Saren watched as the trade festival he had been awaiting came to light. Wolves came in from various places and the scents of various packs mingled in the air. Family groups with pups and the occasional loner, all kinds of wolves were here. The sensation of it all was very attractive, he could get addicted to this kind of thing. His lack of social ability wasn’t a factor at all here, not when there was something like this happening. He glanced around for his sister Thalia, he wouldn’t be surprised if she had chosen to stay out of the festivities but it would be nice if she had shown up.
He didn’t have much in the way of quantity to present, but the stuff he did bring was quality. Saren wanted to be sure that if he brought anything it was something he would be proud of. A number of tanned deer hides and some spears, it wasn’t much but he counted it satisfactory.

He hadn’t missed how eager Poem had been to make the trip to the trade festival. While he was only there to make an appearance and help represent Abaven his daughter had brought a whole collection of pottery to trade. With how excited she was it was easy for the old man to almost stop worrying about his heavily pregnant mate. While he’d tried to talk her out of making the journey at least she’d eventually listened to reasaon and allowed him to carry her the majority of the way.

Rhyme returned her to her feet right before they arrived so that she might appear with dignity, though he thought riding in on a platform was much more royal. He gave Samara a teasing smile before leading the group into the festival. His eyes scanned the gathered wolves for anyone he might recognize. The other alphas were easy to place, but he didn’t spy anyone he was particularly close to. He hung back a little, offfering Eligos a polite nod before taking everything in.

He'd hardly been in Aerie a few weeks and already there was a whole FESTIVAL, Deus had very quickly decided that life was amazing. There were so many wolves everywhere and a million new sights and sounds. It seemed like each wolf had with them a hundred things he'd never seen before and while his mother busied herself readying her own trade goods he took it upon himself to explore.

The pup was keenly aware that he had eyes on him and whether it was the puppies, his uncles, his mother or his father it didn't really matter in the end. He'd not stray too far outside a supervising adult's vision, Deus was too conscious of the kind of pup he wanted to be and it was not the kind who worried his family unnecessarily. He wore a wide grin as he trotted beneath the many large legs, only pausing when he saw another cluster of puppies with their parents.

They were the first wolf puppies he'd met aside from his sister and Deus couldn't resist but torpedoing towards them, skidding to a stop just short of the family and nearly collapsing onto his face as his puppy weight fought to unbalance him. "Hi! Hi! Hi! I'm Deus!" An over-excited greeting was given to each pup in turn, his tail wagging so hard that it wiggled his rear end through the air with it.  



"Speech"

Grandmother Rhythm hadn’t really been up for the trip all the way out here so along with her own pieces Poem brought along some from the old woman. She was still convinced hers were inferior to Rhythm’s but she was honored all the same to have them together. With herself and Allen laden with the wares she brought there was no shortage of pieces to offer. Sets of jars, bowls, and a few other useful items. She was reminded that Eligos wanted to see what she’d make and she brought items made with the clay he’d helped to carry back to Abaven.

This was her first long stint of time spent with Samara. She’d known for a while now that she was heavy with pups, little brothers and sisters to be born. Poem hadn’t decided how to feel but it was easier to be happy about it. There was already so much tragedy and bitterness in the world that she could be happy for the new life. She could be happy for her father.

With bright blue and lavender eyes the young woman scanned the crowd, her eyes not missing Sirius and his wife. She brightened as her gaze fell on Eligos. Poem shot him a quick smile before choosing a nice place to set up her wares. Hopefully nothing had broken on the journey.

Venom followed behind Sirius and his gang quietly, her eyes sharp as she took in the gathered wolves. Little families gathered into their circles as old friends met and new ones were made. While all well and good for the mortal packs Venom was going to inherit an Empire, and she was here on business. Training as well, she’d used her free time since learning about the fair to amass her own collection of belongings strictly to trade off. All the while she’d have Azure beside her.

He still needed a lot of work, and she wasn’t sure that she had been able to mold his opinions at all. She wouldn’t tell Sirius quite yet, if she could hold out until the kid was a yearling he would have more freedom. Sirius could take away the apprenticeship but that didn’t mean she couldn’t take up his time afterwards.

For now her eyes scanned the make shift booths that were springing up all over. Her eyes were instantly drawn to the two wolves who seemed hunched over a bag. The only merchant not eager to meet her eyes Venom made a bee line towards Eliphas and Aureus.

