Your face,

It felt nice, to be amongst a group again even if she had not met another. A safety within numbers and the familiar smell and view of them. Though the exploration was nice, she couldn't help but miss the flavor that came with the interactions — the bonds that were, and what was created.. Suppose that was why Uriel took @Rannoch's proposal to join this land the most, no one else had done except one, though.. That land did not give her the same warm vibes, and though she did not like to say it, it felt difficult.. To communicate with that wolf.

Left as she did and united with Rannoch and what seemed to be but a growing group, she started taking The Everfrost as a home of sorts, or a temporary one till' otherwise they all, had gotten their barrings. Yet the thought of a 'beast' wandering around made her a bit wary, that she had trouble sleeping in the open peacefully.

That was when she saw that.

Instead of fully exploring herself, she strolled away and looked for a familiar figure, a gray male within the frosten forests, "I found something," she said, approaching Rannoch.

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Rannoch had been trying to dig a hole for quite some time, but had failed so far. The ground was hard, and he had bearly scratched the surface. Since he had recruited Uriel and Sunneva, Rannoch decided that it was time to create a cache, but it seemed that his effort so far had been in vain. He huffed, not letting his frustration get to him—he knew that he eventually get it done.

When Uriel arrived, Rannoch turned towards her, happy to have a distraction. ”What is it?” he prompted with interest.

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 Something wasn't right. She was detecting more and more smells of other wolves in the area that should not have been there. Even though Kuhn had laced the area with his scent, Valmúa had even begun assisting him as though claiming parts of it as her own. The warrior still hadn't decided when, if ever, she would return to Morðfjall, but if there were wolves closing in around Lord Kuhn, she would be there to assist.
 Valmúa had been stalking a golden stranger who had come far into the Everfrost.
 Why was she here? What did she want? A protective instinct had taken hold as she stayed downwind, hidden at a distance. She could vaguely see another, but for the moment, she merely waited.
 It was unfortunate that her red pelage gave her away.

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She took a moment to eye his hole, a small smile of gratitude of the attempt to build the cache. If they were to settle around, temporary or not, it was wise to build an area of so — to food, and to nest most likely. She failed to notice a red stranger in the distance, as the other was not with her eye view. Downwind as she was, the smell remained a blissful unknowing, and continued on without a thought. Though there was the rising displeasure of someone watching the two, similar to how she felt within the Banesteppe. Surely not so, and she visibly shook off the shiver, "I found a cave, it looks abandoned."

Uriel pointed her paw just a bit to the side, indicating it was in that direction, "Would you like to explore it with me? It could be a den."

Moments ago she came across a rather large hill, though she saw the entrances. Bear-like as it was, it seemed to be as if was once a den for another, though she smelled no one near. The golden wolf did not venture further into it's claim, suggesting perhaps her partner would want to see it as well. She had not met the other woman, and took a note she wasn't around if too, wanted to explore so. Perhaps another time, they could show her what was to be discovered.

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Uriel had found something[madash]an abandoned cave, specifically. It would be benefical for them to confirm that it was abandoned, as it would provide them shelter. ”Please, do,” he insisted, and waited for her lead.

Unlike Uriel, Rannoch didn’t feel like they were being watched. He was blissfully unaware, and his attention was more so focused on finding the cave.

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 Keeping her distance, Valmúa continued to stalk, noting that there was both male and female here. Perhaps they were a couple, seeking out a place to be themselves. Perhaps they were scoping out the terrain for their pack. She didn't know why they were here, and remained ever suspicious of their intent.
 She was not close enough to be able to hear the words they exchanged, only to hear mumbling voices in the air. Keeping as silent as possible, her footsteps were careful not to crush dried foliage. Whatever they were here for, she would find out why.

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As she moved to turn to, the golden woman froze so. Only now though could she see the figure in the distance — red against the white, though smell may not be there it was only a matter of time, before she could see. The woman nudged Rannoch slightly, a slight worried look.. For though the woman seen them, she made no indication to move forward or greet, and that itself, started to worry Uriel. By her careful movements of a distance time, purposely, was she following them?

"There is someone over there," Uriel verbally said, paw pointing toward the woman within the distance.

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Rannoch only froze when Uriel nudged him, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw her expression. ”There is someone over there,” she explained. He looked where she was, searching through the treeline to see what she saw. He eventually spotted Valmúa, and he drew in a breath before speaking.

”Hello?” he called, cupping his ears forward. Rannoch wondered if they’d found another wolf who had just woken up, and if so, he wanted to help them however he could.

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 Spotted. Ah, fuck it.
 The red woman saw the golden one gesturing toward her, and heard the male call out to her. Moving out from where the trees were apparently doing a poor job of hiding her, she moved closer to them with a relaxed posture. No, she didn't know who they were or what they wanted, but the fact that they were not trying to run her out was a good sign.
 She began internally writing a story for why she had been following them in case they asked her. “Góðan daginn — Good day, — afternoon,” she greeted. Holding herself tall but not threatening, she came close enough to be in comfortable speaking range while she sized them up.
 The prinsessa decided not to accuse them of anything while she figured out what was going on. Instead, she made mental notes of the pair. The male was built well, and neither smelled of Shiroshika. The female looked like one of the skinny bitches Stjornuati would have dragged home, but from experience Valmúa knew better than to write her off.
 Her own scent was covered in tiger musk, and she had no shame from this.

