Dragoncrest Cliffs strings

Odessia traveled north, toward the ocean. She went west around the thicket of forest that looked like more trouble than it was worth before she encountered yet another pack boundary. Frustratingly, it blocked her path to the ocean, but she knew better than to cross that not-so-invisible-to-the-nose line. While she decided what to do, Odessia settled into a sit and scratched a particularly annoying itch in her left ear with her hind foot.
There was still no sign of her swarthy bodyguard, but perhaps this pack would hold what she desired most. With her itch finally scratched (at least the physical one), Odessia continued skirting the border, ensuring she was always far enough away that nobody would have a good reason to attack her.

They had a visitor. Shadess had grown to not particularly like visitors as of late. After all, those who had come had come only to take. They had taken far too much of Sapphique this year - or for a lifetime, for that manner. 

Dis be Sapphique. What is it you need? Came the voice from the trees, from a wolf of deep reds who came towards the woman on their border. Her head aligned with her spine as she stalks forward. At the very least, she was a woman and not a man.

Odessia blinked at the incorrect use of grammar and pronunciation that seemed to come out of the trees themselves. She immediately recognized the accent and improper speech as the same one that Etienne had sported. Apparently it was a common one around these parts... or at least common enough to meet more than one wolf who spoke incorrectly like they did. Odessia was not fond of it, but considering what happened the last time she corrected the funny speaking, she refrained this time around. The last thing she wanted to do was go mute for another couple of weeks. Odessia much preferred having her voice and personality intact.
It took Odessia a few moments to visually register the other wolf, who was approximately the same size as herself—although she carried herself with a lot more bravado that Odessia ever had. She was a deep, dark shade of red with barely-visible highlights on top, almost as if she had been bleached by sun exposure. Odessia was not dumb enough to look her in the eye (no challenges here), so instead she let her eyes settle on the other's feet.
"My name is Odessia. Can you tell me about your pack?" she asked.

She had come this way to ask about her pack? Shadess could only assume this woman was from a new settlement and wanted to know of her neighbors or she was looking to settle down with another. 

With every knowing that Sapphique could do with new members (though she was quite reluctant despite this) Shadess decided to comply. She would sit and make herself comfortable, boldly so perhaps, before the stranger. I am Shadess, Carnelian of de pack - leader. She spoke, accent ever thick. After my mother and after her mothers. We are a people of de sea. Believe in de spirits of Iwa. And then, We favor women among us.

The dark red wolf introduced herself as Shadess and as a leader of this pack. There was plenty that went unmentioned, and sometimes Odessia wondered if others withheld information on purpose or simply because they did not think it important. Shadess continued to ooze authority and confidence, neither of which were Odessia's strong suits. That was why she was seeking a bodyguard, was it not? She wished he—whoever he happened to be—was here with her right now. It would make this whole exchange a lot more pleasant.
The other tidbits of information gave Odessia plenty to go on, although it there was something that bugged Odessia about the exchange. Well, most exchanges she had, really. She would keeping that to herself, though.
As soon as Shadess mentioned spirits, Odessia knew it was not a good fit for her, though. When the second sentence contained the word "women" that sealed the deal. What was it with using human terms for their kind? Humans were so... terrible, awful creatures. Odessia could not understand why a wolf would want to use such a term associated with them.
"I am seeking a bodyguard. Do you have any males interested in that kind of job?" Odessia asked.
She wondered if they would like to leave this place where they did not appear welcome.

Had Shadess known all the complaints which this woman had swirling in her head, even to the dislike of her accent and religious beliefs, Shadess would have dismissed her already. Alas, the seafarer remained blissfully unaware, thankfully. 

You seek to take one of Sapphique's own for yourself? Shadess' ears perked, her eyes staring hard. And what does Sapphique receive in trade? Of course, where wasnt any. Only one man remained in their ranks: @Lafayette. And though he were man, he was also her brother and not one up for debate. Shadess however was curious enough for her answer.

There was that word again: trade. Odessia did not understand it when Keshi had mentioned it, and she did not understand it now. Did it look like she had something to trade? That was not how the wilderness worked. Odessia frowned.
"I thought, since you do not favor males, you would want to be rid of them," Odessia said.
Would she not be doing them a favor by taking one off their hands? Perhaps she had misunderstood what Shadess meant by "favor women" among them. Maybe she really did mean humans. Did they worship them? Were those the spirits she referred to? That was a whole new level of insanity that had Odessia peering around Shadess to see if there was a woman behind her, standing upon two legs, all pink and hairless.

And if I had not said dat? You had come dis way without dat knowledge. Shadess' ears perked, curious if the other woman had any real plan in all this. Had she any other intention for coming here? Had she planned to go pack to pack to ask which one would be willing to leave their home in exchange for being her body guard? 

Now, her head tilts, wondering exactly what the other wolf was looking at behind her, yet Shadess did not hear anyone's approach from behind. Is dis all you come for? If she were done here, good.

Odessia's face contorted at the assumptions Shadess was making. She considered replying, but it was not worth her time. She was on a mission, and clearly Shadess was not going to help her with it. If the Sapphique female had used her brain, she may have realized a thing or two, but Odessia was not interested in nitpicking the order of the conversation. If she did not have anybody to fulfill Odessia's role, then the white wolf would move on.
So that was exactly what she did. Odessia shook her head in mild disappointment, then turned away from Sapphique's border.

A contorted feature in her face, then a shaking of her head in disappointment. Things which paused Shadess lip to quiver, lifting to offer a silence snarl as the woman would then turn to leave without another word. 

Shadess would watch her go, enough so that she would be comfortable with believing she wouldn't be turning around and coming back so soon. Then she took would make her way from this meeting place.