Phantom Hollow How large the teeth?

He's travelling with Fox to RHC, but doesn't know anything about the hostilities between the packs, so if anyone from BDP wants to encounter him and... IDK... Smell Fox on him, that'd be fun.

The river of the coast was transformed as it roamed its way through the adjacent forest, and he followed at a decent pace. For the majority of their travel together, things were quiet; Fox occasionally brought up tidbits of information, and Njal was quick in his understanding, but he was also very quiet. It would take a few days before the pair would return to the caldera together - and in the interim, they decided to simply meet up whenever possible. Njal trusted Fox could handle herself, and she had other interests in these western lands aside from sightseeing, so when the pair separated it was with no ill feeling.

Njal followed the river until it began to curl south. He didn't know what lay in that direction, and had a limited understanding of where Fox's home was situated as well. So, thinking he should head further east instead, he adjusted his route - and found himself situated on the edge of a forest. It looked to be a segment of the Heartwood, but the river cut through it in a way that reminded him of a severed limb. The trees were clustered far closer here, and as he perused through the edge, every little sound seemed to be amplified. It was an eerie place - but a good a place as any to make camp for the night.

So the man advanced through the hollow. He was cautious only because of the strange disquiet that settled around him; every step, every subtle shift in the breeze, every sound - it was louder here despite all the growth. Unnerved, Njal searched for a suitable place to bed down for the night.

Can't resist, hope you don't mind!

FitzDutiful was out scouting the lay of the land when he came across a familiar scent, one of Fox and the Redhawk Caldera. It was an odd feeling that stirred for he had recently been chased away from their lands and yet this scent seemed to suggest they were now out of Caldera lands. He wasn't sure what to make of it and so he approached cautiously.

He really didn't want to run into Fox but the sight before his eyes was that of a lone wolf. One who must have been close enough to pick up the scent of Fox but not close enough to be one of them yet. Why would they let this wolf near them when they wouldn't even talk to him? Keeping an eye out to be sure that the alpha-ess wasn't hiding somewhere and prone to attack (though he didn't know about the incident he didn't trust them to play nice) he wandered closer.

"You there," he said, raising his voice to carry across the distance. "Why do you smell of Fox and yet not of the Caldera?"

Totally OK! :) I hope you don't mind Njal being kinda grumpy!

The forest was surreal, and there would be no sleeping within it. Njal roamed through the trees for some time, loitering by one copse or another, but every inch of the forest appeared to be the same. It was as if the life had been drained out of it; there were no sounds aside from his own steps, or the shifting of the wind in the branches. It was summer time - the days long and hot - and yet, the forest floor was cool, as if untouched. The birds had long ago gone to sleep for the night, but had it been daylight hours, Njal imagined he would not encounter many.

But there was something - someone. A pale figure lingering within the dark. He seemed curious of the silver man, and was bold in his approach - so Njal stood still and let him come. His own sterling pelt began to bristle as the stranger neared, unsure of his intent. And then, when the stranger spoke, Njal gave a shrug of indifference. A part of him sought to defend Fox against this potential threat (not realizing it was an ex-pack mate, nor was he aware of the political differences between the caldera and its rivals).

He did what he thought was best, and spoke plainly. "I encountered a woman some time ago, if that is who you mean." Njal would not name her, nor give this stranger any information to use against him; he did, however, size up this pale anomaly among the trees. Feigning interest, he added: "And who're you?" The stranger looked young and mindless enough to give away at least a little information for Njal to use, or maybe return to Fox if he made it to her home.

Fox was outside of the Caldera lands? FitzDutiful felt almost outraged, Peregrine had refused to come to the borders to speak to him but Fox was freely wandering around - was it just Perry not wanting to talk to FitzDutiful any more? Maybe they hadn't been such friends after all.

"I'm FitzDutiful, a former member of Redhawk Caldera. I used to be friends with Fox and Peregrine until they stopped allowing any foreign wolves on their borders. I'd be careful if I were you. They knew me and yet they wouldn't come speak to me, they've never been good with strays on their borders at the best of times and I get the sense this isn't the best of times."

