a new soul to the old hell

He listened as she spoke, and a grin broke out on his face, tail stepping up the beat as it waved in the air. Exactly what he’d been looking for! As she translated, he listened intently, ears perked, and repeated slowly, the Swedish inflections helping the replication slightly, though he could tell that wasn’t quite right compared to hers. Nevertheless, he had mastered the R sound, such an embarrassingly difficult impediment to have when your name started with the very letter you had trouble saying as a child, so he knew he could get it eventually.

He smiled welcomingly down at her as he said in Common, “I’ll have to see you hunt, but we could use a good hunter in the pack, and-“ His head swiveled as the tread of paws brought one ear flicking back, and he sought out the wolf that approached, stance taking the slightest hint of protectiveness as he slowed to put himself slightly between Jorrvaskr and- “Cousin Avalon!” His jaws parted in a happy grin, protective stance relaxing as he recognized his adoptive kin. He’d been present the day Arian had adopted Avalon as her sister.

Last he’d seen her, she’d been clinging close to his Uncle – also adopted – Newol’s side, having been his mate. He’d heard that they’d been expecting, but the last they had seen of Newol was a deliriously happy father-to-be heading back to be with his pregnant mate. But the wind carried no hints of Newol’s scent, and really… wouldn’t the brown and black male have come to visit with the happy news of the puppies’ births?

Wait a tic. Ahuh, those markings of hers. Very similar to Creed’s when you looked at the black markings. And similar to Kharnage. Well, if he was right, he’d met one of her kids. From her bearing, she was an Alpha. He smiled easily, letting Jorrvaskr greet the woman, before he added his own greetings, “It’s good to see you. Congratulations on the pack.”