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I rambled a bit. :C SORRY. Forst two paragraphs can be skipped; Myrika is just wandering around the borders like a cool kid. <3

Myrika had picked up the scout's duties since joining Inferni-- how easy a job it was, too! She liked being able to ride Eira around the territory's perimeter, and hardly considered it duty at all. To think, some considered it a job, looping around their perimeter. The blue roan horse moved steadily below her, hooves softly clopping into the dirty. Inferni's territory seemed muddy, sunken into the earth -- it made for decent horse trail, however. She much preferred it to picking through the mountains or along the stony coast.

The russet coyote's head was blessedly empty, free of worry or care. Myrika often got into such a mood while riding her horse; it was easy to allow one's head to slip away into nothingness while on Eira's back. The roan horse moved herself, already well-aware of the path they would take around the coyote clan's borders. Start on one side of the beach, finish on the other -- it was simple, and it only took the better part of three hours on horseback.

Fall was quickly giving way to winter, and Myrika thought they might see snow soon. The mornings had been well-frosted, the earth itself seemingly coated in a cover of crystal. Soon, perhaps they would wake up to a world blanketed in white. Myri looked forward to the spring and summer beyond, her favored seasons. There was nothing wrong with winter, exactly -- it was just that spring and summer were nicer, in her estimation.

The woman's nose twitched, and she scented a stranger. Myri pulled the horse to a slower pace, not altogether stopping the blue roan, but slowing her considerably. Her head tilted back into the light breeze, and the coyote adjusted her trail, heading toward the origin of the scent. On her way, a call drew her closer, letting her know she walked the right path toward this newcomer.

Myri had never greeted anyone before -- she had, herself, been greeted and accepted to the pack by Talitha, however, and so she knew the basics of what was to be done. In the distance ahead, she saw a dark canine: her fur was black as shadow, her eyes red-gold like fire. There was another kiss of flame, licking along her mane and at the very end of her tail. Myrika marveled at such a coloration before realizing there were roots showing -- it was dye. Still, it was something to marvel at, natural or faked.

In addition to the fiery color, the rust-hued woman saw all manner of other decor about the dark wolf: piercings and scars, tattoos and feathers. There was even a weapon hanging haphazardly at her side. Myrika nodded, and offered a smile, her cerulean-hued eyes twinkling with merriment. Hi there, she offered, swinging one leg over Eira, toward the newcomer. The Praeses slid down from the equine's back and dusted her hands off on her thighs, though there was no dust clinging to them. Looking for someone, or something? she asked, wondering if this was a visitor from one of those far-south packs. She was not experienced enough in the ways of border patrol to view everyone as a potential recruit or a potential threat, and perhaps she was being just a touch too nice for a scout of Inferni.

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YUS. Inferni's stables actually have a list of communal horses your character can use as a regular member. There's only the one mare right now, but she can be used by anyone. C: And sorry for the delay, I ended up having to take a magical trip into snowland. o____o

Her hands dangled loosely at her sides, and Myrika seemingly needed somewhere to put them; at first, she crossed her arms, but found this uncomfortable. Next, she placed each of them on one hip. This, too, proved uncomfortable, and so she dropped them to her sides once more, figuring they would find their own way to comfort, if one could be had. Eira stood behind her and began moseying around, her dark head tilted toward the ground to crop at the yellowing grass. It would be winter soon, and there would be no more grazing for the horses.

Myrika watched the newcomer curiously; she seemed to be giving Myri an air of respect. Those flame-colored eyes seemed fixated on the dirt; Myrika found this curious, never having commanded any sort of respect before in her life. The rusty canine was not the type to take advantage, however, and so she demanded no more and no less submission from this canine, finding it almost strangely awkward. Well, I sure can't say if you can join up with us here -- I don't have that kind of authority, she explained, shaking her head and still smiling brightly. Ezekiel or Sage would have to come by here and let you into Inferni, but if I can get some information out of you and maybe explain what Inferni's all about, it would make things go smoother. She rolled her shoulders in a shrug that became something of a stretch, and then clapped her hands together in front of her, the sound soft.

