( Alchemy)<br/><br/>Ylva looked up at Marrock, confused by the word he had uttered when their eyes met. She could feel a weight pass between them, unlike anything she had ever experienced before. It felt as if an invisible tether between them had been pulled taught, and she could not escape the tightness of it. When he broke away and apologized, Ylva let the moment pass.<br/><br/>She bowed her head as he left, and turned to smile at Phanus. All the details fell into place as Phanus explained the significance of Avonlea. Even within her own pack, she knew that the loss of a mate was devastating. The rituals and bonds varied from pack to pack, but there was a common thread through all of them. Mating was a sign of commitment and love, a bond of trust and loyalty. When a mate was lost, it was not uncommon for the other to never mate again, but Ylva understood why his pack wished for him to find a someone to fill the hole left in their leadership. The hole left in their pack family. The leadership of a mated pair was one of balance, where each mate could help to check the other and maintain the much needed order.<br/><br/>"I...I'm so sorry to hear of your loss," she said, glancing back in the direction that Marrock had gone. For now, she did her best to listen and absorb the plethora of information that Phanus provided as he spoke. She made her way around the hut as he pointed out the inner workings of it. The idea of warm water filled her very soul with joy, but the waterfall sounded equally alluring.<br/><br/>Ylva reached out to Phanus as he turned to leave, and with a slight bow of her head and a smile, she said goodbye to him.<br/><br/>"Thank you. I have no doubt your advice will be invaluable to me during my first days here. I hope to see you soon."<br/><br/>The hut was modest, but comfortable. There was a bed made of furs and straw near one wall, a small chair and some other comforts they likely kept around for guests or visitors. Once she had acquainted herself with her surroundings, she made her way out of the hut and down toward the waterfall. Most of the community of the valley seemed to be milling about, so beyond smiles, they did not pay her much mind. Ylva found a bush to stand behind, near the shores of the pool of water, and pulled her dress and undergarments free. A dip of her toe showed that though the water was crisp, it was by no means frigid. She moved slowly into it, enjoying the feeling of being nearly submerged and weightless within it. The water was like crystal, but the interference of the waterfall made rippled waves over its surface, and concealed anything beneath it. Ylva allowed her head to sink beneath it, wetting her hair, she smoothed her hands over the strands as she came to the surface again. There was a certain bliss to feeling safe again, for the first time in months, and she knew she had to Marrock to thank for it.<br/><br/>Once she felt clean, Ylva emerged and put her clothing back on. She began to follow the path she had taken down to the waterfall, only to find one of the pups in her path. She was a slip of a little girl, but darling, a certain sweetness to her young face. Ylva bent toward her, a smile on her pink lips.<br/><br/>"Hello, there." Ylva said. The little girl smiled back, but she did not respond verbally. Her eyes though, Ylva easily recognized.<i>Avonevah. </i>She had her father's eyes, and Ylva could almost imagine what her mother looked like as well, Marrock's lost love. Avonevah just looked up at her, as if studying the young woman before her. A group of children yelled to her, in the distance, and Avonevah looked over her shoulder back to them. She then glanced back at Ylva with a smile and then ran back to her playmates, easily maneuvering through tree limbs with expert grace.<br/><br/>Ylva watched her go, but then turned her attention to finding the hut she had been assigned. When she stepped inside, there were already two women inside waiting for her. They must have been the mid-wives that both Marrok and Phanus had spoken of.<br/><br/>"There you are. Phanus said you'd be bathing, but I didn't figure that you'd be doin' it in the pool. Not too shy, are we?" One of them said. She was a plump woman, with kindness in her eyes. Both she and the woman next to her shared similar features, the same blues, blond hair and relatively similar features, but the one who had spoken was pleasingly round and the woman next to her was almost too thin.<br/><br/>"I'm Portia and this is Marissa. We've brought gowns for you, but now that I've seen you, I don't think we need to try them all on, do we 'Rissa?" Portia smiled at her sister.<br/><br/>"As long as you're thinking of the red gown I believe we're on the same page," Marissa responded with a smile, as Portia held up the very gown she had mentioned.<br/>The dress had a deep crimson color and Marrok had not exagerated their elegance. Even the gowns that sat in a neat pile next to Portia looked luxurious and fine.<br/><br/>"You're quite pale, and we've a bit of rouge to brighten your lips. But I think this gown would look quite stunning on you, my dear." Portia held the dress out to her, and Ylva let her eyes wander over it.<br/><br/>The bodice had carefully embroidered hand stitching, and the skirt had layers of fabric, some solid, others much more airy and partially translucent. They all held different shades of red, but formed together in harmony. There were no sleeves, just bits of the slightly see-through, flowy fabric that hung from the shoulders. Ylva had never wore anything like it. She took a step toward the back of the hut, where the bath was, to change, but her progress was halted by a voice behind her.<br/><br/>"It doesn't matter what you put on her, she's still an outsider until she proves otherwise." The new voice said.<br/><br/>When Ylva turned around, she saw a blond woman standing in the doorway. She was severe, but beautiful, and looked as if she was ready for a fight. Ylva quickly realized that this was what Phanus had spoken of. A standoff. A moment to show if she would hold her own, or bow and step aside. Ylva held the woman's gaze and straightened her back, doing her best to show that she would not be bullies or forced to bow.<br/><br/>"Oh come now, Malia. We don't have time for this." Portia said with a dismissive flip of her hand.<br/><br/>Malia's glare intensified, her gaze narrowing, but Ylva did not break her gaze from the intrusive woman. Minutes passed and Malia was the first to look away, a sneer upon her lips as she did so. She said nothing more, she simply huffed and turned to leave the hut. Portia chuckled once it was clear the other woman was gone and Marissa shook her head.<br/><br/>"Don't mind her," Marissa said. "She's wanted to get her claws into the Marrok since she met him, and few things stay secret around these parts. Word's already out that he mentioned Avonlea to you, and the wolves are already barking about the way he looked at you. It's probably more that people are just hopeful. He's been alone a long time and most of us just want to see him happy again. Any new blood in the pack causes a stir." Marissa assured her, but Portia smirked leaned toward them.<br/><br/>"I think it's more than new blood....But go on now, get dressed. It's warm enough your hair should dry on its own. We will leave you to it, and fetch you once you're done." Portia said.<br/><br/>Ylva dressed in the gown quickly, and when she emerged, both of the sisters fiddled and adjusted the gown. Just as Portia had said, Ylva hair had began to dry, forming long, raven-colored locks. Marissa used a finger to pat a bit of red rouge on Ylva's lips and then they guided her down toward the pack's main hall, where the celebrations had already began. The sisters bowed out near the door, hurrying off to put on their own dresses. Ylva gathered her wits and entered the banquet, unsure of what awaited her inside.