everything's magic-- Caden/Bion/Es?

[Paint]

so hear this plea
and watch as your heart speeds on endlessly
and look for the stars as the sun goes down
each breath that you take has a thunderous sound

Esmerelda had gone away, to think. After her conversation with that other pack member, she actually felt a little better about joining the pack. She hadn't seen Bion much since they'd agreed to be together, to start a family. But now she was excited.

She began to run, right from the centre of No Man's Land, heart pumping powerfully against her chest. After seeing Justyn, after fully realising what he had become, she felt compelled to join the Stars, to do her mother proud. Midnight would have wanted her to be a strong mother, a pack wolf, to support the family that she knew would be there. Support the survivors. Surely, Es was the last hope?

She stopped at the stream that naturally divided Caden's land from the unclaimed land. She looked around, almost fearfully, as the rain became to pour. Dramatic, she knew, but all it did was drive her more to join, to seek shelter and family. She followed the cliche, lifting her head and howling, asking Bion to meet her and Caden to consider her. She stepped slowly forwards, not wanting to be rude enough to cross into Caden's land yet, but feeling like she was closer to home now.

everything, everything's magic

[Fire]

Bion was sprinting before he even knew his feet had started moving. He'd been waiting for this moment for what seemed like a very long time, and he was more excited than ever now that it was about to happen. Es was going to join the pack, and they could be mates and start a family of their own. He felt like his heart was going to burst at the seams with pure happiness. It seemed almost too good to be true. Almost. But he knew that no dream could feel this real.
His heart hammered against his broad chest as he forced his body, which was clearly not meant for running, to move as fast as his legs would carry him. He'd been near the dens when he'd heard Es' voice from the borders, but soon he was hurtling through the forest, scaring away birds and foxes away with his super-wolf speed.

He hurtled out of the forest and came skidding to a sudden halt at the river, stumbling and almost falling in due to his over-enthusiastic attempt at stopping. He regained balance, panting like a lunatic, and looked up to see Esmerelda, and immediately burst into a grin at the sight of her. He inhaled deeply, laughing a little from nerves.
"Hey, Es," he greeted as he tried to regain control of his breathing. He sat down almost as soon as he arrived, feeling a little light headed after his journey of almost epic proportions. He took a few gulps of water from the river before looking back up at Es on the other side of the river, water dribbling down from the sides of his maw as he smiled cheerfully at her.
"Excited?" he asked, hoping she hadn't changed her mind and looking for a positive response. She was so pretty and lovely, he couldn't bare the thought of not spending as long as possible with her.

[[Midnight]]

The rain made Caden's mood shift to one of content to one of hyperactivity. He found himself unable to relax as the thunder crackled overhead. When the downpour became a steady soaking in his fur, the dusky brown wolf was ready to retreat to his den for the day. There was a muffled voice that suddenly called across the treetops, making his head bold upright and his ears twitch. It seemed to be near the border of his territory, at the Star Stream. He was close by, thankfully - he had no interest in running around in the rain. But duty called; this voice of a stranger seemed to be calling for him. So he jogged towards the stream, his breath making clouds of vapor around his muzzle.

It took him only a few minutes of travel time. Along the way he wondered who it is he was about to come across, and the thought that he could be ambushed flickered briefly across his mind. Of course, the stupidity and self-centeredness of it made him smile to himself. His tail was curled up in confidence and his head held high as he finally broke the cover of the undergrowth and padded into the clearing that marked the shores of the Star Stream. There, his eyes wandered downstream, where he saw two wolves; one he recognized as a fellow packmate, an Omega. The other was across the river, and was a strange to Caden. He wondered what this meeting was about, but instead of standing around trying to guess, he approached the couple at a long-strided pace.

As he was able to make out their faces more clearly, he dipped his head in a quick greeting, and pulled himself up to Bion's side, head turned in Esmerelda's direction.

"Who is this?" he asked, his voice full of curiosity but clearly guarded. His eyes were hard to read, but they seemed to flicker with thoughtfullness as he studied the female and stood side-by-side with Bion.

[Paint]

Es stepped back with a light laugh as Bion approached, nearly hurtling into the water. Thankfully it wasn't so deep, even if he had done. She looked up at him with a smile, tawny fur becoming slowly more soaked in the weather. But she didn't mind. She nodded her head quickly, almost shy with excitement, and her ears flickered in anticipation as she waited for Caden.

For some reason, she almost expected Caerwyn to step out. When Caden did, she felt her heart stutter uncomfortably, but it soon regained its usual beat. This was not the old Dancing Stars, she had to remind herself. Her family was no longer responsible for this pack, and they never had to be, ever again. She had personally felt the guilt for Caerwyn's actions eat away at her more and more as she grew older.

