Unexpected Guest

[Draeg]

The day was warm as the sun rose high over the forest of Ge-Rad, the god Fenris showering the land beneath his awe inspiring radiance as he set himself upon his rightful place within the heavens. Summer had reached its zenith when its days were at their hottest, the once comforting warmth that spring had brought with it had grown into an oppressive heat that sent even the mightiest of lera in search of relief. More than one life had been lost to the unrelenting fury of the sun god, usually the ones unable to cope or adapt to sudden climate change fell victim to dehydration or a fatal heat stroke. Rare was the day Fenris would be absent, his presence obscured behind a veil of white plume. Those were the days Ge-Rad looked forward to, when goddess Tor would show her mercy and the potential for rain seemed within reach. Today however the sky was clear leaving the sun free to shine down upon the world to its hearts content, if such a thing was even possible.

Beneath the shaded shelter of the forest canopy a long varg stare out across the vast expanse beyond the treeline, peering through the thick vegetation and out into the unclaimed wilds that lay outside the unseen boundary line of Ge-Rad. Occasionally his eyes would flicker at the sight of movement, amber orbs catching a glimpse of the odd squirrel or bird darting through the trees. Prey had becoming increasingly hard to come by this year, the pack’s primary source of food having arrived late this year only to have begun avoiding Ge-Rad altogether. Had their numbers been at their max the pack might have faced some serious problems but luckily for them, or unluckily depending how it was perceived, their numbers had thinned dangerously low some moons ago before the incident had been noticed.

Once the largest of all the Transylvanian wolf packs the once glorious Ge-Rad had been reduced to only a handful of varg. In Draeg’s eyes it was a mixed blessing, with fewer mouths to feed what little prey that was available was more than enough for the waning packmates and the need for competition was nonexistent. However with fewer varg in hand Ge-Rad was more susceptible to attack from its enemies, namely the varg of Sarnes and members of the Balkar whom delighted in harassing the peaceful meadow dwellers. With so little food available and so few members still remaining Draeg felt it prudent to keep an active watch over the border.

As the welcome breeze filtered through the tangled mesh of growth and vegetation it brought forth with it new scents and smells, the weary Dragga tilting his head to examine the alluring cocktail of odors that flooded his senses. During his examination a particular scent caught his attention, curious he focused his attention on the unfamiliar smell. The snapping a twig drew his attention, auds flexing upon his golden crown and becoming alert. “Who’s there?” he called out, rising calmly to his feet and staring out intently into towering tree line. “Show yourself.”

[Kai]

While Spring had triumphed over winter and brought new life to the terra, it was Summer that truly urged things into full bloom. Flowers of vibrant red and orange hues sprouted from beneath the trees and the meadow of Koran was lined with flowers harboring soft, yellow petals. The sky was rarely overcast, and instead fluffy, white cumulus clouds sailed idly by, finding themselves in no hurry and being issued no rush my the sun god Fenris. While it was a nice change from the Frozen, deathly grip of winter and the ceaseless dreary drizzle of Spring, the heat proved taxing to all who inhabited the forest. Fenris's rays shone relentlessly down on the land; while once viewed as rays of hope and warmth to be revered and even prayed for, they now resembled more of a burden and even a danger. Heatstroke had been known to claim creatures unable to stay out of the reach of the tormenting rays, so coincidently, most creatures were either sealed away in their dens, trying to relieve their misery, or they had found shade to reside in until Fenris lifted his wrath and Tor was able to come and soothe the world back to comfort.

The heat took an especially hard toll on those creatures cursed with pelt of black. One such creature was on the move now, a Varg with a coat of deep noir. He padded quickly through the meadow of Koran, making his way from patch to patch of shade and stopping every now and then to admire his progress. He was on his way to a neighboring packland, the forest of GeRad, to check up on pack alliances. As far as he and his Drappa knew, nothing had changed and the two packs remained allies, but one could never be too sure. He had volunteered for the job, as he had taken a liking to wandering- a trait that seemed to be passed down from his late adopted father, Zhentee. The ebony and crimson Dragga had been Alpha of the GeRad pack at one time; a fact the benevolent mann had bestowed upon a young and eager-to-learn Kai. Since his death he had been straying more and more from his home, though lately, and since his promotion to Beta, he had been keeping near the border of Koran. He had responsibilities now, and he was finally getting used to them. This particular task gave him an excuse to leave again and satiate his need to wander, acting as an ambassador for Koran.

