Theory padded eagerly through the festival stalls. Festivals always stirred her, reminding her of the best and most beautiful times in her childhood. The Firefly Festival was cemented in her memory as something picturesque and perfect, like a flower encased in resin. Untouchable. Fixed forever in time. Sighing deeply, she inhaled the sweet smells and the muddle of strangers' scents. It had been a while since there was a gathering of this magnitude - Aurielle had organized it wonderfully. Guess I should take notes, she thought glumly. She'd been stuck in panic-mode for so long that had little thought what being an alpha in a time of peace meant. They'd always been repairing, regrowing, focusing inward. Valhalla's healthy sprawl made her ache for a different, more prosperous future. One day she'd host a festival like this. In the meantime, she was looking for some trinkets to bring back for the small bundles that slept by Samara's side. Their eyes weren't quite open yet, but she was determined to impress them once they blearily entered the sun for the first time. She wanted to be the best big sister ever. Trawling the wide pathways, Theory inspected wares with what she hoped was a discerning eye. What would cement her legacy as the fun-loving, effortlessly cool, big-sister-alpha? "Speech"

Ardyn Cadeyrn Aodhán Phoenix Adravendi

Ardyn bounced in a happy trot through the crowds, utterly comfortable around the strangers and having already made friends among the Nomads. Even some of the pups, though they would be leaving with their Chapters when the festival was over in a week or more. His tail was an easy blur of fire behind him, leaving a light imprint in the air from the friction-induced blaze in his fur. We was a walking, living, breathing coal bed, though it was obvious that his fur was an inky black so dark he’d have been a shadow with eyes without the gently rippling, flaring light in his fur or the fiery shimmer through every hair like light on a field of grass in a gentle breeze at high noon. He spotted a familiar set of legs ahead and picked up his pace to a sprint to catch up. Theory had caught his attention at the fighting signup, because her tail was even shorter than Laoise’s. He bounced to a stop when he caught up, chiming a cheerful, “Hello!” Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Festivals weren't really her thing, at least not personally - and with her ego wounded since losing to a cat at their most recent raid, Thalia truthfully wasn't really in the mood to attend. But it would benefit Aerie to attend and to know what was going on, and showing her face around other packs was a good idea, as much as the idea made her want to roll her eyes straight into the back of her head. Eligos was going, anyway; might as well make an effort too. Her memories of the first festival she'd attended weren't bad, just muddled and vaguely confusing. She'd been a child then, just barely beginning to find her place in the world, and now that'd she'd started to find her footing on who she really was... she knew that an enthusiastic festival attendee was decidedly not it.

Though she had healed from the raid, the actual minor injuries themselves weren't what really stung now. The loss was fresh in her mind, both on a personal level as well as on a bigger scale. Aerie had lost, though the group they'd faced off against had been larger, she'd hoped their sheer will could help them come out on top. But life didn't work like that, and she knew she couldn't dwell for too long on the negative feelings that such a loss gave her. Instead she had to strive to become stronger, to just do better. As much as the thought of a fighting tournament here at the festival had initially appealed to her, she'd decided against it at the last second. One loss was bad enough, but the thought of losing in Aerie's name, in front of a bunch of strangers who'd be judging her performance the entire time - nah, she'd pass this time.

Her mood was not terribly light as she made a wide arc around the festival itself. It was grand, Thalia couldn't deny that, but little of it interested her. Really delving into anything felt like an unconquerable task. Taking everything in was what she'd do for now instead, though once she came across one scent in particular that suddenly derailed her plans of remaining a bystander. Theory? What was she doing so far from Abaven? The question was abandoned as soon as she asked herself it, knowing that this festival was a gathering for all sorts of wolves, from all across the continents. Perhaps she should've expected Theory to be here, but somehow she remained tucked safely in a hidden corner of her mind, like a secret meant only for herself. Of course she'd told Eligos she'd met her and that they were friendly - friendly enough to divulge information about her back - but she'd never really expected to encounter her in a public setting like this again, not really.

Trying to maintain a pace that didn't betray her anxiousness to find her, she finally saw her... and frustratingly, someone else who appeared to be talking to her. A child, by the looks of it. Her suspicions were only further confirmed as she approached, eyeing the little ball of fire as she slowed and lifted her gaze to meet Theory's, letting out a quiet little greeting to the both of them: "Boo."

She was so wrapped up in examining the wares that she hadn't noticed the impending comet of Ardyn. Hello! Theo turned quickly, her ears pricked in surprise. It was a small, young voice that had called to her. Did she know any youth in Valhalla...? Oh! Once her eyes rested on him and the strange glittering of his fur she was fully able to put two and two together. This must be one of the newest litter - Aurielle's children! She smiled down at him genially, shifting the pack that rested across her shoulders. "Hello to you too! You must be Aurielle's son, yes?" Or another close relative. Theory didn't think too many wolves existed in Boreas who could pass down genetics quite like that. Boo. An ear flicked in the direction of that familiar voice. Her stomach melted into her toes. It had been some time since she'd encountered Thalia and she felt much the same as the young Abraxas - their relationship was a private, secret thing. Just for the two of them. How was she supposed to acknowledge her in public? This was a place for merry-making, trading, and forging friendships. Aerie and Abaven weren't strictly allies but they weren't necessarily enemies either. Theo offered a narrow smirk in Thalia's direction. "I take it Aerie has made their way to the festivities?" she asked, addressing her in a stilted and awkwardly formal voice. Ugh. Was she destined to forever be awkward? "Speech"