Aurielle Adravendi

She’d been mulling over the various possibilities of activities she and Torin could set up between Lirim and Valhalla, and now, as she stood at his border, she hoped he’d be approving of some of them. It was one thing to spar with your own packmates. It was another to fight against a hoard of strangers. And she knew it had been a long time since the Raid from Talis. She had no doubt Justice would be thrilled if Torin accepted this proposal. She glanced back at the mound of goods strapped to a travois-sled. She’d brought supplies for her sisterpack. Meats she doubted were available in the lands Torin claimed, herbs, a few pelts, and several sheepskins from the animals the grizzly had injured so badly it was kinder to cull the beasts rather than try to save them. Finally, she howled for her older Cousin, sitting straight as she sought to ignore the growing restlessness every Autumn brought. Once again, she was doused with peppermint at every gland, vying with the scent that came with her birth-season. Four… She was four now. And still no children to love, no mate to stand at her side and grow a kingdom. She coughed under her breath at the thought. Did she really want to grow a kingdom? And empire to sprawl through the west as Ashen had exploded? … Maybe she did. Quietly, she set the consideration to the side as she waited for her dove grey cousin to arrive. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Speech

To say he hadn't exactly expected that Aurielle would visit so soon. They hadn't been back in the packlands too long and he had so many other things on his mind he hoped he could be forgiven to not be thinking about their sister pack. Still when he heard his cousin's call the man quickly switched his path, spinning on his toes to race off towards his cousin's call.

Torin slowed as he approached, noting the various things his cousin had brought with him. His gaze hitching on the sled for a moment before he finally turned his gaze towards his cousin. A small smile tugging at his lips, even if it was a little more strained in light of all the things he'd lost recently. "Aurielle, welcome!" He said, calling out to her as he approached. "What brings you to Lirim today?"

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Aurielle Adravendi

A smile fell easily on her lips as she saw her older cousin arriving. It blossomed into a grin as he greeted her, and her bannered tail swayed behind her as she responded gently, “Hello, Torin. How goes it?” As he queried, she grinned and tipped her head back toward the sled. “I wanted to bring you and your pack some trade goods and supplies, and to talk about some activities we could engage in between Valhalla and Lirim that may prove beneficial to both packs, and hopefully build ties further than just our familial ones.” She turned and tugged the hide covering the contents of her sled away to reveal them. There were deer-hides, buckskins, bear hides. Herbs, some of the oils and perfumes she’d gotten from the nomads, bits and bobs from her own stores from the chest, and several fabrics she thought might pique her cousin’s interest. She intended to leave the entire sled with him for his pack to pick through, but she let Torin have first perusal as she stepped aside with an expansive gesture of her paw, welcoming him to examine them, smiling. “I intend to go on a few expeditions now and then to see if I can find more of the more interesting items.” She stood back to let him examine the sled’s contents, content to wait a little bit before they spoke of her other ideas. Mostly she wanted time with the family she didn’t see as often. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Speech

Torin did his best to meet his cousin's sunny expression, she asked how things were and Torin gave a small nod. He didn't really want to get into his worry for his mate and son right this moment but also didn't want to worry Aurielle. "About as well as we can, considering we only recently returned to our lands."

He graciously dipped his head in acceptance of her gifts before rising back up to his full height to consider her proposals. This time his smile was more genuine. "I'd love to work on some joint events." He was curious what his cousin had in mind. His attention was drawn again to the supplies and Torin took the time to examen what she had presented to him. Several hides and furs, herbs he couldn't identify but he was certain Kestral would be happy to have, as well as some less traditionally useful supplies but he could easily see his children having a field day with. He smiled at the image of his daughters draped in those fabrics his cousin had brought and he turned to look at Aurielle.

"This is very generous, if there is any way we can return the favor simply let me know."

