The horse hadn't managed to get far, thankfully. Amy caught up to it and changed back into optime form, tail swishing behind her. The pup was tucked inside, and Amy pulled up to return to her position of guiding the horse. The horse didn't argue, a little depressed that it didn't have time away from the source of it's constant fright, but at least bears wouldn't try to eat it now. Amy stopped the wagon once she reached a stream, choosing to wash off the strong spice scent on her body.
With her scent clean Amy returned to the wagon, head clear to pick up other scents. The smell of a pack reached her, rather surprising the dog. There weren't any packs here that she knew of. Pausing Amy mentally checked where she was. She hadn't managed to get turned around. There was definitely something new there. Amy moved the wagon towards the source, finding a fresh scented border, still sparkling new. A new pack had formed. Grinning Amy lifted her head, a short booming howl coming out. It was best to greet them, make sure they understood who she was and what she could give them.
Saul had left a few hours prior, after notifying the pack of his intentions and approximate time of return. The rest of the pack were meticulously caught up in restoring their own little dwellings; even the puppies were doing their very best to help out. Temeraire had taken it upon himself to surprise his father and clean the house thoroughly after seeing Lilin do it for some time. Timidly, for the first time in weeks, he'd struck up a conversation with the Soulstorm heir; questioning her methods and consequently asking if he too could have some desinfectant. Lilin had obliged, dabbing a piece of cloth with some vodka and showing him the basic scrubbing technique. He caught on rapidly, eager to finish the task at hand before his father's return. The boy had wasted no time getting started and Lilin had merely watched for a while, visibly impressed with his initiative.
Their time together was short-lived, however. A beckoning call belonging to no female she knew echoed through the valley, strong and nowhere as meek and distressed as Eydiss' had been the night before. Already they were getting visitors. ''Just make sure you leave the door open or you'll get woozy, Teme,'' she warned before exiting Saul's earthen house, her pace instinctively quickening as she made her way toward the same general area where they'd greeted their newest relative. She took longer than her co-leader would have, understanding his way of thinking well enough by now to know he would have shifted down to his smaller, simplest form in order to cut down on the time spent getting there. Albeit slower, her arrival was timely and polite.
Her own song erupted from her maw when she reared around the bend; not intended for the stranger but for her family. She could handle the borders and they were welcome to meet her, as long as one of them kept a watchful eye over Temeraire in Saul's absence. A hand pushed the foliage of a silver birch aside, revealing a blonde canine and her caravan. She hadn't seen any of those since the winter festival. Visibly perplexed, Lilin approached a little closer before halting at a cautious distance. ''You called?''
She was patient, even if curiosity was eating her up. A brand new pack had formed, seemingly overnight for the traveler. Perhaps if she'd wandered over closer she might have noticed the flurry of activity that went into making a pack. Amy hadn't though, traveling through the south, and then taking her time resting up in Anathema before heading out again. The reply was very polite and elegant, immediately giving her the impression that this would be a pack worth getting involved with.
A dark female stepped out, dressed elegantly. Amy's opinion of the new place shot through the sky. This was definitely an amazing pack. Very cutting edge in civilization. Perhaps the most civilized pack she had ever come to. The confusion was clear, and Amy dipped her head politely, pleased to have found such a place. I was traveling back to my pack when I found your borders. A new pack, one I hadn't seen before. My name is Amy Sunders, a trader. I am very pleased to make your acquaintance. Smiling she held out her hand to be shook.
Black and tan ears pricked at the sound of the long, low howl. The noise reverberated through his body and what would usually make him pause and smile made him freeze, his nerves jangling as the howl struck all the wrong chords. It sounded odd and unfamiliar; he had become intensey tuned into the fine characteristics that made up all of of his pack members, coming to even know them by their paw steps, and he instantly knew that this was none of the pack. His new found pack instincts, and a burning desire to protect his family made him abruptly stand from where he had been crouched, sorting through the wood pile for a suitable piece of wood for him to whittle. He would have to come back later and find the desired material.
