Alsander watched all the members of Valhalla that came to the meeting. His little Cousin Surreal had dropped off into a doze beside his Aunt Erani. He had caught her words to Chrysanthe, grinning. If he remembered correctly, the day he and his brothers had come to Valhalla?s borders, she had caught a rabbit that day, too. She?d be a fine hunter, already was. And she would be a heart stopper of a beauty. Already she was very pretty. He smiled. She was still young, but she was mature in a way. He knew his Father had been taking her out on patrols now and then, teaching her what she needed to learn. Honor, Loyalty, Family.
More and more wolves entered, and he tried to keep track of the faces. He?d missed a few in the moment he?d studied Surreal. Scents mingled, piled onto each other. He carefully picked them apart, listing them. Someday, he?d meet those that he smelled here. So he tried to connect the scents to faces. Cael and Caerul slipped in to sit with himself and Claire, along with a small dark female that smelled to be a Healer, judging by her scent. He gave her a nod, and looked around at his brothers with a grin, before his mismatched eyes turned to rove through the faces. A female that looked a great deal like the Alpha had arrived, and he spotted her amber eyed glance toward the creature that stood under the tree. She seemed to be keeping her distance from them, and he frowned quietly.
A grey female with lighter markings had taken a spot, her body showing her emotion. Dejection, sadness, shame. He looked around again, at all the other wolves. So many. Another was arriving now. Good Luna, was the male dying? Or ill? Alsander watched the mud brown male walk as though on wooden legs, and collapse beneath the creature. He didn?t miss the glance the dark headed female cast the male?s way. Another female, white with brown marks under her blue eyes arrived and took a place beside a grey female and brown toned male, speaking to them, though he couldn?t hear her words over the shuffle of paws and other voices. A youth with unusual markings that crisscrossed his back arrived, solemn, as he took a place among the crowd. A grey male took a spot next to the dejected grey female.
More and more. A white male, and a young female who had been badly burned at some point. A male who was marked like the young male. His sire? A great eagle swooped down to land on this male?s shoulder, and Alsander studied the bird for a moment, before his eyes turned to look around. Another young male arrived. Grey with a brown centered face, and a timber marked little female with teal eyes. He almost missed the arrival of the large male that came to sit beside the Alpha. They seemed to be mates, but he was aware of only one Alpha. Her. His confusion was quickly abated as the Alpha began to speak to them all. She introduced the male as her mate, Gideon.
Alsander listened closely to all she said, ears perking slightly at the notice that they needed more warriors and hunters, and a Lead warrior. Well that was something to aim for. She went on, and he grinned as she said Surreal would train to become a Beta. He caught Surreal?s posture change, as it turned from a sleepy relaxation to stiff surprise, and then a quivering delight. Surreal spoke, and he smiled at her steadfast announcement. The next things their Alpha female said were more serious. A female had been attacked, and his father, Aunt, and someone called Obsidian, had saved her. His tail smacked the ground. Then stilled as the last issue was voiced. A challenge for freedom? What cruel wolf was this? To take a girl from her home where she was safe and happy? His eyes swept through the faces, landing on the grey yearling. Was that her? The dark headed female that resembled the Alpha; Chrysanthe! That was the Alpha?s name. She spoke up, and he found that he agreed with her words. His Father seemed to approve, as his tones voiced his approval. Aunt Erani spoke next, announcing three names as being new healers. His brother?s name was among them. Cael. He?d certainly settled in. Alsander grinned at his brother. Aunt Erani continued to say that she had taken a fourth, non pack member as a pupil. Orica. She must be special. Erani returned to sit beside Surreal. Caerul spoke up, giving his offer and a vow. Alsander glanced at his solemn elder brother. He knew that Caerul had been having a hard time settling in, as being a leader was no longer his place. He gave his brother a soft woof.
And then the grey female had raised herself on legs that seemed to shake as she approached the front and faced them. The words she spoke. It was a speech. Indeed, she was the Liberty that had been challenged for. And he rose as she stopped speaking. He approached and sat before her, gold and green eyes gentle. ?In grief, everyone makes mistakes. When my foster parents were killed, I wanted to die. I wanted to rebel. I wanted to hunt down the wolves that killed them and take them all on. Thankfully, I had my siblings. They kept me grounded. So we went to find our father.? He tilted his head to note Cormalin. ?You were heartsore, and you are young. Wisdom doesn?t come from nothing, little one. It comes from mistakes, and learning from them. You have learned, and you have grown. I think your mother would be proud, though I never met her.? He stepped away, nodding to Chrysanthe.
?As I know an Alpha will not part with a future Beta who is beginning to show her mettle, when the Challenge is called, my offer is the same as my Brother?s. However, I will stay and guard Valhalla.? The offer was sincere. If Chrysanthe was anything like he guessed her to be, she would fight for her future Beta.
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