This day, Namid had dared to go a bit farther from their borders to scout for the potential members that had been failing to make themselves shown nearer to the homestead. While that had also been a goal, she also was out in search of more prey. While spring had sprung, the prey around the lake still seemed to be taking a lazy day and staying in their burrows. Their catches had seemed to be stunningly empty, and many of them carried the scent of the wraith Primrose. While she couldn’t suspect the woman of raiding their caches because of her part in the pack, she still suspected that she had some ulterior motive in place. In the back of her mind, she thought that before long they wouldn’t be seeing any of the dove colored woman anymore.

However, that was a conversation for another time. At that moment, the expecting mother meandered along the Sacred Grove, just down the mountain from Lost Lake. Her nose was raised to the sky, twitching as it scented the air for both prey and wolf and her ears swiveling this way and that to catch each sound that was made. Suddenly, the thud of pawsteps made its way toward her and she paused in her own tracks. A bark was heard, a greeting by the tone of it, and she waited as they grew closer. Before long, a male of dark stature and a single bright golden eye made himself known. In place of the missing eye, a long scar took its place and many more riddled his pelt. This man had seen many a fights in his lifetime, which seemed to longer than hers, and she was curious as to whether she should feel suspicious of him or respected of him.

Only one way to find out.

Offering a bark of her own in greeting, she stood her ground and waited for him to give the first words here.

Namid noted his stance, one of pride and dominance though she wondered why he felt the need to show it. She knew she hadn’t crossed any borders, something of which she had been careful to keep mind of due to the various packs popping up all over Relic Lore. Though he showed this stance, she considered the fact that he seemed non-threatening. While his stance said power, it also said peace even with his disheveled and rather off-putting appearance. It was because of this she paid no mind to it, keeping herself neutral. Despite her position within her own lands, she had no need to show it off outside of it. However, it was still clear she was of higher position by the slight, natural poise of her chin and posture that she had learned to adopt.

The rugged brown man opened his maw to speak, his tongue rolling off an accent that only added to his bizarre composure. It was certainly an accent she had yet to hear, leading her to believe he was of a land definitely not around theirs. Of course, she couldn’t say much as her own accent was noticeably different from the common lands as well. He announced himself as Kjors, the ‘ One-Eyed Dragon’ despite the noticeable lack of wings and fire. She could have chuckled, as she saw the irony and where he had possibly gotten part of the name from. However, her facial expression remained friendly and conversational. A dip of her head led to her reply, “Hello, Kjors. It is certainly a pleasure to meet someone this far into the forest, I was not sure I would come across another soul. I am Namid Macieo, the Star Dancer,” She replied, adding on the meaning of her name to possibly keep up with the conversation. He was certainly proud of his title, why should she not give out hers? It had been a while since she’d mentioned the meaning of her name, and it brought on a slight bought of nostalgia.

However, there was other business to attend to. “I came out to search for prey, for one can only hunt in one land for so long this time of year before all the awakened food is gone. What might be your reason for being out in this place, if I might ask? “ She finished, leaving out the bit about searching for more members for her pack. The pale queen thought it best to feel Kjors out first, see where the conversation would go before going in for the mentioning of her pack.

Certainly, his accent intrigued her to no end. Her inner knowledge hog longed to know where he was from, just what land had given him such a choppy and foreign tongue. Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to ask, but that would possibly be later in the conversation. For the time being, she tried to keep her wits about her and listen to what he was saying. He certainly had plenty to say, it seemed. First he commented on her name, in his own way calling it beautiful. In her head she preened herself, having taken pride in the meaning for most of her life. It was one of the few things she would willingly brag on if she had the chance and if asked about it.

Next, if she hadn’t been sure he wasn’t from lore before he made sure of it then. He mentioned he was still trying to get a feel for the land, something she understand as she herself was still somewhat trying to do that. Now that the winter was officially over the world was no longer topsy-turvy and she even suspected she knew where she was. She’d passed through these lands on her way through her early travels. Judging her position, she might have even known where her old home was. This, she decided, called for a meeting with her previous alphas. The Queen of the Lake wasn’t sure how the conversation would go, as she knew Narime to not be so gentle to ‘traitors’. But, perhaps she would understand her situation. For the time she had been there, she had been nothing but loyal to the caverns and its members. Maybe, just maybe, it would account for something. But in her pregnancy, the trip would have to wait for another time. At least until her children were weaned, which wouldn’t be for months.

Her attention was brought back to his question, her head tilting to the side characteristically. “"Ya usually hunt yerself? Ain't got no band 'er pack t' help? Can't bring down much in ways of big beasties on yer lonesome." he inquired. His words were definitely true, it hadn’t been long since she’d known that lesson herself. One could say she was still recovering from her long, cold journey during those lonely winter months. “Lately I have been hunting alone, for it seems that the larger prey have no fully migrated back to these lands yet. Hares and the smaller animals have had to suffice, though they do not quite hit the spot for adults such as ourselves. I do, however, have a pack should I ever find larger prey that would require more than my strength. I am the leader of a pack just up the mountain, shrouded in a lake.” She let on. It was the perfect amount of information, not too much was given away about their location or their current status, but it also left on the table the prospect of her pack for himself. Of course, it wasn’t out right stated.

Kjors she had no doubt understood her meaning of the harshness of the winter months. No matter who they were or where they were, every wolf was somehow affected by the cold. Many fell into the pit that was the frozen air, the cold seeping into the bones of the old and freezing their hearts in their sleep. The young could also succumb to this fate, yet this was not the worst to befall a wolf. No, the worst was the starvation. The feeling of your body shrinking, your skin hollowing out to meet with your bones and turn you to a skeleton. Some of the worst pain one could feel was that of a stomach gorging on nothing but itself. It was enough, even, to turn some to cannibalism.

At her mention of her pack and position, he seemed to take a verifying sniff then pull his lips back into a wolfish grin. Much to her surprise, the man dipped his head ever slightly to her. She could have gawked, as the gruff looking male hadn’t struck her as one to commit such an act. The scars that littered his pelt assured her of that. Perhaps it was a onetime thing, such as for their only meeting. However, the meeting seemed to turn to the prospect of more than that as he mentioned that he may settle down one day if he found the right pack. After a pause, he then seemed a bit more curious than before and inquired about her own.

On the outside she remained to her composure, but on the inside she was giddy as a school girl. A possibly, prospective member! Quick to her mind she wound a web of words, spinning and weaving until she could think of something that would peek his interest yet still allow her to remind truthful. It took only a moment for her to reply, “My pack is small, but it is also new. However, that does not take away the fact that we are fighters. Every last one of us, survivors that have thrived through harsh winters and battles whether they are from the past or the present. We stand for equality, but harbor in us a thirst of power. Our goal is to let all know of us and slowly expand our territory by means we see fit.