<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/5/5a/Skrida.png)</div><strong>Character name:</strong>Skrida<br/><strong>Who:</strong>Nilteni<br/><strong>Where:</strong>Alpha House<br/><strong>When:</strong>Night<br/><br/><hr/><br/>It was utterly useless to try to talk as Nilteni went about mauling him in the most pleasurable way possible. Between teeth and claws and skin upon skin, it was a wonder that Skrida could think words at all. True they were blurred by an impression of heat and need, but they were fully functional words. A mutter "we should" meant to be finished with 'go outside' was lost in the heat of Nilteni's mouth. The laugh as he felt Nilteni begin to let out a rumbling growl that was closer to a purr than anything else was similarly swallowed up. And soon Skrida had forgotten that his mouth might be used for anything other than kissing.<br/><br/>His fingers tightened in Nilteni's hair once more, crushing the man closer even as his other hand dropped to warm shoulders. Though logic demanded he at least try to keep Nilteni from fucking him against a wall in plain sight of the entire pack, a more more prominent part of him settled for digging strong, forge callused fingers into the muscles of the wolf's back and arching his own back up in blatant offering. Welts were raked down his own back and he knew that his lips were bruising. They would be puffy and sore and clearly debauched for days. He didn't much care. He'd wanted Nilteni with a marrow deep ache for at least two years, a few marks to show for that would be welcomed.<br/><br/>Sanity returned slowly, in bits and pieces. First was the feeling of his wolf pressed close, forehead resting against his own, shared breaths mingling as they gasped for hair. Second was the realization that he was desperately clinging to the other as if he'd been drowning and been thrown a lifeline, the easing as his fingers unclenched and he began to pet instead of grip. Third was his breathing slowing though his heart remained racing. Fourth was realizing that he had no idea where Hiti had gotten off to and that Son' Lahleli was going to kill him before he ever even got to have her as a sister in law.<br/><br/>But it was damnably hard to focus on any of that as Nilteni pressed himself even closer, wrapping Skrida up in his arms as if he could shut out everything. The feeling of the man's breathing upon his sensitive, bruised neck was enough to send trembling shivers down his spine, but even arousal couldn't dim or corrupt the contented smile on his face. Letting out a low, comforting hum, he wrapped his arms about Nilteni's shoulders and began to card his fingers through dark hair in a soothing motion. He felt slightly giddy with the realization that he could do as much.<br/><br/>"Do you mean that?" When he'd shaken off the feeling of lips upon his neck, Skrida still found himself blinking and looking utterly perplexed. The expression only deepened as his would-be mate nosed at him insistently and placed kisses on his jaw once more, this time with infinitely more tenderness. True Nilteni had never pulled the same kind of adoring throngs that, say, Astir or Mikla did, but he was still well regarded. Certainly Skrida had put up with sacrifices giggling after him when he'd been in the forge with Skrida for any length of time. "Skrida, did you mean that?"<br/><br/>Skrida snorted and pushed at the man's shoulders lightly. Once he was sure he had Nilteni's full attention, he cocked one eyebrow and said in an arch tone, "This is going to be a very difficult mateship, luv, if you question everything I say." Despite his teasing, despite his expression, despite even how he'd kept his tone utterly even throughout this pronouncement, it would have been impossible to hide the way that delight corded every inch of him. A smile kept peeking out, and his arms tightened reflexively as if to pull his wolf closer once more.<br/><br/><hr/><hr/><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/5/5b/Tsitu%2C_Nadaeki_Alpha.png)</div><strong>Character name</strong>: Ts'itu e'e Son<br/><strong>Who:</strong>Astir, Kon, Hiti, Open<br/><strong>Where:</strong>Alpha House<br/><strong>When: </strong>Night, Sixth Day of Hunger Moon<br/><br/><hr/><br/>It was clear to see the moment that understanding went flooding across Astir's features. "He did," she said, tugging on a lock of her hair as she glanced over at the clearly happy couple. "I'm happy for Danae. Seni will be a strong mate for her." Still the loneliness gnawed at her, an ache she couldn't quite shake even as Astir pledged his friendship. She smiled, unwilling to voice that she never doubted his loyalty or his dedication, just like she would never doubt Danae's. That did not make it easier as she watched him flit toward a life made up of an actual family. For so long, she and her peers had been untethered and that it was coming to an end, and she would be the one left behind...