Whispers of Scarborough

The Meeting

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Scarborough Pack Territory



Kuma may have been an intimidating sight on his approach but the herbalist was significantly less so. Perhaps a keen eye might notice that his tail was not curled so without reason but to instead conceal an anxious pawing at the ground, where dark claws dug into the dirt to muddy otherwise pristine fur. Lurk was roughly the same age as the hound they'd captured but he was neither a scout nor hunter, there was no excess of muscle nor proficiency he could boast of. He was a herbalist. His job was to treat injuries and illness and look after those hurt... and yet there were rows of teeth between him and the one he'd needed to treat now, leading him to stiffen where he sat. Calm and composed, that was how he tried to sell himself as he saw realisation dawn on the group, yet it had not escaped his notice that Javier was particularly quiet.

"Yes!" Lurk said. Oh. That was a bit overeager. Best tone it down lest they claim the hound's life as a token for blackmail. "Yes. I'm the one who insisted on it. He can get around men without drawing their boomsticks," he spoke a touch calmer now. Settle. Settle. Don't pay mind to that twitching white tail-tip, trying desperately to wring out a degree of anxiousness that probably showed in his scent alone. All were calm, all was good, and if he calmed enough to hear more than his heartbeat, perhaps he'd hear the hound panting instead of wondering whether Javier still drew breath.

Rosehip didn't seem to know what to think. She looked back at the hound, then Spring, then at Rosemary anew- and yelped quite suddenly, when a moment of distraction allowed the hound to clamp his teeth on her leg. A mere pinch, really, he hadn't drawn blood-- but startling the young wolf allowed him to pull free of her own teeth.

"You-!" she bristled, then flinched away when a bristling grey figure saw fit to force its way between them. She was no coward but she was young, one could only have so much experience fighting against other wolves.  Her tail fell between her legs without meaning to.

"Get off him!" growled the aged apparition, all teeth and ill intent. If the hound seemed small compared to the herbalist, then he seemed positively tiny next to this one.

"Kuma," the stern voice of a female interrupted shortly, effectively quieting the older wolf. Neith was quite a stocky creature but a measured one. She looked upon their downed scout, still panting and wheezing, then back at the wolves surrounding the male. She too was panting now, yet trying to keep up an authoritative display in a... rather finicky situation. Wasn't it? One of her packmates lay bleeding on the floor and she wordlessly urged the herbalist to move with a motion of her head. Go. Check on him, she could not.

"... We've caused a stir," Neith said, a bit more hesitant than she meant to sound. A great lot of fur on her, intercepted here or there by scars from hunts or skirmishes. With such proximity, Rosemary might have an easier time noticing that one of her eyes was just a bit duller than the other. Still active,  yet undoubtedly damaged somehow. "My name is Neith. I would like to take responsibility for this as the pack leader. I wish to speak with yours." Pay no heed to the ear she'd bent in Javier's direction, hearing a whimper from the hound was bound to startle.

To their credit, the utonagan could not blame them for the cause of his pain. It was not the wound at his neck nor any obvious abuse making him sound off in such fashion, just a failed attempt at getting his rear end off the ground. Forget the panting and the blood spilt over his fur, it was his hips that troubled him the most just now. Overexertion was not kind to healthy animals, let alone ones with such poor breeding.

"Course... I'm a scout," he wheezed, pointedly trying to lean away from the herbalist until he got a nip on the ear for the effort. "Wh-who'd believe it?" Excuse him if he simply settled back down on the ground for the moment. He was fine. He was, but he felt like he'd swallowed his heart.

"You'll be a pelt if I get a hold of you," snarled Kuma, who evidently still had wrath to spare after that run. "Run to us you mangy whelp!"

"I believe Whim was alone with the pups," Lurk quietly supplied in an effort to mediate, "settle."

The Meeting

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Scarborough Pack Territory



"Rosehip, behind me!" Rosemary was on her feet in an instant, pushing herself between Kuma and Rosehip, guiding Team Spring behind her as her hackles raised. She didn't like the thought of fighting the big guy, but if it came to blows it was her responsibility to protect the trainees. She was clearly the smaller of the two, with the sleeker build of a chaser and the thinner fur of a desert wolf - but well-trained and easily the most experienced Scarborough wolf here. Not that that meant much in the face of what they were facing, but the danger was a cost she accepted. If death came to her, then...!

