<span style="font-family:Josefin Sans">Everyone in the tribe was at least somewhat familiar with what was happening, with what was changing around them. They knew that they were inviting one from the empire to attempt to win the heart of their chief’s daughter, and they knew that if everything went well, there would finally be peace among both their own people, and on the continent as a whole. It was something everyone was glad for because even though they’d been surviving the war quite well, they all knew also that the fire of their dragons burned more homes of their own people than it did of the enemies. That was where the battles happened - on their own land. <br/>
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Because it meant lives saved and because it meant less of their lands would burn, it was a prospect everyone looked forward to. However, no one looked forward to it more than the son of the chief - Aaron Thalon. Oddly, though, the boy who had not quite earned the title of a man wasn’t excited about it because he knew peace was a good thing; rather, Aaron was excited about it because he wanted to meet one of them. He wanted to meet one of the men who dared to challenge his people in battle because his father had never allowed Aaron to actually enter the battle himself. His own excitement was part of the reason why Aaron was the first to notice that Ariah - his sister - was nowhere to be found when it came to be time to prepare to greet their guest. <br/>
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<span class="fixed-color" style="color:navy"><b>“Father!”</b></span> Aaron called out as he walked into the circle of chiefs, rather rudely interrupting a meeting with chiefs from different tribes. <br/>
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Allin’s eyes shifted up to see his son walking in and the first thing he did was apologize to the others. It was clear to everyone, the chief included, that Aaron had a long way to go before he would be ready to lead a tribe. Then he stood up and went to pull Aaron aside for a moment, stepping out of the circle so that the others could continue their meeting in the meantime. There was a lot of business to get done, after all, and not all of it required Allin’s presence to actually accomplish it. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:dodgerblue"><b>“Aaron, I know you’re eager, but running into the meetings will only ever slow things down.”</b></span> <br/>
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Quite promptly, Aaron was shaking his head because his father had been assuming the wrong thing. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:navy"><b>“It’s not about leading, Father. Not this time, it isn’t. The empire’s warrior is supposed to be here soon, though, and I cannot find Ariah. I don’t know where she went, but she’s not here to get ready to meet him.”</b></span> <br/>
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The chief’s eyes narrowed slightly and then widened in a concern that almost matched his son’s own. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:dodgerblue"><b>“Well, that’s different, then. You still shouldn’t be marching into the council meetings, though, my son. There are ways to reach me… ways without that.”</b></span> Glancing back at the council, Allin had a quick decision to make. They could send someone else for the initial greeting of their guest if Ariah could not be found. That would require cancelling the council meeting, though, and bringing them back at a time that Allin wasn’t certain of just yet and that meant it likely wasn’t wise. The alternative, though, was to leave their guest waiting while they finished the meeting and then Allin could go and greet him himself. Even then, though, there was no certainty that he could keep the timeframe they’d planned because he had to see everyone out. <br/>
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The whole problem came from the fact that there were too many responsibilities for a chief to see to. Sighing and rolling his eyes, Allin knew that Ariah was just making his life more difficult because she wasn’t happy with the situation she was being thrown into. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:dodgerblue"><b>“Wait here, Aaron. You’re going to help me guide everyone out of the meeting and then we’re going to go greet our guest since apparently your sister won’t.”</b></span> All of it was trouble, but Chief Allin was already thinking through how he would deal with his daughter when she did turn up again. To himself, he mumbled, <span class="fixed-color" style="color:dodgerblue"><b>“Heia, bless me with grandsons instead of granddaughters. Please…”</b></span> <br/>
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Meanwhile, Ariah herself was completely unaware of all the troubles her father and brother were going through. She truly wasn’t trying to cause either of them any real trouble and she was on her way to meet their guest and her betrothed. She’d just snuck out early so that she didn’t have to get all prettied and pampered beforehand; as far as she was concerned, it would be better for him to meet her as she always was and Ariah didn’t think there was anything wrong with that at all. It was how she would be most of the time anyway. <br/>
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Moving nimbly through the tunnels and caverns that led to her village which currently dwelled underground, Ariah was making her way to the surface. Two blades were on her back, crossed in an ‘x’ and within relatively easy reach of any movement she would make and as she broached the surface, there was a little dragon waiting for her as though he’d known she would be coming. Ariah couldn’t stop a smile when she saw the adorable little thing and she laid her palm flat against the dirt so that it could climb up onto her shoulder. And that’s exactly what the little beast did.<br/>
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Softly reaching for its mind, Ariah asked, <span class="fixed-color" style="color:rebeccapurple"><b><i>‘Smell anything interesting around here? I’m supposed to be meeting a guest.’</i></b></span> <br/>
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Her answer came, not in words or pictures, but in a completely different mindtrip entirely. Suddenly it was as though Ariah was flying over the trees even though she knew it wasn’t real; the dragon was just showing her what it knew would accurately answer her question and Ariah was used to seeing things through a dragon’s eyes. Actually, she was more than used to it; she loved it. Even before the vision ended, Ariah’s feet started carrying her in the right direction to meet with the person who would be waiting for her and likely a bit lost as well. Directions to their village weren’t exactly the clearest because no one knew it was underground. They’d been at war for the longest time, after all. <br/>
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Under civilized circumstances - at least, civilized as far as Tychus knew - Ariah’s clothes were really not at all suited for moving through the forest <i>or</i> for meeting an honored guest of her home. Yes, she was wearing a skirt that hung just above her knees, but she didn’t move as though she was trying to hide anything and her shirt was short enough that some skin on her abdomen showed. Surely that was painful if she had to maneuver through thick brush, but Ariah was used to it. Ariah had lived this life. <br/>
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She was more than a little disappointed when the little dragon flew off her shoulder and disappeared into the canopy. It happened mere moments before he would see her, seconds before she would see him. Suddenly, Ariah forgot almost all of her words, almost all of what she was supposed to say, and nearly the whole reason why he was there in the first place. Luckily, she retained enough, but just barely enough. <br/>
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<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rebeccapurple"><b>“You’re Tychus, right? I’m Ariah, daughter of Chief Allin, Aide to the Healer of Havannah and Ambassador to the Dragons of Wesevin.”</b></span> Ariah tried to curtsey as the empire ambassadors had taught her, but it really didn’t look anything like it was supposed to and it ended far too soon.</span>