The two tasks that Sirius had presented her in order to attain the position she wished had puzzled the red woman for a little bit. However, like anything she approaches, Keahi had decided to examine the problem from all angles. First, there is Adeline, a slave that Sirius wishes the red wolf to make fight... and mean it. That information had surprise her because it meant that the wolf in question did not wish to fight. Knowing Sirius, he has tried to force Adeline to defend or protect herself but it seems that his methods failed.

So, now it is her job to make a wolf who does not wish to fight back, deal a hit against her and mean it. Before she tries to force Adeline to learn something she is reluctant to do, the red woman knows that she needs to understand more about the slave. With her polar armor firmly in place and a wool cloak wrapped around her shoulders to stave off the chill, Keahi moves to where the Obelisk stands tall and proud. The packs rules are etched deep into the stone and seem to dance as the bonfire next to it sends shadows to play across the face.

Stopping a short distance off, the red woman gently folds her haunches and comes to sit lightly upon the ground. She faces the Obelisk that Sirius had brought her to when she first joined the ranks of the pack and it is from there that she tips her head back to sing a call for Adeline. It is short, telling the stranger to meet her and not much else. It holds no room her for to deny the request and she ends it just as fast as it began. Head lowers so that Keahi can level her gaze on the first rule and mull over what she wishes to gain from this meeting while she waits.


"Keahi Mogotsi"

When she wasn’t actively tasked with something, Adelina made a thorough attempt at staying out of the way. Out of sight, out of mind. And her refuge happened to be the room she had been offered on her first day in the Armada. It was the safest place for her, or so she felt. It was also the place that Sirius knew to come looking for her in the event he wanted to give training another shot. However, she certainly hated that part. Following orders was supposed to be easy. But when he commanded her to go against her conditioned response, she struggled to comply. She didn’t want to be a source of frustration, but she couldn’t bring herself to break her ingrained code either.

Though it seemed that it wasn’t the Warlord she was going to have to deal with today. The call for her presence was faint- but she heard it all the same, even if it was unfamiliar voice. Immediately, the muted fae’s muscles tensed out of reflex. She hesitated a few moments out of reluctance to answer the summons but eventually thought better of it. She was a slave, after all. She answered to everyone. Hauling herself to her paws, she scrambled outside and toward the source of where she thought she was meant to be.

Approaching the Obelisk, her silver gaze met a copper-toned woman that seemed as if she was intentionally waiting for someone. Adelina slowed to a stop, adverting her eyes as she came to a conversational distance. “D-Did you call f-for me?” She asked quietly, unsure if she had answered to the right wolf or not.

As Keahi looks at the words etched into the stone face, mulling over the tactics that she can try and use to get the wolf to strike her when said wolf arrives. Ocean blue eyes move to where the timid wolf stands and the red woman offers a warm, friendly smile that blooms like a rose in the spring. A paw lifts, gesturing for the slave to come and join her in front of the Obelisk as she says, “Yes. I called for you Adelina. My name is Keahi Mogotsi and I am Diplomat for the Armada. Please, come sit with me.” The red wolf’s posture is relaxed and open, inviting the uncertain woman to join her.

No matter what the task is, it will not happen today. First, she wants to get to know the stranger and what might be holding her back. Watching Adelina’s approach, Keahi slowly gestures to the Obelisk and asks, “Has anyone brought you here yet? This was my first stop when I joined the Armada.” A soft, fond laugh rolls past her lips as she looks to the etched words and the memory of Sirius bringing her here raises to the surface. The smile that stays on her lips is filled with memories and love.


"Keahi Mogotsi"

When Keahi confirmed that she had been the one who called, Adelina was given a brief moment of relief. At least she had guessed correctly. However, that feeling didn’t last for very long before she was invited to join the other woman- sitting before the Obelisk. The slave hesitated a moment before complying- tucking her limbs beneath her as tightly as she could as she reclined to join the Diplomat. She had hoped this would be a quick exchange of instruction- an assignment of task. But the manner in which Keahi spoke seemed far more casual than what she would have hoped. Unless this was a trick.

When offered an inquiry as toil she was familiar with this particular spot, Adelina quickly nodded as she silently cleared her throat to answer verbally as well. “Y-Yes, ma’am.” She answered, thinking back to her introduction to the Armada. “It was mine as well.” The younger fae added- Sirius had been very thorough in covering major points of interest within the Col. Though she seldom left her room unless ordered to do so.

