Many things had been on Hecate's mind for quite a while but she would cope and adjust to them as they came to her. She was nowhere close to mental and emotional stability but she did make a major strive the past week. She had been able to hunt for herself which had given her something she had no had in a while: confidence. She had successfully taken care of herself without scavenging off of what others had already taken down but the day prior she had caught a rabbit in her jaws and she had eaten it with a bit of pride in her step. This would be insignificant to some but to her it was major. She continued along her path in her usual timid and shy manner as she made steps towards improvement. She looked around for something to do when a pack's borders caught her nose. She stayed lurking a few feet away from the border because she was too scared to call for someone but she did catch the man's scent vaguely mixed in. The scent of the boy who had cleaned her recovering shoulder wound. Her eyes were wide and focused but the constant fear she lived in still remained.
Life had been rather rough lately for Novella, for Threar as a whole in fact. Numbers were dwindling and though of course she worried after the missing members of her family, it was those that would never rejoin them that kept them the most troubled. Death was never easy to deal with but as Frith had rightly pointed out to her, life continued. As an alpha, a mother and a wolf she had to step up and join it rather than simply hiding away. It was of course a task easier said than done but forcing herself into normality was surely the first step to at least pretending things would be ok.
And so here she was patrolling the borders or at least making a show of attempting to. Her mind certainly didn't feel sharp and senses paid less attention than normal to the key details. It was out of habit that she wandered the lands, her paws guiding her over the familiar paths and heart only half in the task really. And yet somehow she would manage to catch the scent of a stranger nearby, and her eyes would pick out the unfamiliar form lurking ahead.
This was where she was supposed to actually play the part of an alpha.
The momentary pause before she did move into action. She was surprised to be honest to see the stranger near her lands, it had certainly been a while since such an occurrence, and it didn't help that generally a wolf would call as well to let you know they were there. None the less, silent or not there was someone there and Novella would continue closer to the edge of the lands to approach the her.
Lack of sensitivity fortunately didn't run in the family, and unlike Sorrel's tactless meeting with the poor girl, Novella was able to sense the fear that haunted the stranger. She'd stop hopefully before she reached too close, praying that the reason for this worry wasn't some sort of danger that could follow her to Threar. The last thing they needed was trouble. "Hello there." She spoke softly, dominance and threats certainly weren't needed here, fortunately for Novella wasn't sure she had the energy to deal with anyone like that right now. "I am Novella Destruction, Author of Threar. Are you alright?"
A wolf in the distance startled her but Jezebel did something that she had never done before, or at least not in quite a long time - she didn't run away from the fear of harm. The woman approached her and greeted her with seemingly kind words. The words were spoken softly to her and then the woman introduced herself as Novella and she also stated that she was an Author in some strange pack named Threar. What was the rank of Author and what was it equivalent to? Was it alpha or beta? Hec had so many questions but he was still quite shy and nervous as the fear started to dissipate away from her. She spoke, her voice very soft and just audible for Novella to hear. "I… I’m H-He-Hec-Hecate." The words held an obvious form of pain behind them as she cringed at it. Her own name made her cringe.
Seeing as the other was simply stood there, Novella hadn't really considered the possibility that she might flee from the scene without a word. Though Hecate stood still however there was certainly no confidence in her choice or actions, timid voice responding with a stuttered introduction so quiet that it was almost lost to the wind. She would worry for her, what on earth had terrified her so much? Still the unanswered question would wrack the white woman's mind, was Hecate alright?
"Don't be afraid. You're safe here. Are you alright though? Did something happen?" Novella would try calm here, put Hecate at some sort of ease. Recalling whatever had scared her so much probably wouldn't really keep her feeling safe though she still worried and wondered, wanted to know if the girl needed any help, and if Threar could even offer her that help. It was a distraction from her own troubles though at the very least, a push to get her to jump back into her role as an alpha.
The woman was trying to calm her down but it didn't do much. Hecate was still shaking uncontrolably from a mixture of the cold and the general fear that she was in all of the time. Hecate gulped as the woman asked once more if she was alright. "N-no. M-man-many th-things wrong." Her words matched the feebleness of the last one as she kept her head positioned to look at the ground. "Do not look at me, you failure." Words ran through her head as parts of her past came to be told out amongst the crowd inside her head. Pandora had been particularly fond of those words and crueler things still.
She couldn't do this. Why hadn't she just ran like she normally did? Probably because out of panic she would have run the wrong way and trespassed or something. Hecate looked down on herself so much that it wouldn't surprise her that it would be that one time she'd screw up on the only thing she was good at: running. She gulped, her lips flying across her lips as she continued to just stand there, shaking, and staring at the ground. The mottled woman was far from okay.
Though Novella tried it seemed she would fail at trying to calm the other wolf down at all. The trembles continued and frightened tone would stutter out a rather concerning statement. Physically Hecate didn't look seriously wrong, Novella had certainly seen far worse lately. At least that meant it looked like she wouldn't need to call Sorrel or another healer from Abaven then hopefully, but clearly something was still wrong with Hecate. Had she perhaps been threatened? It would certainly explain the reason to be so fearful. "What's wrong?" Novella hated to ask so many questions, almost feeling as though she was nagging. It was probably the last thing that Hecate wanted but here she was stood upon the borders of Threar and as Author, she had to know why.
