As promised, Chimera led Cerberus away from Fenmyre and out into the world. The boy had wanted to learn and travel and the king would provide just that. The brute sent a bird on ahead to alert Elysium of their future visit. On their way north, the pair of gents stopped at Ashen, adding Venom and Ikigai to the traveling party. His sister needed to get out of both Ashen and her own head for a while so he imagined a trek to visit a new pack would do her some good. While a member of Ashen, he hadn't interacted with Ikigai much, but she had grown into a fine young lady and so Chi didn't mind having her join them one bit.

Along the way, they stopped whenever the younglings wanted to stop. This outing was mainly for Cerberus, but he knew that Iki would learn from it as well, so when they had questions or wished to inspect something further, the man had no issues with stopping. Hopefully Cerberus' wanderlust and thirst for travel would be sated for a while.

As all journeys do, theirs came to an end as the sun began to slide from the sky. Night was fast approaching as the foursome of wolves made their way across the land bridge that would take them to the island where Manea and her pack had set up shop. Chimera raised his muzzle to the sky and called out for the woman and her mate, letting them know that they had arrived.

"Chimera Klein"

After everything happened Venom was a bit more open to allowing herself beyond Ashen’s borders. Though she had tol Plague to keep an eye out for a certain trouble making loner. She hoped he wouldn’t give her brother any issue while she traveled at Chimera’s side. Manea invited her this way when they had last met and Venom knew that she would do well to take Chi up on his offer to escort and go see the violet alphess in the process. Venom’s oldest daughter, and Chimera’s oldest son accompanied them to the island.

Evening had fallen by the time the troupe of royalty made their way to Manea’s border. Venom let Chimera take the lead, as they approached the border he was the one to put his head back and call out for the alpha pair. She stood beside him patiently, knowing they wouldn’t be left to wait for long.

"Venom"

Iki was happy to accompany her mother, uncle and cousin on their journey, though she couldn't deny being nervous. The young lady had always stuck close to home and hadn't ventured too far from it. Every step that they took brought her the farthest from home that she'd ever been. The tickle of moths danced in her stomach at the thought of the unknown, but she was excited about it too. Mostly because she was eager to reach their destination. From the moment that she had met Manea, Ikigai had liked the giant, purple woman. So much had changed since their last meeting. Iki was nearly a woman grown now. Her appearance had changed and she'd obtained even more mutations, which the purple fae had been so impressed with when Iki was a puppy. What would Manea think of her now?

Allowing her mother and uncle to take the head of the group as was proper, Ikigai stayed beside Cerberus, the snow dipped girl scanning the horizon as Chimera called to see who might intercept them. Though she was excited, she was also eager and somewhat nervous. This wasn't some far off vacation. This would be a diplomatic mission. One of her first and she wished above all things to do well and make her mother proud.

"Ikigai"

Cerberus had sill contained his composure for the duration of him and his father's trip, and enjoyed spending time with his aunt and cousin who he hadn't met before or hadn't remembered doing so. He had more of a sheltered life until recently, through his own decisions regardless of how Chimera felt. Chimera would be the closest one to him in this party to see the true eagerness and happiness in Cerberus as they traveled. Otherwise he just seemed like a calm and content growing boy. His father hadn't let him down taking him on this trip.

They approached the borders, Cerberus seeing that Ikigai was sticking closer to him and letting the adults go on ahead. He gave her gentle smile before they settled down at the border. Cerberus taking a seat just behind his father while his eyes left Ikigai and he waited for Elysium to respond.

"Cerberus"

The bird that had come to let her know about Chimera's visit with his family was a surprise, but a welcome one none of the less. She spent a bit of time fixing up some of the spare caves in the mountains so that they would be suitable for guests before they arrived. She didn't know how long Chimera intended to visit, but she was of course more than happy to host them for as long as they wished to visit. Chimera's howl for her and Alastor brought a smile to her lips and she quickly found her mate and walked with him down to the shore to greet their guests. The group was easy enough to find—Chimera and Venom were imposing figures in their own rights—but there was also a couple more surprise guests along with them that make her smile widen further.

