Spring was wearing on and there were many things he needed to tend to. Now that he had accepted Heloise's abandonment he decided to use that to make him focus on the children he had with him as well as the pack. Valkyrie had come to visit with word of her chosen targets and in the coming days he would hold a meeting. But until then, he set out westward for a long overdue visit to Valhalla. They had invited him and his pack among others to their last festival and he felt inclined to bring a gift as thanks along with other goods that he had to trade provided the pack was interested. He knew Valhalla was a rather small pack, so there was no telling if they would be wary or not of his show of potential friendship. He had shown no ill will towards them, nor to other packs as far as he was aware. Sure he didn't see eye to eye with Legion, but perhaps that was the reputation that Chaos sought. Whatever the case, Valhalla seemed like a good group.

He approached the borders, stopping a few feet from it out of respect as his foxes stopped on either side of him. All three were laden with tradeable goods with the foxes carrying small packs fit for them and the alabaster King towing one of the sleds the three of them had made. He briefly adjusted the harness strapped around his chest for a moment before watching his companions eye the pack border. They sniffed at the border with interest before gazing at the wall that seemed to border the plains. It was an odd sight, but Ace eyed it with interest too and wondered if he might be able to do something similar back home. No doubt the snows would help fortify things when the colder seasons came back. It certainly did get him thinking. Tilting his head back, he howled an invitation for Aurielle to join him if she so chose to grace him with her presence.

WC: 344
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Aurielle Adravendi

The pain never seemed to leave. The only thing that seemed to dull it was the constant training, patrolling, building, and anything that required her to think of everything except her personal life. Even though her mother’s death changed so little in the overall dynamic of the world, with how long she’d been ill and barely conscious, it still felt as though someone had snatched their jaws into her breast and ripped her open to the bone. When she let herself think, let her guard down, the whirling hurricane of emotions battled to overwhelm her. Fury, loss, grief, sadness, uselessness. She didn’t know how to let it go, or how to purge it from her system and wake up refreshed. So, she worked herself to the bone through a Spring that seemed not to have even been born this year. A howl broke through her training – a rather simple exercise of lifting heavy stones in saddlebags across her back until her legs sook and burned from the effort of repeated rising and lowering herself under the weight. If it was one thing Jupiter’s little visit had shown her, it was that she needed to be stronger, and hit harder. So that the next time she bowled a wolf his size over, it wouldn’t be because he let her. Slowly, she rose to her full height, ten let her haunches drop, sending the bags sliding down her back end to the ground under the weight of the stones they carried. Shaking out her coat, she broke into a brisk trot that belied the weariness in her muscles, Aelloshir slipping ahead of her, Ayodele leaping to her back and plaiting her mane into one long rope and knotting it into a bun. Aurielle was pretty sure she recognized the voice as Acere Praetor’s, and her interest, so difficult to kindle, was roused from the back of the dark little cave it’d been hiding in since she’d learned of her mother’s passing. What could the leader of Winterfell be wanting? Trade? The note of his voice hadn’t carried that cold edge of seriousness that one might expect if meeting a declaration of war, so she was reasonably certain that wasn’t the case. The pale-based male came into sight as she neared the wall, and her gradated blue gaze swept over him, taking in the harness, and the packs on the two foxes backs. Trade, then. She considered the stores tucked away in the caves, and the small supply of wood. Herbs had been scarce this spring, but those gathered in Autumn and Summer, and last spring were still in good stock and condition. She dipped her muzzle to the massive male as she slowed to a stop, standing in the passage of the wall and adding a nod to each of his companions before she greeted, “Acere. It’s good to see you well. Is all well in the north?” Had he lost anyone in the eruption? Any astute wolf could take one look at the shadows haunting her eyes and face and know that she was battling her own trials, though her expression was one of warm welcome, typical of her usual demeanor as a leader. Her head cocked as Ayodele bounded to the top of the wall to study the cargo Acere had pulled behind him, though the lemur didn’t approach further, respecting the items as goods that hadn’t yet been traded into Valhalla’s paws. Aurielle’s gaze flicked to the cargo as well as she asked lightly, “That’s an awful lot to have pulled such a way. What brings you and your companions so far south?” It was slightly rhetorical, but not assumptive of her to ask, she hoped. With luck, she could possibly come away from this with an alliance to what was possibly a very powerful pack, if the amount of scents she was getting off his coat on the occasional breezes that wafted her way were anything to go off of. It was hard to patrol one’s pack and not come away from it smelling like the rest of your wolves. 684 words 1028/1500 words Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

