spoken, there was no fear upon her features. no, only greater wonder lingered.
a boy! a boy that was not her brother!
she echoed, oh! Hallo! charmed by the way in which he had said it. she took a step nearer, tail waving behind her. what is your name...? have you come to watch these creatures play?
Toula's gaze was warm, and the attendant that had initially practiced discretion then emerged only to inform the stranger, you speak with Muat-riya Isetnofret "Toula", Princess of the Red Serpent, and Toula, used to such proclamations, beamed. she looked back only to thank him. her escort then withdrew, a polite distance away but near enough to protect. I have forgotten my manners! you are the first stranger I have met, on my first trip away from home— was she divulging too much? it was perhaps better to be honest, if they were to be friends! can you forgive me? she asked, a little shyly.
his eyes were bright, like the sun. she felt warm to be looked upon by them. perhaps he was blessed by Ra!
now, knowing there were hunters near, the river otters moved to slide away in an effort to escape them.

The girl’s voice and gaze were bright. She returned his greeting, turning his cheeks red with warmth he hadn’t felt before. In only a few moments, she had asked for his name and whether he had come to watch the otters play, or not.

Emmerich wanted to tell her that he had been hunting, but the words did not leave his lips. Before he could offer his name, one of the wolves that accompanied the girl stepped forward and rambled off an introduction on her behalf. The young Paleo wolf had never heard or seen such a thing. She seemed perfectly capable of holding her conversations without assistance. Emmerich’s sun-yellow stare lingered on the speaker before they stepped back and allowed the girl to continue her conversation.

Toula was her name, or so he believed. The white-headed boy would never be able to repeat the string of titles that had been given. Toula was on her first visit outside of her home – a special occasion. The apology was not necessary. He flicked an ear backwards on his head, snout pointed down, to say that she needn’t apologize, at all.

I am Emmerich, of Paleo, he introduced with a small dip of his head.

When curiosity overtook him, he motioned to the accompanying party and tilted his head in question.

Are they your- a thoughtful pause and crease of his features, your parents?

Emmerich! it was a lovely name, and it suited him somehow. I am truly delighted to make your aquiantence, Emmerich of Paleo, she answered with a smile. Paleo–she had never heard of the place before! what is Paleo like? she asked, drawing a little closer. this, Paleo, was a part of this world–his world–and now she wished to know it! 
Toula looked back to where he gestured, toward the coyotes and the wolves gathered. she gestured to her mothers proud silhouette: my Mother, the Shabti, is among them charting our course–but my Father, the Pharaoh, is home, she openly explained. though this is my attendant, and she then named them to Emmerich, too. we head to treat with our allies, she giddily explained. 
and then back to him! for she wished to know this keen-eyed Emmerich! do you often travel away from home? she wondered!

The girl was remarkably pleasant. Emmerich found himself disarmed by it, by the flurry of joyous words that fell from her lips. She wanted to know what his home was like. Toula explained that she traveled with her mother – one of the flock – and that they were charting a course. The young guardian did not understand where they were going without her father. He didn’t ask for clarification, either.

Two questions had been asked of him. Emmerich sniffed lightly at the air.

Paleo is simple. It is a quiet hollow in the mountain. Ve are few, but ve are all skilled and assist Paleo vith our strengths. That seemed apt enough to describe his home. His white head turned to the mountain when he felt the touch of homesickness that had unraveled in his stomach. Emmerich would not be away for long.

And I do not travel outside of my home often. I usually guard our borders. Anselm had been away for much longer than Emmerich had. They would not worry for him, yet.

Vhere are you charting your course? Vithout your papa?

she had never heard anyone talk like him! the Amiirad found herself leaning a little closer, as though this would help her hear him better. Paleo itself sounded charming, and delightful; she would have to tell her mother that she would like to see this quiet little hollow!
and him, too, of course. oh, it sounds so lovely! she started, and as he finished and spoke of himself being a guard, Toula likened the wolf before her to the Mazoi of Akashingo.
but she wanted to be sure! is guarding your strength, Emmerich? you do look strong, she thought aloud, her gemstone eyes bright and warm as she regarded him and nodded. she thought also to say, I am so glad that today of all days, you wandered—the Gods must have wanted our paths to align, perhaps so that we two could be friends! she thrilled at the idea of it, and felt the rightness of it. Emmerich was easy to look upon, and she felt happier for this adventure now. but at once she also felt like she had presumed too much, and averted her gaze to say, unless... unless you do not want that! for she would never force anyone to anything, even friendship!
his question gave her the path to recovery. Basilica. they will host me for some days. I will miss Him greatly, but we will be together again! I go as ambassador for Akashingo, she explained, speaking much so as to not hear the no, I am not looking for friends Toula, good day! 
but even then, she also wondered if he might invite her to Paleo!

It seemed as though she liked the sound of his home. Paleo was lovely, after all. Emmerich had never thought of anywhere else as home. Their hollow in the mountain had been made into a place of security, a place to learn, to protect. He could not think of a reason why anyone would need anything more.