His tail was puffed up and held perfectly straight, almost as if it had been overstarched. He turned his cerulean eyes to look at his brothers chosen abode, the sound of rapid paw-steps coming from within. His brother wrenched the door open and gave Niernan one of those looks, a look that spoke volumes; he didn't like the howl either. Another howl erupted from the forest, and this one was familiar, Lilins call rallied them both. Both fell to the earthen floor and allowed the sweet pain of transformation to wash over them, bones snapping and furred skin shifting, like they had snakes under their soft flesh. Not a minute had passed before both young males were hulking masses of fur and muscle, Niernans black mane standing up in wild spikes and his canine teeth protruding from his lips, two little perfectly white triangles that were decptively sharp. His tail bristled and he flicked it towards his larger, caramel and chocolate brother. Bran was much more muscular and a little bit taller than Niernan, his brown eyes glistening out his bright white mask.
A mewl from behind Niernan caused the large wolf to turn, he shook his vast head and gave the dark tabby kitten a lick to the face "You stay here Ciaran. It could be dangerous." His voice was a deep rumbling growl, completely unlike his normal voice. The cat sat and looked sulky, he mewled again "Are you leaving?" He asked, his lack of fluent High Speech imiting his word usage, Niernan understood though. He shook his great brick of a head again, "Only going to the border, we'll be back shortly Ciaran. Trust me." The cat nodded, one tiny mewl coming from him before the two large beasts burst into movement, "I do."
Long clawed paws smacked hard earth as the boys sprinted to the border, one brown and one blue set of eyes fixed on a point neither of them could yet see. As they neared the border he heard the faint trickle of a stream nearby, he could smell the freshness of the spring water, the musty hay smell of a horse and another, stronger smell. He could smell strong spices, it lingered in the air, but underneath that scent he registered a dusty, damp smell, like a cave. He catalogued that in his mind as a new scent, he could also smell other wolves, and he guessed that either this stranger travelled and met others often or was part of a pack. The scent jarred his sensitive nose, making him sneeze repeatedly. Bran looked over at him and gave him a growling chuckle, making the elder Stormbringer aware that he found his predicament funny. Nier was about to respond with a shoulder bash but a fresh wave of the new scent made him focus on the task at hand.
Bran and Niernan both skidded to a stop almost in perfect time with each other, their large paws leaving long drags in the ground, their claw tracks very visible in the soft earth. Niernan looked up to see a blonde canid standing on their newly marked border. He looked around, searching for any sign of Lilin. He spotted her near the stranger and he instinctively stepped forward. He was new to this, but he knew he would learn. Bran looked at him sideways, catching Niers eye. The caramel wolf was standing rigid, his tail high in the air, quite obviously not comfortable with this situation. Niernan knew what he meant, he wasn't entirely sure about this one, she looked angelic, all innocence and girly blondeness, but he could sense something else, something darker.
Lilin acquiesced with a nod, mutely confirming the golden femme’s assumptions pertaining to Vinatta’s new status. Naturally, her interlocutor couldn’t have known about her pack’s recent land claim and occupation until now. It had been made official less than a day prior. She could not pinpoint which pack this woman belonged to either; her olfactory senses could not depict the faintest trace of familiarity. Such a thing wasn’t surprising though, seeing as the Soulstorm heir hadn’t mingled with many leaders since her arrival in the maritimes- or if she had, it had been unknowingly. Small talk and negotiations had never been her forte, unfortunately. Everything she knew about civility and good manners, she’d learned within the short span of six months, if not less. It was generally forced in situations like this; an acquired graciousness she strived to ameliorate with time.
“Hello Amy,” she responded, accepting the trader’s open invitation by giving her hand a shake. The Virding’s shoulders were stiff with wariness; her deltoid muscle tense and pulling at the nerves in her neck. “I’m Lilin Soulstorm. You’ve stumbled upon Vinátta pack lands. ” Mediterranean irises lingered on the smile adorning the trader’s face as her own introduction was vocalized, Lilin's voice gentle with dubious composure. Tension was temporarily set aside when the familiar barreling of her two massive cousins was broadcasted by the sound of branches and twigs snapping under their impressive weight. It felt as though the very ground shook under her feet. It was amazing how their sizes and overall gaucherie in no way hindered their sense of duty. Until this day, she had not fully understood the driving force behind the Stormbringer males. They had been born with strife in their blood.
She turned her head just in time to see her two relatives come to a screeching halt; sporting colossal forms that near towered over her lithe figure. Her surprise was hardly concealed when their radiating energy emanated caution and tamed hostility. At that moment, Lilin felt and understood the power of a family’s unconditional love and affection. The emotional load that came with this newfound awareness caused her words to helplessly linger in the back of her throat while she regained her bearings. “I'm sorry. These two beasts are my cousins- Niernan and Bran Stormbringer,” she declared proudly before turning back to the merchant, seemingly less uptight now that she was accompanied. “Is there anything we can help you with, Amy?”
