[color=7ea7d8]The Ashen[/color] & [color=f6989d]The Soruli[/color]: Grooming Friendship [@Raindeer] [quote=@Raindeer] The Alpha grew more "gentle" with his sniffing of the female when her sounds of discontent were released, but not before fully taking in her scent and memorizing it. The hounds happily followed their friends and continued their purring the entire way, growing even more intense upon being given food or affection in form of petting, which was returned with gentle headbutting and licking of hands. As sounds of unknown origin came closer they grew somewhat cautious and their purring stopped as they tried to figure out what creature it came from, but kept following the birds out of curiosity. A clearing opened up before them, which was filled with more birds and massive tree. They looked at the tree in awe looked at what the birds were doing, intrigued by their actions.[/quote] Soruli visible under the massive tree were engulfed with different activities. Some were weaving patters with thinly cut leaves and flowers, others rested upon their backs and patted upon drums absent-mindedly as they gazed to the sky between the spaces of the leaves above. None seemed to be very active physically aside from a few pairs of Soruli, dancing about with staffs of wood spinning about them as if they were extensions of their body. (And perhaps one or two who are pulled into the brush behind the tree for other kinds of dancing.) Little kin, tiny Soruli letting out chirps and repeated phrases, peeked around the bodies of caretakers as all the Ashen Hounds were led to the eastern side of the Soruli clearing to rest upon mats of thick leaves within the shade as purring masses of fur and scale. Ima, Mica and Cor looks to the sheer number that followed them, Cor in particular letting out an impressed whistle before Ima turned to wave over assistance from the varying Soruli unoccupied. Little kin were kept with their caretakers, all others helped in this greeting of Ashen to the Soruli world. The sweet smelling pastes were brought as varying Ashen marks and scars were examined to soothe them, twigs and mud brushed out of the fur and pulled from scales. [quote]The Alpha sat down and held his eyes locked at the dark female, only having looked at the tree and the surrounding birds for a short time. When grooming and petting was once more started, he gently nudged the female in an attempt to keep her focused on him. The purring was once more growing louder among the hounds.[/quote] Mica holds back a trill of annoyance as she feels the leader nudge her, right eye only conveying the smallest twitch before she turns her head to look over at him, eyes connecting with his own as she offers a fruit- her other hand propped upon her hip. She mutters something about "needy" amid her directions to Soruli waiting to help about the fruit the Ashen enjoy most, gesturing to the remains of the one just fed to the Leader. ~~~ [color=f6989d]The Soruli[/color] & [color=9e0b0f]The Arsuron Traders[/color]: The Travel's Beginning [@Nerevarine] [quote]"If you are coming with us, I must warn you that our land is not as kind or forgiving as yours." Anjar conveyed over to Naho. "It is a harsh land, and death can come at any time." Though Anjar would make sure she was protected by his scouts, he knew that a creature raised in this kind of a land would have a hard time adjusting to the Arsuronic way of life.[/quote] Naho sits in contemplation for a short time, raising her head as she gives a nod of confidence, drawing to convey: [color=ed1c24][i]"The lands may be just as dangerous in different ways. Teach me what you must as we travel there."[/i][/color] Bowing her head to Anjar, calls and chirping of her decision ripple through the Soruli gathered, some immediately moving to help provide her with supplies for the trip. Fruits, nuts, healing pastes and more than a few large nuts filled with the supplies needed for grinding their dusts were provided to her just in case. Most items ended up tied around her waste with some form of vine inside of their egg-shaped containers the smallest ones tied to the top of a staff just a bit taller than her frame. A small drum was tucked under one of her arms. The pounding of other drums played heartbeat again as the masses assisted with preparations where they could and see the travelers off. The rainbows that existed with the Soruli and their various shades of fur and feather shifted as many lifted their arms to wave as the canoes were carried off, some climbing into the trees and following from branch to branch until they could no longer. One could easily notice the trader left behind amongst them all, his skin and features making him stand out in another fashion against the vibrantly accentuated grey bodies of the Soruli around him. He was either carried or allowed to walk with supervision to watch the departure. [quote]When he was sure that everyone was back in their canoe, Anjar took the Soruli into his own and began the return to Lotus Colony. The return was easier than the departure, the river flowing downhill and taking them back home with the current.[/quote] Observing how the traders entered and how they settled themselves, Naho carefully adjusts herself within her space on Anjar's canoe, the fear of falling out and into the water making her voice the primary means of returning the cheering and well wishes. As family and familiarity grew out of sight, as the heartbeat of drums grew further and further from her, she held her staff closer to her form. Her gaze lowers to the passing waters then to examine the canoe itself in wonder of its creation, noting what she could of its materials. 'This is like land upon water.' She lets out a soft happy chirp as she thinks of it that way her gaze rising to Anjar's back, then toward the other traders within their own canoes. She wondered of her first lessons in their ways, of the sounds they'd use to convey ideas as she ran her talons through her wild mane of bright red.