Word Count :: --- :: Assumed Chapel was in Lupus form?

Her body was slumped over the neck of her mottled steed as he grazed. In all honesty, it a appeared as though she might fall of at the slightest breeze. The sound had roused her from a dream-like state, and she rose slowly, realizing quickly upon waking how dangerous it really could have been. Shaking herself awake, she rubbed her eyes and peered groggily, half-lidded around her; but the pretty call had come from farther away. Intrigued, she chose to follow it; a presence had been their request, after all.

Rising to drape her legs across Lennon's wide back, she was off quickly with a few chirps to her steed in Low speech. Ruby-painted nose was pointed and following the strengthening scent; it was foreign, and she was wary. Not many foreigners came to their borders. Large ears flew back against her skull as she lowered her body, increasing the speed of her mount. Soon, those familiar piked borders were in sight, and golden eyes narrowed as she glanced about. With haste she located the figure; four legged and small, silhouetted as the sun shone behind the stranger. Certainly there was little threat in a creature with a build like hers, and so she neared, still staying several feet away, still remaining inside.

A hand rose over her eyes to shield the mid-day rays, and she called out cheerily. "Hello over there, can I help you?" She couldn't see very well in the awkward lighting, and so she remained cautious until the coyote spoke.

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When the stranger flinched and backed away at her approach, Sage took the cue to dismount. With a pat, she chirped a few words of Low speech to her companion, asking him to stay close. Then, bright golden eyes turned back to the new company quite near Inferni's borders. Taking several slow steps forward, she eyed the small coyote, who spoke up now.

Sage blinked slowly in response, the strong herb she had smoked earlier now hitting her in another dazing wave. What did she say? I think she wants to join, she thought to herself, eyes narrowing. "All right, then; you may inquire," she offered with a brief chuckle, before clearing her throat and resuming with a more serious tone. "Who might you be, to know of us? Where'd you come from?" Curious, indeed that she might know their name before she even arrived; and with a scent so foreign to the familiar local blend. Hmm, she thought, but did not linger on it.The Optio paused to fold her arms so that her head might rest on her balled fist, considering the strange canine. "And tell me what you can do, please, miss? she purred finally in smooth tones.

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The coyote was being unreasonably vague, and when she refused to announce the details of Sage's question, the Optio became increasingly wary. What would she do, if the woman named Chapel would not provide enough information? Should she turn her away, and risk getting attacked by an unknown coyote? The girl had seemed slight and lean enough that she wouldn't try anything stupid, but Sage couldn't be sure. And with all these unclear responses, she needed to know more.

Word Count :: 327 :: I wanted to get this done quickly, so I hope this is okay with you?

There were many things that seemed to often pass for "good marks" in the border acceptance interviews. Often, only a few named skills would grant one access to every bit of their land. She was good at hunting, huh? Unfortunately, she would need more than that for the Optio to allow her passage. Eyebrows raised and golden eyes lilted, staring at the woman, expecting more, but there was none. Well, wasn't that great, only nearly every canine in the land was good at hunting. Sage sighed and tried hard not to roll her eyes as she watched the woman's body slump noticeably, as if disappointed in herself. Well, maybe now she'd give a better answer, Sage thought.

Chapel changed her response. This one sounded more convincing, believable. So the russet woman on two legs could follow orders; certainly an admirable trait, she supposed, in any prospective clanswoman. After all, Sage knew the kinds of canines that her family wanted to be surrounded by, and she didn't get along with many of them. "Well, all right," she began brightly, "will you follow me, then?" Sage half-turned to move back towards her steed, inviting the slight woman to cross their unwelcoming border for now. Amber eyes remained locked on the strange woman as she moved, still oddly wary; she did not want to turn her back on this one.

With a few words in Low speech, Lennon was by her side, the large stallion towering over the small Chapel; his head even rose higher than Sage's as she stood on the ground. Though she was always glad for his presence, today Lennon's company was even more valuable to the tanned girl.

"I'll take you to the Aquila," she said quickly, gentle hands stroking her stallion's face. When the odd company was ready, Sage mounted her steed without tack and started him moving in a slow walk. If Chapel would keep up, she would need to move fairly slowly.

Word Count :: --- :: This post is shooort~

As the silence began to grow strong, Sage took an herbal joint from the stash in her purse, putting the end between her lips and lighting it. The tan girl puffed lazily, attention waning, though golden eyes never drifted too far from her odd company. In effort to amuse herself, she blew small rings of smoke into the air.

The steady rocking of Lennon's body as she sat atop it was nearly enough to put her to sleep when combined with the pleasant weather. Her eyes began to lilt, and she yawned, shaking herself awake as the four-legged woman spoke a question in a friendly tone. The Optio's head turned to face Chapel's in consideration of her words. Massacre, she thought, furrowing her brows. Hadn't she heard that name before? Her face contorted cutely in thought; yes, she did remember Talitha mentioning that name. Sage's red-headed cousin had Massacre blood in her veins. But that was all she knew.

"I have heard it mentioned, yes," she responded airily, vaguely, her head turning briefly to watch their path. "Why do you ask?" How did she know of it? Not curious enough to interrogate yet, Sage focused now on guiding Lennon over a large rotted tree stump.

Word Count :: --- :: Mind if we finish this up? You can post once more if you like. :]

Was the woman being purposefully vague? Sage couldn't be sure, but she was wary and felt uneasy nonetheless. There were few outside of Inferni that had ties to the clan without being their enemies, and Sage found her golden eyes staring seemingly lazily at the four-legged coyote keeping pace beside her. The response she had given was simple, and under normal circumstances the Optio may have taken it as sufficient; but as it was, this woman had already roused suspicion in the earth-colored girl.

"I see..." she managed simply, soft tones unable to carry far in the expansive forest. Her mind reeled, trying to think of who else she might know that carried that name. She could not name any, and so with a slightly furrowed brow she took another long drag from the herbal cigarette, averting her eyes and focusing on their path. They were close, now, and Sage would soon relinquish her new company to the appraisal of the Aquila. Silently, she wondered what Zeke might think; but perhaps for now she should keep her concerns unvoiced. Many in this clan were strangely secretive, and it was not uncommon for Sage to feel that familiar sense of unease. Still, though, something was off.

Tucking those thoughts away, she gave Lennon a light kick to quicken their pace and close the last half mile or so. "We're almost there," she encouraged, understanding that the coyote woman may have travelled far already. Realizing she may as well alert him, the Optio raised her mouth to the cool air and yipped a call to their leader.