Birth of a Star

She listened with an attentive ear. By his scent he was older, and often age was paired with experience. She gave a nod, then coughed a rueful chuckle and sigh. “Few winters could be rougher than last winter. A volcano in the East erupted, and the world is only now starting to settle into some semblance of normalcy, though I imagine it will take a few cycles for things to go back to true normalcy.”

A small smile twitched at his light scoff, and a shrug rolled one shoulder as she amended, “A useful catch, then.”

As he stepped away and offered the remainder of his catch, she nodded, adding, “I’m not hungry myself, but I have a pack who wouldn’t mind the added meal, if that’s alright? I’m more curious about the feathers. They might make interesting baubles for trade.”

As he introduced himself, she offered a smile in return. “I am Aurielle Adravendi, Spirit – or Alphess – of Valhalla—a pack just north of here. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Asa.”

A rustle of movement brought her eyes to one side, but as she knew the paw steps, she was unconcerned as the black mountain lion slid from the reeds and undergrowth, casting the male wolf a suspicious look as he took his place a few feet away behind the shimmering, faintly glowing woman, watchful, but not interacting directly.

“This is Aelloshir, my companion. Ayodele is the lemur.” Said lemur bounded to Aurielle, studying the swan with interest, glancing at the woman’s mane in speculation. She gave Asa a smile and wave of nimble-fingered hand before returning the luminous green eyes to the swan, clearly full of ideas.

Aurielle, meanwhile, lowered to her belly in a sphinx-like post, head tipping to the side as she studied the male before asking lightly, conversationally, "So what brings you to the west? Fat swans or just wandering?"

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think