sit, stay, roll over

The Spirit’s eyes sparkled with gentle amusement as Malalia stammered out another familiar question and, chuckling softly, she nodded, obliging, “Well, it started up this year. I was born white, and my coat shimmered from birth with colors like a rainbow moonstone, if you’ve ever seen one of those stones. My twin brother was black, and shimmered in blue tones and a little green thrown in.”

There was a faint sadness in her voice as she mentioned Aramis, but she went on to add, “First, I started shedding very early in the year. I’ve kept most of the fur from that shed. It's good den liner. Everything shed out, from guard hairs to undercoat. My mane and tail hair, though, remained. What grew back glowed like this. It was especially notable in places where I’d been scratched from sparring, or slashed fighting bears and tigers. I’m still getting used to it.”

Her grin was rueful, amused at her predicament.

As her introduction brought an excited reaction, she grinned again, nodding. She could see the fondness Cairo had instilled in the Armadan girl. It reminded her a bit of her own friendship with Amos, though that had led to Amos joining her pack… and then vanishing a while later. Where was that man? Hopefully this friendship wouldn’t end the same way.

“I’m sure he’ll be glad to hear from you. He’s well, working hard on his training. It helps that his missing brother has returned to Boreas.”

It helped a great deal. Not just Cairo, but herself. She’d been sick with worry for the boy, not knowing what had happened, whether the volcano had killed him in the eruption. Instead, Meri had been attacked by slavers. And by the Gods, if she ever encountered those bastards, she’d be ripping them apart.

She smiled, banishing the dark cloud of thought from the front of her mind as she listened to Malalia’s rambling. While the girl apologized, Aurielle shook her head, chuckling. “No need to apologize, Malalia. I enjoyed hearing it. Wolverines are known for being stubborn little creatures, and having one as a friend is a sure way to having that friend for life.”

Her ears tipped back and she tilted her head to see Loshir, stalking forward, Ayodele perched on his back. “These two are my own friends. You might call them the closest friends I have beside my own family. Loshir appointed himself my guardian when I was a small pup. Ayodele, the Lemur, saw my mane and tail hair and fell in love. She enjoys braiding things, and she’d been a wonderful friend and crafting partner since.”

Dele lifted a nimble-fingered hand in greeting, while the ink-black mountain lion took a seat nearby, eyes flicking to Aurielle’s middle before he gave her a pointed look, which she blithely ignored with a crooked smile. She’d been careful on her journey to the east. She’d continue being careful.

“I’m well. This is an exciting winter this year. As well, I’m traveling to speak with Sirius about a festival I’m planning. Then, on to Abaven to touch bases. They’re our longest standing, and most outlying ally. And then I get to walk all the way home.” She grinned with a mock groan on the last words.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think