Northstar Vale I will leave my marks

He was still slightly shocked by the event that transpired yesterday, and he was loathed to leave Hiromi’s side. But there was also a new, very real reason the borders needed to be well maintained. That being said, Yuu wanted to get back as soon as possible. With that in mind, he threw up a howl for @Vespera. He had been meaning to check in with her, and multi-tasking would get him back to the den sooner.

He started on his path, heading for the edge of their territory. Vespera could find him as he went.

The group had finally done it, what seemed like childish dreams to Vespera, the group had finally become a reality. The girl had to hand it to Reiko, she was persistent, and her determination is what got the group here, now all Vespera needed was to see if Reiko was true to her word, and some other mysterious ends to tie up. The dark woman was spending some time to herself, now that the pack was actually a thing, she needed time to collect her thoughts. But the summoning howl of a familiar voice broke through her concentration, her ears twitched with her muzzle rising to meet the sky, what could he want? The woman should have guessed that the samurai wanted to talk about safety in some way since he did seem like the type of guy to do it, besides, the Empire just formed.

Reluctantly with a sigh, she picked up her pace to a small gallop as she strode through the trees and boulders with ease. For what seemed like miles, the sight of Yuudai came into the view of her eyes, why was he so far out? Vespera's pace slowed to a walk with her tongue lolling out of her mouth as she dragged herself up to Yuudai, "what's up? Better be something important since you dragged me across the territory," she raised her brow, but she couldn't help but give him a playful smirk with a small chuff that was to signify a laugh.

Yuudai paused as he caught the scent of the woman he had summoned, raising a brow at her snarky comment. “Well aren’t you in a chipper mood this morning.” Yuu replied, a smirk settling on the edge of his lips, amusement alight in his gaze. “Good morning, Yuudai. How are you?” His question was emphasized with a tone indicating this is the greeting he had been expecting. “I’m very well, thank you for asking Vespera. How are you this fine morning?”

With his snipe voiced, Yuudai continued on his path, walking ahead. He’s smile continued, happy to be in her company. He turned his head slightly to see if she would be joining him.

Yuudai's playful remark made Vespera feel at ease, her initial irritation was gone in a blink of an eye for she continued to smirk at him. His third-person commentary to himself made the girl chuckle, "and I suppose sir would also like a fresh rabbit at his paws and the finest of water to complement his morning? Hmm Yes?" She turned to him with a playful snobbish look to her that was coupled together with a posh British accent as the two began their walk together with her continuously smirking, but it was more of a playful lazy grin.

She hadn't had a good laugh in a while, or someone who was willing to tease with her, she wished that more were like him and that they wouldn't take such offense to her jokes. But all teasing aside, she just had to ask what were they doing, even though it was quite obvious, "but really, why did you call me?" She stated, in a much better mood mind you, with her eyes sliding to his with her light-hearted mood still intact. 

Yuudai couldn’t stopped the bubbling laughter in his chest as they continued their path and whitty banter. “I would, but I see you don’t have any. Next time.” He flashed a bright grin over his shoulder.

“I was going to head out on a patrol, just outside the territory.” This wasn’t the most common of practices back home, but every so often venturing past the edge of the territory and learning who had been milling around was beneficial. “I’d just like to know what’s been passing by. Are you coming?” At this time of the year, there were many things that could be lurking; lone wolves (especially male wolves), bears coming out of hibernation, cougars hunting the newest generation of deer…etc.

Yuudai flashed her a smile as he jokes back to her that she didn't bring anything, "guess I will have to remember then," she raised her chin and stuck her tongue out at him playfully. The man answered her question by stating that he was just going to patrol the borders and wanted to know what was passing by. Reasonable logic for the male since Vespera always had the rising suspicion about him and the Empress from the first time they conversed when he told the Duchess that Reiko needed to be kept safe. The dark woman started to speculate further between the two but she kept those comments to herself.

He invited her to join him, "sure," she shrugged and trotted up next to him, "besides, you need someone to protect you," she gave him a cheeky smile with her brows up as she trotted ahead of him with a bouncy rhythm to her stride with her fluffy tail bobbing to her trot. She was happy that Yuudai could put up with her, she was comfortable with calling him a friend because boy did she need some.

He gave an indignant snort, “I need protecting.” Yuu shook his head, and rolled his eyes. “I can protect myself just fine.” He called out as he picked up his pace to match her own. “Everyone needs a side kick.” He jabbed back, enjoying the easy flow. He had a lightness in his step, away from the hormones and the difficult decision that lingered at the den.

Besides he figured it was better to get to know Vespera, there last conversation lacked personal detail. Perhaps now that they were more at ease with each other they could talk of their pasts. “Are you settling in well?”

The remaining distance to the edge of the vale was an open field, as they approached the space between them and Porcupine Ridge. The open space made it easy for Yuudai to trot alongside Vespera, making conversation easy.

