---

For Amaris!

---

Oh, how she loved a party. This one was pretty good; there was dancing and singing and food and drink, and so many faces familiar and completely foreign to her alike. The noise was comforting to her, something she had always associated with family and warmth. A loud home was a good home, she thought affirmingly.

But there was something very important she needed to discuss.

Trotting through the crowds, Valeska was almost a half a head shorter than most of the other women; still, her nose was unparalleled in its accuracy and she knew precisely what scent she was following now. She didn't need eyes to find him.

Although he did kind of stand out.

Tall, willowy, and awkward, Amaris stood hunched in the middle of the feasting and for some reason seemed to look a little bit afraid of her approach. Why? Whatever for? She was his mother! His doting, wonderful, lovely mother with nothing but good intentions and gentle tutelage for him.

Stand up straight, she admonished immediately. Remember, you will represent Elysium one day!

Soon. Very soon. Sweet retirement.

So have you made any friends? she asked brightly. Come, maybe some fermented berries will help you. I know they make me loose, as they say!

Valeska crowed with laughter and slapped a paw against his back as she steered him very firmly toward the alcohol. She slurped up a mouthful with practiced ease, grinning with purple-stained lips as she motioned for him to do the same.

I am so glad we invited ourselves. It is a lovely party.

---

Skill: brewmaster

---

Although Amaris often felt at ease amid a celebration, pleased by the company he kept, this party was different. Not one, but two of the women he found himself at odds with orbited the crowd like sharks amid a meal. He saw them both, their eyes coasting through the crowd—perhaps looking for him or, as he hoped, seeking to avoid him at all costs. Though, as much as he hoped for the latter, he knew his luck would be more inclined to the former.

And there was only so much avoiding he could inevitably do.

Ultimately, he turned his attention toward the crowd, searching for another distraction he could use to distract his mind from the affairs of the heart.

But perhaps, he should’ve been more specific in his requests.

Like, wanting to find a nice solid man to have a conversation with—about hunting and other dude things—or a disinterested party that was content to yap about the weather as they stuffed fermented berries in their mouth.

His mother, however, was not on his desired list of distractions.

In fact, he would make that THREE women whom he was hoping to avoid.

She careened toward him, her legs moving quite fast for how short she was, as she manuevered through the crowd. Even if Amaris had the wherewithal to run, he knew he ultimately would not get far before Valeska found him again.

Better to get it over with, he surmised quietly to himself. Perhaps it would be a blessing in disguise, he thought after a beat. Maybe his mother would keep him distracted from the necessity to interact with both Elli and Lylith—even if it meant boring lessons on leadership and the like.

Valeska’s reprimand came swiftly, and with a lick of his lips—wetting the dryness of his mouth from his incessant, swirling thoughts—he stood up straighter. Привет, мама. (Hello, Mother)

His ears seemed to wilt alongside his greeting, even if the words had been said with warm familiarity. But his expression remained awkwardly sour, especially as his mother asked about any friends.

Was he supposed to make friends?

Every time he had done so, he recalled from every past party he participated in that something bad had always happened.

No, no friend— He started to say before his mother slapped a paw on his back, steering his voluntary body toward the heaps of fermented berries that awaited greedy tongues. Please don’t say loose, he groaned quietly. Nobody says that.

He didn’t think drinking would do him any good, but Amaris also knew better than to deny his boisterous, free-spirited mother.

And so, only half-reluctantly (as a part of him did wish to feel “loose” as his mother had described, even if he knew it was a terrible idea), Amaris slurped up a pawful of his own and blinked slowly as the slimy, tart berries slipped down his gullet.

Now to wait for their effects.

Do you think the Emperor was displeased that we showed up to his wedding uninvited? He whispered beneath his breath, Is this…something we often do?

Show up, unannounced?

SKILL: DIPLOMAT (1/5)

---

There were advantages to walking one's own feast rather than watching it from afar.

Shēnléi had spent much of the evening moving between clusters of guests, accepting congratulations, offering welcome, and quietly committing unfamiliar scents and faces to memory. Verdant's Grace seemed alive beneath the celebration. Song rolled through the gathering in uneven waves, laughter following close behind; the scent of warm prey, crushed herbs, sweet fruit, and fermented berries clung heavily to the night air.

It was a good evening.

One meant for merriment rather than suspicion.

Still, an Emperor did not cease being an Emperor merely because he had taken another wife.

Elysium.

The name caught his attention before the wolves themselves did.

His pace slowed.

Shēnléi knew little of the northern pack beyond what had reached his ears through others. During the long journey he and Yuè had once made beyond Tianlong's borders, Elysium had occasionally surfaced in conversation—a name carried between travelers and neighboring packs, spoken often enough to be remembered but never closely enough to be understood.