Neith's words cut through that line of thought, and slowly, Rosemary's hackles lowered. "Sunset, go get Amaranth," she said, to which Golden Sunset nodded earnestly and bounded off over the hill. Rosemary threw a glance in Kuma's direction, almost itching to chew him out for terrorizing the young adults, but all her training and life experience bid her not ignore when a pack leader spoke. Gathering herself with a deep breath, she bowed her head to Neith, formally, though not so deep as to leave an opening.

Then, chin tilting up proudly, she said, "Huntmistress Lieutenant Rosemary of Scarborough Pack and Chaseleader for Hunting Team Summer. Formerly a Commander for Team Fire Rising of the Sun's Kiss Pack, second division. I came into Scarborough after Sun's Kiss was scattered and decimated by a cowardly incursion by the Canyon's Fury pack, and have been serving my new pack with dignity and honor for two years and two seasons now. It is a pleasure and an honor to make your acquaintance, Packleader Neith."

At least the Packleader seemed to be holdung Kuma in check. Still, Rosemary felt a tingle crawl up her spine. These wolves were unknown - no neighbors of theirs. "On behalf of Scarborough Pack, I would like to apologize to the damage to your-" the next word catches in her mouth, but she forces it out. "Scout. We deal with intruding wolves differently than hunting dogs. Certainly you should understand, I hope."

Off to the side, Trailblazer's ears flattened. He felt guilty for attacking this strange pack's scout, and couldn't help but feel a bit culpable even after Rosemary had said it was her fault. The dusty-pelted wolf glanced over towards Lurk and Javier, watching the former tend to the latter. "You know, teaching a dog to spy on the movements of humans," he whispered to the others, attempting not to be heard. "You have to admit, it's kinda smart."

"They must have a lot of trust in him," Stalwart observed. "I hope he pays it back too. Heavens knows we there's enough wolves out there in need of a safe pack, and I can't imagine it's much different for dogs, even if they exist under human rulership. If it works for them, then why not...?"

"You both are crazy," said Thorn. "Have you seen humans and dogs together? They're made for each other. He even let himself be fitted with a harness." His fur was raised a bit. "That thing can't be comfortable, and you're gonna say it's just for disguise?" Then, glancing to Rosehip, he added, "Right, Rosehip?"

The other three remaining members of Team Spring were looking at her now.

The Meeting

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Scarborough Pack Territory



Kuma resembled a great, used shoe brush at the present. Upon closer inspection, the wolf didn't really look all too... well. He was old, six winters already, yet somehow he still looked older than that. White hairs filled the space around his nose and near his eyes and sometimes none at all-- he was large and strong, perhaps even a touch too heavy for his size, but his bushy, unkempt fur was not a flattering sight. Either he was ailing or...perhaps short on time. Whatever the situation, he still glowered at Rosehip for the blood that stained her fur, and later on  Rosemary when she saw fit to intervene. Maybe it was a good thing that someone else interrupted then, with the evident runt affectionately rubbing into the giant in an effort to nudge him away. Alas, the giant didn't budge.

"Get back here you scamp," Kuma barked at Rosehip, then snapped his teeth near Rosemary's face. An effort to scare her away, it seemed-- he hadn't actually gone for her snout for as close as he tried to get to it. Hot-headed but not unreasonable, for as difficult as it may be to tell the difference in the heat of the moment. He'd not take his anger out on someone uninvolved.

"Stop it," Neith ordered, "he's safe now." He was! It bore repeating and not just for Kuma's sake, reminding herself of that was helping her keep her own heckles from rising too far. She was the pack leader! That necessitated a cooler head than her packmates could or would offer, whether or not she felt the same appropriate for a situation... Nevertheless, she found herself somewhat stumped as Rosemary began listing off various titles. Oh, dear spirits, how big was this pack? That was a lot of potential trouble to find brewing at once. An eye fled to the side there but did not linger; she should not get distracted while a herbalist was tending to the hound.

"We were not aware of another pack in these parts," Neith confessed. A weakness revealed? Perhaps. At this stage, was it not better to be honest than to risk them thinking this some manner of a nefarious plan? She assumed so and tilted her head upward accordingly. It wasn't arrogance, no, but pride-- pride in the wolves that followed her. A pack leader didn't bow their head needlessly, it was simply a matter of honouring those who chose to follow them, those were the teachings she was raised by. "I am Packleader Neith,"  she inclined her head vaguely towards her pack members, "I am told they call us Whispers in these ends." Little else was ever heard of them from the mountains but howls muffled by the harsh winds.

