Reaching the plains, Valentine stopped to nose at the border before seating himself. He'd been avoiding this trip to give Bass time to heal (in more ways than one), but given that a season had come and gone the brute had decided to give it a shot. Of course he wasn't just coming for Rhythm's sake; Valen had business to discuss with Abaven's alpha. Shifting his weight, the brute eyed the scape beyond the border. Part of him was dreading this conversation. He still wasn't sure where he stood with Bass, although he himself was neutral and hoping for a shift towards the positive. The idea of doing trades and working deals was beginning to grow on him. At the beginning of his rein he'd been hesitant to engage the other Alacritian packs too heavily, but now that he knew what he was doing and what he wanted, and it would be much harder to sway him from the ideals he'd constructed for Imperium. Alright, alright. He'd done enough musing. His voice low and strong, Valentine sent up a call for Abaven's alpha. ""

The voice that called for him was one that he knew well, one that he had been dreading the sound of. His heart twisted in his chest, golden gaze turning towards the direction of it. Huffing, he pushed himself to his paws and shook out his thin, summer coat. Oh boy, he was not looking forward to this one bit. But it was something that needed to get done. Imperium was a pack that Bass would like to have as an ally, Valentine and his wolves were strong in numbers as well as in fighters. He had felt the brunt end of that one anyways. Rolling his shoulders forward, he slowly made his way towards his border. Bass was in no rush to get this started, although the sooner he got there the better, he supposed... Making his way towards the giant, Bass dipped his head in a curt greeting. "Have you come to bleed all over my borders now?" He asked casually, a hint of a smile playing at his features as he pulled himself to his rump. Pale tail curled around his form, gaze steady as he aimed to meet the other alphas. He said nothing else, just waited to hear back from Valentine. He had made his way over here, so he probably had some thoughts in mind. He didn't wish to bring up his sister who was still in his clutches, his heart still shutting off that moment. Valentine had been caught in the middle of the family battle, and the Azat did not blame him for it. He held no anger towards the other alpha, perhaps a bit of bitterness, but there was no fault on his massive shoulders.

Bass dipped his head in greeting and Valentine returned the gesture. "Have you come to bleed all over my borders now?" The brute snorted and then tamed his amused expression, smoothing it out so he could deliver his retort with mock chagrin. "'Ah! I knew I was forgetting something." Seeking to put his Abaven counterpart at ease, the brute jumped straight to his reason for being there. "If you're up for it, I've come to talk politics." Maybe if there was room later he'd ask Bass about Rhythm. First he wanted to feel him out, to see how receptive the Azat was to well, any relations between Imperium and Abaven. Was there hard feelings? Bad blood? That's what he was here to find out. ""

He appreciated the alpha's attempt to keep the mild humor going, although it did not last long. There was a pliable tension between them, a lingering sensation that they needed to get past. It was almost awkward, causing his ears to flicker atop his head. A heavy sigh left his maw, head slowly nodding after a slight pause. "I have been meaning to come see you about that, actually. I don't want past events to hinder any relations we may wish to have." The man paused again, his tail thumping against the earth in one fluid motion. "I would love to have Imperium as an ally, in fact I had an idea. My wolves can only spar against each other and learn little from that. I wanted to show my wolves different attacks, I feel like there is three basic attacks that everyone try to stick with. I would like to change that." He rose a brow at Valentine, extending the deal towards him. If they could show their packs together, perhaps work things out from there. And he had extended it towards his whole pack, which he knew included his sister. He would deal with that then the time came. But for now, this was a conversation between alphas.

"I don't want past events to hinder any relations we may wish to have." This statement earned a firm nod from Valentine. His thoughts exactly. They'd gotten off on the wrong foot and it had only gotten worse from there. He rather enjoyed pestering the Big Brother Bass side of the Azat, but that didn't diminish his respect for the Alpha Bass side and he was eager to get to know Abaven. His idea was intriguing and unknowingly Valentine leaned forward eagerly. "Oh?" His tail gently beat the ground beside him. "I'd like to hear more about your idea. I'd love to get the packs together for training." It was a good idea. Perhaps, if Bass seemed open to it down the road, Valentine might broach the idea of something a tad more...intense. ""

He couldn't help but grin as Valentine leaned in at his idea, obviously intrigued by his notion. He asked to hear more, stating that he would love to get their packs together to train. "I was thinking of maybe getting each pair to start off in a different position, not just from head on. Maybe a wolf is on their side and has to protect themselves from a sneak attack, or one wolf is reared up right in the beginning. Learning how to defend yourself from behind, and your sides. Maybe you get flipped on you back, what then? That type of thing." He said softly, tail thumping on the earth thoughtfully. He had done that sort of thing with his own wolves, but just got them to start on different places. Toe to toe, attack from behind, the flanks, only a foot apart. When there is war, there is little time to really solidify your position, one had to jump in at the first chance seen. This is something that he wanted his wolves to learn, and it would be grand if Imperium came in on that. Abaven could only fight themselves so many times, it was good to get different perspectives. That, and Imperium was make up of massive, giant wolves. It would be great practice for his members of smaller stature.

