Starscream & Others

In the days and weeks that followed the earthquake that had scattered the Haunters, Starscream had ordered his pack to stay close, with frequent patrols sent to monitor their borders. He had not heard word from their enemies in all that time, despite Tersek's threats for revenge, and couldn't know that the massive pack had been splintered in a tactical usurping by one of its own defected members. The reprieve from their old adversary allowed the tattered pack to heal and recover from their ordeals at least, and cope with the loss of some of their own members. Sakura and Sentalia were on the forefront of Scream's mind during this time, but as the days and nights slipped by, the alpha slowly began to accept the inevitable; two of his children had perished. Even if they had survived the mudslide, they could not have lived for so many weeks on their own with the care of an adult.

---

Wind rustled through the leaves of the forest and tugged at the alpha's tail, where he sat along the trunk of an old catalpa tree, pushed almost horizontal against the ground after the mudslide, yet still stubbornly clinging to life with roots deeply imbedded in the upturned soil. The hot air brought the scent of death with it, but also the familiar smell of packmates; Crow was not far off, satiating a sweet tooth by snacking on fallen mulberries. In'Alak was with him, as always, and Keap was even further upwind somewhere. A crackle of leaves had Scream's ear swiveling back, but the distinct rustle of a squirrel hopping through the leaf litter hardly warranted any more of his attention. The big wolf parted his jaws in a hearty sigh, and settled down on his belly, stretching out across the broad surface of the tree trunk.

---

Almost a mile downwind from where Starscream and most of the pack was resting, an interloper was crossing into their land for the second time. The long-legged bulldog hadn't so much as paused before passing by a stump that was very clearly scent-marked. Ignorant of his transgression, and driven by a hunger that left his stomach gaunt and his ribs poking out against his white and brindle coat, Hutch traveled deeper into the Aspen Grove's territory...

Kaina*Others

Not too far distant from the fallen tree, a pale silver muzzle shifted into the wind, both analyzing the scents that reached her, and simply enjoying the relief from the hot, heavy air. Shifting through the myriad of scents with an attention for detail that had more to do with habit than with any superior sense of smell, Kaina achieved a greater sense of what was going on around her than most. "A good, warm summer means a gentler winter," she finally replied, to the larger female strolling beside her, who'd commented on the weather a few moments ago, before Kaina had been caught up in her senses. In the lazy hours of the day, where temperatures were starting to warm up, but hadn't yet peaked, and few of them could be bothered to do much in the way of strenuous activity, the small-bodied female had taken up something she'd often done, since the attack; taking a slow, winding walk through the territory with Liseli, talking about insignificant matters and mostly just giving the aging beta a little bit of gentle exercise, which was not only good for her now that she had finally healed from her wounds... but also gave Cortinarri and Darling a break in tending to their friend, as that was quite often a full time job. Nearly every afternoon these days, if the weather was not too stifling, Kaina had taken to walking with her, providing the other two with the opportunity to get a quiet nap or enjoy a meal without the constant need to see after the daft female - it was something she'd taken up without prompting, and stuck to as all of them recovered, after the landslide.

Today was no different, as she led Liseli along the base of a ridge, just over on the other side of a hill from Starscream, and the elder of the two answered, "Ancestors know we could use it. Though I'd be just as happy if winter hurried about its business. I could go for a swim, in weather like this." Kaina favored her with a tolerant smile, knowing perfectly well that swimming was likely not a good plan with the heavy limp that still lingered in the one of the beta's forelegs, a side effect of taking such a grave injury as she had endured from Larsan, at a time when she had more winters behind her than before her. Still, the younger did not debate Liseli, and told her, "We haven't time now - Cortinarri will be awake soon enough, and looking for you. Perhaps another time." Also aware that the eccentric, often-forgetful older wolf would not remember their conversation on the next occasion that they spoke, Kaina felt safe in making that suggestion as she led the way up the rise, taking time to make her steps slow to accommodate Liseli as she puffed a little, but ultimately powered up the hill behind her. It was once they reached the top, where they could see a fair piece of their hilly home, that Kaina spotted a familiar, grizzly-gray shape that complemented the familiar scent that had reached her, reclined quietly on an overturned tree. The angle they'd approached at allowed her to see his profile well, while the distance between them was significant enough that she was relatively certain that he couldn't have heard the two of them coming, particularly with the wind in their favor as it had been. It was hard to define much from his features, even from this angle... but something must have spoken to her, because after a moment, she uncharacteristically interrupted the beta's rambling mid-sentence to prompt softly, "Liseli... I think I need to cut our walk a little short today. There's... something I need to do. Can you find your way back to the den from here?" Somewhat baffled by the sudden change in topic, it took the elder female a moment or two to catch up, but when she did, she offered an answer after only a moment of consideration. "West of the grandfather hill, north past the old fork tree. And west is... that way?" Correctly naming the landmarks that would guide her back to the den, Liseli then turned her nose to indicate a direction, and with relief, Kaina nodded. "Yes. Keap is between us and there, if you get lost." The young male might not be the best candidate to deal with the crazy old female, but at least he wouldn't injure Liseli, and he could find the den perfectly fine, where sometimes that skill evaded the aging female - if all else failed, she knew that he would ensure that Liseli reached Cortinarri, if only for his grandmother's sake.

With that assurance, she bid farewell to the other female and turned her steps toward the fallen tree, coming toward him from the rear and slightly to one side simply for ease of travel, and speaking his name gently as she drew closer. "Starscream?" That ovation was mostly to make him aware of her presence, because she was aware that her steps were deft and soft, often without intending to be; Kaina had taken to making a deliberate effort to walk heavily around Cortinarri and Liseli, whose hearing she suspected was fading, because her natural gait was light and silent. She spoke his name now only so that she would not startle him, when she moved up beside the tree he'd stretched out on and placed her front paws to the wood, in order to give herself the height needed to offer his shoulder and side a nuzzle in a warm, familiar way that had been growing all too frequent between them, in these last weeks. She didn't speak more though, leaving his name an open-ended question... an invitation to talk, more or less.

Tayzeka

Hulia had resided to tending to her growing pups that were left. Sakura one of her pups was gone and she still had not come to terms with it. She did not speak to anyone but her pups who were weaned and playing near her.

Megatron was still full of energy and despite loosing his sister he had pushed past it and was now wrestling with his uncle Kurok a little ways from his father and mother.

Torek was patrolling when he caught wind of hutch. He stopped sniffing the air and soon released a howl both to warn hutch and Starscream and kurok as he now changed his direction toward the interloper his tail stiff and ears forward. The bulldog soon came into view and he kept his posture wary but showing that he meant business. who are you? And why have you trespassed?He speaks.

