Neverwinter Forest take it easy

Backdated to the night of October 26; following this thread.
xAlong the border between NWF and Ouroboros Spine.

The stench of wolves is thick around the forest; a male’s particularly, though it seems to be intermingling with others now. A pack, or at least Annaliese is upon a Wilds’ highway. Too much traffic in one little forest for it to be nothing.

Perhaps her set back in the Terrace has not been for nothing after all.

Without rest, the foxfire dares to traverse the outskirts, careful to keep along the edgings of the forest where the trees are thinnest. The last she needs is an unfortunate accident due to a well-timed quake.

She is light on her feet, keeping at a low-energy trot with ears alert and icy eyes ever surveying the lands. She is curious, after all, about what’s captured so much attention—and if it is food… well, her stomach could certainly agree to a meal.

Already she was taking her new responsibilities seriously. She had promised to help Mal protect the forest, so when she scented a stranger near the borders while on her patrol, she quickly went to check it out. As she drew closer, she recognized something about the woman's scent, but it wasn't until she intersected the stranger's path that she recognized the scent of Mahler—of Diaspora. The realization made a flash of guilt shoot through her chest. She didn't recognize this woman, though, and decided she must be someone who had joined after she left. Tall despite her youth, she stood assertively in the woman's path. Why are you so close to our borders, she demanded to know, studying the woman with a shrewd gaze. Mal was probably nearby and might appear on his own, but she didn't call for him yet; she was overly confident as usual and decided she could probably deal with this on her own without bothering him.

ooc; kinda long - can skip to the last paragraph if wanted

ic;

Markus had done what he'd come to do when he'd joined up with young Mal. He had found somewhere to winter. He'd intended to get over the mountains, farther away from the incoming snow. He had failed in that.  But...he liked Mal. He wasn't sure why. The boy had given him little reason, really, but Markus was a mellow person by nature and was happy to take direction, even from a yearling – plus, it got him a home. It worked out, for now. Perhaps it was the fact that Mal was the first person he'd met who wasn't angry or crazy. Either way, he'd pledged allegiance and here he was. A member of what could barely be considered a pack but he felt a sense of possessive protection over it, nonetheless.

That was why the scent and sight of the foreign wolf while Markus walked the borders was a most unwelcomed and irritating sight. His hackles rose slightly on his shoulders, agitation settling underneath his skin. It crawled unpleasantly. He was unused to being roused to emotion so quickly, as mild as it was compared to that vicious dark female he'd met near the mountain. He set off at a trot, watching as a rather young white wolf confronted the newcomer first. She was even younger than Mal and Markus found himself but very curious and a bit exasperated.

He came to stall next to the white female, though with comfortable space, in time to hear her challenging the foxy colored female. Such a warm, rich shade compared to his dull grey and the bright white of his packmate - Mal, too. They were the "shades of grey" pack, it seemed. "What she said." He added quietly, watching the female with a detached interest. Though his ally was young, it was not his place to call her out on it. Until he had reason otherwise, he'd treat her like any other Neverwinter Forest wolf and at the moment, she controlled the situation. He was content to watch.

Thank you for joining!

Troops arrive to crash Annaliese's party of one, and the red woman finds herself pulling on the breaks as a girl stands proud before her. She cannot judge, for Anna would do the same if this was her claim. Alas, she is frustrated, for the interaction will further delay her travels.

I— She begins, yet clicks her jaws shut as yet another—a male, older than his companion—arrives on the scene. Anna cannot help the exaggerated sigh that escapes her lips. I'm purposefully avoiding tredding passed your scent markers, but I don't trust the mountains. There's a rockslide blocking the way to the west. Icy blue eyes glance warily in said direction.

<3

She watched suspiciously and expectantly as the stranger began to answer. She was interrupted by the arrival of another, though. He came from within the forest and she had no idea who he was. She was about to bristle at him too but then she noticed the scent of Mal mixed with his own. That combined with the fact that he seemed to be on her side made her think he was probably supposed to be there. She didn't need his help, but she supposed he had just as much right to confront the stranger as she did. She spared him a brief glance from the corner of her eye before focusing her attention on the woman who, irritatingly, seemed put out by their questioning. 

Simmik continued to eye her suspiciously as she spoke, her own fiery gaze moving to the mountains as the stranger described the rock slide. That doesn't give you the right to trespass, she pointed out with a glare. Never mind the small fact that she wasn't actually trespassing. There are other ways to travel that don't bring you so close to claimed land.