Despite the grace this one carried, her handshake was tense, uncertain. For someone so nervous she was doing extremely well dealing with the situation. Not that it meant Amy wouldn't be taking advantage of her uneasiness. She memorized the name of the pack, wondering what rank Lilin held. She seemed fairly dominant, so up in the ranks. Beyond that Amy was uncertain. At least it was better than being greeted by a lowly subordinate. This was someone Amy could talk to and deal with.
An explosion erupted from the foliage. Amy, used to seeing such things, didn't react to the thundering presence of the two secui males. Related as well. A family pack perhaps? That definitely promised strength. Family was the only thing one could count on after all. It looked like this was a very worthwhile pack, better than any she'd come across before. A simple smile crossed her face at their aggression. Sensitives, were they? At least they weren't screaming about her presence emitting a black hole or other such nonsense.
The pride was completely understandable, Amy nodding her respect to the pair. Turning her attention back the merchant smiled. Oh no, I just came to see this new pack. Actually, I have something for you. A welcoming, if you will. Turning around Amy rummaged around until she found a small painting she'd traded for some time ago, one of the sea at sunrise. A more practical bundle of dried herbs, if no bigger than a fist, was held out as well. In hopes that we may work together in the future.
Niernan let his eyes rest on the blonde canid, he noticed Lilin's tense form and he saw that she automatically relaxed a little, becoming more and more the Virding he had seen over the last couple of days. He gave the yellow woman a polite nod in return, his growly voice rumbling from his chest "Good day." He was still wary of her, but he didn't want to show up his leader with his aggression so he placed his fluffy butt firmly on the floor, wrapping his tail around his huge paws. Despite his sitting position his muscles were still tense and he was ready to spring at any moment. His brother echoed his movements, even going so far as to sink to his elbows, his head and ears still upright.
Nier watched as Amy moved to her caravan, pulling a painting and a bundle of strong smelling herbs from the depths, but as the woman had moved to her wagon Nier raised himself slightly from the ground. His defensive instincts kicking in, he was aware he was being overprotective, but at that moment he didn't really care, better to be overprotective than have a dead Virding.
Niernan shook his head and raised himself from the ground, giving his brother a cursory look that told him to stay put. He was aware that Bran was the more hulking of the two of them and the more threatening, so it was better that he stayed back. Niernan padded over to sit near to Lilin, slightly back and to the right of her, a large presence that could be comforting or protective.
She was well aware that curiosity alone was enough to fuel one's confidence and make it grow exponentially. While it was a powerful thing in itself, Lilin personally would not have ventured this close to claimed borders nor dedicated a song to its resident pack out of curiosity only. Lilin scarcely bothered with anyone but her family, so idle chit chat with strangers wasn't part of her priorities. If the opportunity presented itself, she had no problems conversing with the willing but she would not go out of her way to make it happen. With the looming menace of a Dawnrunner invasion, there was a very real possibility that random visitors such as the blonde merchant were not who they claimed to be. Paranoia was strongest in times of caution; Lilin couldn't help but wonder if her cousins felt the same, or if their heedfulness was purely instinctive.
''Oh, you shouldn't have.'' A casual visit was one thing; it was believable, even if the Virding had not anticipated it. Gifts, on the other hand, brought about a higher level of prudence. She was unaccustomed to formalities of the trade, nor the standard procedures in establishing connections. While it was likely a second nature to the merchant, Lilin did not like the idea of accepting items. No matter how good the woman's intentions appeared to be; she had nothing to give in return and being in one's debt was not a situation she solicited. The Soulstorm heir allowed a sideway glance to meet Niernan's gaze as the woman moved away from the trio, searching through the caravan's contents for whatever she'd brought them. Caution had spread and clearly, it affected her comrades as well. A lopsided smile was offered to her cousin closing in on the distance between them, her tail thumping lightly against the earth as a silent welcome.
Irises of mediterranean blue returned to their visitor promptly when her voice found its way to them once more. There it wandered, examining the painting with obvious interest before moving over to the bundle of practical herbs held out before her. She knew nothing of the plants on display, but Saul and Colibri would surely recognize them in an instant. ''That's a breathtaking picture and I can assure you the herbs will be put to good use. Thank you,'' she responded softly, taking the larger items from the golden femme's grasp and setting it down gingerly before her. The herbs, she took within her hands and held on to them. ''May I ask what pack you belong to, Amy?'' she questioned with a tilt of her head, knowing it would be useful information should they ever want to return the courtesy.