Almost forgot to introduce myself, she said, laughing and again shaking her head. Myrika Tears, she offered, her smile now growing more broad. Who are you? And -- I think I'm supposed to ask you this, anyway -- what can you do? she inquired, now her smile growing fainter, her presentation more business-like. The rust-hued canine was not entirely certain just how this was supposed to play out, but she hoped she was doing a decent job of it.

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Snowland was totally New Jersey last night. XD Hope you had a fun night even if it was confusing! o:

Myrika was a big fan of horses. She hadn't quite been raised around them, but Kharma had gotten them all horses when she was still young, and Eira was her first -- and only -- horse. She had never viewed them as prey animals, and actually found the idea abhorrent. How could one eat a horse? She knew it was probably a behavior other Luperci engaged in daily, but somehow, she didn't think the way this stranger gazed at Eira was a hungry sort of gaze. It seemed more appreciative, and a little part of Myrika beamed inwardly.

The russet woman nodded at the other woman's introduction, a small smile blossoming on her tawny muzzle. Nice to meet you, she mumured, bobbing her head up and down as she spoke. She herself didn't have a short name everyone referred to her by -- Myri was as close as it got, and not a lot of people called her that. The hybrid woman listened intently as the other woman spoke about her talents, nodding. The Praeses hadn't needed to answer those questions, but maybe Inferni gave privileges to Lykois. Myrika didn't think that was right, but she had to do her job, whether she agreed with it or not.

It sounds like you'd make a useful member, I do think, the coyote mused. I don't think you'll have a problem with temper -- I'm told there are a few hot-headed members here, though I've yet to meet any for myself, she added. There were supposedly canines in Inferni with a wicked sort of temperament within this very clan, but Myrika had yet to meet any of them. Alrighty. You're a coyote... right? she asked, squinting toward the other woman. Myrika wasn't very good with telling one species from another, but Nyx could have passed as a dark coyote to her. It was important to make sure she was.

Inferni's a coyote clan, you see... not wolves. They -- we -- don't let wolves in here, she said, gazing toward the stranger to gauge her reaction to this statement. She thought it would be an important piece of information for the newcomer to have; after all, if she was looking to live with wolves, she wouldn't find such a thing here.

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I've edited "leader needed" into your topic title so they knows to come around. C: I hope your manfriend is okay, though. >_o Infections are never pleasant business...

Myrika's warm grin returned in full force at Nyx's question, her cerulean eyes dancing with amusement as she shook her head. She would not laugh at this newcomer, fearing it might make her feel unwelcome, but she could not help her amusement. To ban all hybrid blood here was to spit in the face of all its history, Myrika thought. She was hardly an expert, but she had discussed this clan's origins and its turbulent beginnings with the most knowledgeable source: the old woman who had grown so with Inferni.

No, of course not. Hybrids are allowed here, so long as they have coyote heritage to speak of, Myrika said, nodding. There was probably some cut-off point -- it would be silly to allow a wolf with a coyote ancestor ten generations ago into Inferni, though Myri didn't know how someone would be aware of ten generations of their own history: in her estimation, Luperci had only been around a few decades at best. Anything prior to the advent of shifting and the Optime form, anything before writing, really, was unsubstantiated at best.

I don't know what a jackal is, but I'm sure it's fine. You're coyote enough, I'd guess. I'm a hybrid, myself, and so are both leaders of the clan, she said, thinking on it. In fact, I don't rightly know if we have any pure coyotes, she added, one shoulder lifting in a brief, small shrug. It was of no consequence to her: Myrika didn't hate wolves. She was partly one, after all. She wouldn't have required any percentage of coyote heritage in order to join the clan, but Myrika was, after all, simply a scout; she was far from the Legatus rank and further still from Aquila.

