Aurielle Adravendi

It hurt to stand here, looking at the cairn that contained her aunt’s son, her cousin. The Spirit’s haunches sank to the ground, eyes gazing at the pile of stones, as her lungs drew in a long, deep breath, so deep it hurt, and let it out in a sigh. She’d expected to say goodbye to her Aunt… not Nolan. Not one who was so young and still had so much to do in life. Her eyes closed, remembering his grins, his earnest nature and his deep care for his mother. He had so much to do, and now, he was gone. Her eyes closed, ears folding back and taking in the rush of the falls, the twitters of busy songbirds that would stay for the winter while their spring and summer counterparts had flown south. It was a peaceful place that her cousin lay at rest in. Much of her wanted to take him home, lay him to rest with their family. But that would be up to Baine. Nolan was her son. His final resting place would be her choice. "Rith go maith, agus faigh do chuid eile, Nolan. Is mian liom go mbeadh níos mó ama againn, a chol ceathrar, ach ní i gcónaí a ritheann an saol an bealach a bhfuil súil againn." The Old Tongue flowed softly from her lips as a glowing white paw rested on the cairn. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

There had been plenty of time to weigh her options. She’d taken to travelling more around the continent after the festival that Valhalla and their queen had hosted and found herself yearning for something more. She didn’t quite know what, but she knew she craved it. Carlys had been with her, her faithful companion through and through, talking through her options with her. At this point, they were hoping for some kind of divine intervention to make things clearer. They both knew it was time to settle down, to stop running and to find their own path, together as they had always done since they met.

That was when she caught the familiar glow, her head tilting lightly to the side as she made her way through the lands. Was it not at this waterfall that she had first met the woman? An unfamiliar tongue floated from her lips, and Rhaegara found herself approaching, drawn to the spirit that walked amongst wolves as she still fiercely clung to her beliefs, and in many way she had viewed the glowing fae as something of a guide. She had helped quite dearly. She looked different, almost solemn and Rhaegara frowned softly. “Aurielle?” The name fell easily from her lips, hoping she was not disturbing anything, or that her disturbance might be welcome. Her faithful companion settled between her shoulders near the base of her neck.

"Rhae" "Carlys"

Aurielle Adravendi

Her eyes slid open as the sound of paws touched her ears well before the voice spoke. Her head tipped to focus her gaze on the girl, now a young woman, if the scent was anything to go by. “Rhaegara. How have you and Carlys been? Safe I hope?” For all that the sadness lurked in her eyes, her smile was warm and welcoming as she turned to better face the younger wolf, head cocking as she took her in, adding as a compliment, “You’ve grown.” It hadn’t been since the spring festival that she’d seen the young wolf, and she’d wondered idly where the girl’d gone, and if she was alright. Rhae seemed well and healthy, unmarked by any dangers, though only conversation would tell for sure; fur could hide plenty of scars. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

She maintained a soft smile, though she could sense the sadness in the other woman. “We have been well, travelling and seeing the continent.” She explained with a softer demeanor. “As safe as any wolf can be on their own, still trying to figure out where my paws should take me next, what I should do, if I, we, should settle down now. How has Valhalla been? I hope you all have been well.” It was true that there was a safety in numbers, a security, but winter was starting to fast approach, and Rhaegara had started to run out of options for her and her friend. Her smile grew just a hair at the mention of the words, an eager nod. She wondered if her parents were proud of the woman she had become… but she could save those thoughts for another time.

“Is something wrong?” She couldn’t help but ask, knowing that the other woman while warm and welcoming as she always remembered had a somber attitude to her that made her think something might have happened.

"Rhae" "Carlys"

Aurielle Adravendi

The Queen smiled as she listened to Rhaegara’s story, head tilting curiously before her lips twitched at the astute observation. “Simply one of the crueler facets of life. One of Valhalla’s number fell from these cliffs a time ago. He didn’t survive.” Her eyes trailed to the stone cairn, ears tipping back slightly. “You met him, I believe. He was your opponent at the festival. Nolan.” She straightened, smiling sadly at the young woman as she added, “Valhalla as a whole is well. My children are growing swiftly, giving me grey hairs… My eldest has taken on several bears already.” Her tone was a mixture of chagrin and pure maternal pride as she said the last, and a soft chuckle escaped. Her head cocked as she added to Rhaegara, “Have you considered your options of a home to settle in?” Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

She allowed a soft frown onto her features at her words, a saddened sigh from her maw. “I am sorry to hear that. My deepest condolences.” It was never easy to lose a wolf. It had taken her months to accept the passing of her parents, the assumed passing of her siblings as well… it was never easy, and it still weighed on her frequently, showing up in a smile or a soft song… usually at the least convenient time possible. She mentioned her opponent and she hummed softly. “Yes, I remember him. He fought very well.” Ultimately, he had won as well.

She chuckled softly at the words. She had yet to have children of her own, though she hoped one day she might settle down and meet someone ‘worthy’ as her mother had put it. There was less pressure on her for that now, as she would not need to produce an heir, not unless she were to start a pack of her own that is. The question came and she frowned, shaking her head. “I have no idea where to start.” She admitted honestly in turn.

