"Thank you master" Shiva smiled then looked to the little girl and the group and was stunned to see another kitsune. Meleanie frowned a little when Rurik left but then smiled as she saw her friends. "Mel! Oh good she wasn't wrong with the directions this time, it's so good to see you again." One of the women smiled "Get ready" the male laughed as he unhooked the leash from the backpack and the little girl ran and nearly tackled Meleanie who laughed and hugged her petting her softly. "Mother, Father, these are my friends. Marcus, his wife Macy, Lilly, her sister Rose, Max, and this, as odd as it sounds, is my pet Ivy. I didn't know it until after I bought her but she's a shifter, I first saw her in her fox form." Mel introduced then smiled at her friends. "And as you guys know this is my mother Queen Irsa, my father King Atros and the man that just walked off is my brother Prince Rurik." she introduced still smiling but noticed a little that Ivy was eyeing Shiva as she left to go check on Imber.

"I don't have wine..." Rurik said to himself and sighed softly. "You should go get Rurik down here so that he can properly introduce himself." suggested Irsa. "I would but you know how he is love. He is not a party lover, or a social person." Atros replied. "Well he is at times." Irsa reminded before smiling at Mel's friends. "Well it's very nice to meet you. Give me one minute please." she said and quickly left to get Rurik who was actually walking out of his room with Sylph in his arms. "Rurik, come introduce yourself to your sister's friends, and come see her pet!" Irsa hissed and led Rurik downstairs. Rurik stared at Meleanie's friends but said nothing. He just stared at them and then glanced at the pet before petting Sylph and leaving to get some wine. Atros chuckled and shook his head. He knew how Rurik was in these situations so it didn't surprise him at all. "He's just a shy one." explained Atros.

"It's okay Mother really." Mel smiled some before chatting with her friends a bit then noticed more guests arriving. She knelt down to look at Ivy and smiled at her softly. "Why don't you go and see if you can play with the prince's or Shiva's pet? if you ask really really nicely I'm sure one of them will let you, just don't get lost okay?" she smiled softly and Ivy nodded happily before hugging Mel again and ran to where she saw Rurik go but calmed herself a little first before gently tugging his pants a little being that she was only about two and a half to three feet tall, about the size of a normal seven to ten year old. "Uhm, Mr. prince? could I pretty please play with your pet?" she asked not knowing exactly what to call him but knew she should call men mister and women miss... and Mel did call him Prince Rurik.

Feeling something tugging his pants, Rurik pulled his leg away and glared at the animal. "Why should I let you? Also why aren't you with your master huh?" Rurik asked and drank some more wine. "You shouldn't call me mister, that's for commoners. I'm a prince and will be addressed as such." he said and let out a sigh. "Sylph, do you feel like playing with this?" he asked and pointed to the pet. Sylph made a soft cooing sound and flapped his wings. "Alright, outside both of you." Rurik said and led them outside. "If you hurt Sylph, your master will never hear the end of it and I will never let you even get close to Sylph. Understood? Good. Now play nice, both of you." Rurik said before going back inside and running a hand through his hair. At least he was being left alone, everyone was happy then.

"Uh... uh... waaaaa" Ivy whimpered and started to cry some as she was yelled at but calmed a little when she was lead outside and sat on the ground looking at the gryphon sniffling a little before gently reaching out and petting Sylph softly. She cocked her head from side to side a bit before wiping her slight tears away with her sleeve and looked at Sylph trying to calm a bit before she would shift.

Mel was talking to a few guests who came up to her and her parents but frowned a little as she heard a slight whining noise coming from the kitchen. "Oh deer... he really isn't in the best mood is he? Or has he just never spoken to a child?" she asked her parents softly but was surprised when she didn't hear Ivy crying anymore

"Oh, he's in a somewhat good mood. If he wasn't, she would be dead." replied Atros before laughing softly. "My husband is right you know. That, and he is the youngest so he's not used to being around people younger than him." Irsa added softly. "No need to worry though, my son just loves his space." she said and Atros nodded in agreement before getting some wine for himself and for Irsa. Rurik was rather bored, he had nothing to do, and now he didn't even have Sylph to talk to. "This is just perfect..." he muttered sarcastically.

Sylph stared at the little girl before letting out a soft yawn as he lay on the grass and watched her closely. He had never seen her before and wasn't sure what she was going to do.

