The morning left the forest quiet, never silent though, leaves whispered overhead as a breeze moved through the branches and a woodpecker in the distance tapped against old bark. Nokomis fluttered down from a pine branch overhead, landing on a low boulder with an indignant chirp before puffing out her feathers. Sheauga smiled softly at the sight of her, the blue jay had been another constant in her ever changing world. You think too much she hummed, to which the Jay answered with another sharp chirp, Fair enough, she said tail sweeping through the grass as she continued forward.

Walosi had offered her not only safety, but a sense of community and home, something she had never felt in the years she spent in Northfall. And now the question came — where exactly she belonged among them. She had spent many nights considering it, learning what she could about the clans and the wolves who called them home. She knew she could not remain standing between paths forever. So she sought the one who could help her choose; Nate

Nokomis launched from her perch and settled briefly upon her shoulders before taking flight once more, circling ahead as though determined to scout the way, pulling a small laugh from her Always in such a hurry, we're going, we're going she said this though she followed at a slower pace as she searched for the Walosi Chief.

Nate was found with a pile of yarrow beside him, covered in dirt up to his forearms and splattered across his face as he attempted to excavate another. Ko-Ga's call alerted him to the approaching company, and the chief lifted his head to see Sheauga and her jay friend making their approach. Distant enough he could shake the mud off himself without splattering her.

Vaguely lighter-brown in color, Nate loped up to greet her, Morning, Miss. A second nod to her jay, grinning, And you as well.

Had she wandered here, or sought him out? Had a kind of stance about her that made him wonder if this was more than a social call.

 Sheauga slowed as Nate approached, her pace unhurried and easy despite the purpose that had brought her here. The scent of freshly turned earth reached her before he did, mingling with the sharp medicinal fragrance of yarrow scattered around the disturbed ground. Her violet eyes drifted briefly between the uprooted flowers before focusing back on Nate, who's legs were covered in dirt so thoroughly she suspected the earth might claim him as one of its own before the day was done. "Morning, Miss. And you as well "

The blue jay swooped down from overhead, settling upon a low branch nearby and tilting her head toward Nate a sharp chatter following, sounding suspiciously like commentary on his appearance. Nokomis says good morning, she translated with all the solemnity she could manage. Though I suspect she also has thoughts on how much dirt one can wear before becoming part of the garden the corner of her mouth twitched upward as Noko chirped triumphantly.

I was hoping I'd find you, she mused then, I understand that eventually I must choose where I belong among the clans, in her homeland, belonging had not been something chosen she was born into community, into family, and responsibility, but Walosi was not the people of her birth.

Nate wondered if she could really speak Jay, or if they'd figured out some kind of gesture-and-pantomime to convey the gist of things. Or if she just used the birds chatter as an excuse to offer clever quips behind an intermediary. Couldn't fault her for that. Nate huffed an unruffled laugh.

Well, I suppose being part of the land is kind of the idea. Though, Nate looked down at mudstained fur, I don't think my ancestors had quite so literal an interpretation in mind. Keeping the natural balance, though, respecting everything that grew as a living thing with a will and spirits to guard it, he kind of liked living in a place where it was possible to do that again.

Clans, though. A nod. You're Unole by default. Wind. It's the place for strangers, newcomers, diplomats and counselors. Kinda helps keepin' 'em together. He inclined his head. Nothing wrong with staying there, if it feels right. But we have others, for healers, and hunters, warriors, gardeners... They had no gardeners, yet. He'd taken it upon himself to help in that role. Hence the dirt bath.

But what would Sheauga choose to be? How much do you know about the other clans? What kind of interests do you have?