[Xenia ♕]

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Motherhood had been everything the young Queen had expected it to be, perhaps a bit more than that, even. The days following the bundles of joy had been nothing but bright and cheerful, truly some of the best reasons to start a new day. They’d all been growing so quickly, certainly at a rate to which seemed too fast and the shield monarch some days wished she could slow it down. From the moment all their eyes opened and they started to walk around, communicate, even laugh and chirp, Xenia’s love for her babies bloomed like spring flowers. They were truly a gift, made from love and rebirth as Inaria only grew stronger with the new hoard of future heirs and royal children flourishing within their purple-lined walls.

Surely she was not the only one indulging the unique joy of motherhood, for Xenia and Haven it had been the first time, but her mind had wandered toward their very close, almost sister-pack, and how their Queen had recently added more little faces and names to their family. Xenia had always been one to participate in Gemini-Inaria relations, right to the first time they’d taken refuge at Inaria’s borders before the creation of their beautiful stronghold as it were now. It was a unique time now, although it was not the first time Gemini had seen royal children, it was a first for both packs to have them all at once; something Xenia felt was too much of a destined happenstance to miss out on a gathering opportunity.

Discussions had begun within the Inarian leadership and the agreement to host a youthful event within Inaria during it’s spring bloom was decided. With a smile upon her face and a kiss to her mate and each of her children, Xenia set off to gather supplies and find her traveling companion, the royal consort, Cockatrice. To some surprise, one of the the Valor daughters had wanted to come, to which the flower Queen couldn't deny. They had been just about to set off their travels with the small gathering when a young, distant voice called out. “Mommmmaaaa!” Then, fast moving feet.

“Oh, my little angel.” Xenia sighed, looking down at her darling daughter, whom she could already tell was not impressed by her mother leaving. “If you go, I go too!” With a frown, Xenia wanted to tell her no, as eyes turned toward Cockatrice, then down to the golden princess who was standing, ready to go with them. It would seem unfair to deny Luna now, despite her having no intentions for her children to come along... however with a quick exchange of glances between two adults, Xenia finally gave in and murmured quietly. “You may come, but you must stay close. Pareidolia, you two stick together. Deal?” A gentle wink to them both before they’d finally set off.

---

The path was simply and memorable, one that Xenia had taken several times before. Their arrival came at dusk, the sun slowly descending down along the horizon line with a few hours of light left before the land would be swallowed in darkness. As they approached, the distinguishable wall of the territory became clear, as well as the skulls that guarded and warned away any who wanted to do harm. Xenia chose not to bring any attention toward them, wondering if the two princesses in tow would take notice. She trusted they’d listen well and not run off, likewise she knew Cockatrice would have just a keen eye on them as her. Had this been any other trip, she would not have been in favour of children coming, but Xenia knew this could be good for them, too.

Raising her muzzle to the sky she set off a gentle, welcoming call as she beckoned sentries to the borders. When they arrived she’d be standing poised with a warm smile and a purple flower-crown upon her head to quietly represent the Inarian culture. “Evening, thank you for taking your time to greet us.” She’d begin, offering a small nod of appreciation. “I am Queen Xenia of Inaria, beside me is the royal consort and Elite Guard, Cockatrice,” Her head would turn slightly in direction to him, before eyes dropped down to the two girls. “And, Princesses Pareidolia and Luna.” Xenia kept an eye on her own for a moment to see how politely she would respond.

“We are here on behalf of Inaria to invite Gemini to our home for a celebration of youth. We cordially invite the Queen and her family, as well as any and all of Gemini’s families.”

Another polite bow before she’d pass off any mentions to her party or Gemini’s greeters.

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ooc: Hello Gemini, Inaria is here to invite you to a puppy party!! Please let Cockatrice and Doli post first unless Scratch/Kotake say otherwise.

[Cockatrice]

He’d survived wars, you know. He’d had his ear torn off at an age where half his packmates had never seen a spar. Neither experience had particularly prepared Cockatrice for the demands of fatherhood, and the subsequent weeks of performing as Consort before Guard – the children were a blessing in a life that had never been very full of either miracles or good cheer; watching them grow had been an unexpected joy, though the affection in his heart was a stern and powerful thing – and the moment they had learned to crawl all at once in seven different directions while shrieking, he had learned what it meant to fail. No war could compare to the fear in his heart at plucking a flailing Yale from the lake, nor inspire him to move as swiftly as when three wailing escapees had chased a bear cub up a sapling. A trip to Gemini, then, sounded like a reprieve, and with two children in tow and Xenia to flank, surely the last remaining Elite Guard should attend – surely this was his duty, and not an excuse.

He missed them, though. He missed Haven, in all her tired beauty, and every puppy from Azrael to Yale, though he was proud to watch Pareidolia marching alongside them with what he hoped was the grace she would grow into. Luna was not spared his sharp and wary eye, and neither was the shifting land around them, and he kept the princesses carefully between the pair of them with the Queen in the lead. Xenia might know this path, but Trice had never walked it, and his solitary ear flickered to and fro as they traveled, attentive and alert. (Strange, to think the last time he had been outside of Inaria was when he had arrived, and that it should feel so foreign now despite having lived half his life on his own.) He recognized the change in scents as they began their careful approach, and he did not miss the skulls perched high above them on the wall, the likes of which he had never seen – but he did not ask his daughter to avert her eyes. He did not know Gemini, but he understood the power of alliances, and he understood the sentiment. These wolves had a message to send, and he would not deny her seeing it.