Samara Klein Samara had known that this was probably going to be the last time she'd get to leave the packlands before she had her litter. Rhyme certainly was't going to let her go by herself and as much as she wanted to give her sister the good news she wasn't stuborn enough to try and make the journey to Ashen while heavily pregnant. Which she was. Samara had started to wonder if it was puppies she was giving birth too or a whole herd of deer. They certainly kicked like bucks in rutting season. It probably didn't help that her abnormally small stature wasn't really built for pregnancy let alone the possibility of puppies as tall as their father. So instead of the rotund but otherwise glowing look she'd seen on pregnant females before she felt more like a ball with stubby limbs that just barely touched the ground. So while she put up a good show of pointing out she was still fully capable of handling herself she'd ultimately accepted Rhyme's offer to carry her. It would probably help to keep his mind at ease too. She had to admit there was a comfort to the closeness this brought her and the reminder of that day after the challenge when he'd carried her home so many lifetimes ago. Still, there was something to be said for the dignity to arrive on her own paws, something Rhyme was willing to give her. She stayed by his side for the most part, though she took notice of her niece and made a mental note to speak to her when she had a moment, the empire should know of it's soon to be new members. Still, she'd settle onto her haunches as soon as she could, the weight of her pregnancy was putting an extra toll on her already easily exhausted body. "Speech", Thoughts & You

Having recently rejoined her family in their new home, Fel hadn't exactly had time to craft anything for the trade fair. Instead, she settled for being even security of a sort. The slender, dark fae was seated off to the side in a patch of shade. Spatterings of light from above illuminated the silver streaks that laced her onyx pelt. The shade was where she would stay unless needed elsewhere. Garnet eyes scanned each new face, learning it and filing it away. This whole social thing wasn't her bag. She would rather be off on her own or at least nearby her brothers. She didn't necessarily even have to talk to them, she just liked having them nearby. Her family was a comfort to her. Her immediate family, at least. The woman found that she was always a little anxious when she was away. Perhaps that was why she had lost so much weight while searching for their mother and sister. Seated beneath the tree, Fel brought one foreleg upward and licked one shining black paw, much like a cat. She liked to be as clean as possible. If she could find some fancy soap while at this fair, she'd call today a win. There wasn't much to trade other than some skins and feathers from recent hunts, including the pelt of a blackbear that she'd already found dead, having fallen off of a cliff side. Lucky her. Unlucky bear. Once she assessed the situation and took a moment to soak in the cool shade, she would be on her way to hunt down that soap. "Speech"

Humming softly to himself as he went, Meriadoc wandered from seller to seller looking over the wares. He had makeshift saddlebags slung over his back and fully intended to set up his own shop here soon, but first he simply had to look over what everyone else brought. It was now or never because once he had his own items laid out he'd be tethered to that spot until it was time to pack up. Unless of course one of his kids wandered by and could be a) snagged and b) talked into guarding the goods while he wandered the lakeside. That seemed unlikely so he was going to make a lap or two around the goods before settling down somewhere.

In his saddlebags Meriadoc had all sorts of things. He'd brought samplings of all kinds of medicines as well as splints and things in case anyone was interested in demonstrations. The young field medic, knowing full well his days of learning would never be over, had come prepared to barter in knowledge as well as goods. If there were fellow healers here he was certain they'd share his hunger for knowledge and have similar feelings when it came to trading.

Having lost his horse to Tyrian, Jupiter burst onto the scene hauling his cart all by his lonesome. Somehow since the vikings' market he'd managed to lose all of his slaves. Darya had never really been one, but the kid and the pretty mute girl had managed to sneak off seasons ago. The horse, dammit, had been too smart. Next time if he saw some for sale he'd make a point to get one that couldn't barter for its freedom. A good, dumb horse was all he required. Or a wolf slave or two. He wasn't picky.

Looking around he didn't see any Fireside wolves but he knew for sure both Tyrian and Valentine were coming. As for the rest he couldn't say, but he was selfish enough to be happy if no more potential competition showed up. There were a lot of other wolves there, however. And- his breath caught in his throat. His favorite aggressive, certainly over-compensating for something saber-toothed dreamboat was here! Well, he certainly couldn't pass up saying hello to the handsome devil, now could he? In a loud, high voice that would carry over the masses that separated them, he sang, "Sirius!" Once the name was out there he switched back to his normal bass tones and shouted lackadaisically, "Come visit me big fella I'm setting up over here!"

