There was a lot Ghoul could and could not explain about how he felt for the girl he was finally bringing home. He knew he wanted her here within Habari borders so they could spend time together, but he also couldn't describe how he actually felt. She was gentle but also stern and so very intelligent and ambitious which were all qualities he saw in himself. She made him smile and secretly, he thought that was the most important part of all of it. He hoped that bringing her home would show her that she could find a path in life without being a vagabond, but also help her build bonds with others too. Not all of his siblings were crazy, right? Since their last interaction and decision to spend some time apart to really think over the future ahead of them, much had happened for the growing boy. Not only had he told his mother that he wanted to be heir, but a raid had also happened, new siblings had been born, and unfortunately the untimely demise of his sister to add with it. Event after event had caused Ghoul to be slightly late to their agreed-upon meeting time, but he had made it out of breath and eager to take her home. Their walk back was peaceful and gave them more time to learn about each other. Causing him to be in good spirits as they approached the slopes of Mount Volkan, he stopped at the border. "We'll wait here," Ghoul turned to glance at Edelweiss with a small smile before he lifted his muzzle to let out a howl. Calling out to Recluse or anyone who would have time to meet and accept her into Habari. "Not that I couldn't take you all the way up, but with the new pups, I don't want to startle my mother," he mentions as his tail gave a few wags.

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She walked with Ghoul to the border of Habari, letting the young man take over. She blinked as she looked at the volcano before them, wondering if it had ever experienced an eruption. That Habari felt it important to settle here... She was not averse to nature's fury, but she felt it was odd for a pack's settlement. Maybe they didn't fear it. Perhaps they had more in common than she thought. She gave a nod to Ghoul as he proclaimed he could have walked them further.

"It's fine" she understood the alpha's caution. If it was Edelweiss, she would have done the same for the protection of children. Hell, she would now... If Habari was to be her pack, she would protect the children within it "I do not mind waiting for your mother or anyone else." She left it at that, finding it important to walk in her mind. To contemplate how she would respond to questions asked of her. She tried not to shuffle too much toward Ghoul, finding his presence comforting.

"Speech"
Perhaps the woman had always known that it would happen eventually, one of her children would bring someone home. But to say it was one of the farthest things from her mind right now would have been an understatement. The world kept on spinning though, even when she begged for it to stop, Kali was buried in the nook, and yet life went on. It was cruel like that. Recluse perked slightly when she caught Ghoul's howl, that started up a dull sort of curiosity, hampered by the grief that clung to her still. Ghoul was more than welcome to come and go as he wished and it would be strange for him to need her specifically most of the time, but maybe he thought it was about time to take over Kali's former rank... And while Recluse absolutely had to admit he was a good candidate it still felt too soon for her... That thought solidified into a little kernal of dread in her stomach.

Still, she'd not deny her children if they needed her and so Recluse would make her way towards the call, moving down the side of the mountain and not failing to spot the unknown figure standing next to her son. The woman approached, giving her son the dignity of an affectionate smile but not anything more than that. "Ghoul, hello love." She said as she pulled up before the pair, turning cherry gaze towards the young woman beside her son, she was a pretty thing, a little bigger than herself. "Hello, I am Recluse Klein, Serpahim of Habari. How may I help you?" She glanced at her son for a moment, not sure if he planned to speak for the young woman but not wanting to assume she wasn't capable of speaking for herself.

It was an easy enough mask to slip on, one she'd worn a lot, the alpha meeting a stranger at her border. Easy enough to hide her grief behind.

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He gave Edelweiss a comforting smile as she shuffled closer to him. Feeling the warmth from her body was comforting in its own way as they awaited Recluse's arrival. Thankfully it wouldn't take very long for his mother to approach. Watching silently as his tail wiggled behind him, he gave her his own endearing smile. Ghoul knew how stressful her life had been in the last few weeks. Everything that had mounted upon his mother's back and still she made time to greet him at the border. "Mother," he rumbled quietly, forcing himself to stay planted beside Edelweiss. His own ruby gaze would turn to Edel for a moment before back to Recluse and then Edel again. Opening his lips to speak, he closed them tightly without a second thought. Their relationship would not be one where he did everything for her. She was strong and capable and could very well introduce herself. Leaning over to give Edel a comforting nudge with his shoulder, he smiled at her in case she needed some reassurance.

