Odette Mooncrest This had gone too far. Odette was surely going to be skinned alive and hung like a banner in the Armada square by the time she got back to the pack lands. Never, never, had the handmaiden disobeyed the law of her warlord and queen. Never, spare the time during their move across Boreas, did the woman leave pack lands. But as her terrified form passed by another willow tree, she was made frighteningly aware just how far she had gone. But why? The three little claw marks in the dirt gave her answer. Dash. He had done it again! Her highly valued, molting rooster, who was notorious for escaping her watch, had managed to slip past the borders and run like a mad chicken into the unknown. Odette, the devoted shepherd that she was, chased after him until her lungs burned. But by then... it was too late. She had crossed the forbidden line, and was surely going to be roasted alive for it. All she could hope for now, was to track down her runaway rooster, drag him back to the hen house, and hope no one would notice. Though such a secret would undoubtedly rot the woman from the inside out, Odette would much rather feel guilty for her actions rather than be six feet in the ground. So further and further she went, into a wood unfamiliar to her, padding as softly as she could along the frantic tracks of her runaway prey. Odette could only hope that her efforts would be rewarded, and she could get back to her den so she could dig a hole for a very special bird... "Speech"

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Diana had finally worked her way further south, taking her sweet time to wander through the lands, no real destination in mind though she had an inkling her family may be found here. The woman walked silently through the woods, aware of the return of more spirits than she'd bumped into previous. They were whispering something, there was some kind of commotion but she wasn't exactly worried about it. Then she heard something approaching her, fast. The woman paused, quirking her head to the side as she listened curiously, it was too small to be a wolf and the sound of its gate indicated it wasn't quadrupedal. A small feathered creature rounded a tree and instantly instinct kicked in and Diana leaped into its path. The bird for all its speed didn't really have much chance to avoid smacking directly into her legs. Diana placed a paw on the creature pinning it down. She leant down, ready to enjoy her easy meal when she smelt a strange scent on its feathers. That of a pack... did any of the wolves around here keep livestock? Diana lifted her head again, wondering if she'd missed a border somewhere but no the only pack scent she could smell was the bird and- an approaching wolf. The woman looked down at her prey and considered the value of sniping the livestock... but decided it was probably better to get into the good graces of a pack wolf, they might be able to give her valuable information. So instead she lifted her voice, seeking out the approaching individual: "This wouldn't happen to be yours would it?" Speech Thoughts

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Odette Mooncrest Odette was sure Dash was somewhere close nearby, but where exactly? It would seem the young rooster had given the fawn woman the slip, up until a voice cut out between the wood, causing the fawn female to nearly jump out of her skin in surprise. Something of mine? Oh no... swallowing a large lump in her throat, Odette forced her trembling legs onward, nudging their way deeper into the woods. Did this stranger catch Dash? Was he even still alive? Or had the troublesome bird perished, and along with it all of Odette's hopes of surviving her return. At last the woman broke through the last barrier, and came upon a heart wrenching sight. A female, a fair amount smaller than Odette, with dotted marks littering her frame, stood above a petrified version of her beloved Dash. Cerulean blue eyes widened for a moment, before a sense of deep rooted protective instinct kicked in, causing her eyes to narrow into a deep frown. Odette would take another step forward, letting her eyes flicker between the loner and her chicken.  "Indeed. A runaway. Who are you?" It was abundantly obvious it was no pack member of Ashen, nor the Armada. But then again, Odette was far beyond the safety of her borders, so why shouldn't there be lone wolves? "Speech"

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Diana watched as a pretty woman appeared from the trees, and as soon as she spoke Diana felt a growl rising in her throat. "I'm the woman who caught your bird for you." She said, gently lifting her paw and then roughly nudging the bird towards the fawn woman. Diana watched, uncaring if she didn't actually catch the clearly flighty bird. If she didn't Diana would simply catch it again and this time she'd eat it. Now that the other woman was closer she could pick out a pack scent and it was... familiar. She narrowed her eyes for a moment. She gently brushed a forepaw along the ground as she pondered. "You wouldn't happen to know the Klein family would you?" She could smell her brother on her coat but the woman wouldn't jump to any conclusions... at least out loud all she could feel was that if her brother had chosen the rude bird girl Killian certainly could have done better. Speech Thoughts

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Odette Mooncrest Slightly taken back by the woman's tone, Odette allowed her eyes to widen slightly before they pulled together again into a frown. "Yes, well... thank you... for that... I guess." I almost had him, she wanted to mutter, but restrained herself since she was in unfamiliar territory. As Dash stumbled towards her, Odette swept out with a swift paw and drew the rooster in, closer to her core and kept a firm paw on his body to keep him there. Her attention was brought back to the stranger as she spoke of the Kleins. It was a strange questions, one that made her peer at the female in a new light. "I know some... who are you?" Perhaps keeping the details to a minimum and as close to the truth would help Odette keep her chicken and keep her head. If this wolf knew of the Kleins, then perhaps she could be trusted, but then again, a Warlord wasn't needed unless war was to be expected. So Odette would wait.. and try to piece together the strangers purpose.. and why she was hanging around the Armada. "Speech"

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