Hoshor Plains Well, I've been fucking up since '94

@Tohka so sorry for the wait on this! I was sick all weekend unfortunately

She does not belong here. Not anymore. 

The grasses are only as high as her shoulder, a paler green rather than gold as when the former leader of the Plateau last saw them. Their stalks part for her slow steps, embracing her small form in bitter reunion. 

It was here she had once extended a home to a man by the name of Siege, in another life as another wolf. 

Briefly, her mind wandered to Grezig and she wondered what had happened to the Plateau's former Beta. All their conflict seemed useless now - given the circumstances. 

Liri drew to a halt, muzzle caressing the sweet-smelling tops of the grasses and releasing the perfume of hay - eyes glazed with memories.

Those things happen. No need to apologize.

Tohka bounded through the tall grass, nose to the ground and tail wagging loosely behind her. It wasn’t that she didn’t pay attention to where she was going, but her field of vision was too narrow. She focused on the various smells on the ground and lost track of the bigger picture of what was going on around her. She had managed to sniff out and catch a groundhog for a quick meal, but aside from that, she just followed whatever scent trail caught her fancy. She followed a coyote trail for a bit before being distracted by a pair of fox scents. After that she caught the faint scent of an elk, which she followed for a short distance before losing the trail entirely.

The good thing about traveling with her nose to the ground was that the rock trolls that liked to hide in the tall grass and trip her up didn’t catch her by surprise this time. The bad thing was that she overlooked other potential hazards, like the other wolf who was suddenly standing there, near her. The other might have been aware of her presence, but Tohka couldn’t tell. She eyed the other curiously, immediately noticing that her face didn’t seem to go with her body. The white face reminded her of the snow she had enjoyed during the winter at home with her family- youthful and seemingly unblemished. The rest of her seemed more chaotic- the black stripe down her back, various scars, the missing hind leg that wasn’t quite masked by the tall grass, and the notch in her ear. A yearling with a healthy imagination and a love for stories couldn’t help being drawn in by her as she appeared to gaze into the distance. She couldn’t help wondering what wisdom might lay behind those chocolate eyes.

She quickly realized she had been unintentionally staring at the other and quickly averted her gaze, looking into the grass at her feet. She lowered her and tail. “Excuse me, ma’am,” she said softly, “I… uh… I hope I’m not bothering you. I… I guess I wasn’t really paying attention to where I was going.” She gave a gentle wag of her tail.

So lost in the past was she that the dark femme's approach went unnoticed until she was but a few steps away, calling out in uncertain tones. 

Liri offered the stranger a smile of welcome, hoping to put her at ease. "That's quite alright, I wasn't doing anything of importance," she reassured as she turned fully to face her newest companion - an onyx woman with a kindly face. 

"This is Kintla Flatlands, to be most specific this particular area is called Hoshor Plains," the sylph elaborated, freckled muzzle sweeping in gesture.

"Were you trying to get somewhere? Perhaps I could be of help," Leea offers with a smile, tail waving gently. 

She had been a resident of Teekon for several years - mayhaps she could provide directions if the woman were lost. 

Tohka relaxed and let her tail wag a little more freely upon seeing that the other wolf was friendly. “No, I’m not really going anywhere in particular. I’m just exploring, really.” She didn’t want to say too much to a complete stranger, even if she did seem like she only wanted to help. It wouldn’t do to have a hostile wolf find out she was alone and unprotected, but surely she could share something with this woman. “I needed to get away from my parents and brother and sister for a bit, so I’m just out and about. Sometimes I feel like I can’t really grow much with them always suffocating me.” She stopped short of saying that she had run away from home and had no intention of going back.

But surely the other didn’t want to listen to her whine about her former home. She paused briefly before changing the subject. “I always like a good story,” she said, “even if Father says they won’t fill your belly or protect your home, and… well… you seem like you might have some stories, like…” She wanted to ask about the myriad of scars she carried, but it would be rude to ask about that. “Like why this place is called- what did you say it was? Whole Shore Plains?” She did wonder about that, especially since she had traveled for several days to get here from the coast.

Liri nodded, sensing something was held back but did not inquire into the concealed matter. Gods knew she had enough secrets to fill several dusty, leather-bound tomes. 

"Ah, I see. Has it been all that you expected? The chance to spread your wings?" 

Her gaze tightened imperceptibly, recalling the deformation and loss of her hindleg. "Aye, but some tales are best left unspoken," the scarred sylph murmured in gentle warning, unashamed and unoffended of her past. It was polite caution for the dark and cheerful little blackbird. Liri's story was a most unhappy and dark yarn in the tapestry of time. 

"Hoshor," she corrected, not unkindly, with a slight smile. 

Dark eyes shifted to the side, her chin jerking marginally as if to point out the formations of buffalo wallows upon the ground. 

"Story goes that this place was once home to a vast sea of bison. A herd so huge it was immeasurable by our kind. Those divots are where they used to roll on the ground. Only about fifty-head remain now," she divested.

