Sunspire Mountains bad girls do it well

I want Zombie to be seduced by meet the NSV wolves, meow! She's somewhere between Porcupine Ridge and Northstar Vale... Oh hell, let's make this a discovery thread, too... Clandestine Streams.

It wasn't as though she had ever really known happiness, but Zombie found herself growing more and more unhappy with the leadership of Hawkeye. Blacktail Deer Plateau was growing larger, but it was hardly the pack it had been when they had left Blackfoot Forest. Even worse, the thin yearling found herself suddenly demoted, placed beneath a male that had only recently joined, despite all her loyalty. Not that Zombie had been a particularly active or useful member of the pack—but she had devoted herself to Hawkeye, regardless of their previously rocky encounters. It felt like a slap in the face. It felt like the Alpha was thinking with only her loins.

Frustrated, Zombie had left the plateau and began to trek back towards the forest they had abandoned. In all likelihood, the yearling would return and suffer through the new pack dynamics as she always had—after all, where else was there to go? For the moment, however, Zombie needed an escape. From the pack she belonged to but hated, from the proximity to Jinx—a wolf she had trusted more than any other, only to be betrayed. If only for a day, she could leave all that behind... and maybe figure out what she really wanted from life.

After some hours, the yearling found herself in the heart of the Sunspire Mountains. It was peaceful, here, and she somehow felt more safe and secure than she had since they left Blackfoot Forest. It was comforting to have the jagged mountain walls on all sides, as if they were sentinels guarding the life that lay nestled in their hidden valley. She found herself near a tangle of streams, flowing between jagged rocks to the northwest and a forest to the south. With nowhere in particular to go, and simply enjoying the quiet of not Blacktail Deer Plateau, Zombie lay down near the bubbling waters with the intent of taking a nap.

Rah's just gonna come and bring her to the Vale so that they can all be present for the founding thread :D also, i'm assuming that Hawkeye rejected Rah, Tenzin and Dawa, so please excuse any preemptive hostility.

The man had been moving for what felt like days. Taking little rest, he churned on on search of a home fitting for the broken cleric and the tedious monk he guarded. It had been his duty, his promise, and Raheerah always kept his promises. They had set him free, so the very least he could do was to find a hidden home for them, as was part of their agreement. After the brief run-in with the wolves of the plateau, their search became dire. It would seem like they had already made enemies on behalf of Raheerah's vicious tongue, and finding a place for Dawa to restore her health, to feed, and be protected from such enemies was growing paramount. Thus he explored, he ventured for days on end to finally find her paradise.

He did find it, hidden comfortably between the mountain ranges. In the shadows of rocks, it was hidden from wind and prying eyes, and voices echoed quietly among themselves. The man had deemed it worthy of their home, and brought them back. For now, the two remained tucked into their valley while Raheerah explored the sidelines, meandering through the mountains and the stone, ensuring that no beast previously inhabited this valley. If that were the case, he would chase them out or kill them. He had to make certain that it would be a safe place, to keep his end of the bargain.

Though the creature of smoke had not expected to encounter any - he was almost confident that this place was erected in total solitude - one such being did find itself within his unfortunate gaze. A single eye burned as it fell upon the wolf rested by the gentle brook. The water carved through rocks and bubbled seamlessly down its path; were it not for the imposing presence of the dragon, it could have been peaceful. She stank of Blacktail Deer Plateau. Of course, he had to assume that she'd been sent to track them. "It is unwiiiiise to rest your head when there are monsters about." The brute thundered as he drew nearer to her, cocking his head down at the female. There was a lilt of humor in his voice, though it was dark, foreboding.

posting from my phone in bed, sorry if this is weird!

The brook, with its many paths over stone and through soil, masked the sound of the beast's approach. Even if Zombie had heard him, it was difficult to determine if she would have felt afraid: it seemed so serene here, so protected. She could think her dark and melancholy thoughts without interruption, without the annoyance of pack mates asking exhausting and stupid questions. But as a voice, at the same time oily and stormy, cut loudly through the peaceful sounds of the streams, Zombie realized there would be no escape.

She lifted her head as if it weighed as much as a bison, a heavy sigh emerging as though it came from deep within her. In neutral lands, she was even less likely to be polite; less likely to pretend to be impressed or civil. "If I were to wait until I was free of monsters," she began in response, "I would never rest." Zombie turned to look at him, electric eyes shadowed as she considered him and his presence. She realized, then, that he could crush her with little effort on his behalf. For a fleeting instant, something like fear might have cluttered in her chest. But as was often the case, Zombie struggled to see the point of her own life: it never seemed to matter to anyone else, particularly not those she had bound herself to, and so why would it matter to her?

