Hushed Willows features her patiently explaining the cosmos

backdated a couple days idk

The concept of marking borders was foreign to her. Back home (like home-home) Jimmy and Daddy had been in charge of that, and others had done so at the Sanctuary. But now she was leader, and leaders did this sort of thing, often. It was a way to explore, she supposed, and a quiet time to gather her thoughts, should no one else join her along the way.

Still--pissing along an arbitrary line. That was something, wasn't it?

The Sanctuary wolves were still settling in, and it was clear that a shift was underway. Changes were happening. The machine they had been at Broken Boulder was no longer operational; there was newness to this place that had touched the group as well, and she felt it in the air. Perhaps it was just her recent promotion coloring her perception, but she did feel it. She did.

Was it a good thing? Lily wasn't sure just yet. She had gotten used to the way things were, but they had fallen apart, and maybe for good reason. Perhaps change was for the best, even if it felt strange. Maybe she was always meant to be here, marking the willows as her own, in charge of a ragtag group of wolves that had, by some stroke of luck or invisible hand of the universe, found each other.

Since Kavik had showed her the pass through the mountains from Blacktail Deer Plateau, Rue had been eager to explore the lands that were now more accessible to her. This certainly beat climbing up the Wall, with all of its switchbacks and treacherous angles. It was also prefereable to avoid the peak with all of the popup thunderstorms.

The willows that bordered the mountain range to the north were familiar to Rue-- she and Liri had passed through on their way to and from their visit with their new ally, IkKanattuk. Since she had been through so recently, it surprised Rue to run across the scent of a border at the edge of the willows. It seemed a pack had moved in, choosing a location that was rather close to Blacktail Deer Plateau in Rue's opinion. Did Liri and Kavik know anything about this? Not that Rue really anticipated any problems with their new neighbors; the Plateau wolves claimed hunting grounds southwest of the mountains peaks, and it was more likely that these wolves would hunt in the northeast plains. 

Rue halted, sniffing at the border marker. It was hard to gather much information from such a fresh border-- she couldn't tell how many wolves had moved in, their ages, whether they were male or female... All she could glean for sure was that a female had laid this marker, and she had laid it very recently. Rue backed up a few paces, making sure that she was outside the boundary, and then she chuffed a few times. The sound was friendly and inquisitive, inviting anyone nearby to come to the border for a chat.

Back at Broken Boulder, the border was fairly porous--wolves could move in and out as they pleased, provided that they remained civil and contributed, if they were to stay for a long time. Lily assumed the same policy would be enforced here, but the newness of the place and the recent move had her nerves higher than usual. Her ears flattened slightly upon sighting the stranger; she padded up with shoulders thrown back, her gaze gimlet.

"Hello, there--can I help you?" the blackbird said politely, cocking her head. A small smile graced her lips, but she was wary, nonetheless. She was (almost) positive she had never seen this woman before, and although she looked sweet now, she wasn't as naive as she had once been--she knew that could change in an instant.

It was not long before the female that Rue had scented made her appearance. Although she was small, she walked with the confidence of a leader. As she approached, Rue shifted her stance to something appropriately respectful for addressing another pack's leader, or really any wolf who claimed the territory upon which one stood. 

The brunette spoke, fixing Rue with eyes that seemed to glow like coals in her dark complexion. To Rue, the woman's demeanor seemed polite, yet searching. It was exactly how Rue herself would have treated the situation, were their roles reversed. 

"I just wanted to say hello from Blacktail Deer Plateau. Your neighbors across the mountains." Rue turned to the southwest and tilted her muzzle to indicate the direction of her pack's homeland. Turning back to the woman, she added, "I'm Ruenna Redfern." She offered a smile to match the one upon the features of her new acquaintance, adding a small tail-wag for good measure.

Oh, new neighbors to meet! Lily was glad she was meeting them this soon, rather than the very untimely greetings she had given Morningside. She dipped her head, smiling. Ruenna Redfern. It was a pretty name, and one she would not soon forget, nor Blacktail Deer Plateau. She would have to visit, sometime.