The Northern King inspected the wall before him while he waited for Aurielle to arrive, and it seemed the pale alphess didn't keep him waiting. As she approached, he listened to the question she asked him. “Acere. It’s good to see you well. Is all well in the north?” He nodded to her in both greeting and answering her question but kept a straight face and avoided smiling. The North had been fortunate enough not to have been severely affected by the eruption but half the lands south of his seemed to have been affected greatly from what he had seen and heard so far. "Yes, we were fortunate to have no casualties nor many difficulties surrounding the eruption. At best we have some tremors and colder weather, but nothing we can't handle." He paused for a moment before continuing. "And Valhalla? How do you fare?" His question was posed in such a way that it could either mean her pack, her, or both. He didn't expect her to tell him of her trouble since he wasn't one to exactly pry into someone else's personal life, especially that of another alphas unless, of course, it affected him and his own. But the ball was in her court for her to answer as she saw fit.

When the movement of her companion on the wall caught his eye, he briefly turned to Ayodele and offered a nod of greeting before returning his attention back to her. His companions, of course, were interested and approached the wall to get a closer look. They were no strangers to big cats considering they had spent some time with Dragons companions and that of Dragons son. So while the mountain lion was a common creature in their lives, the lemur on the wall was something new. When the pair rose onto hind paws to reach curiously towards the lemur, Ace cleared his throat and motioned for them to return to his side. Giggling, they did as they were bid with kid-like grins on their faces. "Heh, sorry dad!" He shook his head before shooting an apologetic look to the shimmering alphess and promptly answered her question. "I wanted to bring a gift as thanks for inviting us to your last festival. And, of course, an array of items I offer for trade since I was ill prepared for it during your festival. Provided you're interested, of course."

Lumi stepped forward and pulled from her pack a marble pendant in the shape of a wolf's fang threaded onto a leather cord and she held it for the alphess. "We made this from a piece of marble found in the riverbed near our lands. You're not obligated to wear it if you so choose of course. My two kids here think it'll look nice on you and perhaps compliment your fur.." He winked and grinned, an obvious compliment towards her unusual (but pretty) fur.