Tayzeka had tried to help her sister cope. But it did not help. Glider was gone he had passed on a while ago so it wasn't like the father of the pups could comfort her. She took to staying near Starscream, partly because that just where she liked to be and of course once again she was in season and well one just tended to favor males. But this time she wasn't doing anything about it, no she had no mate, she would not have any more pups till then. She tilted her head as Kaina soon joined them. Her tail wagged.

Starscream & Others

Starscream was very aware of Tayzeka's current state, as well as her preference to stick close to him lately. It strained his attention at times, and more than once he found himself not just thinking about Tay, but staring in her direction. It was an impulse he might have very well acted upon if not for his growing desires for Kaina, who'd been his steadfast source of support since her inclusion into the pack, and a friendly, understanding ear to talk to when he had things on his mind. It put the alpha in an uncomfortable position, and he wasn't the only one - both his son and nephew had taken note of Tayzeka's estrus, and had been showing the she-wolf a bit more attention than usual. On this afternoon though, Starscream's mind was on other things, and when he heard Kaina call from behind him, he stood and turned around to greet her, offering the little fae a wag of his tail as Tayzeka did. "Kaina." He crouched a little on the trunk and turned his muzzle down to pass along her cheek. His tail wagged again then, "How'd the walk go today?" Shifting to the side, Scream hopped down from the tree and took a few steps away from it, flicking his tail against Kaina as he moved.

Torek's howl sudden rang out from somewhere near the border of their land, and Scream's fur rose. Ears standing tall, he listened for a moment before sending his voice to the sky, alerting Kurok and Keap, and urging them to join Torek. "Tay, check on your sister. Be ready to move her and the pups to the den." Starscream might have gone straight to Torek's location, but his howl was not particularly urgent, and the alpha was hesitant to leave Hulia and the young ones without enough protection, should things get dangerous.

---

Hutch heard something moving through the underbrush, and froze like a deer caught in headlights. He raised his head and perked his floppy ears as high as they would go, ready to turn and flee if this approaching beast turned out to be another big cat. When he saw it was a fellow canine instead, Hutch's long tail swayed very slightly in an anxious greeting, then quickly curled between his legs. "Trespassed? Oh, no... I didn't realize this was your home." This was a big wolf. His stance smacked of dominance, and in response, Hutch hunkered down and flattened his ears to his blocky head, "I was only looking for food, that's all. ...you don't have any food to spare... do you?"

Tayzeka

Tayzeka had rebuked both Keap and Crow numerous times. Though as time went on and Star ignored her attempts at getting close she had started letting both males dote on her. Not that it helped much. She saw him perk up as Kaina came and she sneezed to hid a slight growl. Her ears back. Tille the howl. She just go up and moved to join her sister and her and her sisters pups.

Kurok stopped wrestling with Megatron the moment he heard his brother and he took off to join up with him. He snorted ash e came up to the duo.NO we don't...He however; smelt something familar on him and that caused him to attempt to pin him.where is my niece you mongrel!He snarled loud and clear.

Torek kept his stance and then froze as Kurok came and soon lunged. He moved closer and sniffed the male and he bared his teeth growling.You better have a good explanation on why you have her scent on you! And where she is!He growled.

Hulia looked up at her sister and watched her brother run off.

Kaina*Others

"Oh, Tay! I didn't see you there." Immediately upon rearing up to bestow a bit of affection upon Starscream, the small wolfess had a view over the fallen tree, and spotted Tayzeka where she lay. She returned the friendly tail wave and would have continued to query about the health of her pups, bearing no ill will to the other female or her little ones despite her own developing relationship with Star, but the male himself turned to greet her before she could speak that question. As Tayzeka noted, he lit some just in the moment that he turned to face her, and in turn Kaina's features warmed as he caressed her cheek. The honey eyes closed for a fraction of a second as she leaned into the affection, and opened again only when her sharp ears told her that he had stepped down from his perch. With him coming down onto a level that was more manageable for her petite size, she dropped back onto all fours to answer him. "Her strength improves every day, I think. That foreleg will never be the same, but keeping moving on it every day will keep it mobile and fend off pain. And the routine is good for the mind. Traveling the terra every day, seeing the same sights... it gives her stability. And that, in turn, will make it easier on your mother and Darling, in looking after her." Knowing that the male had no real love for the eccentric beta, the small female phrased that as a general statement as to the health of a pack member, and used the connection to his mother and daughter to make it a little more personal to him. She nudged him again, this time beneath his chin, the eyes closing again as they passed through the grizzled coat, and might have continued on to ask how he'd spent his day, leaving off the more personal conversation she'd had in mind at first after realizing they weren't alone, but hesitated at a noise that briefly caught her attention. Tay sneezed harshly, and one of the large, keen ears flicked toward the sound, but something... strange- her eyes came open as though startled, but when she turned her glance to the other female, Tay had blanked her features, and shortly thereafter, the howl sounded, and her attention was drawn there instead. Starscream was not immediately alarmed though, and listening to Torek's voice, the female wasn't terribly worried either; the caution that the alpha displayed in sending Tay to her sister was wise to protect their pups. He didn't give Kaina herself any instructions however, and once the calls and steps of the others had faded away, she turned her eyes back to him. There was a moment where she glanced him over, remembering the expression on his face that had prompted her to cut her walk with Liseli short, and at last she nudged his muzzle with hers, and whispered, "You look tired."

Starscream & Others

Oh, Starscream loved the attention he was getting from the females, there was no doubt about that. It was in his blood, and his craving for it had been amplified after living so long with Nachi and her distinct lack of affection towards him. But it was the frequent nuzzles and companionship from Kaina that had hit a soft spot in the alpha, and despite feeling a twinge of jealousy himself at seeing his son and nephew squabble for Tayzeka's attention, he'd not interfered with their varied and mostly failed attempts at courting her. On the other paw, when he heard what he thought was a growl, and saw the mother's ears go back at Kaina's approach, Scream stiffened a little with anxiety and declined to intervene. He was very hesitant to get between two quarreling females. Before anything could come of it though, Torek's call and brought everyone's attention to the stranger at their border, and his thoughts immediately turned elsewhere. There was little time to answer Kaina's report on Liseli as he ordered Tay to rendezvous with her sister, and as Crow and In'Alak trotted briskly out from mulberry grove, he was quickly assigning them a role as well, "Go with Tay and Hulia; with that leg still healing, she stands no chance against an attack. Make sure the pups are together."