A pale woman appeared to them, giving Ghoul affection albeit reigned in for the sake of company. Edelweiss sat up straighter - if even possible - when addressed. She would shoot Ghoul an appreciative glance at his nudge and smile before her eyes drifted back to Recluse. She dipped her head to the woman, feeling unnaturally nervous. "Lady Recluse" she spoke slowly, politely "I am Edelweiss" for the sake of continued pleasantry, she would try to make this quick and painless. An alpha had much more work to do than greet newcomers "your son's friend." While she knew Recluse probably suspected more than that... Well, no. She should correct herself. "Girlfriend" she did, feeling a creeping little blush "I... have come to join Habari, if you will have me. I am learning to be a worthy hunter." She let it go at that, letting Recluse ask questions if wanted and needed. "she speaks"

"Speech"
Recluse listened carefully as the young woman spoke, noticing Ghoul thinking better about speaking for her, she kept her expression open but not too friendly, she didn't want to unnerve the clearly nervous girl but she wasn't exactly in a place to be too open about things, at least not right now. Still, as she heard the word girlfriend drop from Edelweiss' lips her eyebrows shot up and she flicked her gaze to Ghoul again for just a moment, a slight smile tugging at her lips, more genuine this time. It seemed her little heir hopeful was the first of her children to bring their romantic partners home, she wasn't even sure if any of his siblings had anyone like that to speak of.

"A pleasure to meet you Edelweiss." She said taking a moment to eye up the girl. "I trust Ghoul's judgment, and I have faith he wouldn't vouch for just any wolf." She winked at her son, okay so maybe she would embarrass him a bit, but she was allowed this much at least. "Habari would be happy to have you. You will start as a Kuwinda Hashmallim, the general rank for our hunters but you may earn promotions through your deeds. If you have any concerns let me know, otherwise, if that is fine by you I assume Ghoul can give you the grand tour." She could interrogate the girl about herself a little later, for now, she wanted to have faith in her son's judgment.

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Pleased that Edelweiss felt confident and comfortable enough to introduce herself and request a hunter's role, he felt his chest swell with pride. Knowing that he had chosen a fine girl to bring home meant more to him than he had realized. As the word girlfriend dropped from her lips, his ears swiveled forward and his own cheeks blushed white hot. Titles had not been a lengthy topic for the both of them, but it was one more thing to make his chest swell and his heart thump erratically. What a strange concept it was now to have a girlfriend... Slightly distracted, he heard Recluse mention his vouching skills and caught her wink in his direction. Ghoul's cheeks would flush once more as his ears tilted back. Happy that the interaction between his mother and his girlfriend was going so well, he couldn't hide his smile any longer. His mind felt fuzzy slightly, lost in thought, as he looked forward to showing Edelweiss around the pack lands. His mother would need to get back soon anyway. Clearing his throat, he looked from Edel to Recluse. "Yes, I will have no problem showing her around. I hope you can get some rest," the boy smiled warmly at his mother before stepping forward to brush his chest against hers. Seraphim or not, she was still his mom and there wouldn't be much time left that he could openly show her that he appreciated her kindness. Turning back to Edelweiss, he wagged his bobbed tail a few times. "Ready to get going?" Ghoul asked before leading her in the direction of Redbud Nook first. /exit

The title of hunter was bestowed upon her. Edelweiss sat up straighter - if that was even possible - and looked at Recluse intently. The girl was the type to analyze situations, but she didn't waste it long on the interaction at paw. "It is nice to meet you as well" she began after everything was said and done. Recluse would even give a knowing look to her son, and a wink. A creeping embarrassing crawled into her own emotions too. Goodness "Ghoul has spoken highly of Habari - and you." It hadn't been the first time he asked Edelweiss to join either. It had been a nagging conversation for a long time, come to fruition. Ghoul would pipe up that he would be happy to show her around, leading the newly accepted Habarian deeper in. The girl gets up and walks to Ghoul, giving Recluse a respectful nod as she passes the older woman. "Thank you, Recluse. I shall see you later, hopefully?" It felt odd to call her boyfriend's mother by her first name... Ma'am seemed so stuffy and formal though. Oh well. The offer to talk to the woman was there. /exit "she speaks"

"Speech"
There would be no complaining it semed and Recluse stepped aside to let the pair into the packlands, giving her son a soft smile as he told her to rest and then Edelweiss a nod in response to her offer. Yes, Recluse would want to speak to the girl properly soon but for now she figured it was Ghoul's show to run and she didn't want to step on his toes. Better to let him get to be the prince charming for a while before she came in as his protective mother, she certainly had no plans to scare off the young woman, and it was true that she trusted her son's judgement but, well Recluse was nothing if not protective of her children, especially right now.

The woman watched the pair of them move up the mountain, watching her son's pink form growing smaller and smaller, more and more distant and as he started to become indistingushable from the horizon she felt herself grow weaker, grow more tired. They were all growing up right in front of her and the feeling of pride wasn't quite strong enough to drown out the melancholy and grief she felt as she realized that her children wouldn't need her forever, not the way she needed them. Recluse bit back the sob that thought brought up and made her slow plodding way up the mountain towards her den, suddenly feeling older than she ever had.

-End-

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