Finally out of the meadow, he entered the dense line of trees that connected his homeland with that of the skilled hunters of GeRad. he had ventured this close to the border only once; he had had the same intentions of discussing alliances with the Alphas, but had instead met up with a recently dismissed scout named Krystal. Together they had strayed from GeRad only to encounter humans near the borders of both packs. Their judgment had told them that their group would be disbanding though, and heading for higher ground, away from the two packs, leaving them undisturbed and out of danger. The day's events had been exhausting for the both of them, and they had gone back to Koran to rejuvenate their strength. Krystal had only just left Koran to continue on with her self-fulfilling journey; where she had deviated to was anyone's guess, but Kai did not doubt he would meet with her again in the future. His head clouded with musings of the previous few days' occurrences, he had forgotten one of the wolves' most sacred laws. Foolishly he had stepped over the GeRad border without asking Tratto's Blessing; it had been the snap of a twig beneath his own paws that had broken the spell of reminiscence, and instinctively he raised his maw to the sky and emitted a short but beautiful howl, asking all too late for the owners of this land to accept him with open arms. What a fool I have been! he silently chastised, for surely his poor etiquette would reflect badly not only on himself, but on the pack he hailed from. Following suit, the low growl of a male on the offense called to him from beyond the trees. Lowering his ears at the sound, he quickly thought of the best way to conduct himself. Acting haughty and arrogant in foreign lands would earn him nothing but scorn, but neglecting his title of Beta and being overly-submissive would also give a bad impression. He decided that a stern tone would do best, but he would retain his usual politeness. "Pardon my intrusion," he began humbly, breaking from the trees and coming into the sight of the amber brute. "I am Kai, Beta of Koran, and I wish to speak to Draeg, the Alpha of GeRad" He had no idea the identity of the Dragga beyond the male's name. He only stared intently at the somewhat lanky male before him, and silently wondered if he had stumbled upon a hapless Kerl by mistake.

[Draeg]

Draeg tensed, sharp eyes peering through the tangled mesh of vegetation before him in search of the odd sole that had chosen to trespass upon Ge-Radian soil and disrupt his silent vigil. His entire body on high alert, keen auds coming forward like a couple of radar and surveying the scene before him with the utmost precision. So keen were his senses that he could accurately gauge the distance of a nearby mouse scurrying through the undergrowth from a few feet away, already the amber brute could hear his visitor shuffling through the taiga.

He was fortunate enough that the wind was in his favor, ebon nasal twitching against the coming breeze that had alerted him to presence of his unseen guest. Taking in the foreign scent the Norwegian Dragga found that he felt a nagging sense of familiarity that seemed to cling to the odd odor, as if he had encountered it sometime before. He almost jumped as the forest erupted in a soft but short howl, more surprised by the sudden outburst than afraid. His response was immediate, retreating a step back and dropping into a defensive crouch.

For a moment the amber dragga feared Ge-Rad might be under another attack however the lyrical tunes that played were far from the telltale war cry he had been expecting. Settling back onto his haunches Draeg relaxed, patiently awaiting his visitor to reveal himself. He saw no reason to return Tratto’s Blessing as he was clearly in view of whoever ask for it in the first place, however rushed it might have been. Sure enough he didn’t have to wait long, having made his presence known his mysterious assailant emerged from his hiding place beyond the boreal fence.

As he approached Draeg took the time to take stock of what he would be dealing with, getting a good look at the imposing varg before him and sizing him up. He carried himself proudly, moving with all the dignity and grace of dragga yet at the same time managing to appear marginally humble before a foreign party. He kept to the shade, likely due to his black pelt which no doubt attracted more then it’s fair share of heat. Unsurprisingly he stood over Draeg, dwarfing the amber dragga by the span of a few ears putting him just under Chalos in terms of height but still tall enough that Draeg would have to tilt his head slightly once he got closer.

“Think nothing of it, we’ve all done it at one point or another.” he quipped once introductions were out of the way, pleased with the Koran Beta’s humble tone. “Well then Kai of Koran, what business do you have in Ge-Rad?” For a moment Draeg wondered if perhaps it would have been better for him to properly introduce himself, however he quickly decided against it. It wasn’t often that someone mistook him for a subordinate as most varg already familiar with his status, he wanted to see just how Kai would react to dealing with someone that didn’t share equal rank with him. Besides he was bored and could use the fun.

[Kai]

((Please forgive the poor quality of this post... it's 3 in the morning and too hot to sleep or focus properly))

As he awaited a response fro the amber brute, he felt himself being sized up by the smaller Varg. While the stranger did not match his noble stature, nor did his ruddy coat hold the same, particular sheen as Kai's did, he could not help but feel as though something more was expected from him. Shrugging the feeling off, he cleared his throat absent-mindedly, focusing on something in the meantime besides the male's prying gaze. The flora of the forest was in full bloom, and GeRad was no exception. All around them bright colors stood out against the lively shades of green, offering a rich landscape that was exceptionally pleasing to the eye. Krystal had not been exaggerating as she recounted to him the beauties of her homeland.

He could feel his skin growing hot beneath his charcoal fur, the darkness of his pelt welcoming in the sun's blazing rays. The minimal shade that did cover his form was not enough to relinquish him of the miserable heat. Fighting the urge to pant while he was still under such close inspection, he chose instead to shift slightly on his paws, as though the minuscule action would in itself be enough to ward away the male's intent stares.

