Navigation: Algoma Prarie

Freedom! The young woman bounded through the fields completely unabashed, in her glory as she explored the vast terrain beyond the home where she'd grown up. She felt incredibly liberated on her own, if a little bit anxious, but any feelings of doubt or worry were easily quashed by her impulsive sense of adventure. She felt invincible when she thought of how far from home she was, how far she'd come and how much she'd seen already. It was exhilarating and intoxicating all at once. Nothing could go wrong. And eventually, she'd approach pack lands in search of information that she would take back home with her. From there, things would only get more interesting.

As for today, it was a day to indulge her curiosity. A light layer of snow coated the tall dead grass that her paws grazed over, such a different sight from what she was used to. She had vague memories of the place she was born, where there was always snow and it was never warm. However, that had been so long ago, it merely felt like a dream. Although, she could almost say the snow here gave her a feeling of nostalgia, and she was rather enjoying it. The only thing she didn't like so much was that there didn't seem to be much to eat; prey scents were scarce and faded, indicating that the herds had moved on and the small animals had all taken cover for the harsh cold season.

However, the girl didn't worry. She had better things to do. She had new places to discover, and treasures to uncover. She wasn't going to waste time worrying. She could worry later. For now, she was off toward discovery, her deep emerald eyes scanning her surroundings, warm gray paws prancing through the snow. Her dark gray tail was held high, her nose frozen as she breathed in every scent from the frigid air around her. Now, if only the unchanging scenery of this wide open expanse of land would offer something just a little different and enticing...

She moves on silent paws, trotting along in a slow and easy rhythm. So much of the land the woman had yet to discover and as she traveled in the south she catches just the faintest hint of packs. This sparked her interest as her only interactions thus far had been with loners like herself. For a moment she ponders on the thought of a pack, of her joining a pack. Could she settle amongst the company of others and under the rule of an alpha. When she had come here that was the last thing that had crossed her mind. What if she started her own? With a shake of her head she expels the thoughts, now was not the time. The demoness would only bring hell upon a pack that would snatch her up. She wasn’t meant to be ruled.

 
Cerulean optics look about, noting the quaintness of the land around her. Such a stark contrast this was to the Northern lands she had passed through earlier. Nares flared lightly catching the scent of bison but knowing that it would be near impossible to take one on her own. Her stomach growls to her in acknowledgement of hunger but for now Quill pushes it aside. Audits snap forward at the sound of moving water though and this brings the woman forward. Within moments she is upon the creek and without hesitation she treads into the water. It is cold around her paws and this brings her to the surface from the confines of her mind. Maw dips greedily as it breaks the surface, pulling in the cool liquid in hurried gulps. She lifts her head and it runs down the sides of her façade in an unfeminine matter. Crania gives a shake and the water is expelled from her fur, tongue swiping up the last drops from cream lips.
 
It’s then that something catches her attention. Or rather a someone as her eyes lock on to the movement of another wolf. Curiosity pulls her forward, inner demoness grinning in the hopes of an interesting interaction. As she draws nearer she takes in the girl’s stature, looking to be about a year younger than Quill. Nostrils open to allow the air to enter and she catches the faint scent of others. So this girl belonged to someone. Interesting. Her strides are confident as warrior-built slate and ebon frame begins to hopefully close the distance if the stranger doesn’t leave in the opposite direction. It’s as if the woman slithers along the ground, eyes glinting with intent and determined interest. When she grows near she moves to stop infront of the girl, giving her just enough room to be polite. Head is set high upon broad shoulders and tail arches over the top of her back. ”And who do we have here?”

Sterling spotted the other she-wolf from a distance, the slightly older woman's dark figure easily visible. Curious, she didn't change her course, moving to close the distance between herself and the other more quickly. Eyeing the lady as they approached one another, her emerald orbs were first drawn to the rich cerulean of the other's gaze. She remained silent as they paused a respectable distance from each other, and allowed the other to speak first, as was her preference anyways. "And who do we have here?" Sterling heard the words, and hesitated for a moment, trying to grasp the tone of the question posed. The pose of the other she-wolf seemed somewhat challenging, as though she had something to defend here. Thinking back, she was certain she hadn't crossed any scent barriers - she would have noticed if she was in the territory of some other pack. Shrugging internally, her own posture remained neutral, tail hanging comfortably behind her hocks, her head held just above the level of her shoulders.