While the two friends dashed away, Starscream lingered where he stood for a moment, ears pointed in the direction of the conflict. Torek had not called again for additional assistance, and there was no rallying cry from the Haunters to be heard. Wary, but not unduly alarmed, the alpha turned his steps towards the den they lay some distance away, knowing his mother and two daughters were there. Haunters or not, he had to ensure they were safe until this situation was put to rest. In the meantime, Scream cracked a weary smile and bumped his tail against Kaina again, "I'd try to lie to you again.. but that'd go about as well as trying to slip one past my mother." The alpha paused suddenly and rotated an ear, responding to a sound in the distance. Another squirrel. Puffing out a quite breath, he carried on, "Being alpha will do that to you. Being a solo alpha, especially."

---

Starscream's lack of major concern was well founded at least, as Hutch made no attempt to fight the brothers that surrounded him. He yelped in surprise when Kurok rushed him, and went down on his back, belly up, to let the beta pin him. "I-I-I don't know who you're t-talking about!" The American bulldog squirmed, and his eyes shown wide with fear, "Honestly, I don't! I was just- I just was looking for food!" Sakura didn't even cross his mind, nor did his frazzled brain make the connection between her scent, and this pack. "Oh please, don't kill me! I'll leave right now, I swear! I won't come back!"

Kurok

Kurok knew he could take this snivling twig of a dog if he had to but he held back from seriously injuring him due to the smell of sakura on him.No I don't think you'll leave til lwe figure out why you smell like Sakura so you better dig into that brain of yours!He growled.

Hulia leg had healed for the most part, enough that it no longer bled if she scraped at all against it. It hurt still but her siblings seem to take care of her. Crow and Inalk came over soon.

Tayzeka didn't really like Kaina because she stoll star's attention, she wanted star but the more time Kaina spent with star the less she got and the more he pulled away. If he hadn't told her to go to her sister she would of probably gotten in a quarrel with Kaina. Her mind was on possibly moving further away from the pack.as much as she wanted to be with Star it did not seem he returned it so perhaps it would be best... She would let Crow or Keap be her mate but she was not sure which would be able to be the best let alone she had other plans, plans of slightly leaving the pack and becoming her own alpha.

Torek growled his head low as the brute claimed not to know.Perhaps if your able to tell us where she is perhaps our alpha might give you some scraps. She went missing about two weeks agoHe growled.

Kaina*Others

Very confused by the cold shoulder she was receiving from Tay, when only moments ago she'd gotten a polite, friendly greeting from her, Kaina nevertheless put the matter out of her mind. The other female hadn't been overtly aggressive or nasty to her, and so she didn't comment, rather leaving the awkward silence between them unbroken as Tayzeka trotted away to look after her sister. That left she and Starscream to a more private conversation, which he continued as he turned his paws toward the den himself, prompting Kaina to turn and walk closely beside him. "Lying to people who know you well very rarely works in your favor, whether you're seen through or not," she murmured, though she knew really that he wasn't serious about trying to pass a lie by her. He'd learned by now that this little female was keenly perceptive under the delicately-pretty features. "And if those people care about you, then they will call you out on it if it is necessary, like your mother and I do." The flick of his tail against her was a welcome contact that she accepted without otherwise mentioning it in any way, but when he at least admitted that he was tired, and even gave her a little more information on it, she reached up to twitch her nose at one of his ears, and then transformed that into a gentle nuzzle that traveled over the ear itself and nearby eye. "I keep telling you to take a little time for yourself." She shook her head mildly, and kept her steps even beside his, not dragging her feet because he needed to check on his family to feel secure. "I think you should take some time every afternoon and walk with me. Even just around the territory, the leisure time would do you good, and you can clear out your head. I usually walk with Liseli just after noon... I'll make a habit of coming to find you after that. And you'll take a break and come walk with me, understand?" What had started as a suggestion had quickly become almost more of an order, but in her gentle, sweet voice it was hard to take it offensively. And she truly had his best interests at heart; she'd noted that he'd been using her as a sounding board recently, both bouncing ideas off of her and simply venting about some of the things that stressed him, and with the understanding that he was wearied, she resolved that they needed to have their little talks ore often. He didn't have a mate to talk these things over with, as he'd pointed out - this was her effort to help lift some of that burden. As she moved beside him, her fur not quite close enough to mingle intimately with his, she kept her silence for several steps until finally she brought up one of the things she felt was probably troubling him. "You're worried about them, aren't you? The pups? You're afraid of what might have happened."

Starscream & Others

'There's Keap.' Somewhere between them and the interloper at the border, Keap's howl told the pack of his location and intentions - he was moving in to join Torek and his brother, in case they needed backup. With no further call for assistance though, Starscream kept to his own route, moving steadily but unhurriedly along a deer trail that would take them most of the way to the den. The land sloped gently here, leading into a field scattered with towering sunflowers and branching thistles. The remnants of a wooden fence lay broken and half rotten on the ground, marking the the edge of what had once been a field tilled and worked by humans, but whose scent was long ago washed away by the passage of so many years. Starscream bounded over it without a second thought, his focus being on the family waiting at the den, and the she-wolf at his side. "I would suppose it's a good thing. And don't tell my mother, but I much prefer your method of calling me out. You're... softer around the edges, with it." The alpha responded, waggish in manner, but truthful all the same. Up until now, his determined pace hadn't slowed in the slightest, but that changed when Kaina passed a nuzzle against him, and brought up a point that he was hard pressed to decline. Starscream slowed a little, and a smile briefly ventured across his muzzle at a thought that had crossed his mind. "Is that an order?" His words were curious rather than cross, and as he raised an eye at her, the smile came back and he chuckled quietly. "I'll concede to that. Why not? You haven't led me astray with your words of wisdom so far, and the pack is stabilizing." The next topic the small fae brought up was quick to draw away the smile from Starscream though. He looked ahead to the trail that stretched through the grass, "It's been three weeks, Kaina." His ears flicked back and the alpha shook his head, "We couldn't outrun that mud."

---

Hutch was as flat against the ground as he could go, and it were possible, he'd have sunk right into the dirt and leaves if it meant getting away from these two wolves. No.. make that three wolves, as a new one came galloping to join them. "Heh, what mutt is this?" Keap flagged his tail up and stalked stiffly around Hutch and the brothers, "Short furred, flat-nosed cur... we should kill him."

"Wait, wait!" Hutch whimpered pleadingly, darting his eyes between the trio, and ultimately looking towards Torek as the one who seemed the most reasonable. "Sakura, did you say? I-I remember that name... a pup, one of your pups?"

Kurok

Kurok was quiet content with killing him.He'd be dead if it weren't for the fact that he smells like SakuraThe thing was, he couldn't tell if it was a death smell of her or possibly live. His tail stiff and up in his beta status as his eyes bore down into the male below him.

torek was more reasonable as the dog thought. Not he liked the signs of the human mutts. Yes one of our pups where is she! If you killed her I will not stop my brother from killing youHe growled.