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Aurielle Adravendi

The Spirit had always been good at reading others. There was something off in Torin’s initial smile, and she studied him closely as she gently prompted, “If there’s anything at all I or Valhalla can do to help, you know you can always tell me.” As they went on to business, she smiled, noting the genuine nature of his smile. She just hoped he would be as accepting of her suggestion. But first, she grinned, tail waving gently as she said, “I’m glad you like them. Hopefully the rest of Lirim will be interested in looking through them.” Her haunches lowered to the ground as she added, “Aryn came to visit a while back. I got to show her around our moor, and we had a good chat. I don’t know if she’s told you yet, but we discussed her training in hunting. I’d like to offer one of my members as a mentor. His name is Red and he’s a good, kind man. He’s a good teacher as well. I’ve asked him and he’s more than willing to teach her what he knows. Perhaps that could be one of our first trades of training?” Her eyes studied her cousin, watching him for his thoughts and reaction to her suggestion. If he approved it, she’d pose her next suggestion. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Speech

Torin blinked, his head twitching to the side slightly as he heard his cousin mention his daughter. Aryn hadn't told him about her visit yet and he was filled with both pride at his daughter's initiative but he also couldn't help but feel a bit alarmed about his daughter wandering off without telling him... okay so she was nearly an adult and he trusted his children to take care of themselves... but well he'd probably never stop being afraid for them.

Still that she'd sought out aid when he couldn't offer it to him was good, if not a bit heartbreaking. He nodded at his cousin's offer. "Lirim hasn't had a dedicated hunter since... well since their mother disappeared and I'm woefully unprepared to help train my children without her." His voice broke a bit, the pain was raw and open for his cousin to see it now.

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Aurielle Adravendi

He’d nodded at her suggestion, and she smiled, however the smile dropped as he spoke. “How long has Derecho been missing? And which son? Lachlan or Padraig?” Regardless of which son, the worry was still the same. Were there more slavers out there? Her coat bristled with agitation. And if they had to fight more slavers someday, then… “If they were taken… by slavers… Then Lirim and Valhalla should be as trained as possible to get them back. If that’s the case, and I truly hope it’s not…” Perhaps is was a mixture of her own past experiences and her season messing with her emotions, but she had to rise and pace around the goods cart with a flick of her tail before she came to sit again, composed once more. The visible agitation was a rare moment for the Spirit. Steadily, she looked at him as she said, “I’d had this on my mind before I came here. What would you say about a friendly series of raids between Valhalla and Lirim? We could make it into a sort of contest or game. No maims, nothing more serious than bruises and light lacerations that will heal easily. It would give both our packs practice in defending and attacking… and it could be fun as well as training for our fighters, and a chance for them to spar against wolves they haven’t met. It’s up to you, and if you’re interested, I’d consider late spring, once our packs have recovered from whatever winter brings.” She waited, almost holding her breath as she watched him, to see what he thought, and hear what he had to say... if he agreed, perhaps he had some ideas to add. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Speech

Instantly Aurielle was asking about his missing mate and child and Torin had to fight back the desire to flinch away from her questioning. "Pàdraig." He said softly. "They've been gone since around the time we evacuated." He paused. "I hoped at first they simply got lost in the chaos but we've been back in our pack lands for a while now and..." He trailed off.

Torin's eyes grew wider as his cousin mentioned slavers. He hadn't even considered that! Gods he hoped that wasn't the case. Even still he couldn't disagree with his cousin's assessment, he knew they had few enough warriors, it'd probably be a good idea to at least make sure they all knew some basic self-defense.

Torin nodded slowly. "That sounds like a good idea to me. Let's call it a plan."

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Aurielle Adravendi

His side pressed into her shoulder, and she soaked in the provided support with a sigh. When he didn’t open the gift, She listened intently, trying to remember what Pàdraig had looked like. Of course, he would be a yearling now. But her fur bristled. She was sick of slavers by now. Even if it wasn’t definite that her cousin’s mate and son had been taken, the very fact that it was among the list of possibilities rankled. But it was a possibility that Torin hadn’t considered, judging by the widening of his eyes and the dawning expression. And he agreed to the mock raids. “Lets. I was thinking Mid Spring, Perhaps late? That would give our lands long enough to recover from winter and fully grow back. I’m also planning a festival, so we could plan around that as well. For our first, shall Valhalla raid first?” Her head cocked as she gazed at him, ears perked as she waited to see what he said. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think