As I moved through Diveen, my nostrils flared to take in every scent, every small change that had taken place in the season that I had been away. They were subtle things, a certain wolf's trail less prominent in areas where it once had been, a different species of flower blooming amongst the underbrush and bushes - but I noticed them all. After a time I ceased my walking, ears flicking about atop my skull as I listened to the world around me. It was so good to be home. Kane's howl called out to me, and I knew him to be close, so rather than continuing forward I remained where I was. His immense black form came into view shortly, and his barking greeting was returned with one of my own, my tail low out of respect to his station, but waving back and forth to show my pleasure at seeing him once more. Though I did not know Kane as well as I did Isola, I respected him just as much as I did my Queen. They were a formidable team who always stood by one another no matter what. For so long I had laid my allegiances with them, and that would never change. Only a few strides behind him was Isola, and the rapidity with which my tail showed my pleasure at being home and in their company only increased. I dipped my head to each of them in turn as Isola came to stand beside Kane, an amicable smile taking over my features as each of them spoke to me.

"Thank you, my Queen, my King; it is good to be home. My travels went very well, and though I enjoyed them, it is a grand thing to return to the City of Angels once more. I hope that all have fared well through the winter months?" I was a wolf that, perhaps, spoke more formally than most; but I wished to always show my gratitude and respect towards my lady and lord, and this was one way of doing so. There was much to tell them of my trip, for much had transpired in the season that I had been away, but I could not deny my desire to ensure that all was well on the home front. News of the forest, mountain, and swamps could wait at least a moment longer; I knew that Isola and Kane and the pack would have taken perfectly good care of themselves in my absence, but to hear as much from their lips would give me a great peace of mind.

While I had learned many things from each wolf of the three packs I had visited, I knew that Isola and Kane would not require every minute detail. Already in my mind I had prepared myself for the news I would bare to them, and the resulting advice I had formed from such news. With a more serious smile, I nodded my head and began to recount the important details of my travels to them. "I made my way north when I left Diveen at the beginning of winter to spend some time in the company of Moth. Taviora does well; their numbers are steadily climbing, and with the addition of seven new pups this spring they are sure to be quite content. The new mothers are Zeltzin, daughter of Moth and Coszcotl, and Astrid, their lead hunter. Solaris and Shiloh both fare well, and each seem to have constant companions - Solaris is seldom seen without a girl named Siren, and Shiloh and Amoxtli are very happy together. Also, Moth and Coza's other son, Dexter, apparently used to spend a fair bit of time with Calliel." I paused then, for though I had learned many happy things while in Taviora, there was also the detail of my mother's health. Moth had been a longtime friend to not only Diveen but Trenus. It was important for Isola and Kane to know this. "Moth's health is not what it once was. I do not know that she will see another winter." A slight grimace threatened to take hold of the corners of my lips, my firm eyes moved back and forth between Kane and Isola before I moved on.

Thoughts of a pleasant afternoon spent lazing in the snow along the edge of a creek brought happier tones back to my voice. "A week later I traveled to Spirane and met with one of their newest members, a lovely female named Sorcha. She has risen quickly to become the pack's Bard, a rank that I believe to be unique to the mountain pack. Her duty is to educate the children of the pack by way of telling stories with meaning to them. She told me that their pack has also grown recently in numbers, to a very healthy size, and that multiple mothers will bring new life to the peaks this spring. All seems well within Spirane." Sorcha had spoken to the fact that Daenerys had seen no challengers threaten her position, and that the overall atmosphere within the pack was a glad one. Without spending more than one afternoon within the pack lands I could not attest to this myself, but I trusted in her opinion on the matter. She had been a most pleasant and honest wolf with which to keep company.

Next, and finally, was Iromar. For a wolf who had been involved in the war between Ishtar and Isola's packs, it had been a strange thing to move towards the swamplands borders without an preconceived notions about those within. The population had once been rife with misanthropes and monsters, but times had changed. And it was apparent from my conversation with Raven that the new reign of leadership had much to do with that. "When I came to Iromar's borders I was fortunate enough to meet with a young, though well placed, wolf named Raven. She serves as Consul to the Empress Aithne - a position much like that which I strive to become for the pair of you." I said this with a genial nod of my head, then continued. "Raven made it very clear to me that times have changed within the foggy lands that lay to the southwest. Their former Queen, Lillith was murdered - a crime which remains unsolved - and since then Andras's mentality has deteriorated. One of the last sound decisions he made was to step down and allow Aithne to replace him as Iromar's alpha. It would seem that he has become dangerous." My tone became serious here, for Andras did not seem to be a threat to anyone in particular - but rather to anyone and everyone. "His actions have become unpredictable, and all wolves - loner or pack - need be careful of him. However, Aithne has made a creed clear to her pack - any pack member found to be guilty of having acted violently against a member of Diveen may be punishable by death." Though it was a severe punishment, I suspected that it would not be made lightly. It certainly showed Aithne's determination to mend bridges between our packs. "Both Raven and Aithne are aware of the trouble between our two packs, and they each seem determined to change that. Their numbers are slowly increasing, but increasing nevertheless. They will see no new pups this year, but they do have two yearlings." I finished on a lighter note, taking a breath and allowing a moment for Isola and Kane to absorb all that I had told them. I had perhaps become slightly long winded in my telling of my time spent upon Iromar's borders, but I felt that that which I had learned there was perhaps more important than anything else.

After a moment, I took a deep breath, ears pricked forward and tail slowly drafting back and forth behind me. Now was the time to prove to them that I could both do the travel to speak with the other packs as well as form sound advice from that which I had learned. "In regards to Taviora, I think it would be an action most appreciated for one of you, or perhaps Heyel if he is able, to make the trip and visit with Moth one last time. She has been a longtime friend of the pack, and a former member no less. I think it would bring joy to her heart to see someone of her former family one last time." Inwardly I also hoped that Elowen and I could make the trip sometime in summer so that my mother and mate could finally meet. "Sorcha of Spirane has shown interest in coming to visit Diveen and perhaps telling a tale to our youth. Raven also informed me of her desire for the youth of our packs to meet. I think that an opportunity has presented itself in the form of Sorcha and Raven. To change the opinions of not only those of Diveen about Iromar, but those or Iromar about us, begins with our children. With your leave, I would invite Raven and the two Iromar yearlings, Sorcha and two or three youngsters from Spirane, and two or three young from our own pack to gather for a storytelling here in Diveen. It would provide an opportunity for those of our pack to mingle with those of Iromar, with a mutual ally - Spirane - as an acting buffer. Also, by limiting the number of attendees to at most three pups from each pack, none will be overwhelmed. If the future of our packs can learn that the feuds of old no longer exist, then the hope for a better relationship is sure to blossom from it." I paused for a moment, when a final though occurred to me in regards to pups trips to other packs. "Those pups of ours that do not attend the exchange with Iromar and Spirane could perhaps make a trip to Taviora to meet with their newest children." With an air of finality, I looked between my alphas, gauging each of their reactions to all that I had told them, and the ideas I had shared for the future of our pack. Now I could only wait and hope that they were as confident in my plan as I felt.