When Father asked her to accompany him to one of their allied packs, Clove didn’t hesitate to say yes. Truthfully, she was overly excited to join him, for a few reasons. Spending time with Artorias was something she loved, even in her teenage years. And the chance to explore a new territory was something she would never pass up. On top of that, she got to experience some grown-up politics, which was becoming more important as she grew older. And maybe she could make some new friends. She thought back to their travel to the Viking pack, and how fun it had been. Assumably, this would be just as fun!
Only, their visit was a bit different this time. She could feel the tense aura that shrouded the territory, given they had been raided recently. Father hadn’t extensively explained what raiding meant… only that it could happen to them, and they would need to defend their home from attackers. In truth, it scared Clove a bit- the thought of losing a loved one was devastating. But she had faith in her family’s strength… and her naivety to the dangers of the world helped her offset the thought into the back of her mind.
Wandering through the territory, being led by a girl named Haydee, she could hear the soft drone of the waterfall off in the distance. It took some time to navigate the forest, but finally, the massive landmark came into view. She couldn’t help but stare at it in awe, starstruck wonder shimmering in her eyes. Wow, it was beautiful here! And then, they were met by a boy who seemed to be around her age. Gravitating closer to Artorias, she greeted Dorian with a shy smile and a dip of her head. Father then explained that she would be spending some time exploring the territory with him, and she happily obliged.
Following Dorian, and glancing back at the waterfall, she made a mental note to ask Dorian if they could return later and try to catch some fish. He started to lead her through the forest, pointing out the variances in the vegetation, and how it changed with the season. Stopping at the base of a massive, jungle-like tree, she stared up at it-marveling at its size, listening to the animals that inhabited it. “It’s still so beautiful- thank you for showing me around.” She said, before shifting her monochromatic gaze back to Dorian. Slightly analyzing him, admiring how his earthen pelt stood out against the backdrop of the forest.
Walking along the path, Clove stopped here and there to observe things. Something that caught her eye, was a huge, fallen tree trunk that looked like it had been hallowed out by some creature. Peeking her head inside, her snout crinkled at the musty, moss smell. Spider webs decorated the inside, though they were inhabited this time of year given the cold weather. “What do you think lives in here?” She said, cocking her head slightly. It may have been vacant now, but perhaps its owner was out foraging for food?
"Speech"
