Katja had not yet reached her pack after meeting with Ludicael's leadership. Despite the exhaustion dragging at her, the viking had taken one more detour. Right next to the step where she made her own den, right across the border there, was a thicket. Sometimes, when the wind was right as she walked the border, she had scented something strange there, something she'd only scented once before in her travels. It was the scent of one of the big cats, the tiger. She had never battled one, though in her time as mercenary she had very nearly been contracted to fight in a battle against a pack allied with one... disappointingly the conflict had been resolved before it had come to that. It did leave her with the memory of their distinctive scent, and it was in her mind to meet with this tiger and learn more of her pack's unusual neighbor. Just as she would have for a wolf pack, she stopped short of the strange scent markers delineating the bounds of his territory and, raising her muzzle, let out a low howl seeking his presence. She didn't know if the creature could speak the common tongue of the wolves here, or if he would understand what her howl said, but she knew tigers to be intelligent and capable of it. Even if he did not know the meaning of a howl at the border, hopefully he would be as curious as felines were said to be and come to investigate regardless. "Speech"

Languid jade eyes opened slowly as he caught the scent of a near his territory. Great orange form shifted ever so slightly. Wolves were everywhere in Alacritis. Like vermin they stretched to ever corner and in ever crevice they could be found. She was not the first wolf to wander so near and Sk?lingr rarely found reason to disturb the wolves that did so linger through his territory. Most were simpy passing through. But there was concern over food stores. It took much prey to feed a 600 pound cat and Sk?lingr was not overly fond of loosing precious prey to mutts. Slowly the great beast stood and stretched, his striped coat shifting fluidly over his body. But what was this?? The wolf had stopped at the border of the thicket. Well, well? a wolf capable of respect? A howl rang out and ears flicked forward then back then forward again as he processed the sound. Was the wolf? calling for someone she had missed? Surely she wasn't summoning him? Well? Sk?lingr was a cat of curiosity and she had earned his attention and respect by showing the same to him. He would humor this wolf. If she was looking for him well then she found him. If not then he would assist her if he was able. The striped wraith strolled to the border of the terra. "What is it you are looking for?" His low voice rumbled, almost in a purr.

The tiger's approach, though expected and hoped for, still instinctively raised Katja's hackles when he materialized out of the forest. Far taller than her at the shoulder, he moved with a liquid grace that not even she for all her training could quite match. The viking smoothed her hackles, the cool expression in her eyes unchanging as she watched him, though she did not meet his eyes as was the wolf custom, for cats viewed that as a challenge and she did not wish to challenge this king in his own land. Not now. "I do seek you, tiger king," she returned in a voice as smooth as his, with none of the purr. "I have only just returned from diplomatic negotiations with the other packs of the land, seeking to know where I stand with each. My pack does border your territory, yet none have approached you yet. I seek to remedy such." She was silent for a moment, ordering the still-unfamiliar words. She would much rather offend every pack in the land rather than this creature, so she must be sure. "I am Katja Finnvi, leader of the pack Ebony. I wish an alliance with you, but if that is not to be I do wish a treaty of peace between us. My wolves will stay out of your lands, and you will leave my wolves alone. Or... we could be truly allies." She stopped speaking now, to leave him time to digest her offering. She sent a silent prayer to Freya as she did. "Speech"

Jade eyes fixed upon the wolf as she greeted him, his tail twisting and twining like a serpent behind him as he watched the canine. She did not raise her eyes to meet his gaze. An unusual sign, both one of respect? and one of prey. For a tiger would not stalk while eyes rested upon him. But still he would favor this femme for now. She was a rarity. A creature of both humility and power? a rare and desirable combination from his point of view. An ear flicked as she mentioned she was on diplomatic missions. So she was Queen of Ebony now. Yes? he was aware of the packs existence. It was vital to know what threats were near by. But he was not terribly thrilled with the idea of being pestered by the canines that lingered so near. Though at the same time her offer was tantalizing. Would it not be better to offer his aid to a pack that would respect him than to neglect it and let it fall to one that might hunt and drive him out? Sk?lingr leaned back his head tilting softly to the side as he thought through her words. He was not a beast of haste and would contemplate this offer. "Your kind thrive in every corner of this terra. And while I do not care overly much for your company I can no longer pretend that I can avoid you. You are a rarity, Katja Finnvi of Ebony. Most pack would hunt and chase a tiger that lingers to close to their borders, regardless of how many might be slain in the process." Sk?linger moved to sit down before he further addressed the enemy. "I too have concerns over my food sources as well? so let me put this too you. I would ally myself with Ebony. I will offer you my being, my claws, my ears? I will offer you any intel I think you may find useful as well as my claws and strength in battle." After all this terra was his home and it would benefit him to protect the wolves that respected him. "In return I ask only that your pack respect me and my borders, and refrain from hunting here. Should the ranks shift the new leader must speak with me if they wish the treaty to continue. As soon as you step down it will be void and a new one created. Is this acceptable to you? To enter this pact with a tiger, with Sk?lingr?"

Katja carefully considered the tiger's words as her gaze drifted to the forest at his back. It seemed a more than reasonable alliance for Ebony. With the help of a tiger they would care well in the event of an attack, though even a tiger could not hope to stand alone against a trained pack of wolves. Wolves would die, but still would the tiger fall. She finally nodded her acceptance. "It is a reasonable treaty," she allowed. "We will do as you ask, and more, I pledge we will stand with you should another pack seek to do you harm. You have only to call." She met his eyes then, not out of challenge or disrespect, but a quick affirmation of her words. "It is not the species that concerns me, sir tiger, but the spirit and the honor of the beast." That said, she inclined her head respectfully and backed away. "If you will excuse me, I have been away from my pack for quite some time and wish to return. If you have need of me, I will be there." With that, she melted into the trees, her tired body seeking the steppe and her den to rest from her long journey. - exit Katja -