It had been some time now since she'd been forcefully adopted by Lirim. Rags wasn't much of a complainer, but most of the summer season had passed trapped within the pack's borders. To take a stroll outside of the two territories would have been a welcome relief from this monotony, but she was trying her hardest to obey by the rules she'd been given. Time would only tell when she would be released from this strange incarceration.

Rags was taking another stroll through the willows, her third walkabout this morning. Days like this - when the sky was clear, the air was cool, and the sun was shining - made her itch for relief from confinement. There was so much more to do and see! Lirim had been... not unkind, she supposed, but Rags certainly wasn't comfortable here. What was their endgame, anyway? Did they even want her around? What was the pack's purpose?

Sighing to herself, Rags paced beneath the boughs of one of the older willows. Perhaps she could track down the alpha soon to discuss her predicament, but she'd heard that his mate was due any day now. With the advent of his puppies, all other matters would likely take second (or third, or fourth) place. Maybe she'd see the outside world by winter. Rags settled in for a seat at the base of the willow, ready for another boring day.

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speech

Torin needed there were a few things he needed to get on top of before his children were born, knowing full well his attention would be drawn elsewhere once they were born, even more so once they were independent. The gangly woman they'd forcibly taken into their ranks was chief among those things. He emerged from his den, shaking the dirt from his coat, and yawning. He'd gotten into the habit of sleeping in later than he'd ever done before, not wanting to leave Derecho's side but knowing he had to.

The man resolved himself and was glad he managed to pick up the woman's scent, easily tracking her to the base of a willow. Torin cleared his throat as he approached, adopting an easy but still authoritative stance, his tail lifted but not the high banner it had been when he'd first met her, his gaze was stern but not hostile. "I figured it was time to talk." He said as he approached, settling onto his haunches before the woman, his tone and actions making it clear she didn't really have a choice. "You probably have questions both about Lirim and about your position here. I am here to answer them." He said, his tone even as he ran his gaze over Ragnheiðr, he had to admit to being pleased she'd at the very least listened to his rules about not leaving. There might be hope for her yet.

WC: 474/1500

Original Coding by Shelby

Rags often had difficulty with scenting things due to her nerve damage, and so didn't realize Torin was nearby until she heard him. She flicked a flaccid ear in his direction and turned to receive him in a way that she hoped said "submissive" without rolling on to her back again. The spotted female didn't speak until he addressed her, keeping her body language as neutral as possible - the parts that were within her control, anyway.

"Thank you," she said awkwardly. It felt strange to thank him for anything at all, but she had to note that since accidentally stumbling into Lirim territory, her belly had never once been empty. Although she had been sneered at, there were plenty of safe places to den down for the night and she had been mostly left alone. Taking a deep breath, Rags thanked him more emphatically: "I am grateful for Lirim's hospitable. Since my, er, arrival - as it were - I have not gone hungry and have been safe within your borders." The sentence even surprised her a little bit as it left her mouth, but she was good at hiding it. If anything, her flaccid ears and tail made it easier to mask her own emotions. No ears to prick in alarm, no tail to flag out her discomfort.

"As you can see, I'm no physical specimen. My talents often aren't readily apparent to others, and I would like to think that those who feel my physical defects detract from my... usefulness.. are sorely mistaken," Rags said carefully, shuffling her large but rather useless, clumsy paws. "I'm a fine thinker and navigator. I have much to teach, especially little ones. I think the wonder of a child at the new world before them is something to be treasured and tended to, like a garden." She had heard news of Torin's litter and was excited to welcome another generation, but had respectfully kept her distance from him and his mate since arriving. Knowing that pups were on the way made her more understanding of his ask-questions-later sort of greeting.

"But tell me more about Lirim," she offered, finally meeting his gaze directly. "I'd like to know where you might see me fitting into the bigger picture, if I am permitted to stay."

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cumulative wc 858/1500

speech

In truth, while he had been rather aggressive upon finding the woman on his territory Torin held little resentment for her. He knew his sister had kept an eye on her and with her penchant for merciless teasing and eagerness to prove herself that was probably nearly enough punishment for Ragnheiðr. He was more concerned that she understand their rules and why she was being punished at all. He didn't suspect her of being malicious and in truth, he trusted her lack of ill intent enough that he'd be comfortable enough to simply turn her loose. But he was selfish and he wanted nothing more than to see his pack flourish if she could be made to understand their way of life he could see some potential in having her become a full member, which honestly what was keeping her here right now. Maybe that was a little cruel but he also knew he was well within his rights to detain anyone who'd trespassed.