He watched carefully as the red woman exhaled in frustration and he perked his ears a bit at the noise. Did she not expect some form of pissiness from the residents of Neverwinter? If she'd been purposely avoiding stepping over the line, as she'd said, then she knew they were there. Why stick so close? He glanced in the direction of the mountains she indicated, momentarily distracted as he noted yet another weird disaster that seemed to plague these lands, before he turned his attention back to her.

His companion needed no help from him and he let her snap uninterrupted at the might-be-maybe-ifyousquintalittle trespasser. The young white wolf was far more irritated than Markus who, after she was done with her chastisement, asked calmly - "Where are you going?" Had she planned to walk along their borders for miles? Maybe she just assumed she wouldn't have gotten caught...or maybe her intrusion, how little it was, was only a quick one.

The girl is bullheaded, dutiful in her task of protecting what is hers and Annaliese swiftly grows tired of the interaction. She means no harm, but there seems like there is little she can do to convince them otherwise.

Sure, which is why I'm not, she replies, lips curving into a far-too-innocent smile. Her head lowers just to show such submission towards the pack wolves despite her urge to do the opposite. If she weren't on a mission, perhaps she would have dared to pick a fight.

As I've explained, the only other way is blocked. You can travel there yourself if you do not believe me. Annaliese may be overly confident in her abilities, but she is not foolish enough to attempt climbing such a mess. The unstability of crushed mud, rock and trees made even her quake in fear.

Alas, the male seems the calmer, more reasonable of the two, so her icy blue eyes turn to him, ears flicking in his direction and expression shifting to appreciation. I am headed west, past these barrier mountains. If it would put you both at ease, how about you escort me along the border of your territory? That way everyone wins!

It was really hard for her to not roll her eyes at the woman's excuse for traveling so close to their borders. It was kind of a petulant response, and she was trying to prove that she wasn't a child. And maybe the stranger wasn't technically trespassing, but she was close enough, and that was all that mattered to Simmik. Maybe the other way was blocked, but she wasn't just going to take this woman at her word; that would be incredibly naive of her, not to mention stupid, neither of which were qualities she possessed, thankfully. She opened her mouth to say as much, but then the man was speaking, his question sounding so reasonable that Simmik wanted to roll her eyes at him too. She didn't, though, but settled for shooting him a quick glare before focusing her fiery gaze back on the almost-trespasser. Who cared where she was going anyway? 

When the woman suggested that they escort her along their borders, Simmik thought that was the most intelligent thing she had heard either of them say yet. She raised an eyebrow. Alright, we'll escort you, she agreed. She included the guy too because she wasn't dumb, and two of them meant there was a better chance of fighting this stranger off if she decided to do something stupid. Let's go then, she clipped. She was ready to be rid of this potential problem.

The girl, though one of his own, was annoying. He took in her glare and shot her an unamused, unconcerned look in response. She was one of those quick to fire types that Markus found exceedingly tiring. They were a drain on what little energy he possessed, and he often avoided them if he could. It looked like he'd have to do the same with this girl. Hopefully, he thought with a touch of spite, she would grow out of it.

"I believe you." He said simply and he did. He still thought it best to escort her, as his next suggestion was to be, when the foxy female beat him to it. He gave her a nod - yes, exactly - and that was when the young icy female spoke up again. Ah. Markus had hoped that she would have left it to him and been on her way. Markus did not feel like basking in her simmering, moody presence for any longer than he needed to. Once again, the universe proved to him that he was not a lucky specimen.

He could bail, sure, but then the red woman could turn out to be a serial killer and that would be on him. Plus, he'd be leaving the foxy female in the company of only the hot-headed pup and that seemed like cruel and unusual punishment. He sighed aloud, though quietly, and shot the intruder a look of regret - mostly for himself - before agreeing. "Yeah. Lets...get going."

​Damn, he hated his life sometimes.

Oho, Annaliese cannot help being amused by the exchange between the two; it seems they differ in more ways than one. So much for being a greyscale duo. She hides her humor via smiling at the male.

At least someone believes her. It is true, after all. The spot is blocked, and there is no reason why Annaliese would stick her nose close to a pack otherwise. Too risky.

Excellent. Escort they can do. Despite the pup’s attitude, Annaliese actually appreciates company—she’s been long without, and though she would loathe to admit to everyone how sad and lonely she’s been, it is a nice change of pace. This time, she chuckles at the freckled male’s reaction, though also quiet.

Annaliese wastes no further time, she strides onward towards her goal. What is the name of your band, by the way?  

We could fade with this round, or continue if you guys like! Either way, I’ve enjoyed it