"The name's Sterling," she answered in a roughly mannered tone, but lacking in hostility, "Who's asking?" Her tail flicked then as it often did when she spoke, though the rest of her body, swathed in a mix of grays, did not move. She wondered who this stranger was, and why she appeared so on edge. Feeling like nothing could stop her since she'd left on this journey to collect information for Talis, she had no worry about how this loner would reply. She felt like she was ready to take on anything that came her way.

Posture of the stranger is level, unchanged and inner demoness gives a grin. We haven’t rattled her cage enough. It’s a whisper that echoes between her ears, pushing her to unbalance the girl, to make her more expressive. Optics hopefully remain locked on the girl, icing over and leaving nothing in their wake. Sterling. Mental picture tags itself with the name and is stashed away for later recollection. Nares flare and she catches the faint scent of other wolves. So it seemed she had finally found a pack wolf.

Who’s asking? Tail flagged upon the girl’s rump but Quill couldn’t quite tell if it was in annoyance or an old habit. A half smile breaks upon her features, contorting it uncomfortably from its previous stillness. ”Quill.” Venom leaches out around her speech as she finds herself drawing a few steps closer. If Sterling hadn’t moved she would find herself almost nose to nose with her, an uncomfortable closeness forming between them. Tongue swipes hungrily across her maw as she aims to whisper in the girl’s ear. ”Now what has brought you wandering past the borders of your packlands?”

The assumption is bold but she feels it is safe with the mingling scent of others not yet stale. It is very possible that the girl had just left a pack and struck out on her own but with the good condition she was in she highly doubted it.

It was an eerie feeling that spread through her as the other young woman pressed closer, suddenly standing so that they were nose to nose. Didn't she know anything about personal space, and how not to invade it? Sterling's ears tilted back as she leaned away from Quill, who was trying to get unnervingly close to her in order to ask her next question. What was up with this chick? She could hardly focus on the words being spoken to her as she tried to get back to a more comfortable distance. She took a couple steps back, angling herself slightly to her left. However, with a little bit of space in between them again, Sterling was able to mull over the words she'd heard and formulate a response, although she was more fixated now on keeping her personal space, well, personal, than on where this conversation was going. Still, she would answer. "I'm exploring on behalf of my pack," she stated, choosing not to go into detail. After all, she didn't know this woman at all, and she didn't need all of the loners knowing exactly what she was up to.

Eyeing the other woman, her emerald orbs roving over her, Sterling wondered why the stranger seemed so intensely interested in what she was up to. Did Quill have something to hide, or was she looking for a fight? The girl was uncertain of the woman's intentions, and she felt guarded. But, perhaps she could redirect the conversation somewhat so that it was not entirely fixed on what she was doing. "Do you live around here, Quill?" she asked cautiously, eyes shifting briefly over the prairie land surrounding them, before landing back on the she-wolf. When she'd first spotted Quill from a distance, Sterling had thought maybe this had been an opportunity to make an acquaintance or learn something of value about these lands - now she was just more concerned with keeping her distance from the odd-mannered woman and hoping things didn't get more awkward from here.
She certainly wasn't counting on it, though.

The girl leans away and she hopes to follow her, leaning in. Jaw is dropped to cover her throat. Always be prepared. Her father’s harsh voice whispers in her ears and she knows to never underestimate your prey or you may just get bit. When she goes to take some steps back though Quill wills her frame to stay where she is. We don’t want to ruin the game too quickly. This time it’s her inner thoughts that settle her, promising more length to the game she was enjoying.

”Exploring? And what have you found so far?” Voice remains level and cold, almost soft in the quieted area around them. She watches the stranger and sees that now she is eyeing her up and a slight smirk tugs at the corner of her maw. Do you live around here Quill? Her words are cautious, everything about the girl on edge as she seems to dig for information of her own. But if the girl wanted to be cryptic in her own answers then that is what she would get in return.

”Would you come visit more often if I told you I did?” How comfortable would she feel knowing the woman ran the unclaimed lands. Knowing that she could pop up whenever and where ever. Knowing that if she made an enemy she would have to constantly watch her back once she left the safety of her pack lands.

”Where does your pack reside? Are there many wolves there?” The question breaks shortly after her response to the woman and her features still slightly. It is genuine curiosity now that brings forth her speech but she doubted the girl would humor her with an answer.