Cassian was up and about early this morning — far earlier than usual. He had barked out a hasty good morning and be back later to his family, before racing off with stubborn determination of catching his own breakfast. Spoiler alert; he couldn't quite catch his own breakfast yet. The golden prince had chased after rabbits that were far too quick for him, pounced at field mice that were far too observant for him, and growled at squirrels and birds in the trees that were too far out of his reach.

But Cassian was a prince, therefore he could not give up yet.

After many attempts, the boy had steadily gotten better and better. He was certain he'd finally catch his prey this time as he slowly stalked toward an unaware robin as it distractedly pecked at soft soil. The young prince carefully crept forward, minding the trigs and plants that may be in his way (he had learned to walk more and more carefully by attempt #6). And in the pale yellow morning light, Cassian was grateful for his golden sun kissed coat. Another step, the bird still happily pecking away at it soon to be last meal. He was going to catch this one — finally, on the count of three he was going to lunge forward and get breakfast clasped firmly in his jaws.

Once — two —

A howl sounded into the peaceful morning, and in a flutter of feathers and a loud cry, the robin took to the air, leaving Cassian to leap into nothing.

What was that? Spinning around and huffing with indignation, the boy opened his mouth to give an earful to whoever messed up his hunt. But something made the boy pause — he had strayed to the borders of Inaria's territory, the howl came in the direction of a foreign scent. A visitor? An intruder? Was someone hoping to join Inaria?

The child turned, about to head back into the heart of Inaria and call for a soldier or sentinel, but once more he paused. Why wait? He could handle this. It was only one stranger, after all.

Turning back around, Cassian made his way through the bushes to make his presence known and — wow. The stranger looked tough, big with scars across his muzzle and cheek.  The child couldn't help but wonder how he got those scars. Was it some epic battle? Was he a knight? Did he slay some beast or fought in a war? The questions sat eagerly on the tip of his tongue, but Cassian swallowed them down, replacing his momentary look of awe with a stern expression that may have been a bit comical on the face of a child. He needed to be professional!

"You're at Inaria's borders, Stranger." Cassian announced boldly, projecting his voice to make sure it sounded solid and important. How did this go? What was he supposed to say? The hesitation lasted only a minute, before the boy settled on. "State your business."

The laughter was not something that Cassian expected from the stranger, and his shock was clearly expressed in a look of indignation. But like most children his age, amusement was practically contagious. A smile fought to pull at his lips, but the boy was stubborn, fighting back his own building amusement by twisting his face into a grimace of a snarl. 

Before he could shout the injustice of the stranger's mockery — because that's what it was! Mockery! An insult to him and Inaria and the royal line!! — a loud alarm call shattered the peaceful morning as a black and white figure barreled in between Cassian and the stranger.

Intruder! Pup in danger!

The young prince let out an angry growl at that. "Hey!!" But suddenly it was as though he wasn't there, the adults were ignoring him.

Easy, friend. I mean no harm. I am sure you understand that,

"I wasn't in any danger," Cassian chimed in helpfully, glaring at Aeolus through narrowed eyes as he boldly moved around the sentinel to once more get a better look at the stranger. Tiberius's earlier laughter was momentarily forgiven in the face of a new foe — an adult who treated him like some helpless newborn. It was an even greater injustice than some little laugh! "I was questioning him before you interrupted." The golden boy sat down with a loud huff, he had wanted to interrogate the stranger.

And maybe get him to catch him some breakfast — that window of opportunity was ruined now.

I come seeking refuge in this...Inaria, My name is Tiberius. I come offering my services in exchange for a place to call home.

The boy took a deep breath to reign in his irritation before casting a glance at Aeolus. Despite his earlier bravado, Cassian really had no idea how to go about this situation. Did sentinels... just... ask questions and then let someone in? Test them? The boy wasn't sure. "Please take over, Sentinel sir. Now that you're here, I'll observe and learn." He decided, stubbornly settling into the ferns to watch how sentinels did their job. The child had wanted to handle the situation himself, but that wasn't going to happen now.

Better to sit and learn than to be sent away.

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As quickly as one yelled pup at the borders, the silver monarch arrived. Her panic had come at a level of concern for her own daughters, however her motherly affection and fear extended to the Valor children as well— one of which was the culprit of the alarming call to the borderline. Swooping in gracefully and with herbs in her mouth having been in the middle of tending to the garden (their Medic was no where to be seen and despite the Queen’s diplomatic duties, her heart always remained in the garden when her humble beginnings started) she abandoned them to her feet as she moved closer. Eyes quickly surveyed the situation, but her body moved to stand a leg in front of the golden child as he proudly stood far too close to the edge of the territory. This one seemed to want to grow up faster than they’d allow.

"I wasn't in any danger, I was questioning him before you interrupted."

“Hush, child.” Xenia said firmly, still with the dose of softness that the gentle Queen always possessed. “You are out of place.”

“I come seeking refuge in this...Inaria, My name is Tiberius. I come offering my services in exchange for a place to call home.”

Xenia’s attention turned toward the Sentinel and the stranger, some relief fell from her shoulders when she realized the situation wasn’t hostile at all, and a warm nod of appreciation went to Aelous, the swift action of the border patrol who alerted her to the young Prince at hand. Before Xenia had a chance to engage with the boy again, he wisely decided himself as to what he would chose to do.

"Please take over, Sentinel sir. Now that you're here, I'll observe and learn."

Although she was originally going to take the boy away, she chose to allow him to stay as long as she did. “You may watch, but please step back.” Firm tone started to fade now, although the seriousness in her eyes still brought authority, some of which she hoped the Prince would respect even if she was not the child’s mother. Once he hopefully took a few steps back to observe, Xenia did too.

“Apologies for the fuss,” She addressed Tiberius, “We have many eager youth within Inaria.” With that she’d allow Aeolus to continue the job he came for, but had no intention of leaving as long as the golden Prince chose to stay and watch.

Lowering her head for the boy to hear alone, with eyes still on the stranger she added, “I’d like you to come with me after.” A quick corner glance would be given to see his reaction before her attention averted back.

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