Tayzeka sat by her sister as she listened to evrything. She growled as she saw the two go off together. Why couldn't Kaina just leave! Once what ever was going on in the distance was done she was gonna leave.

Kaina*Others

The fence was a little more difficult for Kaina to clear, since she was just barely half of her companion’s size, but with a slight pause she drew back and got a little running start, and thus hopped over it without too much trouble. Her landing was smooth and unbothered, proving that the ankle she’d sprained had healed nicely, and without any more ado, she placed herself alongside him again as their stroll continued. “You respond better with a gentler touch,” she told him, when he pointed out that he preferred her method of calling him out on things. “Your mother means well, and has your best interests at heart – I really believe that. She’s just got some of that alpha left in her, is all.” She nudged him again there, mostly casual, friendly contact as they went on with their walk, and it was becoming very clear that Starscream wasn’t the only one enjoying the affection – her tail waved subtly, swatting the sunflowers and making them sway gently, despite whatever intentions she had of keeping this focused entirely on discussing stress relief with the male. “I wouldn’t call it an ‘order’… more-” She paused, and actually came to a stop to look up at him, and something she saw there must have startled her, because she cut herself off mid-sentence and blinked… and then picked up in a slightly different place. “… I just… I worry, when you fret like this. It can’t be good for your constitution, and-” Finally, she gave up that sentence with a small swallow, and without commenting further she turned her gaze aside and put a step of distance between them, where she’d been skimming his side with her fur, up to now. And she continued in silence until he replied to the topic she’d brought up in an effort to get him to talk to her, at which point she finally looked up at him again with a more somber expression. “Oh, Starscream…” She hesitated awkwardly for a moment or two, but then could not resist the urge to comfort him; she leaned in again and stroked the top of her head and the velvety ears up the side of his neck to counteract the distress that tried to take his voice. “…they were on the way to the Meadows… it’s still possible that they got lost somewhere between here and there, and-” She stopped, knowing even as she spoke that it was a vain hope. Even if they’d just gotten lost, they’d starved by now. Not knowing what else to say to lift his spirits, she came to a complete halt and leaned into him.

Starscream & Others

The heat that radiated from the field, where there was no canopy to offer shade from the unrelenting sun, and little breeze to cut through the tightly packed plants close to the ground, soon overwhelmed the alpha. He parted his jaws and began to pant, drawing cooler air through his lungs to combat the rise in temperature. His eyes fell on a dark line of trees that marked the opposite end of the field, where a few more minutes of walking would find them entering the shade of the forest once more. In the meantime, he pressed on through the swaying grasses, listening to his small companion and lifting the edge of his lip in a passing grin to her first comments. He certainly agreed with them, especially the note about his mother and her domineering habits. A non-verbal answer couldn't suffice for the next topic covered though, particularly as Kaina had stopped moving and turned her gaze deliberately to his face. Starscream came to a slower trot and quirked his head subtly. The she-wolf's behavior a bit out of the normal for her, and her fumbling words made him wonder. "You care, I appreciate that." Scream answered her at length, his thoughts clearly mulling a different subject. "You aren't one to lose track of your tongue so easily; you've got something else on your mind." He gave her space when she stepped away, but only for a moment before closing that gap in a single step, in an act meant to assuage whatever fear or nervousness had taken her, and encourage her to say what was on her mind. Of course, there were things on the alpha's mind now that he'd been unwilling to confront, and a show of support from Kaina made the words easier to speak. He allowed her to stop their stroll entirely, and after she'd turned a caress against him, Scream settled his muzzle against the plush fur of her neck and sighed deeply, "No." The alpha didn't let his eyes close against the pang of sorrow, even as he accepted the brutal reality of what had happened. "I would have called the scouting off a week ago, if it wasn't for Hulia. ..They're gone. Better that the earth took them quickly, than a starved stomach or rogue bear."

---

"Sakura?" Keap's eyes narrowed viciously. Yes, he could smell the pup now - or was it Hutch's own scent that was familiar, from where they'd crossed it just before the landslide weeks earlier? Either way, something was familiar about this bulldog. "You've been in our land before. I recognize your filthy odor!"

"Please, wait, wait! I-I remember! A little wolf pup, a little female? I found her, near this area... it was a ways back, I don't remember how long." Hutch squinted his eyes close when Keap got in his face, flashing his fangs. The wolf's hot breath sent a bolt of renewed terror racing down the dog's spine. "I thought she was orphaned, I was trying to help, honest! W-we went east of here, towards the marshes... we were just trying to find food, honest!"

Kurok

His snarls were rising in tone probably resounding around the whole territory. He kept him pinned so wanting to tear him to pieces if it wasn't for him speaking about Sakura. Then where is she? Cause I swear to god if you ate her you will suffer a painful deathHe snarled. If this males words were the truth where was Sakura?

Torek snarled as well moving closer.

Tay heard the snarls though all the way here they w ere light but she was sure they were very loud. Her fur was raised as she stood up and nudged her sister up to her three feet eyeing Crow and Inalak for help as she stayed next to her sister.

Hulia called the pups to them as she stood up. She was still adapting to be on three legs. She nearly fell over but recovered her compsure and began hobbling toward the den. It took all her energy still to get places. Her muscles had slightly withered away during the main part of her recovering.

Kaina

The heat was stifling out in the sun, and even at her smaller size, Kaina found it distinctly uncomfortable, soon panting a little herself as they toiled through the field. That wasn’t what encouraged her to put space between Starscream and herself, however – it was the sudden flood of doubts and fears that came into her mind, beating back the part of her that was trying to enjoy these moments for what they were. The wave of her tail slowed as she pulled away from him, and then jerked to a stop when he stepped toward her again, to close the careful gap she’d created. She restrained a flinch at the gentle touch, and didn’t quite succeed when he observantly called her own on her fumbling words. She continued strolling beside him in profound silence for several moments after that, but when finally they stopped, she looked up at him, and answered the words he’d spoken a few moments ago. “I didn’t lose track of my words, Starscream,” she told him, and her voice carried an emotional softness that had little to do with the volume. She hesitated again, and took a deep breath in through her nostrils before she went on, “I deliberately changed them. Changed them so that I wouldn’t lose track of them. Because words have power, and one has to be very careful how they use them.” She was quiet again then, letting him express what he was feeling, in the fear for what had happened to the pups that had been separated from them, and she nodded to indicate her agreement. “It is kinder that they would meet a quick fate, if it had to come,” she whispered. She was straddling the fine line between letting him guide the conversation, and keeping it focused on his troubles – that was her effort to draw things away from herself. But that faltered harshly when he drew his head down across the thick fur of her neck. She trembled at the touch, but not from fear that he would try to harm her… her mind was as far from that as could possibly be, but the shake didn’t let up as he stood still and held her against him. It couldn’t be cold, with the heat of the sun beating down upon them, but it was another moment or two before she spoke up again, keeping her tone determinedly controlled and even, though a bit softer. “I have many things on my mind, Starscream… we all do, in these days. That’s why I suggested walking.”

