Stormrunner

Pale gray paws carried the wolf through the gentle hills that dominated his quiet home. Swiftly he went, his graceful strides and sure pace bolstered by the excitement that had welled up in him. He was heading for their old rendezvous site, a patch of open ground not terribly far from their main den, where his elder half-sister spent much of her time, and the aging population of his pack could often by found.

"It's not far now. Whatever my parents say, just... be nice?" This was said as he glanced briefly over his storm-gray shoulder to the feline that was following him, shortly before slowing his pace and coming to a stop in a patch of swaying sunlight that fell down through the open canopy above. Scenting Darling nearby, and knowing his parents probably weren't far off themselves, Storm lent his muzzle skyward and uttered a short howl to unite them.

Dawstride

Dawnstride approached her lupine friend with near-silent steps. The thin, pale brown stripes that accented her golden coat helped somewhat to diffuse her outline in the dappled lighting, but once they had reached the little clearing, this natural camouflage became useless. The big cat slid back onto her hindquarters and drew her head back, holding herself as passively as possible. Dawn said not a word, and merely let her eyes dance about the peaceful landscape, waiting for the arrival of the others.

Stormrunner, Darling, & Starscream

"Stormy...?" Darling's voice was heavy with caution. The old wolfess moved with equal wariness as she stepped into the clearing, across the way from her younger brother and his friend. She stopped short just a few yards from him, tail hanging low and nose working hastily to learn what she could of this feline stranger. "Who is this...?"

In complete contrast to his sibling, Stormrunner wore an upbeat smile and couldn't keep his tail from anxiously twitching from side to side. "Don't be scared, this is my friend Dawnstride! I've been helping her for a few weeks now." He looked aside to the cougar-mix, while a short, shrill howl in the nearby hills announced the presence of his father. Excited eyes jumped back to Darling, "I want to introduce her to the pack, as a friend and ally."

Dawnstride

'Darling?' A keen perception and memory recall correctly identified the older wolfess that trudged out of the forest towards them. From all that Stormrunner had told her, this individual was utterly harmless and the least of her concerns. Dawn offered a gracious smile and small bow of her head, "Pleasure to meet you." Her attention quickly shifted from there, ears and eyes darting to the sharp call given by Starscream. It was he and his mate, Tayzeka, whom Dawn was most anxious about, and with a watchful gaze, she awaited their appearance next.

Stormrunner, Darling, & Starscream

"Storm?" The gruff, irritated bark from Starscream had Darling tucking her ears back and Storm sucking in a steadying breath. His hackles were up, feathered above his neck and shoulder blades like a pale mane, and joined by an equally flashy tail. "What is this cat doing here?" The greeting was not kind, and an ill look was leveled on Dawnstride.

Stormrunner inclined a little towards Dawnstride and retained his composure, head up but ears tilted back in respect to his father's authority. "Dad, this is Dawnstride. Hawk and I have been helping her for the past few-"

"I don't care for her name, she's not a wolf, and she doesn't belong her." The old alpha snapped back, cutting off his son's explanation and switching his gaze to him. "Now."

Darling's head lowered and she shuffled back a pace or two. As much as she wanted to help her brother, she didn't want to incur Starscream's wrath.

Dawnstride

'And this is Starscream.' Dawnstride again easily guessed, and looked to the treeline where he'd stepped through, just in case his mate was close behind. Not immediately spotting Tayzeka, Dawn's gaze flitted back to the alpha, and couldn't help but notice the plastic ring around his neck.

Enduring his grumbles and immediate rejection, Dawnstride made no move to stand up as she spoke. What she did instead was to dip her head down in a respectful bow, "Alpha Starscream, your son has told me a lot about you and your pack here. You and Tayzeka done a remarkable job, keeping your family safe, and holding onto this land for so long." Again, her eyes danced to the collar about the old wolf's neck, "I understand you are having some problems with humans in the area though? I can offer my services there to help with that - I have an excellent nose and keen hearing, and can patrol for two-leggers."

Stormrunner, Darling, & Starscream

Stormrunner very nearly submitted, feeling the urge to drop his ears and step back from the wake of his father's unpleasant response. The young wolf might have done just that, if not for Dawn's calm and thoughtful rebuttal, and utter refusal to move. Finding courage from his friend again, Storm kept his pale, smokey paws planted where they were and leveled Starscream with a more or less even stare. Swallowing back the anxiety that begged him to apologize and retreat, Storm answered back, "We need Dawn's help. You and mom are.. getting older. So are Crow and Hulia, and-"

"And you think I've grown so weak I can't defend our family?" Starscream snarled back, stalking stiffly up to his son, hackles expanded to their fullest and tail flagged high. Dawnstride was shot a brief, ugly look before all focus went back to Stormrunner. "I have kept us safe for all these years, and I am still fully capable of doing so. That cat goes, now."