"The wolves with me are Mekani,"  she eyed the runt briefly, "our Lead Hunter and my mate. The... protective one is Kuma, our hunter, Lurk--the herbalist--you've met and... that there is Javier." She sniffed in the hound's direction as if to emphasise the point. Rather an informal way of speaking for the leader of a pack but then,  there was little use for formalities within smaller packs. Everyone knew their duty, everyone stepped up and helped where they could, oft simply because there were too few of them to reliably distribute duties amongst. "I'll ask you to forgive our untoward approach but we've lost a packmate rather recently." Not a fan of losing another so soon, no. Some wounds were still fresh, perhaps more so for the snarling elder than anyone.

"For what reason do you apologize to me?" asked the she-wolf, who drew nearer for a change. No violence nor aggression could be seen there, just an effort to close the distance between them. "My scout was the one hurt," Neith emphasised the word, "and whether he is in a forgiving mood, I cannot say. You may see a manbringer but he is not lesser than any in my pack.  If that is hard to understand... then consider that he is in this state for trying to lead your wolves away from my pups. I value my young. Do you?" Not a threat, of course-- but a tool to drive the point home.

Neith was a collected thing, a bit unlike Rosehip at this moment, for the poor female didn't know where to look. She backed away on Rosemary's command but she didn't actually know... what to do with herself just now. She did it! She did well! She caught the manrbinger! Why were there suddenly lunatics claiming it theirs?

"Well, wolves didn't make that puppy harness for him!" she whispered back to the trio. "He was man's! He has to be, doesn't he?  I'll bet he still has an owner, an owner with a boomstick," she declared,  then stepped away as she tried to lick her face free of blood. No, ugh. It was not working. "He must be working with men. Maybe they are too? What if there's  still boomsticks in the woods?"

The Meeting

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Scarborough Pack Territory



Rosemary's heart did cartwheels as the finisher's jaws snapped in front of her - old or not, he was clearly a very seasoned veteran - but her discipline held, and she stood tall, not doing more than blinking at the display. Inwardly, she was trembling, but she suppressed it as best she could when she spoke. The temptation to snarl back at Kuma was strong but... no. No, she needed to follow protocol. She needed protocol to keep herself from doing anything stupid.

When Packleader Neith informed her that she would need to apologize to the puppy hound, however, it was all she could do not to melt a hole in the ground from her burning shame. It was undignified! He had a man-harness! He was a puppy hound! Yet, he was their scout... she closed her eyes, attempting to swallow her burdensome pride. She wasn't in Sun's Kiss anymore. Scarborough did things differently. A shaky breath. Still no sign of Team Summer or Amaranth. Where were they? She preferred being the lieutenant for a reason!

It didn't matter, she reflected, the smell of her own shame dancing in the wind. What would Amaranth want? What was in line with how Scarborough did things...?

She knew the answer, but it tasted vile in her mouth, bitter and regretful. For a few more seconds she stood, tall and proud, against a backdrop of sighing ferns. Slowly, a solitary cloud passed over the sun, casting a shadow over Rosemary. By the time she opened her eyes again, it had already passed, and her head lowered. Her tail was tucked between her legs.

"... Your packleader informs me that you are indeed a scout of the Whispers pack, Javier," she said, eyes averted to a particularly interesting bug hiding on the underside of a fern leaf. "I assumed you were luring men to our pack lands. Our scout lost wolves to men with boomsticks, and they had hunting dogs." Her ears flattened. "... I was wrong. I'm sorry."

Back with the young hunters, Trailblazer glances to Rosehip. "You don't actually think they wear wolf skins, do you? I'm pretty sure that isn't supposed to be literal."

Thorn, for a change, doesn't have a retort to play up their spookiness, but instead just watches the exchange between Rosemary and the strange wolves a bit sadly. "Why's she apologizing? He's the one who intruded."

"Most civilized packs don't kill each other's scouts, Thorn," says Stalwart, his brow furrowed. "We're not ferals for Moon's sake."

The Meeting

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Scarborough Pack Territory



Kuma was evidently not settling down. The large male was bristling from nose to tail tip, glaring daggers at the youngsters gathered here. Furious was a good word for the hunter so perhaps it was not all that strange that the Packleader wordlessly excused herself to pad towards him. No more words of warning were offered, just a nip to his mid-back that had him turning to face her at a moment's notice-- that was one way to get him to stop snarling. An effective one, it seemed! He quieted without a word exchanged, although it did nothing to smoothen out his fur.

