Aurielle Adravendi

She’d ventured beyond the walls, southward this time, into the Estuary. To the east this land became a mucky, dangerous morass, but here it was reasonably pleasant. The world was beginning to slowly recover from the eruption, and she was turning her mind to preparations for the next Festival. She’d initially meant to have an annual Festival for all each summer, but it seemed that Autumn was a better plan. Each brush and scrape against the foliage was a relief, and unfortunately, loose fur was stuck to the bushes and shrubs and tree bark, shimmering under the soft evening light. After her discovery of the flickering beginnings of a glow in her coat where the new fur was replacing the old, she was unsure of how to take it. She had never heard of a wolf developing bio-luminescence. Born with it, maybe, after meeting Ignatius and his fire-glow. But her color was, for now, a moonstone blue, with hints of white. But the white would take precedence as time drew on, not that she knew. Nor did she fully grasp that she would be an entirely glowing creature, brighter than Ignatius. Had she known…. She probably would have hidden in the furthest back caves for a few days to wrap her head around the idea. The Spirit paused, nosing around a bush as her nose caught a pleasant scent of eggs. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

He'd come by sea. From a land far away, all who lived there had seen the red eruption of a distant volcano. The wind had brought the remnants of grey ash even to them across the waters. Curiosity had risen within Asa; he who sought to start anew. There were too many here that knew him and his less than savory ways, and so... he planned. He had to wait until summer when the sea was lower; the waves calmer. And so Asa waited, bidding him time until the conditions were optimum. He'd charmed a crafter into building him a raft. On a particularly fine day, the silver and obsidian brute had waded into the ocean. He said goodbye to the land that bore him and paddled off into the great unknown. It was obvious that he knew nothing of weather patterns, for a storm struck halfway. The man's raft was shredded in an instant and he was forced to swim his way to shore, clinging to one floating log. Asa's bumpy arrival had been days ago. He'd followed the find of birds inland. Birds were easy food. In fact, he had been face deep in the ribcage of a fat swan when he heard the sound of approaching paws. Raising his head, Asa licked his chops in an attempt to make himself presentable. His paws were bloody and there were white feathers everywhere, but that wasn't a big deal. Orange eyes cast about, looking for the owner of the sound. What he saw was an odd sight. From this distance, it looked like a white, walking haystack. A rather confusing image, to say the least. Brow furrowed and head tilted, only when it came closer was he able to tell what it was. Apparently it was a female. Okay, he could work with that. She was odd looking though. They didn't have things of this nature across the sea. Asa cleared his throat politely, letting the fae know of his presence and preparing to speak. "Hullooo. Fine day we're having." Pleasantries? Check.

Aurielle Adravendi

A light breeze tossed his scent toward her before he announced himself. A subtle glance had picked him out as he cleared his throat. First though, she delicately extended a front paw, reaching into the rushes and carefully rolling first one egg, then two, out of the nest. “It is, yes. I hope it means the Autumn will be fair, as well…” Her head rose and she gave him her full attention with those sapphire to sky eyes of hers. Like her father her way of looking at one with the full attention was to give the impression that they were, at that moment, the most important creature on Earth. She studied him, noting the swan with interest. Would he be willing to part with some feathers, she wondered. “A good kill.” She nodded to it with a slight smile before casting her gaze around briefly, though her attention never quite seemed to deviate from the male. He was, of course, in a land closely situated to the southern edge of her pack, and while she felt no fear of the man, regardless of height, she did wonder what brought him here. She decided to wait on asking after any feathers from the swan—after all, she could always find other birds for feathers. Really, there were enough cast feathers on the ground here that she could have her pick. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