Valentine found himself nodding slowly as Bass spoke. It was a wonderful idea. He liked it--a lot. "I think that's a fantastic idea." There were quite a few fighters in Imperium who he was sure would jump at the chance. However, one of those eager beavers might not be welcome. Two if Rhythm's desire to learn continued. "I'd like to take your proposal back to my advisers before I commit to it, although I have no doubt they'll find the idea as intriguing as I do. However..." He hesitated, debating whether or not he should take a delicate approach, then, "I'm thinking of Hati and Rhythm." Valentine cleared his throat and briefly shifted his weight from paw to paw. "I think they would both like to be in attendance." ""

He was glad that Valentine seemed to be very pleased with his idea, saying that he would like to pass it on before they decided. He nodded his head, understanding the need to talk it over. Getting the packs together was no cup of tea, even more so with the seemingly bad blood between a few wolves. A subject that he did not want to breach, but it would seem that the larger man would beat him to the punch. His ears flickered back slightly as his mood visibly shifted, all signs of joy gone from his face. A long, drawn out sigh left his maw. It had to be brought up, there was no way around it. Even though they had skirted it for this long, it did have to come to their attention sooner or later. "We're all adults, I won't allow fights to keep the packs from fighting together. I think it would be a great learning curve for both our packs... and as much as I am erm... not so willing to see my sister, I can push that all aside." He said slowly, thoughtfully chewing over his words as they left his maw. "Its not so much directed at Hati, he did what was asked of him and he was a very skilled fighter." Bass shrugged his shoulders, not wanting to linger on the topic much longer.

The change in his Abaven counterpart was impossible to miss. Valentine hid his disappointment well. He'd held onto a small hope that he'd be able to broach the subject of Rhythm. His statement had been to test the waters and the answer he got was very clear. Not for his sake or for Bass' had he wanted to ask, but for Rhythm's as she was still down in the mouth over it. "As do I. I think that's a very noble position and I think you're a better man than I for taking it." The Imperator sighed. "As I'm sure you've guessed, I promised I would see if your stance had changed any in regards to Rhythm." He shifted his weight from paw to paw. This topic made him uncomfortable. "I think you were justified in your decision, but for Rhythm I feel I'm obligated to ask that if there is ever a day where you find yourself missing her, that you would consider considering talking with her." He knew he was asking a lot and he knew he was putting Bass in a difficult position and that was regrettable, but the sooner he fulfilled his obligation the sooner they could move on. "I'm sorry. It's unfair of me to ask." ""

He hardened even more through the conversation, his eyes narrowing as his heart thudded in his chest. "I am sorry Valentine, but this is none of your concern." He gritted out, teeth gnashing together as he tried not to get up and walk away. "You are a good man for upholding your promise... but tell me something. Do you love her?" He studied the man, tail thumping on the earth with a bang. "Are you loyal to just her? Surely a man of your stater and position has ladies at your paws. I may not be on speaking terms with my sister, but she deserves the best. And I sure hope that she didn't choose to stay with you just to be tossed to the side." His hackles tried to raise, but he shook himself. He kept his anger under control as he tried to dig out an honest, manly conversation. He had to close his eyes and take a deep breath as he calmed himself, golden eyes popping back open as he tried to meet the larger man's gaze. "She is a special sort of creature, Valentine. Tender, but stubborn as hell. She has a hard time staying what she means at time... but... I love her. And from what I've seen and heard, I think she feels that way about you as well. Just... take care of her I guess. I will be sticking to my choice, which in turn will make her have to stick to her own."

All Bass had to do was say no and they could have politely moved on to better topics. Valentine understood what was behind his pissiness, and he was justified to some extent in his reaction, but that was no excuse to break character in the face of another alpha. His mood dropped with each word the Azat said, but he waited until the other was finished speaking before replying. Never once did he break eye contact. "Whether you like it or not it is my concern. Her happiness is my concern and whether I like or it or not," he said coldly, pointedly, his voice a low rumble at each emphasized word, "She's chosen to hinge her happiness on you." Unlike his counterpart Valentine retained an outward appearance of calm; the only signs given that an ember of temper burned being the depth at which his voice dropped and the slow, methodical way he parted with words. "I do," he said to answer Bass' first question. Valen refused to use those words exactly now. They had yet to exchange that sentiment and the first time he said them it would be for Rhythm's ears. "As for your second question, Rhythm knows I'm not monogamous. Honesty is a key piece in any relationship and she and I have already had this conversation." And overprotective brother or not, it was none of his business. He'd given up that right the moment he'd banished Rhythm. "I would like to make this very clear," His nostrils flared and he clenched his jaw once before taming the anger Bass' assumption threatened to set loose. "I don't consider Rhythm a plaything and I will not tolerate that assumption being made in my presence or in hers." "I know what she's like," he rumbled. Of course he did. "And," he admitted, "I know you do." That was the only reason he entertained the nosy questions directed at him. To some, Rhythm for example, he was an open book, but to others he was an exceptionally private creature. Unlike his sister, Bass was not someone he trusted with his inner workings. The corners of his mouth rose slightly as he parted with the dry words, "You know, a simple, tactful 'no' would have allowed us to abandon this topic politely." Something he doubted was going to happen now and most certainly was not his fault. The brute got to his paws slowly. He stood by his words and was ready and willing to accept whatever they brought his way. ""