At least she was nearing the pack lands she sought; the climb had been fraught with peril and the shale that made up much of the trail was slippery underfoot from the freezing rain. Shiva might have given up - if not for her bullheadedness and the fact night was swiftly encroaching - but she was so close to her goal now that she couldn't justify stopping even for a few minutes. Reaching the vale was another problem, as she crested the top of the shale slope only to realize that the saddle had a steep not-quite-cliff on the other side of it. There was a trail, of course, but in the dark and the rain, it was going to be a bitch and a half to get herself down the hill. Shiva growled low in her throat, incensed, and carefully began to wind her way down the hill.
By the time she had inched her way down the mountain, her fur was slick with water, the edges partially frozen by the temperature, and Shiva was giving off little irritated growls every few minutes as she shook off what ice and water had accumulated. Her inner coat was (mostly) dry, but her guard hairs were not and it was quickly going to develop into a more serious problem if she could not locate shelter or gain entry into the pack. As Shiva picked her pace up to a trot, a howl broke loose from her throat, calling to whomever ruled this valley and hoping they weren't some big bag of dicks who would make her sleep in the rain to prove her loyalty.
Despite the weather, Tenzin stood tall in the freezing rain. His eyes were closed and his legs were spread just beyond the width of his body. His head was held high as he stood there quietly, patiently. The monk was constantly conditioning himself for all weather environments, and this was a perfect opportunity. He knew not to push himself, however, and could sense the day coming to an end. It would get colder soon and he'd need to seek warmth within the hot springs to thaw himself. A howl broke his concentration and the male's seafoam green eyes flashed open. Had that been one of his...?
He dissected the call and realized it hadn't been one of his members, but instead was someone within the Vale, likely near the borders. Who else would be out in such awful weather? Concerned, the monk shook himself rather harshly to free of frozen water before setting off to greet whoever it had been, whether they be brave or foolish to travel in such freezing rain. Had they been staying up here, or did they make the climb despite the weather? When he neared the borders, he made a mental note of the fastest way to reach the hot springs from here in case the visitor had been out in the cold too long.
To his surprise, the female was rather strong looking. Judging from her posture, he assumed she had indeed traveled up to the Vale in the weather. He gave her an impressed look, walking up to her with his features rather relaxed. He still refused to flick his tail up and act like the gruff sort of alpha he wasn't.
"Well," she began, giving herself a shake in an effort to get rid of the cold trickle of rain she felt crawling down her nape, "I had heard a pack of monks lived in the Vale. Am I correct in assuming you are their alpha?" She dipped her head respectfully and, voice a quiet, rough murmur, "Shiva, if it please you. The climb was.. interesting, to be sure." Although she cast a wistful glance towards the shelter the wolf had offered her, instinct and training made Shiva wary. Was he merely a trickster, sent to guide her to her doom where monks would capture her and force her into training, brainwash her and force Shiva to submit to their designs? Unlikely and extreme, perhaps, but none the less, she was disinclined to trust strangers.
Carefully, she said, "If it does not trouble you or your pack, I would be grateful for the shelter." Lifting her head some, she made to follow to wherever this white ghost might lead her, though she was not without reservations. (Feel free to PP her following Tenzin, Jaye!)