WC: 487
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Aurielle Adravendi

She listened as Acere answered, nodding. It seemed that the north had been relatively unharmed by the eruption. At his question, she chose her words carefully. Should they come away with an alliance, she’d be more willing to be open about the real troubles, but for the time being, she said, “We felt the initial shock and tremors, and of course the as is everywhere. We could see the eruption, too—like a distant wildfire of unimaginable size. … We are missing a few members, but two of those had been missing since before the eruption, so I can only hope that they were well and far away from the continent when the mountain woke.” She studied him, before the antics of the two young foxes drew bot their attention and coaxed a rare smile out of the Spirit. Ayodele grinned, tail flicking almost teasingly at the companions before Acere drew them away with a look. The northern King returned the subject to his reason for being there at her wall, and she again studied the cargo from a polite distance before one of the foxes drew out a pendant. The King’s explanations, particularly in regards to the gift sent the Spirit’s head tilting as she bent to the foxes’ levels to admire the trinket. “It’s very well made. My den walls are marble as well, but black and struck through with veins of silver and gold. I’m told my great grandmother took one look when she found it while searching for a proper den to birth her first litter and claimed it immediately. Generations ago, now. She was the original Valhalla’s Master Healer, and well regarded as the best throughout Boreas in her time.” Her eyes flicked up to Acere’s with a genuine, sincere smile, as she added, “I thank you for the gift. Your kids are very kind. And I’m certainly interested in trade, especially in times like these, with resources so low in some places. And, if you are open to it, I’m interested in an Alliance.” She glanced toward Ayodele and Aelloshir – who was lurking behind her and glowering suspiciously at Acere with all the fatherly grouchiness one might have expected if Acere had come courting for more than trade – and murmured, switching smoothly to the Old Tongue, “Could you and Aelloshir make a run to the stores? Bring some of the herbs more common to our area, and some of the trinkets and baubles. The usual trade goods.” Loshir gave her a look that said quite clearly that he’d much rather stick by her side as a guardian should, but she threw a pointed look between him and Dele, taking in their huge contrast in size, and the cat conceded with a quiet grumble under his breath. The lemur leapt to the cougar’s back and the two bounded across the plains out of sight as Aurielle stepped forward, tipping her head to the cargo Acere had brought with a, “May I see what you have?” Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

He wore a grim expression when she spoke about their view of the eruption and, of course, the members that had gone missing since before it happened. He nodded solemnly. The same had happened in his pack as well, members missing before the eruption and even now still. "It seems to be a trend these days, wolves abandoning their packs without word..." There was another potential reason....one he wouldn't put past others doing. "Unless there is someone or someone's out there stealing members, but..." Was it wrong of him to think that? Hjarrandi after all, had a slave market. There was no telling if all of them were rogues or if they'd been pack members before their capture. He didn't know how the newer pack Ashen worked, either. But considering Hannibal's past with slaves and the fact he was practically the slave master in his nephews former pack, he didn't doubt they were stealing wolves from all over, too. That aside, she complimented the trinket they offered her and it warmed him some that she thought so. He worked hard to try and make the best crafts he could, and he was getting better with each one. His own armor and weapons he had crafted himself, and they were no shoddy pieces of work. "Thank you," He dipped his head to her in thanks as well before her description of her den and the bit of history behind it drew his attention. Black marble struck through with silver and gold? That seemed like something remarkable and he no doubt wanted to see it and perhaps even craft a piece of it, but he wouldn't dare request to intrude on her privacy for a piece of it. Maybe he'd be able to find something similar closer to home. After all, if the marble wash was white with gold veins, perhaps there were other variations hidden around somewhere. He'd make note to dig a little deeper after he got back home. Maybe better exploring the lands around where he lived would reveal things he hadn't noticed before... "Thank you, you're very kind." He offered a small smile at her thanks and her mention of his kids manners. "I've tried my best to raise them since they were kits and it certainly has been quite the interesting journey." He had, after all, raised them since they were barely a couple of months old. It amused him to know that he raised a couple of fox cubs before raising his actual wolf kids, but the experience certainly prepared him a lot better for the kids he had now. When she mentioned trade and alliance, however, he perked up. He watched as she spoke to her companion in a language he wasn't familiar with before answering her, "Yes, of course I'm interested," Perhaps they could work out a deal that would favor and help them both... "Yes you may," He moved so that she could access the sled he had and even brought the bags his kids wore closer, too. Opening up the bags and removing the cover he had on the sled, he showed her what he had available. "These are things we've found, collected, or crafted. From fresh meat caught and prepared in the North to skins and trinkets and even a couple crafted pieces of armor and weaponry that I made myself. Herbs, parts of prey or predator to craft your own...even metal that I've gathered from our territories and the nearby mines. I'm sure those can be shaped into whatever your heart desires though I'm working on finding easier ways to form the metal." Fire of course, hadn't come to mind quite yet. And he had a lot more there, but those were just a few things worth mentioning so far. speech action