"We didn't come here to pick a fight," Neith warned with a growl of her own. An effort to ease tempers on both sides, really. If she was willing to reprimand her own when they stepped out of line, wouldn't they be more likely to respond favourably too? One could hope, it was all that she could do until their Packleader arrived to help sort this misunderstanding. She was yet to be sure what to expect of them but so far, she rather liked what she'd seen of Rosemary. Disdain was obvious but well... so too was a willingness to observe reason, wasn't that a good basis for any beginning? It was not as if all amongst their ranks accepted Javier without a second glance.

The hound in question was, admittedly, still breathing heavily. He had some time to recover by now but then, he'd been running long before he encountered this group and it would take a while longer to collect himself after it. Nevertheless, he did tiredly sit himself up to face Rosemary so as to avoid craning his neck. Even now, he was shorter than her.

"... It's alright," he replied upon catching his breath. He glanced at Neith only briefly, with an apologetic curl of ears to follow. By the time he glanced back at Rosemary, he perked them back upwards and readjusted his weight a little to take it off an aching limb. "I deserved that," he said, stiff in tongue as he seemed in posture. One may well find the silence lingering for a bit, uninterrupted by the rest of his pack, evidently in an effort to prompt further explanation. Javier was not one who found words coming to him easily; he was far more sheepish than might be obvious at a glance.

"I was a hunting dog before," he finally explained, "part of that means knowing how to act as bait." Pay no heed to that flick of his tail, he was merely busy searching for words to answer with just now. Perhaps he'd gotten a bit foolish in the moment but hadn't this been a chance to prove himself too? Hadn't it worked? He glanced almost askance at Kuma and shrank a bit where he sat for the effort. The older wolf may be protective but he was by no means a friendly face, silent as he may now be. "I wanted to lead you away from the pups since we... lost one recently," Javier added, perhaps a touch quieter than he'd meant. There was a discomfort in bringing such a thing up near a grieving parent, even if he had to offer an explanation of some sort.

"... I don't remember men being frequent in these parts," Lurk interjected, "is that a recent change?" The herbalist huffed, though not in anger at Rosemary. No, he hadn't even taken his eyes off their downed scout for the duration of the conversation. "That's not good news," he declared.

Rosehip bristled in the meantime. Her fur puffed up unintentionally, a simple reaction to finding herself called out in such a manner. "Well, how would you explain it?"  she demanded, with a paw firmly stamped into the dirt."Could you make one of those puppy-harnesses?"

A quick look back at Javier had her baring her teeth. "Look! He admits it! What if he brought men with boomsticks? What if they're hiding somewhere?" she whispered.

The Meeting

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Scarborough Pack Territory



"Act as bait!" Rosemary practically spat the phrase out in disgust. "Is there anything they won't do?"

She listened to the conversation however, still feeling the burning pit in her stomach. Ugh, she had to lower herself before a puppy hound. And in front of the apprentice hunters of all things! Perhaps that's why she snapped at them next, turning towards the group of young wolves. "That's quite enough of that whispering!" she said. "I don't need you making us look bad in front of the other packs!" She couldn't help but have a defensive edge in her voice, and looked again back at the group. "You're to stand at attention until you're relieved by Team Summer, at which point-"

A new voice spoke from her left, much closer than she'd expected in her haze. "Easy there, Rosemary," comes the smoky tone of a very familiar wolf. Glancing to the left, the coyote-pelt sees the earthen tones and olive eyes of their Packleader, Amaranth. She was large, of androgynous build with a low alto voice that flowed like smoke over water. Rosemary felt her hackles lower as she turned to Packleader Amaranth, bowing her head slightly.

"My Alpha," she said.

"Packleader is fine," said Amaranth with a note of amusement in her voice. She glanced to the other wolves, and then leaned in to nose Rosemary's shoulder. "Tell me what happened."

As Amaranth and Rosemary spoke quietly to each other, another group of wolves rose up above the crest of the nearby hill. Team Summer, most notably containing both Rosehip's parents and the pack's Huntmaster, Basil.

Her mother, Thistledown, a light-grey furred veteran of five years with a scar by her right eye, rushed over to Amaranth's flank, immediately posing herself as muscle for the Packleader - a gesture which is likely unnecessary considering that Amaranth's no pushover herself - while her father, Riko, made his way over to Team Spring. The white wolf with black patches and some honey colorations along his back took a seat by the young hunters, not too far from Amaranth, but clearly paying more attention to the team. "Hey there Rosehip," he said, sounding a little proud. "We heard there was a hunting dog here, are you all okay?" He sniffed the wind, looking out to the horizon. "Nobody's reported scent of man, at least. Ooh, is that the guy back there? Hunting vest and everything." A pause. "Yeah... would you look at that?"

