Ravensblood Forest Just within Reach

OOC: @Pump This was certainly a change, though the route had been much the same- mountainous terrain stretching countless miles ahead capped with white peaks til they receded into the sky. Then there were the glimpses of vegetation, sparsely placed at first until the woodland took hold guiding both adventurous sense and nose toward its depths. She had wandered this far from the Vale only once, and even then it had been as a wanderer. An escort mission of sorts to lead a lost wolf home, which in turn had become quite the amiable task. However brief it had been, it had been pleasant to say the least, one that had stuck with the female even after her invitation into the Vale ranks. Perhaps looking beyond the mountains and to the colorful skies of the eve was what reminded the woman of what the girl’s pack had been called, and thus gave her a reason to wander if not only for pleasure. But again came the dilemma of where she was to follow. Regardless of the direction, there was a horizon to follow, and in winter the scent of the sea was fading to frost. The only reliable scent to follow was the aroma of green that came from the forest, yet with it she doubted the direction intended was true. As she wandered, she could not help but smile to herself, recalling the manner in which she met the dark female. ‘Lost’, she had said. Trying to find home. Well now, it was the beige one that was lost trying to see if the lost-one did indeed return home.

After the encounter with Amekaze Pump hadn't returned to the Horizon ridge, deciding to wander around a little. She wanted to get the feeling of what it meant to be a true lone wolf and could she really survive on her own for very long. It was few days now and she was doing fine. Of course, she was hungrier than usual and more aware of her surroundings, keeping her eyes open for potential danger. Other than that - she felt good. Not particularly missing anyone from the pack.

Today she was in the middle of scavenger hunt in the woods, when she caught a vaguely familiar scent. She couldn't quite put her paw on it, who it was, but it did remind her of something positive, therefore she followed it. Her surprise was great, when she saw her friendly guide from long ago. Her name had been very complicated. Nuta? Nuata? Something like that. "Hey - feeling lost?" Pump called out to her and made her way towards her.

For posterity’s sake, it might have helped her if she had kept some memento of the dark female. Yet at the time, there was little that could have been spared other than literal fur or flesh. And of course, that wouldn’t have amounted to an agreeable impression. Instead, Xi’nuata was left to wander by way that she could gather from the forest itself, taking note of the many scents, those lupine and not, and hoping one would lead to if not near her intended destination. But there was hope. Coming toward her side, the autumn wolf smiled at the presence of a familiar face. Her eyes brightened and tail swayed modestly in glee at the odd-eared face she had traveled a good ways to see. “A little, yes,” she smiled unabashedly as she walked over with a slight bound to greet her dark companion. She extended her muzzle in the hopes of fondly gracing a black shoulder. “I had come to see you! But lost my way… or perhaps I did not have a ‘way’ to really follow.”

Pump's tail swayed happily and she cracked a grin at Xi'Nuata. There weren't many wolves she was glad to see - it was a privilege reserved to very few. For unfathomable reason the wolf-dog actually liked this girl - maybe because their views about life were a bit on the same vibe. She approached the traveller and, while letting the other "inspect" her, she did a little examination of her own. Nuata's fur was laced with a strong common scent - different from what it had been, when she had been a lone wolf. She also looked way better and happier. Good for her.

When the initial greeting ritual was done, Pump stepped back and said: "If I believed in fate then I would say that we were meant to cross each other's paths again. How are you doing?"

Fate was indeed a romantic sentiment, but that was not to say that it couldn’t have been the reason for their reunion. It could have been the pull of some higher power that encouraged her to venture out this day among any others. And again it could have been that same force that brought her onto the ‘lost’ path, only to be found by the very individual she sought. There was more than coincidence at play, or so she chose to believe. “I’m well,” she replied, smiling gently without missing a beat to their excited rhythm. In truth, she was overjoyed, but thought it best to retain some semblance of composure whilst they spoke. “Since last we saw each other, I became a part of the Vale in the mountains.” Her head tipped back subtly with pride though there was a noticeable swell of her breast as she continued. “It is a welcoming place. One day I will have to show you the territory. It is sizeable, but well hidden. And you?” Despite her attempt at calm composure, her heavy paws pranced her forward, nearly butting her chest into the dark female’s shoulder. “How are you doing? Is all well?” She inquired, taking notice of her companion’s ruffled state. She hoped nothing unfortunately had happened since their last meeting, though the reality of that likeness was present in the forefront of her mind.

"It is great that you have a home you can call your own," where you belong Pump finished in her mind. It hadn't occurred to her before, but, what she missed in the Ridge was the sense of belonging there. Of course, she couldn't boast of having done everything possible to fit in the Ridge - not even close - but it hadn't felt exactly right from the beginning. She was not the friendly, selfless person that was easy to live with. To be frank - she had a lot of faults - but she knew, what the true strength of the pack meant. Wolves of Bilberry hills were knit together by their sheer desire to survive and thrive. But not here, something was missing and she couldn't quite put her paw on, what it was.