Darling scarcely breathed. It was rare to see this sort of turmoil in such a tightly knit pack that she was unsure of what to do. The old wolf kept her maw closed and watched, soft brown eyes flicking between her father and little brother.

Dawnstride

The only thing that moved on Dawnstride was the tip of her tawny brown tail as it rose a few inches, and then slowly patted back down against the soil. She was having an easier time than her lupine friend in reigning in her anxiety, perhaps because this snarling wolf before her was so old she knew she had little to fear if he did decide to bite.

"The collar you wear means that the humans have gotten to you once already." Dawnstride pointed this out carefully, "They know you well enough to capture you, but they don't know me. I can help you keep the pack safe. Your son saved my life, it's the very least I can do to return the favor."

Stormrunner, Darling, & Starscream

"Are you challenging me?" The harshness of the alpha's voice sent a ripple of dread through his son, just as it was intended. The pinks of his gums were exposed, glistening above stained ivories as he took another step in his direction, ears pushed forward and muzzle deeply wrinkled. There was a time when this fierce scene would have sent most cowering back in submission, and for Darling at least, this was still the case. But Stormrunner saw the exaggerated stiffness in his father's steps, a slight catch in his forelimb that came from arthritis and a wounded paw that had never healed properly from a hunt two years ago. The old wolf's bark could no longer be backed by his bite.

Stormrunner didn't back down. Golden-rimmed eyes stared back unflinchingly from the amber pool's of his father as this meeting suddenly became more than just an attempt to bring the cougaress into the fold. "Dad, I... Dawn's right. I've learned a lot from you and mom, and I think- no, I know I can lead the pack. I know bringing Dawnstride here is the righ-"

Dawnstride's attempts at diplomacy was utterly ignored now that Star realized his reign was threatened. He closed the distance between he and his son, sending his fangs for the other's muzzle in a harsh reprimand and attempt to put the other in their place, without letting Storm finish. A small gasp was all that came from the younger wolf as he at first took a startled step back, then plunged forward with certainty to meet the fangs of his sire.

There was no use for words as the two quarreled, but as Stormrunner knew, there was also no use for using excess force. It took scarcely more than a minute before the scuffle was over, both sporting minor punctures about the face before a harsh shoulder-check sent Starscream to the ground for the last time. Storm stood above him, his breath come in deep, heavy gusts as he stared down at this father, ready to continue to fight but praying to Imre that his stubborn sire would concede.

"Nghh." Star grunted as he made an effort to get up, and then with a resigned growl, abruptly averted his gaze, signalling defeat. "You always were competent in your abilities." The gruff compliment still carried a growl to it, for Starscream's famous ego had suffered far more than his body in this duel. "It's your wisdom you need to work on." Slowly, and with effort, the ex-alpha hoisted himself up, his mangled paw leaving a distorted print in the dusty earth. "That cat is bad news."

Crow & Hawk

Crow heard the brief scuffle upon his approach, and watched in wide-eyed wonder as Stormrunner managed to overthrow his father in such a sudden and decisive move. Green eyes blinked at the unexpected seen, and it was with some amount of caution that the silver wolf approached the small gathering. Emerald sights eventually peeled away from his dethrowned uncle and shifted to the cat, whose calm position next to Storm told him she must be some friend or ally.

"Apparently I missed something..?" The old wolf spoke at length as he placed himself nearer to Darling, with his head held evenly at the shoulders and his tail carefully neutral.

"D'wnsride!" Crow turned his head to see his son sprinting down a nearby trail with a young fawn swinging between his jaws as he went. The young brute's tail was soon a-wag, happy to see Dawnstride, and apparently a little slow to take in the full picture of what was going on around them. He dropped his prize and stepped up beside the golden-brown cat, "Welcome to the pack! I... err..." Once he spotted the meager amount of blood on Storm's face, and connected that to similar punctures on Starscream, Hawk suddenly went quiet and looked to his cousin for an explanation.

Dawnstride

Dawnstride's calm facade hid the heart-pounding tension that rose in her when Starscream and his son came to blows, and she began to wonder if she ought to step in and help settle the quarrel, or maybe leave and let the pair cool off before trying the introductions another time. But the squabble ended as quickly as it had begun, with Dawn noting how minor the injuries were despite Storm's greater strength and agility - he could have easily killed his sire if the fight had been serious.

Another wolf approached the scene just then. A big silver fellow, with emerald green eyes and just enough white about the muzzle to denote him as another senior in the pack. Crow..? Ah, Hawk. Yet another lupine appeared, this one a familiar sight to Dawnstride, and she smiled faintly as he stepped up to her, and offered a light nudge of the head. "Good to see you, Hawk. And thank you." She swiveled her head, still calm as could be, and returned her focus to the newly toppled Starscream, "You have my word that I will help look out for your pack, Starsceam. I hope in time that you can come to accept me."