Starscream & Others

Halfway through the field now, a distant drone managed to draw the alpha's attention away from Kaina and towards the bright blue sky above. His ears flicked, honing in on the rumble, and guided his eyes to the southeast, where a small plane was just now coming into view. It was high enough up that Starscream didn't give it too much thought, but the loud, metal birds unnerved him greatly. He gave up his dominant posture for more of a skulking crouch, with his tail slung lower and his ears turned back to diminish his features amongst the grasses and tall flowers. The giant, roaring bird could not keep Starscream from hearing Kaina's response, or keeping his eyes from her for long though. With a final glance at the noisy thing in the air, Scream addressed the smaller fae, "Maybe, but it's not like you to not have your words in order before you speak them. You've got something on your mind." He was insistent about this, but not pointed in bringing it up, or forceful in confronting her with it. Nor was he particularly eager to discuss the two pups that had been lost in their pack, past the quiet acknowledgement that both were surely dead now. He allowed silence to reign, not willing to test his voice any further on that matter... he could feel his throat tightening already, and it took considerable willpower to bite back the images of his daughter, and the horrible guilt that ate at him for his early abandonment of his offspring. It was almost a welcome thing to have these thoughts deflected by such a curious change in Kaina's behavior, even if she covered it up with her careful, timely words. But she couldn't hide that tremble that took her when he moved in to reestablish contact and console whatever anxiety had taken her. "There is something else that's concerning you." He eventually drew his muzzle back, only so that he could look her in the face, while again settling his tail against her, like the comforting arm of a friend, "...Kaina, do you trust me?"

---

Far from the quiet field, Hutch could hear his pulse pounding loudly in his ears, almost as deafening as the snarls and growls from the wolves that surrounded him. In his state of fear, it was a struggle to recall what had happened those weeks ago, but bits and pieces of the event eventually surfaced in his rattled brain, "W-we were attacked, by some cats! A big ruddy one, with stripes and spots, and, and... a bigger one. They grabbed Sakura, and... Oh please, don't eat me! I swear I didn't hurt her, I'd never eat a puppy!" Hutch was whimpering now, "I tried to save her, I-I barked and growled at the cats, and I, and, but.. they were too fast. They ran away with her."

Kurok

Kurok growled as he listened.Torek call starHe couldn't make a full decision on what to do with this scoundrel even though he'd love to tear into him.Where did you come across her? Cause I swear to god if it was in this territoryHe growled.

Torek lifted his maw to the sky and howled calling Star to them.

Tay with Crow and I'nalak helped her sister and made sure the pups came to the den.

Kaina

Between her ears, the sound of her pulse was deafening, and she was sure that he could feel her heart where it thudded against her ribs. It prompted a response from him, both protective and investigative in nature, that only rared up her nervousness more, making her heart flutter and her breath come a little quicker. His nearness made it difficult to keep her head, and his touch, while all too welcome, also forced her to focus more intensely on keeping her composure, until she almost didn’t hear him when he called her out again, and it took her several seconds to find her voice. “Perhaps that’s so. Perhaps I do have something on my mind, but…” But I didn’t… until you touched me. That very thought frightened her, and she didn’t dare finish her words aloud. It was a uniquely-confounding experience for her, testing all of her attempts to master what she was thinking and feeling. On the one paw, she thoroughly enjoyed the snuggling he was favoring her with; it awakened the desire to lean in and lose herself in the sensation of his fur as it tickled and intermingled with her own, the line of his strong shoulder that her head had leaned against, when his muzzle over her neck drew her close to him. But on the other, her fear of his well-established philandering ways gave her caution… and the part of her that was developing warm feelings for the alpha male were kept in strict control by her fear that if she did surrender to those growing feelings, she would just become another one of those females who’d borne pups to him, and then been abandoned. And where others were strong enough to bear that, and some even welcomed such relationships as a way to obtain offspring without romantic entanglements, Kaina didn’t believe her heart could take that. That had been the main reason she’d kept him at a careful distance, but even her better judgment could not overcome the emotions that had blossomed in her. That battle within her was fought in silence until he spoke up again, and asked a question that seemed to mystify her at first. With him drawing back from her to pose it, she also turned her eyes to his face, seeming to search his features for some sort of hint as to what he was thinking or feeling, but for once the superiorly-perceptive little female could not pull any details from him. A detached part of herself probably knew that it was due to her own state of uncertainty, but she couldn’t fight it back enough to allow her to see anything… so at last, she spoke her heart, making a step of faith in giving her reply. “You are my alpha. You are also my friend… whom I love dearly.” The use of the term ‘friend’ might have been a little off-putting, for a male carrying on this conversation with a female, but if he listened closely, he’d be able to tell that her way of speaking that word was warmer than the simple term itself implied. It was clear that ‘friend’ wasn’t the word that belonged there, and if the inflection didn’t give him the clue, the phrase that had followed should have cleared that up completely – anyone who was loved ‘dearly’ was not simply a ‘friend’. Her ears flicked back against her skull in insecurity, but at last she whispered, “…yes, Starscream. I trust you.”

Starscream & Others

The ominous, unbroken rumble of the plane grew louder as the craft came nearer, banking lower as it swept over the field. It didn't quite come near enough to send Starscream bolting for the safety of the trees, but he remained tense until he had passed overhead and continued onward without so much as a flap from its rigid, glistening wings. Torek's howl had been issued in this time, and lost against the roar of the engine, so that the alpha remained temporarily ignorant of the summons for him. He was thinking of the white she-wolf beside him, and wondering again about the rapid thump of her heart and the trembles that had taken her. Kaina's perceptive gaze traveled his face, and he could see the intelligence working behind her eyes, searching for answers that his own expression refused to give up so readily. He was sure now he knew the cause of her anxiety, and might have expressed similar symptoms if he were in her position. This spark that he felt, it went beyond the simple desire for a female; it craved companionship of the soul. Starscream drew forward after she gave her answer, listening to her tones more than her words, and brought the edge of his muzzle against hers. "Then you shouldn't be so nervous." The light touch turned into a nuzzle, passing over her forehead, and settling over her neck again, where it remained, trying to still the nervous shaking that had taken his friend. "I am your alpha, but you... Kaina, you're something more. I feel happier when you're around, different, than I've felt around others." Having the social confidence and security that had taken him to the top of the rank in his pack, it was an easier thing for Starscream to take the first step towards admitting the feelings he suspected were mutual, but even his heart was beginning to thump a little faster now.