"Same as always has been. I do quite well on my own," she explained, not wanting to dwell on this subject for too long. "Packlife here is not quite what I expected, when I joined, but then again - I might have very high standarts."

The warrior was eager to hear how Pump was doing in her own home, but there was a hint in her voice that suggested not all was well as she told. She thought better than to pry, though concern knitted her brows none the less. Ever the open book to read when it came to expressions worth sharing, and in a sense, feeling. “Standards?” she questioned, not quite understanding the meaning behind it. Had she known that it was pertaining to one’s expectations, she would certainly have sympathized given her first encounter with a pack she had intended to join. But her fault was that she was ignorant of most interpretations of things. Though it was that same ignorance that made her intuitive to seek clarity for what she did not know. At least in the aspects that mattered, of course. “Has your Alpha not tried to help you?” with what it was, she did not know. But as with all packs was it not the role of the superior to see to the comfort of their underlings? If her companion was not happy, perhaps they were neglectful. Though, she did not pass judgment so quickly.

"A funny thing, don't you think?" Pump mused, while a crooked grin played in her facial features. It did seem strange to have any standards at all, if you were the loner begging for a safe place to stay and be fed. Had the winter been so harsh that joining a pack would have been a question of life and death - the wolf-dog would have been humbler. "But old habits die hard and it's not easy to change the views of the ways you have been used to living."

"Is it his job?" she had a question in return. She didn't know for sure, because it seemed to her that the roles of alphas were different from place to place.

She would not have called the mentoring role of the Alpha his sole job, though it was their obligation to be an open ear to the members of their pack. It was an important role that has highly lacking in her prior home before the Vale. One that contributed to her isolation and continued regression into lacking self-confidence. Of course, it did not help that she was ignored by him as well… “Well…” the woman hummed softly in thought. “It is more of the Alpha’s privilege and his responsibility. As my sire would say; ‘an Alpha has two ears for a reason- one to hear the fodder of the forest, the other to hear the voices of his pack.’ If he does not turn his toward you, then perhaps you should bend it?” Her smile would suggest an attempt at a joke, though there was some truth to her suggestion even if poorly conveyed. Of course she did not mean for physical harm on her friend’s leader, but rather she use her unique voice to take his attention.

ooc: what Nuata said to Pump was beautifully written.

Pump hadn't considered to wail and whine for Akhlut's attention, she thought that this was way below her. Being the independent creature she was it was very hard for her to ask for help. She would deny it even if there would be no other way and wouldn't feel particularly grateful to anyone, who would lend a helping paw. But there was wisdom in Nuata's words and the wolf-dog promissed herself to think about it.

"I will see, what I can do," she stated simply and with that ended the subject. She didn't want to linger much on her problems. "Enough about me - so the Vale - tell me all about it! This place is pretty remote, therefore little new information comes travels this far," not entirely true, because Pump couldn't boast of being very interested in anything that took place far away.

OOC: <3 thank you! Xi’nuata hoped that her friend would take her words to heart and seek out her leader to speak with him. Since being accepted by the Vale, she came to value the input of her leaders as well as the comfort they brought her whenever she mind seemed troubled. However far and in between the feelings might have been. If the same could be found by Pump, she would have been glad. But it was up to the dark girl to decide if she would go through with it. In the meantime, they set aside such thoughts and favored instead something more enjoyable to talk about. Smiling, the warrior was all but bursting to speak of the Vale. “It is a large haven,” she began. “Surrounded on all sides by mountains. A small paradise even in winter. The forest is always green and sometimes covered in snow after a fall. But there is always a warm spot even when the snowfall is heavy.” Her tail waved eagerly as she continued seemingly without breath. “We do not receive as many visitors since it is difficult to get in, but we find comfort in each other and everyone does their part to make sure our haven is fed and secure. It is so warming, Pump. You must come visit!”

It surprised Pump a little that Xi'Nuata had taken the effort to cross the mountains at this time just to go out and look for her. She was not very familiar with the "large rocks" as such, but they had always seemed dangerous and scary to her. For this reason she had never dared to explore the higher parts of Horizon Ridge's territory. The wolf-dog did not trust the barren land.

However she felt enough respect to her companion not to point this fact out. "As long as the land provide for you - it is a good place," Pump remarked. "People might fail you, but a good land never does," it was another truth her grandma had told her and to which her pack had stuck to through good and bad. "Maybe, when the weather is better. It is quite dangerous to do it now. With all the snow and slippery slopes."

She would have loved for her friend to visit, but there was the reality that not all were adapted to scaling the treacherous mountains. They were second nature to the mountain-born wolf, but to others they might have appeared as frightful things. Dangerous, looming peaks with promise of death upon a faltering step. But she believed such fears could be averted with strong guides. A sure foot ahead to ensure safe passage. Of course she not have allowed her friend to travel the mountains alone, but politely resisted in pushing the idea further. As long as there was a thought toward it, she was content. “Oh, of course,” she smiled whilst tipping her head in agreement. “Perhaps you can visit once we are in spring? There are so many flowers in the Vale now, you would think it has already come! It would be wonderful to see what grows when the season has truly come.” Her tail waved merrily at her legs at even the thought of the warmer season. “I would enjoy sharing that with you.”

