Dead Empress Backwater you sell you

Backdated to 1/7. A delegation from Sanguine Cove has come to trade news and gift pelts!
All welcome to DEB wolves! Please let @Leo post first as he is accompanying Chan. @Viorel @Vayko @Clover @Vanadis @Katna @Sharlee @Archer @Oleander @Marguerite @Hazelnut

Chan approached the now-familiar easternmost stretch of woods that the Backwater pack occupied, ensuring to maintain a position outside of what the ocean wolves considered their inland home. The friendliness between Vayko and Viorel's kin and his own did not excuse him from using his manners, much less modeling safe and considerate choices to Aleister's impressionable child.

Two large pelts adorned his back, leaving Leo with full range of motion. This was, after all, his first ambassadorship - hopefully he was excited about it, and Chan wanted him to be able to roam and investigate and explore. He certainly hadn't been in any hurry himself, not with Kateri safely in her father's care once more.

"Ready?" he checked in with the younger wolf while wearing an up-beat smile, before tilting his head back and calling for Dead Empress Backwater and her patriarch.

(This post was last modified: Feb 05, 2022, 08:59 PM by Scully.)

Sharlee found herself at home completing pack duties that morning. She felt that even though she was an advisor to Vi that didn't mean she could sit around all day waiting for him to come to her for advice. That was hardly fair and not what she'd been taught. So after a patrol she'd decided to go in a small hunt where she ended up tracking a rabbit through the Empress trees. It had been a lucky find in her opinion.

Thankfully after tracking it quite a ways and a short chase she'd manged to snag it. Now as she made her way home it hung limply from her maw. She a was rather proud of her accomplishment and couldn't wait to get it back to the cache.

However, as she approached the border the scent of two wolves reached her nostrils. It was recent enough that she could smell it over the scent of the rabbit in her mouth. As she came closer to the border she finally spotted them. It was an older male with a younger companion. Curiosity crossed her features at the fact one of then carried pelts across his back. Sharlee came up behind them and dropped the rabbit at her feet. "Can I help you with something?" She asked.

The trip from the Pass’s foot, through woods of varying density and across numerous waterways already had the sheltered youth reeling. After almost a year never leaving the Lost Lake, seeing the world outside the mountain valley was exhilarating to the curious boy. Now that they were drawing close to their goal though, the borders of a whole pack of strangers, his natural, timid nature was starting to take hold.   So he stayed well back, his shoulder in line with Chan’s hip, and kept his head ducked, tail straight down between his back legs – inches from fully curling between his thighs. Still, he met the scout’s eyes and nodded at the question, he was curious to see a diplomatic meeting in action and get a real glimpse of how another pack operated, but his shyness did complicate the situation.   As such, it was unfortunate for him that his submissive position left him closer to the young female as she unexpectedly approached from behind. Focused on the border before them, Leo didn’t hear her steps until they halted at his tail, the sudden voice making him jump slightly, whirling his head to look at the woman with wide, startled eyes.   Unable to answer her question in his befuddlement, and with no idea what to say anyway, he simply stared, silently begging for Chan to step in before the pup somehow offended their allies with his lag of social graces. Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA

The call had taken him by surprise, but it was a pleasant one when Viorel realized he recognized the voice that was coming across the territory. Leaving behind the bone that he had been gnawing on, trying to get the last of the marrow he travelled easily across his home. Coming onto the scene he was not shocked to see that Sharlee had beaten him there, she had a knack for doing that. What did surprise him was the wolf at Chan’s side, as big as his own children, but clearly not quite a yearling yet.

Grinning, his dark tail swept widely behind him, Moving forward to knock shoulders in an amicable way with the tawny Cove wolf. Circling back around, he gave Sharlee a quick gesture with his muzzle that she should offer the rabbit to their guests. Looking back up he smiled again, ”Well, well, well, what has brought a couple of mountain wolves like yourself down to our humble abode?” It certainly was not the best time for travel, Viorel was sure it was not any easier on the mountain than it was here. The snows had to be worse on the Pass than in the Backwater, why would they risk a trip down now, and with a young one no less?

Sorry for jumping in so late!

An unfamiliar howl coming from the edge of the pack's territory caught Margo's attention as she'd been sunbathing.  Feeling uncharacteristically confident and definitely curious, the girl decided she might as well go check it out.  She'd wait a few moments as to allow the bigger wolves to arrive first before making her way toward the area herself though, she'd probably never be so confident as to arrive first to greet a stranger.

As she approached the scene Margo witnessed her father acting all buddy-buddy with the strangers, or at least the one that appeared older.  Was this a friend of his?  Without a word the young Valle girl approached and found herself a seat on the ground a few comfortable feet away from the action.  

