Strel was happily curled into his lover's arms, resting against his strong chest. Noss had his arm under the Dauphin's neck and fingers were playing with the dyed locks on his head. They were muttering words to each other as the redheaded man traced patterns in the pelt on the warrior's chest. Soft, low laughter echoed in their small room. The two of them were being quiet, both doors closed to keep everything private. Legs tangled over the layers of old blankets and new clean furs, the two of them were pressed dangerously close. Noss nibbled on his lover's ear and the redhead chuckled into the man's neck. With a sweep of motion, Strel straddled the warrior's thighs leaning over to give the man a lingering kiss when a howl came in from the distance. It was muffled by glass, brick, and wood, but both men still heard the call with looks of sadness and frustration.

Noss slipped from underneath the Dauphin's pelvis and left the bed. Strel sighed as he moved to the edge, smoothing out his tangled hair. Noss tossed the redhead a bone comb, which Strel ran through his locks with looks of pain as he rose to find his clothing. It would have been easier to travel without them, and faster to boot, but there was a level of propriety to be observed. Plus, they were not made to be folded on a shelf. As soon as he was dressed and ready, the redhead gave his lover a brief look of apology as he left their suite of rooms. Hopefully, this could be brief. "I'll be back soon, handsome," he said, disappearing out the doorway. All he heard was a grunt of recognition, and Strel countered with one of his own.

He slipped on his jacket with a sigh, heading off in the direction of the call. Raising his head, he returned it with one of acknowledgement. Soon enough, he caught sight of Ayasha mounted on a horse. The tribe really loved their horses, that much was clear. Eying his sister-in-law's adopted daughter, the redhead brushed back loose hair from his eyes. "Ayasha, what a surprise. What brings you here?" A look of concern flooded his features as he looked behind her. "Is something wrong?"

Thankfully, his adopted niece did not comment on the state of his hair or his clearly preoccupied mind. She did give him a look though he only gave her a look of pure innocence right back. He had nothing to tell and it was not his place to discuss such things with other people's spawn. It was only fair and Ayasha probably knew well enough as it was. Few people seemed to care, but Strel was sure there were naysayers somewhere in the background pointing fingers at him. Not that he cared a whit. He was in love and he had his love returned. Plus the relations were nothing if not fantastic. He was a happy man and everyone else could stuff their heads in a crab cage.

His generic question had clearly hit the nail on the head as the young woman dismounted from her horse. He nodded at her words, and gave her a look of concern. This was something important, it had to be. "Of course, you shouldn't feel afraid to come talk to me. I can be very secretive if I need to be, you know." Everyone had their little secrets. Lately, though, Strel felt as though he had run out of secrets and he lacked excitement. But what would he do to give himself that? He had responsibility on his shoulders, both to honor Noss and to act accordingly considering his high rank. "Is something going on at home, Ayasha?" he asked, simply trying to figure out what was going on with Ralla's daughter.

"He's lovely," he commented simply, not an expert on horseflesh in any way. Strel began to lead the young woman toward the manner, knowing that Noss would be happy to see Ayasha -- even if she had interrupted them. He would grumble but he would still be happy, regardless. "Come, we can have a drink and talk about it. I'm sure your other uncle would not want to be left out." He gave a light chuckle at the thought, as though it were all very funny. Strel simply waved his hand in the air absently. "Oh, we're fine, we're fine. Boring old farts, nothing more." Lavender eyes glanced sidelong at the young woman. "You gonna tell me what's going? What's got you running from home for a break?"

Strel carefully watched his adopted niece as she told him her story. It was a big problem and he was instantly torn between too many opinions in his own goddamn head. The more the young woman spoke the more his brows furrowed and the more grim the line of his lips seemed. Her words were hard to swallow, especially since it was all painfully familiar in some manner or another. She wanted to be free to make her own mistakes, to make her own choices and be her own person. Ayasha wanted to do what she wanted for the love she felt towards a boy, and the man could not help but feel supportive of her for that. Unfortunately it was not remotely simple. If it was just a normal boy, there should not have been a problem. Strel's face did not shift from calm and grim quiet even as the young woman described the boy she loved. It was difficult to say the very least.

"Thank you for the truthfulness, Ayasha." He was truly grateful she had not left out that information. Strel could not provide any help if she did not tell him all that he needed to hear. However, that did not make it remotely easier to take a side. On one, he thought she should try her own way in the world away from her mother, but he also saw the situation and the problem from Ralla's point of view and could hardly blame either one for their desires. His own rank made him think of the other consequences involved as well as the potential well being of his niece standing before him. "You couldn't have brought me a harder problem to solve?" he asked with light sarcasm as he attempted to remedy his grim look with a weak smile.

Sighing, the redheaded man waved Ayasha in and took her into the living room of the Hotel. With a barking call out the doorway, he sent for his mate and the woman's other uncle. "I'm afraid it's more complicated than that, Ayasha, sweet," he sat her down on the worn couch and took a seat beside her. Noss would come at his own pace, though he would have to be brought up to speed when he choose to appear. "On one hand, I fully agree with your mother," he said calmly, and put his hand up to make sure she did not protest immediately. "But on the other, I think you are in your own right to do as you want."

Noss came through the doorway, silent though he smiled as he saw his sister's adopted daughter on the couch before him. But he frowned when he saw the looks on their faces and choose to greet her in his tongue with a word and sit down in the empty armchair. It creaked under his weight , and Strel furrowed his brows at his mate. It would be quick enough for the warrior to grasp the problem at hand.

Turning his lavender gaze back on the young woman, the Dauphin sighed heavily as he sat back against the couch. "I don't like the sound of the young man, Ayasha. He sounds dangerous from what you say, especially if he's speaking to butterflies and kills for them. I don't want you to put yourself into that kind of a danger, but we all like to believe we can change someone." His gaze briefly flicked up at Noss before returning to Ayasha. "You do love him, right? He hasn't treated you badly or acted strangely around you?"