Hecate knew a few things for sure and one of them was what was wrong. Everything was wrong but Jezebel had a suspicion that this woman wouldn't accept 'everything' as an answer so she tried to figure out how to word it. "M-my si-sibl-siblings are h-h-hun-hunting me." The words were stuttered out as tears started to form in her eyes. Hecate just wanted to be friends with her siblings but the cruel wolves wouldn't have it and through the year of torment, this is what Hecate Jezebel Lilit had become. Nothing. She knew that this moment was the moment that most would cast her out and turn her away to get her as far away from their lands as possible. They didn't need someone like her who was not only useless but being hunter as well.
The last thing anyone needed was an emotionally unstable wolf.
No family was perfect, all went through their little stages of trouble though never could she imagine one turning completely upon each other in the manner Hecate now described. Her elder siblings had certainly had their troubles, verbally argued for some time though never had it gone beyond that and the damaged bonds had with time repaired. Even the delicate Anthem had never been reduced to such fear despite how much he too hated to see them fighting. To think that this poor girl's terror was induced by her siblings honestly left Novella both speechless and horrified. She was really in no position to offer her protection if these wolves tracked Hecate down but with all her compassion she could hardly turn the trembling girl away. Abaven would help anyway, that much she was certain of and hopefully these siblings of hers would have the sense not to trespass upon a packs lands.
She was jumping ahead of herself of course, who was to say Hecate even wanted to join Threar. She was on the borders but she hadn't called and even now hadn't specifically asked for any help only explained her troubles and that was simply upon the Author's request. "Come with me." She stated simply after a moment, words spoken softly, an offer more than an order. "Maybe my pack can help you." She couldn't promise anything, but they could certainly try.
The woman looked visually horrified when Hecate told her that she was being hunted by her siblings. She was still shaking as the woman offered to have the pack she lived in help her and Jezebel was hesitant. She really did not like interactions with other wolves but she knew that a pack could help her remain safe from the three siblings who had constantly traumatized her time after time. This hesitance was shown in her face as she contemplated it. She was going to have to take the risk of accepting the rather surprising offer. "Oh-Ohkay."Hecate was not sure how this was going to turn out.
It still possibly sounded like she had offered Hecate very little choice in the matter though had the other truly wished to turn away and leave Novella certainly wouldn't have stopped her. There was no protest though, only another fearful little comment as she agreed and began to follow her, both her tone and expression showing some reluctance to the idea. "Are you sure?" She questioned, truly wanting it to be the other's decision not for her to feel forced into it at all. "I might be biased but they are a lovely group of wolves. Not one of them will hurt you though." She promised a soft smile, hoping to inspire a little confidence into her. "And of course you can leave at any point you wish, I only ask that you let myself or my husband Frith know first."
It would appear that her stuttering was mistaken for uncertainty when the wolf told her she did not have to and that she could leave any time she wanted to and that the group was a nice group of wolves who would not hurt her. Hecate nodded in understanding because, at that point, it was all that she could muster up. She continued to walk with Novella, still shaking as she constantly looked over her shoulder to make sure she wasn't followed. She would constantly watch her back, even if Threar was a safe pack with wolves who meant no harm. Every wolf had the power to create harm which is why she couldn't trust Novella's words just yet. "W-wh-what the n-name of y-your p-pa-pack?" The question was posed in the same stuttery and fearful aura that Hecate always held around herself.
Novella's mismatched eyes continued to glance backwards, watching for Hecate's reaction. A fortunate outcome for no verbal answer was given to the question, all she could rely upon was the soft footsteps as the other continued to follow and a small nod both of which could have been easily missed if she fixated upon the view in front of her. Another question would be asked after a short pause, as Hecate enquired the name of the pack. Novella had introduced herself with it, though perhaps it had slipped the other's mind, so scared and worried that it had barely registered. The Author would be patient, not remind her of this fact and instead simply answer once again. "Threar."
Perhaps it was best to explain a little more about the pack ranks as well for her, just so she had an understanding of everything. "Author, the title my mate and myself hold is the alpha of the pack." She wouldn't go into too much detail, not wanting to confuse the poor girl. "You would be a Paperback for now." She continued, it was probably the best, a rank that wouldn't put any sort of pressure upon her and allow her to settle in. "Just until you settle in. Nothing would be required of you, just help as you please."
Hecate listened carefully to her words. Threar, Author, Paperback. All of the names were so strange and foreign that it had Jeze curious for once in her life. These new things had her not worrying about what might be behind her for once, but only for a moment. Nothing will be required of you. It sounded too good to be true. Hecate could learn what she needed to learn in this pack in order to do what she needed to do. Just until you get settled in. There with a small and timid smile of relief as she nodded. "T-thank y-yo-you N-Nov-Novella." The name came soft from her lips as she looked around the bay and got close to the water. She was like a pup, looking around in amazement like she did. In truth, she could probably pass as a pup if not for her age itself.
Novella certainly wouldn't push her, she was free to take as long as she needed. The Author certainly got the impression it would take a while to get her out of her shell. Her nephew, Sorrel, for instance hadn't really made any progress in his antisocial ways and he wasn't trembling in fear any time anyone approached or spoke to him. Sure there had been moments of difficulty in his life but certainly nothing in comparison to the hardships of Hecate. Still the stuttered out thank you would do for now, and once more the Author would smile softly at the girl. "You're welcome."
