There is a sheer pleasure in being in the company of the children with all their attention hinging on each word that escapes her lips. They are quiet for her and respectful, clearly all of them raised well by their parents, and she weaves the tale intricately before pausing to ask her question. One of the princes chirps up immediately, obviously wanting to know what would happen and she nods serenely at him with a secret smile. "It is a possibility, Viseron," she answers mystically before noticing that a smaller girl has made her way forward to speak. Her words are astounding in their clarity and she can tell instantly that this girl is more emphatic than many and able to see past the obvious to more obscure reasons. "Ah, sometimes harm comes despite what we wish.""

Once the children have settled down once more she begins again, picking up where she left off. "Osprey travels to the east, stopping frequently to catch him a meal and to rest his body for it had grown weak with his travel north to see the witch. He knew that if it came down to a fight with the cougar that weakened as he was Osprey would lose. He was a hunter, after all, and he knew best in this. It took him twice as long to reach the territory of the cougar as to reach the home of the witch and with each step he fought with himself. How could he do this? The alpha wanted the cougar killed but a cougar who consumes souls was not a simple thing to kill. So for two days he sat at the very edge of where the cougar prowled and he heard the screams of the dying, of those who snuck into the cougars area and were caught. And finally he went. His mind was still clouded - he had no plan, at first, except that he would use the bone necklace the witch had given him to make him invisible."

"So he travelled and it did not take long for the cougar to scent him. Yet it could not see him and it was confused and enraged, prowling around the front of it's den with a frothing mouth and it's dark coat twinkling like the galaxy. 'WHO DARES HIDE FROM ME!' It roared, angry, and Osprey answered, his disembodied voice ringing out around him. 'Why do you kill and consume the souls of all who enter here?' The cougar blinked a few times for it had never been asked this question before. 'Because the last ones who came here without my knowledge killed my children as they played and their souls are lost to me forever.' The cougar was so furious and yet sad. Osprey could see this sadness in her bright eyes, hidden by her grief and rage. 'I am sorry that your children are dead. Perhaps in time you can have more.' He said, saddened by this knowledge. 'Why would I want more if they too may die?'

"Because, Osprey says, 'if you want a safe land I will offer you the protection of my pack. They will not let any who mean you harm past your borders and your children can grow up safe and unharmed. All I need from you is your winter fur.' The cougar searched high and low for Osprey but was unable to find him and for a time she sat in silence to digest his words. 'Show yourself to me first and then I will decide.' Osprey gathered his courage and wished the necklace to be simply a necklace once more and then he appeared before the cougar. She did not attack him, despite his reservations, just watched him. 'If you will give me your word that your pack will watch my borders then I will not kill another that comes across my territory except to eat. If you fail and anymore of my offspring die because you lie then I will hunt down every wolf in your pack until they are gone.' Osprey quaked beneath her words yet he understood that she spoke out of sorrow. 'You have my word.' It was then that she led him into her den, which was deep in a cave, and to a spot where all her winter fur had fallen off. Osprey made him a small pouch out of a strip of hide that the cougar had left around from one of her meals and managed to bundled it up in such a way as to carry it in his mouth.

"His second task done, he bid the cougar farewell and began at a brisk pace down south. Osprey flew across the land for he was so close to being done! So close to being reunited with Thistle and becoming her mate. It took him half the time to reach the river as it did to reach the white wolf and there was no one there to guard it. The water was pure - so clear that it seemed a piece of the blue sky had fallen in to take up residence. It would be difficult to carry it back and he spent a day puzzling over how to do it until he managed to catch him a meal and carefully made a sack using the innards of his prey. It was hard work and he grew frustrated in a way he had not been with his last two tasks.

"Finally he managed to get it ready and cleaned out and he went back for the water, scooping it easily into the pouch. It was hard to carry both the pouch of water and the skin filled with fur and his mouth ached and the items grew wet with saliva as he raced back to his home. Days passed and the moment he reached the border of his homelands his heart raced with excitement until he almost tripped over himself. Thistle's father came the moment he saw the returning male, gone many long weeks, and he looked stunned at the items that Osprey carried as he placed them at the alpha's feet. Thistle appeared at her fathers side with a glorious look of happiness on her face, clearly eager for her father to accept this payment.

'You have come back,' said that alpha, disbelieving. 'Yes, and I have brought all the items you wished. Here is the necklace of the witch to the north,' he said while sliding it off his neck. 'It will make you invisible, if you wish it. She gave it willingly, for all can be won with reason if reasoned right. Here is the bag of fur from the cougar, given willingly and without death, for killing one wounded is no worthy cause when saving one in need can be done. And here is a bag of the healing water in which patience was taken and hard work applauded. A King must always use reason and always be compassionate if such things can be done and death must be a last resort. But above all a King must persevere to get what they desire above all else, and I wish for your daughter as my mate.'

The Alpha looked upon Osprey now not with disregard but with admiration. 'If Thistle wishes to be your mate then you will be the new Alpha of this pack and King in all regards.' Thistle jumped forward then and placed her head beneath Osprey's with shining eyes. 'I will take you as my King and my mate and you will rule with honesty and love.' His heart filled with happiness Opsrey became the King, but, you see children, such things are not given easily. They must be earned - both love and rank - and with integrity."

Sorcha stops now, at the end of her tale and looks at them to see what their reactions will be.