Aurielle Adravendi

Wit time having passed, and Aurielle hearing reports from Cairo and Paladin, two of the wolves she had set to keep a particular eye on their neighbors under the guise of healer’s ventures for herbs the grew in the no-wolves’ land between the packs, she had made her decision. A change in the scent of the alphess gave her pause as she slowed to a stop, a polite distance from the borders of the other pack. She’d glimpsed the woman a few times from a distance, her own frame shrouded in mists and heather at the edge of the moorland where it melded into the Lake. Come to think of it, the piebald female had been at the challenge for Erovrare, standing beside the failed challenger. She’d been heavily pregnant at the last glimpse, and now, the alphess’ scent had changed from pregnant, to warm, milky, and motherly. The litter was born then. Caution would be a good idea. A new mother’s hormones could easily flip to angry mother bear mode at the wrong word. It didn’t help that she didn’t know the woman personally. Stepping further from the border of her neighbors’ pack, Aurielle tipped back her muzzle and howled. The call was her usual easy, respectful tone, requesting the Queen’s presence, alpha to alpha. Letting her muzzle lower level once more, she stood patiently, tail occasionally swaying, long hairs flowing on a breeze as her bi-hued eyes scanned the surroundings for movement, and she silently hoped for a productive, peaceful outcome. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Deathbelle knew relatively little of the pack next door to them. Mostly of what little could be seen from the air, but the moonlight didn't reflect on the mist that seemed to constantly cover the lands quite as harshly as the sunlight. She was given a description of a wolf she vaguely recognized from Hannibal's challenge. Iridescent, long furred, rumored to be fanged like her vessel Sirius. Belle had no idea where the alpha's loyalties lay in that battle. The pack was roughly the size of her own, but she had to guess it had been more than a year since welcoming their last litter. The royal Klein woman was quite loathe to leave her pups. They weren’t even close to being weaned and she hadn’t left them for any amount of time when Aurielle called to her from the border. She debated about sending Hannibal out in her stead, but Archon assured her that he would happily take the chance for some alone time with them so she could go. Thankfully they had just finished nursing and were going into a nap when she was summoned. So the Empress made her way from the bottom of the ravine towards where the other alpha had called. Already the alabaster beauty had Belle’s approval, she was the first of Boreas’ alphas to reach her border. As she should be, considering their territories butted right up against each other. Thistle reported wolves scouting, but there had been no confrontation yet. The owl perched on her shoulder as Belle made her way to where Aurielle waited for her. She made sure her pups were arranged first, but she was sure the leader expected that. It was hard to disguise the appearance of newly born pups. Belle stopped on her side of the border, her own snowy white tail held confidently at hips height. Her obviously nursing form came to a halt and looked to the other woman. "Greetings," Deathbelle offered neutrally. "You’ve summoned the Empress Deathbelle Ravage Klein, what business do you seek?" She asked with obvious curiosity and mild interest. Sirius would be watching from a distance just in case, but Belle was confident she had recovered almost fully from the birth. She could take care of herself. "speak."

Stock by Ria.P of dawthieves

Aurielle Adravendi

For all that the other leader’s litter was still far from weaned, Aurielle wasn’t left waiting long at the border. The shimmering white Spirit studied the other woman without being rude and staring overlong at any one point, though a quick flicker of a smile flitted across her features as her eyes briefly graced the evidence of children along Deathbelle’s belly. It had been so long since small paws had pattered across her own territories that she was vaguely aware of a faint sense of envy for the other woman’s luck. An easy smile settled onto her features as the woman introduced herself formally, and with an internal wince, Aurielle replied in kind, with her full name that her father had thought so damned funny to bequeath upon her at her birth. For all that she next to never used the full introduction, it still flowed from her tongue in a lyrical song, without any sense of arrogance to go with the long name. “Good day, Empress Deathbelle. I am Aurielle Rhiannon Marie Adravendi, Spirit – or alpha – of Valhalla. I came with the hopes of forming an alliance between our packs—or at the very least a non-aggression treatise. If you are interested, I can also provide trade goods.” Her eyes rested on the Empress’ features, silently assessing the woman’s reaction to her words with her own sense of curiosity. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Deathbelle wouldn’t have considered her litter luck, they had been hard work to bring into the world. First she had presented Archon with her Empire and the power to back up any claim she made. She chose the man who at the time, was the best candidate to sire a litter worthy of the Klein name. She did not regret the decision, and went so far as to celebrate it with the birth of her brood. The Empress continued to feel herself fall in love with Archon, and was proud to have him at her side to help raise the litter they’d created.

The alpha of Valhalla herself came to greet her, and Deathbelle didn’t miss the honor. At the most Belle planned to send her lackeys to other packs. Though really she lay in wait for them to make their way to her. As Aurielle did now. She had much she wanted to offer Ashen, and Belle wondered just how much the woman knew about the Klein Empire.

”Well met, Spirit of Valhalla.” She answered neutrally. ”I feel it’s a little too early in our relationship to be speaking about Alliances,” she told her bluntly but not rudely. As you can see though, I’ve given birth just recently and would accept a two seasons long non aggression agreement. I.. would also find trade beneficial.” She offered the alpha easily. She didn’t know Valhalla and Aurielle didn’t know Ashen. ”In two seasons time we may reconvene, though I’d like my secondary to also be present.”