Northstar Vale mythic

she slipped away from the large gathering in the woodlands below here, beyond the plains.

yet arching over a cliff and a ridgeline had revealed something new to her. it seemed that something had settled the vale. which was fine. it was not as if she had ever cared about this slice of land, for she hadn't ever known about it.

it just meant that she ought to turn around now instead of settling for a rest.

however she could not stop herself from peering curiously, safely settled a stretch away from their borders. they might know she was here already, but for once she had not attempted to mask herself in the terrain. only curious for now before she'd surely have to head out.

border visitor :)

With the pack officially forming, set routines were beginning to be put in place. Chaudry resting in the den it was now her turn to check the borders, a task that she was quickly growing familiar with.

Peering out from the tree line she spied the figure of another. She itched to charge them, but Pala knew very well that such behaviour would be frowned upon. The montagne wolves believed in barking before you bit, not to mention the odd agreement that did not allow blood to be spilled in the land between the vale and the ridge.

For now she waited, watching the stranger with burning eyes.

maybe she had not been noticed?

there's that tickle of being watched, though. however she imagined that just came with the territory of being so close to...well, territory.

if someone was near, though? well she knew they might answer a little sound.

a curious rumble rolled around her chest. not opening her mouth to expel the sound from her throat into the air, but it would still be heard by anyone within her vicinity.

she waited for a moment longer.

The stranger did not move. Pala flexed her claws, digging them into the ground. Surely she could call out to them, yes? Words first, she reminded herself. If they provoked her then she would be well within reason to attack, to defend territory as it was meant to be defended.

"You there, why are you lingering so close to our borders?" She asked as she brought herself out from the trees and into the light. Tail held high, she felt as though she was back in her element.

Narrowing her eyes she stood strong, awaiting a response.

lingering.

did she linger? she did not think so, but this woman thought so. with her tail so high and her features marred by scars.

passing. not lingering. she clarified with a slight tilt of her head. granted she had no clue what she might do once she passed through. she had thought she might turn around, but she could always shuffle over the mountain side and into more unknowns.

The response left her rather irritated, moreso than she already had been. A moment had to be taken; what would Viskani say? She had been told that her actions represented that of her Matriarche, so she would need to act as such. "The pack across the vale will be much quicker to bite - if you plan on passing you should make quick work of it." She nearly repeated what she had once been told. A gentle sigh. A gesture, an outreaching hand, she had been told was customary.

"Do you need an escort? It will be safer for you to travel in a pair." A way to supervise the stranger without simply lingering nearby.

kindness or warning?

somehow she received both and it perplexed her as much as it pleased. the offer to escort her seemed smart from many angles. it played upon the kindness, but it made sure that she truly did leave.

yes. she answered simply since she was truly in no position to say no. i can be quick. she assured the woman, wishing to stay in good graces but make it clear that crossing through was her truest intentions.

yet she hesitated, if only to allow the guardian to lead.

Pala offered a nod, and with her eyes remaining fixed on the stranger she continued across the clearing.

The Montagnians had taught her to control her temper - and while such anger was valued in her homeland, she wondered if it was necessary to adapt here. To control it. A single wolf was no threat - she could see the benefit in Viskani's approach.

She would have to adopt it if she wished to be valued here. "Usually my Matriarche does not mind visitors - but our formation is only recent, and with another pack nearby we must first build our relations with them."

"Should you return another time, she will surely welcome you. Viskani is a good woman."

she was given information!

freely!

bracken devoured each morsel of knowledge and held it within her chest. these things would be good to know in the coming weeks. when the weather turned sour and she could no longer amble about so freely.

beliefs? rules? she questioned with genuine curiosity.

no biting winds could get her to settle into something she did not align with, though.

"Well, the pack is a matriarchy, and a monarchy at that - so our leader will always be female." She stated. "The men are not valued any less of course, after all they are the majority in our pack."

Pala found it easy to ramble, to promote the vale. It was something she truly cared about. "Strong off-spring are the goal, really. Come the winter we'll need extra bodies to prepare for their arrival." She herself found the idea exciting - new, little paws were always good for morale.

"Viskani believes in diplomacy, unity, all that good stuff. Everyone works together to ensure that every pack member is cared for." She was like a walking propaganda piece at this rate, and decided she should slow herself down.

she was silent as she listened. no questions asked, no interjections.

women at the top but men no less. despite the fact that it seemed men inherently would be less. however she figured this might be unable to be said outright sense offspring were needed.

diplomacy, unity, strength.

all very noble things. however she worried that perhaps this place was more regal than herself. that she would seem odd and feral among such cultured people.

here how long?

the formation was recent, she had said, but how much? a moon? a season?

"The end of summer." She responded. "I arrived only about half a moon ago, however."

Pala herself had been rather worried in the face of such a pack - but the community was small, friendly. So long as you did your job and did it well, little more would be asked of you.

The intention had been to stay only until Yataghan caught up. Now Pala hoped that he too, would stay.

the end of summer.

this one was newer, however. bracken considered these things too. it spoke of some kind of steadiness, she supposed. not that she could exactly pretend to understand every single detail.

name?

she figured it was the last question she'd pester the woman with. granted she hadn't exactly specified what she wanted the name of.

any kind would do.

"Pala, of Montagne de Cigue." The new title slipped off her tongue. Refreshing, new. She liked how it sounded.

Now they had reached the edge of the vale, and it was time for the stranger to go.

"Could I ask yours?"

daunting!

bracken was not sure she could say the woman's titled part. yet she offered a very small smile to show she had heard and appreciated it.

the question was rightfully turned back onto her!

bracken.

she was content to leave them on that note, if the woman obliged. however she knew now where she might roundabout to if the mountain ever called her back again.