The blackberry fields were in full bloom, and Naia could smell the blackberries ripening in the sun long before she laid eyes on her beloved’s homeland. It was the first time she had ventured to the place Inali called home, preferring to meet her in the Cherry Orchard to the south under the cover of night. The fields that spread out before her in the afternoon sun were cheery and inviting—a beautiful place to settle down, in the summer at least. For a brief moment Naia imagined the field covered in ice and snow, winds howling across the plain, and the thought alone sent a shiver down her spine. Perhaps the Downs wolves would come south and spent the frozen months in the shelter of the Cedarwoods once more… She could always hope.

There was no visible indicator of where the Downs wolves gathered, and the afternoon breeze brought several different pack wolves’ scents to Naia’s nose. Rather than waste time sniffing around the entire field for the Downs border markers, Naia leaned her head back and howled a polite summons, identifying herself as a member of Cut Rock River and ally of the Downs. She thought to speak to @Minka, the leader Inali treasured so dearly, and she suspected that Inali herself would be curious enough to show up too. Naia hoped she would—not only for the thrill of seeing and smelling her, but because @Inali had an important role in the plan she was about to present to Minka. Finishing her howl, Naia watched the fields for signs of movement, intending to meet anyone who came to greet her halfway.

Naia’s honey gaze swept the field before her, watching for movement that might indicate where the Downs wolves reside. She was startled to hear Inali’s musical voice call out from so close by, and she turned to the woman with a small, sheepish smile. Inali had been a scout for at least as long as she had—silly of Naia to think she would see the light-footed lady’s approach. As she met Inali’s azure gaze, her strongest desire was to close the space between them completely and bury her face into her lover’s soft pelt. She smelled so enticing, the scent of a fresh kill wafting from her like perfume. The Downs scout’s tail lifted then, shattering Naia’s daydreams and reminding her that there was important work at stake here. If this meeting went as planned, she and Inali were about to embark on a journey together, and there would be ample alone time for the pair.

Inali spoke again, and Naia flashed her an I-know-something-you-don't grin. Inali certainly looked high and mighty with her tail in the air and her second-in-command stance, and the timber lady couldn't help but tease her a little. "Ought we wait for you leader?" she asked coyly, cocking a playful brow. Just as she spoke of her, the Downs royal appeared and Naia drew her gaze away from Inali reluctantly. She modified her stance to show respect for Minka’s postion before answering her question.

”No trouble,” she assured Minka, ”At least not yet.” The words were a hint to the request she was about to make. ”The pups grow stronger every day, two males and a female.” Minka herself smelled heavily of milk, so Naia knew she had been blessed with offspring as well. ”I hope all is well in the Downs?” Just as she asked, Naia caught a faint whiff of something else on Minka’s pelt. Healing herbs.. the sort their medic Lachesis would apply to a wound he feared might fester. Mika appeared uninjured herself, which left Naia wondering if another in her pack was suffering.

”My name is Naia. I’m Cut Rock River’s scout,” she said, remembering to introduce herself. ”Maksim has trusted me with an important task, and I’m here to ask for Inali’s help. If she can be spared, of course.” Now that she suspected someone in the Downs ranks might be injured, she wasn’t so sure Minka would jump at the chance to send her scout away.

Naia made her face carefully blank as Minka delivered her pack’s news, allowing a small smile as she spoke of her own healthy pups. The scout had been sure that there was some sort of injury or sickness back at their den, judging from the smells wafting from Minka’s pelt. Was Naia simply wrong, or were the Downs wolves hiding this information? Naia’s eyes flicked aside to catch Inali’s expression. She couldn’t imagine any reason for their allies to conceal information… Perhaps the Downs leader simply did not consider it headline news, and was impatient to hear Naia’s purpose. Naia’s suspicion was confirmed when Minka spoke again with a certain snappiness in her tone. The scout trained her honey eyes on Minka’s feet, silently vowing not to annoy the woman further.

”Certainly,” she said, gaze still averted. She hadn’t meant to tease the Downs wolves by hinting at danger—she was only being honest. She wasn’t going to say all was well in Cut Rock River when it very well may not be, though now she was wondering if the Downs was offering her the same honesty. ”Last winter we got into a spat with Hollowheart Keep when their scouts attempted to raid one of our caches,” she began, finding her confidence as the story continued. She had always liked telling stories. ”Maksim was furious—you remember how bad prey was last winter—and the packs were declared enemies. Although now there is prey aplenty but new tension with Whisper Caverns..” Naia spoke quickly as she mentioned Whisper Caverns, not wanting to appear like she was accusing Minka. ”..and we think it is best to repair with the Keep instead of keeping them as an enemy to the east when we now have a new enemy to the west.” Breaking ties with Whisper Caverns had definitely put Cut Rock River in a tough spot. No scout liked to see her homeland surrounded by enemies.

”I’m leaving in the morning to offer a nonaggression pact to the Keep. I have an associate within their ranks who has already been discussing peace with certain Keep wolves.. I’m expecting them to agree to the pact without question.” Naia was actually a little late for her meeting with Evann, her friend in Hollowheart Keep. She hoped the Keep woman was still waiting for her in the orchard, as she agreed several moons ago—Naia would feel much better having a Keep wolf already on her side when she presented the pact. ”However, I want a backup plan in case it takes some.. convincing. I would like Inali along to represent the Downs as an ally to Cut Rock River.” Even if there were still hard feelings, Hollowheart Keep would surely hesitate to sign up for two enemies. ”Whatever they choose will stand with both of our packs, be it nonaggression.. or war.” Although the likelihood of the reclusive Keep wolves choosing a multi-pack war seemed incredibly low to Naia, the Downs leader needed to know that it was a possible –even if quite improbable-- outcome.