---

Keap raised his head and listened for his father's return howl. When it didn't come, the brute growled, "Call him again! If he doesn't come soon enough, I'll finish off this mutt and find those cats myself." Hutch swallowed hard at hearing this, "I-I'll take you there, to where the c-cats were!" He tried feebly to push a paw against Kurok's leg, as if he could possibly shove the much larger wolf off of him. "It was at the marsh, I can show you! J-just to the east!"

Torek

Torke didn't like that Star didn't return his howl and he moved a little closer to where they might be and howled again as loud as he could.

Kurok growled at him. Oh he'd gladly do it himself.You will but not till our alpha comesHe growled.

Kaina

The thundering of blood between her ears had prevented Kaina, up til now, from hearing either the plane or Torek’s call for Starscream even with her keen hearing, or the female might have taken the excuse to inform him of it, and thus break off the conversation that was so taxing her ability to focus. But now, as the rumbling avian drew closer to them, the sound washed over the female and made her shake all the more, flattening back her ears and pressing herself nearer to Starscream against her best judgment to hide her eyes in the thick fur at his ruff as the loud noise passed almost directly over them. Despite the fear it aroused in her though, it offered the male one advantage, in that she turned to him for comfort in the face of something that frightened her, and that would only confirm his suspicions that the feelings he was speaking of were shared. It also prevented her from stepping away from him again to try to break off the close contact, and when his protective hold evolved into a nuzzle, she melted and leaned inward, closing the soft, honey-colored eyes as his muzzle passed over them. Of its own volition, her head tilted back to give him greater access to perform the soothing caress he was favoring her with, and when he came to a stop over her neck once more, the tip of her nose ended up cradled beneath his jaw. The quaking that had so disturbed her body had stilled now, only to make its presence felt in her voice. “You’re… making it v-very difficult… not to feel nervous,” she whispered, but fear was not the driver behind the tremor in her words, and he would know that without needing to be informed. The halts in her attempts to speak were a response to his touch, and a building feeling in her that she was failing to fight back.

Did she know what he was suggesting, saying that she was different than all the other females? Of course. Did she share those feelings? She was fairly certain, to her terror, that he was already aware that she did. But did she dare surrender to that, with the understanding that so many had before, and…? That line of silent questioning was stilled by the way his heart, in turn, began to pump a little faster, making her cognizant of the thud of the powerful muscle against his sides, and thus against hers due to their close proximity. Finally, she leaned a little more into his embrace and whispered, “I can’t- think straight… when you do that.” That was a clear admission that his touch was impacting her greatly, making her body and mind both respond even as she pushed for calm, rational thought. Her inability to force her mind away from sensation and toward the logical, perceptive abilities that defined her character made it inescapably clear that she felt ‘different’ around him, too. Her mind was screaming at her to step away, put air between them so that she could clear her head… but it felt so good to stand there beside him, to indulge in the touch of a creature she lov- Oh, Ancestors. Without realizing that she’d done it, Kaina completed that thought in her mind, and it shattered all pretense at denying what was… what had been for some time, but she had been trying to ignore. Not trusting her voice right away, the little female raised her soft silver head and placed her tongue to the grizzled fur, drawing it up the side of his muzzle and across his cheek, and then across the curve where his jaw met this neck. It was an affectionate gesture… an intimate gesture, and signaled the end of her effort to fight her response to his nearness. "...but... don't stop." Accordingly, the trembles ceased.

Starscream & Others

This moment in time was removed from everything else, from his worries, his fears, and his preoccupations, so that only Kaina registered in Starscream's mind. Pressed closer to the she-wolf, with her scent filling his nose with each breath he took in, all thoughts of the intruder had receded from his thoughts in the last few minutes, just as the plane was now doing as it faded into the distance, it's horrible rumbling growing fainter by the second. "It's that mind of yours, always running. You've got to let your heart have a say in things too, sometimes." Yes, he was certain now more than ever what was on her mind, and he gently coaxed her towards it. With his muzzle rested over the back of her neck, he drew a soft smile when she admitted the way her keen mind was fraying in his presence, and... no, not just his presence, but his touch, and his closeness. He didn't say anything more at first, deciding it better to let the small fae work out her emotions and wrestle with her thoughts so that she was not rushed into anything she was not prepared for. The last thing Starscream wanted was for Kaina to find herself overwhelmed and suddenly rebuffing his overtures. That bit of time was what the wolfess needed to end the internal fight and come to the conclusion that her subconscious was so acutely aware of. She gave into this by turning a caress against her alpha's face, and in response, the grass rustled behind him to the beat of his swaying tail. He returned them readily, washing a pink tongue over her cheek and forehead, and then nuzzling his cheek against hers, so that their scents mingled more fully. "Kaina, there-"

Torek's second howl finally caught the alpha's attention and he froze dramatically. Another call emanated from the opposite direction, where Cortinarri had lent her voice to the mix, somewhat worried that her son had gone silent. Starscream flashed his teeth and uttered a foul curse under his breath, loath to have this moment ripped away. The brute tilted his muzzle back and sent out a replying howl to the pack, alerting him of his location and intentions to be at the border soon. To Kaina, he murmured tensely, "Best have a look at what's going with this interloper. This shouldn't take long." In other words, he did not intend to have a friendly chat or long winded discussion with whatever poor soul had stumbled into their lands; they were going to be dead, or running for their lives from his territory, no questions asked. A single look told Kaina she was invited to join him as he doubled back on the deer trail, racing towards the treeline and, from their, the territorial border where Korek had the dog pinned.

---

"I, I tried, I honestly did!" Hutch proclaimed again, wriggling a little more in a futile attempt to get away from Kurok, even if he stood no chance outrunning the three wolves surrounding him. "They just grabbed her up, and they ran. I-I tried to stop them..."

"Quiet!" Keap nipped at the dog's flank, "If anything happened to her, you'll be feeding the worms by the end of the day. Got it?" The wolf stalked away from Hutch and angled his ears to listen to Torek's call, and then that of his grandmother when she too joined in. And there, finally, his father answered back - he was on his way.

Korek

Korek kept his position off the mutt. Saliva slightly salivating at his want to rip this scoundrel to pieces.Be lucky you recall her because that is the only reason you are still alive, so I would shut upHe snarled not long after Keaps quiet to him. His fur was bristled.