It was strange for such an unimpressive wolf to cause such discomfort in a wolf of larger size and higher rank, though before long the awkward moment subsided, and Kai, being deemed acceptable by what he guessed was a GeRadian scout, was met with a reassuring voice to go with the relaxed form of the amber male. There was a certain sense of power to the male's tone that did not quite match up to his lanky build. The assuredness in his voice mingled with a hint of misplaced authority that seemed to demand respect, though not in a harsh way. In addition to this, there was a glint in the male's keen, golden eyes that seemed to be hiding something that Kai was no doubt missing. Still, Kai continued, dismissing his apprehension as a mere trick of the heat. "If you don't mind, I would much rather save my business for Draeg's ears," his tone was strong, though not in the least bit disrespectful. "Though if you must have something to report to your Dragga, you may tell him that I am simply here to check on GeRad's alliance with Koran." During the course of his speech he had subconsciously taken on a more dominant stance, his form was well-braced and confident, his head held high with his black banner raised over his back. His handsome face had a stately air to it as he peered down upon the male with his golden eyes, eager to either be escorted to the Alpha, Draeg, or to have this pack member alert Draeg to the Beta's presence.

[Sorcha]

Fenris' rays beat down on the lands of Transylvania, even in the shaded Ge-Radian forest all sorts of creatures seek the deepest shadows, seeking the cool relief of the darker places. If an onlooker were to peer into the darker shadows under a huge, majestic pine tree, they would see the graceful form of a young faemme. As if she is disturbed by some small noise or presence she lifts her head from its resting place on her outstretched forepaws and looks around, clear blue-grey eyes scanning the familiar territory. There seems to be nothing out of place, but the grey fae is finished with her nap, and itches to get up and wander around even in the heat of the day. The shade from the trees in the proud forest ensure that the main part of the sun's heat is filtered out and even on the hottest days the air is still fairly cool under the trees' protection.

As she gets to her feet it is obvious that Sorcha is no longer a cub. She is not fully grown yet, but being a year old this spring she is simply a smaller version of the proud fae she will become in time. Though she doesn't know it, she is getting to look more like her mother every day. She never knew Cwen, but has often thought of her mother and what it would be like to have known her. Never having seen the deceased Drappa she only knows what she hears from others, and as yet she has not heard how much she looks like a young copy of Cwen, even to the now all grey ears and clear blue eyes tinted with grey.

She pricks her ears as the sound of a clear howl asking for Tratto's Blessing comes to her. Visitors in the packlands are always a source of interest and with her always-intense curiosity Sorcha can't help but wonder greatly who it is. Listening until the last sounds of the howl fade so she can best gage the stranger's position, the young grey fae trots off toward him - for it is definitely a mann. Having grown up in Ge-Rad and explored it ever since she could toddle around, Sorcha knows every bit of the lands well, and has little trouble finding the stranger. As she nears his position she pricks her ears again, hearing a familiar deep voice.

Padding forward with more care she listens to the last bits of conversation with puzzlement. The stranger's voice is speaking of seeking Draeg - as if he is not talking to the Dragga already. Stepping into the two manns' view she flashes a smile at her father, always happy to see him, and, going to stand near him she nuzzles him. "Hi Daddy." Quietly she greets the amber Dragga and then looks at the ebon stranger. "Greetings." She says, her voice soft and somewhat musical, but deeper than it was only a few months ago.

[Draeg]

Maw splitting in a wide yawn Draeg watched the ebon brute shift his gaze elsewhere, taking a moment to scratch himself while his guest went on to admire the scenery. He found it rather amusing to watch Kai’s feeble attempt to assert himself within foreign ground, albeit subconsciously, going so far as to lift his head up proudly and adopted a more rigid, but dominant stance. Quirking a brow Draeg sent him an amused smirk, rolling his shoulders into a slight shrug before falling back on to his haunches and making himself comfortable. “My Dragga?” he echoed, chuckling at the irony of the situation. “My friend I’m afraid I’m not in the habit of reporting anything to Draeg nor any other Dragga for that matter for a long, long time.” Again the amber varg found himself toying with the idea of reveal himself to the Koran beta only to toss the notion aside in lieu of see just how long he could keep up his little charade. Should things start to turn sour with Kai he would be quick to abandon his little game but for now Draeg was having too much fun.

Ears perking he was alerted to the subtle pawsteps approaching from the forest, visibly brightening as he was greeted by the welcome sight of his youngest daughter. Smiling broadly he was quick to return her affections, licking the top of her head and giving her side a playful nip as she pulled up beside him. “Hello my little wildflower, and how’s my favorite healer doing today.” he cooed, nuzzling her fondly. Pleased with the manner in which she had presented herself he gave Sorcha one last loving lick before directing her attention towards Kai. “This is Kai, beta of Koran, he’s here to discuss a few things with daddy about the alliance between our packs.”

Glancing back at the ebon dragga he flicked his tail in a slight shrug, gesturing the beta varg’s attention towards his daughter as he commenced with a more formal introduction. “This is my daughter Sorcha, my star pupil and up and coming healer of Ge-Rad.” Rising to his feet he adopted a more dominant stance, lifting himself to his full height. “I hope you don’t mind if she stays, but this will be a good experience for her. Now I believe we have business to discuss, you and I.” There was no use in carrying his little charade any further now that Sorcha had arrived, as both Dragga and parent to the growing youth needed to conduct himself in a professional manner to set a good example for Sorcha to follow. The game was over, for now at least.