Torin listened with an impassive expression, hiding the slight surprise her thank you gave him. He'd lived most of his life in a pack and wasn't totally sure what sort of unique hardships one faced when on their own but as he'd noticed the woman seemed to struggle with her limbs he could imagine she'd struggle more than most. Maybe being made a prisoner, essentially, was still preferable to struggling to feed oneself, not that he was particularly eager to keep prisoners. She mentioned as much as she continued to speak and Torin nodded lightly, understanding how that could be seen as a hindrance. His own issues had led him to doubt his place for a very long time and he was growing excited by the prospect of helping Ragnheiðr find her own place in his pack, gods willing of course.

She turned a question his way and Torin considered for a moment, his gaze wandering to the familiar sights around him. "I mentioned when we met that the pack has always strived to provide a home for that need it, and while that's still true... Lirim, as it is now, is as my mother made it, how it was when it passed to my brother and his secondary alpha after him...  But I figure it's time I stop trying to fit their mold. I want to make Lirim a place that offers shelter to those that need it yes, but also for its members be allowed to better themselves as they see fit. I want to foster learning and growth in whatever form one feels most driven towards." Torin brought his gaze back towards Ragnheiðr. "To that end, I'd rather see you somewhere you feel fulfilled, we can always use dedicated mentors for our younger members in any number of skills." He wasn't exactly eager to simply hand of his future children off on the woman but he also knew she couldn't prove herself without the opportunity. "So I guess that'd depend on what you feel you could teach." It was a question, a softball lobbed easily back towards her.

WC: 515 (1373/1500)

Original Coding by Shelby

Rags mulled over his response. Ah, so this pack was his family's legacy. That seemed par for the course in these lands - packs held for generations without disruption. His aims to reform his mother's lands seemed admirable. It was a good thing to aspire to, at least; but would the members see it in the same way? Change was a difficult thing. She knew quite a few wolves who were reluctant to stray from their favorite hunting grounds even if the pickings were slim. Some were just too married to their old habits. "Do you foresee any push back as you remake Lirim in your desired image? Some wolves prefer their old routine," Rags asked, her tone genial but curious. It wasn't a pointed remark, although it could have been perceived as one. She wasn't one to beat around the bush.

"As for teaching, like I said: a hunter or fighter I am not, but I do have the mind of a strategist. I could run and observe fighting and hunting drills from a safe vantage point. I am also an excellent navigator, and I have some rudimentary knowledge of herbs. In short, I am a little bit good at everything," she laughed softly.

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cumulative wc 1573/1500

speech

Torin listened as she asked him if he suspected if there'd be push back against his upcoming changes. "I don't know..." He admitted. "Obviously I hope not but I'm not naive enough to assume it couldn't happen... there aren't many who remember my mother's rule... just my family and Frostbite I suppose so it's hard to say who might consider these changes... bad." He mused aloud. "I suppose in the end I cannot stop anyone from choosing to leave after hearing of these changes." He met the woman's gaze, conviction in his voice as he spoke. "It's more important to me that my members want to be here rather than stay out of obligation." His gaze was very pointed, he wasn't above holding those that he had to but he still hoped she'd chose to stay in the end.

Ragnheiðr spoke of her own skills and he considered for a moment. "My changes aren't set in stone yet, or maybe even ever, I'd be more than happy to add a rank for general instructors to help teach pups before they're old enough to choose a focus." He watched the woman carefully, he was extending an olive branch, a way out of her current predicament and a specified place within the pack.

WC: 211 (1784/1500)

Original Coding by Shelby

His logic was sound. She had to admit that he seemed like a fine leader, even if they had not met in the best of circumstances. If she had her own children, maybe she would understand better the ferocious need to protect your own blood. Rags had plenty of experience protecting things, but it was usually just her own dignity. Wolves seemed to like to attack that the most.

"I think you have a respectable plan in mind and the wherewithal to implement it," she said simply. The names he mentioned did not mean much to her, but it was about time that she got acquainted with other wolves in the pack, regardless. "You know, while I do love children, my skills aren't only beneficial to the very young. Everyone could use some brushing up on navigational skills and tactical positioning every now and again. In my travels, I have also discovered some unique exercises that relieve some of my pain - perhaps they would be beneficial to others as well. I would be more than happy to lead classes for adults." The future Rags envisioned was as a jack-of-all-trades professor. She loved being able to answer questions, and if she didn't have an answer, she would work side-by-side with her students until they could reach an acceptable conclusion.