It was high time they started to get trade flowing. Dutch couldn’t believe most of the people in this land didn’t know the name of the Hjarrandi. What were the band doing, sitting on their arses all day? She needed to drum up some business. She needed to do something because sitting around doing nothing wasn’t helping anyone. Steps lead her to a pack’s border. Quite clearly, this was a pack. Any idiot could see that. She’d have to be daft to not to. The dwarven woman paused, frowning, though not taking a step over the scent lines. She’d also be daft to try that. Without, hell, anything backing her up she should watch herself here. Any being on the border of a pack was a threat. Any lone wolf was suspicious. And a band member… well, she didn’t rightly know. Lifting her head, she’d howl to the skies to summon someone to talk to her. Her call tried to reach anyone capable of having an ear with the leader – the head honcho or alpha; whatever they called themselves. Valkyrie could not know about this pack and Dutch was just trying to help get some trade flowing between the band and other residents. Though she’d probably accept just about anyone talking to her. The journey had been long, and her feet were sore. She’d been walking around for days without rest, too impatient and too irritable to stop. Stuff was going too slow for her lately. She needed something to do. Something that made her feel this wasn’t a waste of time. Not for the first time, the dwarf imagined pack life. Her own family unit had been living with other family units, but they didn’t formally call themselves a pack. It was just a community of wolves. But she heard this land had the same deal – just called themselves packs or empires or… she didn’t know. Therefore, she needed to learn more. Dutch wasn’t about to jump willy nilly into a pack either; she wanted to learn more about the people living in each one. Besides, she promised Valkyrie she’d stay with the Hjarrandi. This was a courtesy call. Nothing more, and nothing less.

Okay so the truth was Célestin didn't really have much claim to answer calls at the border, but even though he'd not been given an official rank yet he'd figured it'd be better to be proactive so he'd taken to semi-regularly patrolling the borders. So when the call rose up nearby he figured it wouldn't hurt if he went to check it out... he was halfway there already. So the man loped easily towards the call, already starting to feel at home in the territory... well this one at least. He noticed the short woman, adopting an easy friendly smile as he approached. Célestin kept his stance neutral, confident but obviously making no claim to being higher than herself, except obviously in height. "Salut." He said, his tone friendly. "Welcome to Olympia. I'm Célestin Adravendi. I'm sure our Zeus will be here shortly," the rainbow man felt his face flush at the thought of his friend and he was struck by just how proud of Pegasus he was when he spoke his rank aloud, "but I figured I'd come and keep you company, maybe answer any questions you had while you waited?" Okay so maybe he was really overstepping his bounds there, he didn't even really have any official rank to be making these claims. WC: 215 Walk, "Talk", Think

a guy with the sky on his back appeared. Dutch blinked, her own people's hues earthen and never this... colorful before. she wasn't sure she liked it or found it too much. either way, it seemed to suit the guy. he launched into a cheerful greeting, talking to her like she didn't just march up to his land so confidently that it was almost suspicious. "hey" the dwarven wolf stated, nodding her head to him. he spoke of something called a Zeus, which obviously meant someone of rank. "it's fine if the... Zeus? the Zeus doesn't show up" she went on to say, an ear twirling backward. "I just wanted to ask some questions." maybe she didn't think this entirely through but she felt this pack wolf was a good start. breathing in, she'd figure out what to say before launching into her own sales pitch. "I live with some nomad wolves roaming this land right now" she explained "I came here to be their crafter but, uh" she paused again, brows furrowing as she tried to resist her resistance of talking about it. "honestly, I would like to learn more about pack life. I'm new to this place and I never considered joining one until now." she rather hoped this what she assumed commonly ranked wolf would be able to answer some questions. you can't know the leadership without knowing the masses. "name's Dutch, by the way. I sorta just called you here to, hah, talk" she looked a bit uncomfortable, her violet eyes darting away from his colorful appearance to look to the side. WC: 843 / 1500 WORDS

