grand lotus

The raid had exposed Aerie's weaknesses in stark lines, lines that were graven in Eligos' mind as his thoughts chewed over them over and over again. He'd steeled himself for the redoubled efforts he would need to throw himself into, building their numbers and their skills while learning to navigate Boreas' pack politics as an alpha and simultaneously learning how to be an alpha for his pack like they needed him to be, like Malleus had been, like Pyrrhic had been.

The raid had also brought to light some surprising and pleasing strengths in the pack that he'd not seen before. Ina, defeating Sirius and one of the Armada's youth's before they'd needed to retreat. And Iroh, defeating the other pack's general and Sirius' daughter. He was proud of them both, and despite the worries that crowded at his mind, they both needed to know that.

So he'd sought out Iroh, finding him with his companion, a pot of tea brewing as he'd come to expect from the young warrior. "Iroh," he greeted softly. "May I join you?"