Golden Sunset had slipped back to the group along with Team Summer, and now rejoined her hunting team. "There's more of them," she said, sounding more worried than the older adults did. "What happened while I was gone?"

Meanwhile, Amaranth and Rosemary finished up, and the earthen packleader now turned to face Pack Whispers, approaching the wolf that Rosemary had indicated as their leader. "Packleader Amaranth," she introduced herself, dipping her head in respect to Packleader Neith. "It's my understanding that one of my hunters injured your scout."

The Meeting

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Scarborough Pack Territory



"No," Javier curtly replied. Bitter? Why yes, he was. Exceedingly so in some aspects-- but then, he had been found beneath a tree, with nought but a harness to keep him company. The hound had his own reasons for being distrustful of mankind, for all that the desire to return still pulled at him strongly. He snorted seemingly at nothing in particular, then raised up a paw to gently try pushing the white-pelted herbalist away. "I'm not dying," he grumbled.

"I can get you there if you keep asking," Lurk chided in reply. His tone was a playful one, even if he could not shake off an undertone of worry. Yes, the wound didn't look grave, that much was certain-- but he was also more intimately aware of the male's other health issues than others could boast. Wasn't it a herbalist's job to keep track of the pack's well-being? He thought so, which was why he wasn't parting from the seated hound but instead doted upon the same. A myriad of licks, nudges and observations found themselves halted by Rosemary's sudden snap. Lurk shrank a bit without meaning to, with a visible shift in his posture to make himself appear a bit smaller at a glance.

Rosehip looked just as startled, with grey ears folded flat against her head. She straightened up with time in an effort to look more serious and formal, quite the obvious look of a young thing trying to impress. Then another voice interrupted and she lowered her head into a bow to greet her Packleader. Amaranth's presence was a source of comfort in such a confusing situation, her body relaxed almost without meaning to. Perhaps her youth was showing. She couldn't quite help that little sway in her tail when she saw her parents, both eager to greet them and well aware that she oughtn't rush towards them with all the glee of a small pup. She was grown now! A brave and bold hunter! And still no less thrilled to see those nearest to her heart-- sue her, why don't you.

"Father," she greeted the older wolf fondly, "no one's hurt." A sniff. Well...There was blood on her muzzle but she stood by her words, no one important was hurt. What did a manbringer matter? She bristled when her green eyes passed over his russet fur. A rogue wolf was one thing but a hound? This one even confessed to belonging to men! To baiting animals--probably wolves--where the boomsticks were! How was she supposed to treat one of them nicely? The sheer thought made her take a step back and away from this new, odd pack. "It is. We caught him!" A point of pride, really. They stopped him from reaching the pups! ...She was still not convinced he was trying to do anything short of that.

"The white one came," Rosehip whispered, training an eye on Golden Sunset. "He called the other ones here and now, they're claiming the puppy-dog's their scout!" A preposterous thought, really! Who would work with a hunting dog? Unless... they too were working for men? She bristled quite visibly, yet to his credit, the hound seemed undisturbed by her flashing teeth. There was trust to be had in the wolves that surrounded him, Javier knew better than to make their work any harder.

"Havi," Neith interrupted with a calm tone. It was enough to make the hound face her with an apologetic expression. "Can you walk?" she asked softly.

"... Sure," Javier replied with a glint of curiosity in his eye.

The Packleader nodded thoughtfully. "Go back with Lurk and get some rest," she whispered, "and tell Gemini what happened when you get back." It was important to keep her Second informed of what went on but more than that, her eyes met Javier's with concern. He was small. Small and injured, a very bad combination to have if negotiations went South here.

He nodded at her, then slowly set about rising up to his feet anew. Nothing done without effort given the ache in his hips but the herbalist was near enough to help bear the dog's weight and support him in standing anew.

With those two prepearing to leave as per her orders, Neith turned to regard Amaranth with a long, perhaps impolite stare. Her heart was beating far too quickly for her liking but the Whispers' pack leader had no choice other than to take her disadvantage into consideration here. They were already trying to avoid war with one pack, she could not afford a proper war with another. Holding back on a sigh, Neith stepped forward and bowed her head low in turn.