Aurielle Adravendi

Acere’s comment brought a frown to the shimmering woman’s features, and she posed cautiously, “You’ve members missing as well?” His suggestion that someone could be out there stealing wolves away brought that strange, frigid chill to her eyes, almost feral before she shuttered the emotion away. “My mother and brother were taken when we were pups… They were rescued, and that band of slavers wiped out to the last wolf…. But mother was never the same after.” However, their continued conversation allowed her to compose herself enough to smile as Acere spoke of his journey in raising two fox kits. “I can imagine. Foxes by their nature can be an adventure to deal with.” Her mood only brightened as he confirmed that he was indeed interested in an alliance, and she put a mental placemarker on the conversation as she moved to examine the goods, listening with interest as he spoke of what he had. A large, white pelt that smelled of bear caught her eye, and she gently brushed the tip of one paw over the thick fur curiously. “White bears?” Her head cocked as she studied the other things and materials, her head turning briefly to gaze at the thin plume of smoke rising into the sky from the distant hillock that housed the cave system. She’d noted that some things became more malleable when warm, or hardened into pottery. Perhaps metal was among those things that should be shaped when hot. As she bent to sniff a piece of the stuff in question, a memory surfaced. The smell was similar in a cold way, to the scents that rose from the earth’s blood in Hell’s River cave… A smile fell upon her features as she asked, “Have you tried heat?” The sound of dragging turned her head as Aelloshir and Ayodele arrived with Valhalla’s own trade goods, and Paladin gently coaxed the remaining flock of sheep along, nodding to the Winterfell King before he smiled gently at his cousin and trotted away, the sheep bleating warily as the mountain lion took over herdsman duty after working free of the travois of trade items. Aurielle nodded to the items, moving to show the King the wares. “Being allied with the Nomads is a boon. It’s thanks to them that the festival in Autumn was as plentiful as it was. They provided the sheep as well. They travel far and wide, and trade with Valhalla. Take a look.” Acere would find a variety of items, from perfumes, to hunting lures that were made from the urine of doe deer—highly valued as it was so difficult to tame deer enough to gather the stuff. Furs, leathers, bones, baubles and cloths that she’d found with in the strange log that the primates had worked open at last. There were even a few daggers made by human kind, long, long ago. There were dried herbs, an excess of aloe very leaves. She stood aside, letting the male take his time, before she posed gently, “What would be your terms for an Alliance?” Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

“You’ve members missing as well?” He nodded grimly, "Unfortunately." He wasn't sure what the circumstances were for that. Whether it had to do with the world getting thrown out of whack or if something had happened. Or maybe they just decided the pack life wasn't for them. Whatever the case, they weren't around anymore. “My mother and brother were taken when we were pups… They were rescued, and that band of slavers wiped out to the last wolf…. But mother was never the same after.” Another grim report. The mention of that reminded him of the raid he took part in with Valentine and Rhyme when they went to kill each and every last slaver that had done that family wrong. "I'm sorry to hear that. Another band of slavers had done the same to another family I know, and while it was unfortunate, we took care of them..." How many other bands like that were out there? Probably countless ones...but there were potentially one or two less of them now.

He was glad when the conversation shifted to his companions, and he of course, nodded along with a small smile. "That they are, much harder than wolf pups I must admit" He glanced at them for a moment only to see them smiling sweetly at him.

Ah...kids...

He waited as she examined the goods he had brought, a grin starting to show as he watched her examine and ask about the white bear skin. "Yes, Polar Bear. Only found in the coldest of lands. We've had quite a few of them trespass into our lands or linger too close, so my kin and I often chase them away, or dispatch the more aggressive ones. I've found their fur makes for excellent insulation, and their teeth and claws make for good accessories and tools." He was in the process of making one of his daughters a polar bear skin Cape or armor...he hadn't decided yet. He often envisioned what he wanted but as he crafted, the materials seemed to take on a mind of their own and would turn out to be better than what he saw in his minds eye or something else entirely. Whatever the results, he was always happy with them.

