Ulilohi in fact arrived in CD the day before, so she's coming from inside Crimson Dreams.

Such fascinating places. Ulilohi had come to this pack in the hopes of meeting some of their members, showing her face - making sure they got a good impression. She could not help her pack survive if the animosities did. Her spear was ready and pointed, and she hoped to wound it severely with her trips to Crimson Dreams and Cour des Miracles. Another reason was to get to know the leaders better, and to know where they could be found, geographically. She had to answer to them, after all. If she was lucky, she would never have to go here, but she doubted how realistic that scenario was.

This pack was so different from anything she knew. There were human house remnants all over the place, and nobody had huge crops like in AniWaya - not that AniWaya's crops were very impressive. The tobacco plants were pitiful: she would have to sort that out. It was odd that someone like Dawali, a plant-knower, had not been able to grow them better. Ulilohi had yet to experience the winter this far north. The concept of this pack was so very foreign that she found herself walking here and there, studying everything like she would the exotic items in travelers' markets when she was a child: eyes large and a slightly opened mouth. Though, just where she was now, there was just terrain. It wasn't that special, even if it felt exciting to be on another pack's lands. As she walked she could smell that she was nearing their border: their scents intensified in a strong signal to outsiders. Among them was that of a horse, and it was not her own: she had decided to go this distance by foot. She sped up towards the scent's origination, curious. Soon enough, she could recognise the shape as an AniWayan: she carried the scent of the pale woman, she had seen her at the announcement. Ulilohi gave a sharp, wordless greeting shout in her direction before hastening to greet her with a friendly smile. It wasn't as if Ulilohi knew her, but being friendly couldn't hurt in her situation.

Ulilohi is gigantic at around 7ft 4in - so yes! :3

The femme recognised her immediately, and Ulilohi was grateful for that. It wasn't as if she expected Ralla not to recognise her, but somehow in Ulilohi's mind it would have become awfully awkward if she had to explain her identity. Soon enough her movements through the near-frozen frondesence came to an end as she stopped at a comfortable distance from the female. Ulilohi was further relieved at seeing the stance the femme took. She had been quite lucky so far: no one had yet challenged her right to lead. Were they in fact that relieved to see Maska gone from these lands? It worried her, and at the same time she was almost happy that she had not been here to observe the past that the tribe was now recovering from. She'd seen the burial mounds, and they were not few. Ulilohi's ears perked in surprise as Ralla spoke to her in AniWayan - a bit rugged in the pronunciation, but the councilwoman was truly surprised at the level of proficiency the femme showed. "Unalihelitseti," she responded. "Anasgayv osani, wado." Until the tribe learned to trust her, Ulilohi was more comfortable with having them use her formal title.

Ulilohi smiled as Ralla began small-talk, and nodded as she introduced herself. Indeed, Ulilohi had seen her, but not properly met her. Supposedly, she had been a central figure in the hierarchy of the old tribe. This could mean that she was either a potentially important resource, or a disgruntled threat: either way, Ulilohi had best stay on her good side. As far as first impressions went, though, Ralla did not appear intimidating. "Yes - I'm on official business here, and plan to head to Cour des Miracles after." The pack's name rolled awkwardly off Ulilohi's tongue, and she was certain Ralla would notice. "What brings you here?". She asked in honest curiosity.

Inorite? ;D

Ralla suggested fate had something to do with it, and Ulilohi chuckled and smiled politely. She did not rule that possibility out: as a warrior, she found much consolation in the concept of fate. It gave her courage to meet conflict openly, without cowering. Ulilohi nodded to confirm Ralla's assumption. "Yes. I also need to familiarize myself with the leaders - if I am to report to them, I need to know what they're about. Learning something about the packs tells me a great deal about the leaders." She smiled as she spoke, though it was no simple matter. In fact, the whole deal made her uneasy, but life is what it is. She just had to make the best of the situation.

As Ralla explained her own mission in this place, Ulilohi found herself nodding, but at a lack for anything to say. The other femme was quick to partly blame herself, and Ulilohi could say nothing about it, because she had not been here to see it. It was difficult to be the only outsider of the conflict, and at the same time expected to clean up after it. "I could not say," she replied vaguely. It was not something she wished to comment on. To the direct question, though, she had an answer. "I have no disagreement with those who left unless they were exiled for true crimes. With things being as they are, it is not easy to tell. If they prove themselves worthy in my eyes, I don't see why they cannot return." While she understood that most members had these questions, and might fear to ask them, Ulilohi was somewhat unsettled by the very direct message Ralla was presenting her with. It was right to question, but Ulilohi had had barely a few days to consider the changes she would face, and she was not certain whether she found this questioning justified or outright rude. Feeling the need to assert her position, she replied firmly. "However I choose to solve the situations ahead, however, will become apparent." While she needed to be on the right side of Ralla, Ralla needed to understand that she needed to stay on the right side of Ulilohi.

As Ralla continued to ask questions, Ulilohi fought her brewing sourness. Still, these questions were not so bad: they were personal to Ralla, after all. It was unavoidable, however, that Ulilohi's voice was somewhat flat as she followed up on Ralla's question. "I cannot know what your rank was before I came here." Ulilohi did not lack faith in Dawali's ability to judge, but he did know nothing of the evaluation of rank advancement. This was a system Ulilohi had much better experience with. If Ralla wanted her old rank left, though, perhaps a simple test of faith and skill could do the trick.