"Neith," she echoed the greeting. Hers was not a slender build, she was wide and stocky, with a few visible scars marring her form. One among them passed over her left eye, the colour of which was just a touch paler than that of her right. She may well be an unsettling sight to those who hadn't known her well or seen her chase rustling leaves in the wind. Really... she may have been more doggish than their scout in some aspects. "I take full responsibility for what happened. We've settled not far from here just a day ago but we were not aware there was another pack so close by.  Because of my ignorance, he saw your packmembers as a threat and tried to lead them away from the pack." She paused to draw a breath, then glanced towards Javier for emphasis. There was a reason why he caused so much panic at a glance.

"I'll apologize for the trespassing," she said, "but I'll ask for your word that he'll not be targeted again. We will not sit idly by a second time." A point worth making, curt or not-- he was one of them.

The Meeting

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Scarborough Pack Territory



Amaranth's eyes turned to consider Javier. A hunting dog alright, born and bred. Slight of build, smelling of canine, he was even wearing a hunting harness - a fact that gave her pause before she turned her eyes back to the foreign Packleader. The murmurs of doubt had not escaped her ears. The nicest thing to do would be to wave it off, but with her pack's worries about the manbringer... she knew the tack to take. She rose to her full height, considering Neith, head tilting thoughtfully. "I will accept that under one condition," she says, loud enough to be heard by the hunting teams. "That you look me in the eyes and swear to me that this hunting dog has sworn off his human masters; that he neither works under them nor fosters loyalty to them, and has fully adopted life in a wolf pack. You would not be the first pack to have close-knit allies of other species, but I need you to look into my eyes, soul to soul, and give me your word." Her eyes half-lidding, she added, "I will know if you speak untrue."

As Amaranth spoke, Thistledown, Rosehip's mother, chanced a glance over to her daughter with a smile. Though she hadn't spoken yet, it was clear from the swiveled ear that she'd been tuning into their conversation, and now she threw in. "Good work, Rosehip," she said with a sharp smile and a hushed voice. "Dog's a lot bigger than the small game they've had you starting on. If you can take him down, you'll be great for the larger trails. You latching to the shoulder or neck like I told you? You give 'em hell and take no prisoners!" She stamped a paw to the ground approvingly, then turned her attention back to the meeting, though one ear remained swiveled to Rosehip and Riko.

"I'm glad nobody was hurt," says Riko. "You've got some big pawprints to follow, but it looks like you're finding your way just fine, kiddo." He pauses, tilting his head slightly. He speaks hushed too. "A hunting dog is a strange bedfellow for a wolf pack to say the least. I don't blame you your suspicion." Then with a quiet nod, he adds, "let's see what their Packleader has to say."

The rest of Team Spring also falls silent. Rosemary walks past the group, ears flattened, and stands by Basil's side, whispering something to him.

For everyone else, their eyes were set firmly on Packleader Neith, and a few on Javier as well. The pack waited, and around them, the wind blew.

Whispers Den

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: New Densite of the Pack of Whispers



The waiting was the worst part. At her back, Gemini could feel the eyes of the mothers, pupsitters, and pups, watching her as she stood vigilant outside the den. Her rusty tones hinted at a heritage in the south, and the shadows under her eyes paid homage to the restless nights her earlier life of sins had wrought. She'd heard the howls, as had the others; the barking, the warnings. Pray that senseless violence not take another young one from us, she thought, and worried for her pack's future. Pray that old dog doesn't run into the fangs of others like Sablja.

Like Sablja, and the blood dripping from her fangs as she told the enemy hunters that they would be the next example, posed over the corpse of their team lead. She'd been so violent back then, as though the shouting and blood and ruthless expansion of the pack would finally compensate for how little she felt like a man. The way she'd violently chased those thoughts, like she'd violently cleared the nesting dens and chased them into wilderness unknown. Like Sablja, when her and her twin brother had been marked with honor while the blood still stuck fresh under their paws. Like Sablja, where-

She gritted her teeth and shook her head. No! She wasn't there! She was here, and her strength could protect mothers and pups as it had once driven them from home. Above all, to use her life for something good. For good people, like the Pack of Whispers. Still, the uncertainty was like a set of fangs in her heart, and there she waited, with bated breath - until someone, either friend or foe, made itself known throughout the brush.

In the trees above, the wind blew mournful.