Vespera continued to smirk a cheeky smirk as Yuudai seemed to be trying to advocate for himself that he doesn't need protection and that he can protect himself. The samurai wolf quickened her pace so that he could match the woman's strides, and as he caught up to her, he made a quick playful jab at her by stating that everyone needs a sidekick. "Yes, you are quite right, you would make a perfect sidekick for me," she said with a sly look and voice, but she couldn't help the bubbling laughter in her chest so she began snorting in laughter and shook her coat as they continued their walk.

The pair made their way outside the territory to a familiar location Vespera knew since she had met a few wolves here at the ridge. The large white male asked how she was settling in, "oh just fine, I discovered a few new places with Reiko," she said casually as her eyes scanned the area, making sure nothing would jump at them. "What about you?" The Duchess returned at him, with a slightly curious look in her eyes as she looked at him, she really wanted for him to talk about the deal with Takeshi. The dark woman sensed some tension between him and Reiko when they were negotiating an alliance with Sagtannet. Perhaps Yuudai would give her a hint, does he even know Takeshi at all?

lol vespera’s looking for the juicy gossip *insert eyebrow waggle*

Yuudai rolled his eyes, he was going to have to work on his witty banter apparently. The smile was still very prominent though, indicating he wasn’t perturbed by her poke. He could only shake his head.

Of course he should have expected the returned question, but the man had failed to think of an answer before it was posed. His smile caught slightly, dampening slightly. “I’m settling fairly well. You’ll have to show me where she took you, I’m still trying to learn the terrain.” He glanced her way, before returning his eyes to the path a head. His nose dropped to the ground every so often, catching the scent of deer. The field would prove invaluable for hunting Yuu realized. Considering there would be more mouths to feed soon. Had his pelt not been ivory, he may be paled slightly at the prospect of his own children running around.

you know it ;)

There was nothing more to say on the matter of the witty remarks, it seemed Vespera won that battle. The two wolves would continue their journey of patrolling the area and making sure that everything was secure for if this was going to be the woman's new home, she had to see to almost everything herself, she didn't want a repeat of Easthollow. The Duchess watched the man as he answered his question, it seemed the light from his smile faded a bit which did make Vespera feel a little uncertain, why the slight change? But it seemed Yuudai didn't catch the memo, but her signal wasn't very telling so she would have to slightly push it but with caution.

"They are quite interesting, me and Reiko found this moss place to which she told me there were different kinds of moss," the dark woman began to ramble as she laughed at the fact that Rei told her that there was a variety of moss, Vespera didn't think that was possible. "Then we found some sort of hot springs, it was in a cave, very nice in there," she tried to summarize quickly for the woman just wanted to cut to the chase of what she really wanted to talk about. The cloaked woman forced herself to make an expression of uncertainty, "I have escorted Reiko to meet with other packs beforehand," she backtracked and looked at Yuudai with a slightly irritated and concerned look on her face when she was getting into the next part of her statement.

"But on this one escort mission... Another one came with us, I'm sure she knows him personally..." Vespera was looking at Yuudai with a bit of a clueless look, she really didn't know anything about Takeshi and Reiko, but there was a feeling of worry for Reiko, and she couldn't explain why she was concerned for the Empress' wellbeing even though they just met. "There was... Tension... I could just sense it between them... Reiko looked uncomfortable... I don't know why..." The Duchess just wanted some answers for if this male was to cause trouble, she would be certain that Yuudai or Vespera, would smite him in an instant.

But the Duchess realized she was starting to slowly fret more about Rei, she tried to snap her thoughts out of it but her heart insisted that there was something more, something mysterious.

She summarized, very briefly, the places her and Reiko had visited. Yuudai wanted to ask more questions, but he had a suspicion that there was something else the dark woman wanted to speak about. It would be easy enough to scout these places on his own, and answer the questions he had himself. So he let he continue, getting to the topic she desired.

When she finally landed on the topic at hand, Yuudai couldn’t help the distaste that reflected in his eyes and his over all demeanor. Yuudai nodded, “She does know, him. So does Hiromi, and myself.” Yuu pursed his lips, wondering how much to share. Wondering just how loyal the woman was. He appraised her once again as he thought through what exactly to say. She held a different presence than their last conversation. She seemed more at peace. Even if it was only minutely.

Deciding that she would find out sooner rather than later, considering Reiko’s circumstances. “Takeshi.” Yuu supplied his name, “Before Reiko’s parents passed, they were betrothed. It was the royal pairs wish for them to be together.” The only decision he ever disagreed with. But then Yuudai had been to young and to submissive to argue with his adoptive father at the time. Yuudai did his best to keep his tone neutral, but an angry tint could be detected.

