Northstar Vale wayfinder

Seal is tresspassing

Travelling with her family had been nice for a time, but Seal was never able to shake the opressive guilt that stemmed from her abandonment of the role as leader of Sun Mote Copse. Reyson, Meadow, Lotus, Rhonen, Towhee, TJ… what must they all think of her?

It came as no surprise that, upon returning to the Teekon Wilds, Seal avoided the lowlands and traveled due North, past the moon villages and Brecheliant where she was positive no wolf would recognize her.

A new beginning, Seal convinced herself.

However, Seal couldn’t plan for the harsh conditions of early winter. It wasn’t long before she was turned around and starving, frozen from exposure.

She managed to discover a cache of meat beyond an established border and began to consume it ravenously.

Not often were the borders of Montagne de Ciguë crossed, and this only made the response to such behaviour far quicker.

A sad sight. Disgusting, really, but such words would never dare to pass his lips under his mother's reign.

He barked first to alert the stranger of his presence before speaking. You must be quite hungry to be stealing the food of another. He spoke, expression remaining neutral with eyes fixed on Montagne's uninvited guest.

If he had his way, she would not be here long. His grandmother never would have deprived her Glaïeuls this way.

So singular was her focus that Seal did not realize she wasn’t alone until the roughewn voice of a man rose above winter’s wind.

She was found!

There was no time for shame or apology. Seal had taken somebody else’s food and had been caught red-handed. Danger felt imminent. Every neuron in her brain lit up and screamed run.

Seal whirled around to face him as all the hair in her hackles stood erect.

He seemed oddly calm. A sadist?

Her muscles tensed.

“Yes...” the yearling admitted monosyllabically as her brown gaze attempted to decipher the intent of the pack wolf.

He was silent for a moment, analyzing the young wolf in front of him.

Then it is good you are in Montagne de Cigue. Molten gold eyes stilled, his expression neutral. Our Matriarche tolerates guests, so long as you are willing to make yourself known.

He itched for a fight, but if he spilled the blood of the girl his maman would be far from pleased. She will feed and shelter you. You're young.

An offer was made. Not to stay permanently if she did not wish, only time to recover from her unfortunate state.

When the name of the clan, Montagne de Cigue, rolled off his tongue Seal was able to detect the francophone accent, though it sounded new and unusual to her. It was reminiscent of Chani’s voice… though she doubted any connection due to the stark differences in their phenotype.

Were they foreigners? The thought came and went like dust on the wind. She was too fatigued to think very deeply. He didn’t seem keen on inflicting pain… at least, not at the moment.

Seal kept her guard up, but between the brief silent moments of their exchange it became obvious there would be no way to outrun him.

“What’s the catch?” she asked, suspisious of this clan’s intentions. His offer sounded too good to be true, but Seal was the trusting, glass-half full sort and she lacked the street savoir faire of a wiser, more savvy wolf.

There was a shrug of his shoulder's. Maman was far too sympathetic, but he was not in the least. He had inherited his father's nature but her appearance.

If it is up to me, I say you should work. I do not like lazy guests. He stated bluntly. Maman will see you as no more than une petite, it is her nature. His words were fact, and his tone indicated as such.

A paw was lifted, gesturing towards her stomach. If you are the type unwilling to accept help, take it as a chance to apologize for your thievery.

Seal wondered what kind of wolf this Maman, this matriarch, was like. Surely, she wouldn’t have the warm aura of Moonglow’s moonwoman if her son was any indication of her personality.

And ranked as une petite? What was that? A curse word?

Seal frowned and looked over her shoulder at the uncaring and harsh mountain scrim. Her skin goosepimpled and her knees quaked. Even if she turned this offer down, would she survive another day alone?

She thought of her friend Frolic and wished she had an iota of her tenacity.

“I can work,” she mumbled quietly – more to herself than the stranger as she considered their exchange.

“I can work,” she said a little louder, more directly at the pack wolf as if to assure him she could make her wrongs right again.

“I-i just need tae get out of this cold… please,” Seal pleaded.

He nodded, gesturing for the girl to follow as he turned back to the densite. You've caught her just before her winter's journey. Whether the girl realized it or not, she was lucky.

Had she been gone already, Chaudry would be left in charge. He was far less forgiving.

I am Chaudry de Ciguë. He stated, glancing back. Grande Glaïeul.

Will you tell me your name?

“Seal,” the yearling replied. If Seal was a more cunning wolf, she might have lied and given Chaudry a pseudonym… but she was far too genuine for that. At the very least, she witheld her surname. Better to not connect us, Seal thought, if things go south here.

She followed Chaudry deeper into the territory, her gaze adverted and tail curled between her legs submissively.

She had many questions, but there would more time to ask them later… Yet one burned in her mind.

“Your maman, where is she going?” Seal asked between her chattering teeth, perplexed why any alpha would travel away from their pack in the dead of winter.

It's tradition, carried from the mother pack. He responded. She leaves for chaleurs and returns to have her children. A simple concept, he thought. The rest of the year she is here, it is how we raise strong offspring.

If she managed to have a daughter this year, that was. Or of course, if one of her sons produced a granddaughter. He exhaled a sharp breath as the thought crossed his mind.

Soon.

While she is gone I will take control. He frowned momentarily. Usually we are more dedicated to Matriarchy, but less wolves means less options. Chaudry knew well that he should not be the one left in charge. It made him uneasy, yet he was glad all the same.

Last from me!

Seal absorbed the explanation despite her frostbitten toes… and it evoked memories of happier days among Moonspear with her mentor Sialuk. Another wave of guilt washed over the young woman and so she went quiet and followed Chaudry into the foreign land, feeling very much alone despite another wolf walking besides her.