Second last pack. One of the ones she didn't really know so she padded closer until she was a respectful distance away and slowly she would lower her leaf of dwindling supplies to the ground. She had enough for the two packs hopefully if they didn't already have it. Friction should have enough, she hoped her brother would be able to answer her there. Head would tip back and howl would slither up her throat, calling for the alpha or another higher ranking wolf. It seemed alphas were not exactly immune? She would cut the howl short, shuffling her her forepaws back so she sat up straight and curled her tail around her paws. So far she had not been forced to wait long for anyone.

"Speech"
"Thoughts"

This call was far from what she had expected, especially in times such as those they had been facing now, for what seemed like far too long. It held confidence, a sureness that caught the sooty fae as queer. She rose onto weary limbs, tired and sore from the extra care she'd put into caring not only for two litters of youngsters but for the other invalids as well. It had been a draining season thus far. "Koros," she barked, not unkindly but with an insistence that spoke of now. The smaller white canine roused himself from sleep, shook on his paws, and was at her side as she began to lope towards the border the call had originated from. The wolf that beckoned to her was female as far as she could tell, but the voice was unfamiliar. Part of her wished it was Virgil, but she knew it was not so. Her golden love's voice was one she would never forget. As Raisa came upon the line, the figure's fiery coat caught her eye against the pale, washed out landscape of winter. "Welcome to Ebony, stranger. I am Raisa Xanilov, Queen of these lands." Part of her wanted to snarl and snap at the woman, tell her to leave her illness-ridden pack alone, fearful that she would bring some new ailment to plague them. But, she knew better, and so maintained her courtesies without missing a beat. "What might I do for you?" "Talk" "You" Think

Hajime walked up with Raisa, though keeping a respectable distance. Ever since a month had passed since the death of his mate, things with his kids were getting better. Thank the heavens that none of his children had caught the horrible plague, though he could only imagine how the queen felt. Hajime's cousin Vahva however had died, which he mourned only softly about considering he had not known her too well. Here he was the support Raisa as a stranger came to the borders hopefully with good news at that. Hajime gave a shy smile to Raisa for a moment, before dipping his head towards the one at the borders in respect. He was of noble birth, but he was not high of rank yet. Though part of him felt he shared something with Raisa, their pasts at least. And after all she was the foster mother of his children, there was no words that could express his thanks for that. Sitting calmly, he waited and listened standing by for anything if he were needed. Speech,

This howl was unlike the others Adelaide had heard recently. She was so used to the strangled cries of those who had fallen to the plague. Those cries echoed in her nightmares, accompanying the endless streams of blood. The healer snapped awake from such a nightmare when the call moved through her ears. Her body was weary as she pushed it from the earth, blue eyes searching the rock garden. In the distance, she saw the stranger, cloaked in a strange red coat. Or was that a remaining shred of color from her nightmare? Adelaide shook her head and a blinked once, then twice. No, the strange wolf still remained. Curious, the woman started moving forward. She soon was joined by a familiar blue bird that hovered at her side. Elijah had been visiting more recently now. The two had become quite the pair. But now the snowy maiden did not spare him a glance as she focused on the one who had called her.

Raisa and Hajime were closing in as well, their path parallel to hers. They reached the woman before Adelaide did, and the voice of Ebony's alpha was as calm and authoritative as it could be considering the circumstances. Adelaide gave a small nod as her bird companion came to rest on her shoulder. Being the healer that she was, the maiden couldn't help but notice that this visitor brought a small package of herbs. Could this be the cure they were waiting for? The cure Adelaide had tried so hard to find? Sapphire eyes would gleam with excitement as they awaited a reply.