[Kai]

The amber male's antics were beginning to wear on the nerves of the ebon Beta. Despite his normally calm and cool demeanor, Kai found himself beginning to grow agitated, the indignant feeling one he was not used to, though he still managed to keep in check. This male was blatantly refusing to embrace his request. he had been nothing but polite, his words were spoken with respect for the inferior male, not a trace of hostility in his carriage. Why was it that this male, this messenger, did not return his etiquette? Certainly there was more to the situation than there seemed, more than this disagreeable mann was letting on to, though Kai could not quite place it.

"Your actions are unbecoming for a member of such a prestigious pack." His youthful yet rich voice was stern and reflected his disappointment in the amber male before him. Casting his tired eyes down at the older-looking male, his words were almost a threat, though not out of hostility, but as a logical reaction to the opposition's own disinterest in compliance. "I shan't ask again to see your Dragga before returning to Koran, where my Alpha will be left to wonder if your hostility is mirrored by GeRad as a whole." His words were direct and to the point, content with his final offer, he offered the male a contesting stare. His gaze was broken, however, by the approach of another Varg, smaller in stature, a presumed packmate of GeRad.

Dipping his head respectfully as was customary to do for new acquaintances, his amber eyes, now warm, smiled down at the silver pup. The cub was obviously one of the amber male's own cubs, though something the mann had said seemed out of place. "Hello, Sorcha" he said kindly, the confusion not altogether masked from his tone. Finally it made sense as the father before him went on to explain matters to his daughter, and Kai felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him, coupled with a very grievous sense of dread. Ears flattened he lowered his banner, the position of his tail shifting between submissive and dominant as though he could not make up his mind. Once more he bowed, this time to the brute, his eyes closed in shame for the vile error he had committed. "Forgive me, Sir..." he began awkwardly, his voice void of its previous stability, "Of course she can, I had no idea you were... My mistake, Draeg. It is good to finally meet you. I hope that my error..." His gaze was pleading with the Dragga now, worried eyes flitting between father and daughter, his stance humble as he prayed that he had not soiled things for the two packs with his insolence. Although the Dragga had merely been playing a joke, Kai somehow felt to blame for not seeing through his facade.

((Gah, I hope this is alright. Haven't posted in a while.))

[Sorcha]

Smiling and swishing her tail back and forth behind her as she looks rather adoringly at her father, Sorcha's eyes dance happily at the evident affection he shows her. Bumping his strong muzzle with her own after he nips her playfully she shakes her head and probably would have continued the play if there was not a stranger to be met. Hearing his nickname for her she swivels her ears toward him all the way and they stand up straighter than their normal position. "I am doing wonderfully, how are you, daddy?" She responds in her melodic tones. "You told me you were going to teach me the healing properties of... arnica, I think you said. But that is a matter for another time, I see." She continues softly, the thought of continuing her lessons in healing always interests her. This is, however, not the time to speak of such things, with an ambassador here in Ge-Rad obviously for reasons that exceed the importance of one simple lesson.

The young healer heard little of the conversation going on between the two manns, and though she is not aware of the full extent of her father's "joke", she misses little of the feelings that mesh and disperse in the area. Turning her clear gaze to meet that of the golden-eyed emissary she smiles as she is introduced. "May Ge-Rad's humble healer welcome to these proud lands, Kai, Beta of Koran." These formal words speak of her place as daughter of the pack's Dragga and what training she has had in such matters from when she was very little. Stepping aside a pace as Draeg gets to his feet and shows that he truly is Ge-Rad's Dragga, Sorcha watches intently the beta's slight agitation turn to surprise and then embarrassment. The young fae was not chosen as healer for nothing. Her keen eyes, empathy, and ability to sense what others often do not are what give her the potential to be a wonderful healer.

Though she is not fully aware of her father's charade, she can guess at it, and wishes to relieve some of the proud ebon beta's discomfort. Swiftly coming to a decision on her opinion of the best way to help, she smiles faintly at Kai, hoping to give him at least slight reassurance. That his own position and that of his pack has not truly been jeopardized. Glancing obviously up at Fenris's bright face she blows out a breath and looks over at the deeper shade of the denser trees. "Before such discussions commence, might I suggest we seek cooler shade? Our guest's ebon coat doesn't make for easy comfort on such days." As she turns to face the shade she tries to catch Draeg's eye to tell him her true purpose for her words, and the her grey eyes glint bluer than normal as she silently asks him to forgive Kai's... unknown insolence and easy mistake. Brushing up against her father she leans her head against his neck for a moment. Gently moving away again she leads the way toward the grateful coolness of the darker shade.

