you should be sad

Despite her anxious thoughts, Thalia was feeling more positive about things within Risen - well, Aerie now, as Eligos was calling them. He was taking the pack in a significantly different direction, but his plans still fit in with her ideals in the grand scheme of them. Celebrating their God through integrating themselves so deeply into the fabric of this world so that everyone knew who they were - an ambitious plan but one she could get behind. As far as she was concerned, the more wolves who knew the name Abraxas, the better. Better yet if they were knowledgeable enough to be wary of them - not quite fear, not enough to strike against them as Eligos had said.

Her mind strayed as she waited to see if Theory came to her call. There was a newfound kind of respect between them that made her doubt she'd ignore her, unless she was busy... but then again maybe her abrupt departure last time had ruined that. It was hard to be certain. As she paced between the willow trees, she mostly thought of Theory, though thoughts of her friend made her mostly just feel anxious. It was easier to think of Aerie and her new duties and what they might entail. For now, getting information for Eligos seemed a decent start, to prove her worth. She was no longer a child and hoped he didn't see her as one, but going above and beyond would surely only help her there.

Theory, once she finally approached, didn't seem angry. Tense might be a good way to describe her, but Thalia was no doubt giving off a similar energy. Her orange gaze lifted, following the larger female as she paced, letting her own body rotate to follow her tracks - at least at first. She did notice how strong Theory had gotten; the last time they'd met, Thalia wouldn't say Theory looked like a child still, but somehow she seemed more... complete now. Her gaze briefly swept over her limbs, noting how well-muscled they seemed despite the fact that she was leaner than Thalia. But her straying eyes eventually locked onto her face as she started to speak, unsure what she expected Theory to say at all. She was grateful she began the conversation, because the truth was that Thalia had no idea what she was supposed to say to Theory first.

"A raid?" She repeated, raising an eyebrow. Her voice was curious, but also held a fair bit of worry that was unmistakable. Her family, at least in the time before she was born, was known for things like raiding - she'd heard tales of how they'd bullied packs away from their lands in an attempt to spread their name and the name of their God. She was largely ambivalent about these stories, and she certainly didn't know Abaven had been one of these packs. Either way - Theory was her friend, regardless of how strange their relationship might feel, and imagining her hurt didn't elicit any good feelings. "What's the name of the northern pack?" Perhaps Eligos ought to know someone in the north was going around raiding friendly packs... or at least Abaven struck her as a friendly pack. Theory, after all, was a kind leader - was she not? That was Thalia's assessment of her. "I'm sure you're not fucked. You're settling in again, and... I can tell you've been training," she added absently, desperately hoping she didn't sound like she was saying precisely what she was - that Theory looked good and strong and she had no doubt she could kick someone's ass.

But maybe Theory didn't want advice. It was hard to not resort to facts and to logic, despite having a feeling Abaven was prepared for a raid, if the way Theory spoke about her pack was any sign. She felt bad for her - somewhere deep down, buried beneath anxieties and duty and her own strict principles - but showing her that felt like an unconquerable mountain. "That's fucked up," Thalia offered finally, her voice earnest. Theory sounded like she wanted to vent and show how angry and slighted she felt over this, and she wanted to let her.