"Rhae" "Carlys"

Aurielle Adravendi

Aurielle bowed her head, accepting the condolences gracefully. Rhaegara’s added words brought a smile to her lips, and she added in turn, “As did you. We all win some and lose some.” Rhaegara’s admittance was given a hum of thought, before Aurielle gently placed the offer at the young woman’s paws. “Well, should you want a place to stay and rise through the ranks through dedication and hard work, Valhalla’s hearth is open to you.” She left the ball in the younger wolf’s court, letting Rhae mull things over without pressure as she noted a particularly pretty stone near her own paws and plucked it up, setting it gently on the top of the cairn and stepping away. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

It was a tragedy, to lose a wolf in such a way at such a young age. She remembered mourning over friends who had died in things as silly as skirmishes or of a illness they could not shake. It was always a tragedy. Death in general was always a tragedy, but it always hit harder in the younger generations.

There was a tilt of her head as the woman offered Rhaegara a place in her home. She had to admit, she was intrigued; she knew quite a few from there already, both those she had met at the festival, and those who had given her advice to help her establish herself in these lands, like Cairo… Was Valhalla the place for her to settle? There were pros and cons with every pack, and she knew that. Nothing would ever be quite perfect, but she had to admit, from what she knew of the place, Valhalla certainly seemed like a good fit.

It was tempting enough to tempt fate, and she found herself humming. It took a few moments for her to decide, a couple of minutes perhaps before she was approaching the glowing Spirit. “You’d really take me into your home?” She asked softly. She was admittedly not used to a kindness so grand. She knew it was more than just shelter, it was a pack and a way of life, it was work… but it all still felt like so much.

"Rhae" "Carlys"

Aurielle Adravendi

The question came, voiced softly, and Aurielle turned to face the young wolf, a smile warming her pale features, genuine and open. ”I would. You’ve shown your tenacity in your survival, your ambition in your desire to lead someday, and you’ve shown that you can become a formidable fighter, albeit currently one with much to learn – but even masters have new things to learn – and your intelligence and diplomacy. Valhalla has a place for such wolves.” Her haunches lowered as she regarded Rhaegara, head cocked. “And should you accept my invitation, come the day you decide to branch out on your own, should you decide as such, neither I nor my son – should he be alpha by then – will prevent you from going your own way.” A wolf unhappy in the pack was no asset to Valhalla. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

She supposed the Spirit had a point; she had witnessed her surviving, even if not directly, even if it was just through different interactions since they had first met. She couldn’t help but smile softly, glancing over her shoulder towards her friend who had remained uncharacteristically silent during this conversation to get her opinion. Rhaegara had already made it evident through her question to the Spirit. Carlys offered a curt nod. There was the assurance they could leave if they decided that they needed to, and she hummed.

She considered her words carefully before laying them out. “I would be honored to accept such a kind invitation.” She stated with a soft smile on her features. It felt weird, after being on her own for so long, to think that she had a pack to return to… of course, there was a part of her that was still getting used to the idea of a ‘pack’ at all when she was so used to the structures of her homeland even still.

"Rhae"  "Carlys"

Aurielle Adravendi

She was patient, letting Rhaegara consider her words, but in the end, Aurielle’s invitation was accepted. Aurielle smiled, muzzle dipping in acknowledgement. Rising, she gazed once more over the cairn, before nodding with a tip of her head toward the south, inviting the young woman to walk with her as she said, “Then, let me tell you of Valhalla.” As the two walked, Aurielle occasionally scanning the surroundings for danger, the Spirit explained in depth about Valhalla’s workings —the ranks, the Circles, the laws and customs. All Rhaegara would need to know to choose where she wished to run among the Circles. She paused often to allow Rhaegara to absorb the information as they walked, striding amiably along and navigating the terrain with her usual easy elegance. As the minutes elapsed after the final morsel of information, she finally asked, with some interest, “Out of all that you’ve learned, which Circles would you be most interested in running in? We’ll eventually also have Circles for agriculture and beast-tending, as well as various Circles for Crafting, and one or two for scribework and historians. It’s a never ending process.” A chuckle rode the last sentence as her dual bleu-hued eyes twinkled with amusement. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

The words were met with a warm look, a muzzle dip that caused Rhae’s smile to grow slightly. It was a big moment for her, a big step. Aurielle had guided her in the past, and truthfully it comforted her to know that such a good woman would be her alpha. She followed alongsider her, listening as she explained the various circles of Valhalla, the different roles she could deem to play… and it was a lot of information to process. “Valhalla is so much more complex than my Tribe was.” She admitted candidly, knowing her tribe had a simpler nature to it, leaders and followers, one role with an occasional ‘head hunter’ or ‘head fighter’ role given to someone who had earned it…

She was impressed and she was amazed, to say the least.

Still, she considered them but she already knew where her heart laid. “I think I’ve always been born to be a fighter… that the War Circle would fit me best.” There was a certainty in her voice, because she knew it was what she had been trained for. “When I was training in my homeland, my parents focused mainly on diplomacy and the art of war with me, hoping that by using the former I could avoid the latter, but preparing me for the worst case scenario… admittedly my skills in both have diminished over the past year from lack of use, but with some training I think I could get back to a level that could do the pack some good.” She explained further to give just a little bit of background on why she thought it might be best.

"Rhae"  "Carlys"