With the mention of her den a ways in the forest the dark male’s interest seemed peaked. His ears perked at the comment leaving Moonshadow to begin to wonder if she was possibly close to pack borders. She had traveled from the south and didn’t recall any borders nearby. “Well it isn’t much of a den, more like a hole I dug under some roots” the girl said with a slight nervous laugh. “But it’s about a 5 maybe 10 minute walk max from here. Far enough where you can’t hear the rushing water” she said with more conviction in her voice keeping the male’s stern gaze. She had noticed that she had come across as MILQUETOAST. She did have a tendency to be timid around those she did not know but it wasn’t a ruling personality trait.
The dark male had mentioned that running about was dangerous and he was right. Moonshadow needed to find a family and fast since winter was closing in. The youngster took a deep breath and a leap of faith. “If the offer still stands” she began with a pang of hesitation in her voice. “I do actually need some help with finding a pack…” she trailed off unsure how to finish her request but hoping that they understood what she was asking. She looked between the two pack wolves before her with hopeful eyes but was ready to hear the refusal. It would do any harm really if they said no for she’d be right back to where she was now, alone.
The two lone females besides her had introduced themselves. The silver one was Ayla StarRiver and the crème one was Autumn. Ayla had said that she was looking for food and was going to scavenge a nearby moose carcass. “Ahhh so that’s what that delectable smell was” the dark youngster thought to herself. The silver female also extended an invitation to any who would like to join her, which Autumn excitedly accepted. Moonshadow decided that she would go back later on her own so that she wouldn’t intrude. “I'm Moonshadow” responding to the crème girls question with a smile and flick of her tail. “Nice to meet you both” she said also looking at Ayla.
Nightingale listened to all around her speak. Her focus drifted to the scent of moose, and at the mention if it her ears perked. Nightingale knew the lone wolves needed it more than she, they were lone wolves, after all, and such opportunities could save ones life. Particularly with the impending winter. All introduced themselves, and as they all shared names, she hummed her own:
Nightingale!And listened on. Only one of the three admitted interest in joining a pack, and she peered to her male companion. Truth be told, he might be of more help here than she; her own standing in her pack was new, and while the leader she knew was fair and great, well, she wasn't sure what was in her bounds.
Still.I live far from here. I'm new in my own pack, so I do not know that I can promise your acceptance; the leader I know is fair and kind, and should you speak with her I think that she would permit you to run with us, so long as she finds your interaction to the standard she upholds her pack.Nightingale looked at the raven she-wolf, ears perked atop her head. Nightingale felt if the other could pull her weight and do as any wolf could do, she would be alright. The other—Moonshadow, she would soon learn—seemed like a good wolf, and Nightingale knew she could learn plenty about her on the long journey home if the other wished to join her. She glanced to the male who lived nearer. He might be able to promise more than she, and more than that he lived nearer. It would be more convenient for Moonshadow, but Nightingale would have felt rude not extending the opportunity when the other had asked.
This Autumn woman was content to listen, for the most part. She seemed sheepish and anxious, and Nightingale tilted her head.What about you guys? Girls???? Not interested in pack life? Winter approaches. It's a fatal time, for those on their own.Surely they knew that, but if not, Nightingale was unabashed in informing them, her tone the furthest thing from jocular. It was said not to be cruel, but to assist; there were two pack wolves here who might be able to help them, if they, too, were willing to ask. But maybe they did not desire it; she, in the beginning, had not after all. But it was a smart decision she made; her belly was full, her heart filling around {but not into} the strangest void she had ever known, and her soul—while still stuck in its search—content.
The smell of the moose was becoming unbearable. A whimper escaped Ayla's ebony lips involuntarily. She hadn't noticed how hungry she was until that moment. Her stomach growled angrily at her unwillingness to turn and feed it. But she kept steadfast and her silvery green flecked eyes stayed watching and waiting for a response. She knew she could fend for herself and she was a rather fast female and had no problem catching small prey if need be. But in her now pounding heart she hoped she could join a pack. Her snowy fur danced slowly as a light breeze reached her but did not penetrate her now thickening pelt. Ayla knew that she would try her best to benefit a pack, she could hunt, she knew basic healing but nothing more and she had stamina. She could be a healer with further training, a scout or even a hunter if given the chance. Being the sole pup of Alpha's had given her an edge that she was not beginning to understand. Ayla was deep in thought when suddenly she snapped back into reality. She looked at her ink dipped paws slightly embarrassed of her wandering mind. She looked up with a sheepish smile as if to apologize for being rude and not paying attention. She wanted to make a good impression pack wolves of not. Even if one of the loners decided to keep her company she would not object. They seemed level headed enough and though alittle skittish, they were kind. Such kindness went a long ways for Ayla and she was beginning to trust these strangers, though she didn't not know them. She felt comfortable with the wolves around her.
