The wanderlust had full hold of her now, and so Claudia had demanded of Madeline a trip. The redfurred woman had acquiesced, of course, and so the darling petit fils found herself bounding toward a very forbidding woodland. But her heavenblue eyes were not fearful, and she paused only upon the edge of the treeline for simple respect. "Madeline, I do not know this place. Call for them, so that they will come and meet me."

With a child's lilting voice, she ordered Madeline, but her eyes were cold and appraising as her guardian tilted back her delicate crown and gave out a gentle aria into the air. Small tail flung high, stance wide in a stance of dominance, that which had become second nature to the girl, she awaited the denziens of the forest to look upon her, and marvel at those features she herself found so unappealing.

He was tall, with eyes that bespoke seawaves lapping lazily at the sands of a beach. "Bonjour, Monsieur," Claudia greeted, though her stance did not relax in his presence. Her voice, however, was filled with respect, and her eyes bespoke a child's sense of wonderment in the presence of an illustrious figure. "I am Claudia and this is Madeline," she continued, motioning imperiously with her small head toward her guardian.


"We are new in these lands, and like very much to travel. I stumbled across the scent of your pack quite by mistake, and now I am intrigued. Will you tell us about it?" The last sentence was cast at the man rather breathlessly, and a cursory glance in Madeline's direction assured Claudia all was well. Therefore, she then let down her demanding stance, instead assuming one of careful neutrality, though the muscles in her small body were poised to carry her away if this man should show himself to be a murdering type.

Claudia listened, a wide beam spreading across her face, alighting her heavenblue eyes with interest. "Comment magnifique!" the French child murmured half to herself when he spoke his name — it fit him well, as did the ease of formality with which he spoke of his pack. Yet Madeline held back, and Claudia felt her unease almost palpably. The primality of her species governed that she should find sanctuary for herself and her guardian before the snows drove the prey into hiding, but she could not very well commit to such a thing without Madeline's consent. Though she was the more dominant of the pair, and the redfurred woman obeyed without combat, this was quite the decision, and would have to be made out of earshot of the handsome man.


"I am sure your pack is strong, monsieur," Claudia breathed in a vaguely flirtatious way not at all befitting her child's stature. "We shall talk, Madeline and I, and I shall give you my answer soon." Her gaze darted briefly to that of Styx; she awaited anything that he might say, before she would take herself and Madeline off for the evening.