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"Hello, do you perhaps live around here?" Uriel asked as she approached with a greeting, though voice tinged in the faintest accent and a language she knew not of. It did interest however, and while another time she would to ask perhaps a bit more.. The golden wolf could not help but wiggle her nose, the faintest attempt to detect what she truly smelled what it was — without the attempt of being rude.

Uriel could swear that the other was thickened in feline, musked in so and a familiar thought of tiger wispering through her head.. Though surely not, for it was uncommon for the parties to mingle, and gave a cautious glance toward her companion, Rannoch. She was a bit wary of this encounter, for none of it seemed right.

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Valmúa greeted them in a language that Rannoch didn’t recognize. He wondered if she had spoken in Icelandic, but decided that it wouldn’t be best to ask now. Instead, he said, ”Good afternoon,” in return. Rannoch gave the woman a once-over once she was closer, and noticed nothing out of the ordinary. What was unordinary about her was the scent she carried. He didn’t recognize it, and his nose twitched as he studied it.

To add to Uriel’s question, Rannoch asked, ”Did you wake up here, too?” It was a conversation-starter that had worked well for him so far.

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 They asked questions she hadn't entirely prepared answers for. She could see their noses twitch as they studied her. Not hiding it was far easier than what she had tried to do in the past. The scent made her powerful. They could not determine what or who she was as she wore this powerful cologne.
 “That is my mountain,” she declared, pointing to where Morðfjall peaked beyond the trees. It was not a direct answer to the question, but the implication what they she did not live here. For the moment, she might as well have. She was acting like she did. “In a sense. I was dropped from the sky. Is that why you are here? Did you wake from the other world in Lord Kuhn's domain?” It was time to turn the questions back to them.
 Translation: Where the fuck did you come from and why the fuck are you here?

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Uriel silver gaze followed to where the other pointed vaguely to, and she could make out a mountainous shape in the distance. There was wolves over there? Eyes full of a curiosity, for hadn't met too many pack wolves near the area, especially any that were so close. Perhaps she would've sought them out sooner, but now her fate had aligned with Rannoch and others, and the golden woman was satisified with that.

"Only a few days ago," Uriel said with a calmness, and a smile to hide a bit of awkwardness she felt. Their voice was laced in an arrogance, a dominance post mountain wolves tend to hold. Though the next part, colored her surprised as she flickered her ear, "My apologies, I did not smell anyone else besides us in this land,"

—a side glancing to Rannoch, as if saying, 'did you?'

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Rannoch looked towards the mountain, and recognized it as one of the landmarks he had studied. He had done his best to locate thesemilestones while he tried to learn the lay of the land. He wondered what she was doing so far from home, but figured that it was none of his business. She had as much of a right to be here than they did; neither of them claimed the woods. His eyes widened in a what the fuck kind of way as she mentioned that she had fallen out of theSKY.

He was speechless for a momement before he answered her question. ”Yes,” he replied, still thinking of her dramatic entrance into the world. ”I woke up not too far away from here—in a clearing in the southern region of the forest.” he motioned behind them with a forepaw.

Rannoch had not heard the name Lord Kuhn and was confused. ”I wasn’t aware that this forest was claimed,” he admitted. Their borders weren’t well marked, and the most of the wolf-smells had been fleeting. Rannoch looked side-long at Uriel and shook his head. His ears flattened apologetically. ”We didn’t mean to intrude.”

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 Valmúa, being a woman who rarely backed down from any kind of confrontation, did not expect either of them to apologize. When they both did, she found herself quite out of grievances with the pair of them. She didn't even find it necessary to ward them away. Kuhn knowingly shared these grounds with wolves, though she knew not what his boundaries were.
 Flicking an ear, as though annoyed at their cooperation, she nodded. Wolves, in general, seemed to be quite terrible at respecting the bounds of other predators who left their mark. At the same time, those like Shiroshika also demanded respect for their own borders. The thought of him bowing to that little twig of an empress nauseated her.
 “I am Valmúa,” she introduced at last. For a moment, she paused, thinking about titles. Valmúa, prinsessa af Kuhn, she thought. “Af Hrafnsvaktin,” she finished, licking her lips.
 “You will adjust,” she stated bluntly, referring to their waking. Not all who woke found things the same. Valmúa herself had few memories from the other world, but she did not question her being here, not since the dancing Goddess had struck the wolves of the mountain with her astral presence.

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"It seems there is much to this land we did not know of." Names were thrown and packs to be, only now learning of their names. It was a shame, that this land was claimed.. Though attachment was not full yet, Uriel started to grow fond of evergreens. She thought for a moment it could be a home.

