A raven easily glided through the air before perching upon a small branch of an evergreen tree. Its gaze went suddenly downward, a slightly new smell brought with the wind. Confusion sat in for a moment until this creature was seen: a wolf. Shivering almost involuntarily, the bird tilted its head to watch the other, soon seeing it morph quickly into a boy. That was odd, a wolf in these parts?--moreover, it was white. Keeping silent, the Raven swiftly glided down to the earth, stopping though in the midst of trees where a bow was lain along with a quiver of arrows, carelessly upon the earth. In a matter of moments, the bird changed into a mere girl, who quickly grabbed the bow and quiver, taking one arrow out just in case. He was a newcomer: she knew almost everyone here, or at least recognized him. Shifting her weight in a silent debate, Azra finally went fourth quietly, avoiding foliage that littered the ground and any sticks that would cause her present to be more noticeable.

Since she had landed a safe distance away from the newcomer, she tracked her flight back to him, of course having to go a few extra steps in order to actually get to him since he didn't stop his travel. Considering the fact she didn't want to appear to be tracking him in any way, Azra stopped, seeing him up ahead with a lengthy distance in between. "Who are you?" she inquired, an overused question but considering that these times were not the most peaceful, needless to say, precautions must be taken. Her bow was raised but not in a threatening way as of now of course, but her grip tightened across it, causing her knuckles to go white. There was a slight edge to this situation; she was nervous for some reason. Why?--well, it wasn't every day that someone she didn't at least recognize a little came to the mountains.

She watched him slowly turn around, unsure if he meant harm or good, but she wasn't even thinking of trusting him. Her bow was gripped tighter, the arrow in the opposite hand, ready at any give moment. When he revealed his name, she tried recalling it in her mind, but nothing came up. Was she supposed to recognize him? It took her a moment, but Azra finally managed to recall who he was. Wasn't he that leader of the North?--something like that, she had heard some talking badly about him. Of course, she assumed he already knew that, probably the reason behind him threatening her which made her all the more headstrong. But his so-called thread of others inquiring her sanity was quick to amuse her. "Well aren't you sweet?" she responded rhetorically.

A silent challenge? "Within the time it would take you to change into a wolf, I could have this arrow already pierced through your skull," she added, slightly threatening but she wouldn't act yet unless he gave her a reason to. Azra began to notice though that he became slightly duller. Didn't feel comfortable in his surroundings? Rolling her eyes, she paused for a minute before speaking: "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the North?" Northerners were not necessarily welcomed here by most, actually hardly at all. According to her, a Northerner coming to the West was not the most brilliant thing to do.

What did it matter of her powers? Usually, she considered herself to be a fast learner, but apparently with her powers (other than the morphing part) she was rather slow, and it ate her up. Glowering more to herself, Azra watched the other. What did it matter to him anyway? Clenching her jaw strictly she paused for a lengthy moment. "Well what does it matter to you?" she inquired rather defensively. "It's nothing to your concern." She had defended that matter well, though considered that it might be rather hypocritical when she inquired him of his presence here. No, no, that was not being nosey: he was the one trespassing. With that settled, her gaze sharply went over to the other as he spoke of the reasonings behind his appearance in the West.

Recruits--that's what he was looking for oddly enough. It didn't surprise Azra much though, what else would a Northerner come down here for? Naturally, not all of them liked Summer; one of those being herself who would rather have a winter day over a summer day. But, most were lusting for power alongside the south, according to her because they were afraid to be on the North's side in this matter. For once she was considering this to be a serious subject to her, at least. You only lived once, even if that once was forever unless killed. "Your hope is most likely wasted here. There will be few here who will agree with you and even fewer who will be willing to commit treason."

Treason was something that even scared her of committing, especially since the punishment would be harsh if caught. Nevertheless, there were those few brave people within the West, of course who would have to be trustworthy in confiding in. If many people got the word that there was a recruit here, they wouldn't all be considered crazy. A bad situation to be in. "Well, shouldn't you get to your little recruiting business?" Azra couldn't see him doing well at all here, or at least in this part. Perhaps he should go up further in the mountains where even fewer people lived. She considered whose side she was on and didn't know, though at the moment Winter sounded much more appealing than Summer; personally she had no idea why the West were supporting the South except for the reason of becoming a lesser alliance if they went against another. Coming from her thoughts, her gaze flickered back to the surroundings, still no one around which came to no surprise as her.