Célestin cocked his head to the side as the tiny woman said she wasn't actually looking for Pegasus, that she simply had a few questions. He listened as the woman spoke, nodding idly as she mentioned having joined a roving group of nomadic wolves, as their crafter? He couldn't say he exactly understood what she was implying, not that he couldn't imagine it simply that he'd been unaware of organized groups existing in such capacity. Not that it seemed all that odd now that the idea had been presented to him, despite living his whole life in one pack or another he was aware that the life wasn't for everyone, that loners often chose to live away from the structure of the bigger groups, and obviously, it'd be lonely to spend all your time alone so small groups didn't exactly strike him as odd, but that a small structured group might exist certainly piqued his interest. Célestin settled calmly onto his haunches, doing his best to look as relaxed as he could, the woman seemed a bit on edge. "Well I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you have." He gave her an easy smile though he was clearly watching her. "Within reason." He added. Célestin rolled his shoulders, clearly allowing himself to get more comfortable. "I've lived in packs my whole life, a different one before I chose to come here so I can hopefully use my years of experience to clarify anything you're curious about." He emphasized the years and gave the woman a wink, he was hardly old by any stretch of the imagination after all. "So... where would you like to start?" WC: 1121/1500 Walk, "Talk", Think

The guy looked a bit confused on why she was asking questions before Dutch launched into a reason. Honestly, she was just curious about packs. Her whole existence so far had been family units. It wasn’t exactly a pack and it wasn’t exactly a band; Donyur had been a community. Like an old city, with old traditions and stuff. But the man before her was happy to answer questions, and for that she was grateful. Flashing him a grin, she’d nod her head to his words. So, he’d been in other packs before… interesting. “well, I guess what attracted you to this one” she’d say, tilting her head. “people live in various places of their own free will, and I got to know what made you settle here.” He said ‘within reason’ though… maybe Dutch re-considered her words before adding in; “wow, okay. That was a bit personal. You don’t have to answer that one” with a chuckle, she’d go on. “so how about… what about Olympia makes it Olympia?” maybe she’d have a better understanding of what a pack means if she knew how this one worked. Their ideals, their goals… that sort of thing. She hoped that wasn’t personal; she didn’t know if a pack laid out their ambition or kept it tightly ranked. WC: 1337 / 1500 WORDS

Dutch smiled and Célestin's own grin widened. She asked him about why he'd joined and Célestin couldn't help but laugh. She quickly corrected herself sending him another question and the man shook his head. "No it's alright. I was born in another pack, west of here. A little over a year ago the alpha of Olympia joined for a time, we became fast friends and when he sought to raise his own pack I decided I wanted to help him with that." Okay so that wasn't 100% the truth, he also believed in Pegasus' mission and well... he certainly felt like there was more than friendship between them but he wasn't about to go on spouting Olympia's whole purpose or the exact details of his relationship, he wasn't naive... He knew it could become dangerous if others thought someone could use him to get to Pegasus. "As for what makes Olympia what it is, the alpha has structured his pack along the lines of the kingdom he first came from, so it's probably unique comparatively. Like I said I've only been in one other pack, I can't speak for many others on Boreas. Olympia's ultimate goals also align with my own, I guess another reason I decided to join, you'll have to forgive me if I can't go into much detail." He'd give her a wink, knowing he couldn't give away their open hostility for another pack, not yet. "Many of the members in the pack are currently sympathetic to the morals or are also from that original kingdom or both." He offered, tipping his head to the side. "Like I said that is what I believe makes the pack more unique." WC: 1618/1500 Walk, "Talk", Think

her head tilted slightly as he went on, listening to the man's words with open-mindedness. so Olympia's people were from another place like her, and they brought their own ideas and contributions to Boreas. she got it. it was like the Hjarrandi and their culture. proud and not willing to give into the traditions of this land. Celestin wasn't willing to give too much away, and Dutch respected that. "I see; makes sense" she said at last, giving a nod. she wasn't willing to give anything about her band to him but it sounded almost the same. Olympia was a foreign word anyway, she didn't know the origins. maybe she should have asked but... she didn't want to bother him too much. in fact, Dutch felt she had overstayed her welcome. here she was on a pack's border with no intention of joining them, but asking questions about them all the same. "thanks for talkin' with me, but I should get going. don't want to keep ya from your pack for long too" she smiled cheekily, having other things to do now that her questions were answered. she felt herself rise, tipping her skull to the rainbow-colored wolf. "if I'm in the area, I'll come back. we can hang out or do somethin'. I craft things; maybe I can make something for you for your time." she winked back at him with a chuckle. but she didn't know she wouldn't even have the time to do such a thing. Celestin hadn't been a bad talker, and he seemed fun. so maybe they could be friends down the line. "give my regards to your Zeus" Dutch added over her shoulder as she walked off. WC: 1500 / 1500 WORDS END AND EXIT