(It's definitely alright, Kai ^_^)

[Draeg]

Having had his fun the amber Dragga adopted a more reserved posture, allowing himself to fall back into the role of diplomat and leader that he had grown accustomed to over the years. Unyielding stare matching Kai’s agitated glare Draeg responded to the ebon beta’s stern warning, words edged with a fragment of authority. “And I shan’t make it any clearer that I serve no Dragga save myself.” As he had been the one to prod the Koran emissary into an encounter Draeg allowed made no move to reprimand Kai for his last demand, the ebon varg had asked nicely after all and had only grown agitated after being antagonized. Still the amber brute watched him with a stern stare, amber orbs unblinking in the face of his guest.

Pleased with the educate and pleasant manner in which Kai presented himself Draeg smiled as the ebon brute greeted his daughter, tail flickering rhythmically behind him as he watched the large male lower his head in a slight but elegant bow. Had they been alone the amber Dragga had no doubts to what would have escalated between himself and Sorcha, however any games would have to wait until Kai had been securely dealt with for the time being. Still that did little to stop Draeg from fawning over the budding femme, softly licking the top of her forehead and nudging her side affectionately. “As long as you are safe and happy then I’m fine.” he responded warmly. “No Sorcha, we shall conduct the lesson as scheduled once I am done attending to our guest here. I said that I would teach you today and so I will, I see no reason to alter our plans.”

What followed next could be considered best as awkward, Sorcha’s appearance having thrown him off the amber varg could hear the confusion in Kai’s voice as he tried to make sense of the situation. The realization of the situation dawning on him the Koran beta was quick to adjust his stance to a less imposing one, his once even tones wavering until it lacked its previous stability. Chuckling at Kai’s reaction the amber male grinned, signaling for the midnight varg to rise with a brief flick of his exceptionally bushy tail. “Bah, think nothing of it. Not many varg confuse me for a subordinate these days, it’s a refreshing change of pace. Really I should be apologizing to you though, I don’t normally tease my guest like that.” Falling back onto his haunches once more he seated himself, tail falling around his paws and obscuring them beneath a plume of auburn brown fur. “You hold your temper well, you would do well to continue doing so. It is a good trait to have, especially for the future Dragga of Koran.” Hopefully that would sooth things over for the time being, had his little prank jeopardized Ge-Rad’s alliance with Koran Draeg knew that he would regret it for a long time to come.

“Now if you would please follow me, I think it wise to follow my daughter‘s advice and relocated ourselves to a more comfortable setting.”

((not done yet))

[Kai]

((So sorry for the wait on this... school has been keeping me busy and unmotivated.))

His foolish mistake still left him painted with shame, even though he had had no way of knowing that the somewhat lanky amber Dragga was indeed the Alpha of the renowned Ge-Rad pack. Frantically his worried orbs searched for any sign of forgiveness from either of the two Varg; he found it first in the eyes of the young healer-in-training. Her bright, indigo eyes were filled with kindness and sympathy for his being the butt of her father's ill-humored joke. For this silent display of compassion he was forever grateful, and offered a relieved smile to her to show his thankfulness for her warm welcome and most of all, for her suggestion to carry their matters to a more comfortable location.

With quick steps he followed Sorcha into the cool embrace of the shade, an expression of relief washing instantly over his face. Once more he bowed to the Amber Dragga, for despite his somewhat tasteless joke, his words were filled with understanding and lightheartedness. "I thank you, Sir. I have no right to make such assumptions in a land that is not my own. Think nothing more of it, and we shall leave it to the past, the both of us." Following the smaller male's example Kai fell back onto his haunches and reclined into a more relaxed position, wrapping his fluffy plume around his paws.

At the Dragga's compliments, Kai found himself fumbling with potential responses. He had never been one to deal well with praise, and while it made his face grown warm with embarrassment, it was also a relief for him to hear. For too long he had been second guessing himself and his status in Koran, and to hear words of reassurance and approval coming from an individual of power and influence such as Draeg was, offered him the sort of solace that he had been searching for. "I hope it does not sound vain, that your favor and praises are of great value to me." One aspect of Draeg's speech though, was quick to catch him off-guard, and he was quick to protest in his usual bumbling, though polite, manner. "Dragga of Koran? Oh no," he offered a nervous chuckle as his eyes sought a different target, settling on Sorcha before returning to the face of her father. "Phantom is doing a fantastic job of leading Koran by herself, just as Tarkah did. Koran has no need of a Dragga, not as I see it, unless Phantom sees fit to appoint one. I am more than content with the position that I hold currently." In truth, he could not begin to fathom the responsibilities associated with being the Dragga of a pack. He hardly qualified for the title of Beta, for currently he knew so little of the newer members of Koran. More than anything, the position of Dragga would compromise his old habit of straying from the pack land, for with that title would come the duty of being tied to the lands you kept safe. Luckily, his present voyage to GeRad provided him with a valid reason to travel.

"Since I am attempting to break my habit of assumption, might I ask if the relations between GeRad and Koran are indeed sound? I have encountered no hostility in these lands on my short trip, and I have no reason to believe that such hostility exists. In truth, one of your own scouts paid a visit to Koran but days ago. It was her arrival and description of these lands that tempted me to see them for myself." He hoped that giving an official title to a somewhat self-serving trip would not offend the amber Dragga. In all actuality it was not a bad idea to go over relations with allied packs. Being as inexperienced as he was, the visit might serve to provide him with useful information that he could take back to his pack and Drappa.

