Where to Begin?
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Surreal Adravendi |
She had forged her way east once more. Not yet to see Bass, but to visit the old Threar lands, now vacant and desolate, no longer the home it had once smelled like from beyond the borders. Novella and Frith’s scents were faded, stale; they had been gone since the Challenge, by her guess. But there were still some fresh scents that she remembered being part of the border; packs wolves now homeless. All because someone saw their pack as an easy mark. Out of habit, she howled at the old border, before crossing into the Bay. She had never been within the lands Threar had held under their rule. She had only visited the pack’s location once, to meet with Frith about her plans and her hopes for at least a peace treaty.
A fresh scent caught her nose, one of those that had been part of Threar, and on a whim, she followed the young male’s scent until she found him, sitting alone upon the shore of the sea. She paused, watching the pale fellow for a moment before approaching, stopping a short distance away; close enough to make conversation, far enough away to show respect. Settling her haunches into the sand, she gazed out to the water, watching the gulls and terns wheeling and skimming the water for their meals. She would let him speak first should he wish. Otherwise, shje was content to be silent company for a short while.
Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think |
What she was not expecting was a fresh scent. She sucked in a quiet breath, freezing as her eyes searched. It did not take long to spot the male, just sitting... alone. She would approach him quietly, noting that as she did so another approached as well. She hesitated, lingering back as the woman took a seat. Should she leave? Should she go?
"Speech" "Language"
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Surreal Adravendi |
It took him a moment or two, but at last the male did speak, and Surreal dipped her head gently in somber acknowledgement. “I am aware. I heard the Challenge, but shame upon me; I didn’t go to support Novella and Frith.” Her gentle, uniquely accented voice was solemn, as her eyes turned away from the sea to study the male. How many times had she felt what lay upon his face? Twice, her pack had been challenged for, and lost. The first time, her mother had rebuilt Valhalla no sooner had it been lost to Artemis. And then Viridiana, on some vendetta only she could have reasoned out, had challenged for Valhalla, no sooner than she had given them a cure for the plague.
She knew what he was feeling. That sense of loss. And she knew the anger in her own heart that came from a pack yet again waltzing into her home and taking it, with no thought about those who resided upon it. Sin would regret his choice to Challenge for Threar, and his choice to take the Plains. All in good time. He’d stepped on some powerful toes. Abaven was a larger pack, and Bass had seemed mad enough to take them all down single pawed. “I am Surreal Adravendi. I live in the western region with my family. The bastard who challenged for Threar claimed my home, Vericona Plains. He will get what he is owed, and then some. I promise you that.”
The wind shifted enough that the scent of another caught her nose, and she shifted slightly, facing toward the other. And Abaven female. Young. Glancing at the male, she raised a brow point slightly, offering him the choice of whether this wolf would be welcomed or not.
Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think |
"Speech" "Language"
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Surreal Adravendi |
The ex Threarian had little to say in response to Surreal’s words, and she didn’t force him to speak up. The way his head drooped in guilt made her wonder if anyone had gone to support the Authors at the challenge. The nerves she saw in his eyes and movements when she gave him a choice as to whether the Abaven female would be welcomed or not brought a faint glimmer of amusement to her eyes, but she gave an encouraging nod. Make a choice, lad. He did, calling to the other with the same missive as he had to Surreal. It didn’t take an eagle to see how much it hurt him to say those words. She didn’t blame him one bit.
A high pitched cry from the sky signalled Battlesong’s presence, and the Ferruginous Hawk stooped, dropping from the heavens to land lightly on the sand beside the wolves. Her large eyes regarded the pale male momentarily before her beak clicked in acknowledgement. Surreal nodded lightly at the bird, before turning to look at Miksa. “I will be raising a pack in the west, whether Hellstrom is cleared soon or not. I imagine Abaven intends to siege Hellstrom for Threar’s fall. Though I imagine this young lady can tell us more of that if she can?”
Surreal tipped her head to the brown female before continuing gently. “ I will be offering a home to any of Threar who wish to work as a family and a team. If you work hard, you will be welcomed. The choice is up to you, of course. If you decide you want to, my family and a few friends are camped in Avian Estuary.” She used the word camped, a clear note that it was a temporary arrangement. She was considering moving north to the Valley and the Willows. Falk knew those lands better and would have less difficulty in traversing them. There was no pressure in her words; merely an offer of a home and extended family. It was up to him, now.
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