Cedarwood Forest fly through harmony

Amaryllis quickly became part of the background as Veho appeared and began speaking with the visitor, Belladonna appearing to know Veho and vice versa. The yearlings even seemed to know each other, swapping greetings before the young girl quietly whispered to Duck, though she couldn't pick up what she asked of him as she wasn't close enough. While she hadnt meet the girl yet, she did smell of the pack so she merely shrugged. Children would be children, the woman guessed and other than Tomen and Pip, she wasn't aware of other yearling or young wolves within the pack. The boy definetly appeared to be quite shy though, as he shuffled closer to his mother. The healer in training couldn't blame him however, being surrounded by wolves he didn't know in an area he wasn't used to.

Amaryllis turned to Veho and Beladonna, listening to their conversation quietly, catching the last few words easyily.

"I can show them to a creek, if you are in need of a drink." Amaryllis offered up, knowing that any sort of journey could make anyway at least thirsty. "Than show them to the den so they might rest, if they wish."

To his great pleasure, it seemed that Nineva was attempting to befriend young Duckweed.  It was not lost on him that what entertained adults might not be amusing in the slightest for younger wolves, and saw no problem if they wished to find something to do among themselves.  Before he could say anything, his other subordinate piped up, offering to show their visitors down to the river.  The male hummed thoughtfully, glancing from his guests to his packmates.

“It is more than okay if you rest here,” he murmured, motioning with his head for Bella and Duckweed to cross over into Grizzly Hollow proper.  “I could show you around some.  And, if you both find it agreeable, I’m sure Filae could summon up something far more interesting for herself and your boy.” More interesting than talk of politics and siblings, anyways.  Amaryllis was given another appraising look.  “Though perhaps you’d like to see the river first?”

His tail gave a friendly wiggle, hoping to encourage the boy more than anything else.  Belladonna clearly had no issue with conversation, and while he didn’t know Nineva on a terribly personal level – she had always been a good packmate, pulling her weight were she could.  He saw no reason not to trust her with Duckweed.  “What do you say?”

These will be Bella and Duck's final posts, just need to get my head of the funk of this thread and finish it x-o sorry everyone. I'll archive this in about a week, feel free to post your own fades if you want.

The curious little interaction between Nineva and Duck had Bella's mother-den instincts started to kick off, but out of respect (or more like a desperate wish) for her son's ability to make his own decisions, she did not interfere. Besides, the opportunity to see @Veho was worth it! Bella beamed as he agreed to the visit, though she hadn't been worried he would turn them away, tail waving happily behind her as she looked between the Grizzly Hollow wolves who had gathered to see them.

@Amaryllis's kind offer was met with a smile, and a nod, though she knew that Duck had been offered a walk of his own. Not wanting to pressure him - but able to guess that this might be a little too forward for him to be comfortable, Bella looked first to Veho then to Lily and said, "Yes, that would be very kind. I am quite thirsty." If Duck wanted to go with Nineva - who she was sure was Nineva, 'Filae' must be some cute nickname - then, of course, it was his choice.

He swallowed hard at Nineva's soft invitation, torn entirely in two. Yes, yes of course he would like to go, but the thought made his feet turn into heavy rocks. Normally, he would have consulted with his mother, asked for a pep talk (as embarrassing as that was to admit, not that he would ever let anyone else know about them) and then pretended he was someone else and go skipping off merrily with her through the woods. Wait, something went wrong there halfway through...

Suddenly he was aware that the decision lay on him, and with prickled skin he stammered out - "um, m-m-maybe in a b-b-b-b-bit? I'd like t-to-to... see the c-c-c-cree, creek." He regretted it instantly. Why would he choose to spend time with his mother and some random woman over a cute- nononononononononono no.

He'd made the right decision.

Bella smiled and nodded at him, offering a soft "we could catch up with you soon," to Nineva, and then would follow after Lily. It was a disaster but Duck was pretty used to that by now.

Veho made a pleased little noise, his tail continuing to wag behind him as friends and family members all made nice.  It was good to see so many of his own come out to the borders to see what was going on – nicer still to see them so friendly.  His pleasure was obvious upon his face as he watched all the others, gaze finally settling on Belladonna and her son.  Ears cupped forward, and he bobbed his head.

“Of course!” he replied happily, more than willing to meet he needs of his guests.  A drink first, socializing afterwards.  Following that, Duck would be free to visit with the coming yearlings or other packmates – or not.  It was up to the lad and his mother.

Content to follow after the pair, he allowed his wolves to lead the way – they had made the offer, after all, and he had no need (or desire, truly) to control each and every bit of his pack, every last interaction.  He was a merry wolf as he went, falling to idle chatter and then to his own thoughts, most content with his forest.  It was a good day.  It was a good day, and he could not ask for more.

Fade.

@Amaryllis

Despite most in the pack knowing her true name as well now, it was no longer strange for Nineva to respond to 'Filae.' Indeed, it was second nature now, and her head bobbed happily as Veho referred to her, eyes still locked on Duckweed as though to say it's true! Her ears picked up when he at last got the chance to answer, and given their last encounter she wasn't at all surprised by what he had to say (stutter and all). That wasn't a no, and she'd take what she could get from the boy. While she didn't wish to force herself on him, Nineva hadn't really run into someone before that didn't take a liking to her, much less shy away from her company. Duckweed did the latter dramatically, and for some reason she couldn't declare, she wanted to fix that. Clearly, that would have to happen in his time, though.

Not letting any disappoint show on her face, she simply smiled sweetly at him.

"Oh, okay! Just give me a shout, I'll be around," she promised him, before giving the same amiable grin to the woman she didn't know meant so much to her father. With that, she was off, and while her paws itched as they always did to venture, she kept her word and stayed within the pack's territory just in case Duckweed changed his mind.