Dragoncrest Cliffs a storm with skin

There was no better way to get to know your new clanmates than to be stuck huddled together with them during a terribly cold turn of the weather. The cavern they shared was spacious enough for the lot of them, but still Tirgatao felt uneasy sharing such proximity to so many others. She didn't know any of them yet; their likes, dislikes. She lacked information on who was the more patient of the bunch, and who was more easily rankled. Portia had potential as a friend, though Tir still wasn't entirely certain where her feelings lie on the matter of an outsider rising to such an important rank. The same could be said for many of the strangers that she suddenly shared bunk with.

She was lying near a wall of the cavern when she heard someone move a few yards off. She lifted her head, eyes focusing quickly in the limited light, only to catch sight of the Heda's dark form disappear around a corner. She pressed her lips together as she ruminated on whether or not to follow Thuringwethil, or to leave the Heda to her own. But she had questions. Many of them, and none of which could be satisfied by anyone but her. 

Tirgatao rolled to her feet and stepped lightly around the others still slumbering nearby. Her tail brushes the tip of someone's ear, but they do not stir. She follows the path through the cave until light bleeds into the threshold and exposes her to the leeward side of the sea. It is far more tranquil here though still bitterly cold. She turns now, nose leading her eyes to fall upon Heda lying upon a rock face tucked away against the cliffs. An upwelling of uncertainty forms a knot in her throat, but she is a Shouna and there is no room for her emotions here.

"Heda," she says softly when she comes within reach of the swarthy commander. Her head lowers, and her eyes close out of respect. "may I join you?"