"Oh I don't think he would really hurt her for asking a question" Mel said softly before greeting and chatting with some of the guests.

SSoon ivy calmed completely as she watched Sylph. "Do you like to play?" She asked curiously before shifting into her fox form and wagged her tail playfully hoping he would play with her.

Shiva soon left her room after a little break and looked around for Rurik but fifigured he was in his own room. She easily went and knocked wanting to see if he was ok and if he needed anything

"Deary, you don't know your brother." Irsa said simply before excusing herself to talk with other guests. Atros took this time to go check on Rurik who was just sitting at the dining room table, alone as expected. "Rurik, what's wrong?" he asked as he sat down beside him and looked at him worriedly. "Nothing. I just don't like parties and I don't want to meet any of Meleanie's stupid friends or her annoying pet." Rurik replied easily? "I know, and that is why I am not going to force you to do that. I do wish you would at least try to enjoy the party instead of staying cooped up in here." Atros explained.

Sylph stared at the fox beside him and gently pecked her head with his beak and rolled around the grass happily.

Shiva noticed that Rurik wasn't in his room so headed to the kitchen to see if the others needed any help with the cleaning. As she entered she noticed Rurik and the king sitting at a table but noticed that they were talking so just went ahead to see what needed to be done.

Ivy yipped happily and playfully jumped on top of Sylph as he rolled causing her to roll with him but even to him it would be clear that she was just playing.

"I'll try my best to have a good time then father, I promise." Rurik promised. "Alright then. I'm going to be with your mother if yo need anything." Atros said before leaving the kitchen. Rurik sighed softly and drank his wine in silence before grabbing a bottle of wine for himself and his glass, then left the kitchen to sit at the living room where he just watched the guests enjoy the party. At least someone was having fun.

Sylph cried out as he continued to play around with his new play friend. Then he flapped his wings and flew to the tree branch and eyed the other pet from the tree, wondering if it could reach him.

Shiva frowned a little as she had just missed Rurik but easily started to help clean up some of the dishes just wanting to have something to do.

Mel looked around after she got done talking to a male that was there to see if they were compatible when she spotted Rurik and smiled. "Rurik may I introduce you to my friends? They would really like to meet you." she smiled softly as she approached her brother hoping he wouldn't mind.

Ivy gave little raspy barks as she ran around the tree for a few minutes before jumping up and managed to climb her way up to where Sylph was and licked him happily before jumping to another branch as though she had just tagged him.

Rurik looked over at Meleanie and raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think I want to meet your friends?" he asked and thought for a second about how he had promised his father that he would try to have a good time. "Very well. If they really want to meet me, then I suppose I shouldn't keep them waiting." Rurik muttered to himself and drank some more wine before standing. "Lead the way." he said plainly.

Sylph wasn't sure he liked being licked and quickly shook himself before flapping his wings and following the little fox.

"I'm sure you'll like them." Mel smiled a little trying to encourage him then smiled a bit more when he agreed and she easily lead him over to her small group of friends. "Hey guys this is my younger brother and the prince, Rurik, Rurik these are my friends, Marcus, his wife Macy, Lilly, her sister Rose, and Max" Mel introduced and was a little surprised at Rose as she blushed a little before she gave a slight kirtsy. "It's very nice to finally meet you Prince Rurik, Mel always gushed about you so it's nice to finally have a face to go with all her stories." Max laughed a little and Mel blushed a bit. "C-come on now no need to say all that." she said softly

Ivy yipped happily as she jumped from branch to branch wondering if the gryphan could actually catch her or not

Rurik gave a slight bow but kept a serious look on his face. "No need to lie to me, downs highly doubt that she gushes about me. She doesn't even know me." Rurik started and sipped his wine. He felt awkward just standing there in front of a group of people that he didn't know, and even though he just wanted to leave, he couldn't because of his promise to his father.

It wasn't very hard for Sylph to fly over to the fox and pick it up with his talons. Carefully, he dropped it back down onto the soft grass and cried out. He was getting rather hungry.

"Oh but it's no lie, she would always talk about what a cute kid you were and how she couldn't wait to see you again" Marcus said honestly and Mel blushed even more. "I'm sorry if we're keeping you or boring you, we all just really wanted to meet you." Liliy said softly noticing that Rurik looked rather uncomfortable.

ivy yelped some as she was picked up then just flopped over in the grass and yawned a bit having already warn herself out a bit between playing with Sylph and being rather hyper when they finally had gotten to the castle.

