Aurielle Adravendi

It had been a long journey, as usual, though made longer with the necessary deviations to go safely around pack territories, though it was a chance to show Ardyn where they lay, and to take notes on scents as they continued on. Finally, they stood a foot from the border of Abaven, and she tilted her head back to smile at her son. Abaven was a long-time ally of Valhalla, and while they hadn’t been able to hold the games and festival between the two packs as she and Theory had planned, she still hoped to hold such a festivity at some point. Her haunches lowered to the ground, tail flicking to one side as she gazed across into Abaven’s lands, tipping her muzzle to the sky and singing for Theory, letting the howl echo across the thicket, clear and strong. Ardyn remained quiet, though she noted one long-fingered front paw fiddled with the usual bags of trade-goods they’d brought, slung across the boy’s back. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Ardyn Cadeyrn Aodhán Phoenix Adravendi

He’d been buzzing with quiet excitement, and the mild vibrations of anticipation send his ink-black coat into a fiery frenzy, tail especially bright as it wagged, almost of its own volitions at times, torching brightly. It was a lovely day, after several days of travel and noting pack borders. As they came to a stop, he let his mother take the slight lead, grinning down at her with faint amusement that he had to look down to see his mother’s face. He slipped the bags from his back, undoing the catches in his armor that had held them in place during the journey and setting them in front of his paws, fiddling with one of the bags as he watched the thicket that grew tall ahead of them, taking in the scents from the border and making note of them. The last time he’d seen Theory he’d been a pup, and definitely way shorter. He hoped the festivities his mother wished to share with Abaven, sooner or later, would come to pass. He wanted to meet their allies, and maybe make friends his own age beyond Valhalla. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

The endless winter had kept them firmly isolated. It felt like a terribly unfunny joke that as soon as Boreas grew warmer, they were plunged back into another cold spell. Thankfully it was the regular sort of cold they had been used to weathering. Theo used to think she liked that the East saw every season, but the permafrost had left her feeling bitter. And very cold. She was glad to hear the familiar call of Aurielle at the border. It had been so long since she'd seen the ethereal alpha and she was grateful for any sign of a friendly face. Theory bounded towards the call, her short tail flicked upwards in a jovial greeting. As she closed the gap between them, she was surprised to see a hulking, dark figure at Aurielle's pale side. "Tell me that's not your son," she grinned, her eyes sparkling with good humor. "How tall are you? About as big a bear, I'd guess." The alpha directed the question at Ardyn with a toothy grin. He had a good few inches on her. "Speech"

THERE IS VERY LITTLE LEFT OF ME AND IT'S NEVER COMING BACK

When a sonorous call sounded from the borders, summoning the Sequoia, the pale yearling lifted his head from where he'd been lounging beside the rapids after his patrol. Since he'd been given the rank of a diplomat in training, he'd been waiting for a chance for some real-world experience. This might be what he was needing! Rolling to his paws, the burly Destruction headed towards the source of the call at a steady lope. Dark masked features settled into an expression that he hoped read as stoic, pale eyes flitting over the figures that had already gathered around the borders of the thicket. The scents wafted towards him, and he immediately knew Theory was one of the wolves present. However, the closer he drew, he found himself drawn to the softly glowing wolves that faced her. Polar opposites, a titanic ebony man with a fiery glow sitting to the side and just behind a female who was pale as the driven snow with an ethereal blue luminescence. What the hell?

Drawing up alongside Theory, he offered her a soft half-smile and a polite dip of his head. She seemed familiar with the strangers, her expression warm and friendly. Keen eyes tracked over the female first, about the same age as his parents had been before.. he cast that train of thought aside immediately. Her fangs were long, and her fur plush. She bore a mane and tail more akin to a horse than a wolf, long tresses that seemed to drape over the sides of her neck from her topline. He'd never seen anything like it, truly. When his attention turned to the male, well.. he was young, probably about the same age as himself. He bore the same unique mane, and mismatched eyes that he immediately found himself meeting unconsciously. Well. He was definitely handsome. Perhaps... too handsome? Those cheekbones ought to have been illegal, and when his muzzle was framed by those long fangs, well. What a looker. Tearing his gaze away from the young man, he was grateful for the dark mask upon his features that hid a blush that might have peeked through the pale hues of the rest of his coat.