Tohka wasn’t sure how to answer the question, Has it been all that you expected? She had left home without any plans or expectations. She had to think for a moment before saying, “Well, kind of lonely to be honest, and I definitely ate better at home. Obviously I can’t take down a sheep or elk by myself. It’s worth it though, ‘cause I’m finally able to explore the land, especially the mountains and the coast.” She was somewhat disappointed, though not surprised, that the other didn’t want to share stories of her past, but she tried not to let it show.

Tohka was interested in what the other had to say about the plains. She had seen the divots in the ground but hadn’t thought anything of them until she pointed one of them out and told her about a giant herd of bison that used to roam the land. She wondered what it must have been like to see so many of the magnificent creatures gathered in one place and how the ground must have trembled beneath so many hooves. “A sea of bison,” she murmered as she placed a forepaw at the edge of the divot that the other pointed out, “I would’ve liked seeing that… well, from a safe distance of course.” She also couldn’t help wondering what might have made them disappear.

She leaned down to sniff at the divot, but it just smelled of grass and soil, and certainly not bison. It must have been a long time indeed. It was then that she realized she hadn’t introduced herself. “My name’s Tohka,” she said, turning her head again to look back to the other.

Liri nodded empathetically, for she knew only too well the harshness of a life alone. "I'm sorry to hear that. You know, it might not be my place to say but you might consider a pack," she advised with a tone that stated ultimately the femme was free to make her own decision. "You'd have plenty of company, make some friends and not to mention the food," Liri chuckled. "If it is your desire to travel and explore, I'm sure you'd be able to make a path for yourself as a Scout." The healer smiled fondly, thinking of Ruenna who had blossomed into quite the Ambassador.

"I'm sure it was a wonder to behold," she agreed, gaze wandering the steppes as she tried to picture it herself. "You'd probably be able to get quite close to any herd. A single wolf isn't much threat to a full grown bison though they might get testy if you wandered too close, especially if it was their season or they had young calves with them," the tracker informed with a smile, thinking of the many hours she had spent simply watching the creatures of Teekon in fascination.

"Liri," she returned with a grin, "Liri Blackfoot. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." She bowed her speckled crown in respect.

Tohka perked her ears, listening to what Liri had to say, especially about being able to get close to a herd of Bison. She had never tried to get close to any larger animals except for whenever she had hunted with her family, and even then, it had been under her father’s direction. Perhaps one day she might try to see just how close she could get to a herd of bison on her own, but for now, Liri had brought up another subject that caught Tohka’s attention, and that was the suggestion of joining a pack. What she wasn’t sure about was whether it was merely a suggestion, or more along the lines of an invitation. The idea of having the benefits of belonging to a pack and still having some personal freedom was very appealing indeed.

When Liri finished speaking, Tohka chose her next words carefully, to the extent that her young, wandering mind could. “The pleasure is mine, Liri, or Miss Blackfoot if you prefer.” She fidgeted a little, then sat down and took a breath before continuing to speak. “I do like the idea of joining a pack, especially if I could still have some freedom to explore the land. Of course, I would also want the pack to value my contributions, ‘cause I don’t like feeling useless.” That was the real reason she had run away from home in the first place. She pawed at the ground and said, “If you happen to know of a pack that might take me, I think I’d be interested.” She offered a few thumps of her tail as she fell silent.

"Liri is fine," she smiled warmly, cheeks heating beneath her pale fur as she recalled running across the Viking who had addressed her as Miss Blackfoot. 

Her counsel had been intended as mere advice for they were strangers yet. Liri knew not if Tohka had yet made any connections, received any offers to join a pack. It was possible the black pearl intended to explore the Wilds more extensively before investigating the various packs and choosing one to make her home. Though, if the femme was willing the healer would have been more than happy to give her a place amongst the fledgling Vale pack. 

"Many of the packs that I knew have disbanded though I recall Easthollow in the Valley is very family-orientated. I believe there's even a pack or two along the Coast that you might be interested in."

"Though, might I offer my own grouping? We're not yet official but the community we strive to build upholds all members, and provides opportunity for all. You would be most welcome amongst our numbers," Liri smiled kindly, her tone open and light so that the dark girl would know that she was free to decline without fear of offense.

Tohka noticed the first comment that Liri made, that most of the packs she had known had disbanded, and she couldn’t help wondering why. Were their members dissatisfied with the pack as she had been with her family, feeling like their efforts were unappreciated? Or perhaps they had too many members who didn’t pull their weight leaving the others feeling frustrated? Maybe there was a bit of both. Easthollow she had never heard of, but she hadn’t yet made it into the valley. She did like the coast, but nothing out there really called to her, and as much as she liked the sea, there was something about the mountains that she found just as captivating.

Her ears perked when Liri mentioned her own ‘grouping’. She noticed that she did not describe it as a pack, but as a ‘community we strive to build’. An opportunity to get involved with a new, developing pack appealed to her curiosity.

There was of course her concern about being not just accepted, but appreciated as well. She offered a smile and a thump of her tail as she said, “I wouldn’t mind hearing more about this community of yours. Like where it’s located? Maybe what some of its members are like? And if I were to join, what kinds of responsibilities would I have? I assume I would help with hunting, since everybody needs to eat. You mentioned being a scout. Would that be something I could do for the community? And what about telling stories? Like stories about a pack’s history, or even just plain fantasy? Do you think there would be any use for that?” She realized she had asked a lot of questions and stopped to let Liri answer them before asking any more.

