For two years, the wolf had waited for the return of Manov. Now, her daughter was dead and her adopted childeren were missing. Her former pack was split, and she recently found out that her old friend, Keilo, had died in battle. As hard as she tried to cling to the old days, she knew they were gone, and she had to start her new life.

Moving out of the Opake Mountains was a tough decision, but it was far from the first time she had been forced to abandon a territory. After informing Namir of her departure, Cortinarri set out to the western edge of the Valley, were conflic wasn't quite as rampant.

Cortinarri's first stop was at the Aspen Grove, a territory she knew was old and well established. Ears poised forward, the wolfess made her way along the border, taking in scents and reading what she could of this pack. It was large... and it had a solo alpha male. Perfect.

It didn't take long for Cortinarri to make up her mind; she tilted her head up and let loose a ringing howl. Maybe this would be the start of her new life.

She'd picked the right place for sympathy. The alpha here had lost one of his children and his mate and three daughters were missing; one son had even aligned himself with the enemy! Only Jagged remained alive and true. Maybe he would speak to his son about moving out and starting his own pack...

However, since the days when Lady had been around, Vestige had done very well for himself. Going from just himself and Liseli to the big and blossoming pack he now lead. His only concern was, where were they all?

So two years later, and Vestige was still going strong; He had the marks to show for it. Blind in one eye and with scars dotted across his body, with one very large one spanning the length of his neck, he had seen his fair share of fighting.

Cortinarri's howl was quick to reach the alpha's ears, and he woke from his slumber in a small clump of Aspen tree's. His ears pricked as he yawned and stretched before making his way towards the border where he could smell the female's scent. Lifting his head to show his rank, the arctic wolf approached her. “Hello, I’m Vestige. Alpha of Aspen Grove. Do you wish to join this pack?”

With the alpha's approach, Cortinarri let her head dip to a humbled level, having learned time and again the price that arrogance can have. "Vestige; I have heard that name more than once before." She first stated, recalling his title in relation to the battle at the Eskers. And though she knew not of his son's betrayal, it was common talk that his pack was one of the higher targets of the Haunters.

"Mine is Cortinarri, and I do wish to join you. I've gone too long without the familiarity of my own kind." Her head was given a further dip down, in a show of respect. But there was a certain aire about her, a subtle grace and a spark of defiance in her keen eyes. Her fur was sleek and healthy, and her body laced with toned muscle; it was only when she walked that a faint but noticeable limp would be seen. An old battle-wound from when she finally lost her hold on the Silver Glades.

He was happy she had shown respect and though he caught the flicker of defiance in her eyes, he smiled. "You may have heard my name as Public enemy Number one of the Shadow Haunters, or maybe through one of the many fights I seem to get into."

He listened to her, looking over her strong, shiny body. There was something about her that made him look twice, Something which he rarely did and had only done one previously. When he first met Lady.

"Well Cortinarri, I welcome you to the Aspen Grove pack. As long as you show respect towards me, and my Beta, Liseli, everything will be fine." He recalled the time when a certain wolf had crossed the line, causing him to lose control of his anger, and attack that certain pack member. It was a vivid memory, but he quickly shut it out, not wanting to visit the bad events of the past. His good eye looked up from the grass to her eyes, not in challenge, but a simple gesture to show courtesy and that his attention was on her. ”We’re quite a big pack, but a friendly one. Not built on strongest first or anything like that. Respect and look after one another are the main principals here.” He paused, his gaze momentarily dropping to the ground as he thought of what else to say. A few seconds of silence, and his deep voice filled the air again, ”We have four allied packs; The Hybrid Gang of the Pyrola Fields, though he haven’t heard from them in a while. Eternal and others of the Parnassian Meadows pack, though there is no activity in that land, which could well mean they aren’t there anymore. The Ochotona Mountains Pack, Led By Eytan and finally The Sapphire Brook Pack, Led by Larka. We also have a temporary alliance to The Shadow Lurkers, but that only lasts as long as The Shadow Haunters do…”

A howl echoed through the land, causing him to lift his head to catch the message. ”My son, Jagged, is calling the pack together.” He looked back at Cortinarri, ”Come on, we’ll go together.” He turned in the direction of the hill where Jagged stood, and after a few steps forward, turned back to the femme as he waited for her.