The Meeting

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Scarborough Pack Territory



Neith listened to the other leader in silence and without interruption. Her ears stood high, a sign of evident interest, yet her head hung low in a display that was, with time, seemingly adopted by her packmates. She could understand where Amaranth was coming from, the dangers of hunting hounds were not unknown to her pack but this was a situation she wasn't sure how to handle appropriately. On one hand, she had to placate this seemingly larger pack-- and on another, she could not turn a blind eye to the fact they'd hurt a fellow pack member, wolf or not. Perhaps the dilemma made itself visible without the use of words, in an ear that bent sideways to keep track of Javier's location. How would she face her pack if he had been killed?

Oddly, when she lifted her head, it was not to face Amaranth. The pack leader turned her attention to her mate, a small wolf with rich brown fur that somehow seemed smaller than their scout. Despite his stature, the runt was a healthy-looking thing, befitting the role of the pack's lead hunter. While he was neither the eldest nor strongest among them, the little stalker knew how to use their hunters to their fullest potential. He was clever yet dumbfounded when Neith finally spoke up.

"Could you answer that?" she asked him, prompting a pair of down-facing ears from the male.

"Sorry?" He looked puzzled more than anything.

Undeterred, Neith turned her attention to the finisher instead. "Kuma?"

"No," the male answered flatly. He lifted his head to meet her eye, for once without teeth bared at some soul or another. "... I'd have gone for your neck if you demanded I swear loyalty after leaving Sablja," he explained.

Seemingly satisfied, the stocky leader turned to face Amaranth anew. This time, with a head held high and a pair of ears that matched the gesture. "I've never asked my pack to swear their lives to me and I'll not begin today. If tomorrow he chose to return to his handlers, I'd wish him well on his way... but I wonder if he'd not be more likely to draw his fangs upon them given they left him in the mountains to die by our teeth," she huffed. No, no-- she knew it was no use getting worked up over what happened in the past but the thought still made her bristle. What she learned of humans was nothing short of despicable-- but wasn't that all the more reason to show the hound was not expendable to her pack?

"I don't know what your pack passes for loyalty but I'll remind you that he was ready to die at the fangs of your hunters to lead them away from our pups. If that isn't well-adjusted to life among us, I don't know what is." Perhaps, just perhaps, she'd give him an earful later about running back to their hunters when danger struck but that could wait. For the time being, Neith had others to worry about, like the Packleader whose worth she still measured with a questioning gaze. Amaranth was admittedly intimidating. "I don't want you to misunderstand, I'm not letting this go because you mistook him for a manbringer," Neith announced, "I'm willing to take responsibility because he made the mistake of treading on your territory-- there is no excuse for this to happen a second time. We didn't come here for a fight but I will not sit idly by while your wolves target my pack."

Rosehip couldn't quite believe her ears. Even if she stood at some distance from the two packleaders, the way this one defended a hunting hound of all things was making her bristle where she stood. He wore a harness! How did they believe he wasn't planning on leading humans to them when he still kept something like that? He was clearly a manbringer!

"...Thank you," she said with a glance back at her parents, and a sheepish attempt to smoothen down her fur. She should be able to control herself better if she wanted to prove herself! A matter easier said than done, although the compliments did make her chest swell with pride. "I did! I got him right by the neck!" She proclaimed. No need to mention having tumbled down with the same, no-- she did good! And hopefully, she'd do better a second time, if one ever came.

"Why are they even keeping it?" she whispered. It couldn't possibly be worth the risk of boomsticks being drawn, could it?

Whispers Den

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: New Densite of the Whispers



The waiting was, indeed, inducing anxiety in everyone. Perhaps that was why Whim was letting the pups get a bit rough in their play just now, pulling on his ear and chewing a long, sleek tail. He was the sole pupsitter for the moment, not accounting for little Vidra who was still in training. He was, thankfully, very easygoing too. A social beast and a terribly chatty one, which now nosed at the little ones and goaded them on. It was good training for what may be future hunters! More importantly, it was a good distraction from their missing parents and the tension that ruled over the remaining wolves. Look at him, little ones, he had a stick! A thing of great importance to pull and tug on just now.

"Shouldn't... more of us go?" Vidra whispered in what she hoped sounded like a merry tone-- alas, an adolescent was still a big pup. For all that she wanted to be of aid... she couldn't quite look as calm as the adults when trouble like this hit.

"Ih fine," Whim assured her around a mouthful of stick. He gave up after a moment, to let a little red pup proudly drag it around as if she'd overpowered him and stolen it. "Mekani wouldn't send Omega and Katja back if he thought they needed more of us,"  he explained with a merry bark, "I'm sure those two will be back from their patrol soon. Javier probably just got lost." He knew better but... well, did the little ones have to? A gentle tone and a calm exterior could do much to aid. Alas, they found themselves contested by a sharp bark and quick paws just now.