Looking to the Sequoia, he smiled lightly. "I hope I'm not intruding, I heard the call and thought I might observe?" he said, leaving the proposition open ended and ready to be declined. He could just as easily melt into the thicket and continue about his day, waiting for a better opportunity. Letting his gaze drift back to the visitors, he bowed his thick skull politely in greeting. "Solo Destruction, at your service." he added, his mother's British accent hanging heavy upon his impossibly deep vocals.

"Solo"

Aurielle Adravendi

Bounding paw-steps approached, and soon Theory came into sight and a grin bloomed on Aurielle’s features, gradated sapphire and sky eyes twinkling with humor, tail sweeping softly over the ground at their paws before she rose gracefully to her paws, laughing fondly at Theory’s surprise. “That is indeed he. He had a little growth spurt.” Her lilting voice was teasing, but warm with love as she glanced up at her son before stepping forward to offer a light embrace if the taller, younger woman accepted it, though when a young man arrived, she offered the boy a warm smile as he spoke first to Theory then introduced himself. “It’s good to meet you, Solo. I am Aurielle Adravendi, Spirit – or alpha – of Valhalla.” She let Ardyn speak for himself as she stepped back, features cheerful. It was good to see Theory again, to touch bases and reaffirm bonds. With hope, they'd be able to attempt at the festival between the two packs again. Retaking her seat with a habitual flick of her long-haired tail she regarded Theory with a grin as she asked, "How have you been? Well, I hope?" Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Ardyn Cadeyrn Aodhán Phoenix Adravendi

Theory was swift to appear, and her surprise at seeing him brought a grin to the Heir’s features as he looked down at himself, quipping, “Maybe a short black bear.” His tail beat gently at the ground, igniting flashes of fire in the inky hair as his mother greeted the Abaven alphess. A second figure arrived, a yearling about his own size, though slightly shorter. He met the boy’s eyes with a bright grin, ears perking as the other boy greeted and introduced himself. His mother left the floor open to Ardyn, and he added his own introduction onto hers with a cheery nod, “Ardyn Adravendi, Destiny, or Heir, of Valhalla. Nice to meet you, Solo.” His own accent was rich and lilting, heavily influenced by both parents, though with a faint extra something from his mother’s father. To Theory he added, lifting one of the bags, clutched in one long-fingered paw-hand, “We brought gifts!” Many of the usual baubles and food-stuffs were packed away in those bags, as well as an herbal mead he and Paladin had been working on, with Cairo’s help. It didn’t have much of a ‘get-you-drunk-quick’ kick, which meant it was a good introductory mead for younger wolves, safe to sip during celebrations. Honey and meadowsweet, with mint included. He set the bag down once more, ears perking with interest to see what Theory said in response to his mother’s question. How had Abaven fared through the past few strange seasons? Hopefully well. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

It was a relief to finally see old friends. Theory couldn't keep the grin off of her face. So long they had been isolated, sneaking between snow drifts like thieves in their own pack lands. Even though the bite of winter was back, it didn't have the same fangs as the never-ending months of snow and ice they'd just endured. The cold was a perfect time for contemplation and renewing bonds as they looked towards the warmer seasons ahead. She eagerly accepted Aurielle's embrace, nuzzling into her plush white fur. The amulet she had been given by her long ago was also spending the winter in her den for safekeeping alongside Shaye's feather. The alpha turned to acknowledge Solo as he approached, encouraging him forward until he paused at her side to inspect the Vallahan wolves. There was a sparkle of curiosity in his eyes, which was understandable - most wolves needed to do a double-take when faced with Aurielle and her immediate kin. The kinds of mutations that ran in her line and in some of the southern packs were uncommon in Abaven. "Solo is training alongside me for our Corda rank - a diplomat. Your visit is timely. There's nothing better than firsthand experience!" Theory paused as their visitors introduced themselves and she settled down into a comfortable sit before them. "Thank you," she said warmly towards their offering, her eyes glowing with appreciation. Aurielle had always been a truly kind and faithful ally. Without a doubt, she knew that she could rely on Valhalla. Her only regret was that their packs were separated by nearly the entire continent. "Well, now that you and your black bear heir are here, I'd love to resume discussing our joint festival. We had such promising plans before the weather decided to disagree... for an entire year," Theory laughed, trying not to sound too bitter. She glanced at Solo and her grin renewed again. "Enjoy this, because it's easily the most fun part of diplomacy - planning festivals!" "Speech"

