Follow my own Star
Even with that sobering realization, she knew that the Lord and Lady had blessed her on this trip. Other than the rainstorm and flood that had separated her from her family, she'd enjoyed decent weather and amazing hunting in this new land. Even when the season turned and with it brought her first heat cycle, she had reason to be grateful to the Powers, for she had encountered no strangers at all so far, let alone males. She certainly didn't want to put anyone in the position where they might be tempted by her heat scent, in part because while she certainly wouldn't allow someone to force her she preferred not to be in the position to need to harm them to teach them the error of their ways when she could simply avoid both. She was careful to keep her scent masked with strong-smelling herbs, which would disguise the heat scent at a distance but wasn't likely to hold up if someone got closer. She'd been rolling in jasmine, mostly, and that sweet, relaxing fragrance was what enveloped her today - actually rather enjoyable, all things considered. Maybe she wouldn't stop after her heat cycle concluded.
Whoops!
She stopped short, realizing quite suddenly that she'd almost strayed over a pack boundary in her distraction. She'd noticed just in time and backtracked to a safer distance to survey her surroundings. Hm well this was pretty inconvenient! She'd have to go the long way around to continue north, especially since there was a river to one side and more pack land to the other. Oh well, that was just the way things went! Packs certainly didn't appreciate loners traipsing over their lands, and for good reason. She wasn't inclined to cause trouble but there were plenty in the world who would, and a pack had to protect its own before others. But since she was here she might as well say hi to the natives and see where she was and what she could expect from this unknown continent.
Tilting her pale head back, she gave a cheerful, jaunty call for someone from the pack to join her, if they wanted to.
-::- |
It was getting close to time to call the next meeting. Zuriel was imminently leaving, and there were several small changes and additions to the laws he wanted to announce, as well as officially introducing Solveiga to the pack as one of the new healers. He’d been fully aware that he’d been smelling and hearing very little of Acapella and Crucible. As much as he hated the idea, he would possibly be handing out demotions as well as announcements. It couldn’t be helped, however. If they wanted to be part of Celestial, they needed to be there, active, and participating with the rest of the pack.
Apart from himself, Creed, Castiel, and Rasiel, the show had been rather weak for Kavdaya’s recent Healing Lesson. Varda had been scarce, not one howl for another attempt at a pack hunt. While they needed a Master Hunter – needed more hunters, for that matter – he could not sit idly by while the only official hunter wasn’t pulling her weight. While gentle, he was firm, and he needed the pack to understand that life here was a joint effort.
Tornach’s visit had gotten the cogs working as well for many things. Not just about raising prey, but also more definitive ways to mark the border. Maybe lining the border with stones, light colored, would help make it more noticeable from a distance; an extra form of warning? It would be something that could be spotted first, and maybe cause a wolf to stop and take notice. Hm.
However, his thoughts were set aside as a jaunty howl rang out from those borders. It wasn’t a voice he knew, so he turned, veering from his roving path through the Plains and taking off at a swift, ground eating trot, tail flagging over his hips in a casual show of his rank.
He was an eye-catching enigma compared to the two females on his border. Massive, powerful; there was no sign of laziness or fat to be found in his physique - only muscle - and he radiated a gentle authority through his posture and the light smile that settled onto his features as he drew near enough to take them in.
One was larger, comprised of earthen colors and white accents, and carried a large leather bag of sorts, more intricately made than the bundles of deer hide Kavdaya used to store and transport herbs. The other was tiny, much like Solveiga, but even smaller. She was comprised of a bright, clear, snowy white, but as he drew nearer, pale silver markings were discernible on her face, arcing from rich violet eyes to either side of her muzzle.
He slowed to an easy walk as he drew close enough to speak, offering a smile to them both as he greeted, “Good day; I’m Regulus Adravendi, Archangel – or Alpha – of Celestial. What brings the two of you to Celestial’s borders?” His deep baritone rumble was friendly, an easy wave of his tail accenting the gentle-natured greeting, and his words held a mixture of accents; Irish, English, and undertones of a faint Swedish drawl.
Cinder chose that moment to arrive, though she kept to the background, standing just behind and beside his left hind paw.
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It was mild, but Peregrine could give her points for effort. A sharp laugh forced it's way out from between her lips. "Lazy? I wish! That sounds marvelous. Maybe you're onto something there, perhaps pack life is the life for me. Only problem is I'm not so great at taking direction, it's a fault of mine. And my name is Peregrine, but I'll respond to just about anything that suits you." Her smile widened at the truth of her words. She'd tried joining a number of caravans and hadn't lasted more than half a season with any of them. Clearly they had no taste in traveling companions, and spared a moment wondering how much longer Tsiry would hang on for. On an impulse she offered, "Once my friend returns we'll be heading one way or the other if you'd like to tag along." Wouldn't the lemur just love that?
Believe it or not, she almost didn't notice the massive red wolf who approached them. It took last drop of self control not to burst out laughing at the sight. Sure, she'd seen odd colors on wolves before but this was just overwhelming. Not to mention he was huge! Her eyes widened and it took her a moment to think up a proper greeting (read: thinly veiled insult) for him. Thankfully he filled the silence on his own with an introduction. By that time she was ready, and replied with a smooth, "Peregrine Myre, it's a pleasure. I can already tell you're about to brighten my day! If you must know, I'm waiting for the return of a friend before we make a long, arduous trek around your lands." She flashed him a tight smile, one teetering on the edge of sincerity and impertinence. But oh well, what did she care? It wasn't like she'd crossed any lines, after all. She pitied the guy, if he had nothing better to do than address petty border concerns. She kept her face neutral and expectant to see how he'd react.
But any reply she may have made, either out of curiosity as to Peregrine's absent traveling companion or to possibly accept her offer, was interrupted by the appearance of - so she could assume - the very wolf her curiosity had prompted her to call for.
Bright eyes widened, and her breath left her in a whoosh of not-very-well-thought-out words. "Lord and Lady bless, you're... you're... uhm." Unusual? Unique? Bright, ridiculously cardinal red and taller than any wolf should be? Her mind finally caught up to her tongue and she tempered her words, though she continued with all her usual aspect of blithe confidence. "Blessed be - I'm Chridhe Airgid. I've been travelling a fair ways since I was separated from my family and I'm pretty unfamiliar with this place. I was curious when I came on your pack borders, mostly, and wanted to see what packs here were like. I'm afraid curiosity's a bit of a failing of mine. Too cat like for my own good maybe." She grinned her cheeky grin.