[DotW] An Important Task [Collab]

To any softpaw, the Cascades were steep and treacherous, even at the best of times. But to a Highvallian born and bred in these mountains, traversing the peaks was like breathing - so effortless, so natural. And essential to life. Rodwen walked these steps as he had a thousand times before; the ground frozen and covered by a blanket of white. The Wolvenking stood Pensive upon a bluff overlooking the lands to the east, icy eyes scanning the mysterious expanse beyond his Kingdom.

A cold wind blew in from the north, whirling up snowflakes and driving them over the ground like wisps of mist. Rodwen nearly failed to notice the approaching, lonely figure that came up alongside him. Taibhse. Her movements all but muffled in the snow.

“You called for me, my King?” Taibhse bowed her head respectfully, but her tone was light as usual. The same hint of teasing that is always present in her voice.

“Indeed,” Rodwen said, turning to greet her.

Silence lingered between them for a moment before the Wolvenking allowed himself to speak again. His eyes were quiet; reflective. “Much of our kin were born in a time of peace and prosperity, hard-won by wars now long past. Few remain who remember, truly remember what it was like to live a day not knowing if it was your last.”

The frosty air burned his lungs and made his eyes sting, yet he seemed to welcome it. “Peace is never stagnant. I fear the day will come when conflict and bloodshed becomes familiar once more. Perhaps not in our time, but before our end draws near we must forge a path so our inheritors may benefit. I will not leave a legacy of negligence,” he said, his voice quiet yet full of resolve. “That is why we must begin extending our reach and strengthen ties with other packs so in time we may come to know more allies than enemies.” Rodwen paused, allowing the she-wolf a moment to process what had been said.

“Taibhse,” he turned to her again, eyes drifting over his cousin’s pale face to gauge her response for what he was about to say. “I have an important task for you - travel east. Go to Vale and request an audience with their Alpha. An alliance. Their wolves may be of a hardy, rugged ilk - fiercely loyal to their own, but if rumour is to be believed… Havirian blood runs in their ranks.”

Taibhse’s ears flicked, she’d heard rumours of course, but the news that the stories were to be laid to rest was definitely interesting, and a duty she was only too eager to throw herself into. 
“Well now, that is important. I will set off immediately.”

“Don’t I always?”

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Collab with Naviira ! 8D
They did the background and I did the characters. They also wrote the vast majority of the lil blurb there, I just added a couple of ideas  c':

Taibhse has a job to do, for once, instead of going off doing her own thing. I'm so proud ;;u;;