Follow the Wisps [Audra]

Aurielle had set Loshir and Ayodele to sentry duty while she gave Ardyn a lesson in blindfolded travel. Her father had done much the same, though with mud instead of the soft buckskin that covered her son’s eyes. Ardyn’s task was to keep up and not fall off course. With the yearling’s practice from hunting, he had no trouble keeping up with her, and never once lost her trail, but that was half the battle.

He had to use his ears to judge where she jumped over an obstacle, calculate to adjust for his larger stride, and guess what was on the other side. Aurielle didn’t make it easy for him, with twists and turns and occasional double-backs as her son pursued her.

Taliesyn added to the challenge, occasionally bolting through with his great hooves muddling the sounds of her paws hitting the ground. Through heather and lavender and other herb patches they raced, around the standing stones, and out along the trail nearest to the wall, when Cairo’s call caught her ears and she broke to a stop, flicking an ear back and side-stepping neatly as her towering son nearly crashed into her, surprised and distracted by Cairo’s call.

He stumbled, and Aurielle chuckled softly, nuzzling the boy’s cheek and turning to trot briskly toward her Sentinel’s howl, Ardyn falling into step behind her, ears working to keep up.

The Spirit found Cairo waiting at the passage with a small woman at his hip who looked a little daunted, if curious, and Aurielle graced her with a curious smile as she chided to Cairo, “It’s going decently. Your training has been a boon to him. He’s only tripped twice tonight.”

She tossed a fond smile up and over her shoulder at the yearling before turning to Audra and greeting her more directly, long-haired tail swaying softly through the air with a faint light-trail left in its wake.

“Good evening, miss. I am Aurielle Adravendi, Spirit – or alpha – of Valhalla. This strapping young man is my eldest son and my Heir, Ardyn. What brings you to Valhalla?”

Beside her she heard said heir stepping up, having removed his blindfold with his long-fingered front toes. Curiously, she glanced to Cairo, though if the girl wished to speak for herself Aurielle left it open to her.

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