There, most everything is nothing that it seems

The caller had described it well. 

From above, Hydra found a ledge to behold the forest of red. Interesting, that—it was as though the world there was paused in time, caught in a perpetually autumnal blaze. The matriarch knew better than to think a place could defy seasons, and with spring having sprung she imagined that this might be the sort of tree that Lyra would be fascinated by. An observant woman, Hydra could not recall any redhooded trees such as these in her lifetime... but then again, in that lifetime she had very sparingly ever left the mountain she ruled. And when she did, it was never too far...

She thought of the Maplewoods, but even they could not compare in hue and contrast. 

Turning to continue to pick her way down, it took another hour more for her to arrive. Between her own search and new paths to navigate, she did not rush; it was afternoon by the time she arrived to the forest, and the skies had cleared. She slowed as she approached it, sniffing at the air with interest; there was more scent than one present here, she observed, muzzle draping instinctively over her throat. Her deep blue gaze sought the one who had called to her, though if he was not present she could hardly blame him; the journey had taken her time.

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 Since the call with the stranger, he had taken to patrolling this side of the forest, laying his scent across the black bark under thick red leaves. He had spent the day out and about, mapping out the remainder of this section of the forest. He had discovered another stream that led towards the river, its winding bed heading towards the mountains. It made sense when he thought about it - water falls downwards, why should it not run from within the mountains to the river that led to the sea?

 The stream bed was home to a number of small creatures. A vole or two had escaped his grasp before he'd managed to catch another and swallow it whole. Fish had been a good portion of his diet since moving to the island, so he hadn't been that hungry, but it was always better to be on your toes when it came ot planned encounters with strangers.

 He was near the edge of the woods when he spotted her. By the way she came, clearly looking for someone, he figured that she must have been the one he was waiting for. He approached out of the fog, keen eyes set on her curiously. Who was this strange woman who had taken to the skies with her voice? “Are you my caller?” he asked with a polite dip of his head. “Welcome to Bleakwood.” Now, answer my question from before, please.

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The male that approached her Hydra could not have missed—she doubted anyone could, even if they wished to. 

He was a tall man who, in this light, cast a taller shadow... and he was as broad as he was tall. He had galaxies upon his face, his nape, his ribs to his hindquarters—and the rest of him was a stark white. Hydra had seen how his eyes were like the burning sun against the night sky; somehow, they belonged. The freckles upon his face were no strange thing to the matriarch, her own father having those... but his own appearance was entirely unique to the matriarch. He was not an unattractive man, but the Ostrega only had eyes for one. 

Her own head dipped politely in greeting and regard; her keen nose recognized that he sought to make a claim here. That explained his own curiosity as one that was more than passing. Perhaps he sought to recruit her, or perhaps he sought to help her. Maybe something else entirely... she imagined she would find out, though. 

Bleakwood, he called the place; lifting her head some (though hardly enough to be considered disrespectful to his own claim... she was a Queen, yes, and this within her own dominion... but here was not her castle). “I am,” she drawled in her low voice, “I called in search of my family, and you answered. Perhaps you have found some lost souls, that compelled you to do so,” she wondered aloud with a slight tilt of her head. Bleakwood, he had called the place. Her gaze turned to the woods, but she herself did not feel uneasy; Hydra was a difficult woman to unnerve, though. She breathed in the air, though could catch wind of nothing, and no one, familiar to her. That did not mean he might not have an answer for her that could be promising, though. 

Looking back to him, Hydra introduced herself, “I am Hydra Ostrega, Queen of Empyrean—the tallest of the mountains in the far distance, closest to where the sea meets the river,” and here, she pauses, before adding, “and you...” she paused, allowing him room to provide his own name, “seek to claim the Bleakwood?” It was clear enough, based on the markings... but it could just as well be a temporary camp. Better to be sure.

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Switched fonts and now it's slightly bigger, feels so long lol

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 She spoke eloquently, clearly a wolf who knew her place in this world. A respectable one, as much as her own words and attitude thus far gave indication of. She stated that she had been calling for family and he gave a soft laugh, “Well, apologies for intruding on your call. It carried quite a distance, I assume?” The majestic black wolf had taken some time to get here, so he expected that it had been a trek. “In any regard, I appreciate your making the trip.” His words were not a flirtation, though she was not an unattractive woman by any means. If they were neighbors in any regard, he'd want to know their boundaries as to not accidentally cross on any of his trips out.

 At the knowledge of her queenliness, he tilted his head respectfully, though not with subordination. His flame eyes met her emerald green calmly but evenly. His question earlier was answered in due time. When she paused to allow him his introduction, he added without hesitation, “Prince Crux of Event Horizon.” It was the first time he'd stated the name of the pack, something he'd been mulling over late at night and had decided on. Still, calling himself a Prince felt foreign on his tongue, though he didn't allow it to show. “A pleasure, Queen Hydra Ostrega.” It was an interesting name, the way it fell off his tongue. “Yes, we are making our claim here in Bleakwood.” He was careful to speak in the plural. Though he was carefully optimistic about this interaction, he wanted it to be clear that he was not acting on his own.

 He had followers, a group. A budding family of sorts.

  Even if most weren't yet aware of the specifics of the pack he had decided to form. He would of course need explicit agreement on their decisions to stay and to build not only the red forest around them but also the pack. The wind shifted slightly, carrying a leaf upon it to swirl pas them. “The tallest mountain is not so far to not be neighbors — it would be ideal to have good relations, yes?” He tilted his head to the side and offered a polite smile. Although he had no footing to form alliances just yet, he wanted to make sure that packs nearby would not threaten his found-family. “What are the values of Empyrean?” What did they believe? Did they enslave or seek peace?