[Sorcha]

The greeting of father and daughter is toned down from its usual playfulness, but Sorcha completely understands, and thinks that this is the best thing possible. Draeg's evident love for her, and hers for him, is surely a pleasing sight, and tells Koran's emissary that there is much love within Ge-Rad itself. Those that are kind to their own find it much easier to be on good terms with those outside as well. Swishing her fluffy grey tail behind her as she accepts Draeg's warm greeting. "Then, Dad, you can most certainly be happy as well, for I am quite content." If she had met up with her father without Kai there, she would also likely have called the Dragga "Daddy", but it seems that Draeg would probably prefer the slightly less puppyish title for him. Nodding happily at his response to her comment, she glances over at Kai before responding. "I will be looking forward to it, but certainly hope you will give every consideration to our guest first. If we need to - if Kai wishes to stay the night - our business can wait until another day. But if we do get to it, I am anxious to learn the healing properties of arnica."

The conversation turns to once more include Koran's emissary, and Sorcha at once realizes the joke her father had been playing on the dark-furred mann. Though there is tension in the air for a few moments, it does not take long to diffuse away, and the future healer is grateful to hear the two manns' words as they both agree not to let the incident have any bearings on their alliance or respect for each other. Though she is the daughter of the Dragga, she is also only that, and does not speak out of turn, content to simply follow the conversation and chose when she feels it is right for her to speak. Knowing how uncomfortable embarrassment can be, she is glad she was there to help Kai to avoid any further tension. She agrees with her father's comment on the other mann's cool-headedness. It is a blessing for any who have any sort of diplomatic connections with other packs or individuals.

It also interests her to hear that Kai would not wish to be Dragga. It certainly doesn't surprise her, considering her own position. If anything were to happen to Shayla, it is possible that she could someday become Drappa... yet it would certainly not be her first choice of what to do with her life. She has always wanted to be a healer. To help others and to relieve them of any kind of pain... it would be hard for her to ever be Drappa, so she is pleased that there is very little likelihood of such an occurrence, and that she can follow her own dreams and only occasionally have any sort of diplomatic contact in times like this, when she is not the main negotiator. As Kai glances at her, their eyes meet and she wonders if he can see anything of her own feelings on the matter, that she, like he, prefers other duties.

At his mention of a scout from Ge-Rad traveling to Koran, her ears prick, and she tries to remember who that might be. There is one scout that she knows of - Krystal - and though she doesn't know the fae personally, she assumes it must have been she. "If I may speak for us, I would say that we're pleased you decided to come after all. Alliances can never be too strong, and I must say, for me personally, it is good to know one more of our allies. You will always be welcome here."



((let me know if either of you would like me to change anything, and especially Draeg, if you think she overstepped her boundaries at all))

[Draeg]

Content to let the matter slide without further incident Draeg dipped his head in acknowledgment to the bulky dragga’s suggestive compromise, attention falling back unto Sorcha who clung lovingly to his side. At any other point they would have greeted each other differently, however it would have been rude to ignore Kai to frolic with Sorcha for any amount of time after the Koran varg had travel so far to meet with him. Regardless of that his affection for her was still painfully evident, no force on earth could keep the amber Dragga from showing his daughter just how much he cared about her. He didn’t care whether Kai saw it or not, to him loving one’s family openly was neither a weakness nor something to be ashamed of. “I will make sure Kai is well taken care of while I occupy my time with you, remember that I keep Shako around for more than just patroling the borders.” Giving her one final lick he followed his daughter‘s lead, brushing her side affectionately as he pulled up beside her. The time had come to seek shelter someplace away from the stifling heat and blinding rays of the sun god Fenris where the trio could cool down and continue their discussion amongst more comfortable surroundings Sorcha had chosen for them.

Settling himself comfortably beneath the forest canopy he allowed himself to flop to the ground with an audible thud, dry grass crunching beneath his full weight and sending up a flurry of dust particles throughout the air. Body cooling beneath the sheltered shade the canopy provided for them Draeg allowed himself a chance to recover from the stifling heat, rolling onto his side and pricking an inquisitive aud to the Koran Beta’s question. “Ah politics, the joy of my existance.“ he responded dryly. Maw parting with the intention of answering the amber Dragga found that Sorcha beat him to the punch, cutting him off and speaking out in defference to the elder varg’s quary. Tongue clicking against the roof of his mouth Draeg motioned for her to be silent, casting her a pssing glance before turning his attention back toward Kai. “As my Drappa was kind enough to point out the alliance between Ge-Rad and Koran remains intact. You have no need to worry about there being any animosity between our packs save what Tarkah might have to say about me.”

