Behind the mask

Sirius wasn't willing to commit to anything, with the mostly unknown alpha with a hero complex. The least he could do was help her lug her load to Abaven. Rigging some straps on one, he hooked it through his miniature bears arms, so she could wear it as a backpack. Two more were strapped to the broad back of the direwolf.

This arrangement also allowed him to keep an eye on Aurielle, and learn more about her. He didnt understand her, this quiet, glowing wolf. Her pack was far enough away that the Armada scarcely ran into them, but its alphess had popped her head up a couple times. Knowing little about her pack, or the dynamic of it in the world, he wondered why she chose now to start speaking of trades.

He suspected there was something she needed. Winter was coming, and supplies would begin to run low. Was she trying to gouge what packs had what, to trade, bribe, blackmail, or steal them? She would find the Armada was full of teeth, if she stepped one paw wrong near their borders.

As they began to move away from the Armada, the Warlord would probe for information, by talking about the one thing he knew she wishes to discuss. "So tell me more about this festival"