They had never gone there.

More importantly, Shēnléi distinctly remembered that no invitation bearing Tianlong's welcome had been sent northward to them.

His bronze gaze found the pair soon enough.

The smaller woman was difficult to miss despite her stature, bright with laughter and enthusiasm, her muzzle already stained by fermented berries. Beside her stood a much taller male who appeared as though he wished the earth might open beneath his paws and spare him whatever conversation his mother intended to inflict upon him.

You will represent Elysium one day.

That earned the younger wolf a second look.

Interesting.

Shēnléi lingered for another heartbeat, listening without making his scrutiny obvious. A presumptuous arrival did not necessarily make an enemy. Perhaps they were merely bold. Perhaps foolish. Perhaps northern hospitality operated differently than Tianlong's own.

Character revealed itself quickly when a wolf believed no one important was watching.

Then came the younger male's whisper.

Do you think the Emperor was displeased that we showed up to his wedding uninvited?

Shēnléi's ear turned.

At least one of them understood the impropriety.

If I were displeased, came the low voice behind them, calm as distant thunder, you would not be left wondering.

He stepped into their company then.

There was no hostility in the Emperor's posture. His shoulders remained loose beneath his dark coat, tail resting easily behind him, and the bronze of his eyes carried measured curiosity rather than rebuke.

Today was not a day he intended to sour over breached etiquette.

His gaze passed between them once.

You have caught me somewhat unawares.

A faint pause.

I have heard Elysium's name carried upon many tongues. When my Empress and I traveled beyond Tianlong, your lands were spoken of more than once.

His muzzle tipped slightly in acknowledgement.

Though I confess, I do not recall extending an invitation so far north. It was not stated as an accusation, but merely fact.

The silence that followed was brief, allowed just long enough to make clear that Shēnléi had noticed their... peculiar arrival.

Shēnléi inclined his head formally to the pair.

So perhaps we begin properly by exchangingones name?

His bronze eyes settled first upon the smaller woman, then the younger male beside her.

I am Emperor Shēnléi of Tianlong. Whom do I have the lovely pleasure of meeting?

---

Skill: Diplomat

He tried to correct her speech in vain; Valeska scoffed. Of course they said that! She said that. Thus, everybody said that.

I know what I said, she barked back defiantly. LOOSE.

Amaris further deteriorated, and she would have none of it. He was worrying far too much about what if's and imaginary consequences; if they hadn't been welcome, they would have known the moment they stepped over the threshold. As it was, the wolves of Tianlong seemed to tolerate their presence just fine with little more than a few confused glances (particularly whenever she raised her voice, which was often).

It is extremely normal, Valeska reassured him, bumping his shoulder heavily with her own. He might have been a good head and a half taller, but there was no denying her stout frame (padded, perhaps, with a few extra calories over the years), and it was a 50-50 chance whether he'd fold like a lawn chair from the motion. The boy - ah, gods, he wasn't a boy anymore - it was so hard to think of them all grown with children of their own... anyway, he needed toughening up.

Love should be celebrated passionately, wantonly, by strangers and kin alike! We are adding to their blessings.

(She was very good at convincing herself of a thing.)

And then a shadow loomed over the both of them. At first Valeska thought there might be rain, but she looked up at the sky and it was clear; confusion written across her face, she turned, and quickly realized the heavy presence was not, in fact, the weather, but a very large and regal-looking man with a stern countenance.

A berry fell out of her open mouth.

His head moved ever so slightly to indicate a polite bow, and Valeska, caught completely unprepared, lowered her own and accidentally clipped against Amaris' side in doing so and botched the motion.

Ah, yes, she said, rallying quickly, You did not! We heard of your great celebration through our allies in Dawnbreak, and thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to introduce ourselves.

Valeska cleared her throat.

I am Valeska, High Priestess of Elysium, which did not land as importantly as Emperor Shenlei of Tianlong, but she wasn't finished. Ours was one of the first packs to settle this continent, residing in a place called Fate's Respite to the northwest. It is very nice, and has a great large lake, although my wife Amaranth and I are recently seeking to reti-

Did she just imagine a sharp look from Amaris?

Huh.

Anyway, we are a peaceful pack, one of great faith and - oh! Valeska prattled, We also invited Northfall, our other allies in the north. If you hear shouting that is louder than mine, it is them! They are Viking warriors. Very boisterous.

She took a moment to pause and lean in toward her son's silver ear.

Давай, скажи что-нибудь, (Come on, say something) she hissed. Cкоро это станет твоей работой! (This is about to be your job!)

While smiling at Shenlei.