Greatwater Lake jenny o' the woods

@Nocturnal backdated to WHO KNOWS

stigmata visited the other side of the mountains, though he knew he had no real interest in what lay beyond them. it was curiosity, he presumed, and the desire to know his every option, but mostly fate compelled him to the ice-riddled expanse of greatwater. he came this way only because panther park had struck him as ominous - not a place for him to be caught alone - while the smell of water almost always promised that prey followed. predators loomed as well, but at least in this scenario he was more likely to be the latter rather than the former.

night was nearly upon him by the time he came lakeside; only a sliver of orange light showing against a gunmetal sky, and he imagined he would spend the rest of the night returning to the sunspires. he first wanted a drink however, yet this portion of the lake had frozen over, so he began to travel around the wide brim of the waterbowl, in an effort to find a thin spot to take advantage of.

Crouched in some brush, the huntress spotted her meal for the evening. A rabbit, plump and white and fluffy, stood upon the shore of the lake that was a part of her history. It wiggled its bum so invitingly and Nyx licked her chops to rid herself from the drool. Without a pack, the four Meloniis were starving slightly. Fresh meat was the only thing on her mind, even without mouths to feed it would've been a challenge. But there her meal was... unaware of her presence and imminent death. Tulugak flew up ahead in an attempt to distract the rabbit and it was then that she shot out from between the brush and nearly leaped upon the poor creature.

Before long was the white coat of the rabbit drenched in crimson and Nyx grabbed it by the neck to return home. It was only then that she spotted someone with her. In the distance she could see the shimmer upon a dark coat, nearly tricking her into thinking Damien was watching her, but no. She put down her prize before standing over it protectively as Tulugak landed upon her shoulder to caw at the male.

from afar, the warhound gave pause, watching in rapt attention as the feathery black rush of a crow was followed by the swift death of a white rabbit, at the teeth of a wolfish constellation. he watched, only mildly fascinated, as the winged creature took perch on the svelte she-wolf's shoulder and he couldn't help but to wonder about their relationship. he had known crows to follow wolves before, but this closeness was slightly beyond even his noble reckoning.

she looked well-fed, by all accounts, and the fact she had earned the loyalty of a scavenger must mean that she saw blood often, if not daily. he did not think she would be in need of the things he had to offer lone wolves - for she did not look like one - but he was engrossed all the same. stigmata wagged his tail to show his interest, but came no closer, because she was a wolf with a small meal and the last thing he wanted was to threaten her position.

Nyx herself didn't even know why Tulu had followed her, their bond a mystery truly. Even if she wanted to get rid of him, he would probably not stay behind and leave her go. Maybe he'd sneak around to follow her, but she'd never know.

She wagged her own tail in response, shoving her meal behind her so she could approach. Tulu hopped on the ground to peck at the rabbit's carcass, protecting it with his large wings so she could leave knowing it wouldn't be stolen. Good evening. She greeted calmly, not bothered by the blood that stained her chin a bit.

"evening, my lady," stigmata rumbled, giving a bob of his proud skull in greeting, watching her approach with a metered expression. he couldn't fathom why she approached - leaving her meal in the talons of an opportunist - but the hound was nothing if not a curious sort, so he remained rooted to the spot and quiet; tediously fixated on the she-wolf. her confidence pleased and unsettled him all at once, because while he could certainly appreciate a female of her bearing, he that, like takiyok, it would take great tragedy or more to bend her to his will.

he tilted his head at her, noticing lastly that she had separately colored eyes, and his imperious gaze regarded her questioning expectancy, without speaking another word.

A man with manners, that didn't happen often. Perhaps he'd be a valuable addition to their band if he could keep up this well mannered behavior all the way through their meeting. Then again, to his coat clung the scent of others... Perhaps he already hailed to someone that wasn't the Night Goddess and her mate.