Liri laughed softly, amused by how much Tohka brought to mind the silver who had become a sister to her. 

"We settled in the Vale earlier this spring, there was only three of us then and we weren't really planning on founding a pack originally. We just wanted to survive the winter."

Her smile faded ever so slightly, a shadow of recollection falling over her features as memories of the illness, of being lost and the lightning strike that had taken what remained of her leg, of the Plateau's fall swirled through her mind. 

"I had founded a pack with my former mate the summer before but after contracting greencough from an ill packmate, it disbanded. He thought me dead and...moved on." The last is inadequate but the shadow surely does not want to hear her tales of heartbreak. 

"After discovering he had a new family and pack to care for, I returned to the wilderness with my pack brother - Siqsa. Eventually other lost souls joined us and we began preparing to found a pack."

"I have many hopes for the Vale - to secure allies, open trade routes perhaps, but mainly to offer a haven for those who seek the same fufillment that I myself have longed for - a pack in which wolves will feel welcome and can find love of all sorts, a place where individuals feel free to embrace their novelties. A brotherhood of lupines who may even find, as I have, that blood is not always thicker than water." 

Oh, yes, Liri had big dreams for their utopia but what was that saying? Go big or go home. 

"We haven't any responsibilities laid in stone. Of course, everyone is expected to pull their weight," she shrugged slightly, "but most certainly we would need Scouts. Ruenna, my pack sister, was once a member of the pack I previously founded and it was there that she discovered her calling as an Ambassador - a Scout who delegates with the officials of other packs."

"Chroniclers - storytellers - are also short in supply these days but it is a wonderful skill and vastly underappreciated. You might find that either trade appeals to you, or maybe even both, but in either case your contributions to the pack would be appreciated."

"You could travel beyond our borders and return to weave tales of the sights, report news, keep the histories. It's all up to you." Liri knew it was a lot to take in at once and fell silent, offering her opposite counterpart an encouraging smile.

Ears perked forward, Tohka listened to every word that Liri spoke, from how she and a few others banded together before deciding to form a pack to her story about a previous pack and the discussion of responsibilities within the pack. First, she couldn’t help wondering why the first pack had disbanded after she had gotten sick and was presumed dead. Were there not other leaders within the pack? Even the former mate? She wondered what would happen to the new pack if Liri got sick again, or injured or worse. Would there be another leader to take over?

What she found more encouraging was the way Liri described the pack roles and the freedom and flexibility to find her own calling. The idea that she could contribute by traveling around and exploring, by visiting other packs, and even by telling stories was most appealing to her. She wondered if she could even become an ambassador like the pack sister Liri mentioned. She was even more encouraged by the positive things she had to say about storytellers, and she wished that her father could have heard her say they were underappreciated.

Liri had also said that the sister had been a member of the old pack, and that detail caught Tohka’s attention and brought up her next question. “So, this Ruenna? You said she was a member of your old pack. Is she with you now, and do you think maybe if I joined that she could teach me about how to represent the pack?” While Tohka was genuinely interested in learning from others, she was also reading between the lines, thinking that the current relationship between the two would indicate the sort of wolf she was dealing with. She was specifically looking for signs that they trusted each other.

"Aye, Ruenna recently moved to the Vale. I'm sure she wouldn't mind mentoring you," Liri stated with confidence, certain that the silver would be gracious to the shadow, maybe even enjoying the prospect of having a pupil. 

"Come, see for yourself," Liri offered kindly, "speak with the others and if it turns out the Vale is not suited to you then we shall part ways in good faith."

"If you should decide to search for another pack, I will escort you from our territory personally and give you some supplies to see you off." 

Liri gestured for the black pearl to follow if she was so inclined, to come and meet Ruenna and the others, tail wagging in excitement. 

She was not particularly concerned about bringing a stranger back - Tohka seemed reputable and she had offered many similar bargains in the past, Siege the only who had ended up departing. 

Liri’s immediate answer told Tohka both of the main things she wanted to know. The sister, Ruenna, had once again joined with Liri, which was a sign that someone who knew her trusted her. Moreover, the offer to allow her to visit without an immediate commitment was one she couldn’t refuse. “I can’t really say no to that now can I?” She said with a wag of her tail. Even if she didn’t have to commit yet, she thought she would probably want to stay, as she had a good feeling about this wolf. There was something inspiring about the way she carried herself, even with her small size and missing leg and all.

She also couldn’t help getting caught up in the excitement that Liri showed, wagging her tail as she did. Tohka wagged her own tail furiously and followed, her rump wiggling behind her as walked along. Her mind raced as she imagined the prospect of meeting the other wolves, learning from them, hunting with them, and telling stories with them. In the back of her mind, she knew she might be setting herself up for disappointment, but she could cross that bridge when she got there. For now, she was happy about the chance to find a place to belong.