"Hello sir," she dipped her head respectfully, tail lowering. "My name is Esmerelda. I was a Dancing Star in the old valley, but decided to become a loner after travelling alone for so long. I met Bion in No Man's Land and we wished to become mates and start a family..."

She sighed slightly, not really sure if she was giving too much information or too little. Was Caden going to be angry at her? Think them irresponsible or something? Part of her didn't care, and part of her was frustrated with pack life already. Having to ask permission, having to consider other wolves' views of you. She shook her head slightly, ridding herself of this negativity. It was only because of her nervousness.

"I was hoping to join your pack, Caden, at whatever rank you deem suitable. I only wish to start my family, and stay with Bion, and if that involves becoming a pack wolf again then that is what I am asking for," she finished on a slightly stronger note, green eyes casting themselves out to Caden as she stared at him, awaiting a response.

[Fire]

As soon as Caden appeared Bion lowered his tail immediately and flicked his ears back submissively, unable to stop himself feeling a little nervous. There was no obvious reason for the alpha to not let Esmerelda join his pack. She was polite, courteous and no doubt would be a strong asset to the Stars, but it was the fact that he could, if he wished, decline her request and walk away. So much rested on him agreeing that it scared Bion a little. Pushing this fear away with all of his determination, he nodded a greeting back to the dominant dark brown wolf.
Knowing that it wasn't his place to talk on Es' behalf, his emerald gaze turned to his soon-to-be mate as she spoke. A smile began to curve on the edges of his lips, his heart welling with a kind of love and affection he had never felt before. Of course Caden would let her join them, why wouldn't he? Surely he'd be able to see what Bion could clearly see before him; a beautiful, vibrant, intelligent wolf. It was silly of him to be worrying. There was absolutely no way he would refuse her.

He felt a little giddy at the mention of their future family and he smiled reassuringly at her, his eyes lingering on her face a few moments longer than necessary before they flickered back to Caden. He tried desperately to keep calm and fight down the fear that clawed it's way up his throat, swallowing hard but trying to keep a relaxed position and expression (which was much harder than it looked, especially since Bion had no real experience in hiding his emotions). Nothing would go wrong, he reminded himself. Caden would understand.

[[Midnight]]

Caden's demeanor remained as it was; neither friendly nor unfriendly, and his eyes revealed only that he was processing what it was that this loner had just told him. After a moment, his pink tongue swiped the moisture off of his nose as he glanced over at Bion, who seemed to be in the middle of important thought himself. But in the omega's eyes was a clear emotion of adoration for this female, and approval. Caden didn't know Bion on an intimate level of friendship, but it was obvious to everyone that he was a very sensative wolf, full of kindness. If he loved this brown she-loner, she musn't be so different from him.

Besides, you can't stop love, and if Caden were to send her away, Bion would surely follow, and instead of gaining, the pack would lose two valuable energies, not to mention any pups that would be produced from this relationship.

Really, Caden had already made up his mind. He was not nearly as cruel as to send her away on no grounds and break Bion's heart, but something about the tone of her voice made Caden's ear twitch in slight suspicion. What he was suspicious of, he knew not, but he felt compelled to give her a small lecture before he blindly accepted her into the pack.

"I don't see why I shouldn't say yes," he started off with an accepting tone. "You've got years ahead of you, and the pack could use more little ones..."
As he trailed off, his brows furrowed very slightly, and he looked serious.
"There's more to this pack than Bion and your future family. If you say you're ready to leave behind the life of a loner and serve the pack, that's enough for me."

And then he smiled encouragingly, suddenly pleased at the prospect of a new pack member. It meant more mouths to feed, but another youthful set of teeth to get the job done. And the more wolves the pack had, the better, since Falling Moon was not too far off, and could someday threaten them all.

[Paint]

Esmerelda's smile flourished as her gratitude did.

"I'll serve the pack as best as I can, Caden. You just say the word and I'll do what it takes," she spoke honestly, not comprimising herself. She had made this decision and she intended to stick to it no matter what.

She couldn't help herself, she ran to Bion in a few graceful bounds across the water. Almost crashing into his side, she stopped short and licked his cheek, laughing slightly. She looked over at Caden again, green eyes alight with her happiness. At this point, anyway, she was completely committed. She hadn't realised how much she had wanted to join the pack with all of her procrastinating, but now she truly felt content.

And somewhere, she felt as if her mother was sighing with relief.