Torek head lowered. He heard Cort and soon after Star. Well at least he hadn't gone off or what ever. He huffed as he saw Star soon on the horizon. When the alpha got to them he spoke.That mutt say's he was with sakura and that some big cats napped her.He said in a growl as he moved back to the dog.The thing is if they were hungry you would of been dead too so you best hope we're up to believing your stupid story muttHe said leaving the rest to star.

Kaina*Others

Whenever I look at you
The world disappears
All in a single glance so revealing
You smile, and I feel as though
I’ve known you for years.
How do I know to trust what I’m feeling?

“Someone… has to keep their head,” she whispered in protest, when he gently suggested that she was prone to letting her mind rule her actions, rather than her feelings. Still, it was painfully obvious that in this situation, that person who ‘kept their head’ was not going to be the female. Her ability to deny what she was feeling in order to force rational thinking into the primary of her brain had completely disintegrated, and even as her eyes slipped closed in bliss, she murmured, “Living by my mind… is all I have ever known. The seeing wolf who lives as though she were blind. I make my way through the world by what I can sense; what I can smell and hear, and… feel.” She hesitated dramatically before adding on that last word, because his tongue had drawn up over her cheek, and made her all too aware of certain feelings, right now. “Living by heart… by faith alone? That is something I have no experience with. I have no frame of reference, no common truths… I am more comfortable in the realm of facts. Things I can define.” That at least outlined why this discussion was so heavy and difficult for the otherwise-intuitive little female to manage. She took in a deep breath, and it caught briefly in her chest before she let it out slowly; the gentle swish of the dry, brittle grasses that had nearly baked in the sun’s heat told her that his tail was waving behind him, and even against her anxieties, that was a comforting thing. It brought to mind the goofy grin he could get sometimes, when she could catch him alone and it wasn’t necessary for him to be dignified. That thought brought a warm smile to her features, and between that fond memory and the affection he continued to bestow on her, almost as if eager to make up for lost time when she hadn’t allowed him to touch her early in their relationship, Kaina forced herself to acknowledge one thing to herself, within the privacy of her mind. I love him. I don’t know what I’m thinking… but I love him.

That honest admission made, she would have been content to stand beside him, indulge in his touch, and listen to the words that he began to speak… but a howl interrupted their interlude, and without drawing away from him, her eyes blinked open. Torek. That is Torek. Her mind had receded so far from full awareness, under the influence of his nearness, that it actually took her a millisecond or two longer than usual to identify the beta male’s brother, and a couple more before she could figure out what it was he wanted. Oh… that intruder that had been at the edge of the territory, when she’d first met up with Starscream. That seemed like… hours ago, to her mind. With effort, Kaina drew sense into her mind again, and told herself it couldn’t have been more than a few minutes, and so of course, they were calling their alpha to deal with the problem that had apparently gone beyond a realm that Kurok was comfortable dealing with alone. It made perfect sense, and yet like Starscream, she was loathe to let their moment end so soon; so much, in fact, that when he offered her a non-verbal invitation to follow along, Kaina accepted without a second thought, and turned her fleet paws alongside Starscream until, after a few minutes, they would at last come into view of the gathering of pack members. It was as that finally occurred that she slowed down into an easier lope, but kept her pace quick enough to keep right alongside the male, her fur mingling gently with his, unwilling to give up that contact so soon. She kept her head lower than his and Kurok’s, which was not difficult considering how small of frame she was in comparison to both males, but it was more than just height; she was remembering clearly that she had no particular status, in this pack – she was just like everyone else, and she wasn’t going to overstep her bounds… no matter what had just happened between she and the alpha male.

Starscream & Others

Kaina's words replayed in his mind, echoing between his ears as he dashed through the field and vaulted over the decrepit fence. The moment they'd just shared was profound enough that the alpha was having trouble turning his thoughts away from it and to the predicament his paws were swiftly carrying him towards. With every bound, Starscream's frustration against this unknown interloper grew, and he might have reached the border with red in his eyes and no time for questions had Kaina not chosen to travel with him. The dainty little fae had a way of tempering his mood and calming his quickly frayed nerves. This served Hutch well when the large brute finally arrived at the scene, rushing forward in such a confident, high-held pose and authorative demeanor that it left no question as to who was the leader in this group of wolves. Even Keap shied back and averted his gaze when his father passed a glancing look at him. "This is the reason you called me? This cur-?"

Torek was able to fill Starscream in on what they'd learned before the alpha male had a chance to finish the dog off right then and there. Still, it didn't save Hutch from some abuse, as Scream moved in briskly to sniff at the stranger, and then place a paw squarely on Hutch's trembling chest. "Sakura, you were with her? Where? When?"

"I-I don't know.. a few weeks ago! I- she, I thought she was orphaned, so I-I was going to help her find food... and then we were attacked by two cats. I tried to fight them off, honest!" The American bulldog stumbled pitifully over his words again, and squinted his dark eyes to slits when Starscream got in his face, just as Keap had down earlier. "...at the marsh! I-"

"Shut up!" Scream snapped at the dog, just barely restraining himself from sinking his teeth into the stray's muzzle. "Torek, take Crow and your sister, and search the marsh." The small ray of hope that had flagged in Starscream's mind was hastily beat back by the same stark reality as before; even if the big cats had not killed her, she would have died from starvation or some other predation in the last three weeks. Still, he had to try, even if it was only for Hulia's sake.

Torek

Torek nodded and tore away from the group. He howled Calling Tayzeka & Crow to him. Once he met up with them he tore off toward the marsh. Hopefully there would still be some lingering scent for them to follow if the mutts words were the truth.

To tell the truth Kurok just wanted this mutt blood on his tongue and he laughed. You... You tried to fight them off ! Ha your a weakling. You probably saw it as a blessing you filthy mongrelHe snarled snapping at his muzzle as he watched his brother tear off.

Tay had just gotten Hulia and the pups to the den when she heard the call and she tore off to meet up with Crow and her brother howling a reply.

Kaina

Initially, Kaina only accompanied Star as far as joining the gathering that had formed around the pinned dog, and had parked herself close by as the alpha male drew forward to investigate and threaten the unfortunate mutt. But she was ever the pinnacle of observance and forethought, as Starscream himself had pointed out only moments ago, and though she remained respectfully silent for a few moments, the increasing aggression around her prompted her to clear her throat softly, and bring her gentle alto into play. “If I may…” She hesitated there, waiting for the eyes of the males to come to her, to indicate that her slight intrusion was acknowledged and not unwelcome before she cautiously drew closer, coming along one of Starscream’s sides and prepared to fall back if so much as a single fang slipped into view to send her back. Once there, she bent over Hutch to more thoroughly twitch her keen nose over his trembling body, a gentle, mildly tickling touch, and at length continued, “…he does smell of Sakura… but the scent is very old. Stale. He cannot have been in close contact with her for a few weeks, at least… which indicates that he is telling the truth, at least in that respect. If that portion of his story is true, the rest may be as well. Those who are fearful of their lives do not lie well.” Of course, everyone around her was worked up with worry over their missing pups, and she could feel the tension vibrating through the very air about them; Kurok displayed that keenly in the snap he took at the hapless dog’s muzzle. Trying to keep this from spiraling out of control, she lay her ears back submissively for a moment or two, but went on, “Please… all of us are worried about Sakura and Sentalia. We would do anything to get them back. But we are wolves, not savages. If we begin by slaughtering someone simply because they smell of Sakura, we are no better than the Haunters, who have already taken much from us.”

