Skadi

”HEY YOU!”
You instinctively pause with fear, body trembling as a deep, commanding voice sounds out from behind you, turning in alarm, you are met with a sharpened spear waving in front of your face and the imposing sight of a tall, female Ridgeback, adorned in polished silver armour and bristling with rage, looming out of the darkness.
”STATE YOUR NAME AND BUSINESS HERE IMMEDIATELY, IF YOU ARE DEEMED A THREAT YOU WILL BE ELIMINATED.”
You flinch back again, assaulted by both the volume of the Ridgeback’s voice and at the threat she had outlined, which she emphasises by advancing and wielding her weapon in a sleek arc towards your throat. Quivering in fear, you shakily introduce yourself and announce the purpose of your visit, managing to nervously stutter out that you are ’e-entirely and most-definitely p-peaceful and that- that, you pose no threat t-to the clan’. At your confession, the Ridgeback visibly relaxes, her battle-ready stance shifting into a more welcoming one, as she sheathes her spear and gracefully steps to the side. You let out a shaky breath that you weren’t even aware you had been holding and look up, locking eyes with the Ridgeback and taking note of the scowl still present on her features. She stares down at you, swirling eyes narrowed in scrutiny, then snorts and gestures at herself with a sweep of a large wing, nearly knocking you off of your feet in the process.
”Tch. Name’s Skadi. I manage the clan’s finances and track every purchase in my ledger. I also closely guard our vast hoards of wealth, be it treasure, gems or any other form of currency used.”
You jump in quickly with a compliment, praising the Ridgeback on how terrifying-Uh, professional, she is at her job. Your approval does little to win her over, and she simply scowls down at you suspiciously, reaching out and prodding you in the chest with a wickedly sharp talon.
“I keep a very vigilant track of every single monetary item, that enters or exits, my hoard. So don’t event attempt to try any funny business, you got me? If you so much as breathe the wrong way near my treasure. I. Will. Know.”
You let out a brief squeak as her tone takes on a threatening hiss and vehemently promise that you wouldn’t dare steal anything from her, though whilst you are voicing this you can’t help but think about the irony of a Ridgeback, of all breeds, lecturing you about the immorality of thievery. She turns and gestures sharply to a delicately carved stone lectern, with an ornate, leather bound ledger resting in place.
“That’s the clans ledger.”
She takes note of the curiosity alighting in your gaze, and as you look to her for permission, she rolls her eyes and then sighs.
”You can have a look, if you must. Just be careful with it, I don’t know where you’ve been and I don’t want your dirty claws tarnishing my calculations.”
You nervously step towards the lectern and very gingerly take the ledger into your claws, seeing that it is open on the current date. Numbers are methodically and neatly written throughout the pages and you assume these dictate the wealth amassed or spent, alongside the name of the item, a brief description of it and the clan member who purchased it. Flicking back a through pages you take note that a large number of frivolous purchases are simply listed under the name ‘Wind’ with scribbled emoticons of varying displeasure scrawled alongside the name. You assume that it is in reference to a clan member, and not the entire Wind Flight as a whole, though, as you warily side-eye Skadi and consider the brief overview you have garnered of her personality, you decide it wouldn’t be too out of character.

(Endless garden ID: C5FRLC5GcN)