"Chimera! Venom! A pleasure to have you both here," she said in greeting as she came over to welcome them onto the island, giving them both a small dip of her head. "I know it's quite the trip to get here so I have some spaces prepared for you to rest if you'd like and we'll all have dinner together tonight, I'm sure." She peeked past Venom with a grin as she saw Ikigai sitting politely behind her mother. The young woman had grown into quite the beauty, just as she had known she would. There was also a black and russet young man along side her who had her bringing a curious gaze to Chimera, asking, "Is this one of your sons?" The boy had the two-toned effect to his coat that Chimera did, though she assumed he pulled pretty heavily to whoever his mother was as well.

Manea | Temno | Ciemny

Alastor had been doing whatever it was Alastor did with his spare time. Hunting or fishing, most likely. So when the unexpected call from his border rang out in the early evening twilight, he was perplexed. As far as he knew they weren't expecting any company. But he recognized the voice as the alpha they'd met down in Auster, the island-dweller, Chimera. Turning towards the land bridge, he was intercepted by Manea, and side by side the two alphas of Elysium approached to greet their guests. Alastor wore his typical maddened smile, tempered down some by the lateness of the day, and allowed his mate to lead the interaction. She was the leader of Elysium and the matriarch of the Mendacium family, after all, and no doubt the better host of the two of them. Among the group of visitors, Alastor recognized Chimera and Venom; an unexpected surprise for two alphas to show up at their border, but a welcome one all the same! Ikigai he recognized as well, though it did require a second take; the young pup had grown so much since he'd last seen her! He didn't recognize the other young man in the quartet, but assumed he belonged to either Chimera or Venom. As Manea greeted their guests, Alastor would bow his head in welcome to them all. He didn't have much to add, simply here as a show of support to his wife and out of good manners.

"Alastor Mendacium"

In time, the purple woman and her black and red counterpart arrived. Greetings were traded and Manea informed them that she'd had chambers prepared for their stay. Chimera nodded his thanks. "We both wanted to see what you've made for yourself here." Later, there would be diplomatic discussions, but not quite yet. There would be time for that. No doubt Venom and Ikigai wished to wash the dust of the road from themselves first. "Dinner would be most welcome," he added.

When Manea asked after Cerberus, Chimera motioned the boy forward. "My eldest son, Cerberus." There was pride in the giant's eyes as his horned child drew closer. He was terribly proud of his boy. "He wished to see a bit of the world and to learn some about diplomacy, so this will be a good lesson for him." It was Chimera's wish that they would leave Elysium with an alliance in place. Cerberus could help found that alliance.

"Your family is doing well?" He inquired of the pair. "A steady influx of new members or are you keeping things small for now?" He wondered if the mechanics of this pack differed from his own and from Venoms.

"Chimera Klein"

Ikigai and Cerberus followed without complaint or issue. Venom didn’t know any of Chimera’s children but that could be chalked up to the distance between their packs. His oldest son seemed a lot like his father, quiet but intimidating in his demeanor. He showed his Klein heritage with ease. The four of them didn’t take much time to get to the Mendacium border, and as Chimera called they were not left to wait for very long.

The alpha pair arrived in tandem, Manea’s striking purple coat complimented by her husband’s dark and red pelt. The matriarch greeted them warmly as her bright eyes drifted over the group that had gathered at her border. Venom dipped her head in greeting to both wolves as Chimera took the lead. He was the orchestrator of their trip after all. "Hello, again.” She offered as Chimera accepted dinner and introduced Cerberus.

Like Chimera said, she hoped to strengthen their ties more fully with this island pack. Already their sensibilities proved similar to her and Chimera’s with their choice to take up residence on an island. Venom’s features sported a classic Klein smirk as she listened and allowed her brother to guide them into their venture.


"Venom"

Cerberus stayed quiet as the pair of alphas arrived. What may have been an intimidating pair was not to him, though he had to say that their colors were very striking and unique compared to his pack mates and family. Nothing he would get stunned over though.

Chimera motioned him forward a little as he introduced him. Cerberus' eyes moved from his father to Elysium's alphas with his own dip of his head, "It's a pleasure to meet you." He was noting if not polite especially under the expectation of his father not that Chimera would expect him to behave badly.

He gave the floor back to his father, only listening to what he asked and what was said. He was definitely interested in the makings of this pack given he had lived most of his life in Fenmyre. He glanced over to Ikigai before waiting to see what would happen next.

"Cerberus"

Iki sat tall, a little behind her mother and uncle. Cerberus sat beside her. Both young wolves were a testament to their parents, being proper and attentive. When Manea and Alastor came, Iki smiled brightly, her long, ink blot of a tail swishing across the land bridge where they sat. She noted the change in Alastors appearance and thought he looked rather dashing with his new, fluffy coat. It seemed that a lot of them had changed during the endless night.