I do not believe you are from around here. She commented, perhaps he'd come with the story from which land he hailed all by himself. I am Nyx and that there is my raven friend Tulugak. There are more of us in the forest that way. She pointed her paw in the general direction of Neverwinter Forest, hoping to spark an interest or at least get him talking about something else than the weather. She rarely liked small talk and she was sure Damien was worrying about her going out already.

as she spoke with similar cordiality, stigmata was persuaded to remain neutral for the time being. close enough now, he could smell others upon her, and his ears flicked distractedly as he tried to ascertain if anyone else was in the area. the focus of his eyes, however, remained on the starwrit stranger before him.

he was silent through her introduction, glancing only briefly in the direction she indicated, before drawling a liquid reply of his own. "i am not from around here, no." he turned an ear backwards and moved his head slightly to indicate the general mountain area. "i am from there. stigmata, i am called."

She nearly shivered looking up to the mountains he said he had come from. Nyx wasn't very fond of heights, that much had become clear. If she was just going up all would be well, but usually you also had to go back down the mountain again and that was the scariest part. She was just fine with all her paws on the flat ground, thank you.

It is nice to meet you, Stigmata. She nodded and smiled briefly. Do you belong to a pack then? She hoped he would pardon her bluntness, but her curiosity was itching again.

it was hard to miss the baleful way in which she regarded the stone sentinels behind him, but stigmata was no stranger to the treachery of mountains. he had even left them himself, for a time, and upon returning had been quite rusted to the heights; but return he did, and to remain he intended.

he minded no bluntness, preferred it actually, and he nodded solemnly. "i belong to the diaspora," he responded, without revealing his position among them. he had no reason to act pompous out here on his own, so she had little evidence to suspect his status otherwise. if they were in the mountains, she would've known immediately what his place he held; the only post that could harbor such an ego. her own authority and familiarity with these flatlands was quite apparent to him, but he made no comment of his observation just yet.

"yourself?" he returned a little coyly, wondering - between the two of them - which had the stronger claim.

What a bummer, he already had a home. She was nearly jealous of a new pack she hadn't heard from settling while they couldn't get their own thing started in the forest. They'd been out here for months now but only few had crossed their paths, and those that did come closer actually wanted to claim the forest for themselves. It stressed her out a bit, mainly because she wished for her own offspring. If she was a stupid little girl she would've said fuck it, let's bang and get those puppies out even without a pack, but she knew better than that. They needed a pack to have children. While this debate was going on in her head, her voice showed clear signs of both stress and longing.

We are but a small band of wolves, but we had hoped to settle where we are now... Breeding season is nearly upon us and we have yet to gather enough wolves to call ourselves official. She sighed softly. She didn't like sounding so desperate, but she was. She was desperate to start a family, to make sure Damien would have to stay by her side forever to raise their children. The universe just didn't want her to have that kind of life though.

the pitch of her tone changed drastically when the warhound returned the subject to herself. she became clouded with longing, and stigmata could not help but feel a prickling of desire to take advantage of her need. he was not without needs himself. diaspora was a small band as well, but with a few more - with these wolves - perhaps, it could be done.

he thought it was quite audacious of her to mention such a need for children, in tandem with her pack's inability to provide them. it colored her in a rather foul light, but not in one that would deter him from trying to use her. if anything, now he knew how best to manipulate the night wolf, desperate to be a mother, and he would be loathe to relinquish such an easy catch. there were many cons to the thing he considered offering her now, and a thousand fanciful ideas crossed his mind before he could settle on one of them, above all, to overcome his wariness to offer her anything.

there was a long pause, and stigmata had fallen very still. he calculated something in his head, and quietly inhaled. "perhaps we can broker a deal," he offered quietly. casually. "as long as you are willing to pull your weight."

Nyx rarely put herself on top, or so she'd like to believe. She had served Blackfeather Woods ever since she was born and had even led it before Damien came to reclaim his throne. The woman was intelligent, but this season clouded her mind much like the storm clouds did the blue sky. She had almost been made to provide strong men children and it had nearly been drilled into her that sex and motherhood brought power men simply couldn't achieve. It was her purpose to lead while having a strong bloodline to fall back on whenever she would be unable to do so. It was her primary objective.

I am nothing if not hardworking. She replied confidently, interested in this deal he wanted to propose. Though she usually didn't strike deals without Damien near, if it meant anything along the lines of that she could safely have children with the man of her dreams then she was already sold. The only hard thing would be to convince Damien.

at her statement he glanced inadvertently towards her raven-protected kill, and he looked back towards nyx, he seemed amused. she was really the last piece to his puzzle; the baggage she carried with her was heavy and unfortunate, but exploitable in a number of different ways. he was wary of the others she had with her, but he was sure these jitters came from being so far away from them at this time, and he would feel differently in his own realm.