The cordial greeting from the bundle of muscles Lilin had called a brother surprised Amy. She hadn't been expecting anything beyond aggressive protection from him. His polite words once more raised her opinion of the pack. They had done exceedingly well, despite being so new. They knew so much about manners, acting as the situation demanded. When she'd returned the one that had greeted her had moved to Lilin's side, a comfort, and a swift death for Amy if she tread wrong.
The gifts were accepted graciously, if not returned with the wish to trade further with Amy in the future. Amy's features remained pleasant despite this minor disappointment. Perhaps they had simply forgotten. My pack is Anathema. She said the name clearly, no emotion behind it. Amy was aware the pack she belonged to was powerful, dangerous in some ways, but she was not attached to it the way some members were. She simply let the pack's reputation speak for her, not feeling that she needed to exaggerate at all.
Nier caught the look that Lilin had shot his way, smiling slightly at the appreciative glance. He remained seated next to his Virding, offering comfort and protection as the meeting with Amy continued. He could tell that Amy had expected something in return, he knew that traders never gave gifts, that's why they were called Traders. He eyed the blonde canid, expecting her to speak up, when she didn't ask for something in return Nier raised his eyebrows in slight shock. He perked his ears up as Amy answered Lilins qustion, taking in the name of the pack. Despite the fact that he had not been in Nova Scotia that long and he had not met many wolves on his travels he had heard of Anathema.
As a rule Niernan didn't like to judge others by trivial things like their names or the pack they belonged to, but there was something about the fact that Amy belonged to the dubious cave-dwelling Anthemans that added to his initial feeling if unease about her. He remained silent and turned his cerulean eyes on Lilin, wordlessly asking what happened now.
Close with your reply maybe, Bria? Djiac's gone for 2+ weeks and will not be replying anymore. wc 323
Anathema. The Virding mulled over the name, carefully assessing the familiar ring to it. It took quite some time before she finally put the pieces together, consequently determining where she'd heard of the pack. Axle's face materialized before her and his words replayed in the back of her mind. Barrett had children, three of them, with an alabaster woman - all of them had a permanent residence in Amy's pack. It had been her job to deliver news of Barry's departure and she'd never gotten around to it; the merchant's presence only reminded her of that. It had been a hectic last few months but that was nowhere near an adequate excuse; truthfully, she had purposely avoided being the bearer of bad news. "I am due for a visit. I'll be sure to relay your kindness." she offered, displaying a readiness to return the trader's cordiality.
An uncomfortable silence settled over them briefly, during which Lilin allowed her eyes to linger over the painting at her feet. The Soulstorm heir knew she had omitted an answer to Amy's request for future business. She had also caught the incredulous raise of her cousin's brow following the golden femme's short answer. Although the trader had shown no clear disappointment with the lack of a solid answer, the Virding knew what had been expected of her. "Amy," she started, clearly unsure of how to address the issue. "I never make promises I can't keep." Unlike her matriarch, Lilin strived to remain truthful - no matter how ugly of a truth she detained.
"I cannot promise you that I'll be able to work with you in the future. It all depends on what's expected of me and my pack when the time comes, but I'll remember your amiability." She would have to discuss it with Saul and the rest of the pack; surely Bran and Niernan would have an opinion on the subject after witnessing this meeting.
Her tail swayed at the spoken words. A generous offer. Amy expected more than a visit with those simple words, a return of the courtesy she had shown, deals formed to strengthen the packs and help her raise in the ranks with respect. A good return from her investment. Silence fell, only the movement of her tail behind her a sign of how she was doing, pleased with how her first meeting with the pack had gone. It was everything she had hoped for-in fact, it was more than that, the most civilized pack she had met.
The pleasant mask she wore never faded as she listened to Lilin speak. It was important to her that she showed only what would benefit her. Flaws were kept hidden, under control under the elegant facade. So what would be spoken would be the truth. She was disappointed by the words. After so much work at making a good impression, yet didn't even promise a single second meeting to work together. A failure. Nodding her head she turned away, the anger only showing on her face once they couldn't see. Of course. Please, take your time to think it over. Grasping the horse's lead she turned it away and left the pack behind. They would regret it if they didn't trade with her. Amy would make sure of it.
