Quill

"She was a mortal wolf. The lover of gods."

Level 01: 270 - 52/53/56/54/55 @ 1y 2m

Level 05: 301 - 53/58/65/56/69 @ 1y 3m

Level 15: 660 - 83/81/97/188/211

Level 20: 891 - 110/106/124/288/263 @ 6y 10.5m

--

Quill was frail, but intelligent. Her strengths were in her wit and ability to learn. Fortunately the reign of the Lykaon had not purged her from the territories--spared due to her revered position among wolves. She alone remained of her family, which was the price she had to pay. Quill kept to herself and welcomed wolves to her den when they were sick and needed care.

It was late spring one year, many years into Lykaon Swiftflame's reign, that an unusually large wolf who appeared to have stars on his pelt along with several others, more plain, appeared in the territory that Quill called home. The group, like many other traveler in their time, stopped by Quill's den, a place of healing and a place of knowledge.

"How can I help you four today?" She eyed them as she slid a package of herbs to one side, making room for the wolves to gather.

"Directions to Central Red Ridge," Ion said.

"And medication for his sore paw," Cricket interjected, gesturing to Compass who limped slightly, leaning against the behemoth of a wolf.

Horizon helped Compass lay down, gently rolling him onto his side. "Perhaps some herbs to help him regain his strength," Horizon said. The giant wolf excused themself, leaving the den to have some more air. As the wolf left, it felt as if a great wind followed, though there was nothing behind Quill but solid rock.

As she watched him go, she gathered the requested herbs and medicines for the injured wolf and told the band how to get to Red Ridge. It wasn't a treacherous or far journey, but one that was enough of a distance that it would take some more months. Maybe two seasons though the weather would be fair if they could make it to the pass before winter set in.

"We'll stay just until Compass' paw heals." It was decided by the group. They decided to make camp in the meadow just beside the herbalist's den. It was known as a safe place for all wolves, and Quill made no exceptions.

--

That night it was moonless, so the stars lit up the night sky, as if celebrating the moon's absence. Quill found herself strolling along the cliffside, foraging for herbs that would have sprung up only days before. There she met with Horizon, the great beast who laid just at the cliff's edge, staring into its yawning abyss.

"I would be careful so close to the edge," Quill said quietly, though she knew she hadn't snuck up on the wolf, their ears already pricked in her direction.

"I was only curious about how the Earth seems to go on and on," Horizon responded after a time. For them, the celestial sky was vast and uninteresting. They knew where the stars ended, when the sun would set, and the moon go off in search of fun. For them, the unknown was the darkness, and unlike other wolves, they did not bay to the moon or the stars or the sun, for they would not worship themselves.

Quill laughed softly. "Most wolves look to the sky, I've never seen one looking down."

Horizon peeled his eyes away from the abyss and looked upon Quill. She was pale and seemed gaunt, though it was common with herbalists who worked so much with herbs, both deadly and healing, that their bodies seemed to grow weak with time. Wolves both revered and feared herbalists, knowing well enough to praise them so they were not given poison by mistake.

"The sky is always there. Ever changing. How do wolves not take the time to notice the timeless, unchanging Earth?" Horizon said, though they knew that the Earth had been young and different once. For Horizon to be in the realm of the mortals, they felt time moved differently. 

Quill nodded, interest piqued by this strange goliath whose mind drifted to the nature of things. "Like many wolves say, the earth will still be there tomorrow, but the sky is everchanging." She gestured to the spot next to Horizon, and she laid beside him.

They watched one another for a while, their eyes reflected in one another's, before turning their gaze into the great, yawning chasm. Who knew was lurked there in the darkness?

—

When Compass' paw healed, the band headed on towards the central seat of powering, continuing their journey to sit beside the Lykaon. Horizon remained behind, bidding farewells to their traveling companions. The other three knew Horizon hadn't shared the same ambition, but found it strange that a wolf as mighty as Horizon might take time to complete their journey.

Quill found it strange as well, but didn't feel poorly that they had decided to stay. Though Quill had minor concerns with the band moving on. Compass' paw had taken longer to heal than anticipated and depending on their pace, the trio might reach the pass at the same time the snow did. While it wasn't unheard of to survive through such harsh weather, it would certainly not make the journey easier.

"You won't stay then?" Horizon inquired. After all they had time to spare.

Ion shook his head. "We won't be young forever and the Lykaon requires wolves he can trust!" The other two agreed. "We'll send word when we arrive."

That was the last Quill saw of them.