Shakespeare may have been pretty good at tracking, but so was the young bear that had found him and had been following him quietly for some time. His stealth was one of his abilities that he prided himself on. Any full grown bear would be a lumbering mess and would cause nothing but trouble. While Eytan had been a very loud cub he had learned to quiet himself. Sometimes his footsteps sounded like little more than leaves being rustled by the wind.

There was another on the trail of this new stallion, too. The dark Chieftess of the Foothills had, once again, ventured into the Threshold. The knowledge that newcomers had to pass through here and the desire to increase the numbers in her herd were nearly overwhelming. If Midas saw here there was no doubt in her mind that he would chide her and tell her that she should stay within the protection of her borders. There was no way that Ktulu would sacrifice her freedom just because she carried a foal in her belly once more. Pregnancy had not stopped her even when she carried the son of the Earth God.

"Hello." Ktulu's words came out smoothly and moments later she stepped from the shadows of the trees. Her dark head tilted, ivory mane sliding across her forehead as she gazed at the new stallion. The raging hormones had subsided for the time being, leaving the mare almost docile. It could all change in a moment's notice should this newcomer make the mistake of pushing her buttons.

"I am Ktulu the Constrictor, Chieftess of the Windtossed Foothills. What brings you to Helovia?" An innocent enough question, but his answer would speak volumes of his worth to her. An ear was tilted toward Eytan as the bear came to sit beside her, his own caramel gaze on the stallion.

Ktulu's ears tilted back and she tried to hide the mild annoyance from showing on her face when the stallion told her that her question was complicated. The lack of a smile on his face, however, was reason enough for her to assume that he was not making a joke about her question, lucky for him. "And what are those two reasons?" She asked upon being told that he had two answers for being in Helovia. So long as one of his reasons was not domination of one species over another she would have no problem inviting him to join the Grey.

"Firstly my fears brought me here."

Before she could ask what he feared she got her answer. Fear of being found. Fear of being used and abused for skills he had taken the time to hone. Already she was thinking of the two masons that resided in her herd and was thinking of adding a third to their numbers. Naturally it would be after he'd proven his loyalty and his worth to them.

"Secondly to ask directions. Where would I find a herd that would appreciate my creative skills?"

Ktulu remained silent for a moment, so as to not appear that she was jumping on him and wanting him desperately in her herd. "You could find such a herd in the Windtossed Foothills." She answered several moments later. "We have two stone masons, but projects for defense are tedious and require long hours of labor." Her weight shifted, but her crimson gaze remained on the stallion's face. "If you find comfort and satisfaction in long hours of work then you will do well with us. And you'll find acceptance from our members.." The question now lingered on her mind of if he was accepting and tolerant of mixed races being together in one group. There had been too many that she'd come across in her short life that were racist and unwavering in their flawed beliefs.

Crimson eyes narrowed slightly when Shakespeare began by saying he didn't mean to sound rude. Generally when that was said it was because the person speaking meant what they were saying to be rude. A nod was given when he said he would have to start at the bottom of the masons. She didn't know him well and as of yet she didn't trust him. Why would she put someone she didn't know in charge of their defenses? Ktulu flicked her tail and continued listening and Eytan shifted his weight restlessly as Shakespeare continued on.

"Your request is reasonable." She decided soon after. "So long as you treat our other masons and their with respect you will get the same in return." She began to turn to lead the way back to the Foothills. "Bear in mind that whatever respect you glean will be respect that you have earned."

Ktulu was silent as she lead Shakespeare back to her home, listening to the crunching of leaves and twigs under her hooves as she walked. There was her newest recruit's voice mixed in as well. Her response to him was belated but it came all the same. "Your loyalty and skill is all I ask." Crimson eyes found the stallion that strode next to her. The more he spoke the more she felt that he would fit in well with their numbers, but the real answer would come when he met the rest of the herd and worked with the other masons. She just hoped that he wouldn't disappoint her.