Gwen & *Others*

Gwen rested near the base of the rusted staircase, enjoying the relatively cool conditions inside the warehouse, while the outside smoldered in summer's unyielding heat. The brindle alphess was mostly content, and looked with pride at the pack gathered about in their metal den. Things had been unseasonably peaceful for the once notorious Shadow Lurkers, and while Gwen was always ready to dive into battle should it be needed, she greatly enjoyed the calm that had been gifted her family during her reign.

Argolis was not far from his daughter, sprawled on his side, where his darker brindle coat rose and fell idly as he slumbered. He too welcomed the neutrality, especially as his old bones were making it harder to keep up with the rest of the pack even on good days.

Coyota and her son Cael were nearer to the front doors, where the coyodog could look out and see the occasional two-legger pass by. Cael was curled up at her backside, eyes resting on the ragged blanket where Desmon use to sleep. His ebony brows were pinched in troubling thoughts, not only for his late packmate, but for the felines that had devastated his life seasons ago.

Darkwing

"Gwen!" The peregrine's cry rang loudly in the cavernous building as she coasted in through one of the higher broken windows. "Honz!" She circled once and then dove down, coming to a brisk landing before Gwen. "Pirqua found an intruder-" Darkwing stopped herself and hastily amended her wording, "possible ally entering our lands. She didn't really say who, but she's marking their location now." The falcon unfolded her wings, hanging them out at her sides as she prepared to take flight again at the order of Gwen or Honz, and lead them to Pirqua and the unknown canine in their territory.

Gwen & *Others*

The brindle alpha was scrambling to her paws as soon as Darkwing hailed her with such urgency. "Intruder? Ally...?" Gwen hardly had the time to react to the rush of scattered information the falcon was launching at her, and didn't want to wait around in the Den while an unknown was transgressing their lands. "Thank you, Darkwing. Lead the way." She turned back to her pack, giving a bark for her mate before addressing the others, "War Dance, come with me. Coyota, stay here with the others, but be ready to mobilize."

War Dance was already on her paws, ready to go.

Coyota shuffled herself up into a sitting position, and nudged her son. "Up you go, Cael. Keep an eye at the door. I'll stand guard at the roof." The lithe canine sauntered for the rickety staircase, making her way to the rooftop where she could help keep an eye out for any danger.

Argolis too sprung into action, without needing to be told. "Howl if anything goes amiss." The ex-alpha made his way to one of the windows, climbing stiffly onto a desk to peer out and keep watch.

Darkwing

Her wings shot out and bursts into motion, carrying the peregrine falcon into the air. She circled upward and then dove out the upper window, where she'd wait for Gwen and War Dance. Once they were outside, she would lead them to the Alleys where her mother was tracking the other canid.

Gwen & *Others*

Gwen was out the door in a flash, squeezing past Cael. Like a shadow to her mom, War Dance followed just behind, keeping up with her dam stride for stride.

"Good luck, guys." Cael offered meekly. His long ears were plastered back, basically a horizontal extension of his skull at this point. He peeked his lean muzzle out the door after them, then quickly retreated and crouched back on his haunches within the safety of the den. More than once, the ebony wolfdog would glance about the building, taking note of where the rest of the Lurkers were.

"Easy, Cael." Argolis' baritone vocals came in a calming rumble after noticing how flighty his packmate was. "This is likely an ally, or at the very least a stranger that shouldn't be a problem for Gwen and War." The elder Lurker looked back through the dusty remnants of the window, where bits of shed hair and grime coated the once pristine glass. "If nothing else, we're all a howl away."

Cael vaguely nodded at Argolis and let his tail thump against the ground, appreciating the comforting words. It didn't really settle the anxiety in his gut, but he knew the ex-alpha's words to be true.