Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ren reached the guard post about the same time as the wolves were leaving. They flowed around her and headed off. One of the guards tossed her a key, and she used it to unlock the weights on her arms and legs. Boy, did she feel like she was about to float away once they were gone! She headed to the kitchen and told one of the cooks to make her a salad with as many fruits and nuts as they could find. She needed the slow-acting sugar.

Ren sat beside Astrayl at the meeting, listening closely to the issues being discussed. She blushed a little at her cousin's assessment of her and the estate heads' shock, glad she'd returned her mask to it's place over her face when they'd returned because it hid the color in her cheeks.

Dragana's lips quirked upward at Marnie's half-serious joke. Her aunt was quite likely to do such a thing, though if she went too far, Dragana had no qualms about setting dragon spirits on her to keep her within the borders of Drayce lands.

"I haven't been invited to one before. The Wolf clan holds one once a year, I believe, and is generally open to those within their territory. Outsiders are usually invited by clan members, though we are to be special guests of Shira personally. I can only assume she has something she wishes to share with the other Whisperers and their apprentices."

She folded her hands in her lap and gazed at Marnie, a more serious look in her eye. "Now, what of your questions about the spirits?"

Dragana wasn't nearly as well versed in the spirit lore of the other clans as she was in that of dragons, but she wanted to hear the questions still.

Dragana nodded, remembering when she'd asked the almost exact same question to her master. He'd only slapped her for "being an impertinent little slut" rather than admitting his ignorance.

"From my experience, the size of a dragon spirit will vary depending on how powerful it is and how old it is. The most powerful dragon spirits would be the deep ocean ones, and I've heard legends of one that encircles the entire world through the ocean." She tapped the side of her cheek in thought, then added, "I'm not certain I could speak on the other clans' spirits. I haven't ever battled with one of them, so there's been no need for any of us to summon our most powerful allies. I would assume they vary just like our dragons do, but I haven't really confirmed it. It's a bit rude to simply ask the other Whisperers to divulge their secrets. I wouldn't tell them much about the dragon spirits if they asked, after all."

She looked over at the dragons that had returned and were cavorting in the air, nipping at each others' tails and pulling on the manes of those who had them. "I have never heard any of the other spirits speak either, though I've watched them communicate with their Whisperers. The Ram Whisperer once confided in me that the dragons sound as if they're communicating in whistles and screeches, though to us it sounds like words."

Dragana beckoned one of the larger dragons to her and held out her arm. It immediately sped over and looped itself around her arm, looking a bit like a very large snake with legs.

"Can you understand the other clans' spirit animals?"

The dragon shook its head. :No. I think the older ones might, since they've had time to learn their languages, but I can't. Did you want me to learn, Mistress?:

"No, my darling, I was simply curious. Thank you, you can go back to your games."

The dragon uncoiled from around her arm and took off, returning to the others. Dragana looked back to her apprentice and raised one eyebrow. "Does that answer your question?"

By the time everyone had regained their composure, Astrayl was laying at the front playing with a small circular piece of metal. "Are you guys quite done yet?" The fastest to regain their composure was Lord Domiko, he basically slapped himself to try and find out if what Astrayl said was a dream or not. Soon the Grizzly leader spoke, "Astrayl if what you say is true, how did the Drayce Whisperer react?" Astrayl smiled and sat back up. "Well she seemed to be all for it. Really why shouldn't we be. It isn't a known secret that we produce the strongest warriors in the land. One small part of our army could take out a kingdom. Also, we can be a bit secretive, she may or may not want insight into how things are run around here. She probably doesn't even know that the Whisperer only makes up about three-fourths of the authority, while you guys make up the rest. Well now that I have a apprentice, Ren has a say now too." He smiled at her then went back to the lords. Astrayl's father regained himself then spoke in his usual stern tone. "Astrayl, no one here is more happy to here that you have been engage then your mother and I. But what is the whisperer like. We don't want to marry you off to some girl who just wants your power. We want her to be able to stand on her own two feet." Then Lord Sakura, Astrayl's mother spoke as well. "I know, why don't you allow us to meet with your fiance and her family? This will allow to get a first glance on what she is like." Astrayl knew she was going to suggest this plan, it only seemed logical really. Astrayl smiled at his mother. "I have talked to Dragana about this matter. She says she will come by in a few weeks once she has taken care of some business at home." His mother seemed some what pleased but not entirely convinced.

