At the center of her temple, a deep gash wearily thrummed along with the beating of a heart still unused to the very blood coursing through it. Benji couldn't recall much although it might've been for the best if a lone memory represented the rest. A hunt gone wrong, more ego than thought, and a hoof to the head.

Crack.

Drop.

Gone.

When she came to here, she'd been surprised. Not for the unfamiliarity of the lands, that much a loner had to grow used to, but for the fact she was drawing breath at all. A kick so frantic by a doe was a death sentence in no uncertain terms, no wolf simply slept through a brain injury and woke up better for it, yet here she was on a dreary morning with her nose pointed to the sky as rainfall smeared at the blood that dribbled down the side of her head. Whatever landed her here didn't matter anymore it seemed but she had the reminder that it happened. What did she do with that?

Well, Benji walked.

Where?

She'd love to know.

Skill - Leader 1/5

Well, the world had gone properly mad. There was a big blue hole in the cellar which no amount of pouring dirt over had seemed to fill. So it was a magic crack. And potentially intent on swallowing the entire Howff. Lyra wasn't best pleased with the development.

The cursed island off the bay had got up and walked off, ripping more big blue holes as it went, and now the ocean glowed at night. Would those cracks swallow all the water, too, eventually? She'd love to know!

But deep winter and dark skies were no time to be moving the pups. They were too big now and too many to carry in a blanket, but too small to keep pace over deep snow. Especially Toad, who couldn't even step outside without having a fit of breathing.

So it was about finding those cursed little blue rocks to... what? More magical nonsense, that even The Wisp couldn't explain. Lyra was angry, irritable. Afraid, for good reason.

She trekked down old game trails with only grim thoughts for company, and in the distraction, hadn't noticed the scent of a stranger until much too close to go unnoticed herself. Lyra hesitated. Then reasoned, plenty of loners knew about the Howff, and probably some would come seeking shelter from the storms.

So she barked a greeting, and stepped up to say, Mornin', stranger. Keep walkin' this way an ye'll be in Howff Territory.

She'd caught wind of someone but lost the sense that would've told her to be on the lookout. Well, at least until she'd caught glimpses of uncanny orange fur between the foliage that, seemingly at once, manifested into the approaching frame of a small wolf who smelled immensely of milk and whelps. Oh... brilliant! Had she gone and irritated some hidden-away mother?

Benji's eyes had to drop rather low to meet the stranger's, tail flagging, ears twitching between alert and a practiced submission.

With a blink, she questioned, "Is that a warning?" with enough hesitant curiosity that came only with a history of being the recipient of several such warnings. "If it reassures you at all, I wasn't aware I was near the... Uh, Howff, was it?" Benji let out a huff and decided to take a wide step sideways, shirking the stranger just a little. "Who are you?"

After a beat, and final stop of movement, she lowered her head into a brief bow. "You can call me Benji."

Skill - Leader 2/5

Benji. Lyra nodded, standing straight and accepting the submission with a shrug. I'm Captain Myna. Grinned, Not necessarily a warnin'. Howff takes all sorts, so if ye pay, ye can stay. We've rooms an' food an' work fer those wit energy. Diversions, too, dependin' on yer tastes.

She gave Benji a cool look over, taking their measure. Then motioned to a grimy fishbone set up on a nearby rock. Its head pointed in the direction she'd come from. We made signs. Follow 'em an' we're easy t'find. But we're a rowdy lot, not t'everyone's tastes. An' we don't hold wit' squatters. If ye make use o' the land, ye owe us fer it. Best ye know that comin' in.

In a pettier mood she could have withheld the advisement, and caught this Benji in a debt. Maybe the world ending had Lyra feeling a little more cooperative than usual. She wouldn't be slaying earth-breaking titans out at sea all on her lonesome. Honey and flies and all that...

Captain Myrna.

Although her expression would remain flat and unbothered, Benji felt she must've been getting herself into some sort of shit. It never went well when wolves started being elaborate with their titles and whatnot. She couldn't be picky though, could she? Instead of vocalizing, a soft grunt rolled at the back of her throat. Food was food. Shelter was shelter. "What sort of work?" She questioned, eyes drifting along the motion. Fishbone. Right. "I give what I get. I'm not the greedy sort."

Benji supposed that was a warning in and of itself.

Take.

Owe.

If she could do anything well, it was get herself in debt.

There's a breeze to the air as she stepped forward, breaking the distance between them the way one might taut silence, attention brought down to the other's gaze, frame. This Myrna stood as a little creature. An odd selection for a leader though she knew better than to doubt on looks alone. "You mentioned diversions," she proposed with a rasp, tail swaying behind her stiffly. "What do you mean by that, Captain Myna?"

Lyra grinned, All sort o' work. An' all sort o' diversion. She got the sense Benji might be suited toward it all, if her pitch hadn't been enough to send the newcomer off at the first.

Sitting back on her haunches, Captain grinned to show off that gold-gleaming tooth. We've 'hores, bards, cooks, muscle. Folks what hunt bounties in flesh or flashy tings. We trade wit' te local Druids fer... well, stronger drinks'n'seasonin's than ye can easily get elsewhere. If ye've any sorta steam what needs blowin' off, te Howff can arrange it fer ye.

She huffed an enticing laugh, S'long as yer willin' t'put in tat givin' ye did mention before.

As sun-less as the sky was, somehow just enough light to strike that tooth with a glint. She huffed.

Benji couldn't stifle the laugh that popped in her throat at the so bluntly mentioned whores. "And bards? Well, now I'm certainly interested." Her tone rung sarcastic but the loose sway of tail maintained her decent intention. She took another step forward, eyes dropping even lower to meet those of Myna's. This was no deal with the devil for she hardly thought the devil would care much for musical assets. None that she'd been at the service of, at least. But it couldn't be... great or anything. "I don't ... blow steam off."

She said it so deadpan then looked around them. Interesting locale.

"I can be greedy but I've never been selfish. Of course I'm always willing to give, Captain," she told her like that was some concealed offer, before taking a step past the other, tail brushed along a dappled shoulder, "I can't say I've ever heard of these, uh, drinks'n'season...ins? What are those?"