I intend to live, not just exist
3-2-3 OC

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Speech Emotional Actions Thoughts

Valkyrie had been hiding within this territory for months, rolling in pack border marks, lingering in the scent trail of others, and even stealing old dens no longer used. Even if hidden, it wasn't hard to notice someone was there, lingering, hiding; her own scent lingered around the dens she used, and half-eaten, rotten carcasses lay randomly scattered.

Today she walked the edges of this pack's territory, too scared to leave after witnessing many die or fight over food from a distance, but too scared to go further in. She wasn't a hunter either, relying on the scraps of animals that passed through and the sickly animals that lay in the open area to die peacefully. Today she planned to dip her toes into the deeper parts, slowly walking up towards a rock that overlooked the lake she had first crashed into. She had long lost her set of antlers she kept, unsure where they had been taken or lost.

Her fur helped, kind of, to blend in with the snow in certain areas, but sometimes it grew to be a nuisance, and she hoped eventually she could bring herself to venture further, to stop relying on this territory alone to be safe.

For a long time now, she had caught glimpses of movement in the distance here, a flicker of silver fur at the treeline there; the lingering scent of a stranger was all that gave her reason not to think the figure a spirit. It was true that Valeska had been quite preoccupied with the advent of the plagues - the temporary migration of Elysium to safer territory - the loss of her tail - but that was no excuse not to know the first thing about someone living in your own home.

Thankfully Elysium was lax in that respect. She did not mind guests, fleeting or otherwise; all she asked was that they help contribute to the good of the pack, but it was difficult to assess this particular ghost's participation. Their meat-cache had rotted and returned to the earth long ago, their dens left abandoned.

Had the stranger been residing here this whole time? And Valeska hadn't even known?

But this time, in the dim light beneath the heavy clouds, she saw her.

The High Priestess wasted no time.

Hello! Little spirit! she called cheerfully, loudly; she quickened her pace in case the woman tried to flee. Line of sight could not be broken, she thought, or else they might not encounter each other again for a proper introduction. I understand you have been here for - some time. I am sorry I have not been a better shepherd of this place. We had to leave because of the poisoned lake, you see.

Valeska had closed the gap between them, and she stood below the rock at a fairly respectful distance.

Of course, it is fine now. We had left the Respite for some time until the waters cleared. Ah, what is your name, spirit? I am Valeska!

You're here for a reason but you don't know why
3-1-3 OC

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Speech Emotional Actions Thoughts

She sat, looking over the lake in her silence, staring over the body of water that she rarely went near anymore, too scared of something deep down to approach it. Her ears twitched slightly, and then she smelled them, a wolf approaching her, and quickly she stood, trying to turn to flee but saw them standing at the bottom of the rock, staring right at her.

For a moment, her breath caught and was held somewhere in her throat, water-colored eyes staring at the wolf of silver and white with molten gold eyes. They reminded her of someone, someone too distant to truly remember, too many lives ago to recall a name. Could it be Valhalla? Was this him in a new life? No...It couldn't, for the voice of this wolf belonged to that of a female, too sweet to be Valhalla, lacking the typical mockery her brother always held.

The female called her a spirit; suppose it fits; she had been whisking around like a ghost, refusing to be seen. Slowly, Valkyrie turned her focus fully to the wolf, instead of old memories and her worries of being scolded. Hearing the apology, she was confused; shouldn't she be the one apologizing? For using this pack's territory as a hideaway?

It's..It's okay- I'm..Sorry I've been hiding- I do not really...know where I am, and without Valhalla I am, scared..

Scared she was, she wanted to run and hide again; she hadn't wanted to be found, wanted to remain hiding until something swept her away, but she'd been here for like a full year, maybe longer, and still hadn't found home. Her mind wandered for a bit, thinking back on many things until the question for her name arose and words caught in her chest for a moment; could she trust this, Valeska? For now, she would have to.

Valkyrie.

She seemed quite nice, Valeska thought. First impressions were everything, and already the Priestess had made up her mind that this was decidedly a good spirit. Staring up at her from the base of the rock, she smiled winningly (she assumed; objectively speaking it was borderline frightening in its intensity) and felt the pitiful stump at the end of her rump try to wag.

Ouch.

Truth be told she would never mind a stranger taking refuge in their home. It was almost always for a good reason, whether it be injury or fleeing some terrible danger, and she had no doubt in her mind the oddly floppy-eared little wolf had a perfectly natural explanation.

Even if she didn't, Valeska wouldn't mind.

It is no matter, she said dismissively. You are welcome, here; do not be afraid! We are welcoming of strangers here, no matter the cause. Everyone deserves to have a home, no?

Without asking permission or saying another word, Valeska went around and clambered noisily up the side of the boulder to stand next to Valkyrie so they might meet more personally. Next to each other, they were pretty much the same height, and she offered her another winning (worrying) smile to calm the woman's nerves (hopefully).

It is good to meet you, Valkyrie. Where do you come from?

She tilted her head to the side.

And who is Valhalla? Perhaps if you describe them, I can help you look?