Hoshor Plains empire now

she'd done a round of patrols, taking extra care to place thick markings along the invisible boundary that rest nearest to the lake. the thought of the womanly brute still taking up unwelcomed residence like a fat tick irked nephele, but she did not move to press the wretch's claim.

not yet.

schemes festered in the pit of her mind, a recipe designed with deliberate purpose.

for now she pulled away from the call of her duties, her attention drawn to the agitated steeds that dotted the plains. unlike the bison, these creatures seemed displeased with the arrival and foundation of yellowstone. curious to their cause and ire, the stormcloud watched from the blanket of golden pasture.

a scholar with a pencil for her weapon in war.

Maplesmoke had attended her through her heat, and now his attention was on Selenia who had come into season only days later. They might birth around the same time next year, she thought. 

Alongside her was the quiet bay, Cedar, who had joined them not long ago. Side by side, they stood and watched; the scent of wolf had begun to grow. Little Silverbirch was the herd’s weakest member, but their most treasured as well. They would protect her, and currently, she had the protection of Maplesmoke and Selenia. 

”Colt’s teeth,” She cursed quietly when she caught sight of the wolf. ”There, North-East of us….Watching.” A hearty snort, a puff of dragon’s breath lingering on the air a moment before it disappeared; acknowledgement of the wolf’s presence.

Having been across the plains during the time of the border scuffle did not put Mojag in the best light, so he began to do more patrols and keep a look out for wolves rather than the herd of bison, or at the very least favored his studies a little less.

When he found Nephele, she was watching another kind of herd. He moved with deference to where she waited, and when nearer he mentions, They're not deer, are they?

He already had an inkling. These creatures were larger than anything Mojag had hunted in the woods, and appeared to be nearly intelligent enough to feel the stirrings of Yellowstone in formation. A deer might run but these beasts merely watched, like a challenge.

her presence is noted, and yet the snake does not stir. a scribble to her conceptual notebook as she inspects each creature in the uniqueness of their details. some appeared more invested in her position than others, but all collectively held an air of resolute protectiveness. and there amidst the long limbs of those matured was the barely visible form of a babe.

a shot of awareness ran down the length of her spine. she would not test the boundaries of these creatures whilst they guarded their young. she would however seek to work them in the same way her husband tended to the beasts.

familiarize them with her presence, with her scent. that in itself extended to the rest of yellowstone, and as if summoned with a thought, mojag materialized beside her. a glance to see if the creatures would disperse at the arrival of the man.

"i do not think so." deer spooked easily, and it seemed as if all creatures on the plains did not take to such a frightful disposition. "they do not appear to take kindly to us though, which makes me assume that they have been prey." or at the very least, that their young had been hunted before.

Cedar half-stepped toward her, and following the line of her gaze, she spotted the male wolf as he approached the female. A slight lift of Fancy’s head commanded her to hold fast; two wolves gathered side by side did not strike her as a hunting party, but a threat nonetheless. 

If they bred, there would be puppies- wolf pups grew frighteningly fast. 

”If there are two, there will be more,” Cedar spoke, and Fancy nodded slightly. She pawed the earth with one hoof, before she reared and screamed a warning for the creatures. Beside her, the bay was cued to dance in place, stomping her hard, clever hooves into the ground and stirring up a small dust cloud. 

She flicked an ear as she slammed her hooves back to the ground, hoping @Maplesmoke might come and chase them off before they tested their boundaries.

skipping since mojag is on npc, can fade here <3

mojag remained quiet beside her as the pair watched the creatures ruffle and flare warnings of apparent threats. "they seem agitated," she announced the obvious, a brief look given to her companion before falling back to the steeds.

"i'd like to acclimate them to our presence in the same way we have done with the other herd, but i think these creatures may be more of a challenge." perhaps it was due to a newborn amongst them, or perhaps they were simply more wary creatures by nature. there was a chance during the birthing season of the bison that they too would become hostile.

"it might be best to leave them be for now," she thought aloud, deciding that upsetting the creatures any further would not result in anything good. "maybe we can observe them in a few days, if you'd like to join me?" she waited for an answer from mojag before the two of them went their separate ways to continue other duties elsewhere amongst the plains.

The predators gave no indication that they planned to attack, or even to push the boundaries. Tail flagged, Fancy continued to eye them, occasionally breaking from her frozen pose to trot a few paces, kick up her heels, and then turn to stare toward them again.

I’m fit. I’m healthy. I’ll fight, said her display. 

And she was rewarded with their departure. Her withers shuddered as Cedar brushed her whiskers over them. 

”They’ll be back,” She sighed reluctantly. Their time in the plains was coming to an end; the arrival of predators meant only death would follow.