<br/><br/>Astir's arms surrounding her were a surprise, for normally he was more reserved in public spaces. Similar to Danae he was quite aware of her positioning within the pack. It was a welcome touch anyway. She wrapped her arms around him tightly but briefly, releasing him when he began to pull away. Celebration or no it would seem odd for Astir to be doing anything that might be construed as comforting to her.<em>Practically having sex on the dance floor is alright, but hugging my best friend is off limits,</em>she thought, a wry smile touching her lips before it was chased away by careful neutrality.<br/><br/>"I'll be fine, Astir," she said, elbowing him in the side none too gently. "You know I always am. And do you mean aunt of Danae's pups, or yours?" She laughed at his retreating back, thinking she might have seen some small flinch to his shoulders as he departed. For all that Astir would make a fantastic father, he was always twitching at the mention of them. So of course, how could she resist provoking him at every given opportunity?<br/><br/>Sighing as she noticed she was left alone again once more, she centered herself with a hand upon her forehead. Skrida and the redhead, Mother Winter but she really needed to learn that girl's name, were still heading toward her, though they seemed to have been waylaid by Nilteni. She snorted a bit to see her beta crowding the blacksmith toward the wall, clearly intent on herding Skrida away from the girl he'd escorted in. "Not that I blame him," she muttered. She too had seen the hand that Skrida had placed upon Hiti's back, and though she couldn't pin a reason for it, the sight made her inner wolf's hackles rise.<br/><br/>A hand taking her own brought her back to her present surroundings. Blinking slightly, she looked over her shoulder at Kon. Somehow she'd missed the beta's approach. Now that she'd noticed him, his scent seemed to wrap around her. Ts'itu tilted her head, a tad bewildered as Kon leant in close to her and began speaking. Normally he was not so forward, and she hadn't imagined that he would have come back to her given that there were plenty of other willing and available females looking for a strong warrior. His rumbling voice was filled with warmth and soothed nerves she hadn't even noticed were fraying. That was more troublesome than the fact he'd bothered to come chasing after her.<br/><br/>"I think you may be right on that account," she said after a moment's pause, deciding to disregard the oddities of the evening. If she kept thinking about it she would likely go mad. "You'll be pleased to know that your friend will soon be mated to Danae. I expect they'll be announcing it tonight. I should..." She should go do what she'd originally meant to do: warn the musicians, arrange for more mead, threaten Seni with all sorts of horrible tortures. All of which would require pulling away from Kon's warmth, a thing she found herself strangely reluctant to do. "I..." And if she weren't doing those things, she should be attending to Skrida, who'd likely been sent to tell her something if the expression on his face before he was ambushed was anything to go on.<br/><br/>Kon's sage green eyes were glimmering in the firelight. She could still taste his skin. Her tongue darted out to run over her lips in an unconscious bid for more. "Why did you come here, Kon?" she asked finally, gently pulling her hand from his grip. "You know as well as I that there are plenty of females here who would love to be taken by the hero of the hour. Why are you not with them? I have lost my desire for the simple hunt this evening. If it's a roll in the furs you seek, try your luck elsewhere." Perhaps her words revealed too much, but there was no vulnerability in the regal tilt to her chin.<br/><br/>And thankfully, she had little time to think on whether she'd just proved to be a foolish chit instead of a blooded alpha. The redhead from earlier had finally come close enough to be considered within speaking range. She'd dropped into a deep bow the moment she came, but it took a certain kind of bravery to even make it that far. Ts'itu's curiosity was piqued, but was swiftly trodden down by the news that there was yet more that had apparently gone wrong as opposed to the girl actually wishing to speak with her. As the girl rose from her bow, sighing along the way, Ts'itu took a step forward.<br/><br/>"Thank you..." she trailed off, clearly waiting for a name. Upon receiving her answer, a brief smile flashed across her lips. Amusement flickered in her eyes. Though no one would be able to tell simply from looking at her, she longed to reach out and touch the smaller girl, run her fingers through that red hair so similar to her own. Strange that she should feel such a draw to the warrior who'd rarely shown interest before tonight and the sacrifice who still seemed to alternate between fear and curiosity. "Hiti, you will stay here, with Kon. I shall attend to this, but when I return, I would speak with you."