Ounahota
Her coat was as dark as the water on a moonless night, a deep, pitch black of coarse texture and little gloss. The inky color gave way to a burnt-brown on her sides, and faded from there to a lighter, ruddy hue down along her forelegs and underbelly. Like two stormy spheres, her eyes were a grayish color with lingering traces of pale blue that had never fully receded from her younger days. This dark pelage lent itself nicely to stalking through the summer forests at night, and it suited her now as she strode through the consuming shadows towards the heart of the territory.
Ounahota could smell no strong scent in the area. The land seemed vacant and devoid of resident canine life. She didn't want to howl out and lay claim to this area as others might have done, fearing that it would draw unwanted attention from the neighbors, yet she did want to have this mountainous area as her own. Ounahota settled on doing things more quietly after first assuring herself that the area was empty, and began to circuit the borders and scent mark as she went.
Isias & Keap
For some time now, Isias had been interested in joining a new pack. Things had simply become too overwhelming and chaotic in her blood pack, thanks to her brother moving back in with his psychotic mate. The grizzled female was not the only one to feel this way either, for traveling with her was her young nephew, Keap.
"Mind your manners, Keap, and stay near me." Isias instructed her young nephew. Keap nodded to her words and traveled at her flank, letting her do the leading. When she stopped to howl, calling for Ouna's attention and acceptance into the pack, he instinctively kept quiet and stayed put.
Ounahota
A howl from an unknown throat reached the fae and made her freeze. Her sharp, ebonite ears cocked upwards. Her eyes turned in the direction of the distant call as if she might see the one who'd howled to her through all the trees and long space between them. The tone of the voice lacked any threat or aggression, which gave Ounahota some hope that this interloper wasn't interested in challenging her for her newly won land.
Remain where you are. I will come to you. Hota responded back and took off in a sprint to meet up at the edge of her terra and inspect this fea. When she reached the border of her land, Hota had her tail raised in a high, slightly arching plume that declared for all to see that she was the leader here. Her head was raised proudly in alpha status. Her pitch black ruff was expanded to its fullest to give her a larger and more regal look. And her silvery-blue eyes were stern and unwavering. I did not realize there were two of you. Hota mentioned without coming across as irritated. The adolescent looked harmless enough, and a simple sniff told her the two were not related, and thus not a mated pair.
Isias & Keap
There was no mistaking the stance and posture of a wolf who knew she was in charge. Even Keap didn't need a reminder before he was going down on his belly and tucking his tail, declaring his submissiveness without having to say a word. Isias took charge of handling the situation by similarly lowering her lightly grizzled body and turning her eyes downward to avoid direct contact with Ounahota's. "My young nephew and myself were looking for a new pack to join." She started out, to let Hota know first off that she had no intention to take over the land for herself. "My name is Isias, and this is Keap, of the Aspen Grove pack to the northwest."
Ounahota
Hota did not let her stature waver or relax in anyway, no matter how submissive these two were. Her ruff remained expanded like a brilliant black halo framing her face, warning these two wolves that she was in charge, and she expected their continued show of respect. ,B>I am in need of members, but I must ask what drove you from your former pack? The shewolf kept their names in mind without divulging hers so soon. Once she had gathered enough information from them, she would take the time to introduce herself properly. Until then, they were on her terms.
Isais & Keap
"Family tension." Isias explained, without going into detail just what 'tension' had compelled her to leave. That is, unless Ounahota wanted to know more, in which case the wolfess had no problem going deeper into the story. Isias shifted her paws a little beneath her, finding her position a little uncomfortable, and her neck just a little stiff from the angle it was at, being held low and quirked up a little to have Ounhota in her view.
Keap's dark tan belly was flush with the grass and held lower than his aunt's, not only submitting to Hota, but showing obedience to Isias herself and visually stating that he was the current low man on the totem in this gathering. It wasn't exactly a position he enjoyed, since he was the dominant one of his three siblings... but around adults, and particularly around one as self-assured and assertive as Hota, he wasn't going to start trouble.
Ounahota
The fae's nose quivered and she tested the wind, whose myriad of scents reminded her that autumn was fast approaching. The leaves that would soon commence their colorful changes would be but one of the many signs that winter was on its way, and with it, a shortage of food. She needed these two, before another pack scooped them up.
Satisfied thus far with their behavior and the simply explanation for their departure from their family pack, Ounhota let her ruff settle just a smidgen. The defensive tint to her silvery eyes relaxed to represent something more friendly. "That is understandable, Isias. It is half the reason I took off from my own lands." Hota revealed now that she felt comfortable speaking about herself to these strangers. "You've given me your information, now I'll share with you mine, if you'll follow me." The shewolf turned with a deft dip of her head and a fluid movement of her ebonite limbs, carrying herself like a graceful wraith back into the heart of her territory, and without directly saying it, inviting the other two into her pack.
Isias & Keap
Isias breathed a quiet sigh of relief when the other female opened up a little. And sure enough, as Ounahota went on talking, her body language and mannerisms alone were all that was needed to imply that they'd been invited into the pack. Isias lifted herself up while mindfully keeping her gray hued tail held low enough so as not to be seen as a challenge. "Thank you for taking us in." She said in appreciation and started off after her new leader. A subtle, short glance to Keap rallied the younger male after her, with a warning note in her gaze - Mind you manners.
Keap hopped up when he got the all-clear from his aunt. His dark tail even gave a little wag, finding himself suddenly excited about the prospect of being in a new land, and being apart of a brand new pack. And best of all, he wouldn't have to deal with In'Alak and Ireshk trying to tell him what to do.
Ounahota
Ounahout began by leading them around to a small stream for a drink. She helped herself to the cool waters and lapped up her share of the refreshing liquid before she began to give them to the questions that had not asked, but what must be on their minds. I should be thanking you for seeking my domain for acceptance. A lone shewolf is not much to defend her cadre in the winter. Hota's response was meant as a long-winded return of appreciation, without saying it so bluntly. She waited patiently next to the crystal clear stream for the other two to quench their thirst if they so wished, and spent a moment gazing down at her distorted reflection on the water's turbulent surface. Her rich pelt almost blended in with the backdrop of the dark canopy, again making it her light eyes that really stood out to be seen.
My name is Ounahota, you can call me Hota for short. My parents always did. When she was satisfied that they had all had their fill, she leaped neatly over the narrow stream and scrabbled up the steep bank on the opposite side. I haven't been in this place long. I've traveled no more than three months after leaving my pack, and only in the last two weeks have I crossed into this valley area. The shewolf explained. Have you lived here all your life?
Isais & Keap
Ounahota
Lips pulled back in a quiet, humorous smile at the adolescent who fell into the water. It had been a long while since she last was around young creatures and she had forgotten how much their entertaining behavior could lighten the mood of any pack. You will want to be especially cautious in the higher lands. If you fall there, only rocks will stop your descent, not water. Ounahota's smile faded after her light warning and she turned back around to continue her journey through the land. A quieter area? That is a good thing to know. I would like to learn more about the surrounding areas as well, if you wouldn't mind helping with that. The shewolf was moving along at a steady jog until a howl in the distance forced her to stop and direct her tall ears towards the source. Another wolf, and what sounded like a beckoning tone. Come. Hota called to her two subordinates to invite them along to investigate the stranger at their border.