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."