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 The sudden awakening and even more sudden realization that came forth made her stomach sick. The panic made her paws itch and everything spun. Twisted perfectly into a primordial soup of confusion, fear, and regret. The land curved in waves she did not recognize, all the trees looked back at her with perceived faces of evil sneers.
 Yet surprisingly, the girl managed to get through the woods where she shrunk into the rotting trunk of a tree, decaying and falling apart. Her breathing fast, straining her lungs further.

 She hadn't even realized the smell of wolves in her panic, though if she had it would not improve such. Instead she stayed laying, until eventually her curled up figure could at least rest. Though her ball did not unwind, only shrunk in more-so as the night came closer and the land cooled.

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With the skies shrouded with murmurs of purples and whispers of coral, he would take to nature's bid and fall on the right path to his chambers. Taking a longer meander to scout Elkshires' perimeters as though the only security on call that eve. Most days were easy, a gratifying walk for one last stretch of his legs before his retirement, but tonight there was a scent that caught the flaring of his nasal.

Without a hindrance to his step, he detoured to find the owner of said odour. But it was as if their trace came to a sudden stop when it became so strong, it would've been blatant within his view if they were here. And like a bloodhound in the midst of a trail, his nose dove for the weed-infested earth, allowing it to guide him in those last moments to finally find who was hidden.

Their suited colours were flawlessly transparent against the dark decay of the tree, and it made sense why it took him a beat to find them.

'Are you resting on your travels?', the heir spoke in rumbled tones that had not yet reached the depth of their pitch just yet in his age.

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 Exhausted from sleep the girl did not fully awake until the prince was close, to which she froze and refused to move a muscle. Hoping whomever would just continue passing through. They sniffed strongly through their nose and Arizona knew she had been found.

 When he spoke, it was a voice of decency and youth. She looked up, bright yellow eyes wide with a nervous distress. Heart skipping a beat when she met face with a wolf, just as brown as she. The only wolf she had ever known was her father. Were most wolves as kind, noble, and considerate as he?
 Having only lifted her head, the rather petite young lady did not move from her curled up position. Fearing that any sudden movements would cause alarm in the stranger, or usher him to attack.

"I-.. I'm very lost, I think." She admitted, ears flattening like a scared pup.

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The earthen-toned lady remained furled within her confined space, as a snail would within the cosy circumference of its shell. So the duke retracted a step, offering a wider berth should she decide to remove herself from his amity. 

She looked as lost as her words admitted, and in recent days, she wasn't the only one. The duke had followed the scent and songs of a few other rogues that either appeared or awoke here. 

His citrine gaze offered a little warmth to them, mellowing at the situation she found herself in. 'Well, at the moment, you find yourself within our Royal Wisterian Woodland', the prince started slowly, 'You sleep close to our pack's borders. Of Elkshire'.

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 "Elkshire?" The lass continued, visibly trying to search her brain for any recollection. Retelling old memories in her tired head, ones where her father would go over their territory and the nearby lands. Nothing ever even sounded like this 'Elkshire' the boy spoke of.

 With his moving back, she came to slight ease and unraveled from her position. Only coming to stop when she sat upright, though her head still hung a little. The prince mentioned a pack and, while having very little knowledge for how to deal with one, she did her best to be apologetic and considerate.
 "I'm sorry for intruding on your lands." Her mouth hung open for a moment when she finished, as if there was more she wanted to say. She felt so awkwardly out of place that she worried if she spoke too much, her situation would worsen.

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They were visibly struggling, to recollect any of the acorns of their memories, of familiarities, but Elkshire wasn't held under the parasol of cognition. 'Elkshire', he repeated with a reverberating tone of softness, 'Our home is The Elks Crown, just beyond these woodlands', he thought by parting with a little more information, that she would be more selective of her future travels should she depart today.

The duke's citrine eyes held her own whilst she rose, she still gave an aura of discomfort and unease. They wore the colours most cherished by their deity, the High Elk. Blessed with shades of mahogany and cocoa, in an envelope of virtue in His eyes. 'You need not apologise, you are lost. Is a home what you seek?'. The question parted his lips in good grace, only willing to aid someone perhaps in search of refuge and a benevolent hand.