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"Speech!"
It was with carefully neutral expression that the young Destruction boy watched the dainty, glowing fae embrace his leader. The fondness was evident in the gesture, and there was a bit of relief that came with it. Training wheels were still on with this meeting, and for that he was somewhat grateful. Theory threw him a safety net in the form of a brief explanation for his presence, making use of her easygoing smile and familiarity with the wolves who had come to visit. "Solo is training alongside me for our Corda rank - a diplomat. Your visit is timely. There's nothing better than firsthand experience!" she said, and he tried to match her energy with a soft wag of his tail and a quiet bob of his head in agreement. The pale dame looked to him with deep blue eyes, and offered a small smile. “It’s good to meet you, Solo. I am Aurielle Adravendi, spirit – or alpha – of Valhalla.” she informed him, to which he offered a respectful dip of his heavy skull in acknowledgement. And then his attention was drawn to the impossibly tall, handsome young man. “Ardyn Adravendi, Destiny, or Heir, of Valhalla. Nice to meet you, Solo.” he added onto his mother's introduction gracefully, and with his own warm smile. Once more, the pale diplomat in training tipped his head in a polite greeting, a small smile of his own curving over dark lips.

He tracked the shift in attention as the pair began to speak more directly to Theory, offering polite inquiries into the pack's wellbeing and the offer of mysterious gifts in a leather satchel. What really caught Solo's attention was the fact that the boy was holding the satchel in his paw, which turned out to look very little like a paw at all when he looked a little closer. Staring is rude, Solo. He looked quickly away, casting his gaze instead to Theory, awaiting her response to see what he ought to be doing with himself. The boy had.. squirrel hands. No. Monkey hands? It was going to keep him up at night. He settled slowly onto his haunches, tucking his black tipped tail lightly against one thigh and relaxing the tension that had unknowingly built in his burly shoulders. "Well, now that you and your black bear heir are here, I'd love to resume discussing our joint festival. We had such promising plans before the weather decided to disagree... for an entire year," he knew the Sequoia well enough to know that she was genuinely lamenting the horrible winter in which he had been born, and the subsequent months of cold while he'd been growing up. He knew that winters were not typically that gruelling, but he lacked any experience with a normal winter season. His focus sharpened when the cerulean gaze of his leader turned upon him, gold marked auds perking. Her grin was contagious, but perhaps that was the stress making him feed into the energy more than he usually might? "Enjoy this, because it's easily the most fun part of diplomacy - planning festivals!" she remarked, and he chuckled softly, thumping his tail against the ground.

"I'll make sure to keep it in mind, Sequoia," he replied lightly, glancing towards the visitors to offer them a cheerful smile. He genuinely did feel some anticipation towards the planning that was taking place, and he was excited to have some hand in making something nice for the packs.

Aurielle Adravendi

[ooc throwing a swift post out, so sorry for letting the ball drop 9_9] She smiled as the taller, younger wolf accepted the embrace, and as Theory explained Solo’s placement in the pack a bit, the Spirit grinned, nodding to the young man in approval. “Diplomacy can be a trying path to undertake. There will be those who attempt to get under your skin. It is down to you to let barbs roll off your coat and not rise to them. Poise and quiet dignity will be prized virtues and help you tremendously in diplomatic ventures.” As the talk got under way, Aurielle smiled in agreement. “Indeed. I believe you suggested a foot race, coast to coast?” She could recall most of what they’d been planning before the world took a sudden wrong turn into iceworld and everwinter, but for the benefit of Solo’s training, she let Theory rehash the details in more depth if the Sequoia wished to. And Theory might well have thought of more details to add in the time between their last talk. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think