With a wide swing he navigated his cart away and towards an open spot. Once there he lazily shrugged off his harness and began to rummage around in his cart. He had a rather eclectic assortment of goods to sell. Since Fireside had become all sheepy his goods had become heavily influenced by it. He certainly wasn't complaining. Sheepy things were easy to come by which meant less work for him. Scattered among the pelts, ram skull helmets and leatherwork, there were odds and ends he'd found and traded for during his travels. Really and truly he had a bit of everything.

The Ashen Warlord surveyed his people as they organised themselves into teams at his request. They looked like they had things under control, and could take their time looking through the merchandise. Members of different packs filled in, and it seemed Aerie was going to have a good turn out. An excited pup bounced up to him, and the Warlord’s lips twitched in a smile. The days he might have nudged away a pup with a sigh were over. His own children had born in him a love for little ones under foot. “They are retractable, see?” he said, lifting up a paw and pushing his claws out of their sheaths, and back again. He touched his paw to hers when she displayed her own kitten-like claws. He laughed softly, she was so tiny, tinier even then Asla had been at that age. Her paw was like a fly against his own giant appendage. He reached into the wagon, and into a sack of honeyed balls that had been made as candy to sell at the fair. He cupped it between his claws, and tossed it gently at her. “Catch!” he said, and made his escape. Chuckling softly. He noticed Poem in the mess of people, and nodded his head politely. Fleetingly wondering how his own apprentice was doing. He had always held a respect for the young woman. He began to move further through the stalls when someone called out his name. He raised his head, and found the blue-wolf, Jupiter. At his first instinct, the Warlord rolled his eyes skyward. Jupiter was an alcoholic mess, and a spaz, but at the end of the day he seemed fairly harmless. More inclined to mess around then to fight. The scent of pee had clung to Sirius all day, even after a wash. Zee still teased him about his run in with his newest ‘bf’ “You couldn’t handle this much man on your best day, Jupiter” he called back. Just because of how much laughter it would bring Zee to hear that her man had said such a thing. Shaking his head, he continued on through the stalls. @Tea(Aoife) @Kat(Poem) @Lazuli(Jup) for mentions "Normal""Flirting"

Recluse wasn't really there with her cousin, although she'd defer to Venom if she had to. No she was there on her own recone mission. She's not yet managed to wiggle any information from her little toys but after being careful to scrub their scent from her pelt she figured there was a chance she could get her own information. So she trailed along behind the small group of Ashen wolves, breaking away from Venom as they approached. She offered respectful nods to wolves she passed, flashing a grin at her cousin as she went.

Then she skirted the group, moving slowly, pretending to observe the wolves setting up their wares, taking a moment to drink in each and every scent, cataloging them. And then- she caught it. A vague familiarity, the all too faded pack scent her little captive had carried on them when she'd found them. Recluse kept moving, not letting her gaze linger too long, scanning over the form of an opal white woman, her aunt's lap dog, a slate colored man, puppies bounding happily at all of their paws. Then she circled back around to her cousin. "Anything catch your eye?" She asked as she approached.



Speech

Art by Vethysnia

PRAISE THE SUN

Two bear pelts, One deer pelt and two cups of honey. Darius must not have stood out, after all there were a few wolves that were taller and even more beautifully colored than he. What great gods graced them with this? Surely Zeus and the others had granted them with powers beyond what he could comprehend. Mortals had a strange way of taking on the gods will. Regardless he wouldn't let this lead him astray. As a loner he had to strike a deal - he needed supplies for himself. Perhaps a few herbs? Or goods that would help him store food. Favors even. Information. That sounded nice too.

Darius stood near his laid out goods and raised his voice. "Pelts and Honey for sale over here! Not looking for much just some supplies." then he would sit again and smile with his usual charismatic look. That call had to draw someone closer to him didn't it? Either way the spartan had to block out the hypocracy he had assumed everyone here was like him but of course that was not the case. Yet he didn't need to let his motives known regardless.

MADE BY MINNIE of BTN