The land felt hungry, of late. Its energy churned with anticipation, as if it were preparing to begin... something. The Guide wrinkled his nose in trepidation. He would not call it fear, but there was a distinct hesitance that tugged at his belly in response to the realm's initial machinations. He could just about vaguely recall the last time something similar to this had happened, and it had been... tumultuous, perhaps, would be a good way to describe it.

For the land had a consciousness of sorts, a mind of its own. Something within it - or above it, or perhaps the land itself? - thrummed like a heartbeat, and if he focused on its aura it would ebb and flow like a giant's breath. Though mortals would not hear it unless it wanted to be heard. Which is what it prepares to do right now, he muttered under his breath, sturdy legs picking up the pace as he set forth toward the mortal lands. The Guide could already feel that a new presence had arrived, pulled in by the realm's greedy grasp. One of the first, but there would surely be more soon. He had better deal with this one while he still had time.

His awareness of the new arrival led him to the Broken Coast, its seemingly endless waters calm and quiet, gently washing over the sandy shore. A distance away he spied the newcomer following the curve of the beach, though it was likely they had not spotted him yet - there was only the slightest hint of a breeze, and it blew inward from the sea, carrying his scent inland and nowhere near the other wolf's nose. They seemed to be limping a little, as if their body had taken some damage, though he didn't see any blood or significant maiming injury. The Guide suspected that their discomfort had something to do with the land's calling - though the domain had an awareness, he had the sense that if it had ever been mortal, it had lost that memory long ago, and it had the tendency to spare little consideration for how it chose to bring its subjects in. Wincing a little sympathetically, the Guide advanced toward the water's edge to meet the newcomer.

As he drew closer the wind changed its direction, and the scent of a female wolf came to him on the breeze. Likely the wind would change again and she would smell - and hear - him approaching, though he'd noticed that gods (even gods who had been wolves, once upon a time) tended to smell a little different from mortal wolves. He'd noticed both his own scent and the smells of the others in his pantheon had changed as they changed, with the introduction of something akin to the sharp smell of lightning before a storm. So although his appearance betrayed little about his godhood, his scent would always indicate something was different.

At length he was within speaking distance from the female, though the Guide felt hesitant to call out to her. He'd see how her temperament was first, if she was hostile or not, before he extended information regarding the lands and her calling. For he was there to help, no matter her inclinations. That was the duty of a Guide, after all. So he drew to a halt, and waited to be seen.

Presently, the female began to notice his presence. He saw the way her fur had stood up all down her back and bristled once she'd scented him, a faint smile of amusement passing over his muzzle. It had been a while since mortals had crossed over, calling or not, and the sight of a new wolf on their shores was almost refreshing. All the realms, mortal and god both, had been quiet for a very long time - he had known others too, from his era long ago, but their time had been a violent one, and before long the lands had returned to their empty stillness. All of them still thriving and beautiful in their own ways, but bearing no signs of wolves, mortal or deity. He did know of several remaining gods and guides who resided in the god realms but their locations were not privy to him, as he figured they knew of how to control their visible signatures, or perhaps the realm itself hid them from him.

The newcomer stood before him for a long moment, her eyes fixed on him. The Guide could sense her distrust, but he remained still until she decided on how to proceed. After all, it was the beginning of her journey, not his. The choices were hers, he was just there to inform.

Soon her stillness gave way to submission, and he wondered if that was a slight tinge of hesitation he was sensing. But then the female introduced herself as Quartz, and proceeded to explain the circumstances leading to her appearance on the beach. He allowed a soft smile to play upon his face then at her words.

"My name is Oberon." The Guide made sure to meet her eyes with his for a solid moment before glancing back inland. "You need not submit, this is not my land." His gaze swept over the visible terrain before returning to rest on her visage. "And you need not leave, either." Nor would she easily be able to, he thought, but she didn't need to know that yet. In fact, he knew not of any mortal who had succeeded in leaving this land yet.

"You must have questions. I am here to give you answers," Oberon said as he inclined his head, indicating that she should ask. There was far too much information for him to unload onto a mortal's mind at one go, so he would allow her to direct the conversation along the lines of what she needed to know.

Apprehension radiated off this female in waves, both through her aura that Oberon could sense as well as in the way she acted. It was understandable, and the Guide respected her wariness for it hinted at a good sense of self-preservation. A strange wolf-yet-not appearing before you in a land you hadn't been on for very long at all? He didn't expect her to trust him at all, of course, but Oberon hoped she would try to. The large male didn't know about how other Guides conducted their business, but he did consider it his duty to assist in any way he could. Absently he wondered if there were other Guides who roamed with the intention to mislead mortals. Did such Guides even exist? He'd have to ponder that, once he was alone again.

"You're no normal wolf, are you?" Quartz had asked, and Oberon nodded. "Astute observation," he replied gravely, though the corners of his eyes crinkled the slightest bit. "But since you are here, neither are you. Simply put, I am a god. In time, you will be one too. My role is to guide you." His words were spoken candidly to avoid offering an overload of information at once, though Oberon was pretty sure that a mortal would still find such a concept hard to believe no matter how succinct or elaborate his initial explanation might be. Telling someone you are a god is one thing. Telling someone they are a god is something else entirely.

"For example, I am a god of Earth." Reaching into the earth with his consciousness, the Guide sent out a wave of energy, causing the surface of the sand they stood on to ripple outwards from where his paws were planted, like a lake once a fish has broken its mirror-smooth surface. "I know not what you will be god of yet, but I am here to guide you as you discover that -- should you wish to." His last line came with a wry smile, but Oberon did not expound further yet as to why just yet - he'd let her digest whatever he had just said first.

It gratified him that Quartz was continuing to ask questions and wanting to learn more, despite her earlier apprehension. From the kinds of questions she was asking, this female seemed like she would be the kind to put her soul into becoming a being worthy of the divinity granted to her. That sort of individual was a relief to Oberon, for he had seen many to-be gods on their paths to ascension, and not all of them had been what he would consider worthy. After all, there was a reason the immortal realms were so empty at present.

"I did not bring you here, Quartz. You are here because of the power that lies within you." To what extent should he elaborate on that? After all, the path to ascension was one of discovery, and he would rather allow her to learn at her own pace than lead her the way he might have gone. "Your godhood is drawn to this realm. Ones without divinity would not have been able to come. But I suspect that were one to find themselves here, I would be able to sense their lack of potential, and hence their lack of need for a guide."

"That is all just an example, of course. The realm would not bring a pure mortal here, as there is no way back. They would have no purpose here." He hoped that statement would not alarm her, as he had known many new arrivals who had been intensely attached to their mortal homelands, and it had taken them a significant amount of time and effort to adjust to their new purpose. But her next question was a bit of a relief, as she expressed her concern about the existence of gods-to-be who had more malevolent ends in mind, with the intention of using their godhood for chaos and discord. Oberon found her sense of responsibility admirable, and allowed the corner of his mouth to quirk up in approval. It was unexpected for a newcomer to be so selfless right away - most would still be worrying for themselves and their past livelihood or still trying to wrap their minds around the entire concept of the divinity within them.

"Truly a noble purpose. You can, of course, if you so desire. It is a worthy cause to aspire to," Oberon informed her. "For now, take your time and learn. Grow familiar with your surroundings and explore. You will likely find others like you, striving towards godhood, and there is much that can be achieved together."

"Perhaps you could start by learning about what kind of God you may become, or what aspect you will come to have control of." The Guide paused his speaking then, to allow Quartz to digest what information he had dispensed. He didn't want to overwhelm her, though somehow he felt as if they were past that stage now.