"Gemini!" Omega called out mid-run, bolting towards her with all the speed of a proud chaser. "Javier! I saw Javier!" It took a few moments for her to cross the distance between them but the young, eager huntress skidded to a halt before their Second-in-command with a somewhat clumsy flurry of movement. Excitement had a way of erasing the usual grace with which the female moved, to the point where she might have resembled a startled fox at times.

"Lurk's leading him back, I saw no one following them," she hurriedly reported, "I haven't seen the rest but Javier looks hurt."

The Meeting

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: Scarborough Pack Territory



For a long moment, Amaranth didn't speak. She looked coolly and thoughtfully at Neith as she laid into the situation, as she explained how she'd never force her wolves to swear loyalty, how Javier had been abandoned by his masters. Neith had pushed back against the Scarborough Packleader, and for a moment, silence hung in the air between them, cut only by the wind tossing through the clearing.

Thistledown disengaged from Team Spring, stepping even closer. The veteran huntress turned to Amaranth, her expression surprisingly neutral. In the back, Huntmaster Basil shifted his weight on his paws, watching intently.

All at once, Amaranth's eyes curled up in a smile, and she grinned. "Oh, I like you!" she said. "Consider him safe. I shall inform the hunters and scouts that he is to be treated as another pack's scout, with all the privileges and security that provides." Then, she sits on her haunches and turns to look at the assembled hunters. "Can I get a three fifths on that measure?" she calls out.

"Seconded," said Basil immediately, the other earthen-toned wolf turning to look at Packfather Riko, who hesitated for a moment.

"You're sure, Amaranth?" He looked down from his daughter up to his Packleader.

The Packleader nodded to him. "I'm sure."

Before he could raise his voice and give a vote, another wolf's voice cut in. Rosemary had returned to Basil's side, and now she raised her voice so that the other wolves might hear, her voice sharp, pointed.

"Three and majority!" The desert wolf stood tall, and as she continued, her eyes fixed on Javier in the background for a moment. "Three fifths of the leadership council has approved and the motion is passed. Javier is to be considered the scout of a neutral pack and given the privileges of such." A pause. Her ears flatten. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I should tell Holly and Thyme."

She turns to leave, but Basil brings his paw to her shoulder. He leans in and whispers something, and for a moment, Rosemary freezes... then she gives a shaky nod and nuzzles him reassuringly. A bitter smile behind her, and she makes her way deeper into Scarborough territory, leaving the others to handle the rest of the negotiation.

"And there you have it," says Amaranth with a self-satisfied smile. She hesitates, and then looks apologetic. "I'm surprised we didn't know about you and your scout already. Are you migrating? And don't... worry about the vote thing, it's just how we do things around here." She pauses. Her voice lowers a bit, so that hopefully only the two of them can hear. "Is your healer good on healing herbs? Our hunters did hurt one of your own, even if the circumstances are unusual. We've plenty to spare."

Whispers Den

Time & Weather: Noon, sunny with moderate wind.

Location: New Densite of the Whispers



The older veteran turned her ear towards Whim and Vidra as she kept watch. She didn't know how the sweetheart dealt with rambunctious pups all day, but bless his heart, he did. On hearing Vidra's question, Gemini turned to look at her. "Everyone's a bit on edge after the recent loss," she says. "Don't worry. They know what they're doing. They're good wolves, and..." ... it wasn't like the other packs were good packs, though. Her words caught in her throat, and she left the thought unfinished, coming out as only a "Hrm...". She settled down into her spot in front of the den.

Until a voice cut through the air like a gunshot! On seeing Omega bolting towards her, Gemini was on her feet, and she came to meet the younger huntress. Before a greeting can even leave her lips, she finds that Omega's already informed her, and Gemini looks out into the woods, as though she might catch sight of Javier. "Thank Moon!" she sighed. "Escort them both to the healer's den, keep an eye out for more strange wolves! How are the others doing? What kind of pack are we dealing with?"

The questions come out like bullets. She was hungry for answers. Staying in the dark while the others went to confront the strange pack was scary, but it was necessary for the good of her family, and so she paid attention to the younger chaser, eager for what scraps of information she could win before she ran off to do her job. I'd better intercept them too when they get close enough, she thought. Javier will know what we're looking at here.