Starscream & Others

Crow's voice sang out along with Tayzeka's, announcing his location and acknowledgement of the new orders. Leaving In'Alak at the den with Hulia and the others, the silver-coated male joined Tay and Torek in their mission to explore the marsh. That left Kurok and Keap with Starscream and Kaina, to continue their interrogation of a dog who looked like he might pass out form sheer panic at any second. A snap from the beta elicited only a yelp and further shaking from the dog, with absolutely no attempt to fight back. "Iiike!" A few spots of crimson blossomed against the white of the dog's muzzle. "I really did try, I did! They were just t-to fast for me, and the puppy, she.. I just wasn't quick enough to rescue her!" Now a she-wolf was approaching him, with a half-pink nose and diminutive size that still did little to abate any of Hutch's fear. He cringed at the tickle of her snout and whiskers when they passed over him, but held relatively still for the inspection.

Starscream had not chided Kaina for her actions or her carefully worded opinion on the matter, though neither did he rumble at Kurok for assaulting the tresspasser. He listened to her more than he did Hutch's panicked repetitions, and though the aggression in his eyes seemed to side much more with Kurok, he conceded to some of Kaina's points. "His story might be true. FOr that, we won't kill him... yet. But it still stands that he lured her away." The alpha's lips pulled back again in a fresh wave of fury, to vent his emotions and make it perfectly clear to Hutch how he felt. "What could have possibly possessed you to do such a thing? To steal a pup from a wolf pack? What group do you belong to?"

Hutch flinched when a new snap came from Keap, glancing his hind leg and taking a small tuft of fur with it. "Eeee!" A long, miserably whine ensued, until a sudden snarl from Starscream brought it to an end. "I wasn't stealing her, I-I was trying to help! I thought she was lost, or-or orphaned... Oooooohh.." Another whine took him, and he dissolved into whimpers again.

Kurok

Kurok didn't care about this dogs life he was nothing but a mutt anyways. Dog swere filthy human creations that needed to be annaliated. His tail was stiff in his beta position as he kept the male pinned beneath him. Are you that clueless to not smell wolf in these lands? Our scent is strong all over these parts if you were trying to help her you would of put two and two together and would of never taken her from these lands. You were gonna bring her to the humans weren't you?He growled.

Kaina

“Killing him profits us nothing,” the female insisted, when tempers continued to flare, She was slightly emboldened by how Star had not chased her back and indeed had conceded her point, but she still kept her position low, never stepping beyond the bounds of an advisor. “If he tells the truth, then he has caused Sakura no direct harm and truly does not know where she is, and we would be exacting vengeance on one who did not harm her. And if he lies, and does know where she is, we would be killing the only person who can lead us to her.” Very patiently, she laid out those facts, carefully speaking neither belief nor disbelief in Hutch’s intentions, or his guilt or innocence. She was a creature of facts; she focused on the things that her nose told her, and extrapolated sensible long term data from them. Hutch might not be one who had hurt the pup, but he’d been the last to see her alive. “I propose that we hold onto this dog until we find Sakura, or until we can determine what happened to her. If it turns out that he has caused her harm… by all means, kill him.” Her ears lay back again, indicating that she wasn’t trying to use any assumed authority over either Starscream or Kurok… she was merely making a suggestion based on the facts that she had at her disposal, and doing her best to keep their understandable fear for Sakura from compromising reason.

Starscream & Others

The constant whimpering had frayed Starscream's short nerves, leading to another sharp snap of words, "Shut up!" And for a few seconds at least, the bulldog responded accordingly, ceasing his whines and going silent. His own mind was in tattered disarray though, understandably so when faced by four wild canines much larger and more capable than himself. "No! No, I don't live with them - I never lived with them!" Hutch spoke more emphatically in addressing Kurok and his accusation about the humans, "I-I only steal food from the two leggers, I would never take a pup to them! I was just trying to find some food for Sakura and myself, and.. and sometimes the humans leave fish out there."

Fear was rank on the squirming mutt, and as much as Starscream scoffed at his pitiful behavior and perceived weakness, he could see a valid point in Kaina's earlier remark. Hutch was panicked out of his mind, and he'd stayed true to his fumbling words so far, without any contradictions. "He may be the disgusting mark of the humans, but he doesn't carry their stench. No... he's not a pet, and he's not a Haunter, as far as I can tell." Just to be sure though, Scream glanced at Kaina for confirmation, trusting her keen nose and greater knowlegde of the Valley's various packs to confirm that this was a loner, a nobody, with no affiliation that they had to worry about. "What we appear to have here is a half-brained cur, one that doesn't have the nose to tell the difference between a rock and a tree stump, much less a border marking. Kurok, I want you to keep an eye on him until your brother gets back. And depending on what they find... we'll go from there." The maliciousness in his gaze told Hutch precisely what was going to happen if they found the pup's body, or any indication that she'd died.

Kurok

Kurok hated human made dogs.. They were worthless. He kept his stand but soon got off the snivling dog.FineHe said to star keeping his eyes glued to the cur.

Kaina

The alpha male’s temper was not currently a pretty one, and yet the smallest wolf among them never flinched aside for his obvious discontent, knowing that it was not directed at her. It paid off a moment later when Starscream turned to consult with her, and she replied calmly, “No, he’s not a Haunter. I’d have smelled it from much further off, if he was. He smells of no one but himself and very faintly of Sakura, and a few others… but not strongly enough that I would believe that he lives with them. Passing acquaintances, at most.” That was all that he’d asked her, and so she fell silent after offering her reply, and stood by silently as he gave instructions to his beta. It wasn’t until Kurok agreed to keep an eye on the quivering bulldog that Kaina stepped forward to rub shoulders with the alpha male, and lean in, to afford a private whisper into his ear. “In the mean time, you and I should continue our walk, while we wait for Torek’s return. It will give us something constructive to do with our time. Kurok can handle the dog… come.” She was willing to bet that Starscream wouldn’t turn that offer down, and offered it as the incentive he needed to move on with her as she stepped away, heading back up the game trail the way they’d come.