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Posted 2024-09-30 08:53:30
#1287177
Riley bristled slightly at the mention of killing dangerous travelers. She understood it on some level, but she was always inherently doubtful of a pack's ability to determine the intentions of a traveler. Nonetheless, all she answered was a noncommittal "Ah, I see." She kept her eyes on her surroundings, eyeing them carefully, and did her best to keep up. Her age and the distance she had already travelled today was beginning to catch up to her, but she did her best to catch her breath and not slow the stranger down. 		Forty Seven
#111800
Posted 2024-09-30 08:59:30
#1287185
The scout sighed. "I don't mean it that way. I mean if a traveler gets too aggressive or moves to harm one of the pack, they're killed. We aren't mind readers, sadly," she then decided to shut up so she didn't scare the elder off. "We're close." Sure enough, after only a couple minutes more, a clearing drew near. The pack's camp was relatively large, as though there had once been a large pack. Now there were few wolves, some mingling, others napping. Atop a high ledge rested a white female who looked more like a Cryptid than a wolf. The scout glanced to the elder wolf. "She looks mean, talks mean, she's not mean." At her words, as though having heard, the white creature lifted its head and let out a bark that drew the attention of multiple wolves.

The large creature rose and circled down to ground level, approaching the stranger and the scout, serpent tail waving. "You're late. Who is this?" The creature growled to the scout, who ducked her head. "Apologies. I found a small group of travelers. This one chose to come with me," she explained to the creature as it studied Riley. The creature's three eyes softened as it took note of Riley's condition. "Yes. Let's get you some rest, traveler. We can speak in a moment. We have a traveling den, if you'd like?" The creature's growl was gentle, switching from angry with the scout to gentle in moments.
432302 - Semi On Break
#127877
Posted 2024-09-30 10:56:41
#1287269
Riley stayed silent for the rest of the journey, choosing instead to just take in her surroundings. She flicked an ear to acknowledge the stranger's remark about the white creature, but couldn't find it in herself to be scared. She blinked slowly at the bark and stared at this creature, wondering idly what kind of animal it was, for surely it could not be just a mere wolf. It was unlike anything she'd ever encountered in her travels, but by now she had more passing curiosity about the oddities around her than fear. She watched the exchange silently until she was addressed, choosing instead to catch her breath.
"I do not need rest, but thank you," she answered cordially. It sounded nice, sure, but old habits die hard; she'd never fully relax in a place full of wolves and creatures she did not trust. "I'm here only on behalf of my pack, to... assure you we have no ill will towards yours. We don't want to cause any trouble." 		Forty Seven
#111800
Posted 2024-09-30 11:01:16
#1287273
The white creature ducked her head in understanding. "Your wariness is understood. Yazmin, dismiss yourself. Get some rest," she directed the young scout, who bowed and hurried away. The creature huffed, serpent tail curling around her back paw to stay off the ground. "If you will, can you tell me as much as you are willing about your pack? If you do not wish to tell me, I hope you are willing to ask questions about my own pack; I will answer as many as I can with the truth." She sounded genuine. She would not reveal the pack's secrets, but was willing to provide information to help herself and the stranger come to a decision.
432302 - Semi On Break
#127877
Posted 2024-09-30 11:27:00
#1287288
Riley watched the stranger go. Yazmin was her name, then. She filed that away in case she needed it later, then turned back to the white creature. "We are nomads," she answered, blandly and nonchalantly. "We don't stay in the same territory for long, we never have, but we try to avoid those already taken. The rest of my group that your friend back there encountered was only part of our pack. There are more, including our alpha... they intended to find a spot to settle for a time, but I sent them back to let the alpha and the others know that these lands are already occupied. I hope they followed my instructions, but our second-in-command can be just as stubborn as myself and I don't know what he did." She paused and blinked a few times, glancing around. "...I assume since I am still here, he did not follow us."
She shook her fur out and then stared intently at the creature. Well, she was here, might as well not beat around the bush; why not start with the first, most obvious question? "Your wolf that I met earlier. She had a strange marking, three eyes too. And you, you are certainly no ordinary wolf." She waited a beat before adding, "Your pack is unlike any I've ever met before. Tell me about yourselves. Is there a reason for this... uniqueness?" 		Forty Seven
#111800
Posted 2024-09-30 12:29:14
#1287320
""There is. The pack's original alpha, her name was Lupa, was a merciful wolf, as normal as she was. She took in many of us who had no home due to our different mutations and variations that a normal wolf would see as strange. She was mother to many of us. It's needless to say she was an eccentric wolf herself, though I won't waste my words telling you her story. Your question, why the pack consists of creatures beyond the ordinary. Lupa is your answer."" The creature spoke slowly, choosing her words with precision. To say too much would break her own rules the creature had set for herself when it came to speaking to strangers. She lowered herself into a sitting position, her thin tail curling up around her front paw to keep the scales as off the ground as possible. Her wings settled on her back. "Many of the creatures here are known as Cryptids, I myself am one of the few with more extreme... differences from your average wolf."
432302 - Semi On Break
#127877
Posted 2024-09-30 12:50:01
#1287341
Riley listened quietly and then nodded in understanding. It seemed plausible enough. She'd never ruled out the possibility of strange creatures living in the forest, she'd seen strange shadows and heard odd noises as a young wolf before the pack that she couldn't explain with what she knew of the world.
"The wolf who brought us here told us of your, eh, policy on travelers such as ourselves. Would you mind telling me your version?" she asked warily. She wanted not only more detail about it directly from the one who actually determined it, but to see if the stories were the same to make sure she had not been lied to. 		Forty Seven
#111800
Posted 2024-09-30 13:48:13 (edited)
#1287405
"Ah, logical. Her wording of the policy has never been any good. For travelers who attempt to harm myself or another member of the pack, they are chased out- many have been killed when they fought back. My scout is young, so please forgive how she probably worded it. We welcome travelers, but as always there are unsavory characters we do our best to avoid," The alpha huffed, her top eye closing briefly.
432302 - Semi On Break
#127877
Posted 2024-09-30 14:14:36
#1287438
Riley nodded, still hesitant to trust fully. That policy sounded much too close to her original pack's policy, used and abused as it was, to make her former packmates quick to find justification to attack any poor wolf who happened across their territory. There was a reason she had left and never looked back. At least they hadn't been attacked on sight; these wolves had that to back up their story so far, anyways.
"We will not, as long as one of your pack does not try to harm us," Riley answered. She eyed the alpha carefully, tail flicking back and forth thoughtfully. "Was there anything else you wished to share of your pack? Or anything else you wanted to know, about me or mine?" 		Forty Seven
#111800
Posted 2024-09-30 14:52:40
#1287457
"Is there anything else you wish to know, about myself or my pack?" The white creature replied, sighing softly. "If not, you and your pack are welcome to remain on the territory and hunt as long as some prey is left for my pack. Are my conditions to your liking?" The cryptid analyzed the wolf, her three eyes open though the top eye seemed to be lazy seeing as it didn't focus.
432302 - Semi On Break
#127877
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