"Have you tried heat?" For a moment, he couldn't figure out what she was referring to, but it dawned on him rather quickly. Heat. Of course! He should have known! Being around the volcano and having been familiar with fire in the past, he should have guessed that that was the missing link he needed for his metal crafts. "I have not, though now that you mention it, that would help immensely. Thank you," His head rose when he heard sheep, the alabaster king turning a quizzical eye towards them. Well, that was interesting. He'd never seen a flock of sheep let willingly let a predator herd them like that, let alone stick around in a land of wolves. Aurielle spoke about the nomads and their trade goods, and he nodded along as he turned his attention to the Valhallan wares. "Aye, you are lucky you have such great allies at your side. Some of the things I saw at the trade fair were quite curious, and they've given me ideas that I wish to replicate or improve." He stepped towards the items to take a look of his own while she looked over his. A few things caught his eye, and truth be told he was interested in at least one of everything to see what he (or the pack) might like.

"What would be your terms for an alliance?" His attention was redirected to her then, as he considered the question. "I figure we could start with joint training? I have pups of my own now, and I must admit it's not easy trying to train them all on my own. The younger ones in Winterfell, too. Some are in dire need of more one on one training, so if that's something you're interested in, we can make a plan for that. I'd also like for us to become partners in trade, and of course, to answer one another's call during times of war if need be..." Granted, the lands were quiet and war hadn't been seen for years. But one never knew when a war might be on the horizon. "I am aware that Valhalla is smaller than Winterfell at the moment, and if it suits you, I am okay with bringing a member or two here for training, and any of yours, of course, are welcome to join me in Winterfell for training there as well." His terms seemed simple enough. Basic even. He didn't see the need to ask for more, though he was curious to hear what her terms would be. "Is there anything you are in need of?" He had been in dire need of a healer until Drifa had come along, and although his best hunter was currently on loan, they were still okay. He had the resources to help if need be. He left the question open for her to voice her own terms if she wished.

Aurielle Adravendi

It brought a sympathetic pang to her breast as Acere confirmed that he, too, had missing wolves. It was such a common malady, wolves wandering away and not returning, and never knowing why, or if they were hurt… or killed. “Thank you…” It wasn’t the same band, not the one that had taken her family and torn it in half for so long, but the blow was surely a good one. Hopefully, more could be brought down over time. Her eyes followed Acere’s to the foxes, and a faint smile fluttered over her features as she explored the wares the King had brought. As he explained Polar bears, she nodded, filing away the information. Perhaps this would be one of the first items that she traded for with Acere. “Aside from insulation for armor, it might make for a wonderful den lining for after a birthing…” As her suggestive query as to the use of heat to work the metals received a good response, she pondered, smiling faintly. Did they already have fire in Winterfell? If not, she wasn’t against giving Acere a Coalhorn, with instructions on how to keep it alive during his journey back to his domain. The conversation turned to politics, and she moved to sit before the King, posture straight and attentive as she listened to his suggestions. They were all ones she found agreeable. As he asked what Valhalla was short in, she paused for several long beats. To be honest… every Circle was much smaller than she wanted. And she had to balance the natural wariness of letting too much slip to another leader, and giving her trust to an ally. Honesty, or deflection? Honesty, she decided. This would be a test of Winterfell’s trustworthiness, so she offered, “We are small. We’ve gone many years without enough adult wolves experienced enough to train the last litter we had. I agree to these terms. My own are similar. Do you have anyone in mind that you’d like to come here in our first trade of training?” Her own mind shifted to those in her pack—who might want to go North to learn for a while? Caelia might gain a great deal from a trip to Winterfell. Viviane might enjoy meeting new wolves and learning from other healers for a while… Really, Aurielle herself thought it might be interesting to spend some time learning at Winterfell. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think