The Kamui Delta had become much prettier since the last time she had visited. Flowers littered the area in shades of pink and yellow, bringing spectacular life to the delta. Even small butterflies fluttered about, along with smaller looking bugs and critters. Last time it had been cold, the air chilly, the stream frozen in several areas. There were no flowers, only dried emerald grass and wet dirt. Now...it was lovely. Arivae giggled quietly to herself, her legs carrying her through the beds of flowers. She often lowered her head to look closely at their tiny petals, and even the ladybugs that perched themselves there. But most of the time, her impossibly sapphire gaze was on the whole beautiful scenery, scanning everything, taking in the beauty.
It was nearly as pretty as the Redbud Nook. She remembered...the pink flowers that covered the trees, all of them. And despite the heat, it was all still beautiful. And besides, she had been there with Tibertius...so after awhile, the heat had become nothing but a thought in the very back of her mind. Of course it was still pretty hot here, at the delta. But there was a gentle breeze that often streamed through, as well as everything distracting her. The young dame sighed quietly and made her way over to a smaller-looking bed of flowers, plopping herself down in the very middle. Just as she did, a whole bunch of grasshoppers flew up like confetti, fleeing from her presence. She laughed aloud and rolled over slowly.
Even with the occasional reminder of her loneliness, and the lack of friends she had, she still thought being a loner was great. She was okay to do whatever she liked, as long as she didn't venture aimlessly upon the territory of another. The last time she did that...she was spared. But some may not be as nice as Odette was.
Aslan had never known the life of a loner and had no desire to learn about it either to be completely honest. At least not right now anyway, he had his parents and siblings around him and right now they certainly were benefiting from his presence and aid within the pack. There was a part of him that wished for the opportunity to explore, though the ties to his family were stronger. He would make do for simply wandering the lands close to Threar's.
The Kamui Delta had been a place he had visited a few times as a child. Back then it had been owned by Sawtooth, another Destruction led pack. Though he'd been too young to really learn anything about the pack at all, he still missed those days knowing there were more members of the family just the other side of the border. Whether he should have been there or not, the days playing in Kamui Delta with the members of Sawtooth around his own age had been fun.
Nostalgia had brought him here today and it couldn't have chosen a better time to do so. There was one of the very wolves he had once played with. Older now of course, and barely recognisable for a moment though there was something familiar about her. He thought on it for a moment, and all suddenly came together. "Arivae?" Could it really be his little cousin?
Before long, she was flipped over entirely, sprawled out on her back and staring up at the sky. Her whole body was practically crushing the flowers...but she knew they'd grow back easily. That was the beauty of life, wasn't it? She sighed quietly and leaned her head back, her gaze resting upon the slowly drifting clouds that provided shade overhead. Sometimes there were clouds in which looked like a wolf, or a butterfly or even a squirrel. She enjoyed gazing upon those. They reminded her of the months in which she lived with her mother and father...who she played with almost daily and loved with all her heart.
Ah, she missed those days. She remembered the few times she visited with Aslan, from Threar, before Jupiter took Sawtooth and her mother and father left. Then she became the young loner she is now. A laugh bubbled quietly from her vocals, when suddenly, a faint aroma wafted through the fresh air. It...seemed almost familiar. But strange all the same! Arivae slowly twisted around and pushed herself to her paws, a gasp leaving her lips at the man in which she saw. "Arivae?" Was this...who she thought it was? Aslan? The girl slowly lowered her head, her gentle gaze hardening a bit. "Aslan...?" She took a few steps forward.
The first time they had met, she remembered his facial markings...and those eyes. Yes, this was him. He had those same distinct markings, similar to hers. Arivae laughed quietly, a larger smile blossoming across her face. "It's you...oh my goodness. It's been so long." She said in a hushed whisper, stepping forward and resting her chin on his shoulder, as a hug-like action.
She would look back at him with a similar sense of familiarity and his name would be the only thing uttered from her lips at first. This was his little cousin and by the looks of things hadn't grown too much since then or rather he had grown an awful lot. There had always been a rather clear size difference, though now the tall boy certainly looked like a giant in comparison to the dainty girl. It wouldn't stop her leaping up to attempt a hug however exclaiming it how it had been a long time.
"Too long." He pointed out, though the smile was still clear on his face, glad to have found her again. It must have been around a year since they had last seen each other, though he was very pleased to see that she appeared to be doing ok. "How have you been?" He questioned, slowly stepping back to let her lower herself to the ground as he tried to look at her once more. From her scent it appeared that she was a loner now, he suspected she had some stories to tell though all he could think of was sharing the good news with his mother. She would surely like to hear that her niece was well, he knew how much she had worried about the family that had been imprisoned.
