*Naiche*

~A distant howl reaches the Aspen Grove, a desperate call for help from the Sonnet Forest.~

Starscreanm, Stormrunner, & Darling

Naiche's call had Starscream pausing fast in his tracks, head lifting and water dripping from his chin as he raised it from the waters of a large brook. Had he heard this call a year ago, the old alpha might have hesitated to respond back, at least in physical form, but things were different with his daughter there. There was no decision to be made other than to raise his muzzle skyward and howl back, his voice carrying highand sharp, and powerful in a way that belied his age.

Half a mile away, Darling was awakened from a light nap and rose swiftly to her feet. Her melodic howl was quick to join her father's, and soon accompanied by the deeper baritone of Stormrunner as her younger half-brother added his song to the mix. Their battle cry complete, the pair began to run fast and hard to meet up with Starscream.

Tayzeka & Korek

Tay too woke with her two brothers and now old enough pups and responded as well moving toward the howl

Crow & Hawk

Crow and Hawk had likewise been napping the hot day away in the shade of an old bur oak. The call of their pack was swift in rousing them, and each responded with a call of their own. Shrugging any sign of drowsiness aside, father and son tore off through the woods to rendezvous with their alphas.

Only minutes later, the silver-coated Crow had caught up with Tayzeka and Starscream, tongue lolling from his mouth as he battled the sweltering temperatures of the late summer evening. "What's going on? That sounded like one of the Parnassian wolves... is the one that's living with Arora?"

Hawk stepped forward beside his father, tongue also flapping laboriously from the side of his grayed jaws, "It definitely came from the direction of the Sonnet Forest, whoever it was. I think I heard Arora's mate, too."

Tayzek

Tayzeka looked around.the young wolves stay here. Hawk Hulia I want you two to stay with them. The rest of us will investigateShe said.

Starscreanm, Stormrunner, & Darling

An immediate look of protest formed on Stormrunner's face as he realized he'd been designated as one of the 'young wolves'. Brows furrowing he whined, "But mom, I'm plenty old enough! And I've-"

"Listen to your mom." Starscream cut in, his order paired with a look stern enough to stop Storm from any further protesting. That look softened a little against his son's disappointment, and he added, "If this is a serious threat, we need enough bodies back home to guard our own territory. We don't yet know what we're facing." The old wolf then turned his gaze to his mate, "Lets be cautious." He then headed out, traveling in a swift lope for the Sonnet Forest.

Crow & Hawk

Hawk had nodded dutifully when given the task, and took a step closer to his mom. Although he too was a little disappointed that he couldn't go, staying back to guard their territory was just as important of a job in his eyes. "We'll keep our home safe." The wolf vowed, then nodded to Stormrunner and his other young cousins. Seeing the frown that hung on Storm's face, an idea popped into Hawk's mind and he proposed an idea, "Why don't we patrol our borders?"

Crow gave his mate a quick nuzzle and a lick on the cheek. "If anything comes here, just give a howl and I'll double back." With a parting smile to Hulia, the silver wolf turned and bounded after Starscream and Tayzeka.

Tayzeka

Tayzeka wouldn't budge. It was hard enough to leave them home without many older wolves. She headed out following starscream.

the brothers followed.