At this, Rurik glared at Meleanie. "How would you know what I looked like?! You weren't ever here, you never saw me grow. So you shouldn't be calling me things." he said to her and frowned slightly at what her friend said. "I don't know any of you, none of you are my friends. This is all new to me and I'm not sure how to feel about it. I promised my father that I would behave." Rurik said and shook his head. "I'm not sure why I'm even telling you this." he added.

Sylph yawned loudly and stretched out before curling up under the tree, tired from playing so much.

"Rurik.... I did see you when you were little, you were a very happy child, I left a little over half a year before your fifth birthday... I truly intended to come back for your birthday... but so many things happened that prevented me from coming home." Mel explained softly and Max frowned a little knowing what she was talking about. Mel frowned a little and started to stress some hoping that this wouldn't turn into a scene right in the middle of the party.

Ivy yawned as well and moved over towards Sylph cooing softly as she nuzzled him in a type of thanks for playing with her and curled up near him wanting to rest a bit as well.

Rurik said nothing only because he didn't want to cause a scene when there was a party. Taking a deep breath and letting out slowly to relax himself, Rurik stared at her friends and at Meleanie for a bit before turning and walking away. He really didn't need this right now. He was trying so hard to behave and Meleanie was annoying him just by speaking. Looking around, he wondered what else he could do to distract him self from this entire thing.

It wasn't surprising when Sylph felt the little fox curled up to him. He thought nothing of it though and soon fell to sleep.

Mel sighed a little but then smiledat her friends and spoke to them a bit before speaking with them more then went to start mingling again.

Shiva soon made her way out of the kitchen and spotted Rurik just sitting alone. "Hello master, is there anything that you need?" she asked softly with a smile wondering what coould be the matter, he just didn't look very happy at all.

"Me? Need anything? No...no I don't need anything. Go enjoy the party or whatever. I'll just stay right here and do nothing." Rurik replied and just stared at his feet, thinking about what he would do. Even though he had drank a lot of wine, he was still very thirsty but he couldn't do anything about it. His sister would probably yell at him and force him to stop if he started feeding.

"O-oh okay.... are you okay Master?" Shiva asked a bit worriedly since he didn't really seem okay.... he seemed both bored and almost like he was upset at the same time.

Rurik glared at her and balled up his fists. "I am perfectly fine Shiva! So why down you do as I say and leave me alone and enjoy this damned party!?" Rurik hissed angrily before looking around, wondering if anyone heard or saw him. Looking back at Shiva, he narrowed his eyes and motioned at her to leave him alone.

Shiva flinched and gave a little whimper when he snapped at her before nodding and leaving her body language clearly mimicking that of a whipped dog. He hadn't snapped at her like that in a bit so it really rather upset her, had she done something wrong? She just wanted to make sure he was okay... wasn't she supposed to do that?

The party went on for another hour or so before it was finally over. This pleased Rurik very much and he left to go see how Sylph was doing. When he got there, he noticed that both pets had fallen to sleep. "Poor thing, must have been very hungry." Rurik said to himself as he approached both the pets. Carefully, he shook Sylph until he woke up. "Hello sleepyhead. Are you hungry?" he asked. Sylph cooed and nodded his head, then woke up the little fox. "Well I am not going to feed her, I have no idea what she likes. She will have to as her master for food, not me. Come along you two, you've been outside long enough." Rurik said and led them inside where he started to get some food on a bowl for Sylph.

Ivy yawned softly as she awoke and looked up at the Prince curiously before fallowing him inside and turned back to normal once they were in. "Thank you for letting me play with Sylph it was allot of fun." she smiled happily before bowing a little and ran off to find Mel who was saying good bye to her friends. "Are you sure you all have to go already? I could put you all up for the night in the local inn? Or ask my parents, i'm sure they wouldn't mind... it is a very long trip back after all." she said worriedly before smiling at Ivy and petting her a bit. "Oh but we really wouldn't want to intrude." Max said worriedly and the others all seemed to agree. "Besides I'm sure your parents wouldn't want people they hardly know staying in their castle." he pointed out softly.

Shiva had spent most of her time either relaxing or holing throughout the party unsure of what else to do but was now helping with the rest of the staff to clean up hoping a bit that Rurik wasn't still upset with her... of course she was still a bit upset herself that he had snapped at her in such a way and wondered what she could do to make it better.