Unable to remain on the subject for long, she offered a compliment to his physique. She’d said that he looked strong. Emmerich wasn’t used to this kind of talk from girls. The only girl he had known had been his sister and she had a smart mouth on her. Toula was swift with sweetness and disarming with the rush of her words. The young guardian had never met someone quite like her.

The Gods? he echoed uncertainly when she had mentioned them.

I vould not mind a friend.

Emmerich didn’t have many. He considered the wolves of Paleo to be more like family. Siku was growing into more of a brother. The white-hooded boy wondered if it was good to have friends from faraway places.

I haven’t heard of the place you vill visit. Basilica…

the Gods? he had asked; an innocent question! and in this moment, every ounce of her training was exercised for her features not to go aghast at the comment; did he not know of the Gods?
was he a heathen?
but if that was so, then this must be why their paths had crossed! other, of course, than for her to find a friend! the Gods were what Toula loved most, and to have someone to speak of them anew... the thought thrilled her! the Gods, Toula repeated then, her tone reverent and warm, Ra, Osiris, Amun, Iset... I name a few, because perhaps one of Their names might be familiar to you. have you not heard of Them?
she had heard, too, of other faiths! Basilica's! and so perhaps this one before her might have his own Gods. while they (and that) would interest her, none had her heart so much as her own did. but then, she knew no Others!
Toula drew a little closer, smiling brightly as he mentioned that he would not mind a friend. well, then, if you are a friend of mine, you must come to the winter feast that I and my mother are hosting at Akashingo, she insisted with a wave of her tail. I would love to see you there, she admitted; Toula felt she would think after this well spoken man, even after they were apart! it would make her happy, to know for certain she would see him again!
Toula smiled to Emmerich. I have not heard much of it, either. they too have a religion they follow, which I am most interested to learn, she hummed, but I hope I can teach them of my Gods, and that they will let me build my altars to Them there so that I may pray to mine. a hope she had not even thought to whisper to her mother, for it felt silly to have any fears!
but there it was, and now Emmerich knew it. and the attendant had heard it too, and might well share it with @Treva, but Toula would only think that her mother knew her heart perfectly if she did.

The girl was swift to rattle off names. They sounded nothing like the names he had heard in Paleo. They did not even sound like the names of the visitors he had met on their borders. When she spoke them, he could see that she used reverence in her words. They were everything to her.

Emmerich was made uncomfortable by this realization. He’d never known this kind of devotion in his young life. The boys hawkish eyes were sharp on her. She asked if he knew Them as though he should know at least three of the names she’d offered. The young guardian felt that he might have made a mistake to freely speak with this girl. His mind ventured back to Paleo and to his family. He wished to be patrolling the borders.

No, he confirmed that he did not know her Gods.

I vill ask about the vinter feast.

That didn’t sound promising. Emmerich cleared his throat and straightened himself. He didn’t want to look like a poor example. Toula was bright and charming. She talked a great deal. If he slacked in his engagement, she would probably think that he was dull.

But if I cannot come to the vinter feast… maybe ve could meet again. Somewhere else.

That seemed like a generous offer from a boy who did not enjoy leaving his doorstep.

she was quiet, and considering for a moment. and then, I could teach you of Them, if you would like, offered in a quiet breath. perhaps he did not care to know Them, though! but anything, anything to be able to talk to him for a little while longer! 
and as for his asking... oh! she was so glad to hear it! we are only just beginning to plan it, and... perhaps... perhaps we will make it a Spring feast, instead, she thinks aloud, to herself and to him, it might make it easier for you to travel! him, and other friends she might make!
but he also spoke about not being able to make it. to hear such was disheartening, but her face was softened by understanding. who knew what might occur, between then and now?! she could not fault him for being planful himself!
but his other offer, tentative and gentle, caused her to smile fully. oh! I would love that, and that was the truth! there was something about Emmerich; he was so easy to speak to, she felt!

Toula offered to teach him and the boy searched her features, wary of accepting such an offer. He felt that he might speak with his father about the matter, first. If Mahler thought it was agreeable to learn from this young woman, Emmerich might be persuaded.

She went on to say that their feast might be closer to being a springtime affair. To this, the young guardian waved his tail. It seemed more fitting to hold something like that during newleaf. He was eager to experience spring through eyes that could appreciate it. There had been talks of prey returning to the surrounding lands. Paleo would have wolves with fully bellies, warmed by the change in season.

It seems a good time to have a feast, you know. Spring is vhen the prey vill be plentiful.

It was good to share this knowledge with others. He felt more inclined to listen to his father’s more studious lessons. Besides, if Toula was kind enough to extend an invitation to the boy she had just met, Emmerich thought she deserved a thoughtful response.

Let me talk to my papa and then ve vill see about your teaching of gods, he said. It wasn’t a guarantee, but a possibility of something in the future.