After a couple more hours of talking and arguing about other matters, Astrayl decided to end the meeting. "We will come back in one month. Everyone..." All the clan leaders stood, along with Astrayl and the elders. Astrayl then started to speak. "May we live long, but if we are to choose battle, then let our deaths be glorious and righteous. We as warriors must be strong, vigilant, and above all righteous." With that Astrayl bowed to them and they returned by bowing as shouting. "For the strength of the Bear!" With that they all left except Astrayl, Ren, Lady Sakura, and Lord Zetsu.

Zetsu walked up to Astrayl and gave him a big hug while crying tears of joy. "You are engaged, I don't even have to meet her to approve." He grabbed his son by the shoulders and looked at him. "I am just glad this has happened and that I may have grandchildren." Astrayl just sighed as his father finished. Then his mother came up to him and instead of open arms she raised one hand up and to the side. "Astrayl, my son, you are a..." Then she slapped him across the face with enough force to send him through the wall of the room and into the courtyard. "Fool!" She stepped out and walked over to her son. "I want you to marry a girl as much as your father, but who said it had to be another whisperer. I will not approve till I meet her." She started to walk away with Lord Zetsu close behind. Then she stopped and made one more glance toward her son. "If she is not here within three days to come meet your father and I, then I will not approve of this marriage. Thus, it will not happen and you will marry a girl I myself choose. Understand?" Astrayl would have spoken but found that if he did he would lose to his mother no matter what. She was more stubborn then anyone he knew, also three times as deadly seeing as how she is the bear clan's top weapon master. "Yes mother, I understand."

Astrayl sighed after his parents left then noticed Ren coming to his aid. "Thanks Ren, there is only so much I can take from your aunt." He took the girls hand and hoisted himself to his feet. "Well looks like this might create complications." He started to walk towards the kitchen. "Come on Ren. Time for a small lecture while we eat." When they got there, the chefs had already prepared a full course for the two of them. "Your aunt is the head of the household, you know that much. When you take over there are a couple things you should know about each of the lords and also the elders." Astrayl sat down while expecting Ren to sit across from him. "Ok first is your Aunt and Uncle. Lady Sakura is the head of the household. Like every other women I know, including yourself, she is stubborn and strong willed. The fact that she is one of the clan's deadliest warriors does not make her any easier to handle. When she was talking about three days, she meant it." Astrayl was trying to go over scenarios in his head where he could convince Dragana to visit if only for a day.

"On to your Uncle, my father Lord Zetsu. He is my mother's one weakness. The two of them fell in love on the field of battle. Ever since then, my mother acts frail when ever he makes a request." Astrayl started to cut into the fried goose that was placed in front of him. "Now this doesn't mean he himself is easy to handle. Currently, the only person in the clan who is stronger then him is me. I will admit that if we fought, I would have to go all out just to beat him." After he told her about his father, Astrayl continued to explain about every other lord and their weaknesses and what kind of ideas they had.

During the entire conversation, Astrayl had eaten three grilled geese, two whole cooked chickens, five whole fish, a small piece of whale meat, and four cooked lambs. "Now that last people you should know about are the elders. The only thing I can really tell you is to never trust them." With that Astrayl finished, thanked the chef, then got up. "Alright now that the boring part is over lets go spar."

(Everytime I check in here I'm like 'Yay! It's so close to the top!' Then I get in and I still can't really post XD )

Ren sensed the blow and dodged by simply twisting to the side. She grabbed Astrayl's wrist in one hand and puled downward, pressing up on his elbow with the other, meaning to flip him.

((Drunken fist?! Lol!!!! Isn't that a Naruto reference?))