Maybe It Wasn't An Accident

Though it was unsurprising when Arian pulled away from her touch, she was grateful too -- it meant something that her daughter could chose for herself when she liked to be touched and when she didn't. Even if she would've preferred to embrace her, she knew she had a long road of emotional healing ahead of her, and she was happy that at the very least Arian could chose for herself how she wanted to be touched, if at all. Regardless, she would smile at her daughter, her eyes sparkling with warmth that she rarely showed except toward her children.

The male seemed polite as he spoke, something else she found herself grateful for, and she would nod slowly at his words. "Good," Epiphron would state conversationally, feeling her spirits lighten a bit at Arian's own reassurance that he was not bothering her. "Well, welcome to Fiori, Cypress. My name is Epiphron Adravendi. I am Arian's mother." Her smile was genuine, though her gaze held a bit of wariness still toward this stranger that had strolled up onto their borders.

He offered his services to the pack, and she would consider it thoughtfully. They certainly had a good force of medics, and though Bjorn and Birna were capable sentries, they lacked anyone to lead. Perhaps he might make a good fighter. She assessed him quietly, thinking. "We'd be happy to have you as a sentry," she offered gently. "Though you'll be an initiate for a few weeks, and Arian will watch over you to make sure you cause no trouble." Typically it would be the responsibility of the council members, but Epiphron knew their pack wasn't fully structured yet, and she figured some task might help distract Arian from her worries for now. "Just know that Fiori is a communal pack. We expect you to participate and pull your weight, and if you do, I promise you will flourish here."