Ankyra Sound legends never die

Their journey had carried them north, to the ocean — which was amazing, by the way — but they hadn't really found this fairy pack that @Syrma had spoken of. As they travelled along the coastline, Spica took her time to take in all the views. She was happy enough staying in different places but also staying in the same place for a week or so until they moved along. She longed to make a name and a life for herself somewhere a lot, but right now, just being with her mirror image and exploring the world was good enough for her.

After all of the cliffs finally they arrived in a place that had a beach again. While Syrma did whatever she was doing, Spica went out to check out the beach. When she reached the soft sand somewhere at the end of the afternoon with the sun hanging low, she first leaned down to roll in the soft sand and get it rubbed all in her fur. She didn't know why, but it felt great. Maybe because it made her smell more like the salty oceanside, too.

There seemed to be an uneasy truce with Sagtannet, at least for now. Kaertok was glad that it was one less thing to be hyper vigilant about. Valravn had not come back to them, and the outlook was more grim each day. Still, he had spent months looking for Raleska only to run into her by chance. Valravn was old enough, especially now, that if he had managed to survive, he had likely found somebody to help him get by. Kaertok had to believe that he was adaptable and would find a way to keep himself alive and well.

Still, asking around would not hurt anything, so when the Rusalkan wolf spotted a grey wolf with white markings up ahead, he advanced toward her. Not only might he be able to get an idea for Valravn's whereabouts, but he could also gauge the intentions of this wolf. If she intended to do anything other than keep away from Rusalka's borders, they would need to have a chat. As he drew near, she rolled in the sand, and Kaertok was reminded of Njord, one of his comrades. Perhaps rolling in the dirt was a pastime for ocean wolves. It wasn't that Kaertok had never done it, simply that he wouldn't do it unless he were deep within Rusalka's claim.

Hello, he said once he was close enough for her to hear. I am looking for a boy. He is dark with green eyes, about six months old.

That made his own children five months. He wondered how they were faring with him away. Perhaps he would range toward Legion next, although going back there was not really an option for him. If they were five months old, they could likely do some ranging on their own, and perhaps he could track them down on one of their adventures.

Spica was too busy enjoying her roll in the sand to realise that there were any packs nearby. She hadn't scouted out that direction yet, after all. They hadn't ran into an abundance of wolves, and what wolves they'd met were loners too, so far. Just as Spica got up, some dude had approached her though and he definitely didn't smell like much of a loner. Spica was startled, though she kept her cool outwardly and looked at him as he greeted her.

Hi, Spica said, but before she could say any more the dude started to tell his life story. Well, actually just that he was looking for a boy and he quickly gave an appearance to go with that. Spica supposed he was trying to ask her indirectly if she had seen this boy? She couldn't think of any other reason why he'd ask. Deciding not to be sassy for once in her life, Spica said, And you're wondering if I've seen him? Afraid I haven't seen anyone that young, let alone to match the description. Good call on not being sassy, she thought to herself, as it seemed likely that the kid was this dude's son or someone else dear to him. She didn't want to joke on anyone's behalf like that, getting sassy over his missing son. Her mom raised her better than that.

She seemed pleasant enough, and Kaertok appreciated that. Occasionally, his manner of skipping over the small talk could be off putting, so he was rather glad when others didn't take it the wrong way. Unfortunately, she didn't have any useful information for him. Perhaps if he'd had other motives, he could have asked her what her name was, where she came from, and what she was doing here, but none of those things were important to him now. All he wanted to know was Valravn's whereabouts, and it didn't look like she was going to be able to help him with that.

If you happen across him, can you come north along the coast and let us know? he asked.

It was a favor, but, You'll be thanked with more than words for your effort if you can help. His name is Valravn. The pack is called Rusalka.

Times were pretty good. While the lack of leads on the Seelie Court pack or any sign of Caw in the area to go on was pretty disappointing, it was no end all so far. The had been lucky in their progress, honestly. Very content to mill along and do whatever she felt like in the meantime while they got to take in the sights, it was a meandering path that tracked after her sister.

Thanks to being pretty distracted by the beach, she didn't smell the stranger soon enough on the winds to make for any more haste than that, but when she did arrive, she wasn't totally sure what she walked in on. She trotted directly to her sister's side, and promptly eyeballed this random white wolf. He smelled a lot more like the coast than anyone she had sniffed at before, too. She had no idea what Valravn was but honestly, Rusalka sounded familiar... so she was too busy listening to say anything yet.