"Adelaide Speech"
"Elijah Speech"

Waits we're never long it seemed. Everyone answering surprisingly quickly. First came a black woman with strange russet and white markings that a Vi couldn't help but appreciate. She seemed strung out and tired but then again that had been Vi up until she had found the cure with Cru. The woman introduced herself as Raisa, the queen of this pack. Ebony? Vi's lips parted, silken words telling her tongue but as another arrived she would allow lips to close and curl. A smile and a nodd would be sent to the male. She knew him. Though she hadn't seen him since Taurig had led Tortuga, since Newt and Zara had last been together. Though it seemed her sister had returned and Taurig's mate as we'll bough not the cobalt king. "Hajime... It's been a while..." Words were soft, hushed but smile was earnest. Another would arrive afterwards, an unfamiliar face. She would simple nod and smile to her before returning her gaze to the queen.

She probably should have been better at this, better at talking to other authoritative wolves and yet... Vi wanted nothing more then to slip into old mannerisms, to bow and swoon at her presence but she couldn't. She was a queen now even if she was on temporary leave. "My name is Viridiana, queen of Covari. I've come with a peace offering if you would. It's a bad time to be coming looking for a peace treaty but I have brought the cure with me. You are one of the last packs I have visited, I apologize for taking so long, it looks like it's needed here..." She said, forcing earnest into her tone as she looked to each of the wolves. God she hated people, hated gatherings, hated having to talk so much. Yet here she sat, smile laying easily on inky lips as she finally allowed her gaze to settle back on Raisa. Would she accept? Athena and Virgil had accepted quickly, roman being the only one treating her with mistrust and suspicion.

Raisa noted Hajima and Adelaide's presence with appreciative nods, but no words. The support of her comrades was a blessing, especially when facing a strange wolf in such lean times. To her surprise however, it was not herself whom the stranger addressed, but Hajime. Raisa allowed a glance to pass between the crimson fae and her amber knight, waiting to see if anything would become of it. As the woman continued, however, Raisa felt her chest coil into tightness. Queen of Covari? Raisa had yet to hear of such a band, but she would not say such things to this so-called queen. Her air and aura was regal enough, but lacking the word of any others Raisa was forced into skepticism. As she spoke on, Raisa could not bring herself to consider any details at all of the woman's background, pack, even her name. A cure? She had the cure to this horrible curse? It seemed almost too good to be true but the queen could not keep the hopeful glow from her eyes. "A cure?" she asked quietly, her voice forcibly subdued so that she did not scream and howl, launch herself at the woman, shake her about until she said the only words Raisa cared about. "Queen Viridiana, my daughter is sick, my heir, and many others too. If it is peace you bring, I gladly accept. What would you have of us in return?" She did not say it, but at that moment, she would have given anything at all. "Talk" "You" Think

Hajime's fur prickled on end as she spoke, out of excitement and slight distrust. This was Raisa's daughter after all, someone fairly important and only in the back of his mind did he lecture himself on this. Paws moving slightly underneath him, he kept very close to Raisa. Red eyes gleaming over the red fur of the woman. An odd color that reminded him perfectly well of his grandfather. "Raisa, be careful." he whispered to himself. He had no right to speak this towards her after all. And whatever happened he'd serve and protect her as long as he could. Looking towards the others, he silently wondered what they thought. Of course they all were eager, friends, families, children, were all sick and a cure had finally been found? While he was still getting over many deaths, the death of his mate, the death of his cousins. One thing he was excited about, was for this to finally be over. Speech,

Adelaide was correct in thinking that this queen had come to share the cure. But in order to receive it, Raisa would need to agree to an alliance. She seemed very eager to do so, thought for reasons unknown Hajime began to quietly caution her. It was clear that he had encountered this scarlet maiden before, but the healer was not yet sure whether that encounter was a friendly one or not. Either way, obtaining the cure was crucial in this moment. The snowy female dared to voice her opinion, showing her support for the Ebony queen. "I agree that caution is necessary in affairs like these, but what other choice is there? Those who have fallen to the plague are in desperate need of this cure." Sapphire eyes locked onto the small package, peering with curiosity at the items inside. What could it be? What knowledge has failed her all this time? Other than her short outburst, Adelaide stayed silent. It was not her place to make the decision. She instead trusted Raisa to arrive at the best solution. Elijah, too, was quiet. He shifted nervously to the woman's other shoulder, sharp eyes watching the whole exchange.

"Adelaide Speech"
"Elijah Speech"