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"Stop!"

The little girl's instructions were unexpectedly underscored by the banging of a hastily opened door. Helpers carring good paused in the middle of setting dishes on the table. Selve happened to come out at the same moment, and opened her mouth to complain about the interruption.

But the boy who'd barged in knelt swiftly, hand on chest. "Forgive me, mother!" Thus young adults called their senoris when formality was required. This mother-father business was mighty confusing when every body and nobody was a parent. "I have brought a stranger here!"

Selve frowned dissapprovingly, perhaps worried about her 'family'. "Alright, I'll come see. No need to interrupt every one's dinner, Nalum!" Selve began to march out of the house, but paused at Kayu's chair. "You! Foriegner! Join us!"

Half-settled bowls tentatively made it the rest of the way to the table as a discontent grumbling started up. Strangers to the tribe were held in extreme distrust, Kayu an exception due to hard work and time. And even the occassional injured farmer or escaped slave was not generally introduced in such an aprupt, unconventional manner.

Aela was about to meet a very concerned "parent" who wanted no part of her.

Aela froze as Nalum burst through the door. She barely restrained herself from scowling as she watched the bustling house. She was angry. Angry and embarrassed. Such an introduction. Still, she was an ambassador for her people. And she'd be damned if she couldn't deal with one overeager, green boy. She flashed the brightest smile she could manage. "Forgive, me. I was...out for a walk and met your son." She smiled a bit sheepishly.

Don't go into that house. Kishi's voice was tense and on edge. I won't be able to get in if they close the door. She could barely see his dark form, crouching a distance away. He was using his nose more than his eyes. His sense of smell told him how many people were in the house, what sex they were, even what they'd eaten earlier in the day. He wasn't comfortable if she went somewhere where he couldn't follow.

She sighed. Don't get so worked up. They're just inviting me in for supper. She saw an older girl coming out of the house. She did her best to look harmless and innocent. If need be, she could shift to her wolf form with ease, escaping without too much trouble. She hesitated to let out her secret though. Plus she didn't want these strangers killing every wolf in sight just in case it might be her. She sighed. "Hello..." Her greeting was soft and preoccupied as she was also speaking to Kishi. I'm going in, dearheart. Don't worry so much...I can take care of myself... A snort and low growl -- picked up by her sharper hearing -- was her only reply.

Aela entered the home with Kishi growling unhappily in her head. She felt a bit uncomfortable in her warm clothes while the others were barely clothed at all. But not uncomfortable enough to take them off. She panicked a bit at the question. Should she tell them which tribe? Well...if they would think about it, it would be obvious anyway. The way she was dressed combined with her long, elaborate hair would tip them off. Unless she really was more filthy than she appeared. She flushed, nervous around so many people. It was easy to be confidant when your enemy was an inexperienced boy and your ally was right behind them. "T-the Demere tribe, ma'am." She stood there, awkwardly shifting her weight from foot to foot.

Kayu silently smiled to herself as she looked at Aela, and remembered how nervous she had felt when she first arrived at the Kiyap Turea camp. She walked to Aela's side, leaned over, and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry. Everyone here is very nice once they get to know you. Relax and enjoy the feast before all the food is gone."

Kayu returned to her seat next to Aiya, and promptly sat down. She reached over the table, grabbed a bread roll, and placed it on her plate. She then picked up a jug of dark colored ale, and poured herself a small amount of the drink. Kayu then folded her arms, and waited for Selve to take her seat and begin eating. Afterall, it would be rude to eat before the master of the house even sat down.

Selve settled into her seat without announcement. The adults started helping the children, but most people ignored the new guest. They were either trying to pretend that she was one of them and would know what to do, or they were trying to pretend that she wasn't there at all. Cretainly her other neighbor, a young man, had nothing to say to her. Tentative chatter started up as food made the rounds of the table, but the chatter was conveniently unimportant. 'How was your day?' was met with vagaries about where and when. The group was definately aware of her strangeness even if they tried to ignore it.

Smaller children like Aiya were not as good at these games. Aiya turned to Kayu. "Does she? Does she?" she asked. "Can ink on your skin make you fly? Are their horses the pagasis? I want to see her wings!" Convinced that something was being held back from her, Aiya made her best cute face to plead with Kayu.

"So," Aela heard someone across the table ask Selve. "What's she come for?"

"She didn't say," Selve replied calmly.

"But you sent Nalum off to tell the others, didn't you? He's certainly not at table."

"I'm sure he'll get dinner elsewhere."

(final exams for me, too, and my internet was out! Now it's back but I think shizuka should post next 4laugh )

"Ooooh! I love pets!" the little girl giggled. "Can we bring him bread like for the birds?"

The dinner commenced around them. There might not have been food overflowing the table, but there was enough to give every one a satisfying meal. When every one seemed to be finished up, Selve called Kayu and Aela to the kitchen to help clean up. Washing dishes was somewhat more of a private activity, and in Aela's case, Selve felt like she should work for showing up so unexpectedly.

"Tell me about this "out for a walk" story of yours," Selve began as she handed Aela a rag and a dirty dish.

((OOC-- you can answer the little girl and then just...skip time like I did)

The dining room was cleaned up as they talked. Aela seemed shy, and they kept getting interrupted by plates and other dishes being brought in for cleaning. Little children and cats seemed to dash between their feet every ten minutes.

"Never mind!" Selve interrupted just as Aela was starting. It was clear that they would never get any peace here. "Kayu, will you bring this girl to more important people who can deal with her problems? We must know where she is from, what she is doing here, and what to do about it."