"all i need then is your pledge, lady nyx," the ironstar breathed cunningly; thoughts brimming with greed. "join me, in diaspora, and you will have a home for your children." as much as things were beginning to seem as if stigmata had suddenly become the extremely generous type, he was actually quite conniving, and those that thought him altruistic would forget that when ensnared by stigmata's sultry coils, they were often caught dealing with the devil himself.

She thought it over once more. If she was able to convince Damien it wasn't a trap, she'd have her heat wherever this Diaspora was settled. They'd grow up a bit there and perhaps they would even be with enough members to finally start The Melonii. The Night Mother herself had spoken in whispers that now is the time to prevail, and perhaps this was what she had meant all those moons ago. All they had to sacrifice was their old plan to start The Melonii and, if she was being honest, that had already failed regardless.

Very well, I will discuss it with my mate. Is there any way we can find you? She asked carefully. She didn't want to promise she'd come along just like that, as that felt like she was betraying Damien as well as their band. Even if he was against their plan, she would like to tell Stigmata in person.

he wondered at this mentioned mate, who let his fiend wife run about unaccompanied, with her baby addled brain, and who could not amass the support to provide her with the territory that he himself could. she must be very loyal, despite seemed concerned only with reproduction. wouldn't stigmata have been a better choice at this point? what need did she have to even go back? he had seen only a snippet of the nightwraith's potential as a huntress, but considered the offer regardless. he chose wisely not to mention absconding with her, however, because he assumed she would take offense - given how adamant she seemed about checking in with the absent wolf.

"i am afraid i will not remain here. i must return to diaspora." he turned now, so that he was perpendicular to nyx, and he motioned towards the sunspire. "there is a pass behind that great peak. it is wide and safe travel, for the most part. cross the sand sea - or circle it, if you must - and you will find us beyond that, at the lake beneath the cliffs. a couple days travel, if you are slow about it," he smirked, wagging his tail softly. "when can i expect you there?"

It wasn't like Damien wanted her to go out, but someone had to do the hunting and he was busy himself. Feeding four wolves took more than a few rabbits per day and the herd that had first been just behind the forest had migrated. She had stocked up for a while, but she was unsure if life could go on like this for them. It was true however that Nyx was loyal to the bone to the wolves she loved. She would never go against Damien, nor Aries for that matter, though she couldn't deny the thoughts of fleeing hadn't gone through her head when the offer was made. She guessed she also feared her lover's wraith should she ever betray him, for he was powerful and, dare she say it, even smarter than she was.

She turned to look at the mountains and spotted what he was talking about. Also Tulugak was sure not to miss this crucial information as his head popped up from behind the rabbit. She had scouted before and was sure she could even find them by just nosing about the mountain for a bit, but this was more convenient. In a few days, I am sure. We're not with many so traveling should go quicker. She informed, making sure not to say exactly with how many they were. Who knew if some were going to stay behind?

"i shall be expecting you," the tactician said cordially, eager now to return to his brother-in-arms and reveal to him the deal he had made that night, solidifying their claim. even if it was but a promise to arrive, the male felt presumptuous enough to stake his claim prematurely. her word was all he needed for now - proving themselves would come later - and he would feel more confident greeting them all with rest of diaspora at his back. "until then," stigmata bid her farewell, turning back the way he'd already come. he would resume his search for water, but heading the opposite way along the greatwater coast and hopefully he could find a spot soon; the quicker to start his journey home.

Until then. She echoed, watching the male for a moment longer before she turned to get Tulu and her meal. She hoped dearly the man was trustworthy and that Damien would be fine with giving up the plan for The Melonii for a bit to strengthen their bloodline. For now, she did not judge the male yet. She just found him rather odd. Who'd offer the right to breed to a stranger? Was the man that unpopular near the mountains?

With the rabbit in her mouth and Tulugak flying up ahead, she returned home with exciting but perhaps suspicious news.