The femme was unsure of herself in this foreign territory and with the strangers. She was used to Cold Summers and her family of kalaks. Many of her kind grew up learning that other breeds were lesser, but she had been around all kinds, not just her own. It was her own breed that killed her mother and would have left her and her siblings to die if it had not been for some of the other vargs in her pack that aided them. Maybe it was because of how she was raised, or maybe it was just her, but she was not one that thought maned wolves were any better than any other breed, and she could do without them for now with the horrors that had occurred. And now Shilo found herself in a new pack, with wolves that she didn’t know. But they were not hostile, but the opposite. The female who had called for those to come joined her pack seemed friendly.

Shilo tentatively stepped forward, one varg already being there after the female’s call. Tall stilted limbs carried her forward, her tail held low behind her to show she was no threat here, her form submissive. The alphess then addressed her, and Shilo grew nervous. What if she was not accepted here? Where would she go? What would she do? The other femme just shrugged at first before approaching and winding herself around her. Shilo remained still, unsure of what she was supposed to do here, so standing still seemed like an okay option. “You are welcome to join, Shilo, but I must first ask invasive questions of you - I know a bit of your kind and while I am no racist I am a cautious fellow and have no desire to be betrayed. What brings you here aside from the fire? Why not return to your packs, your clans, the Council at large? Where is your family?" Relief flooded through her at first when she was heard she was welcome, then the rest of her words sunk in. The kalak was not surprised by the question. She was sure that it would come up and she would have to talk about it, but it was still something she was not excited about. Kalaks were not the only breeds that could be racist, she knew that there were plenty out there that would not like her as some of her family did not like others. But this femme was giving her a chance to show she was not like the others. ”Most of my family is dead, some of them I don’t even know. I have no desire to go back to the packs that hold views that I disagree with. I do not care if my pack is kalak or not. I only know where one of my brother’s resides now, everyone else is unknown to me. Being with the same wolves from Cold Summers was…difficult. It didn’t feel like home anymore. And we lost some in the fire. It just felt better to start my own life…to start again.” She had not expected to open up in such a way to these strangers, but she could not lie about why she was here. That would not be a good way to start her new life in this pack. Her mint green orbs turned to meet the femme’s hoping that she would see the truth to her words.

A third femme joined their group, and the alphess talked to her directly before address the small group that had answered her call. As she spoke she told them about the packlands and introduced herself, telling them she was called Nimueh. The next to speak after her was the only male, Lev. When he was done he turned to herself and Nike. With a brief glance at the other female, Shilo spoke up, her vocals quiet but loud enough for the group around her. ”A safe home is more important to me than rank. But I would love for these lands to be home, and you all to become my family. My loyalty is to you and this pack, Nimueh.” After everything that had happened with Cold Summers, from the fight at the borders that killed her mother, to the fire that had taken others and her home, all she wanted was to feel safe again.

Picture and table credit to Casey!

//Shilo//Fae//Daughter of Shae and Caspian//Sister to Tiresias, Malina, and Rylan//Andere Seite//Teen//Violet//