Dragoncrest Cliffs it is my intention

while his wandering had been idle, it appears that others were not; though the heavy scents of the pack whose borders he kept a respectful distance from are deep. rich. like the scents that clung to the earth of maeras island; established long ago.

he drinks the scents in with a flare of black, leathery nostrils finding nothing familiar within them — though this was expectant. the island wolves were seafarers by nature but they were, for the most part, surprisingly rooted.

still, stories passed from father, from grandmother spoke of these wilds as if they were some treasure to be found; an endless bounty, golden gilded sparking the interest of any scallywag pup with the stars in their eyes.

such as rhaegal himself.

he lingers for a second long before tipping his head back and letting out a howl, announcing his presence for any that were nearby.

Rosalyn no longer had the responsibility of entertaining joiners but she still ranged the borders at times. This would become more infrequent as the weather grew colder but she took advantage of the last bit of warm spell they would have. Her hips still ached.

Her first impression was not positive. He wouldn't have been able to change this; he was a man on her borders. They would always have more to prove.

You demand an audience. She eyed him frostily with her singular gaze. Fortunately she was firmly settled in the present, but the fog that sometimes swept through crept at the edges. If he'd been anyone but a man she wouldn't have bothered - yet this she felt she could handle.

it is a woman that comes to greet him; bearing heavy scarring and a tattered ear. golden gaze takes her in, considering her a warrior, regardless of if it was true or not. well, drawls rhaegal in a smoky reticence. less of a demand 'n more of a seekin'. but aye. 'demand' was a commanding word and not one he'd dare to throw 'round so casually at the borders nor in the presence of a pack wolf.

and while it was not expressly asked of him he offers, `m rhaegal sveijarn. i come seekin' a home among `ta coast.

The first test was an easy one. His tone had not been demanding but his presence seemed as such to her. She needed to know his intentions with her family and if a space existed for him.

She had no false notions. It would be small and it would be transient; with his kind it always was.

His accent caught her. It reminded her of something she couldn't summon, but her look sharpened a bit. You know the sea. This wasn't a question either. She could tell that much, even if the memory of his speech patterns didn't bring forth any specific origin.

We have no need for more. Why should we give you harbor? And what would you want from us? Her tone wasn't warm, but so far he'd done nothing to tilt it towards unfriendly. She would protect this place in ways she guessed others might not; her children were more forgiving than she was. If she chose to chase him away before someone intervened, she would have no cause to feel remorse. Sapphique was strong as it was.

aye. rumbles rhaegal, though he suspects in the aftermath that her statement had been rhetorical.

both his youth, lack of experience and having spent his life prior to seeking a life elsewhere, had been spent exclusively on maeras island. a bad combination, perhaps, as it does not exactly lend rhaegal knowledge. she does not soften nor lead into what he's come to expect from spending time on the island's borders as his mother's apprentice.

she states bluntly they had no need of him; asking why he thought they should give him harbor and what he wanted from them. so far, it doesn't seem promising and he wonders if he's wasting his time here. he'd prefer not to waste his time, not with winter creeping in.

still, she had asked several questions.

i can fight, defend 'n patrol borders. he says, thinking of everything his mother, arrax had taught him. she had assured him it'd be enough but the shadow of doubt creeps in now when faced with his ( first ) possible rejection. being the son of the siren queen and her consort of maeras island had spoiled him.

it is only now ( rather embarrassingly ) that he notices it.

i only want a crew. a home.

This was nothing new. No one in Sapphique held the focus in violence that she and her wife shared, but all of them would spill blood to defend these shores. It was expected. If he was more practiced he could train, but he was young. She doubted his skill went deeper than that of their children.

But something in her did soften ever so slightly at the mention of crew. If family was truly all he sought then perhaps. First he needed to know the way of things.

If you are looking to claim leadership, you'll be disappointed. This is not a pack for strangers. Our family is Sapphique. She watched him dispassionately for any sign of surprise before continuing a moment later.

But you may earn the right to that family. If you truly want it.

If she vouched for him they would give him entrance. Neither Chacal nor Mireille would question her allowance, especially of a strange man, into their midst. She read nothing false within him and there was a genuine nature to his admittance. Their family had claimed men before, but had never been claimed by them.

she speaks of leadership and that if he's came to be a conqueror then he would be left wanting. though rhaegal thinks this is a strange point to capitalize upon: it's good to know all the same, and he's left to assume an important one to remember. 'm no captain. he offers placidly.

'sides, he adds in the next breath. s'a woman's place, me mam taught me.

i'd be disappointed if i wasn' made tae earn it. rhaegal speaks simply; golden gaze lowering, finding the swaying and drying grasses at her paws interesting. they weren't, not really, but he feels the weight of awaiting judgement like a sword's tip upon his crown all the same.

For a moment she wondered if he was mocking her. His answer was too conveniently perfect, a notion she had never (in remaining memory) heard repeated by any outside of their circle. Especially not the men she encountered.

The note of suspicion ignited, inspected him, and then conceded at length. If he was lying then he was good at it.

She was a smart woman. Still might be, if she lived, but Rosalyn didn't bother to clarify. She stood stiffly and gestured for him to follow.

I look forward to seeing you try. Her words were genuine and carried no deeper meaning. She wouldn't be the one to personally test him - Sapphique, and their family, would do that over time. For now she would take him to see @Mireille or @Chacal, speaking for him to whichever she met first. Her word should be enough to grant him a chance.

fine to fade with this!! Tags for ref - Rosalyn assumes he's fine to add now, but if y'all want to thread, feel free!