Cosmavicans

As pack leader, it's your job to look out for your pack. You're doing one of your border patrols when you notice a faint scent on the wind. You raise your muzzle and breathe deep... it's the scent of an unfamiliar wolf. You're on your borders so they're not in your territory, but the idea of wolves this close to your hunting ground is... troubling. After marking the borders you track the wolf's scent to the top of a rise and stop. Below is a camp of wolves lounging outside their dens, sharing prey, sleeping and chatting comfortably with one another... but you've never seen them before. You don't recognize any of them. But that's when you realize a wolf is walking as if they'd just gotten to the clearing. You lean as far as you dare and inhale, filling your nose with the scent and separating it from what seems to be their packmates. That was the wolf you were tracking! How did they get down there so fast?

"It's a long way down... do you want to jump?" Startled by the new voice, you turn and see another unfamiliar wolf behind you. He's yellowish-brown with a patchy pelt, his tone challenging and expression... oddly flirty. He stays a little ways away from you and stands tall to show he means business and will not hesitate to attack you. He speaks before you can. "Greetings, stranger. I'm Eagle. Scout from the Cosmavican pack. What are you doing on our territory? If you seek an alliance, I'll take you to Kuffo. Or something more~? She's a pretty thing, y'know." Eagle grins suggestively, his eyebrows raised. You certainly don't want to join Kuffo's pack as you have your own wolves to attend... but maybe it would do good to know your neighbors.

The scout looks down to the ground from the ridge and you wonder how you're supposed to get there. Maybe he could see that, because he sneered, "Scared? Well this is the way to get to our camp."

You don't want to seem weak in front of this… crude seeming wolf; you need to make a good impression on your neighbors. A strong ally or a fearless enemy; whatever your relationship will call for.

So you jump. It's actually quite fun - it's like flying! As you get nearer to the ground, you try to tuck your front paws and roll in one smooth movement. After a few moments, the scout rolls in beside you. Heads turn your way as you shake damp leaves and sand out of your fur; some friendly, some curious, some hostile.

Eagle walks with purpose and takes you straight through, tail high, nodding at a few select pack mates as he briskly leads you to a blue-purple-green female who sits with yet another packmate, a younger she-wolf who smells like plants. The colorful one turns to you with interest as you approach.

She addresses her scout first. "Eagle, we'll address your scout later. It's not like there's anything too urgent to discuss, right?"

"No," the brown wolf agrees. "Nothing other than my terribly successful mission ending in meeting this wolf on my way back who wanted to meet you, who has... dubious intent." With a devious seeming wink, the vulgar wolf slips away, slapping you in the snout with is tail.

"Hmm." The herbalist glances at you, her pale eyes glittering curiously. She looks you up and down with kind yet calculating eyes, offering a friendly smile. She doesn't say anything and turns back to, presumably, Kuffo.

The leader seems to give her a sideways look before regarding you curiously. "Welcome," she greets, her tone not hostile. Nodding towards the reddish black striped wolf, she introduces you to her herbalist. "She seems to trust you," Kuffo muses. "Dustcloud is my herbalist. She's as strong as she is intelligent, mind you, so try to stay in her good graces. And don't mind Eagle. He's a mean, flirty dumbass." But you can tell Kuffo likes him.

Dustcloud's only response is a surprised look, as if she isn't used to praise like that from her sarcastic-seeming leader. "Anyway, accept an official welcome to the Cosmavican Pack from yours truly, Kuffo. I've gotten reports from my scouts of unfamiliar wolves settled close by... assuming that's you, If you don't like us this close, we won't stay long. We're a travelling pack, and this is just another stop of many. We won't give you a reason to attack us if you don't give us any. We are no threat to you."

It was curious how this Kuffo character isn't showing her strength to scare you like most leaders do, as if she really wants no trouble. Depending on what the future brings, maybe you could take advantage of that. But for now, they seem nice enough...