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 "Perhaps?" The girl was clearly unsure, her own lineage betraying her when her head cocked to the side in a pup-like manner. Ears slightly floppy, not entirely within their strength in her youth. 
 If her own home was within the realm of possibilities, she certainly would prefer it over a strangers'. Though they couldn't be entirely awful, for this boy was so very nice. He looked at her, studying her colors for whatever reason, which eased her weary head. Her father used to say wolves would recognize and dislike her brown but, perhaps he was wrong. It was her mother's brown, after all. 

 "Would it be alright? With your family?" She questioned, ever courteous as her father raised her to be. Though she had no knowledge of this sort of kingdom this prince came from, how much bigger and different it was. "At least until I can figure out where I need to be."

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The duke of course would see no wrong in helping them, if anything he decided with her blessed hues and to be found within their claim of woods, it could only be said their High Elk is who guided the young female into the path in which Warwick took. 

A small smile pulled at each side of his velvet lips, 'I don't believe it will be a problem, but you are best speaking with my mother if you wish to stay under our protection for the foreseeable until you find your feet of course'. It was not up to him, entirely. Though he was sure his mother would agree with his judgement on most occasions. She was still his queen, not only his mother. And ultimately the ruling lay with her. 

'I can take you to her. She is not far from here, and you'll be better sheltered within The Elks Crown, our main domain should you decide to reside with us', the prince was being as courteous as could be, to settle the uncertain girl. He was no ill-tempered Goliath much like the northwards pack under the scrutiny of his undesired father.

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 At first she hesitated. This boy had been extremely kind, perhaps there was nothing wrong in seeking shelter in such kindness. Especially during such a confusing and stressful time.

 "I.. think I would very much like that." She eventually responded, a brief twitch to her maw gave a moment's smile. Though it was one built out of courtesy and less out of genuine feeling. Even with this prince's soft spoken kindness, fear of the unknown still made her thoughts race and her heart pound.

 Hopefully his mother would be just as nice.

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The duke offered a benevolently warm smile, ready to take on his role of escort. He could read her anticipation and nerves, it wasn't the first time a stranger would feel that way in the unknown. He was doing the best he could, and probably better than most. Taught by the prestigious hands of his dam, of courtesy and welcome.

Warwick then began to move in direction of the Elks Crown court. His head tipped over his shoulder to engage with the girl still. 'My name is Warwick, Warwick Deorwine, son of Queen Celnes of Elkshire', he figured she would jigsaw the pieces together who whom she would be speaking within due time. 'What name do I introduce you as?', he trod carefully with his query. Not wanting to impose, but also he was only thinking ahead of when they were in the queen's presence. 

He detoured through the thicket and lead her onto a path that would make for easier travel.

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The girl followed, cleverly navigating the thicket as he did. At least forests such as these were -in the least- vaguely familiar.
She eyeballed him, close on his heels as they went, when he mentioned his status. Such a proper name, yet he treated her with the respect undeserving of a girl of her class. Arizona decided to keep quiet about her lineage, at least for now.
"Just Arizona." The girl responded, as if she did not love the name her father had given her. A name that meant so dearly to the both of them. Yet in the shadow of something as great as 'Warwick Deorwine, Son of Queen Celnes of Elkshire', her confidence shriveled.

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She was a timid girl, that was for certain, and his mind strayed to the wonders of cause for this. He wasn't providing her with reason to be justifiably quiet. But then, it was his school of mothers' aid and others that were always so considerate and amiable with guests, and therefore it rubbed off on him, naturally.

He dipped his crown in a gentlemanly greeting, 'Welcome to Elks Crown, Arizona', and he then turned to face the path he moved them along. Keeping quiet for the time being so she would not feel pestered and interrogated. 

They closed in near to his mother's quarters, but he was unaware if she lingered around or if she was keeping cool within the confines of her room.

