Heartleaf Creek i see you in the window

A respectful distance from the borders; @Reverie @Lillia with Soph!

Don't you dare look out your window, darling, everything's on fire

A pack was quickly becoming a necessity, even in the wake of her daughter's disappearance. She had survived the past winter, but she wasn’t certain she’d find herself as lucky again… even with Lillia’s invaluable help. Though she found she could not communicate such things with even Lillia, though their communication remained much improved from when they had first met. Still, as she lingered near a border, she offered her companion a nudge as she motioned towards it once more, looking to Lillia.

With any hope? Lillia would be able to decipher her words and make the call, acting as her translator of intention. She motioned once more to Lillia… it was broken, perhaps more abstract, and yet there was much to still be determined. There would be little hope of finding Reverie if they starved to death during the winter... they had lost her scent as well, making finding her at all a difficult task.

Her tail thumped up and down, wondering if perhaps they ought to have brought a rabbit. She’d smelled a warren not far off, but she’d never done the whole ‘pack’ thing, so the idea of knowing what to do… left much to be desired. But Lillia had come from a pack, so surely she would know and be able to help?

(This post was last modified: Nov 14, 2024, 07:23 PM by Eros.)

Sophrosnia is currently travelling with Lillia and is closely tailed by Vili

Winter was right around the corner, and with that came all of these new anxieties that Lillia had never felt before. Sure, she'd been fine last year, but what about her companion? Would she be capable of feeding and protecting the smaller woman as well, or would the harsh weather be too much for her to defend her against? It had been swirling around in her head nonstop for weeks now, this worry that one day she might wake up and the little lady might be frozen to death beside her. Especially after Reverie's disappearance, which ached in Lilia's chest far more than she thought it might, taking care of her remaining charge was the most important thing.

Lillia would be fine without a pack. But would she?

She didn't want to take that risk.

Her mind was active as her friend abruptly stopped and began to gesture. Lillia perked up, eyes flickering between the other woman and the direction she was being pointed in. A quick sniff told her what she needed to know - a pack resided here. It was most likely their best bet at survival, she thought idly, as the other woman still gestured between them, trying to communicate something.

Maybe the little lady was of the same mindset as Lillia. She could think of no other reason for the sudden stop.

Instead of clarifying, Lillia simply turned and howled for the attention of the leaders, body moving to position herself between her friend and whoever would approach. It was likely best if she did the talking, she figured, remembering the diplomacy training that had been hammered into her from such a young age. She should've brought a gift of some sort, but this was more a spontaneous thing, and Lillia had more fighting skills to offer than hunting anyway. Not the best start, but maybe it would still be workable.

(This post was last modified: Nov 12, 2024, 01:50 AM by Lillia.)

It wasn't too often that they were called for, really. Especially by strangers. Eros turned away from the markers he'd been refreshing to jog his way over to the piece of their border at which the visitant waited. Two of them, he recognized as he drew near.

He was relatively relaxed in his demeanor, tired eyes settling over the pair with little reflected in them. There wasn't much to think of the event, really. He was only ever needed for a handful of things in this sort of situation.

"Hello," he greeted, his voice tepid but not unwelcoming, "What can I do for you?"

(This post was last modified: Nov 12, 2024, 02:12 AM by Eros.)

Don't you dare look out your window, darling, everything's on fire

Her chest ached lightly as Lillia called for the leaders, though she was glad that her friend had understood what she had meant when she had offered her nudge. There was a sense of relaxed peace that followed, her eyes averting to the ground lightly when the man arrived. Soph offered a light dip of her head in greeting. She tucked her tail lightly. Though she’d never been in a pack herself, Natalia had made sure she’d been taught manners when approaching a pack, in order to avoid getting in trouble – especially given her nature of not speaking.

Only after she had felt she’d shown proper reverence did she cast Lillia a gaze, waiting for her to speak and explain their situation to the man before them. She wondered if perhaps Reverie would find her way back to them if they stayed put… moving around presented all of the opportunity that she might pass by her daughter like a ship in the night for the rest of her life, or die before she was ever reunited.

