Marrok certainly didn’t like the pressure but on the other hand, he also had the foreknowledge to know that all of them meant well. Marrok turned to hear the noise that was coming towards him as poor Ylva was brought before him by Portia, obviously with a state of nervousness, having been thrust in the lime light of the forest elders, politics, and now the womanly chatter about mate-less leaders such as himself. When Marrok’s eyes met Ylvans, the beautiful scent of lilacs and moon flowers again swelled in his senses, far more powerful as she was able to enjoy a bath after what she had been through previously. Ylva’s pale skin and red lips were a beautiful accompaniment to the dress they had provided and he very much stood impressed. He could not shake her scent off and his eyes affixed to hers for a minute, unable to focus with those speaking around him before he finally came to his senses. It was then that he felt a tug and the sage Basia gently whispered into his ear ---<br/><br/><br/><i>“Be mindful of your actions Marrok. Your path is intertwined with hers but it could be a dangerous journey if you commit to it,” </i><br/><br/><br/>Basia was a very old and wise sage. When Basia spoke the room would go silent and she would hold the intrigue of everyone within it with her fortunes and blessings from the spirits. When the words were addressed to his attention, it almost made his hair stand up as the old woman snuck one more comment<br/><br/><br/>--- “<i>For Lilacs and Moonflowers is the scent of a destined one</i>…”<br/><br/><br/>“Marrok!” He heard a voice, “Don’t just stare the poor girl down ---<i>say something</i>!”<br/><br/><br/>“Oh --- I...,” he began to comment and blushed a little bit due to his stumbling manner and before he was able to say something, he felt a tug upon his left leg where his daughter had perched behind him.<br/><br/><br/>“Avonevah…” he said as he bent down, and gently stroked the little girl’s hair as she looked upon Ylva, pointing towards her and blinking.<br/><br/><br/>“Yes I did meet the pretty lady,” he said with a smile, “And it looks like you did too. You want to what…?<i>Really</i>. Well… this is rather something. I guess…I don’t have a problem with that… just don’t get too rambunctious.<i>Remember your manners</i>,” it was clear that Marrok was somewhat lost speaking to his daughter cub, to the rest, he was doing the best job possible<i>as a male</i>but it clearly took another knowledgeable mid-wife or at least an adult mentor of the same sex to raise an up and coming female wolf who may one day have to help raise her own family --- and possibly even an important member of a functioning wolf-pack.<br/><br/><br/>“Well don’t let this get too estranged as I’m sure your plate is full Ylva but…,” he said with a bewildered yet slight grin on his face, “It appears my daughter would like to tag along with you for some strange reason --- who am I to say otherwise…she doesn’t speak or shall I say, hasn’t spoken since her…mother passed but her mannerisms can be well read. She --- wants to…<i>as he began to keep in sync with his thoughts</i>… tag along? Be a dinner companion? That’s what it amounts too. Cant’ say I can explain it any other way. Very…interesting,” before he could finish, the little girl smiled and headed towards Ylvan and gently tugged on her lavish evening dress.<br/><br/><br/>* * *<br/><br/><br/>When most of the pack elders had arrived there was a sound of a bell as the community was called to a clan meeting with murmurings and discussions in the background, mostly pointing to the obvious hot topic in the room which was Marrok and the estranged young beauty that was found in the Fjorn Wilds. It was time for Marrok to give his evening’s speech to the five houses and as he adjusted his white evening shirt, black trousers and high boots. Marrok waited for the murmuring and chatter to die down as Pharrus sounded the call to order with his own version of a gathering howl.<br/><br/><br/>“Alright everyone --- if you would please afford me your dutiful attention,” he began, “In the forests earlier today, we had fought off a band of Astraland Assassins. They were chasing a young woman --- Ylva of the Evergreen into our territory. I had decided to intervene on her behalf and had her brought to the valley for your own approval or disapproval. Some of you have already met her while others have been extremely kind to her and for that, I cannot begin to express how proud I am that we can keep our safety in mind but not lose our sense of duty to provide for our fellow brethren once their motives can be determined. It would also seem that we even have some of her previous clan’s mates living amongst us already from the Evergreen of which we all know that its pack had been destroyed. This is Ylva of the Evergreen, daughter of her wolf-pack’s leaders. If you would please stand Ylva and be recognized by this council….” As he motioned with his hand for Ylva to rise and enter the circle. There was a elder wolf on hand to take Avenovah from her so she would be free with the young girl clearly distraught from the idea she may be told to leave as was the case with any attempted entry into the valley.<br/><br/><br/>“Oh my Avenovah…,” Galdreial said, “<i>Easy now child</i>… I’m sure there won’t be anything to worry about… shhhhh….,” the tender woman cooed as Avenovah silently gripped her and turned her head away with a slight dampness in her eyes.<br/><br/><br/>“You mustn’t be so weak,” said another as he gently placed a finger to lift the little girl’s chin, “This is your way of life --- our way of life. It is a privilege to see it in action and it makes us more proud when we earn the right of entry.” It was the Elder Brannon, but most of the children know him as Teacher Greynar, in charge of instructing the young wolves of all the houses about wolven culture and their proud traditions.