It seemed that her plan of talking about Takeshi worked, however, Vespera couldn't help but notice something wrong with Yuudai, although the man tried to stay neutral about the topic, there was a hint of anger in his voice. Yuudai explained that Takeshi was betrothed to Reiko, whatever that meant, after her parents died. The Duchess knew of some knowledge of what happened to Reiko's parents and the place that she came from, and no matter who she asked, there was a hint of despair in their voices, Reiko, Yuudai, Hiromi, all three of them spoke with sadness in their voices. The dark woman blinked, she really didn't understand how royalty worked or how an Empire worked at all, she was used to run-of-the-mill standard packs, so she had a lot of questions.

"So... Betrothed... She didn't have a say in the matter... Like... At all?" The woman looked to the samurai with a lost face, she was trying to piece this together herself. If that is what a betrothal meant, Vespera wanted to wrinkle her nose in disgust at the idea, how could someone be forced to marry someone they don't even like? That would be miserable!

Yuudai gave a nod, affirming what Vespera said, “It’s not common place anymore, but some Royalty reserve the right to give their children away.” The way he said it sounded harsh, when under normal circumstances these matches often ended up well. Unfortunately for Rei this was not a match made in heaven, as she had put it yesterday.

Yuudai paused, catching an interesting scent, his ears perked forward slightly as he investigated a little bit more. Ultimately deciding whatever it was, was harmless and didn’t require any further attention. “He followed mine and Hiromi’s scent when we left the Clan.” Again he tried to retain neutrality, but he harbored immense guilt for leading him here. For ruining her potential happiness. Even if that happiness would have been without him.

So the woman's suspicions were true, poor Reiko, Vespera couldn't think of anything good coming from something like this especially since she was mostly the type to have more emotional connections. Yuudai paused for he must have picked up something as they were talking, he went to go investigate with his nose so Vespera just glanced over him and tried to use her eyes instead. But once the man came back which basically means that it was all clear, the two could journey once again.

He continued by stating that Takeshi followed his and Hiromi's scent, by that sentence alone the Duchess could already tell that something was up with this guy and that Yuudai didn't trust him. Vespera's expression was more calculative, more in thought, her face morphing into a more serious one, "should I be on the lookout for this guy? What is he like? Is he dangerous?" If Takeshi was going to be an utter douche and become a dickwad of an Emporer, then Vespera will be having none of that.

Only this time, she wouldn't be running away.

Yuudai wasn’t often one who gossiped, and he did try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. But, Takeshi wasn’t everyone. Her tone had taken on a serious edge, and Yuudai could see even more the loyalty toward Reiko, even if Vespera wouldn’t admit it. Yuudai nodded, “Takeshi is… well he’s Takeshi. He’s been obsessed with Reiko from the very beginning, and the betrothal only escalated his infatuation.” Yuu shook his head in annoyance, “And I know his eyes have wandered, he won’t be satisfied with just Reiko. I know he’s made advances on Hiromi.”

Yuudai pulled ahead a little, the ridge coming up quickly. “I can’t tell you what to do and what not to do Vespera. You’ll have to grow into your new role as Duchess, and make the decision for yourself, Reiko obviously trusts you.” She wouldn’t have been ranked so high if the Empress wasn’t impressed with her new warrior. “But Takeshi is a strong fighter in his own right.” Yuudai couldn’t help the slight wince at the phantom pain from an injury dealt by his rival.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Reiko and Hiromi happy.” With a dangerous glint in his eye, Yuudai turned back to Vespera, emphasizing his point. There were no limits on what he would do to keep those two women safe and happy.

Vespera kept her eyes on Yuudai as the samurai wolf explained to her what type of man this Takeshi was, and the way he spoke of Takeshi made it seem that he wasn't a very pleasant man to be around. But if this man was to become the Emporer along with sweet Reiko and be an absolute dick, she would not stand for it, she would not run away anymore, she would have to take matters into her own paws. Yuudai explained that Takeshi also had his eyes set on Hiromi, "Jesus..." She gave a disgusted look to the white warrior, this man was a playboy, and she wasn't fond of playboys.

The pair continued along the ridge, and as they walked, Yuudai said that he couldn't tell Vespera what to do, Reiko trusts her enough to give her the role of Duchess. Those words fell heavy on the cloaked woman, she moved her head away from Yuudai and looked at the horizon, for now, she feels that she has a responsibility, a duty to protect her packmates and the Empress from any looming threats.

Because she won't have a repeat of Easthollow.

The Reneian woman turned back to Yuudai, a new determined fire in her eyes as he spoke about his duty to keep Reiko and Hiromi safe, "well, you can count on me," she nodded to him with a confident smile.

Her smile was infectious, and slowly the scowl that had rested on his brow slipped away. Returning her smile with one of his own. “Thank you Vespera.” He wasn’t sure which was the wind was blowing, but he had a feeling he might need all the help he could get. He dipped her head too for good measure, before continuing on their patrol.