Ocean blue eyes watch the woman’s posture and her timid demeanor as she approaches. Worry tugs at the back of Keahi’s mind as she remembers the task that has been laid out for her but, for now, she pushes that away. A gentle, friendly smile is on her lips as she speaks with Adelina, noting the way she seems wary of… everything. A nod is given to the slave’s answer and she makes sure to keep her tone light and soft as she speaks, “I am glad. It is always important to know what is expected of us.” Eyes search the woman, trying to judge her reaction.

Adelina seems afraid and Keahi yearns to understand that more. Standing, she motions for the slave to follow her and begins to slowly lead her out toward the beach. The tropical born wolf makes sure that the woman is walking beside her so that can speak in comfort with her having to crane her neck backward. As they walk, she begins to tell a story, “I was not born here. I come from an island far across the ocean. It is… a paradise. The weather is always warm and the flowers there… well is nothing like them. My home is called Hawai’i… and I miss it.” The story is told slowly as the emotions behind her arrival here are still raw.

Sand soon crunches underneath their paws and Keahi pulls them to a stop. She keeps them where the mountains still buffet the wind but they can see the crashing waves. A wistful sigh passes her lips as she remembers sailing across the water; trusting the stars and currents to guide her. But that seems like another lifetime now. A faraway look rests in her blue eyes for a moment before she gives another, melancholy-filled sigh. Her gaze slides over to Adelina as she offers a sad smile, saying, “We all come from different places and different walks of life. Where do you come from Adelina?” That seems as good a place as any to start.


"Keahi Mogotsi"

It was difficult for her to try and anticipate where their conversation was going. Or rather, where she was being lead with the offered introduction. However, she did her very best to follow along- all the while, concentrating on the stretch of ground between them. In the beginning, the foundation of their discussion felt familiar; a reminder of the importance of meeting expectations. It seemed that she could recall multiple conditioning sessions starting off on a similar note from her previous life. Yet, at the same time, they were never followed by such a pretty picture painted by words.

Before going on, she became aware that Keahi had gestured for her to stand. Flashing an uncertain glance in the other woman’s direction, she quickly scrambled to her paws- following along as she was lead off to an unknown destination. Even still, falling into step behind her escort was far more comfortable for her over sitting down to talk.  Adelina’s brow furrowed as she attempted to imagine the paradise as it was described to her. She wanted to test the name of this foreign land, but in the end thought better of it. She could hear the emotion in Keahi’s voice- maybe it sounded like adoration or longing. She couldn’t tell.

When the ground began to transition to the grit of powdery sand, and the echo of crashing waves could be heard from the restless ocean in the distance, they eventually came to a stop. Her pale gaze falling to the tide as she was prompted for information on her own upbringing in her turn. After attempting to swallow the anxiety as in manifested in her throat, she made an attempt at an answer in a mousy tone of voice. “Here … I guess.” She mustered- but as the words rolled off her tongue, it dawned on her just how open-ended that sounded. “Boreas, I mean. Not the Armada.” She quickly added. But then, she was struck with the thought that maybe it didn’t need to be pointed out after all. She obviously wasn’t from the Armada, after all. As to specifics, she wasn’t entirely sure what else to say. She struggled internally- chewing her lip to quell some of her nerves before finally coming up with something else to add. “I-.” But as quick as she began, she cut herself off as she remembered Sirius had requested that they keep her connection to Armada quiet. But maybe she could just be vague. Her tongue-tied silence was deafening as she pushed forward with her initial sentiment. “I’m from a band of slavers.” That was safe. Or so she wanted to think.

While Keahi does have an agenda behind this meeting with Adelina, she has no intention of broaching the subject of fighting yet. The slave’s timid presence and inability to seem comfortable tugs at the red wolf’s heart and she resolves to be a more present, kind face in Adelina’s life from now on. Maybe she can help her feel more comfortable and willing to seek out others.

As she speaks of her island, she glances at the woman from the corner eye to see her reaction. Finally, she turns her blue gaze to the woman and inquires where she comes from. A gentle, friendly smile is on her lips as Adelina’s mousy tone fills the silence. With a soft nod, she waits for the woman to elaborate and is rewarded with some information.

