it’s all come down to this. all the innocent meetings and playful jokes, all the longing stares, that kiss, the dissolution of her kingdom, the show-down with that coyote…it’s all culminated in this very moment, this singular point. El clears her throat, stealing a glance at Red. she’s tried to keep composed, but there’s a self-conscious flush to her cheeks, a too-bright glint in her eye that betrays that. it’s an anxiety that almost be mistaken for shyness. indeed, these past few months have truly changed her.

“do you think your mother will like me?” El prods, voice soft, eyes down. she can’t quite look at him right now; if she does, he’ll plainly how much this means to her. how much she desperately wants his mother’s approval. she knows they’re close, the pair of them. closed than El had ever been with her own mother - not out of spite or any such grievance, but the size of her family and her own self-absorbed tendencies kept them apart. the truth is, else doesn’t know how to act around a mother figure, what to expect. and Red is an important figure, the pack’s heir.

what if Medusa looks upon El and finds her lacking?

steeling herself, El schools her expression as best she can, then lifts her chin and calls for Insomnia’s alpha. whatever happens today, she and Red had made a promise to stay close - and El fully intends to see that promise through.

"Elara Klein"

She had been busy on the other side of the land skinning a carcass when the call came. Her ears perked as she wiggled a bone out of its socket, tongue sticking out in concentration until it came free with an audible pop! She nearly fell back on her haunches after how much effort it had taken to pull the joint free, but now that that task had been done, she left it for Umbra and Nox to finish before she finally got up and started making her way toward the other side of the land where the call had come from. Seymour was returning with a hare in his grasp, croaking to The Daemon who awaited her at the border. "Ooh! Red and a friend!?" How odd, why didn't he just bring 'em straight in? Whoever it was, if he was escorting them, must be worth it, no? Nevertheless, she didn't dwell on the thought for very long as she drew closer, spotting her crimson son and a smaller wolf at his side. She squinted as she drew closer. Something was vaguely familiar about his friend there, and as she finally got close enough, a light bulb went off in her head! Wasn't this one of the pups from Chimera's old pack!? Yes, she more or less recognized her as one of the pups that often came around! It had been a while, of course, but she definitely recognized the scent! She slowed to a stop before the pair, gaze moving from one to the other with curiosity as she grinned. "Hello! Hello! Medusa remembers you! Sorta...it has been a while since you have come to play with Red! What can Medusa help with?" She looked expectantly at the two, wondering what the purpose of her visit was. "Medusa"