Perhaps Inaria could learn a thing or two from her sister, and though he longed that Doli would never know either war or adversity, Cockatrice was not so foolish as to leave her unprepared for a situation he viewed as inevitable.

Xenia’s voice drew him out of his thoughts, though his attention on the children never lapsed. This was meant to be a happy encounter, one better suited to the two young princesses ready to make their debut as representatives of their home than the grizzled old war-wolf standing silent at their backs. He had no smile with which to greet their welcomers, though Trice’s expression was placid and calm; the festivities were for the children, and the speeches were for the queen, leaving him to nod deferentially at his introduction and with an appropriate amount of respect. Xenia was not Haven, but he knew this role – and though he wished it were her at his side, he was nothing but loyal to the young Queen and mother who stood there in her stead.

(Though when it came to his daughter's manners, he would not be afraid to set aside duty for discipline.)

[Pareidolia]

Her very first mission!

Since she was so beautiful and important and great, it was only fitting that she be chosen specially to accompany daddy dear to... some land that wasn’t Inaria, even though the truth of that was probably closer to how Luna had ended up tagging along as well. There was always That Puppy, the kid in every litter who just had to be a part of fucking everything, the one who would climb into a saber’s mouth just to sate their curiosity of its waggling tongue... the one you always had to watch.

Bingo! How else was she supposed to get anything all to herself in such a massive litter? She’d take home some secrets and go on adventures only for her and not anybody else. Such was her big fat ambition of the day, and yet that eventually seemed to take a backseat on the long trek to Gemini, during the halfway point of which Pareidolia busied herself stalking and chomping at Cockatrice’s tail... maybe even Luna’s tail, if the other girl was a good sport about it and Xenia hadn’t given her that stop-it-right-now grownup look yet.

“Are we almost theeeere~?” singsonged Doli, trying to match her father’s broad, powerful steps and naturally coming a bit short. The answer wouldn’t be yes for another twenty minutes. Boo.

It would be worth it to hear Xenia introduce her as princess, though. She smiled big and wagged her little bottlebrush of a tail. Oh, did that title taste good!

“A pleasure to meet you.”

[sterling.]

S T E R L I N G

A gentle invitation filled the air and coaxed him from the dark inner corners of the castle.

It had come from.. beyond the wall.

He'd been raised to avoid the wall. Any child found near it would get a swat on the wrist from their babysitters and a time out. Sterling didn't like being told what to do, certainly hated getting lectured by adults, but he'd done well to respect his mother's wishes. He was growing older, though; and curiosity was running its course.

He approached the wall and ascended a flight of stairs so that he may view the strangers from a safe distance. No one else had arrived before the silver boy, and he smiled. First impressions, you say? Leave it to Sterling!

His eyes were dull and expressionless, but he was watching the four strangers with quiet fascination. The one doing most of the talking, the Inarian queen, wore a crown of flowers he'd never seen before. The distinguished aroma that wafted from the group was crisp and more fragrant than any of their fields of wildflowers. He'd heard stories of the Inarians, but most notably the one of their fallen king. A brother. He'd been on his way home from Inaria. Carrying a ruby red poppy for their mother.

The two skulls served as bitter reminders. Gemini would never forget.

" Hello. I'm Sterling. I'd love to have a playdate with you guys. But I should probably ask my mom first. " His eye twitched. Sterling was getting better at acting in front of others, he knew his mannerisms made others uncomfortable and was actively working on improvement. He moved closer to the edge of the wall and stared down at the two princesses with a surprising smile on his face. He wondered what their skulls looked like under all that pretty hair.

" Hi. I'm also a prince. " He twitched again, but maybe from a distance, it looked like a wink to the girls.

[Gaven]

The howl that rang through Gemini’s otherwise quiet evening had a magnetic effect upon its residence; the gentle cry only sought sentries, but the source was well past the border, into the heart of the lowlands, and near the Lorekeeper’s camp in the small forest that sheltered the old library. It was unsurprising he was moved by the call as well, throwing on his cloak and mask and stalking out of the woods and towards that needy song. It was some otherworldly sense that drove him there, some knowing that he was needed. He was arrogant enough to believe this, for when he saw the little group gathered at the wall he was certain he was right. The black muzzle of his mask pointed up at a familiar little prince perched upon the wall, staring down at the four wolves, and Gaven flicked his mask up as he approached from the back. He caught some of the conversation but more importantly he recognized the violet flowers perched between a small red wolf’s ears.

“Evening as well, Your Majesty!” Gaven boomed from behind the party long before he was in conversational distance of them so as not to sneak up and surprise them with his sudden presence. “Lord Cockatrice! Smallest Highnesses! It seems you’ve just beaten the night by a hairs breadth.”

He rounded the group at a small distance so as not to appear like a threatening stalking, tiger, but just to get on the same side of the conversation as Sterling was at, finding his place against the wall and leaning against the cold stones once he had reached it.

“Ah, I’ve been to Inaria before, when we went on our first outing with some of our very first litters as a pack,” Gaven said thoughtfully. “I never had the opportunity to make your acquaintance then, my fault really. It is that time yet again, isn’t it? We do have a lot of younglings this year and it’s good to keep up tradition. Pardon me, I’m Gaven, the Starreaver, and Lorekeeper of Gemini.”

He glanced over at the little she-wolf, prim and proper with her royal manners, and offered a crooked smile with the slightest bow of his body.

“The pleasure is all ours, Your Royal Highness.”