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Hydra nodded to his observation; indeed it had, if it had carried here. No small wonder, that—it had been her intent, given she wished to find her family near or far. “It is no trouble,” she drawled, “and perhaps you may have come across one yourself,” she remarked, tail swaying behind her. In that vein, this trip could certainly take down more than one bird with the same stone. She hoped that it would... but if not, it was no matter; she had learned much already, and would only come to learn more. Her family (she believed) would be found. 

As his eyes sought to meet her own, the matriarch felt mildly rankled; it was instinct that brought on the feeling, more than anything else. But he had paid his own respect, and so she knew it was not for this that he had done so. And proud though the matriarch was, this was not her own home, and he had not done so to challenge. In respect to his own station at the Ichorwood, she politely shifted her own gaze a measure so that their eye contact was not so direct. She had not come here to challenge him, after all. 

Event Horizon; something which she had never heard of, but imagined he was making his own here and now. He was mindful to note that there was more than just him here—something her nose had picked up upon—and her bright eyes turned toward the forest, half-expecting another of his ranks to emerge. None came, and so she looked back to him. One ear cupped toward the wood; just because none were seen hardly meant none were present. 

The stirring leaf brought with it an errant, red leaf—but this she paid no mind to, when he spoke. She had no qualms in sharing them with him: “we are a family. We seek to protect our own, and grow with the Spring. Any who brings harm to our own will likely not live long enough to regret it, should the offender be found,” she drawled, matter-of-fact. Such was her nature, that extended to her pack. They put one another first. Values? “We do what we must, to survive. We value the way of the wolf,” she hummed, “and that is the way that we live.” Life and its joys were abundant in keeping to what made their spirits sing. The hunting of prey; the camaraderie brought with a rallying cry; the rearing of children, and witnessing their growth. Her eyes brightened as she thought of her full-grown cubs. As Queen, she had kept the wilderness protected; in time, she would do the same here should any seek to harm the innocent lives of her young.

“What of Event Horizon?” She inquired, wondering what his own pack might value. She had become aware of the differences of several, and so it was not so surprising to imagine that one might stick to their own separate tenants.

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 “You're the first of yours that I've come across, truly.” He know it would be a disappointment, but with the chaos here it was all too common to be alone.... Yet... “Have you come across many of your own blood here?” If that was the case, he wondered if he would ever run into some of his family members. Were his mothers here?

 He observed her checking for his associates after he mentioned them and his ear twitched passively.

 Hydra spoke of her pack and he listened politely as she spoke of her pack, paying as much attention was as respectful but not too intense. She was a woman of power, he could tell. A respectable one. He appreciated that about her and in turn, respected her pack itself more. “We are much the same,” he mused, “A made-family whose individuals have experienced hardships of a variety.” War, famine, the end of the bloody world. “Survival and Belonging are our greatest values, for it is a strong pack where each member feels they have qualities to bring forth.” Knowledge, too. He wished to learn of this new world and of the wolves and creatures that inhabited it.

 If there were members that felt worthless in a pack... what use were they? They not only dragged the pack down but would be unhappy, much better off elsewhere where they might thrive.

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WE NEED A NEW FRED!!! this could be a last one from me in dis one <3 CONGRATS TO EH YAAAAAS 

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Hydra could not find herself surprised by his answer. She knew better than to hold onto any true hope that he may have... but if he had, then such tidings would be well received. But there was no disappointment, to know that he had not; there had never been any true expectation that he had. Still, to his question, she nodded. “Yes. Much of my family have found themselves here,” she drawled in answer. She was glad for that much. It was they she lived and breathed for. Fought for. Family was everything to Hydra, and blood was thicker than water—though for the matriarch, those not her blooded relatives were important, too. They were family too. 

And so, while much of Empyrean was family born rather than made, they were still comprised of both which had her agreeing to his words. Survival, belonging—the former, something echoed and the latter... idyllic. Belonging was a self-made perception; one belonged, if they wanted to enough. Words not her own boiled beneath the surface of her memory, but never more than that then and there. Lost not to time, but to circumstance. Then she felt the weight of disappointment within her, though it did not show. It was not for him, nor for herself. Who, though, seemed to matter less now. 

One needed their reason. And survival was one that would ever stand the test of time, at least. “When you claim this place in full,” she drawled, “do come visit, should you find the time.” She would like to know, and she willed for them to succeed in this task. Crux seemed a strong, capable man—she did not think her optimism was misplaced. A howl in the distance caused the matriarchs ear to back turn even while she regarded him; another, a hopeful summons. “I wish you well, Prince Crux,” she drawled, dipping her head as she turned to depart. One ear remained upon him, should he have something else of import to say then. 

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Yess thank you! <3

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 That was... interesting. It gave him hope that some day, he might come across someone he cared for. Perhaps some day, too, he might find some one who would wish him dead. It gave him even more determination to ensure his pack grew and became strong, no matter what. If anyone from Death Valley or their flamed tormentors were to find him, he would have to be ready.

 “If I come across any of your kin, I will send them your way.” Though he had no clue as to how he would determine whether they were her kin or not, he figured similarities in name might occur. If she had multiple names, then it was likely her kin also would share their names in hopes of finding their own place.

 A distant howl caught both of their attentions and his eyes drew to the distance before turning back to the majestic black-furred woman before him. She indicated to leave and suggested that he come visit one day, so he gave a slow blink, “Indeed, I will.” One day, hopefully soon, he would have made his claim and had a strong foothold here. She turned to go, but not before wishing him well and offering a dip of her own head, which he returned in kind, “And I to you, Queen Hydra. Safe travels.”

 He had nothing specific to say just yet, not wishing to hold her any longer when she had calls to attend to. Though he had numerous questions, he knew they would have to wait. He watched her go, scanning her surroundings for any others who might slip out of the shadows to join her.

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