<br/><br/><br/>Avenovah didn’t want hear any of it but the child found some youthful resolve and remained silent as she listened to her father speak on Ylva’s behalf.<br/><br/>“As you know if you kill an Astraland assassin’s band --- there are bound to be more but I made a decision to intervene with the utmost care within the consideration of our people,” Marrok continued, “There was one that was especially knowing of Ylvan who I was able to shoot with an arrow --- his name was Kathar and he vowed to return before he slinked away. I do not know the full back story and only what she has told me already but I believed that she would be eager and ready to tell her own tale to you all and from that --- we can all probably come to a decision as to whether Ylva of the Evergreen will be amongst our numbers or cast back into the wilds. I will say this --- she has my vote of confidence from speaking with her and I cannot find any ill will from her plight as I can see only good things coming from her to contribute to our clans. Ylva…” he trailed, as he stepped from the inner circle and allowed her to take the audience and speak amongst them. There was a sea of murmuring with a mixed consensus of excitement and caution but nothing that would suggest something jeopardizing would occur mostly from the chatter as to how well Avonevah was reacting to her and of course, her interactions with Marrok.<br/><br/><br/>Gavin Dorchester with his wife Cossette De Monet of the White Tooth’s was the first to make his inquiry.<br/><br/><br/>“I am sure you had a rough day so far Ylva of the Evergreen,” the deep and studious voice from the pack leader of the High Wolves was more sympathizing than anything else, “As you know our ways --- I for one would like to hear how you got here, what is your main profession, and above all --- why a pack as dangerous as the Astralands are after you….and who is this Kathar?”<br/><br/><br/>Jaeger Altenberg, with his wife Temara Halprin, were sitting directly across from the Dorchesters and Jeager already crossed his arms in an annoyed defiance to the high wolf leader.<br/><br/><br/>“Really Gavin?” Jaeger said as he lifted up a mug of mead and gulped it down with his large hands, the northern wolf had very grey hair, thick, with a face that had seen many battles and long winters though despite this, was able to maintain a calm and jolly appearance, “The Castaway’s can care less about these matters in the end, she survived a long pursuit and she seems to be integrating very well. Did you not see how Marrok’s daughter came to life in her presence?<i>That tis all I need to know.</i>The only thing I want to address is what can she bring to our valley that we lack --- I hear she is a healer! We have very few of them and I suggest we capitalize on this and let her into the valley! --- The Castaway’s approves,”<br/><br/><br/>Garland Quetar smoothed out his own grey hair that was made into a pony tail as his cream eyes watched the two houses sling mild insults back and forth while silently watching Ylva from his own seat as his mate, Sha’Talshair gently rested her hands upon his left arm.<br/><br/>“Husband…,” Sha’ Talshair gently spoke into his ear, “Did you see how Ylva and Avonevah were together?”<br/><br/><br/>“Yes it was very exciting to see wasn’t it?” The composed clan leader said while looking into the eyes of his mate, “It is a welcome change from so many months watching her grow without her mother. I know how that feels,”<br/><br/><br/>‘Do you plan on making your own inquiry?”<br/><br/><br/>“Hmmm…,” he thought, “I don’t really get any omens or bad feelings from this one…and she did manage to outrun a whole pack of Astraland Assassins. That is no easy feat. This one has some sort of destiny towards her…I can feel it. I believe I’ll just give my approval from my own gut feelings…I can always have a more private talk with her later on without so many blow hards in the audience,”<br/><br/><br/>“I hear she’s already been somewhat challenged…”<br/><br/><br/>“Is that what the circle of wives is saying?”<br/><br/><br/>“Well…” she said as she gently kissed the side of his cheek bone, “I had to fend off two rather rough warrior wolves to get to you,”<br/><br/><br/>“Yes…you did…” he said with a smile, “But they didn’t know you were a duel wielding huntress that survived 80 days in the frozen tundra,”<br/><br/><br/>“One shouldn’t start a fire if they don’t plan on harnessing it,” she said with a slight laugh, “I certainly hope she doesn’t make her move tonight that would not be in good standing”<br/><br/><br/>“Don’t worry my love,” he assured her with a slight pat upon her leg, “If anything should come about, a trial would be held<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=http%3A%2F%2Fguiltypleasuresroleplaying.com%2Fxenforo%2Fx-apple-data-detectors%3A%2F%2F2&amp;hash=153c97fab9023c96e0451ec8f87dc06b" href="http://guiltypleasuresroleplaying.com/xenforo/x-apple-data-detectors://2" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">tomorrow</a>to serve up some rest ---<i>ohh their waiting on me I guess</i>….” He said before arising and letting her grip gently slide from his arm.<br/><br/><br/>“The Hunters gives its consent for Ylva of the Evergreen to live in our valley, if someone wishes to speak further bout it --- I’ll gladly do so in a more private setting as you full well know how I conduct things. Ylva --- my wife and I feel nothing but good things from you and I hope your stay here is for the long haul rather than passing by,” Garland said with a graceful half-bow before settling back into the gentle grip of his mate.<br/><br/><br/><i>All eyes and attention were on Ylva. </i>