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

Stagnating in his own sorrow was getting him nowhere. It was time to pick himself up and get to work. There was a vague idea of what he wanted to make of his future, it rattled around in the back of his skull at all times. He didn't want to be his parents. They had disappointed him, let him down, abandoned him. He wanted to make himself something new, and diverge from the paths they had laid before him. He would protect his home and his family, and he would do it with diplomacy. It was an unexplored avenue for the pallid male, but he was eager to give it a shot. It would require mentoring under someone he didn't know nearly as well as some of the hunters in the pack, but perhaps that was for the best.

Broad paws thumped heavily against the terrain, his bulky form cutting a path through the thicket in search of the Sequoia. He hadn't met Theory one on one before, at least not that he could remember. Nerves danced in his gut, but he ignored them for now. The weather was changing, each day it grew a bit cooler, and the rains came far more often. Perhaps the winter would be harsh as the last, and he would find in it the opportunity to witness the formation of connections between packs firsthand as they scrambled to survive a brutal winter like the last. Dark masked features were taut and pensive as he ranged deeper into the familiar territories of the pack, following a trail of the Sequoia's scent. He thought he could hear movement ahead, and the scent was certainly getting stronger. "Sequoia?" he called, vocals rumbling with an impossibly rich baritone that was already far deeper than one would expect of a yearling. "I was hoping to have a word, about my training?" he continued, though there was a very good chance he was talking to a squirrel skittering by, and not the leader of Abaven.

"Solo"

With the latest litter in Abaven reaching majority, it was an exciting time. Theory loved seeing the paths they chose - even the ones who chose to leave. Although it was a painful mark on her heart, she was also grateful that they grew into their own and felt comfortable leaving. Regardless if they chose to stay or leave, it was a time of change and growth. It was strangely humid for fall. Heavy mist hung in the thicket as she made her way back towards the river and her den. Patrol had just finished up and she was getting ready to pass it off to the next watch when she heard a young voice from behind her. She paused and turned, dipping her head briefly in greeting. "Solo," she smiled. "Of course, my ears are yours." Good! He's taking initiative! There was precious little she wouldn't do to help Abaven's next generation achieve their dreams. She'd never had a choice of her own. Theory would fight to ensure that always did. "Speech"

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

As he padded closer to the leader of the pack, he found himself pausing for just a moment. For all of his life, she had towered over him, the pinnacle of strength and leadership. Now? He was nearly the same size, looking her easily in the face as he approached. Not only that, but even in his yearling stages, he easily outweighed her. When had that happened? It felt like only yesterday he'd been gazing up at her during meetings, attention rapt and mouth firmly shut. Had he really grown that much? Before the hesitation could turn to having been fully struck dumb by the revelation, he closed the gap until they were within easy speaking distance. He returned a small bow of his head in greeting, anxiety surfacing in the form of a twitching of his tail tip and the shuffling of his massive paws. "Of course, my ears are yours." she assured him, and he tried to offer up a grateful smile. Why was he nervous? He'd known Theory his entire life, and she was always nice. Was it because he didn't like to ask for help? No, that couldn't possibly be it.

He couldn't help dropping his gaze for a moment, fixed on pallid paws that incessantly fidgeted until he willed them to stillness. "Uh, I don't think I want to be a healer. Or a fighter. I know it's silly, but," he swallowed down his nervousness as best he could, and mercury eyes returned to the dark features of the Sequoia."I know I'm big and everything, but I want to try and help the pack as more than that. I want to be a diplomat, and build relations with the other packs. Maybe.. you or the Liana- Poem, could train me?" he offered the question as casually as he could, deep vocals trailing off hesitantly. Solo didn't want to pressure the leader if she was too busy, or if she didn't think he would be well suited to the role, or if she already had better candidates available.. He could easily fill a warrior's rank, he had the build and the skill for it, easily. But he wouldn't get anywhere if he didn't at least try.

