i am the blood of the mountain

It had been only a short time after Isola's pack had left the sanctity of Spirane to return to their true home in Diveen under Achilles' new leadership that one of his own had returned to extend an olive branch to continue the bond between our packs. Despite the distraction of Covet's petty challenge, and the threats that accompanied it because of my relationship with Isola's pack, I had assured this emissary - Maddox - that mountain and plateau had been allies long before Covet's temper tantrum, and his fits of jealousy would do nothing to change that. The events that came to pass assured that both Achilles and myself remained as alphas of our familial homelands, and the first year of his reign had come to pass. I remembered well the time it took the adjust to leadership, even when you'd been groomed your whole life for it. And so I had waited patiently for the day that Achilles would return to the mountain so that we could officially renew the alliance between our packs. We were both the third generation alphas of our families, both having had to fight to reclaim our homes from violent usurpers who stained the soil we were born upon. Achilles and I had much in common, and I looked forward to meeting with him when the time came.

As it were, I was laying in the mountainside clearing that housed my den, watching my three youngest daughters tussle and roll about, when the howl lifted on the midmorning breeze. Darkened ears tilted backwards towards the sound as the girls froze in spot and Nymeria promptly lifted her head and began a yipping howl in reply. Of course she was far too young for the sound to carry to Achilles, and so I lifted my own dais, tilting my muzzle towards the sky and letting a resounding howl echo forth. I grinned at my pups as they resumed their play, before glancing towards Jericho as he nodded that he would stay with them, since their elder siblings weren't around to babysit. The King of Angels and the Bloodrider of the Mountain would have to meet another day. Lifting to my paws I set off at a lope, disappearing from the clearing before one of the girls could even think to try to tag along. Such things would have to wait until they were older.

When I reached the lowland foothills it did not take me long to find Achilles as he lingered upon the borders. That golden pelt of his stood out against the backdrop of the summer foliage with ease. And standing with him was Sera, a wolf who was of Isola's family but who had chosen to remain in Spirane when the rest of her family had departed to return to Diveen. Seeing her reminded me of my disappointment in the Armament, that none had yet stepped forward to spar with her so that she could prove herself as worthy of joining their ranks. After things were sorted with Achilles I would have to remedy that situation myself if none of the pack's warriors would do so. I jogged over to the duo, nodding a greeting to both of them as my tail waved out behind me, curling only slightly upwards. In present company I did not feel the need to overstate my dominance; it was well known by both of them that I was the alpha of these lands and that I stood to protect them and those who lived within. This was not that sort of meeting at all.

Moving to Sera's side, I brushed my shoulder against her's in greeting. Though we had not spent any one on one time together, she was pack and I treated her that same as I would treat those that I knew well. Offering her a small smile, I turned my attention then to our guest. "Achilles, please, do not feel as though you must tread the borders. We have much to discuss, I am sure, and I think it would be far more comfortable to relax in the shade." Such pleasantries were mandatory, and I spoke them with ease and comfort, though strength radiated through my tones. I waited a moment for his reply before shifting to turn and walk with him and Sera further into the pack lands, angling towards a collection of trees that would shelter us from prying eyes and ears, though I did not feel there was anything that needed hiding from those of my pack. I would allow Achilles, and Sera if she wanted to remain and listen to the tedious nature of alliance brokering, to make themselves comfortable as they liked. Mahogany eyes rested upon Achilles, curious how this exchange might proceed.

daenerys