She spoke before she looked at him, a reason why perhaps she did not speak with caution. Raheerah maintained his position a dozen or so feet away from her and wavered his tail high above him, but aside from that, he made no attempt to intimidate her. His eye narrowed slightly, but he found only amusement. "Suuch is the life of a plateau wolf." He snorted in derision. "Perhaps if you wished to be free, you would not staaalk themmm." His words followed through with an accusatory hiss, and he took another step, eying her. He hoped that he was right, if only to find an excuse to shed her blood, to pinch her skin between his teeth. He hungered.

Raheerah said nothing more and awaited her response, evaluating her, and curling back his lips to run his tongue over his yellowed fangs.

When her green eyes fell over the intricate scar that patterned over the brutish male's face, there was no flicker of recognition—and just barely one of curiosity. Just as quickly, however, Zombie's eyes fell away. She meant no challenge, especially not towards a wolf that would surely destroy her if she had the chance. When he mentioned the plateau, she stiffened instinctively—she did not know him, but he knew something of her. Zombie felt very suddenly like she was prey, a feeling that would not sit well with any wolf. She found herself regretting leaving the safety of the plateau, and hated it. The mountainous walls that once felt protective now felt foreboding and threatening. Her muscles tense, and she bravely fought the urge to run.

"I think you have it wrong," she told him flatly, "The monsters are stalking me." Zombie was always the victim; it was a role she had grown accustomed to and comfortable in. She didn't control her life. Life was just something that happened to her. If she had known what the large male's words truly meant—that he was accusing her of tracking him—she might have laughed at the sheer absurdity. She had not yet reached her second year, and would not until summer; and her form was still half-starved and lanky. Zombie was only just clinging to life, only barely surviving.

When she countered him with a correction, of all things, Raheerah sharply cocked his head to one side and narrowed his single eye at her with suspicion. He was not stalking her; did she mean that the wolves of the plateau were? That seemed unlikely, she was part of their ranks. Apparently. But he was done speaking in riddles. The beast uttered a rumble and lashed his tail with agitation. "If the wolves of the plateau have sent yoouu. I will allow you to fleee, now, with your with your body still intaact." He spat, and the fur on his body bristled. He could see no other reason for her being here than to have followed them, but perhaps she could redeem herself yet. Be it by fleeing or by proving otherwise.

It was Zombie's turn to look at the male with bewilderment, her electric green eyes narrowing as she attempted to sort out his words. What he told her was almost more perplexing than the riddles about monsters; that, at least, sounded like something she could follow. She was little more than skin and bones. Perhaps he thought that Hawkeye was attempting to be covert, by sending such an unlikely warden to collect the male, but Zombie knew that the plateau's leader was not nearly so clever. "Why would they send me after you?" she countered, her tone nothing but sincere shock. "I don't even know who you are."

With sleep becoming less and less likely, the yearling rose to her feet. Her posture was low and slouching, as was usual for the gray-and-rust female—as if she carried the burdens of the entire world upon her shoulders. "Besides," she continued, "I came here because I can't actually stand any of them."

His skin had begun to itch. The cold made it dry, and uncomfortable; it was difficult to find relief in the frigid weather, that sapped all moisture from its air. Each breath taken was accompanied by a low roiling growl, a heavy grunt akin to a bear that just ran miles. Finally, he leaned back onto his haunches and raised a hind leg, scratching relentlessly at a patch of exposed skin on his neck. It may not have done well to improve his look of intimidation, but Raheerah had little use for looks. He could prove ferocity well enough in a fight.

She appeared somewhat confused by his statement. He looked her over, and found himself agreeing; she was somewhat paltry in form. But perhaps her job had not been to take him down, merely to spy. The beast remained silent, clearly not so accepting of her doubt. Not until she added on that her fondness of the plateau wolves was dwindled. That was something he could find himself in agreement with. "Aand how could I trust yoouu?" He snorted, placing his hind leg back on the ground with a shake of his heavy, oily fur. "Haave they wroonged yoouu?" The beast added with mild interest and curiosity. For now, his uncertainty and hostility towards her was set aside in favor of this new information.