A former member, yes, but not one that had left with an angry time between them. There had been a time when the wolves of the Caldera had allowed other wolves to be escorted through their lands, when they had themselves stayed in another packs lands. Finley and Peregrine themselves had both stayed that Plateau while being at the Caldera. Apparently they didn't preach what they practised.

It was really something he had to let go of, but FitzDutiful wanted to get to the bottom of it. Once he returned to Raissa and let her know something was afoot then he was going to the Plateau to see if he could find someone there to tell him what had transpired. Something had and he needed to know to reassess exactly where he stood with them.

After speaking, Njal studied the pale mane before him. He seemed surprised at first and then, oddly, irritated - but was quick to introduce himself and explain. Most of the information was helpful for Njal, but he feigned disinterest after gathering the man's name. It was a strange sounding title to give anyone, but the old man wasn't about to comment on that. 

When he did speak again, it was after the ghost had finished. Njal shrugged to show his indifference. "None of those things are my problem. I am only a traveler - and this Fox did not seem so terrible." But they did have a history together. If what Fitz said was true (and really, Njal had no reason to doubt him at this point, but he wasn't about to put more stock in a stranger's words than an allies), then the caldera wasn't just 'well guarded' as Fox had said. It was likely an impenetrable fortress. He had no issue with that either. There were dangers in the world, and such things could drive a new parent mad when faced with the task of guarding children. 

"I'm on my way south, but if you can tell me where to avoid, I will make it a point to do so." He lied smoothly, and with as much enthusiasm as the rest of his commentary. The sooner he reached the caldera lands of Fox, the sooner he could figure out for himself what was going on - and expose this stranger as an enemy to his potential new home and pack. Fox had wanted him to find other loners if possible, but news from the westlands would work just as well.

FitzDutiful was quite a trusting wolf. Even though recent circumstances had not been kind he wasn't suspicious by nature and never second guessed those. Anyone with even the remotest skill at lying could deceive the alpha for his willingness to see the best in others often clouded his judgement on the harsher realities of life.

"I don't really know much of the lands south of here." he said "Other than the Caldera. There's Blackfeather Woods but they're more east than south and I doubt you'd run into them unless you like dark shadowy lands." He thought for a moment, wondering if the lone wolf was worth recruiting. There was something odd, his denial of Fox was the only odd thing about the situation but , once again, FitzDutiful let it fly.

"If you head west you should stop by. I'm from Silvertip Mountain, that one over there, though a name to know you by might be nice?" His home loomed in the distance, strong and proud, and a smile came to his face when he looked at it. He was ready to be getting back to his children, but he waited for anything more that this odd stranger had to say.

The man gave his information freely, and did not seem to suspect Njal's slight manipulation of the truth. It wasn't a harmful lie either way so being caught wouldn't have bothered him. The pale man gave some recommendations, and Njal made a mental note to avoid this so-called dark land called Blackfeather Woods; however, his travels would take him very close. It wasn't long before Fitz thought to get his name, and Njal had to make a quick decision. He could give his true name, which may come to bite him in the ass later on down the road (as he did not wish to be exposed), or he could lie. He wasn't quick enough to think of another name for himself, though, so Njal simply responded: "Njal." and then added next, "Thank you for the information, it is kind of you to share."

Believing the conversation was petering to an end, Njal gave a small nod to the Alpha, and began to stride away - turning his body, and mumbling, "If I return this way I might visit, but I have no plans yet." He wouldn't come back this way if he could help it; already the sensation of being put on the spot, of lingering in one place, was starting to eat at him. "Farewell."

Njal headed off and FitzDutiful didn't try to stop him. He had no more interest in the wolf, he'd found out that the Redhawk Caldera didn't have some kind of lockdown in place. He briefly wondered whether he should try and stop by again but the previous attempt had shaken him and he doubted that he would ever try to stop by again - not unless they came to him first. The wolf briefly mentioned something about stopping by but the feeling that this lone wolf would never return lingered in the air.

Turning away, FitzDutiful began to slowly pad away from the meeting, wondering how other's did this recruitment for it seemed harder than he had ever imagined. It was possible that they got better with practice, or maybe a pack was more appealing the longer it had been around. That was definitely a possibility. He would have to step up his game if he wanted to recruit for the mountain, it seemed.