Her shoulders rolled back, attempting more of a deeper bow, uncertain now as the anxiety bubbled as to whether or not she had bowed enough or shown enough respect to the man in front of them.

Sophrosnia is currently travelling with Lillia and is closely tailed by Vili

The man who approached appeared large and fit, but dull. Lukewarm. Lillia would not say such things to his face - it would be improper, to say the least, and they were trying to get in this wolf's good graces, after all. As it were, Lillia didn't smile much, either, and didn't deem this the time for lighthearted introductions.

"Hello," she greeted in return, lowering her head respectfully. "Thank you for answering so quickly. My name is Lillia Daireann, and my-" there were a few words she could use here, but a slip of the tongue almost had her saying something rather embarrassing, "-friend and I were looking for a place to stay. We found your borders by chance. Both of us can hunt and fight, and we are more than willing to contribute."

She skipped over the fact that Lillia was a poor hunter at best, as well as the fact she'd seen the woman at her side launch herself full-speed at a bison. That most likely wasn't necessary in this particular situation either.

Bringing up Reverie was a more sensitive topic, and she wasn't sure if doing so would be a good or a bad idea, but the more wolves looking for her, the better, right?

"Our - her - pup went missing, recently, as well," she said, feeling a familiar flash of hurt in her chest at the thought. She hoped Reverie was safe, wherever she was, but finding a singular wolf in all this wilderness was like finding a needle in a haystack. "I believe it would be easier to find her if we stayed in one place, and with winter coming up..." Well, he could probably figure out the whys on his own, there. She lowered her head once more. "All of that to say, we humbly request admittance to your pack."

There was nothing for Eros to criticize, though he didn't much have the gumption for that anymore either. If they weren't earnest, how was he going to know here and now? He knew what her words were working toward, and he already knew his own answer, long before a child was mentioned.

Missing. The slightest of frowns appeared on his muzzle. There was no one in the Backwater, save for maybe their newest recruit, who did not understand what this duo must be going through in that regard. Even if he didn't have personal experience, he couldn't see Issa not at least sympathizing. These two would be in good company, and at a minimum, Eros himself would be sure to begin helping in searching for their lost child.

Two women... it echoed distantly somewhere deep down. Maybe she was just tired, worn. Maybe he was reading into nothing. As usual, Eros didn't let himself focus on it.

His head bobbed, nodding.

"Of course."

He would motion with his muzzle then as he turned to lead the way. @Viorel needed to be the first they met with, before they settled in, but their membership was confirmed here and now as far as Eros was concerned.

(This post was last modified: Nov 12, 2024, 05:58 PM by Eros.)

Don't you dare look out your window, darling, everything's on fire

She could do nothing but let her partner explain, and look pleadingly towards the man. She had no idea whether or not he would even understand the look in her eyes, or what she was trying to convey. She had to dramatize everything to sell the point where her words lacked. She had done it more than once.

Of course. There was a wave of relief that coursed through her, offering a gentle and warm nuzzle to Lillia’s shoulder. They would be okay, and they would be able to find Reverie. She’d do whatever it took to help provide for the pack that took them in while they pursued their quest. And afterwards? Reverie would find a home here too… to grow up, presumably around other children if the pack had them.

Her tail wagged from side to side, a look of relief and gratitude upon her maw that at least Lillia would recognize. And she would move forward, following Eros to meet whomever he wanted them to meet. Whatever they asked of her.

Sophrosnia is currently travelling with Lillia and is closely tailed by Vili

Lillia felt relief seep into her bones at the man's easy agreement. She'd been part of a pack before - been raised to be the leader before her dad had gone off the rails, - but she'd never tried to join one. All the training in the world couldn't have prepared her for the stress of it all, for the anticipation of perhaps being denied and needing to find another place to keep her companion safe.

But he agreed, like it was so simple, and Lillia saw her own relief and gratitude in her friend's eyes. She pressed her cheek to the smaller woman's temple, just for a moment, reassuring and self-soothing both, before she turned to the man once more.

"Thank you," she told him, keeping close to her companion's side as they moved to follow him. He wouldn't regret this choice - of that she was certain. They could make a home here, and they would find Reverie, and things would be fine.

Lillia would make sure of it.