Tlantli is by Alaine!

Amherst was becoming more familiar to Tlantli. The flaxen-haired coyote had been traveling here as of late, scavenging for various bits and pieces for the clinic. She was no use building, and so the yellowy coyote had decided it was in her best interest to contribute by other means -- namely, scavenging. Tlantli was not exceptionally skilled on horseback, but she managed well enough with the tame buckskin horse. The gelding was easy-going and tolerated her inexperience as well as her precautionary measures -- rubbing him and herself with scented oils to mask the Salsolian scents -- with nothing short of contentment.

She had ridden him to the little town, but now that they were among the streets, the tawny coyote had dismounted and led her horse by his reins. The buckskin plodded along beside her, his spirits high as always. Occasionally, he bumped her shoulder with his nose, letting her know just how pleased he was to be around a Luperci. She found his behavior rather irritating, but did not move to stop him. The better-tempered her mount, the easier time she'd have, and she had no wish to dispel any liking Trader had accumulated for her.

The tall Victorian houses were falling apart -- some had sides with odd shingles, and the rotting remnants of these shingles decorated those unfortunate houses' overgrown lawns. Great bare patches where all the shingle-siding had fallen out drew her eye, but she paid little mind to these multi-story houses. In Halifax, they'd found the greatest bounty in a two-story, brick building. Tlantli had found more buildings of this nature, and while the purpose of some bewildered her, others had useful things inside. One must have been a post office -- though she did not know the phrase "post office" -- for it was filled with nothing but a great wasteland of shredded and decaying paper goods. Tlantli had been quick to leave that building behind.

In addition to her scouting for clinic goods, she also sought items of value. Tlantli had not yet decided how she was leaving Salsola, or even when -- it had not been so much a plan as a revelation of purpose. She belonged back in Eterne -- how the yellow-furred coyote got there or when was still to be decided. Winter needed to end first, this was certain. In the meantime, she'd simply play liege to Salsola, including scouting for goods. Since this took her to places she was likely to find items of good value, this was quite alright by Tlantli.

Tlantli is by me!

Tlantli had no preference for the horses in the Salsolian stables, but she'd decided on the placid buckskin after observing the pale horses shy away from her, backing away from the entrance to their stall. In contrast, the buckskin had extended his head out toward her and bumped her with his nose, proving he'd be the most even-tempered of the horses she'd find in Salsola. No wonder they'd relegated all these horses to general use -- they were all rotten of temper, save this one. Tlantli snorted with the thought, and Trader answered with a whinny, as if he understood her thoughts.

No, she realized, following the horse's gaze. Though Trader wasn't looking in exactly the right spot, possibly owing to his poor forward vision, Tlantli saw what had caused him to call out. The tawny coyote realized the call Trader offered was in greeting rather than alarm, and she wanted to kick the horse for being so friendly. He was well-trained and liege to his canine masters, though perhaps too friendly with strangers. There was a Luperci on the roof of one of the houses, clearly with a vantage point over her. She squared her shoulders and set her free hand on her hip, pulling Trader to a stop with the other.

What if the house falls in on you? she called out, head cocked to one side. Her carnelian gaze appraised either side of her, glancing around to see if he had any companions lurking about. It would seem not, and in any case, Tlantli was certain she could ride Trader most of the way to Salsola and well within earshot of the border before they caught her. She would run only if faced with a group, however -- single canines were not to be feared, and perhaps she could learn something from this rooftop climber, if he proved to have any friendliness whatsoever. If not? Well, her teeth had served before, and they'd serve again.

Tlantli is by me!

The male sat up, his appearance not particularly threatening. Tlantli, for her part, made no threat, but crossed her arms in a defensive position, merely looking up at him as he looked down at her. When he responded, both her ears pricked up toward him, and her bright crimson eyes followed his movement, taking a cautious, meaningless step backward. He was still too distant to pose a threat, and her muzzle split into a smile. The flaxen coyote inclined her head in greeting, speaking her own name clearly, but without her own surname, as well: he had not offered his, and she would give no more than he had. It was no shame to avoid the Kimaris name, but it disappointed her faintly nonetheless. She yearned for the day she might proclaim herself Tlantli Kimaris openly.

Tlantli, she said, nodding to him. You are quite the climber, I see, she added, still smiling faintly. I spoke wrong before, then. It was not an apology, for the tawny coyote had committed no wrongdoing worthy of apology. You are more comfortable in the air than on the ground? she pondered. This was nearly as strange as living in caves to Tlantli, but not quite so perverse. Luperci were creatures of the earth, meant to walk on it -- not above or under it. Still, there was no outright derision in her voice -- climbing and leaping as he had was at least a worthwhile skill to possess. The same could not be said of cave-dwelling -- there was no natural advantage to making one's life beneath the dirt, in the dank darkness of the caves where the sun could not reach.

Now that he was closer, she saw his conformation was exceedingly strange -- while his coloration was that of a dog, there was a slimness to his muzzle and a largeness to his ears that seemed coyote, but wrong somehow. The pale coyote likened him to Khirot more than anyone else, though she had never inquired on the tawny slave's heritage and thus did not possess the word "jackal" to describe his species. Her carnelian eyes roved over him unabashedly, finally settling on his rutilant yellow-gold eyes.

(314)

The man leaped to the earth, landing with a cat-like grace that Tlantli could appreciate. She was slim and small and athletic, certainly, but she did not have the upper body strength to allow climbing feats such as Ezequiel had just performed. The yellow-furred coyote was one built for running and speed and agility -- these things were useful in climbing, to be sure, but Tla did not think she would enjoy such behaviors. Still, she was not so close-minded as to discount the possibility entirely, and so she simply smiled at him, a little thing that showed the tips of her sharpened teeth.

The yellow-furred coyote nodded again, and earnestly -- she had already pegged some of the advantages of climbing around on things, and having a high vantage point was top among them. Yet, he'd admitted making camp -- this intrigued the coyote, and she cocked her head to the side, carnelian eyes glittering with interest. A camp? Who do you travel with? she inquired, and sweetly. It must be someone -- someones? -- special, to warrant such care in scouting.

Scavenging, yes, she admitted, and truthfully. I need to make gifts. Amends, she said, running a hand through her short brown hair, for past wrongs. This was the story she had planned to offer anyone within Salsola who happened to note her accumulation of material possessions. This is good place to find amends, I think. And no, not far from home, she said. This last was spoken with a ghost of that devilish smile. This information was offered freely, in the hopes he'd speak truth of his own camp -- Tlantli did not think it was so much a stretch to speak of Salsola's generalized location, after all. It was not as if they could keep their secrets forever, nor as if they'd chosen a particularly isolated piece of territory.

Tlantli is by Kitty!