Neverwinter Forest so dream while secrets of darkness unfold

arrival Jul 31st evening, @Mal

With the Yuèlóng wolves in tow she found herself on the border of Neverwinter again. For those who had not met Mal... the parentage of Huā's children was about to become plainly clear, and she blushed at that thought. While she left the pack a couple yards back to wait, the empress moved forward, sending out a call for her "it's complicated" friend, and settling back on her haunches to wait while she made her posture neat.

The howl definitely made his ears perk up. Mal wasn't aware of the weather -- he was pretty ignorant of the world, when you got right down to it, so he didn't know of any real reason for why Hua might be here. Not that he minded. Did she bring the kids? Was it some adults-only sleepover? Nah, let's be real, it was probably some new drama and they were never gonna have a personal conversation. Still, even if that, he'd show up looking nice. He started towards the source, shaking out his fur and making sure he was nice and presentable. Maybe he could throw in a bit of flirting and all that.

As soon as he spotted her, he grinned, trotting forward and happy to see her, though you could see the slight confusion as he noticed it wasn't just here. There were quite a few wolves lurking about -- some of his children among them. And was that Ying? Uhh. Blink. Still, he wasn't gonna stop his smile just because of that. Okay, he'd pretend they weren't there for right now because there had to be an explanation. Hua! What's bringing you out here this evening? he said with a wag of his tail as he slowed, a look to her, to the group, back to her sort of just wondering whether he should go up to give her a more personal greeting or if the audience meant he should be more standoffish. He'd base his reaction based on hers.

His impeccable presentation didn't go unnoticed, but she could never be sure whether he was really that handsome or whether those feelings were merely the illusions of attraction. At the confusion that marked his face momentarily, she had to stifle a chuckle, amused. If only this was the sort of meeting they both wished it to be, but alas, there were more concerning matters at hand paw- made clear by the great crowd. 

There was a moment there too when he approached her that she struggled to pick a greeting too. A kiss was too familiar, and especially so in front of the crowd (even if they were some yards back,) but it felt too strange to treat him as if he were just any other allied leader- because he wasn't. He was more than that.

After that visible hesitation she stretched forward, offering a slightly friendly nudge of her muzzle to his cheek if allowed, before pulling away again. Mal, The empress hummed, I have great favor to ask. This may sound silly, but, ah... the other naturalist, they feel it too. There is big storm coming, we think- no, we feel- and I think it is not safe to keep us on island. Pause for some awkward silence. She didn't want to state the request out loud like a demand just yet, but that suggestion hung in the air as her gaze lingered past him to the unfamiliar forest beyond.

He certainly would allow! It would be silly to contemplate otherwise. His grin to her broadened again, but it was hard to flash a grin when already smiling, but perhaps it was more pointedly at her would be enough? Mal just wished it was just them -- it wasn't often that an entire pack went and cramped his style... Couldn't really top that though, could they?

But a brief flick of a look back to the group, then back to her, maybe a little more proper, a little more serious, Well, I certainly wouldn't want you or your pack to be in any danger. I'm guessing that since you're not alone, you'd like to stay here with us until it clears up? It was a second before he gave tipped his head and his expression turned a little playful, for several reasons, but it would, again, be silly for him to deny that.

He seemed to know exactly her plans- and thank god, because she would feel so awkward to ask directly. Instead she smiled softly, head tilted with brows turned upward in a slightly apologetic look, Yes, please. If this is okay. Maybe you get to know the kids better, She hummed, and then her expression shifted to match his playful one as well, Or me, too.

He was ready to agree even without what she added at the end, but with that he gave her a look which quickly turned again into a broad grin again. Did he need to say aloud he liked the sound of it? Well, his tail certainly wagged, By all means, call them forward and we can see about finding a place to get you all settled. If only he knew what was really gonna happen during the month but hey, ignorance is bliss, especially right now. A quick look back to the group, and a smile to them as well. He'd let Hua lead them.

With that, her gentle smile broke into a grin towards him, and she scampered a couple paces back again to gather the masses. Once everyone was ready, they would proceed into the safety of their ally's forest, Huā leading the way even if she was a bit unfamiliar with this place- she knew Mal would be able to direct them to some comfortable area or another in which to stay, snd so she had no worries.