Éldi woke before the dawn, setting about breaking camp and preparing for the journey ahead. His paws crunched on the frost, mist billowing from his nose as he worked. Setting his belongings onto his travois, he gulped down some dried fish and turned his thoughts to prayer. He'd been wandering for weeks now but still hadn't found what he was looking for. Unsurprising as he didn't know for sure what the object of his future truly was.

However, he had had dreams of a waterfall. That seemed as good a place as any to start. Éldi continued working his way around the shoreline before starting to cut inland. Above him his raven, Askr, flew, keeping an eye out for signs. As for Kylar, the bobcat, well he hadn't see the cat this morning but had no doubt the feline would catch up with him. Humming to himself he carried on in his slow, methodical pace. Even at his advanced age he still moved with strong, sure steps and the confidence of one who had lived enough years. He now sought his fate, wherever it might lead.  Speaking of…

Éldi paused in his walk amongst the forest, hearing the roar of water in the distance. A waterfall? Askr landed above his head, swaying excitedly on the branch. "A waterfall! Not far from here, on pack lands." With that the raven sprang again into the air, taking off in the direction of his finding. Éldi took off swiftly after the bird. A pack? Was this where he was meant to go?

Moments later he stood at the border. In the distance he could see water spilling down the face of a large mountain. What had he to lose? Tipping back his head he howled for the leader of these lands to meet him.

Speech // thought

A half moment before Eltrys heard the canine call, his own hawk above him alerted him to a stranger at the border. The sound from the wolf carried something in it that, for some reason, gave Eltrys the idea that they were experienced. He told Saga to take a vacation as he stepped into this new role of his, and he was about to call the others to inform them officially of the changes he had in mind.

Eltrys looked up to the entrance of the den behind the falls, his lady love lay within, at the doorstep of death, and every moment he could he was by her side.

He padded purposefully toward the strangers call, not letting them wait. As he approached he could smell the elder and he was intrigued! Not many elders were typically loners where they?

"Greetings. This is the borders of my pack. I am Eltrys. Are you well?" He asked, wondering why the other earthen male had come and called him.

Éldi settled down to wait, sitting gingerly as his tail wrapped around his paws. His raven settled in the branches above him, bobbing for a moment on the branch until it fell still. Soon he was greeted by a young man, well young in his opinion, who introduced himself as Eltrys, the packs leader. Éldi dipped his head. "Greetings, my name is Éldi and I am as well as I can be at this age." He chuckled. "No arthritis, thank the gods. I was wondering what the name of this pack was and if you might have room for a hunter? I am capable both in traditional hunting and growing more versed with traps by the day." Éldi's greatest joy was the hunt and so he fostered ways to maintain his skill even as he aged. Trapping was proving fruitful and easier on the body.

The elder greeted him in kind, a warm presence matching Eltry's own. A hunter! Seeking a new pack!

"Yes!" Was he too eager? He hoped his exuberance was not too naive. "It is good to meet you Éldi. Welcome to Videa. I am the Archdruid, the Alpha here. I was the resident hunter for a while until I took up the mantle recently. We would appreciate your wisdom. Come." He said, nodding his head for the elder to follow him over the borders towards the falls.

"The border here is around Lazuli Falls, and encompasses the creek to the south. Where have you come from? How might you feel most welcome?" He asked as he led the man toward the center of the lands. Would he request a den?

"Speech!"

Code © Skelle/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

Éldi grinned at the enthusiastic yes. That was a good sign, maybe his journey could come to an end now. The man, Eltrys, explained that the pack was called Vedia and that he was the Archdruid and a hunter before taking up the mantle of leadership. "Well, there is much that leading a hunt can teach one about leading a pack. Thank you for your acceptance. I look forward to starting this next chapter of my life." He followed along after the leader as the man gave him a run down of the border and asked a few more questions.

"From Avalon, I had a dream that it was time for me to move on and the gods have been sending me visions. Night after night dreams of a waterfall and today here I stand." He chuckled. "Please, spare an old man his religious fervor. It brings me comfort. As for a welcome, you have been most welcoming. I think I'd like to get a den set up and rest a bit before taking in the territory and the flora and fauna you have here. Is there a particular place most of the pack dens?"

The Archdruid hummed agreement about leading hunting parties. It was essential to know the skills and setbacks of your hunting comrades so as to delegate tasks properly! Leading the elder into the packlands was easy enough, but as he glanced up the gentle slope up over the falls to their regular meeting place he wondered how easy it would be on joints less spry than Éldi's?

The other mentioned they were from Avalon! He knew vaguely Polaris and Ethne were on friendly terms. So he might as well make the trek over that way and tell them Eldi has arrived safely and they can resume trade and good feelings.

"I'll never dissuade any religious fervor here, as long as it respects others. I was the high priest of an ancient order back in my old country. I am well-versed in the ways of the spirit and comfort." He began, then, to point with his nose in each direction as he said them, "For dens, there are a few on the plateau over the falls, some behind the falls themselves in a system of tunnels, and a few more down by the creek. It took me a while to find one I like myself. But I've resettled into one behind the falls. When you find one, you like, feel free to give me a shout and I'll deliver some comfortable supplies."

As he finished he gave the elder a nod, "Be welcome Eldi! Hopefully, you will get a visit from our resident hospitality squad, Ikuchi. But if not, you are always welcome to give me a shout."

"Speech!"

Code © Skelle/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

Maneuvering carefully on the trail, Éldi kept pace with the alpha as they talked. Eltrys explained that he had been a high priest in his original homeland and was fine with the differing religious beliefs of others as long as everyone was respected. Éldi nodded his agreement. Being polytheistic in his beliefs it was easy enough for him to accommodate the beliefs of others without feeling like he was desecrating his own.

Eltrys explained the den layouts and the differing locations. There were many options and though spry for his age he immediately decided against the ones over the falls. The fewer steps he had to take while climbing the more he could keep stress off his joints. "I'll certainly have to check out the dens behind the falls. That seems like such a unique feature to the area. Thank you again Eltrys, I will do my best to serve Vedia well."

-end?