As he stepped back, she mirrored him, her innocent blue gaze running up and down his large canvas. He was much bigger than he was about a year ago. The man also looked a bit more...muscular? Did she look different to him, as well? Or was she just as small as she was since they last seen each other? She laughed quietly, shaking her head and seating herself. But just as she did, his voice invaded her sensitive ears, and she grinned playfully in return. "It's been a little lonely, but otherwise I'm great." She hummed, shrugging her little shoulders casually. She enjoyed being a loner, really! It was peaceful and comfortable. But it required being alone, without as little as no one to turn and speak to. Being one of a pack was also an option...but what pack would really welcome her? She was just a stranger!
"What about you, Aslan? How have you been?" She asked, curious to know what exciting things he has done since they last saw each other. From the aroma that clung to him, he seemed to be part of a pack. The overwhelming smell of many others told her so. Maybe he was granted some high, respected rank or...maybe he made some type of achievement? She wanted to know! She wanted to know everything. He long tail began to part at the ground excitedly as she waited for his response.
They had both definitely grown up from those small pups they had once been. Arivae perhaps not quite as much as Aslan in terms of actual growth spurts but her looks in general had matured and the dainty girl had never been destined to be the size of her cousin. Sitting down wouldn't make Aslan look any less a giant beside her, though they settled down for what he assumed would be a rather wonderful conversation to catch up things.
Lonely? That concerned him slightly, so surrounded by family he couldn't imagine departing from them. Arivae was family too, he was certain she would be welcomed to stay in Threar if she ever needed or wanted to and even brief little visits for some company would be better for her. He saw his opportunity to make that offer as she enquired about his own life these days.
"I'm still in Threar" He informed her, though whether she'd recall that was what his mother's pack was called he had no idea. Did she even remember her aunt Novella to know she was the one that led the pack? "You should come and visit some time."
"I'm still in Threar." Threar. That name sounded almost too familiar to her. When she was younger, Song would often tell her about her other many family members over in Threar. But the one who ruled it...at the moment, she wasn't too sure. She also heard this from younger Aslan himself, telling her that he was from Threar. Ah, lucky him. He was able to stay in his pack without some kind of threat. Sawtooth was simply stolen. If it weren't for that incident...she'd still be there. Arivae sucked in an uneasy breath at the weary thought, and focused her attention back on the mocha-hued boy, eyes widening at his offer. She would...love to visit! Although...would she be welcomed? After all, she was just a stranger. "Visiting sounds lovely, Aslan. But..." She paused and moved her gaze to the ground, her heart thumping rapidly. "Are you sure it'd be okay? I'm just a runt, a stranger. "
They may not have been stolen themselves though the incident had certainly stirred some nerves within the older members of the pack. Even now that the threat on their doorstep had gone, his parents were still wary about them leaving the packlands and straying too far. He hadn't known them in their more trusting stages, but if he had, Aslan would doubt that carefree attitude would ever return to them.
Arivae's concerns were ridiculous, her argument against not being allowed a foolish one. "Of course it would be ok." He responded firmly, certain that his parents would be happy to see her. They'd welcomed complete strangers into the pack, Arivae would never be turned away. "And you're family, you're not a stranger at all." He pointed out to her.
It was not as if she had been turned away from a pack before. Aside from Sawtooth, she's never been part of a pack in her years. So, really, she had nothing to fear. But stories have convinced her that some wolves were strict and aggressive when it came to the ranks in which were filled in a pack. Like she said, she was a runt, and it'd probably take awhile to figure out any 'hidden talents' she may have. So far, she's aware of none whatsoever. Maybe being part of a large family, a pack full of loved ones, would help her figure it out. Arivae swallowed hard and smiled weakly, nodding. It...wouldn't be so bad. After all, Arivae had never heard of or seen either one of Aslan's parents or siblings. It'd be lovely to meet them. It'd be lovely to meet any of the family that lived within the borders of Threar.
She inhaled yet another breaybwath of air, and continued to smile, eyeing her cousin curiously. Finally, she sighed and rolled her shoulders forward. "Okay then, Aslan. I'll make my way to the borders sometime soon. I guess I'll call you when I'm there." She hummed rather bluntly, her tail brushing gently at the grass that grew abundantly around them. But she didn't want to part ways quite yet. She still wanted to know a little more about this pack of his. Maybe, if it's welcoming enough to her presence, she'll stay. "So...what's your pack like? Does it have any current allies?"
To think of herself as a useless runt was a foolish thing that Aslan would have put a stop too immediately, she was certainly small though he was sure she had something she was good at and if not, well the wolves of Threar would help her if she was that worried about lack of skill. No such thoughts were spoken aloud however and Aslan couldn't come to her aid with the little suggestion. Besides, he had only suggested a visit anyway, not that she joined. He was sure she'd still be welcome to if she wished but if she was that uncomfortable with the idea then she didn't have to do it.
He wouldn't have to persuade her any further though, Arivae would agree to a visit and the boy's tail would wag softly a happy smile forming on his features, already pleased with the idea of a visit from his cousin one day soon. "Abaven, a pack led by our cousin Bass" He began, though he wasn't sure if she had met the man or not. "And Glaciem in the North." He hadn't yet met Odette or any in her pack, though he still hoped that the trip would go ahead one day when things had gotten back to normal in Threar.
