Clan Nocturne is starting to seek out allies and working trade relationships. XD Poor Clan Orodres is the victim of their first attempt. clan-orodres
Sleipnir nervously looked at the scroll in her hands and back at the Queen of Darkness and Illusions. Nox had never sent her off as an ambassador before. Courier, yes. A courier who just happened to deliver a chest of good tidings to another clan? Yeah. But as an ambassador? The little mirror gulped and flattened herself down against the forest floor. “I’m not sure I’m the best choice,” she said softly.
Nox stared at her for a moment, her dark eyes regarding the mirror and for a moment, Sleip thought that she’d been right after all and Nox would realize her mistake. But when the skydancer queen spoke that wasn’t at all what she said. “And who would you have me send in your stead?”
“You’ve flown in the Ashfall Wastes before.”
Nox simply stared down at her through her silver mask and Sleipnir felt her wings droop in defeat. She couldn’t think of anyone else. Not anyone who could be spared. Revan was probably the best for the job, but after Venesta’s attack they couldn’t spare one of their best fighters. And everyone had jobs that needed tending--like it or not, this was probably part of being Nocturne’s messenger. She sighed.
“You’ll be fine, Sleipnir.” The Queen lowered her head so she was looking Sleip in all four of her lightning blue eyes. “And don’t steal anything, understood?”
Nox tilted her head to the sky and Sleipnir leapt up through the canopy, angling herself immediately for the heat of the Ashfall Wastes. She wasn’t exactly sure why Nox was deciding to contact the Fire clan. When a spiral from the clan had crashed through their territory, Nox had had Shrike follow him, just to see where he went, but sending Sleipnir off to see if she could befriend them?
She shook her head. Some things she just didn’t understand. Diplomacy was probably one of those.
By the time she landed in the Ashfall Wastes she was exhausted, her wings drooping under the sudden spike of heat. The smoke seemed to suck all the air out of her lungs and she was parched, craving water, but she wanted just to get this over with. Before she did something that could mess it all up.
At first she wasn’t really sure who to approach, but then she saw familiar silhouette of the speckled spiral. Sweet Shadowbinder thank you. She scampered over to the spiral and held out the scroll. She dipped her head in a slight bow.
“Uh...I’m Sleipnir. Messenger from Clan Nocturne, you uh...crashed through our lair a little while back?” She winced at her haphazard speech. It didn’t sound at all diplomatic to her. “My Queen sends this scroll and a collection of gifts. We don’t often entertain visitors but we also don’t seek to chase everyone away.”
Which wasn’t quite true--they did seek to keep mostly everyone out, but she was trying for friendly. Once he took the scroll, she started digging through her satchel and laid out the gifts. First she sets a beautiful silver mask on the ground, it glitters even in the smoky atmosphere, and a shadow emblem is emblazoned across the front of it. Beside it she sets a small cage of duskrats. Then she lifts a black wolf pup out of her satchel, the little guy still sound asleep, a red and gold scarf tied around its neck. Lastly, she sets a chest down. She nods to the scroll she passed to the spiral. “The scroll should state Nocturne’s wish, and the will of our Queen, to seek a working relationship with several Fire clans.” She gulped. “Our blacksmiths do fine work, but are often lacking in materials to help strengthen their forges and we’re lacking in clans to trade with for the various metals and minerals found in the Waste.”
Wringing her paws together, Sleipnir stepped back nervously and wished once again Nox had been able to send Revan. The wildclaw hailed from a Fire clan and was in general just plain better at things like this. Still, so far she hadn’t tripped over anyone or fallen into a molten pit. All things considered, it was looking like a fine first start to her diplomatic duties.