"Solo"

Theory listened patiently, her face neutral and open as she waited for Solo to complete his train of thought. Although the alpha wanted to soothe him, interrupting him would only chafe away at his newfound confidence. Theo was unspeakably proud that he wanted to stay in Abaven - not only stay, but train under her to become their next diplomat. Poem had been hemming and hawing over leaving with Sparhawk to assist him with some quest or another now that their children were old enough to choose to go with them or remain. In due time, they may be in dire need of an emissary. Solo's request was timely. "It is not silly," she asserted, softly yet still firm. "Size doesn't mean everything - not for a fighter, and not for a diplomat. Being exceptionally big or small is simply a first impression, and as we begin your training, we'll learn all about those." The alpha grinned, dipping her head in his direction as she conceded to his request. "I would be honored to personally train you. When I was just a little bit younger than you, it was the position I wanted for myself until fate had other ideas." Theory's heart looked towards Shaye's blue feather, carefully stowed away in her den for the wet and cold season so that it might retain its shape and color for as long as possible. Already it had begun to fade with the sun alone. It painted her to see it lose its luster. But here was the legacy she'd been left - young minds, willing and ready to learn. She hoped Shaye would be proud. "Speech"

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"Speech!"

The pale lad could see that there was a glimmer of something in the Sequoia's cerulean eyes, but he wasn't sure exactly what. He found out soon enough though, when he finished his gran spiel and she offered her own response. "It is not silly," she promised, in the soft kind of voice that he felt like he might have expected to hear his mother use.. if she'd stuck around to raise him. "Size doesn't mean everything - not for a fighter, and not for a diplomat. Being exceptionally big or small is simply a first impression, and as we begin your training, we'll learn all about those." she explained, and it took a moment for the reality of what she said to sink in. When they began training, not if. He was being given a chance here, and he couldn't help the smile that crept onto his features, nor the gentle wagging of his tail across his heels. The respectful dip of her head preceded her next words, "I would be honored to personally train you. When I was just a little bit younger than you, it was the position I wanted for myself until fate had other ideas." Theory explained, and there was a bittersweet edge to her words that he couldn't have missed if he tried. He didn't know a lot about what had happened to put Theory in her position as their leader, but it didn't sound like they had been favourable conditions.

"What kind of training will I be taking part in?" he asked with a light tip of his heavy skull, suddenly consumed by the need to know everything he could about the future he was building for himself by simply taking the time to ask for help from the Sequoia.

She saw the joy begin to spread across his body, written as clearly as if he'd spoken it aloud. It started in his tail and wriggled all the way down to his toes, then back up to his shy smile. These were the moments that she lived for. Shaping young minds. It was her favorite part of being a leader, and partially why she never turned away a mother or child in need. Aside from the fact that cruelty wasn't in her nature, of course. Theo found such pleasure in helping them shape their own futures. They had the world in front of them - anything was possible. Her own future - the one she would have written herself - had been incinerated by the volcano's blast and ensuing disaster. She would do anything to ensure that the children of Abaven suffered no such fate - whether it took them far from pack borders or not, Theo was committed to encouraging them to discover their best selves. "Training can very. Diplomat is a difficult, but rewarding job. Abaven - in my memory - has situated itself as a neutral to friendly pack, willing to trade and barter and ally with most wolves. We're peaceful, we keep to ourselves. Aside from Winterfell's failed raid, I can't say we've suffered much in the way of political strife since I've been alive," she paused for a long moment, thinking on the state of Boreas at large. Things were always shifting and rearranging. "Boreas is very, very large. It's difficult to get news quickly. There may be a coup on the other side of the continent and a season will go by before we've heard anything at all. Distance makes it difficult, but we try to maintain relationships - especially with our allies. Valhalla resides on nearly the complete opposite coast, and I'd say they are the closest friends we have." Theory mulled over his question again, realizing she hadn't explicitly touched on the types of lessons. "In short, a diplomat needs to be savvy. There may be a time when you have to act on behalf of the pack and you find yourself alone. I want you to be equipped for when that day comes, which includes lessons - as much as I know - about the other packs of Boreas, what resources are available in which lands, the quickest routes between territories, and not the least of which, being a well-trained fighter. Getting in - and out of - sticky situations will be your greatest asset." Theory smiled encouragingly as she paused for a moment to let her words sink in. "Does the idea of the role still excite you? That's what I want most, Solo. For you to be excited about what's to come." "Speech"