Manea greeted them and, since Cerberus was the only wolf that the woman didn't know, he stepped forward to introduce himself. The pallid princess stayed silent, her joy at seeing the purple woman and red patterned man evident in the smile on her delicate features.

"Ikigai"

Manea smiled and nodded to Cerberus as he was introduced as Chimera's eldest. He was quite a striking young man with interesting horns curving back from his head. "A pleasure to meet you as well, Cerberus." She had always thought that ones children were a reflection of themselves and she could see Chimera's subdued demeanor easily in Cerberus just as she could see Venom's grace in Ikigai. She had been immediately impressed with Venom's daughters and it seemed like she wouldn't be disappointed by Chimera's son either. She gave Ikigai another grin before she fully returned her attention back to the pair of alphas in front of her. She hoped perhaps she would get some time to talk with the young princess while she was here. She certainly had enjoyed their conversation when she was a young little thing and she couldn't wait to see how she had evolved and matured in all this time.

Chimera asked about their family and the growth of the pack and she smiled softly, replying, "They're doing well. We've had a few new additions to the pack since we spoke last, though not what I would consider a huge influx. I believe there's... seventeen of us now?" she asked as she quickly counted up everyone in her head with a glance toward Alastor to confirm. "Mostly family of sort sort or individuals we've taken under our wing one way or another." They were certainly far from the largest pack, but she was proud of how the pack had mostly formed from their family or at the very least wolves that had become family in some form or fashion. She nodded for them to follow, adding, "Come, its getting late. Let me take you to where you can rest. We can discuss business tomorrow." She looked to Alastor again and asked, "Darling, would you go to the food stores and gather up some food for us and our guests? See if you can find Avacyn and Saracyn so they can join us for dinner as well."

After Alastor went off she nodded to the group and started leading them off toward the near by ridge of mountains where the caves the pack occupied could be found. "I hope to hold a small celebration and festival in the coming months," she told them with a glance over her shoulder toward them. "Partially for the founding of the pack, partially as a birthday party of sorts for my twins and another pair of yearlings in the pack. You and your packs are of course welcome to attend when it happens." She hadn't fully decided who all she would invite, but Ashen and Fenmyre were easy choices. She considered keeping it small with just their closest acquaintances, but she wasn't certain yet.

Reaching a spacious cave that was a bit separated from the rest of the caves that the wolves of her pack called home, she motioned for them to settle in and get comfortable. There was plenty of plush furs making several beds all throughout the cave and a couple of oiled skins hanging over the entrance to keep out the wind. "There's a lake toward the center of the island if any of you would like to wash up from your travels. Whenever you are ready we can gather in the clearing near the lake for dinner." Once she was sure everyone was comfortable she went off to go help Alastor prepare their meal.

Manea | Temno | Ciemny

Manea, Chimera, and Venom exchanged greetings as alphas, and then the Fenmyrian king introduced the unknown lad as his son, Cerberus. The boy was polite and minded his manners well; he would go far as a diplomat. "A pleasure to meet you as well, Cerberus!" Alastor greeted the lad with his usual grin, then moved his gaze to the young and beautiful Ikigai. "You must be incredibly proud of your daughter, Venom. She's bloomed like a perfect cherry blossom. No doubt she'll be a fine ambassador of Ashen!" Alastor knew of his wife's fondness for the young Abraxas princess, and he similarly held a soft spot for her in his heart for the kindness she'd shown to him during their first meeting. Though not a pup anymore, he would always remember her as the willowy and well-mannered whelp at her mother's side, mimicking her like a tiny doppelgänger.

After some small talk and pleasantries had been exchanged, Manea invited their guests in to get comfortable and settled into the spare dens. Alastor followed alongside his mate while they led the way across Alias Island, giving a brief tour of the land. Manea turned and asked him to fetch some dinner along with their children, and Alastor responded with a smile and nod. "Of course, my dear," he said, and with a parting kiss to her cheek and another to her lips, he picked up the pace and cantered off towards their food stores. They had recently had quite a lucrative hunt, and Alastor's proclivity for fishing had seen their larders packed with fresh meat and fish aplenty. He didn't know where Avacyn and Saracyn had gotten to, but knowing his twins, where one was, the other was usually close by.

"Alastor Mendacium"