Qeya River body like a whiplash

@Freyja!

Their Grand Vicar was pregnant, no doubt about it. He had seen her in the territory and, as large as the female was already, her rotund sides immediately told of her condition. He smiled, happy that the pack would grow by another litter. Not only that, but one also conceived under the Cardinal's now purified name. He already had brought back another two of his children, but they were still outsiders, yet to be fully brought into the faith (at least, in his mind). The two unborn puppies would be birthed pure and truly blessed.

So Phares decided to collect totems and talismans for good luck for the expecting female. He wasn't sure when she was due, but the day couldn't be too far off.

He stayed clear of the looming mountain beside their home, remembering the warning given to him by the two beastly wolves of the Drageda, instead opting to follow a river that ran beside it. It was the only large source of water he could find outside of the Grotto — their own lake housing none of the things he needed to make an offering to the new mother.

Preoccupation has consumed the silver-furred child as she moved swiftly through the territory, not paying too much mind for her surroundings. It was a beautiful day and Freyja found herself enjoying the day much more than she had anticipated. A gentle breeze was upon the mountain territory, keeping conditions of the cooler side. Enjoying the weather almost too much, Freyja’s paws had carried her just beyond the borders of Sleeping Dragon.

She only found herself realizing just what she had done as the form of another came into sight. Instinctively, thinking she was still within her pack’s border, her fur pricked and a low growl fell from her lips as she stared at the red-furred wolf. Despite the distance between them she could smell that he was not one of the mountain pack.

If this isn't supposed to be AW just ignore me

Hush absentmindedly followed the pup as she wandered through the territory, her silent shadow as they both enjoyed the late summer day. She was fine until she had crossed over the borders, and Hush surged forward to herd her back to inside, or at least along the invisible line.

That was until he saw the foreign wolf. Hush tensed, his ears pressed forward as he glared at the wolf. Freyja snarled underneath him, but Hush made no noise until he caught a whiff of the wolf's smell. Larksong Grotto. Hush bared his teeth, a garbled growl emanating from his throat. He couldn't howl, but Freyja's voice could easily carry to the others of Drageda.

Nah, you're good :D

It quickly became clear to the priest that this was not going to be the place where he would find what he was looking for. The area seemed devoid of the precious life that he searched for — frogs and eggs. Talismans of birth and protection to present to the new mother and assure the newborns safety from the Heartless. The river was peppered with floating ice and seemed unforgivingly cold. Phares backed away from its banks, not favouring a fall into the chilly waters, before looking up to see if there was any chances of finding a nest in the trees surrounding the area.

Instead, he found himself staring at the small, pale form of a cub. Even at a distance, he could tell she was only a few months old. The priest stared back at her, noting the sound of her soft growl carrying over to his ears. He offered back a polite smile that quickly disappeared when another showed up. He was a slim man, almost coyote-like, nothing like the two beasts that had confronted him before. The scent of Drageda was heavy on their pelts. The pack seemed to guard their territory and the surrounding lands with an iron fist.

"I mean no harm," he called with a wave of his tail, hoping to disarm the two wolves. Despite one being only a child and the other no bigger than himself, he knew that they could easily call upon the rest of their pack who would surely arrive in no time. "I apologise for being so close to your lands."

She was suddenly ushered once she had misstepped and she was quick to look up at the individual that attempted to guide her. Her eyes danced as they fell upon Hush, quickly and fondly recalling their brief time together. “Hey,” she welcomed, reaching up to nudge as his chest in greeting. She was still lost on what to call him, so she did not address him by name in that moment.

Her attention did not shift back to the fiery stranger until he addressed them both. Returning his reply with a hard stare, the child offered her thoughts. “What are you doing so close?” She was just being introduced to all the wicked things that were in the world and knew that she had to be careful with those she dealt with outside of the pack.

He returned the greeting with a sharp chuff, not taking his eyes off the Grotto wolf. Freyja could do all the talking, even though she was inexperienced in the matter. He was the muscle, glaring protectively at the flame-furred wolf, growling his garbled growl. This had not been the first time a Grotto wolf was close to Drageda lands.

The child spoke for them, it seemed, while the man offered only an odd growl. Phares took an uncertain step back, feeling this search was in vain. He knew enough of these Drageda wolves that they didn't take to trespassers lightly. Eyes flicked to the mountain before them. Even if he was on supposed neutral territory.

"I seek things," he replied before adding, "which I will not find here." With that, he dipped his head in a resigned but respectful bow, keeping his eyes lingering on the two strangers for a moment before turning and loping back to the safety of his church.

“I seek things that are not here," And with that spoken, the stranger was gone. Lifting her brows, Freyja turned to Hush and shrugged. And with that the pair turned their backs to their neighboring territories and back into the safety of the parklands.