Well, if that's all he wanted to know she could easily share information on everyone else as long as it didn't contain her. Nevertheless, Azra considered this to be a stab in the back to the West, fully upon her shoulders. Then again, she didn't really think of herself with the West necessarily. "Oh," she replied, coming from her silent debate; "well then, powers range, there's a few who're masters, some who are intermediate and some who are beginners. A rather equal mix up in these parts." That was the vague description of her knowledge, but surely he didn't think she'd automatically tell him everything about the people with whom she lived with. No stranger should even begin to expect that. "I suppose it also depends how well you Northern people have developed with your power." Azra, no matter how hypocritical it was, still fancied the West to be filled with more skilled people than any other side, even if she didn't particularly state her alliance with her own people. Oh sure, you can try. You won't get hardly anywhere, she thought to herself, rolling her eyes involuntarily. Smirking more to herself, she saw that he was actually serious. "I'm interested in how you'll go about talking to people about joining the North," she added with a light chuckle. He couldn't just waltz up to anyone and try to recruit them. Well, he possibly could, but that'd be a foolish way to do things, no? Shaking her head more to herself, her gaze dropped to her bow for a minute, slinging it carelessly over her shoulder now. From the air seemed to form a creature, like the Tidan she had seen summoned up from others, but the shape was oddly different, like an enlarged wolf. Wolves--she liked them, admired their beauty but that was from afar, in short, she hated dogs terribly.

The dog didn't seem to like when she spoke: Azra noted its snarling and now regretted the fact she couldn't even summon up a small Tidan, something other than a bow carelessly draped over her shoulder to make her feel more safe or to give her a little bit more power over the rising subject. Taking a deep breath, she remained moreover rigid now, her eyes locked intently on the dog though carefully masking her features as best she could to hide the fear that started creeping up naturally within her. Unable to take her eyes off of the stormdog, she didn't even glance up to the other as he inquired what side she had chosen. Truthfully, she hadn't gone with either side as of now though had already been leaning more to the North. It didn't seem like a bad decision really, and she didn't particularly like the South for stupid reasons. "I've sided with the North," she murmured below her breath now, eyes still glued to the wolf-like creature. Now as this creature was so foolishly released Azra watched it, petrified, as it came closer and closer to her, eventually right where she could touch it. Visibly wincing, her sharp gaze never left the creature and now anger suddenly smothered all fear she had within her. How dare that creature come to her like that, how dare he be let loose like this. Clenching her jaw, she lashed out at the dog, aiming a kick in its ribs though hoping silently to herself she didn't hurt it--all she wanted was for it to get away. "Call your dog back," she hissed.

It seemed like a fair war, except for the fact the South had an ally who was willing to fight, being the West, the North was all by their lonesome, and the East was just out of it. Azra wondered if they'd ever take a side though; there was no doubt about it, the North was the minority here and she doubted it would get any help anytime soon from the East. She couldn't see why he was so worried with the West when he still had the South to worry about too. "I don't see why you're so interested in the West now when you still have the South to worry about," she commented. Azra shrugged, just glad she wasn't really in his position in all honesty. "With those two sides combined, the fact is the North will have to put up one fight to even keep their own ground." To her, the North didn't even stand a chance unless he somehow managed to win over the people of the West, but that didn't look to be happening soon. Of course there was still the East to consider, few people would fight there, but even with the meandering new allies of the elements they were no match to the majority of their people. She was careful not to underestimate the North though, knowing they could be strong, but not that strong where they could defeat two large enemies who had joined together.

