Cloud Bend — [P] A pirates life for me

It was convenient timing, really, that Reed was already in the area when a new leader of Verdantis was announced. In truth, Reed was indifferent on who the leader of the Kingdom was. She didn't know this Gabriel anymore than she knew his name, and it was the same story for most of the other wolves that called Verdantis their home. That's what happened when you lived outside of the territory and across the way. You became a nobody, and a know-nothing. 

Reed didn't mind this much, to be honest. She was a pirate after all, and though she wasn't the raiding and thieving kind of pirate, it was not unusual for others to treat her as if she were. Life was simpler outside of the Kingdom where she could spend time around the few she trusted and didn't have to worry so much about sleeping with one eye open. She did, however, wonder what had happened to Quin. He'd been the original wolf who had found her on the banks of the muddy river territory. He'd been the leader when she'd last visited, recently taking the position for himself. She'd seen the leadership rotate over twice already since existing in these lands. 

Was there some sort of magic at work here against Verdantis? Was this the god's doings? 

Well, whatever the cause, Reed wanted to make a point to meet this Gabriel and see if he planned on sticking around. She had another reason for seeking him out as well - she wanted a job in the Kingdom. Now that she'd found Balthazar, she'd found peace in herself. She also, unfortunately, found boredom as she lived on the beach in their hut, often busying herself with sharpening her sword or widdling away at driftwood. She needed adventure! She understood that Balthy wanted her to be safe, but she was born and destined to explore. She was a monster hunter! She couldn't hunt monsters if she didn't ever go find any of them. So, she prowled around the forest, avoiding the strange anti-gravity area of the territory. She didn't like the gravity. She much preferred her four legs to be either on land, or floating at sea. 

The ever decreasing temperature rubbed against his curly fur, and he was reminded once more of the encroaching winter and dwindling prey. The last thing he needed was more mysterious scents encroaching on Verdantis territory. Like a bloodhound, the trained tracker would follow the she-wolf's scent until he came across her, where he would watch for a moment through the trees to assess her being. She seemed at home here, and knew her way around the spatial anomalies of cloud bend. It put him more at ease; he could tell she must be one of the Verdantis wolves who chose not to stay in the actual territories, whose Verdantis scent was weaker. Approaching with his tail high, he would flick an ear in greeting before asking calmly, "is zere something I can help you vith?" his German accent was immediately apparent.

She continued to pick her way through the forest, unaware that she was being watched from the shadows of the trees. She had figured there would be all sorts of wolves prowling about in the pack and didn't put much caution into keeping an eye out for those around her. So, when the leader of Verdantis approached her with his tail flagged high, Reed turned towards him with surprise. "Oh uh, hi!" she quickly forced a smile onto her face, despite feeling uncomfortable with his air of authority. Her home lands had hardly bothered to keep track of who lead the pack, let alone made a point to make sure everyone knew who was in charge. "Yes, well, I hope you can. I'm looking for the new leader of Verdantis. Could you possibly point me in the right direction? His name is Galvin, I think. Or maybe it's Grayson?" 

Suddenly realizing that she had forgotten his name in the heat of the stranger's question, she turned and reached for a small letter vial that was secured near the chest of her straps, flipped the top open and pulled it away, then pulled out a scribbled letter from inside. It was one of the letters that had been sent out to her and the others. "Uhhh" she lowered the paper to the ground and quickly stepped on it to hold it open, scanning it to catch the name. "Gabriel!" she exclaimed as she looked back up to the stranger, completely oblivious to the facts before her. "Do you know where Gabriel might be?" 

She seemed friendly enough. ..."His name is Galvin, I think. Or maybe it's Grayson?" He was ready to answer her question, but stopped when she began to pull out a piece of parchment from a vial, covered in all sorts of... Strange scribbles. He never needed reading where he came from. It was a world where reading didn't exist, as far as he knew. But he knew enough to know of the concept of writing and reading. Just never took the time to learn. Maybe he should change that. He wondered which of the symbols was his name. When she corrected herself, he'd smile, offering a friendly, "you're looking at him," twin tails would rise to a more even position, now that his rank and identity was known. Sometimes Gabriel was a man of few words. Now was one of those moments as he patiently waited t to hear what was needed of him.

"OH!" Reed suddenly said in surprise as having happened across the very wolf that she'd been looking for. "I'm so sorry!" she quickly started again as she shuffled the parchment away and secured it once more in its proper place, but only after dropping it, picking it up again, and nearly dropping it once more. "I'm not the best with names. Usually a sailor only bothers to learn the names of their crew, an' perhaps a captain or two other who they can sail with if need be. My crew 'appens to be a small one at that. Just me, Balthazar, and my buddy Pip here." The blue ringneck squawked Ahoy! at his name in imitation of her often-used greeting. 

"Ahem" Heat flushed through her as she felt nervous and realized that she was totally looking like a complete child in front of her new pack leader, or rather hopeful new pack leader. 'Get it together, Reed!' she coached herself inwardly, 'you've sailed through tougher storms before!' "Let me try this all again." Her heart pounded in her chest from nervousness. When she spoke next, she rushed over her words. "The name's Reed Blackpaw, monster hunter by trade, pirate by choice. I was lookin' and hopin' to talk to you 'bout my position in your clan." 

"it's all right," he said, a small bag of his tails accompanying the words. They didn't know each other, and she sought to rectify it. Instinctively he'd bend down to try and help pick up the parchment she'd drop, but she got to it first being closer. He had questions he wanted to ask, but remained quiet as she gave off a few names, including the name of the blue bird that voiced quite a well greeting, "ahoy there, Pip," now his smile was a little brighter. A companion that could talk back to you must be good company. The name Balthazar didn't ring a bell to him, though, so he said, "I don't zink I've met Balthazar, though." When she cleared her throat and tried her greeting again, he chipped in a, "it's okay, take your time," the wolf decided to take a seat then, one ear listening around them as the other pair attention to her. It was then that she revealed her name to be Reed Blackpaw, wishing to talk about her position. Did she wish to officially leave? Or was she hoping to gain a more paws-on rank? What rank did she have before? Not for the first time did he wish Quinnat were here. If Gabriel had properly ascended to the title, first as an heir, he might have known this situation already... Instead, all he could do was listen, and so listen he did, "I'm open."

After Reed stumbled over her words, she quickly shut her mouth and stood at a ready position, preparing to hear whatever questions, directions, or rejections he may offer her. Her familiar fluffed his feathers as he perched atop of Reed, responding to his name as it was said with a merry chirp. Instead of inquiring further with Reed's intentions as she was accustomed to, he instead sat and offered her a simple, "I'm open.". She hadn't expected that she would be the one leading the conversation so much. Maybe this was a test! Maybe this was his way of seeing what she was capable of, and what sort of character she was. His previous words of encouragement, his relaxed posture, it helped her and her anxieties. 

"Well, Capta- I mean, Sir, as I said before, I'm a monster huntin' pirate. I'd like to think that I'm a fair fighter and a great tracker and I do a ton of traveling. I also grew up under the teachins' of an artisan, so I know my words and writing and can do a bit of carpentry an' shipwork, too. I'd love to lend my services to yer clan if you'd allow it, but I have a couple requests in return. My crew, we stay out on the cove. I know it's unusual for clan members to live outside of their lands, but the cove's got the calmest waters I've seen. I'd like to be able to remain out in the cove with my crew, and maybe be granted some general provisions to take back when I've returned from my duties." At some point, she'd started rushing past her words again and had to catch her breath at the end of her sentences. With her proposal laid out, she waited with breath held to see how Gabriel would respond.