sorry is short, started running out of steam XD

She was careful as she made her way here, skirting the lands taken from her. She did not sprint as she had when she went to Song, tired from working so hard with her injuries. It took her quite some time, but eventually she found herself at the border of Arcanum. She could only hope that she had reached them before the usurper. She released a call for Catelaya, hoping the woman was awake at this hour of the night. They had promised to aid each other, to support each other, when they had pledged to arrange marriage between their families. Natalya hoped that even after the loss of her pack lands, that arrangement would stand. It had only been a couple of days, after all.


""

She had been sleeping peacefully when a call sounded. As first she ignored it, hoping it was just a dream. But the longer it lasted, the more it woke her. Eyes would flutter open, irritation immediately igniting in her gaze. A growl would rumble in her throat as she rose. This has better be good. Having been asleep, she didn't recognize the caller, nor did she take note of the urgency. Not once did she move with urgency. If someone had been so bold as to wake her in the middle of the night, they sure as hell could wait. Minutes had passed before the border finally came into view. Under the heavy fog of night, she would not see her visitor, nor would she be seen, until she stood directly before the stranger. And it was a familiar face. Eyes would narrow. "I hope you have a damn good reason for being here." Her words were thick with annoyance that threatened to flare into anger. Nostrils quivered, smelling blood. Her senses would dance to life, eyes immediately raking the woman, finally noticing her wounds. So she had been in a fight. Was she bringing war to her doorstep? The idea what half way appealing at this time of night. Muscles quivered as she stood silently. HER WORDS HERE HIS WORDS HERE

Cataleya would finally come to greet her, her irritation clear at being woken in the night, but Natalya was certain that the queen would perk once she heard what she was there for. The alpha of Arcanum was fond of war and battle. This story would be sure to catch her attention.



"Cataleya," she greeted with a nod, stepping forward slightly so that she could speak more quietly. "I apologize for waking you so late, but I had to get here as soon as possible. Our pack was challenged for by someone who was pissed off by my niece," she began bluntly. "My husband lost. The challenger, Katja Finnvi, took not only the lands, but will not release the children of Virgil. That includes our heir and the potential mates for your daughter." She paused for breath, giving her companion time to digest the information in her freshly woken state.



"I am going to take them back. We are claiming new lands soon, and when we do I plan to gather our allies to wage war to recover my family. We will be having our festival as soon as we have claimed soil and I plan to officially discuss this there. I just need to know, will you support us and continue to be our ally?"


""

The woman would start off with an apology before moving on quickly. Her face remained neutral, though surprise raised caution flags. Her husband had lost the pack to a challenger? They had lost. This woman woke her, to tell her that they had lost their pack?! Irritation slow turned into anger. Anything else that was said was barely heard. Something was said about claiming new lands, some Virgil woman. Hackles bristled. War. It was the only thing that caught her attention. A brow would lift. "So, you woke me in the middle of the night to tell me that your incompetent husband lost your pack and now you plan to wage war?" She needed to go back to bed, it was to late for this. Her voice did not once raise above its normal level, but only seemed to grow in toxicity. "You expect me to side with you when you can't even defend your own pack in a challenge?" She sounded incredulous. "How foolish to do you think I am?" She spat, her temper flaring into something uncontrollable. "I will not send my daughter to some place so weak." Her crown would lift above its normal level, chin tucking as she glared down at the woman. Hackles bristled, her tail curling above her lips. Words were husky and laced with venom. Lips unfurled to reveal ivory daggers. HER WORDS HERE HIS WORDS HERE

Anger surged in Natalya more fierce than any she had felt in some time, a combination result of Cataleya's selective hearing and her quiet rage against her mate. Had she not been so presently wounded from her own battle, she may have lashed out against the woman she thought to be her ally and begun another conflict right here and now. Instead, she stepped forward, her nose nearly touching Cat's, her voice shaking as an aggressive whisper left her lips. "My husband's weakness does not define the entirety of my pack," she spat angrily, blindly glaring at the woman who stood eye level with her. "This is not about the pack, or the lands, this is about the children. I would have handed that insane woman the lands on a silver platter, if only to protect my nieces and nephews, especially those I raised in my own den." She took a deep breath, stepping back and settling on her haunches. Her voice evened out and she became stoic again. "While I speak of war so rashly now, I do not know for sure what our plan will be. Virgil returned and she is planning something against the usurper for certain, though I do not know what. I will be having the festival and I will be calling my allies together then to decide a course of action if one is still needed. You pledged an allegiance to my family. If you wish to honor that, answer the call for the festival when it comes. If not, we can part as if no allegiance was ever created." She sat a moment more before rising. "Also, as you seem to have forgotten, your daughter was not to be sent to live with us. Her suitor was to be sent to you. The option will certainly still be open, regardless of the outcome of our mission." At that she turned, interested no longer in standing to interact with this woman. It would do her no good to stand here any longer when she was in such an unfortunate state. She was needed at her temporary home. "Speech"