A sad sigh rolls past her dark lips and sadness creases her brow as she looks at the slave. With a gentle smile, Keahi softly offers, “I am sorry that you are from slavers. Were you born into captivity? What did they train you to do?” The questions are designed to help the red woman get a clearer picture of the woman’s upbringing and hopefully give her a spot to begin unraveling unwanted, trained behavior.


"Keahi Mogotsi"

Adelina didn’t like sad sigh that she was met with in response to the bit of information she felt she could offer. Nor was she interested in an apology- even though she was sure that Keahi was just trying to be nice. But nice made her uncomfortable, she didn’t know how to handle it. However, when she was asked if she was born to captivity- she quickly shook her head in response- ignoring the last question all together. She wasn’t quite ready to unpack that one. “N-no, it’s not like that. I … was born to slavers.” Adelina tried again, even though she just ended up saying the same thing over a second time.

With a nervous glance around the beach, she dug deep into herself to offer a clarification. “I-I never met my father, or uncles, or any of the other men from my p-parents … band .. because they were k-killed for their m-mistakes.” She felt that was safe to say as well, as long as she didn’t say who had been the one to do it. “B-But they were ones who took wolves captive and … traded them.” Adelina finished, hoping that she was able to clear things up. All in all, she was sure that they hadn’t been much different than the band she had ended up with. How she wished that it had been them to be slain for their crimes. The faintest indication of a half-grin tugged at the corner of her lip as she thought of the carnage that must of ensued. “T-They took the wrong wolf, though, when they c-c-captured Zeitgeist- Seer-“ Adelina immediately cut herself off with a gasp as she realized the error she had made. She looked away from Keahi as she stared with widened eyes at the sand beneath her paws. That was too much. She had shared too much.

The silence was deafening. Her chest wrenched with panic as her mind raced to come up with a solution. But the only answer she could come up with was to keep going and hope that her error would slip away unaddressed. Clearing her throat, she continued. “I-I was born after they were d-disbanded. Hhhowever, those of us who remained were eventually taken in by a rival band.” Not to be members, but assets. The ones that had spent a year working on her to be what they wanted her to be. “T-That’s how I am here, today.” Adelina quickly finished, hoping that would be enough information to satisfy any future questions as well.

Keahi watches Adelina as the woman talks, bright blue eyes watching the nervous slave. Again, she states she was born to slavers and a red brow slowly lifts at the emphasis placed on the last word. However, she remains silent, allowing the woman to clarify the situation so that the tropical born wolf can better understand it. Surprise ripples across her features at the mention of Zee and the small gasp that escapes the slave has the red woman’s attention sharpening.

The wheels are spinning turn in her head as she shuts down the emotions that try to swell, determined to hear Adelina out. Silence falls, the seconds straining as Keahi ties the threads together. Finally, she slowly blows out a breath before gently saying, “Sirius knows.” Blue eyes search Adelina’s features at the statement, trying to gauge the fear that she has of the Warlord.

For the red woman, she has just learned an awful side of the kind wolf she knows. But she does not think about that right now and, instead, tries to gently prod the woman as she asks, “Is that why you refuse to fight? Do you feel that you deserve the abuse that has been given to you?” Anger boils within the woman at the treat that poor Adelina has been through but she tempers it, not allowing it to show on her features.


"Keahi Mogotsi"

The slave girl couldn’t help but wince as Keahi echoed that Sirius knew. She continues to breeze past the inquiry, not wanting to have to answer any more questions about it unless expressly asked. She had to answer if she were asked. She couldn’t be caught lying to someone of higher rank if she wanted to or not. Though, with the earthy fae’s next question, she didn’t really know what to say. Maybe she did feel like she was answering for someone else’s crime. But in the end, it simply boiled down to the conditioning. “I-I don’t really know m-much else …” Adelina attempted, not really sure of how else to describe it. "T-Terrible things happened to those who resisted.” Was as much as she could get out. Adelina wanted to explain that the punishment for fighting was swift and violent. It wasn’t something that you would be killed for … but you’d wish they had. But talking about it … would mean acknowledging it- reliving it. Granted, there were some that were trained specifically for fighting- be it for entertainment or purchased defense, but they generally wanted their women compliant and non-combative- She clenched her teeth, offering a shallow shake of her head in a momentary effort to push the memories aside.

“Adelina Cartier”