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She could smell her son in the distance, but on his walk was another unfamiliar. An enigma that was brought into The Elk's Crown, as any who didn't belong to their scent was often always found — diligent to protect, especially with how many plain-walkers arrived and left, and the knowledge that the temperate, was overall not a safe space to be. Who knew when one would come and fight? Even before her young were born, there was two that thought this land was their own! Chased away, gone and lost.. But always wary, if an army would return.

There is a haven of allies, for the meanwhile. The constant building and need, and the expanding of. Hopefully on another day to go more within the mountains and ascend with that.. But for the meanwhile, building ranks. If her son brought someone to her, was it not for that exact perhaps?

She approached them as they came to her quarters, smiling pleasantly, "My, who is this?" Brown as the color they so belove, but dark enough that it turned to black. Unusual coat they held, stripes that weren't exactly so but wasn't.. Wolf, Celnes thought.

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Arizona's yellow eyes sparkled at the sight before her, these lands of Elkshire were very pretty. Though still a little intimidating- everything being so new and all.
She wouldn't say it but, she appreciated Warwick's silence. All the confusion of waking up in a place you don't recognize, with a brain scrambled like morning's breakfast stressed the girl out. To add the social anxiety that came with speaking to strangers wasn't something she was fond of. She cast a smile his way as they went, grateful.

A woman approached out of the coolness of a den, her stature noble and royal. She appeared to be an older woman, though not by much. The girl wouldn't assume, instead, she answered her question.
"Arizona, ma'am." The wee she-wolf offered, her head bowed in greeting- coy in the way her ears relaxed to the sides.
She hoped her tail wasn't forcing it's way in between her legs, meeting new people always gave her the inclination.

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Her Grace blessed the two with her presence at such an unexpected hour. The son dipped his crown in gallant greeting, but the girl chirped beside him before he made introductions. He remained at their side, dutiful in his escorting, and ready to take her hand should she decide this was not the place for her. 

The duke now kept quiet in the presence of the Queen.

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"If my son brought you to me, I can assume you are interested in joining Elkshire?" she looked at him with a pride ; already luring loners and the like to the Elkshire forests for new bodies to join. With so many young, and the continual of ; a desperation of guards and hunters was needed. Thankfully so though her first brood were coming age, and took far more responsibilities such as hunting and guarding — and likewise royal duties of recruitment.

"A pleasure, I am Celnes Deorwine, Queen of Elkshire." They introduced themselves as Arizona — polite that they were and caused a good mark on her thoughts. She hoped at least, this truly was someone interested.

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The lass nodded her head. "At least until I find my footing. I wouldn't want to overstay my welcome." She spoke honestly. Growing up, a pack was only ever just a family group. So with ignorant assumption, she didn't want to become too much of a burden. Especially since she wasn't a child of the family.

Revealing that the dark chocolate woman was, in fact, as royal as she appeared, Arizona felt a need to bow her head. 'Queen', what a title.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, ma'am"
The girl made an extra effort to deliver politeness and niceties, hoping that the Queen would allow her under their wing- a mercy that the young wolfling would be very appreciative of.

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"We always welcome new members, especially able-bodied. A plethora of children overwhelm our forest," she so admitted with a sigh, "and we so need more to help our borders. You are more then welcomed." A lull of but pity to entice her to stay longer then what she so imagined, for though the other was may young, she was still a fine adult.. Someone who surely would have use to fill the guard-rankings and protection that the crown needed so. Too many young from her loins, that yet were ready to be proper members of Elkshire. Yearlings at the most swarmed them, and they needed more then just children.

"Welcome to Elkshire."

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He smiled warmly at the new welcomed addition, 'Here, let me show you around our dens so you may settle and rest properly'. 

The duke looked to his Queen, dipping his crown lightly in silent respect to bid her good eve, before taking lead and guiding their new member toward where brothers, sisters and others lounged during the sunset.

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She felt an immediate need to bow to the woman in a grateful way.
The queen was so nice! So sweet and caring! Arizona's heart was warmed by her generosity.
"Thank you.." Arizona mused, a gentle smile on her maw, yellow eyes looking at the queen's own orange.


The voice of Warwick turned her attention again. She nodded silently before following him.

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