She’d not always been called Dreamberry but no other name could suit her now. She lay on her back in the comfortable long grass, forelegs up and resting on the ruff of her chest, her ‘hair’ flopped back. Her eyes were half-lidded and turned to the stars above. She’d just been dancing and tasting the sweet new berries with some of the other dogs of the Peke Na, but in her intoxicated state, she’d randomly decided to come out here to get some air.
Dreamberry stretched luxuriously. It was a good night.
It was really about time that she make her appearance known to the pack, but she'd hesitated until now, not sure how they would take it, or if she was really cut out for pretending to be someone else. Gods weren't all knowing, right? Maybe Timmain was just worrying for nothing...
Or maybe she should just stick to the plan.
She emerged from the dry grasses, the tallest thing growing there besides the trees, and looked about for any sign of another. She could smell someone nearby, so had donned her mask at the least, though she left her hair in plain view. These lands.... they were so dull and dry! The lands that they'd left behind had been so much more lush and welcoming. Here they were forced to keep their nocturnal lifestyle, which was fine, a unique trait that she found immediately endaearing, but not when it meant that they did it just to SURVIVE. Something had to be done about it.
Upwind from Timmain and with no reason, she thought, to look away from the night sky Dreamberry didn’t realize who’d found her. She did hear the slight rustle of the grass, too concentrated in one place to be the winds, and one ear flicked her way. With a grin, she sang out, thinking it was one of her packmates.
“Stormleaper? If that’s you, I really don’t know where you dropped your bracelet. We’ll look again tomorrow!” The wooden bangle would turn up eventually or they’d get her another. Why worry about such things on such a night, when there were berries aplenty and the moon was so bright?
It was utterly and completely ridiculous, but Kairi felt her heart rate jump. She'd been meeting creatures since leaving the Pridelands with Samsara, but always as herself, never as someone else. How was she supposed to act again? It had been so long, why had she put off coming here?
... Oh to hell with it.
"No, not Stormleaper." She replied, not caring if it was out of character at that point, but did keep her tone soft as she drew a little closer, then stopped. No use terrifying or alarming anyone, especially if they'd react with claws and teeth first as-- incidentally --instinct would probably dictate for most clan-bound creatures with a home and family to protect against outsiders.
“Whose tha-“ Not a voice she knew, So Dreamberry had rolled over onto her front, intending to meet the other with a smile. But she was quickly to her paws, eyes assessing the stranger warily, teeth flashed with a warning grin rather than a smile. It was best to be on the alert. She was a brave sort of dog and knew her strengths. If there was trouble she could dash, howl for her packmates…
But perhaps she’d had too many berries (nosuchthing!) because something about the stranger struck her as beautiful. Moonlit white fur and such bright eyes behind that mask. A mask she hoped was fake. It didn’t look quite like a wild dog nor a jackal nor a maned wolf or a fox, but she could see it was of their kind. Canine or at a stretch vulpine. A species she didn’t know.
“You’re in my pack’s lands. Do you intend any harm?” Dreamberry asked, thankful she didn’t slur her words when she’d indulged.
Kairi was guilty of thinking the same. Dreamberry was simple in color, but had a more feral look about her somehow than other creatures usually did, maybe it was the way her fur seemed (charmingly) unkept in places, or maybe wild was the better word.
One thing for sure, she looked serious about her question.
"I don't."
She replied, reaching up with one of her paws to push the mask back, only for it to vanish all together in a blink of gold dust, like fireflies almost, but smaller. It was only an illussion, really, but Dreamberry wouldn't know that. She did it simply to clue the other in and maybe put the other at ease. It revealed the face of a lion underneath, though her other features seemed more canine, not all. Her ears were pointed like that of a canine, however, rather than rounded.
"Certainly not harm. I'm... here on behalf of Timmain."
The wild dog’s head came up, her stance softening, caught off guard.
“Timmain.” It wasn’t a question. It was more like the name had slipped out. No one had ever seen Timmain, as far as Dreamberry knew, for generations. Myths and legends and a hearthope she existed were all there was of Timmain. And now apparently a representative, this otherworldly messenger, had found her and was claiming to come from Timmain? If the wind hadn’t shifted a little and let Dreamberry scent her, she’d have thought she was hallucinating.
“…I should call my chieftain.” Her loyalty lay with Wisdomchaser after all. If she howled the right sequence, they wouldn’t be alone for long. Dreamberry hesitated.
“If you mean no harm, come sit with me? It’s a lovely night and I have refreshment to share.”
She wished she didn't have sad news to share for this pack, but if she chose her wording carefully then maybe. What proof could she provide, after all?
She nodded quietly, moving through the grasses to settle down beside Dreamberry. Wisdomchaser, she knew her well. Timmain had made sure to at least fill her in on the standing of the pack before they had switched places. Would they believe her, though?
"It really is..."
She'd told Kairi that the view of the stars and listening to her pack during their howls would be the things she'd miss the most, Kairi could see why.
She was nervous, in an odd sort of way. Dreamberry wasn't the kind of dog who was nervous often. She was confident, assured and when she failed she laughed it off and got on with her life. This was a different kind of nervous. Her tail - she couldn't keep it from wagging with excitement and yet also she couldn't help it curling down in submission. She almost sat on it. Dreamberry tried to reign herself in and act like normal.
But there was no doubt in her mind that this visitor was either from Timmain or was otherwise otherworldly. Vanishing her mask with a glimmer of stardust like that. And even if she had more earthy origins she was still a large preditor.
"My name is Dreamberry. So...you've come on behalf of Timmain you said?"
Kairi could sense the other's agitation, doing what she could by simply remaining calm and not putting off any aggressive vibes of her own. When the opening was presented, however, she took it, not minding if she had to repeat herself.
"Yes, she asked me to speak with your chief a short time ago, but my domain keeps me fairly busy... She's charged me with something precious to her, and I felt like introductions were due." She explained.
"I see... I could call for her and she'd likely come." She offered and then, turning away briefly, produced the branch of berries she'd brought with her. She had said she'd had refreshments after all and she was a guest here.
It made sense for this visitor to be seeking their chief. She'd expected as much after all. Yet Dreamberry felt just a little bit sad that this visitor wasn't for her. Kairi could have walked up to any lone pack member on this fine night. Yet wasn't she lucky she'd felt like coming to get some air alone so she had? Dreamberry was one of those who'd clung to the idea of Timmain so to meet someone who confirmed her existence -
"Could I know your name, messenger of Timmain?" Dreamberry smiled at her. "Please."
