Vasiliy is by me!

Though Vasiliy was greatly enjoying the coastal areas, the dark-furred Russian knew he ought to move inland. Some brought news of packs nearby, and Vasi intended to make sure they were aware of the Cercatori d'Arte pack's presence. He hadn't spent much time within the Tides camp, but the rowboats were swift and carried him across the waters. Landing was a little difficult -- neither coast was well-suited for boat landings. The far coast was marshy, almost swampy, and this one was rocky and foreboding. Vasi had seen some of the red rocks jutting from the ocean, and the strangeness of this shoreline fascinated him.

The inland areas were no less beautiful: untouched wilderness, they reminded him of the forests around Cercatori d'Arte. Trees and other overgrowth had retaken the old hiking trails leftover from humanity -- only the widest remained, and it was on one of these overgrowth dirt tracks Vasi made his way, humming. The pale horse, Jakki, was behind him on a lead rope, laden with a few goods. Behind her trailed two of the sheep, paired only because they were more comfortable in a group than alone. Looping carefully around the larger pack's territory, the granite-furred hybrid headed generally north, beginning to follow scent trails as they made themselves known.

Before long, he knew he must be on the border -- the scent of other wolves was thick hereabouts, covering the air. Vasi's dark ears twitched forward and he appraised this land. A mountain rose in the backdrop, one long, low peak that seemed to hover over the flat forestlands surrounding it. What a lovely place to settle, he murmured in his mother tongue. Vasi reverted to Russian quite easily when he was by his lonesome. Tilting his head back with a summons -- gentle and without demand as it was -- the dark-furred Russian called to this unknown pack, then settled back to wait and see if they'd come to trade.

Vasiliy is by me!

Vasiliy had little experience with packs other than his Cercatori d'Arte. He didn't know what to expect, but the Russian was calm, all the same. He knew nothing of the reputation of certain groups in this land, and was therefore unconcerned with the sort of reception he'd receive, assuming all was friendliness and openness to trade. He did not have to wait long before the sounds of an approach caught his dark ears. Bright blue eyes peered up and around, seeking the source of the sound, and in the distance he saw a figure moving toward him, two-legged and tall. She appeared to be colored as the trunks of trees at first, but as she drew nearer, Vasiliy saw her coat was far more golden than it was brown, streaked with rust and russet in places, as well.

She spoke a greeting and then a mouthful of titles that Vasi could barely comprehend. He grinned broadly all the same, assuming it had something to do with her rank and the place he'd come to trade. Vasiliy Russo, good lady friend, he said, introducing himself in a voice thick and growly with the accent of the motherland. I am Cercatori d'Arte wolf, come north with ship to trade. I walk here from camp, back that way, he said, gesturing with a dark hand in the general direction of the place where his pack made camp.

This pack, he started, thinking on the string of titles and locations she'd given him previously. Nomads of Sangi'lak. You trade? Have horse, have sheep, have many other goods, he said, patting Jakki on the neck. The mare whickered her approval and lifted her head upward, arching her neck as she did so. Vasi grinned, not having planned for the mare to show off, but happy she'd done so all the same.

Vasiliy is by Raze!

Vasiliy was unaware of his pack's history and interactions with other areas. He hadn't had the chance to ask anyone about it: most of those he'd met seemed nearly new as he himself was. Dalgina was too young to have seen much, and Eclipse had confessed to him she was also a newcomer. But it was good to hear the woman speak of the d'Arte pack as friendly and having good trade. He grinned broadly and swished his tail, proud for something he hadn't even helped with. Nevertheless, it was something his pack had done, and community was important to the dark male.

I am happy you hear of us, he said, breathing inward of the pines and deep, earthy forest scents. They were beneath the wolf-scents, to be sure, but plainly, the air smelled more of pine and tree than it did wolf. Vasi couldn't have known the newness and size of Sangi'lak, of course, and he was surprised by the strength of the forest scent. The woman's smile and invitation was met with a grin of his own, and Vasi bobbed his head downward respectfully. He thought it was quite a big deal to be invited over the borders, and a tremble went through him, ending in a shivering wag of his tail. Thank you, he declared. Is great honor to have invite to pack, he burbled happily, stepping forward.