Kajika had worried about the youngest den location and its proximity to the lands that belonged to Fallen Tree Cove. Though he could understand the mistake if she had in fact made her home too close to the territory that belonged to his pack. However she had not and indeed it wasn’t too far from where they stood then and a few hours away from Fallen Tree Cove, “Good,” was all that he said in regards to that, he would hate having to make her move it. She also seemed to grasp the fact that he was trying to help them and had asked for help with finding a pack. The dark pelted girl was the one that he worried most about she was barely a yearling but he would be willing to take her under his wing. The girl Ayla had also expressed interest in joining a pack as well.
Kajika allowed his companion who he now knew her full name to speak on the matter of packs first. He found out that she was new to her pack and wasn’t sure if she could promise them a place in her pack. When Nightingale had finished speaking he spoke, “My pack isn’t far from here and my alpha's are kind and fair. If you are willing to pull your weight I think they would be willing to allow you join. At the very least Moonshadow I can speak to them specifically and then come to find you if you would like me to do that? I’m Kajika by the way,” he added so that they would know his name if they came looking.
“As for the rest of you should you change your minds you can come to the borders of my packs lands and call for me I will come,” he added just so they would know what to do since he did understand the decision that they needed to make.
In the corner of her eye the youngster could see Ayla fidgeting with hunger, zoning in and out of the conversation. Her own tummy rumbled, to remind her that it was empty, as if she would forget. Autumn whispered to the silver female that they would go eat right after they were all don’t talking. That wasn’t a bad plan Moonshadow thought. She would eventually do the same but would try to catch some fish first so that they could eat in peace.
Autumn's comment brought a quirk to her brow.
Ah, what?The songbird took a {mental} step back and licked her chops, elaborating in case the other hadn't understood.I wouldn't take you into the territory; we'd wait at the borders, for sure. If you ever entered a territory alone, yeah, probably that would happen... I mean, it's trespassing.The other had to understand that that evil alone was a necessary one; and it was not evil, truly, as the wolves were protecting their land, their caches, and if any were had, their young. There was no greater cause for violence than that. It went against everything in her to wish to trespass; those mistakes more often than not were fatal.But if you're on the borders for a fair reason, like, say, joining or sent on a scouting quest or something... that's not trespassing.It all truly depended on situation, too. Enemy packs might not be so keen to not attack said enemy on their border.
At the others admittance, 'Gale nodded.I'm from a River pack,and that was the extent of what she would say. The Caldera had instilled in her the idea ofless is morewhen it came to giving out pack intelligence. More often than not, they pressed, others could use it against you. While the songbird believed the best in everyone she could appreciate that mindset; better to not even chance putting her pack at risk. She looked to Kajika and smiled fondly, her tail waving.Whatever you guys decide is cool with me. But I think everyone should eat first, lest the bears catch the same wind, nevermind other carnivores.With that the songbird turned toward the moose; for good reason she did not pause. Already the bears seemed to catch whiff of this interesting thing, and eagles had descended upon it to pick at it.
Trotting behind Nightingale she noticed coyotes had began to pick at the old bull. A growl bubbled up and through her lips as the watched the mangy dogs. She quickened her pace and erupted into a full run, ramming one of them in the side causing it to yelp surprised by the sudden pain. The others stopped what they were doing to see what was wrong with their companion and stepped back when they saw the female. Some scattered while others stayed to try to defend to meal they had found. Ayla stood stiffly as her pelt bristled and her growl deepened. It really was a transformation from the happy go lucky wolf she was moments ago, but hunger and past experiences had made her hate coyotes. They had tried to kill her when she was a pup, stealing her away from the den only to be killed just as they almost got away with the mewing pup. They had taken her small meals that she caught as a loner many times as well. So a hate had developed in her heart for the ugly creatures. She snapped viciously at the one nearest to her but her teeth clicked loudly as she barely missed the yote. "Nasty ugly disgusting mutts!" she growled out loud with venom plain on her tongue.
The question about his pack was one that he didn’t answer too lightly since he didn’t want to share too much information about his pack with anyone. He could however share its name at the very least, “I’m from a pack called Fallen Tree Cove,” he told, “And I think that is smart, weighing your options,” he added looking directly at Autumn. He was starting to wonder that perhaps this girl might not be as bad off as he thought, “It is after all what I did when I was in the same position as you.” He gave Moonshadow a nod in response to her stating it was nice to meet them.
Nightingale brought the moose up once more stating that she thought that they should all eat before one of the other predators took advantage of the carcass before they could. He returned her smile, “We should get going then,” she said to her before starting off in the direction the scent had come from keeping an eye on what the bears were doing and his other on the rest of the wolves with him. He wanted to make sure that they all had a chance to get something to eat before he left them.