Shooting another fugitive glance towards Sorcha he added. “As for you young lady, remember what we just discussed about assumptions. I expect you to let me speak for this pack from now on, unless of course you would like to take over as Drappa?” He made sure to address Sorcha in such a manner that he could have been correcting a mistake during one of their lessons, his voice firm as he reminded her of the strictures of the pack hierarchy. Seeing as it was her first mistake the amber varg was content to let it pass without consequence, Sorcha had never dealt in politics before so it was to be expected that something like this would occur. However Draeg still wanted her to comprehend a general understanding towards what would happen if she interrupted again as well as explain the consequences of speaking out of term when dealing with other packs outside of Ge-Rad, however the latter part would have to wait for another time. “You said one of our scouts stopped by Koran not too long ago?” he turned to question Kai, lifting his head from between his paws to regard the Koran Beta curiously. “Was it a black fae with green markings on her shoulders in the shape of Tor’s mouth closing?”

((sorry for the delay, writer's block sucks!))

[Kai]

Throughout the now-formal conversation, the young healer, Sorcha, continued to display an air of compassion and trust. Though she was young, Kai felt as though he could confide in her and express his darkest troubles with ease, with no worry of being judged or misheard. Now was not the time for such things, however, and he severely doubted that the time for such a conversation would ever come at all. How could he even think of placing such a burden on one so young and pure? The life of a healer must be troublesome indeed, though being healers he imagined that they, too, found ways to deal with their own stresses in the midst of the complaints of others. The understanding in her indigo orbs was received graciously, and he was ever-thankful for her kindness. It was certain that she would one day, with her father's training, make an exceptional healer. He offered her another toothy smile, and for a moment the two seemed to share a brief connection, a spark of something recognizable in her eyes told him that they were not so different. "Thank you kindly, Miss Sorcha, for your consideration. You have certainly made me feel welcome here, and I am ever-grateful for the generous reception." Dipping his head he gave a deep bow to the pup before returning his attention to her father.

The Dragga had plopped himself down to comfortably rest on the ground. Kai was surprised by the male's casual manner, though he quickly shrugged it off and decided to remain seated. Though he suspected as much already from the words of the golden male's daughter, he was no less relieved to hear that the alliance between GeRad and Koran remained intact and strong. Just as he was about to offer his gratitude, Draeg suddenly turned his attention to his daughter and scolded her for having spoken out of place. Kai's ears flattened and his heart sunk as he watched the pup being reprimanded; she had offered nothing but kindness and in the most respectful way. Being just a pup, she had no place in pack politics; Kai understood the importance of dominance in the pack, though it seemed that Koran was a bit more lax in that department than GeRad was. For that reason, the outburst took him by surprise, and he felt obligated to offer Sorcha a sad glance, as though he was apologizing for the natural order of things. He said nothing until Draeg had finished, and he felt terribly awkward for having been caught in another of the father-daughter moments in which he had no place.

"I assure you, Sir, that anything Tarkah has to say about you is only in the most noble of contexts," he finally said when some of the tension had cleared. "And yes," he said in reply to the amber Dragga's question, looking somewhat surprised at his accurate description of the unnamed scout. "I had ventured to GeRad once before, intent on meeting you and discussing the same matters that have just been laid to rest. Instead I met your scout, Krystal, at the border." He was somehow unsure if he should go on; after a short pause and a questioning stare towards Draeg, he continued. "She had been prepared to lead me to you, though the both of us became distracted before she got the chance. The bitter scent of man revealed that humans were lurking in the unclaimed patch of land between our territories." Sensing that this would cause the Dragga discomfort, and possibly even infuriate him, he did not wait long before explaining. "But you may rest easy; the two of us investigated the matter quite carefully, and found that their pack had no intent on lingering to cause harm to GeRad, or any of your neighbors.". He remembered that night well, for it had been a terrifying experience for both he and the GeRadian scout. Though it had had evoked feelings of hostility from the two at first, in the long run it served to bring them closer together than the planned trip to GeRad would have been able to. "After the incident she returned with me to Koran, where she was, and still is, most welcome. We figured that a good night's rest was in order after reliving such vividly painful memories, and so she postponed her return to GeRad, and I postponed my trip." He sincerely hoped that the Dragga would not become cross with him, for he and Krystal had only acted on what they thought was best for the both of them at the time. After a contemplative pause, an almost captivated smile grew on his features as he directed his gaze to the ground and added, "If I may say so, Krystal was very brave. Her dedication to your pack was clear when I met her at the border. You are truly lucky to have her as a member of your family."

[Sorcha]

Smiling at her father's attention, Sorcha nods, glancing at their guest. She had momentarily forgotten about Shako. But she has never been present at a diplomatic meeting, and it is not in her mind to think of all the little details that come with such a meeting. She does have the in-born graciousness of a hostess though, and will likely check in on Kai during his stay to make sure all his needs and wants are being met. It is certainly not that she thinks they will not be, but just that she enjoys the company of new friends and allies and that she wishes that all will know the heart of Ge-Rad and will lack nothing while in its borders. Draeg's lick and affectionate brush up against her make her smile again as she follows him toward the welcoming shade of the heavily-leafed trees. Returning Kai's smile she nods, pleased that her purpose was taken in the way she meant it. If it was up to her, Kai would always be welcome in Ge-Rad. Please, just call me Sorcha. I am very pleased that you do indeed feel welcome here. It was fortunate for me that I was close. I feel fortunate as well to have met you."Sitting down comfortably a short way from her father she speaks up. It is a moment later that she falls silent after having said her piece. It was at the end that she noticed her father's tongue-clicking and disciplinary glance. As a newcomer to pack politics she understands this faint reprimand, but is rather surprised at his following words.