When he asked her to come find them if she did happen upon this dark boy, Spica initially opened her mouth to say something along the lines of 'do I look like your errand boy', but before she could speak he added that she would be thanked with 'more than words'. Whatever that even meant. It honestly sounded a little ominous (what if the news she brought was bad?) but Spica figured that it wasn't really considering the context of the lost boy.

Moments later Syrma joined by her side which made Spica feel a lot safer and more boisterous. She didn't acknowledge Syrma with more than moving a little closer to her sister's side — a subtle bump that said I got ya and everything's fine here — and then answered the dude. Sure, she agreed. What's this Rusalka pack like? Spica then asked, curious because she hadn't actually ran into any other packs yet and she was rather curious. Was this the faerie pack that Syrma had mentioned? It was north, after all.

Another wolf approached, and Kaertok looked between the two of them a few times, worried he might be seeing double. Twins, he supposed. He had met a few of those here and there, and it was always a little bit unnerving to see them in the same place at the same time.

She asked about the pack, which Kaertok had not entirely expected. It reminded him of when he had been trying to recruit for Legion. He had not had much success then, so it seemed like a twist of fate that somebody would seem interested now.

It is led by two women: Rosalyn and Erzulie. They are fair wolves, but not pushovers. If you make your way there with information at some point, tell them Kaertok sent you, he said, glancing to the silent twin. Perhaps she was mute.

Syrma was still getting up to speed with the conversation at hand while basking in her sister's company and the stranger's glances between them. She liked the momentary confusion--or whatever it was but it was simply exactly what it looked like, there were two of them.

Anyway, she kept those names for later where she could deliberate over this properly this Spica. There was also something else she wanted to know, assuming he was someone somewhat local to the area. Have you heard of a pack called Seelie Court before? she asked when she caught him looking at her. May as well! He said something about exchanging information, so.. it didn't exactly pertain to the Rusalka train of thought they were on before she got here, but it was something she wanted to get before they were to part ways.

So Rusalka was far from the faerie pack that they were looking for, but that was totally fine. Spica was very much a 'the journey is more important than the destination' sort of wolf, especially where it concerned this particular journey, because every little bit of it was great and part of the adventure was living out in the wilds with her sister. Not having had very many hard days in her life, growing up with a loving pack who made sure that she didn't fall short of anything, even through the famine, and being healthy and young, she had the luxury to enjoy life this way.

Kaertok was his name, then, she noted when he said that they should mention being 'sent' by him (which sounded as if they were working for him, or something). Spica was already growing kind of bored of the conversation. She'd grown up with only a mother in a pack that had had multiple female leaders; if not, then she might've truly been able to appreciate how cool it was that this pack had two strong women at its helm.

Syrma asked the next question, wondering if he knew about the faerie pack's whereabouts, and Spica glanced back to Kaertok to see what his answer would be.

One of them asked about another pack, but Kaertok had not heard of it. He shook his head.

I have not, he said.

He considered adding on that he could keep an eye out for them, but he did not imagine they would meet up later. Unless, of course, they managed to find Valravn and bring him back to Rusalka. If that happened, and assuming he came across this Seelie Court, he could help them about, but he didn't think it was in his best interest to add another thing to his search list.

Welp. At least he didn't waste any time in telling her just what she hoped not to hear. Though it was a little disappointing, she was determined not to show it any and just move right on. She simply nodded a slow, small little bob in reply while it all set in. There wasn't anything else she could ask about the faerie pack if he didn't know them (and they were her primary target, outside of just "see what they could find"), so that was that. Too bad. Well, thanks anyway, she said, glancing to her twin afterward.

Most likely, Spica had gathered up whatever else of use he had to share with them before she got here. Syrma was pretty interested in catching up on that, really--more so than bothering this guy too much more, anyway.

He hadn't heard of the fairy pack they were looking for, disappointingly. Spica exchanged a glance with her twin and it seemed neither of them had any more questions. Yeah, thanks, Spica said, ready to be off. See you around, maybe, she said with a friendly smile and then she made to dash off, unless he or Syrma had something more up say of course.

Last from me; feel free to archive here!

They both said their goodbyes, and Kaertok watched the duo for a moment longer until one of them departed. He assumed the other would follow quickly enough. He did not think their meeting would prove very fruitful, but things had surprised him before, and he was always open to the possibility that it might. With a wave of his tail, he too departed, nose to the ground as he searched for signs of the wayward boy.