Northstar Vale staunen

he had gone to mereo to find the canyon deserted, for weeks it seemed.
after a cursory look, noting that paleo would have to surrender none of its poppies this year, mahler trudged the scarlet pathways up toward the vale.
now, he had not been here before. he knew the place by name only.
its gemlike beauty expanded before him, and he exhaled a low and impressed breath before calling out to anyone who might be close, a trader come to see the place where his son's brother resided.

Reyson still wasn't sure where he stood, but he could do this. He recognized the call and went towards it. A small smile on his face, even if he was uneasy in Epoch.

Hello Mahler. he called out and waved his tail in greeting. He hadn't realized how upset he'd been until he saw a friendly face. He felt at war in a place meant to bring him peace. And it caused a deep shuddering that he didn't outward show.

"reyson," the gargoyle rumbled, offering a single lash of his tail. "this is vhere you settled after mereo, then?" 
he gestured back the way he had come. "the canyon is empty." and he suspected this man knew all of it, though he would not pry or press. "in their absence, i had come to establish trade vith epoch."

It was with Dread that the veteran realized he would need to call @Arsenio or @Tamar, though he was certain the other male would answer. Though @Maxim could also come speak with him, as he was leader in his own right now.

Reyson shook his head. I settled before Mereo ended. I came here for a healer named Meadow.

Reyson sighed. Yes there was quite an upset....recently I don't know all the details. Germanicus made some poor choices as did others, and he dispersed from the canyon and the rest of the soldiers all left. Towhee and Maxim are here now as well. I don't know if you have ever met them?

And it was mostly true. The sundering of his own relationship with Meadow because of Germanicus was not the reason for the canyon's demise there was more to it, but he didn't know what it was. Nor had he asked. He didn't want to know. He didn't even want to ever see the leader again, though he probably would someday. But not today.

"yes. he came to see me and brought vith him a former soldier." mahler did not elaborate, only nodded his greying head as if to assure the younger fighter that he did not need more details.
"i cannot say that i have heard these names. vill you tell me about them?" mahler inquired, wishing to glean more before he made paleo's offer to epoch.

Reyson nodded. They were below Germanicus in rank. Towhee was with him for years. She was hurt from lynx and also didn't want to do a tour in Akashingo. So she came here to retire. Maxim would have had a longer career except he left with his mate, who is Towhee. Which I don't blame him for.

Reyson frowned in thought. Towhee is deaf, but strong of spirit and mind. Maxim is young and kind. Though it is not a weakness but a strength.

reyson gave a solid report. mahler did not think he had heard of akashingo before, and so he was not sure of mereo's relation to them.
this story solidified what he assumed of epoch's tightly-knit nature. "vell. paleo has a supply of poppyflowers, and i have a lifetime of healing knowledge, both of vich i vould trade for help vith hunting and training my sons as varriors."

Reyson smiled. I believe i met one of your sons, Anselm? I found him out in the wilds and escorted him home. He's a good boy. I'd gladly help you train them as long as my leaders are okay with it. I'll call @Arsenio for you.

He lifted a questioning howl for a moment. he no longer had the luxury of being able to make decisions for the pack. He was not a commander here, only a lowly peon, and he wasn't well liked as it were anyway. But Mahler needn't know that.

"anselm!" there was affection in mahler's tone. 
he dipped his head as reyson called, and would remain so until the leader joined them. "perhaps that can be part of our trade. i vould like you to visit more often."

You have been busy on the borders, Reyson, Arsenio offered as he padded toward the two waiting men.

It was a small comfort knowing that the capable figure was watching over the edges of their claim. Even with the disagreements they had shared, the Arche was not blind to the hard work that Reyson had performed. Arsenio wished that it had not come at the cost of his firstborn son.

Who is this? A nod was thrown toward Mahler. The redstone wolf waved his tail in greeting, but his eyes were digging and curious. The smile that lingered on the edges of his lips offered for the man to speak up, to introduce himself.

The words were meant in Compliment, Reyson knew this and yet it felt like a dig. And he felt it burrow deep within his chest and cling like the briar bushes that would curl in his fur. And what followed on the heels of such a feeling, both frightened and surprised him.

Reyson blinked and felt a simmering anger there. He had been on the borders before Antigone too, but did the Arche notice that? Of course he didn't. His complacency was slowly turning into a burning anger, because this was unfair. He had done nothing wrong and the Arche would continue to say shit like he just had.

This is Mahler. He is from Paleo. He is a healer. He wishes to broker a trade with Epoch.

Reyson offered Mahler a kind smile. And then shifted and moved away from the two men to allow them time to speak. He was within earshot of course, but he realized he didn't want to be near the leader right now. He needed to distance himself before he said something.

a moment of tension felt by the man who regarded the two epochians. he greeted arsenio with a nod, dipping his greying head.
"you have a boy here named nanuq. his brother, siku, is in my care. raised alongside my own sons as vone."
it was a binding tie. "vhen mereo lived, i traded poppyflower vith them all through late spring to late fall. i vould offer the same to you, arsenio. that and my own teachings."

The words were spoken. Promises bonded and it was all gone quickly. Reyson promised to stop by soon to help Mahler with training. And he imagined it would give him a nice break from the tension here too.