If she had known better that would have been something, but she meant it all in good faith and simple graciousness to put their guest's mind at ease. The sharp sting of her father and Dragga's words seem as a sudden stab in her heart and she cannot help but lower her head and her ears at the rather harsh reprimand. She lifts her eyes at his question and shakes her head, knowing it would only serve to make her look like a sulky child if she didn't answer him. Of course she wouldn't presume to put herself in the place of Drappa. It was only that she didn't think her reply would hurt anything. Taking a deep but silent breath to calm her momentarily aching heart, she glances up at Kai, intending to simply see what she might from the expression on his face. She didn't intend to meet his eyes, but when she looks up, they are on hers, and she sees compassion in them. It is as if the ebon mann is apologizing to her for her father's harsh words, and though she would rather he not have seen that, she feels a spark of friendship and understanding with him, and knows then that she would like to know him better. For now, she still feels shamed, but is certainly grateful for his kindness.

After that look the attention turns to other things, and Sorcha simply watches and listens, feeling out of favor at the moment, though that moment surely will pass. She truly loves her father and nothing will change that, and it is not as though she has never been scolded before... she was just surprised. It seems to her that it would be more like her father to gently tell her that, for future reference, it is not her place and she must leave such words to him. Trying to shake away her feelings and telling herself that she surely is being silly, Sorcha listens with interest to Kai's story of his meeting with Krystal Zanguzen, scout of Ge-Rad. As strange as it is, Sorcha has never met the fae, and wonders what she is like; if they ever will be friends. The news of man close to Ge-Rad and Koran surprises her, and she is once again grateful to the handsome beta for his reassurance that it was only temporarily and that the dangerous beings will not venture again into the vargs' territory with intent of destruction.

[Draeg]

Having found himself a comfortable position Draeg allow himself to contemplate everything the ebon mann had told him, muzzling pulling back in a light smile as he noticed Kai’s surprised expression. “I prefer to be comfortable while I rest.” he said simply as though explaining his actions, shoulders rolling in a slight shrug. “My pelt is as thick as yours is black, I trust you can imagine how stifling that can be in this ungodly heat.” Seeing Sorcha’s hurt expression his gaze soften, sliver of guilt working its way through his stomach like a virus. She had only been trying to help, there was no harm in that. It hadn’t been his intention to be short with her. Reaching out with his forepaw he pulled her closer to him, nuzzling her gently and giving her ear a reassuring lick. “It was a simple mistake.” he murmured softly, giving her another affectionate lick before nudging her along.

“If you are familiar with how I came by my current position then you would understand why I find that somewhat hard to believe.” he remarked dryly. Draeg was fully aware of Tarkah’s feelings towards him ever since he had challenged Brypaw, Ge-Rad’s former Dragga and Draeg’s predecessor, and driven him from his natal pack and ancestral home in order to provide a better home for his then growing family. It had only been after that that Draeg had learned of the former Dragga’s heritage through Shako and the other veteran’s of Brypaw’s reign. He tensed as the news of man reach his ears only to relax moments later when Kai confirmed that they moved on to settle elsewhere. Even so the amber Dragga made it a point to send a scout out to investigate the matter more thoroughly and make sure that the caravan had really gone. He had almost lost one son to Man before and had been a captive himself during the great journey across the Baltic Sea, he would take no chances so long as even a single human remained. All of Ge-Rad would be at risk until every last man, woman, and child was gone. For a moment he couldn’t help but feel angry that Krystal hadn’t taken the time to return from her trek and inform him sooner, however the moment soon passed. Despite his anger the amber dragga trusted his scouts judgment. Draeg knew that had she thought there had been any serious threat to Ge-Rad she would have abandon her trek and returned to warm him of the approaching danger, the fact that she hadn’t meant that she had apparently agreed with Kai’s assessment and felt that Ge-Rad was no real danger.

He remained silent as Kai continued with his report, amused grin forming on his muzzle as the ebon beta became enthralled in his recollection of his time with Krystal. Halfway through his sixth year of life Draeg had become more than acquainted with the captivated look Kai exhibited, having seen it enough times to know it as the first signs of infatuation. Given the attraction he himself had felt towards the comely fae in his youth Draeg found that he could hardly blame him for his admiration. “I’m sure she is.” Normally the amber varg would have discouraged the development of any interpack relationships however he found that an idea had begun to formulate in his mind, head settling down comfortably between his paws he regarded Kai with amused grin. “We are indeed very lucky to have her though I suspect there is more to what you say. Tell me more of your exploits with my dear scout, I would like to know more of how her time was spent amongst Ge-Rad’s allies Koran. Was she able to meet with the current Drappa, Phantom?”