She replied to his comment easily enough, mentioned the following season. Asa gave a nod of acceptance. "I imagine it might be a decent autumn. Though this summer seems to have been a bit cooler than most. Perhaps the warmth will bleed into the following season or perhaps things will continue to be cold, which will call for a rough winter." Quite the conversationalist today, it seemed. The large brute watched as the pale woman scooped eggs from one of the many nests that littered this area. He wasn't a fan of eggs, but he knew that many were. Her compliment brought a light scoff from him and he chuckled. "Swans are fat. Easy to catch when roosting." That's exactly what he'd done with this one. Caught it while it was resting. Asa stood, shaking out his thick, silver and back pelt. "There's quite a bit left if you'd like a bite." Stepping away from the swan, Asa deposited himself beneath a nearby tree. He began cleaning the blood from his paws and forelegs with repeated swipes of his tongue. He was in no rush and took his time in doing so. Once satisfied that he was clean of both blood and feathers, Asa directed his attention back towards the strangely shimmering fae. "What might your name be, lady? I'm Asa Cyr." Dark ears perked, waiting for a response. He was curious about her, having never seen a creature quite so... outlandish? Was that the word? Well. It would have to do for now.

Aurielle Adravendi

She listened with an attentive ear. By his scent he was older, and often age was paired with experience. She gave a nod, then coughed a rueful chuckle and sigh. “Few winters could be rougher than last winter. A volcano in the East erupted, and the world is only now starting to settle into some semblance of normalcy, though I imagine it will take a few cycles for things to go back to true normalcy.” A small smile twitched at his light scoff, and a shrug rolled one shoulder as she amended, “A useful catch, then.” As he stepped away and offered the remainder of his catch, she nodded, adding, “I’m not hungry myself, but I have a pack who wouldn’t mind the added meal, if that’s alright? I’m more curious about the feathers. They might make interesting baubles for trade.” As he introduced himself, she offered a smile in return. “I am Aurielle Adravendi, Spirit – or Alphess – of Valhalla—a pack just north of here. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Asa.” A rustle of movement brought her eyes to one side, but as she knew the paw steps, she was unconcerned as the black mountain lion slid from the reeds and undergrowth, casting the male wolf a suspicious look as he took his place a few feet away behind the shimmering, faintly glowing woman, watchful, but not interacting directly. “This is Aelloshir, my companion. Ayodele is the lemur.” Said lemur bounded to Aurielle, studying the swan with interest, glancing at the woman’s mane in speculation. She gave Asa a smile and wave of nimble-fingered hand before returning the luminous green eyes to the swan, clearly full of ideas. Aurielle, meanwhile, lowered to her belly in a sphinx-like post, head tipping to the side as she studied the male before asking lightly, conversationally, "So what brings you to the west? Fat swans or just wandering?" Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

A name was given to match the face and Asa bowed his head respectfully at the woman who claimed to be an alpha of a local pack. Since he was new to this land, it was good too meet people. Meeting one of the ruling party was a good way to start. It seemed as though the glowing woman had brought an entire entourage. What was with females and collecting pets? First a lanky black cat made its way into the open and Asa was sure that he caught a glare from the beast. Only fair since he didn't exactly give it a friendly look either. There weren't many cats in the land that he came from. Not anymore. They had been hunted to the point that it was rare to even see a big cat in the wild. He wondered if this place was full of them or if this one was just a fluke. A little lemur came bounding up beside its master. This one, Asa could understand. It was cute. It had little fingers. It was practical. The small creature gave a wave of those fingers and the big man grinned. He could see the gears moving in both the wolf and the lemurs heads and it amused him greatly that a dead swan could provoke so much interest. Aurielle questioned his intent and the man gave a light shrug. "Though swans are a draw, I'm simply here because I'm new to these lands. I come from a place across the sea." He cast a blood orange glance back in the way he'd come. "Things were getting a little uncomfortable there, so I had someone build me a raft." Bringing his gaze back to rest upon the small woman, he continued. "I saw your volcano from afar and knew that there was land this way." With a shrug and a grin, he spoke. "So here I am, trying to learn this place. Every day brings new possibilities; new discoveries." Now that the blood was clean from his pelt, he simply rested upon his lean stomach, watching with curiosity and wondering what the trio might do with the swan.