His inventory was memorized, for he hadn't brought a great amount of stuff -- the horse could carry only so much and there might be other traders at the camp even now. Paper, mine pack makes from garlic, he explained. Plants -- poppy seeds, some berries, cannabis. A few torches, and I bring jewelery, too. A paltry bit of what they had in the camp, and still less than the stores of the pack. If nothing you like, there is more. Much more, he said, spreading his arms and accidentally pulling Jakki's lead rope taut. The horse snorted her displeasure and Vasi let the rope slacken immediately, tossing an apologetic glance toward the mare. Sorry, missus, he murmured toward the mare.

Vasiliy is by Raze!

Vasi had sorely wished he had more skills to offer his pack on more than one occasion. He was not a creator or artist by any means; instead, his hands were made for laboring projects. Perhaps his personality suited him for this task, as well -- the thought hadn't yet occurred to Vasi, who had picked the mercantile tier for lack of any other discernible skills. If he could make nothing of use to his pack, at least he might be able to trade the wares made by fellow d'Arte members. It was therefore a happy accident -- and little else -- that had given him over to a job well-suited to his skills.

Aye, back in camp. There are eggs, and chickens both, he said, sorrowful that he hadn't brought either of these things along. The eggs would break too easily, however, and the chickens were ill-suited to travel. He might have affixed them to Jakki's back as the stranger with pretty eyes and oils to trade had done, but this had all seemed a big amount of effort without guaranteed payoff to Vasi. Now, he lamented his laziness and could only apologize. I am sorry, I did not bring chickens or eggs. Eggs break, chickens squawk and peck horse.

But sheep -- ah, they make things, yes. Not eggs, they have living baby called lamb. He knew little about the reproductive capabilities of the sheep, but he knew their products. Their coat -- you cut off, it grows back. Does not hurt sheep. This coat called "wool" when cut off, and this wool can be used for many thing. Fabric -- felt -- and... ah, I do not know word. Like thick string, he said, trying to figure out what to call "yarn" without the word for it. It is no thing to go to camp and come back here, he added, smiling. If need chicken, I go get chicken.

Vasiliy is by me!

Aye, the Russian agreed, happily enough. He was eager to see what this pack held for trade, though he did not prompt her regarding their goods. To do so was rude in Vasiliy's eyes -- all in good time! He was a creature of patience and optimism, and quite capable of waiting. Besides, he liked this forest quite a lot -- before long, the cool, fresh scent of water came to his nose, and he sniffed deeply, enjoying the complement this paid to the deep, piney scent of their forests.

His dark ears pricked upward as she inquired after other animals that made things. The dusky-hued wolf thought on that a moment, and frowned. There were cows and goats back in their packland, but he hadn't seen nearly as many cows and goats as there were sheep, horses, and even chickens. That was part of the reason why there were none in their camps. But -- perhaps he could still be of use to this X'yrin. Her question was vague -- perhaps she did not know what animals could be used for production. If so, Vasiliy could give her a start on that.

Your packland -- lovely, he declared. Though the steely hybrid did not believe he'd made any mistakes in picking Cercatori d'Arte as his home, part of him did envy this Sangi'lak and its forests. I think if Sangi'lak want livestock, you raise strong here, he said. But -- I am sorry to say, we bring no other animals that make things. In home Cercatori lands, have cows and goats, but not many. Maybe not for trade, he added, apologetically.

But I tell you what animals want, maybe. Cow make milk, and goat make milk, make hides, make thing from hoof and horn. These kinds of animals you are want? Maybe, too -- pig. Pig not make much, other than brushes from hair, but have good meat. Maybe find goose? Also make egg, and feathers very useful. He gave a thoughtful pause, tilting his head as he considered.