(This post was last modified: Jan 24, 2022, 02:03 PM by Marguerite.)

Eros was eager to see the stranger calling for his pack. Still, he was far from the first to arrive, and as much as he wanted to dive in with his own greetings & questions, he knew better than to interrupt his father. He sidled up to his sister's side, plopping his own hefty hindquarters into the snow and leaning into her shoulder amicably. His bright eyes looked up at Chan before turning to the other wolf - a youth his age sporting strikingly intelligent, dual-colored eyes.

Something weird began to happen in his stomach, and he became painfully aware of the way he was holding himself and how he might appear. Eros straightened his posture and sat taller, and tried not to keep looking at the other boy. What were the adults talking about... ?

(This post was last modified: Jan 25, 2022, 03:08 AM by Chan.)

Chan felt the jolt of surprise go through Leo, prompting him to turn his own head and greet the Backwater wolf with a smile. If he was correct, this was Sharlee - a wolf @Nash had described as he'd wanted to send his regards to both her and Clover.

"We're here on behalf of the Cove," he informed her with a congenial tone.

Viorel was quick to join them, followed by what Chan assumed were his children. He leaned into the friendly gesture to reciprocate it, and threw one more glance to check in on how @Leo was faring before getting down to business.

"Unfortunately, not much good. I wanted to check in about Xulia, as well as ask if you've seen some members of our own."

He hoped to hear that Viorel's sister had made it home long ago, and paused just for this reason.

Arriving at the border to find two wolves there wasn't a normal occurrence for Sharlee. She remained polite however as she approached and asked if she could help them. They didn't appear to be a threat so there wasn't any reason to get upset. The younger one seemed to startle but the other was much calmer and easily stated why they were there.

They were there on behalf of the cove. Sharlee was aware of the mountain pack ad well ad the backwaters relations with them. "In that case welcome." That was all she got out because Vi showed up then followed shortly by Marguerite and the Eros.

The Valle woman watched quietly as Vi greeted the two wolves. She also took notice of the gesture that he'd given her. She obeyed picking up the rabbit and coming up beside the older male to place it at his paws. "Its not much but please help yourselves," she offered looking between the two cove wolves. She came to rest next to Vi and listened as the older of the two spoke explaining why they'd come.

"I'm sorry to hear there are members missing from your family as well," she offered but decided to let Vi answer about Xulia.

(This post was last modified: Jan 25, 2022, 04:29 PM by Sharlee.)

Thankfully, Chan was quick to come to his aid and answer the Backwater woman, mentioning their home, to witch the stranger offered her welcome. While he kept his gaze low, Leo took careful note of the interaction, intrigued to see how this diplomacy all worked.   Soon enough, another adult joined them, young as well, but clearly radiating authority, they way Leo’s own father did. And the way he acted too, with confidence and charm, made it quite clear that he called the shots here. Leo was happy to see that he greeted Chan with warmth and friendliness – although the scout had said the strange pack was their allies, it still eased the boy’s nerves to see it in practice.   The grown-ups continued to talk, but Leo’s interest was drawn by a grey form appearing out of the trees, taking a seat nearby. Admittedly, he didn’t have a lot of experience with other wolves, but Leo was pretty sure she was around his age – not yet an adult - and as she was joined by another, larger but still similar male, he felt a peculiar tickle of excitement and nerves in his chest. He did his best to offer up a friendly smile, as he’d been taught, anxious, yet eager, to meet other kids his age.   Yet for now, he remained where he was at Chan’s side, one ear perked as the adults talked about their missing members. He didn’t want to miss out on any news about his mother, there’d be time later to make friends. Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA

Viorel had returned to a seated position, as always on the more casual side even when conducting official pack business. Sharlee picked up on his hint and gave the rabbit away, which gained her a grateful smile from the leader and he rubbed shoulders with her in silent thanks. Looking over his shoulder towards Margo and Eros as they appeared, he gave a small notch of his muzzle to invite them closer should they choose to do so.

But, Chan’s words were not what Viorel had hoped to hear. Sighing with a frown he countered, ”I haven’t come across any mountain wolves, but I will ask the other Dead Empress wolves to be sure.” Sharlee stayed pointedly silent about Xulia so he shrugged, ”Xulia has not shown up, but she’s a wandering soul even at the best of times. She has a tendency to go more than she stays.” The leader felt a little guilty saying it, but it was a conclusion he had come to after the disappearance of his mother and brother as well.

Then, realizing he may be coming across as cold he followed up with a cheeky grins, ”She’s my sister, but we’re cut from different pelts.” Some Valles stayed, and some could never stay put, and that was something he would have to learn to be okay with. Going back to the Cove he inquired, ”These missing members of yours, anyone in particular we should be looking for?” Even a vague description was better than nothing.