I AM IRON AND I FORGE MYSELF

As much as the tank of a woman can, Wessex slips into the meeting. Where she would normally have greeted Tiamat and Nimue with a friendly nudge and coy words of how the Leviathan couldn’t possibly have gotten even more lovely since the last time she saw her (she saves her affection for the companion, knowing not how the Lady would take them, and never daring to hope that it could be reciprocated. She is too effervescent for a creature like Wessex). Manon, for all her long-legged beauty, cannot compare to the sea maiden who first joked that the Basiners were fools for cuddling.

From the fringes, yellow-orange eyes scan the crowd and light on those she is well acquainted with: the warriors and their freshly-scarred skins, Johnny, Vertigo - even Ode and Rikyn. Whether or not she catches Ode’s eye is debatable, but there’s a 50-50 chance their gazes collide in an unusual fashion. Still, it roams on to the many she does not know, and Wessex realizes just how limited her circle is. She must expand. Just a little bit. Like maybe one new member a week? That’s an easy goal, right?

Perhaps easier said than done - but once the horned woman makes a promise to herself, she *usually* keeps at it.

Promotions roll out, and to her surprise, Wessex is advanced to Corporal, along with Weaver. Her head whips around to find the pegasus, and she flashes her fellow soldier a ‘nice job’ sort of smile. A nagging sort of doubt pipes up ever so briefly in the back of her head, though, wondering if they deserved it. A spar and a bear-killing do not a soldier nor leader make. And then resolve sets in - because if nothing else, she would prove she’s worthy of the title and its power. So help her various Gods.

A few questions pepper the announcement of electric wolves, something that makes Wessex’s inner voice go - REALLY? As much as she hates to agree with Rikyn, she finds that she must, as she spends a good deal of time patrolling around them. “Aye - I second Rikyn. And I must ask - we’re supposed to watch and feed and protect wolves? Without being attacked by them?” It all sounded rather unnecessary, potentially dangerous, and altogether futile to the overly practical Corporal.

With a glance around to the rest of the herd, she wonders if anyone else finds this 'herd quest' rather... ridiculous.

W E S S E X