Ravensblood Forest olive branch

@Violante @Vagabond for notice, anyone welcomed though

he had been here once before.

less kind, less wise about this place. he had sold out the dark woman some time ago, too. none of those things lingered in his mind today.

today was a day of peace.

the sun was bright somewhere above the treetops and the ocean breeze carried warmth with it. between his jaws was a fish he had just barely managed to pluck from the river on the way here. it was not much, but it was something.

he set it down at his paws and released a soft call.

An attempt at a nap forgotten, he stretched the stiffness from his limbs and was on his way to answer the call at their border. It was a new one that he did not recognize, he was pushed his body to heed the call. He arrived quickly to greet the stranger, he was diplomatic and peaceful in his words. "Hello, my name is Vagabond. Why have you come to Sacrarium today?"

a man, one he had not seen before who seemed to be all airs of diplomacy. far more graceful than he remembered the woman being. but, ah, he had not come here to spill ugly thoughts.

i believe there is a woman who leads here. i owe her an apology.

it was all he could offer, unfortunately. he knew so little of her and perhaps, he wondered, she wasn't even here anymore.

There was a call, one that the Vicera vaguely recognized. She responded a bit later than she meant to, and by the time she arrived, Vagabond was already speaking with the male. Upon seeing Bartholomew, Violante slowed and her eyes narrowed slightly. She caught the tail end of his words, and pushed forward.

"Why do you owe an apology?" She came to stand beside her mate.

skippable unless spoken to.

"My mate and I lead here now." Vagabond began to say, but she quickly joined them before the words were even out of his mouth. He was content to have her by his side, they were both so busy nowadays that they rarely had time together. He would wait quietly as the stranger and his mate spoke, as it was they who had the history, and she to which he owed the apology.

oh, a husband. good. although he was set aside in his attention to focus upon the woman he did know.

because i believe we started off on the wrong foot,

his toes flexed for the earth, he mentally prayed for strength in these moments. he had not come here to back down from his religion but he did hope to appease the woman who wished to remain Godless. a shame, this he still believed, but would not speak.

i'm staying at the island, beyond the river. i did not wish for you to one day see me and think i had come with any...ill intention.

Apologies on the wait!

Violante huffed softly at Bartholomew's words, but listened all the same. From here, she could see the island, a good distance away, but still relatively close. Her dark gaze settled on the male once more, but the Vicera found she had relatively little to say. Eventually, she said, "Perhaps we did get off on the wrong foot. I am wary of outsiders. My mate and I only seek to raise our young."

i understand.

his head dipped, attempting to find the respect for others that he wished others to have for him. he motioned forth the fish he had brought with him.

do you have hunters for your young?

Their numbers had dropped, what with Luka, Lennox, and Aravae disappearing. It made it easier to feed the pack, though the Vicera still worked double time to do it. She told Bartholomew, "My mate and I hunt for them, but they are already good hunters themselves. " And growing too quickly. She cast dark eyes to the island in the distance. "Do any live with you?"

he wondered if she cared little for the gift he brought. he did his best to not think so hard upon it as she carried on.

two. one named heda and the other jasmine, in case you ever cross paths. they are both kind young souls.

Vagabond's head popped up at this, eyes peering into the man's face, searching. He spoke again after allowing Violante some time to take the forefront. Your group intends to settle nearby permanently? Was this the reason he'd come then? It was certainly a good one to say the least.

A group, and one close to home at that. She told him, Sacrarium calls the river for hunting grounds, along with the ridge to the east. Please ensure that your group is not hunting it. The Vicera's words were clipped. She did not mind one wolf settling nearby, but a group? Another pack? It could cause strain, food shortages, border tussles. She would not hesitate to defend her lands, even against 'kind young souls'.

Violante looked to her mate, her measured gaze asking, should we accept this?

bartholomew tried to do his best to not cast judgement these days.

yet she had not spoken of any hunters besides the two before him and her children. it hardly seemed worth claiming two stretches of land.

her clipped tones led him to believe she feared even his small band of do-gooders!

he had come to make peace, but felt as if he found very little of it between these wolves.

uncertain. he answered the man, then turned his gaze back to the woman. perhaps he had done well in selling her out.

i will tell them these things. thank you for your time.

he turned to leave and move back to his island while peace still lingered.

Vagabond turned to his mate as the man retreated. I don't believe we should run them out so soon. A part of him was second guessing his hasty decision. He had felt the same way about punishing Lenora, and it hadn't panned out well either. We can surely chase them off if they cause issues, but in the meantime, I will make a visit to their island, perhaps try to soothe over any remaining tensions. He could still feel it like lightening in the air. Better we know more at least. I'd rather they be friend than foe so close to home. He sighed heavily and sat his rump on the ground, he hadn't even realized how tense his body was, he had been holding it so stiffly that it was completely exhausted. He leaned heavily on his mate. What do you think?

She had not meant to be so possessive, but the river fed her and her people. It gave life to the massive forest she called home, and she had to protect it. Bartholomew thanked them and she gave a curt dip of her head, watching him go. She looked to her mate as he began to speak, but she did not like what he was saying. She growled lowly, I do not like them so close to our home. From here at the borders, she could see the island in the distance. Then, she sighed heavily. But... I will... accept your attempt at diplomacy. It was hard for her to say, but it was a mark of how much she had grown — how different she was than Vex. Perhaps she had been irrational. Grimacing lightly, she muttered, Come on, let's get back. She would then turn and lead them home.