Sun Mote Copse Battle nobility's ill-advised whim.

After some thought with the Saints, and the pack meeting about the Firebirds- she saw it was time to present herself toward the group of birds. Cenric had already gone over to make amends, though a situation occured with their rosen child, and only sparked more hatred between the two.

But she wanted to survive in these lands.

Expand the domain of the Deorwine family, become what it once was. More then half of the family had perished in those fires, and those remain were surely not all in Kingslend. The tiny forest that the High Elk has loved is not enough to contain more then twenty or so wolves- so, Célnes was greedy for more.

That also meant steady relationships, above all else would she want neutrality, and avoid wariness, but it seems that could not be. She held a Dahlia. Grown in the seasons of fall, and perhaps matching the little boy that had come forth to meet her brother, Cenric. An offering of sorts, a greeting for but a simple neatrality as neighbors.

However, upon coming closer, the scent of them were dull, weak.. Almost gone. Upon the Golden Glade did she enter, but no one stopped the elken woman, and even closer to their domain of the Copse- no one was there.

The King, stood by the long-ago border of Firebirds, dropping a flower to their entrance, and stared out with fire-lit eyes.

She held a pleased smile.

Kingslend's King wasn't the only one lingering near the now-abandoned land. 

The elken man was inspecting it as well, taking a pleasing note in the pack's dispersal but for different reasons. More neutral land to inspect, fewer packs to potentially interfere with. He and Lio had come close to the forest that held his brethren unbeknownst to him, but he'd made a purposeful turn away from it simply for the reason that it was a pack-land. Whether he recognized the smells, he refused to dwell on it.

But it's doesn't look like it's going to be easy to shake the past. Especially now, as he silently observed the Deorwine woman from a slightly elevated vantage point. He recognized her immediately- how could he not? But whether the recognition would be mutual if she saw him, he couldn't say. Knox was blood sure, but he was the type that likely left a bitter taste in others' mouths. Especially that of the ruling line. He'd long since placed himself squarely in the roll of a troublesome outsider, having gone from trying to impress his scornful family to thwarting them out of sheer spite. But one way or the other, he'd found himself largely ignored.

The sight of her alone had his mind tumbling in thought, grappling with the realization he'd desperately been trying to avoid up until now.  Continuously feigning ignorance to the fact that Kingslend lived and reformed in this land where he just so happened to find himself. And one could assume the presence of the Great Elk was a factor too, maybe. But he'd remain unfaltering on the outside, unmoving, observing. He was conflicted on whether he wanted to back into the shadows and leave this moment be, or whether he'd just wait and see.

He ended up choosing the latter. Tempted by curiosity.

Though how could she not feel such a burning gaze to the back of her head? She narrowed her eyes and took a look around with but a smile, wondering who was the rat that decided to watch from afar, and not greet the King themself.  She was not well-versed in the series of emotions, but even she, could tell there was such a flurry from whoever was watching.

"Who is there?" She so called out.

Not spotted, but clearly his firey gaze had been noticed. There was still time to sink away into the shadows, to forget what he was now faced with.

No, he couldn't silence his meddlesomeness, now that his suspicions were on the verge of being confirmed. Curiosity was too strong, it'd tug at him frustratingly if he left it now. As much as he really wanted to turn away from the King's ilk and never look back.

Célnes. He spoke up, giving away his position with a greeting lacking any emotion at all, other than making it known that he knew her name with confidence.

"Cousin." She greeted with such warmth, and a smile of non-hostility, Célnes approached her 'cousin.' Technically not by blood, but married through by Calhoun's and Corliss's line, for he was their cousin, and not of her own. Nontheless, she greeted him as so, despite the wariness he may bring to her presence.

"You have survived as well." If Whitney had so, it wasn't a doubt that the others touched with the curse, surely have. Though despite such a small touch of the terror of white, he was scorned for those colors. The parents too, most likely feared on what they had done to gain a son with the touch. 

"Are your siblings with you?" Célnes asked curiously enough.

Bright auburn eyes narrowed ever so slightly. But despite himself, his lips upturned in a sickeningly honey-sweet smile in response. Somewhere in him, he was pleased she recognized him, but the Deorwine were awfully good at showing face. And so was he.

But that smile faltered quickly at the mention of his siblings. It was something he'd tried not to dwell on too much either. Had he looked for them? Of course he had, but the likelihood of them surviving had only grown slimmer and slimmer with each passing day. And if Célnes hadn't come across them either, with as many of their family's smells that lingered on her pelt... Then it was even lesser. He swallowed back whatever emotions threatened to break his visage.

They aren't. I haven't seen them since before the flames. He admitted, but opted to move on from that. What of the others?

"That is a shame, for they are not with us either." Célnes spoke of his worries and confirmed that his siblings were indeed, not at the new land. She could only hope if Knox survived, then perhaps the rest have as well. Especially with his case of a touch of the unholy, and going back to thoughts of Whitney.. They all, had to survive.

"It's a joyous day cousin, for many of us survived." She started to list the various names that were at home, especially his closer cousins; Calhoun, Corliss, Brewster, Odessa, Chad, Zephrine, Cynefrid, Eadwulf, Rohesia, Whitney, Glaedwine, and her own siblings as well. Though the King did not say that they were all currently at Kingslend, for a few were missing alongst the way to the forest, and some.. Killed in action. 

"Are you going to join us as well?"

Emotions crossed the Deorwine's firey eyes. Disappointment at the fact that his siblings were confirmed still missing in action, then interest at the mention of the black bear wolf who was his kin. Was Glaedwine really among them? The question hung on his lips but he said nothing, only mulling over the thought. Eadwulf was as well, though that was less surprising to him knowing what he did of his devotion. In a different life perhaps Knox would have been that way too, able to take the brunt of the daggers of others while remaining hopelessly devout. 

But the offer extended to him only brought upon the appearance of furrowed brows. Then, a quiet laugh, a shake of his head. He steered away from all that for the moment.

One has to wonder... Why? Why let your sacred land burn to the ground?... He pressed, in no particular way other than curiosity. What was her opinion on this? He wanted to pick her brain. Should she allow him- and if not? No harm no foul, for there was really little chance of him changing his mind now. It would take more than an offer.

If I did, Célnes... What's changed? From where I stand, I've been granted opportunities far greater than what I feel I could ever accomplish under scrutiny.

She will admit; Célnes was not particularly close to this cousin, Knox. She rose a brow to his laughing, and simply assumed he remained bitter at the old family. He did have a dabble of white after all, she did not doubt he had his own hardships that appeared in forms of bullying from the older, and younger generation. As a direct descendent, and wholly of warm browns, she had not experienced such antics.

"Who can say?" She could only shrug with a smile, letting it remain but a mystery. Saying why was but a fine line, for she could say it all the High Elk's doing, but then.. Would he really wish, for the death of hundreds of Deorwine's? While she wasn't the most devout follower, it was a large reason to question his doings. All by a trial, Célnes could imagine the rest would say.

"You could join and try to adjust what we once couldn't," the clear prejudice, "even now it is difficult, but with more help, times can change."