I think that'll about do it, the rusty-hued woman said, satisfied with this knowledge. I'll call for a leader. One of them will show up and say whether you can join, I guess. The hybrid took a few short steps away from Nyx and lifted her head to call for Ezekiel or Sage. Her cry was distinctly coyote -- high in pitch and short, it ended in something almost like a bark. Eira snorted her apparent amusement at Myrika's noise, but merely swished her tail and continued to graze. She was too used to Luperci activity to be startled by it.

The business end of their transaction complete, Myri turned back toward the newcomer, smiling. I think you'll be fine, she reassured, though in truth the coyote had little idea of what the Legatus looked for in newcomers. This was, after all, her first turn at the borders. Perhaps she should have discussed scout's duties with the old woman; surely that would be more handy than old, long-buried history. Did you come a long way from wherever it is you're from? she inquired, politely enough -- the inquiry regarded the journey, though it was framed with an opening for the dark coyote to speak of her past, if she so wished; if not, that was fine, too. Myrika didn't go around telling everyone about little old Thornloe, after all -- no one wanted to listen to tales of childhood awkwardness in a sleepy little village.

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The rust-hued woman was content to wait for Sage or Ezekiel. She wondered which would show up. Both were her cousins, or so she thought: the tawny-hued coyote wasn't quite sure what to make of all these familial relationships, and just how she tied into it all. Maybe someday she would feel like they were really one big happy family, but for right now, the tawny hybrid was, most certainly, left on the outside.

It was not too long at all before Sage and her horse, a big cream-colored thing that seemed to dwarf the smaller blue roan mare. Eira was unperturbed by the stallion's presence; she preferred Viggo, it seemed, but she was generally even-tempered where it came to other equines. The roan horse lifted her nose and inhaled the other horse's scent, taking a few cautious steps toward Lennon. Hi, Sage, Myri responded, falling silent to allow the pair to get to know one another. Her cerulean eyes bounced from Sage to Nyx as one then the other spoke, and Myrika figured she could put in now, after all.

She says she's good with a blade, and she knows how to tattoo and pierece. She's quick, too, with good reflexes -- though I didn't test her on any of that, of course, the Praeses said, grinning broadly. Her rusty tail swished slowly back and forth in amusement, and she nodded. That's about it. I think she'd make a good Inferni member, but it isn't my place to say, the hybrid said, smiling reassuringly at Nyx. Sage was probably the more easy-going of the Legatus ranks; Myri didn't know Ezekiel well at all yet, and she was rather intimidated by him. She might not have spoken at all if their golden-hued Aquila had been the one to come by, rather than Sage.

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No worries. o: You can PM either Bobbi or me (on my primary account, please <3) if you remember your question. c; Gonna have Myri split off after this! <3

Thanks, Sage, she said, the tip of her tail wavering in genuine appreciation. Myrika did like Sage, and she felt bad about having to watch over her during their northward excursion. The russet coyote still did not fully understand the trust Ezekiel had placed in her. Then again, perhaps he had been in a rough spot. Valky had seemed exhausted during their northward trek; still, Valkyrie shared a surname with Ezekiel, surely this made her as much family as it made Myrika? The russet coyote had contemplated this many hours, but she still had not figured it out. Perhaps she never would -- it was fun to puzzle over, in any case.

Myrika, too, had contemplated more earrings -- bigger earrings, flashier earrings, dying and cropping her mane in odd ways, and all other manner of distracting other canines from her tall frame, too skinny and too gangly. Myrika no longer possessed the gangly awkwardness of a teenager, but she certainly had the self-deprecation. She feared drawing too much attention to her large ears and small snout, however, and remained quiet, only nodding a brief approval to no one in particular.

I think I'll keep checking out the border, she said, heading toward Eira. Nice meeting you, Nyx. Nice seeing you, Sage, she called. The hybrid pulled herself into Eira's saddle, and the horse began to move almost at once, though Myrika shot a few glances backwards toward the quickly disappearing pair. She thought and hoped that she had done a good job of her duty. She was a scout, after all -- Sage hadn't said anything negative, and Nyx had seemed comfortable throughout most of the process. Myri contemplated these things as she rode along, allowing the horse to pick her own way about the border, correcting her only when they drifted far off course.