Ah, ah, ah! he said, suddenly. Maybe duck? Also make egg. Another pause. Other animal... do, not make. Like bird -- ah, pigeon, I think? Over sea, where Vasiliy is from, pigeon carry message over distance. Faster than Luperci, sometimes. Make egg, of course, is bird, but very small. Many eggs to fill belly, he declared. And -- all these things, I think you get in Freetown. Is far south, you have never been? Many go there. Always animals for trade -- if Cercatori does not have, you go there, too, and have animal, he said, grinning. Thereafter, the dusky-furred hybrid looked to her hopefully, wondering if he'd provided a good start for her.

Vasiliy is by me!

The granite-furred wolf was eager to listen to the woman's wares, but he nodded, curious at the idea of raising birds for such purposes. He had seen a falconer or two in the port towns, of course, but he'd never put two and two together. I did not know bird-talk and wolf-talk could be same, he said, shaking his head. Few in Sobirat'sya bothered with low speech, and it wasn't something he'd investigated heavily -- being that he'd never heard of it before now. AniWaya close to Cercatori, he observed, thinking on this. He had never been to the southerly pack before -- perhaps they would be good traders, too.

He was hopeful that the Sangi'lak canines would have something worthwhile, and as he listened to X'yrin describe the things, he nodded, ever more excited. Antlers and bones could be used in many art projects, along with either of the stones. Hides and furs were useful to Cercatori, as well -- though there were moose and elk in the southerly forests, the dark-furred wolf did not think his pack kept a store on hand. All things are good sound, he declared. Sheep is what want? Two? he asked, cocking his head. The wolf would be glad to offload the livestock -- they would be worth good trade value, and he would return to his pack with a bounty of raw materials.

But is big cost for sheep, for these things. Not unfair, I think, but big all same, he said, shrugging and smiling. It was a perfectly innocent smile, for Vasiliy was not interested in disadvantaging others for his own gain or the gain of his group.

Vasiliy is by Raze!

While there were many elk in the southern forests, moose were creatures less frequently seen. The smoky-furred hybrid had never seen one of the massive creatures in the southerly forests, in fact -- though he didn't consider that he'd only been there a short while. Cougar and bear pelts, too, were notoriously difficult to obtain -- as valuable as tiger pelts in his motherland, for tigers were capable of killing an unarmed Luperci with ease. While a pack of wolves might threaten one of the massive felines, alone, it was a gamble of a fight. The same could be said of the cougar wildcats -- ferocious and silent when sneaking up on a Luperci -- and the bears -- massive and formidable opponents. Both yielded thick pelts, as well -- certainly enough to make up for whatever loss of wool they suffered with the departure of these sheep.

Aye, he declared. I am hope pelts are good -- no holes? While bear and cougar pelts were large enough to use in sections even with a gaping hole in the center of the pelt, furs were more useful and more valuable in their whole form. Maybe give some small stone, too. Mine pack like make things -- so happy when see these stones, I think, he said, thinking of Dalgina -- perhaps she'd like to carve stone as well as wood. If not her, there were surely others within Cercatori who would find pretty, carving-friendly stones to their tastes.

Vasiliy is by me!

Vasiliy was eager to bring home these items to his packmates. He was sure they would be well-received -- pelts, stones, and antlers? All these raw materials could be put to use, he was sure of it. Though the granite-furred wolf himself was not capable of making useful or beautiful things from these items, surely those within his pack were capable. When the Issor spoke of his choice of rocks, the Russian nearly balked. Vasiliy choosing stones? It would never do -- he wouldn't know what to look for. His eyes weren't meant for such things. But -- he was Cercatori's only representative in this foreign place, and he could not allow silly anxieties to interfere with his duties. He'd come here to trade, and trade he would.

Wonderful, he declared, the largest word he knew for "good." Thank you, he added, grinning as he stepped forward. This mountain seemed to stand taller than the spiny ridge to the east. He wondered what the its innards would look like -- would they sparkle and shine? He had seen rocks before that appeared to be just regular rocks until broken open. Perhaps he'd find these sorts of rocks in the mountain. He might be able to play a joke on his fellow packmates -- he'd return with gray, ugly rocks and tell everyone how proud he was of a trade well done. Perhaps he could even extend the joke with a story about how such rocks were beyond value in his motherland.