Though when Rannoch looked back at her, she tilted her head and wondered, looking at him in an answer, what shall we do now?

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Rannoch’s dissapointment was similar to Uriel’s. He had felt like he had found a home in the evergreens, but that didn’t seem to be the case. He wouldn’t dare to steal somebody else’s claim, so it seemed like they were left with no choice. Out of respect, they would have to leave The Everfrost. He felt defeated, but he knew that it was the right thing to do.

”I’m Rannoch,” he replied, shifting uncomfortably and taking a step back. He looked at Uriel then and sighed, knowing they needed to talk. ”We’ll be more careful about the borders,” he promised, stepping backwards and motioned for Uriel to do the same. They had seemed to overstay their welcome, and they needed to discuss their next move as a group.

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 Valmúa wasn't sure what to do with either of them. The concept of rolling over so easily to a stranger was entirely foreign to her. She twisted her cheek, unsure. “The North is a harsh place. The southern regions may hold more promise for you,” she answered, essentially punting the pair of them as far from her as she could think to do. She wondered what the bigger one would be like in battle, but with his docility, she doubted his usefulness.
 “I doubt the Lord of the Everfrost would mind you travelling through. He is a fair one.” He was a heck of a lot nicer than she was, that was for sure.

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Uriel followed along and too stepped back, a way in showing they met no harm. Far too new to the land they had no rights to stake for a claim, especially if someone else had it's reigns. Though she was curious on who this Lord was, for a wolf of another land to hold in such high regard.. Surely close allies, or a sister-pack of sorts. Though she imagined they would not meet him anytime soon, "and I am Uriel."

Her ears flickered, a perk to the suggestion, "Thank you," a small head nod in gratitude, "we have not gone farther then the northern and are unaware what is around." Uriel glanced at Rannoch in hope he would be alright for her to speak up concerning the both of them — for in truth both of them were the same in being a new arrival in these times. She shot an apologetic smile, for that mistake.

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Rannoch was thankful that the forest’s lord was merciful. ”Yes, thank you,” he said graciously, bowing his head. He was thankful that they were all able to work this out without any violence, and that he’d be able to lead his companions to a safer area. ”I haven’t even left the forest,” he admitted with a nervous laugh.

Then, a question followed: ”Do you know what’s south of here?” Rannoch hoped for anything that could help them find a better place to settle.

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 Uriel and Rannoch. What suckers. They had woken up here, smelled that it was full of tiger, and decided to hang around? Morons.
 The two of them thanked her, which grew her ego and made her ever willing to give them the rundown of everything she knew. She had intentionally, of course, failed to mention that the Lord of this place was, in fact, a suncat.
 “Farther north and west of here, the tundra is full of ice and treacherous terrain. The food there requires specialty hunting tactics,” she explained, referring specifically to the seals that made their home upon the Frozen Ground. “There is a mountain near mine claimed by harsh northerners,” she lied.
 “But to the south is not an area I know well. I am told that,” here, she borrowed knowledge that Vendrussel had told her, “the areas in the south closer to the sea are crowded. Out to the east, I do not know.”
 Valmúa had never ventured beyond the boundaries of the tundra because she had never had a need to. Perhaps, one day, she would.

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She pondered over, mountains, the coast, and then the unknown.. It would be a discussion which they should venture in, as an idea solidified that maybe the north wasn't the best suited — for herself, but she could not say the same for Rannoch, or the other companions 

She was listening though, but at the moment had no words to say and nodded to her suggestions. Uriel most likely would suggest once the red woman leaves, they should talk to the whole group as a whole — on their next action.

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Want to wrap this up?

---

They weren’t suited for the north. From what Valmúa had shared, Rannoch gathered that heading east would be their best bet. He was grateful for the information, and thankful that she had given them some advice.

”Well, we should get going now,” he said, looking at Uriel and then to Valmúa. ”Please thank Lord Kuhn for allowing us to leave peacefully. We’ll be out of your fur soon.” They had much to discuss, and the group would have to make a decision on where they would go next.

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no problem

---

 “Of course,” she nodded, momentarily taking on the role of someone far more helpful and kind than she really was. She eyed Rannoch one more time, briefly poring over his body like he was a piece of meat, holding for a moment at his shoulder, where she could see muscle most obviously.
 “I am nearby if you should need anything,” she relayed, but spoke only to Rannoch as she said it. Flitting a glance to Uriel, she gave a farewell nod before leaving them there. What she meant by that statement was rather unclear. That was intentional.

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Uriel did notice that the other spoke directly to Rannoch — only sparing herself a glance, but said nothing. She continued on with a peaceful smile, bidding Farwell to the woman as she left, for even if her action seemed a bit.. Nonetheless she had helped them for a new search, and the golden woman was thankful.

"We should tell Sunneva," Uriel said, indicating that as a group, most likely would need to talk about this situation — and for a first, to meet the other one within their small band of wanderers.

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