Flowers weren't exactly Pump's thing - she saw no purpose let alone beauty in them - but then again she had always been a tomboy. That odd girl, who prefers to play with cars and superhero action figures rather than dolls and teddy bears. For some unexplainable reason there were people, who liked these useless plants. Had she not respected Nuata that much, she would have spoken her mind out. Since she did - once again, Pump was polite and simply nodded.

What she was interested in, were prospects of a good hunt and scavenging opportunities. If her friend was faring as well as she was now, then it was no doubt that there was plentiful to eat. So maybe... a little journey there wouldn't be bad at all. "I won't make any promises, but I will consider it," she said and wagged her tail a little. "How many of you are there?"

“As long as it is in your thoughts, I am happy,” she assured her companion with a smile. She was understanding that not all things could occur simply because she wished them to at the time. There were also personal thoughts to effect it, of which the female found no bother in. As long as there was an attempt, she was satisfied, and would look forward to the time when she could play host to her friend. Hopefully the others would not mind it. And speaking of them… “…I can say that there are enough that we do not run out of food,” she offered somewhat indirectly, more so to keep the exact number from knowledge. While she trusted the female before her, the same courtesy was not yet extended to her pack. First hand, she had experienced the inconvenience and complication of having word travel and thought it best to keep the same occurrence from transpiring in her new home. “But enough paws,” she continued carefully “-that no corner of the territory is without eyes. We are plentiful.” Her muzzle titled with a slight apologetic curl. “I hope you do not take offense, but I cannot tell you more than that… At least not yet.”

It had not occurred to Pump that the number of pack-dwellers was of strategic value. Especially, if this pack had nothing to do with them and was located far away. Therefore she didn't quite understand, why Xi'Nuata was so indirect and even more - felt apologetic about that. She was not sure, what kind of response was asked for her and therefore she rolled her shoulders, as if saying - If you don't want to tell, then don't. That's fine with me.

"And - are you a "down to Earth" pack or you also have a fancy religion?" this matter had popped up more than once in the past. At first Pump had been surprised, now she was simply curious.

“Religion?” As far as the female was aware, there was no such thing to suggest the like in the Vale. Each had their own belief sure enough, but beyond that she had only ever heard the wishes of the Alphas for peace. Though she was not certain if that qualified as a religious aspect. “I do not believe the Vale has one, no. But its founders did come from a pack separated into factions. It is something that we have adopted into our own ranks. But I suppose we… keep to traditional order as well.” Though truth be told, she had not seen much of it outside the warrior faction. In there was an inlaid necessity for rank assertion at least among its members. Outside however, in mingling with the monks and healing clerics, it was less evident, near non-existent. But the question did raise her curiosity for one in kind. “What of your pack,” she inquired with a muzzle tilt. The smile on her face remained light and genuine, interest apparent though polite in her reluctance to pry.

"There are some wolves, who believe in gods," Pump told, remembering the conversation she had had with Jinx the other day. It still seemed odd to her that someone would dedicate his or her time to worship things that weren't visible. "Sos and Atka - ever heard of them?" she didn't remember much from what her former pack mate had told her, only these names had stuck to her. "They have some rituals and they pay tributes to them, but they don't make other pack members to do anything," she told and then added. "If you ask me - then I don't understand them. But everyone needs a hobby, I guess."

OOC: Shall we fade? The religions of wolves was just another aspect the female did not feel like she understood, as with most other things that resided outside her realm of comfort. But as she was inclined to, she accepted the uniqueness as belonging to the individual and simply solidified further her own resolve in self. Whatever others did to bring them comfort was to them, and them alone. She shook her head when asked regarding the mentioned deities. “It sounds like it would be an interesting hobby,” she offered none the less in the spirit of polite conversation. And indeed it was interesting. But her curiosity was not present to bid she inquire about it further. “But perhaps you’d like to walk and tell me about your hobbies in the pack?” The warrior was itching to move around again, if only to see a bit more of the grounds, perhaps even the Ridge itself, before she had to start on her journey to home. She pawed the ground lightly in invitation, smiling as she took a step forward.

ooc: yes. Thank you for the thread and I will look forward to having another one with you in the future.

"A hobby?" Pump recalled the seriousness of the way Jinx talked about her beliefs and wondered, what would she say about this kind of designation of what she did. The wolf-dog didn't know her all that well, but something told her that the response wouldn't be very favorable. She took her truth just as seriously as Pump did her heathen ways.

As far as she was concerned "hobby" was neither part of her everyday vocabulary, nor part of her life. It meant that you did it for fun rather than for practical reasons. And her motives for doing anything was based on the latter ones. "I don't know..." she rolled her shoulders. "Care to tell, what yours are?" she asked Xi'Nuata, taking the silent invitation to have a walk and eager to listen, whatever her aquaintance was willing to tell.

They spent quite a while together that day and, when their paths parted, Pump felt almost happy for the encounter and prospects of returning home.