Her gaze remained moreover glued to the dog, having dodged her attack, which she was somewhat thankful for. Now more than ever she wished she could summon a Tidan to trample it to death or run it off, though this thought that came up at the spur of the moment shocked her at how morbid it was. Grimacing, she inched away from it, not liking it still. Dogs, no. She hated dogs, hated to admit her fear, but hated them still. They were...well, they were annoying to her, always curious, their growling, their sharp teeth, a Stormdog fit in this category easily, one of her most hated creatures if not the most hated. Azra heard the supposedly reassuring words, but they didn't do much. That's what they all said, but she could easily picture the thing attacking, no matter how small it might be, even if sized down. Grumbling under her breath, she shot a glare at Arkan as he moved her hand towards the detested creature. Her head turned sideways, not wanting to look at it or get her face ripped off--all the more morbid thoughts rushing through her mind. She felt the cool nose and its somewhat rough, somewhat smooth tongue across her head and grimaced at the slime.

It really wasn't that bad, perhaps she had been overreacting, well, about this one anyway. It seemed moreover harmless, just excited to be able to make another friend. Looking at it now, no longer with hatefulness or a glare, she managed to make her gaze softer to the dog and carefully lifted up her semi-shaking hand to stroke its course yet smooth coat on its head. "What's his name?" she murmured, still keeping a little space between her and the dog even if it was an awkward stance to have to reach out and stroke its fur. She had already assumed he had named it: what was the point in summoning a creature if you weren't going to give it a nice name? As long as it didn't make any sudden movements, Azra convinced herself after many debates with herself that she would be just fine. After roughly a minute, she snatched her hand back, satisfied with herself that she had pet it long enough.

Either way you looked at it, chances for the North were slim. She couldn't see the East being persuaded easily or any time soon for that matter. Finding people within the West and South to become recruits for the North was slim also. Sure, a few might come, but there was always the risk of getting caught. "Do you think they'd invade the North?" she inquired, glancing quickly still over at the dog before ripping away her gaze from the creature and forcing herself to look 'politely' at who she was talking to. Invading the North would be the typical move since she doubted the South nor West would want the war on their turf; of course they would team up and move North, so she thought. Then again, there was always the advantage of knowing the area well--a compliment to the North, and their powers would be stronger up there. Casualties would probably occur there though, which was always good to the enemy she supposed. Azra couldn't begin to foretell the plans of her birthplace or the South, both seemed rather unpredictable to her but could see possibly them invading the North before letting the battle occur where either lived. Coming amongst those thoughts, she suddenly frowned and glanced timidly up to Arkan. "I won't fight against anyone I personally know," she stated, having the thought occur to her. What if she met one of her family members along the way?--there was no doubt in her mind that she would refuse to kill them--harm them, for that matter. Her friends, what little she had here, she also refused to harm. As for the others, well, they weren't too lucky, and even though it would be rather hard possibly being considered a traitor among her friends and family, she would be able to get petty revenges on those she didn't particularly like, which always seemed to feel good.

Coming from those other morbid and disturbing thoughts of war, she looked back at the dog. Her name, of course. For some reason, Azra always seemed to readily assume that all dogs were male. "Oh. Well the name suits her." Shrugging casually, her gaze went more comfortably over to the creature, who was referred to Aeryn. It was actually relieving to hear the dog seemed to like her, having not really seen that herself: she had merely thought the dog liked being patted on the head, then again, didn't almost all dogs like that? "That's good to hear," she finally responded, looking over at Aeryn. Once the dog moved to his side, she was secretly glad even though Aeryn didn't seem as if she wished to hurt anyone--she appeared more puppy-like, excited, and curious. Unfortunately, fear didn't see through the actions always but Azra was proud of herself for becoming more relaxed around the dog. Her gaze suddenly flickered up, looking at him as he rushed on, claiming they hadn't been introduced and revealing his name. "Azraella," she replied, shaking his hand. Taking back her hand now, she adjusted her bow that had been carelessly slung over her shoulder where it would stay o her back now without having to worry about it falling off. "Do you intend to search the West more for more people that might help the North in this war?" she randomly inquired, just curious. There weren't too many people up here in these mountains but she supposed finding another recruit wasn't entirely impossible.