--

The earthern female raged over the other, but her stance softened her physical dominance. Her warm colors stood out in the hiemal landscape, accented with the many colors of the feather in her mane. She smiled when the former subleader dipped her head and accepted her assertion of her position, and it softened her features further. She did not want to be a leader who ruled with fear, such as Maska apparently had. He had no natural authority in his frail frame; in contrast, Ulilohi had to fight her size to make sure she was not percieved as some overconfident dominatrix. Still, this trait was very useful now that she was to lead a tribe.

It surprised her that someone so young as Ralla had held the prominent rank she mentioned, but she tried not to let it show beyond the slight raising of her eyebrows that she could not stop. Still, she said nothing as Ralla explained. The eyebrows were raised again as her spirit guide entered the conversation, backing her up. The situation was stranger than she could ever have imagined. Here was a non-native member of AniWaya, asking for a rank well beyond her skill level (at least, she expected that it was), and with a spirit guide speaking up for it. Such a bizarre and foreign conversation - what to do with it? She could not doubt the spirit guide; he was sacred and she was placed below him, although they did not make decisions. "Unalihelitseti, Nootau." The customary greeting was respectfully spoken. She paused after bowing to him, considering what had just been told her. How could she decline and still avoid disrespecting the guide? "I did not know Dawali had appointed Masters," she began. "May I ask—" she turned to speak to Nootau, her stance clearly reflecting the humble way she spoke. "What were his criteria for training and accomplishment? Were they... adequate?". She feared she would have no choice but to accept Ralla's request if he confirmed that Dawali's appointment had been adequately grounded. Still, she could not avoid his presence — that insult was much more grave.

Note that Nootau cannot read Ralla's mind, and Ralla cannot send thoughts to him - that would be telepathy, which is against the rules

While Ulilohi was humbled by Nootau's choice of speaking to her, she was doubtful of the situation. Clearly, so as not to disrespect Nootau, she would need to affirm that she was positive to the idea of reinstating Ralla at her former rank. However only the Chief - in cooperation with the Council, but the Council never appointed them alone. Whatever she chose to do, she would have to send message to Chief Aatu and ask permission, but she had no doubt that her Chief would support her judgment - the old male seemed at times to be endlessly fond of her. No, her issue was how to respond right now? Nootau spoke as if he knew the criterion for the Master rank, although she could not know how legitimate he was. She knew that AniWayans not born into the tribe could still get spirit guides, but it varied whether these guides were already familiar with the tribe or not. They were not all-knowing, but learned as they followed the tribe through generations of AniWayans. She could not question Nootau, however, and these doubts of his eligibility to assess Dawali's appointments would remain unspoken. She bowed to him once again. "Thank you, Nootau, wado.". She repeated the phrase in AniWayan for some reason. Perhaps she felt it was more appropriate, instinctively.

Ulilohi took a moment to think, and although brief, the awkward silence that moved into the conversation in place of her words made it feel like much longer. Perhaps it lasted as long as a minute, but it was unlikely. At length, she spoke, weighing her words carefully. She was addressing Ralla, now, feeling as if her sub-conversation with Nootau had finished at this point. "As you know—" she began, assuming that someone who had held such a prominent rank knew the inner workings of the hierarchy well. "I do not have the power to name you Master, Ralla." This was disappointing news to the Itse, no doubt. "I can communicate with Chief Aatu and ask for the needed authority. But first, I will need to test your knowledge and faith." How could she devise such a test? That question would be for later. "The trek is long for a messenger, and the Chief may not respond swiftly," she noted. "although you can be certain that he will not ignore my judgment." She was quite accustomed to being listened to.

Okies!

Ralla appeared understanding of her views, albeit somewhat blunt. The discussion of rank and advancement was not something Ulilohi had anticipated as the topic for a first introductory conversation, but it could be that Ralla was attempting to size her up. It could be bravery or boldness. However, for now it seemed to Ulilohi that she was merely impatient, but willing to play her part. No one who was not willing would be someone not fit for AniWaya, but individuals often chose to express this will through action. Her bringing it up swiftly and determining it openly could only support her case in Ulilohi's eyes. She nodded as the pale female shot in a sentence. "You can repay the chance by completing it honorably, Itse. Honorably, nigadv kaliwohi with respect," she urged. The profession she chose to prove her knowledge of was perhaps one of the most key professions in their tribe, and respect was a quality she sought for one such as that, more than anything. So far, although Ralla had been submissive enough, Ulilohi had not yet been able to decide on how she felt about the pale female in regards to that aspect. This conversation's hurried change onto the subject of rank was not necessarily a positive sign.

Ulilohi smiled as Ralla hurriedly ended the conversation as if she had pressing arrangements. The newly promoted councilwoman had no doubts that the pale one was a busy one, she seemed the kind that would rather have tools in her hand than a quiet hour. It was quite understandable, and they ahd both traveled far. It was quite random that they should meet here, both on their own little journeys in a foreign pack. Well, "foreign" pack - Crimson Dreams was, apparently, well-known to anyone but herself. The other bowed deeply and awaited her response, and Ulilohi lowered her head as well, though she did not bend her back. Crimson Dreams or no, Ulilohi was still the councilwoman. It was good that Ralla recognised this. "Donadagovi, Itse. Please fare well, unelanvhi udadolisdi, and greet our friends." Ulilohi had always grown up with that little prayer. Her grandfather had always used it to express hope or give a blessing (or sometimes almost ask permission) by the spirits upon the conversation partner. Thus, Ulilohi blessed the journey and Ralla's work. She was not certain if Ralla had heard it before, but the tribe would soon become used to her use of it - it slipped out whether she wanted it to or not!