"Very pleased to meet you," Lily responded, lips curving in a smile as she relaxed her posture. "I'm Lily, and this is. . .Elysium," she decided, after remembering her conversation with Seabreeze. "We just settled here and are still trying to figure things out," she explained, her tone rueful but still bubbly, lest Ruenna see some danger in her hesitation.

"How far did it take to get across the mountains?" she asked. She had never traveled over them before.

The brunette seemed to relax and brighten up a bit when Rue explained her purpose at the border. Although Rue had never been part of such an operation herself, she imagined that the process of staking claim to a piece of land was a difficult and perhaps even dangerous ordeal. Who was to say whether wolves who were passing through would respect the boundary and the pack behind it, or whether they would reject the newcomers and attack? It was certainly understandable that Lily, as she called herself, was on-edge. 

Lily seemed uncertain about the name of her new pack, which was also understandable. Coming up with a name would also have been low on her list of priorities, were she standing in Lily's pawprints. "Of course," Rue agreed, readily accepting the offered explanation. She had no way of knowing how long Lily's group had been together before they settled here, but she imagined that even the oldest of friends and/or the closest of families had a lot of sorting out to do upon settling in a new location. "Have you traveled very far?"

Rue was happy to answer Lily's question, proud that her scouting was coming in handy. "The mountain chain stretches generally north to south with a slightly eastern tilt, and it goes on for days and days. But if you bisect it, for instance if you traveled southwest from Elysium, it would only take you a couple of days to reach the Plateau and cross over into the flatlands." Should Ruenna mention the pass through the mountains? It would certainly cut down on time were Lily and her wolves wishing to travel across the mountain chain, but Rue was hesitant to offer up the information that could lead a relatively unknown group of wolves right through the backdoor of the otherwise well-fortified Plateau. Perhaps she would wait to share that information until the Plateau wolves became better acquainted with Elysium.

How interesting! Lily didn't even have to feign interest in the directions. She listened intently, ears canted far forward, trying to remember every word. Bisect the mountains, southwest, she repeated, once Ruenna had finished. Roger that. Erm, kind of? she continued in response to the query given her. My homeland is fairly far away from here, and I've taken some small trips since arriving. But certainly not as much as other wolves have traveled.

There was so much to see. Tethered to Elysium as she was, would she ever get to explore it all? Or would her bones be buried here, the sentiment of regret an echo within them?

I'll have to visit this Plateau of yours, sometime, Lily remarked, smiling. Perhaps once we've gotten settled here.

Lily managed to answer Rue's question without really saying much of anything, but that was okay. No all wolves wished to reveal their land of origin, and Rue could certainly understand why that might be. If Red Fern Grove had been closer, Rue would have been very hesistant to take on the surname Redfern for fear that someone here would make the connection and start asking questions. Rue's past belonged in the past, and if that was where Lily chose to keep hers too, so be it. 

"Please do," Rue replied with an encouraging nod. "My leaders, Liri and Kavik, would be very pleased to receive you, I'm sure." Rue took in a conclusive breath, thinking that had probably been Lily's way of winding the conversation down. No doubt the woman had quite a lot on her to-do list, trying to get Elysium up and running before winter. "Best of luck to you and Elysium," Rue said with another nod, intending it to be her farewell if Lily had no more questions.

She was about to go along with the farewell before something of vital importance drew her attention. Sorry--did you say Liri and Kavik? Liri had been a friend once; Lily had hoped to grow closer to her with time. They had left without a farewell, two of the many that had done so. To hear. . .no. She would not let pettiness cloud this moment. They had found their happiness, and she had found hers.

They lived with us, once, she said simply, smiling. Give them my best. It was a pleasure meeting you, Ruenna Fedfern. With a polite inclination of her head, Lily waited for the Plateau wolf to take her leave before turning and heading back into the forest, irrational irritation seething just beneath the surface of her cool expression.

Lily knew of Liri and Kavik it seemed. "Yes, Liri and Kavik," Rue confirmed, tilting her head in curiosity. Lily provided the very short explanation with a smile, and Rue returned the gesture. Would you look at that, it seemed Liri and Kavik had an old friend moving into the neighborhood! Ruenna was more than eager to deliver the happy news. "I certainly will," she agreed at once. "Farewell, Lily," she chirped before making her departure.