Stormrunner, Agarian, Lakona, & Dawnstride

Alpha brute sat beside a birch tree, resting his shoulder against the black-striped bark as troubled thoughts danced within his mind. The death of his parents this summer still hit him now and then, as did the less than amicable parting of his elder brother Megatron. He knew he should go back and speak to his sibling and try to smooth things over, but a new problem had recently reared its ugly head in the form of the pack's first real enemy - his niece and what remained of her family. On top of that, his trusted betas were in turmoil, and half of the pack was heading into winter well into their golden years. And he had four young mouths to feed that would be of little help in hunting.

"Papa?" One of those little voices piped up as Agarian scampered to his sire. The four-month old pup crowded into Storm's forelegs and peered upward, copper-brown eyes wrought with concern that seemed beyond the reach of a mind so young. "What's wrong?"

Stormrunner snapped out of his troubled trance and forced a smile, "Nothing, Garian." He dismissed with a tongue-caress to the top of his son's head. "Just thinking of our next hunt."

"Can we go?" Lakona piped up, having caught the tail end of her father's words from where she was chewing on an old piece of hide a few yards away. The gray pup sat up, then bounced towards her father.

Out of the pups' sight but not Storm's keen nose, Dawnstride was perched on an overhanging oak branch. The cougar had spent more time within the packlands of late, on her friend's request.

Blackout

Blackout was heart broken over his decision to leave Lilly as a mate. But he did not wish for a mate who didn't make sure it was time to do something. He spent most of his time patrolling the boarder hoping that maybe a lone female might catch his attention or something. But it was also to keep his mind occupied. Megatron would surely be laughing at him if he knew.

Hawk & Others

A subdued and distraught Waterlily followed after Hawk as the pair made their way to the rendezvous site. She was still shaken by Blackout's sudden decision, and leery of approaching him right now, so she settled for sticking close to the other male that had helped rescue her so many moons ago. With folded ears and a tail held forlornly low, she trotted behind Hawk until he came to a stop in front of Stormrunner.

Hawk nudged his cousin's forehead with his own, a mutual greeting between the two, before he stepped back and sat down, "So, do we have any more news?" The wolf's voice was low, trying not to spark the interest of the pups. "Need me to join Black on patrol, or...?"

Iopa was settled near her mate with her broad muzzle stretched out over her forepaws, and a tired Firelight resting against her belly. One eye peeked open at Hawk's words, then shifted to Stormrunner with a look of consternation.

Oblivious to the heavier discussion about to take place, little Icara pounced towards her uncle Hawk and nipped at his tail. Being the good sport that he was, Hawk tolerated this with a playful growl and a mock-bite against the youngster's ruff.

"I've not heard any further howls from the Sonnet Forest." Crow's voice carried over the playful banter between Hawk and Icara. The silvered wolf's eyes were creased in heavy thought, "But, I've not heard human firesticks either. And no trace of the two-leggers' scent at the borders so far."

Stormrunner & Others

"You're not quite big enough to join us in hunts." Stormrunner answered his daughter gently, and watched the expected disappointment settled in her brown and golden eyes. With an encouraging smile, he nudged her and added on, "But I bet if you asked nicely, Waterlily and Darling might take you fishing. You might even wrangle Kurok into helping you." This was meant to cheer the youngster up, and to distract the sullen Waterlily.

To Hawk and Crow, the gentleness fell from his tones, "I've not heard or scented them since Blackout and I tried to make amends. And she made it clear we were not welcome to return." A heavy sigh escaped him, "Maybe time will calm her anger, but for now, we have to be on our guard. She was... exceptionally hostile."

Lakona looked around the sea of faces as disappointment turned to renewed excitement. Not seeing Darling or Kurok yet, the youngster bounced over to Waterlily, "Will you take me fishing, Lily?"

Agarian wasn't so easily dismissed though. He heard what the adults were talking about, and it made him nervous. "Are the bad wolves going to attack us?"

Blackout

Blackout kept patrolling. He didn't like being around the pups as he craved pups of his own but he'd yet to find another mate.

Torek heard the youngster **don't you worry little one we will protect you**

Hawk & Others

In his patrolling, Blackout would come across the scent of a female not far from him, but this one was familiar; it was Darling. The scent of blood was mingled heavily with it.

Back in the heart of the packlands, Hawk took a moment to bowl Icara over with a hefty push of his muzzle. The cub tumbled head over heels before bouncing up with a vigorous growl and charging right back at her uncle for round two. He again endured the needling teeth of the pup, while directing what attention he could to the rest of the adults, "Maybe we should offer a group hunt or something? I don't get why they're that mad at us."

Crow settled in near Torek, resting his weary legs. "They lost their parents to the humans, and who knows what other packmates." He explained, trying to find rationale in their animosity, "Like Storm said, it may just take time before they cool down and come to terms with it, and realize we aren't enemies."

Waterlily offered a weak smile to Lakona, "Of course, I know of a few nice spots."

Stormrunner & Others

Stormrunner turned a look to Torek, thankful for the elder wolf's protection over his cubs. "He's right, we won't let anything happen to you or anyone else in the pack." The alpha shifted in discomfort and leaned into his mate. He took in the words of Crow and Hawk, watching with distracted eyes as his daughter continued her valiant fight against her uncle. "For now, the Sonnet Forest wolves are off limits. We will respect their will and avoid them."

Agarian seemed a little more assured by Torek and his father, and even wagged his tail a little. "I wish I were big and strong like you guys. Then I could protect the pack from mean wolves like them."

Lakona, lost in her own little world, yipped excitedly and licked Waterlily's muzzle. "Yay!" She turned away from her and sought out Kurok next, but not immediately seeing her elder uncle, her eyes lit on Torek. "Torek! Will you take me fishing too?"

Blackout

He paused then his pace picked up as he looked for darling

Torek **sure why not**

Hawk & Others

With a bit of searching, Blackout would eventually come across the lifeless remains of Darling. A clear bite wound on the throat and withers is evident, as are the faint prints of another wolf. Another scent, though faint and almost concealed by the odor of moose dung, would be familiar to Blackout; Lepiota was here, along with another, unknown wolf.

-------

"What if we just drop some food off at the edge of their border? That way we aren't really invading their space, but still helping them out since they've lost packmates just before winter?" Hawk offered, looking between Stormrunner and Crow, and then down to Icara when she began to wrestle and gnaw at his leg.

Crow smiled gently, "It's a good thought, but we need to follow Storm's decision. Let them recover from their traumas first." The thought of food and the threat of approaching winter did have the silver wolf a bit worried though, and he looked to Torek and Storm, "Speaking of hunting, we may need to prepare some caches."

Waterlily rested her head down on her paws and listened quietly to the discussions. She was still uncertain of her placement in the pack right now, and thus didn't want to step on any paws while plans were being made.

Stormrunner & Others

"We can call to them now and then." Stormrunner offered this concession to his cousin, knowing it bothered the wolf to have relatives not only in a tight spot for the winter, but declaring themselves active enemies of the pack. To Crow he nodded, then the stood up, "Food will be our current focus. While Blackout is securing our borders, I'd like Waterlily, Torek, and Hawk to seek out any viable fishing spots before the waters freeze over. Now is a great time to teach the pups this skill, and any extra fish can be caches for later. Agarian and Icara, you'll be going with." Storm leaned over his mate and gave Firelight a nudge with his muzzle, "Rise and shine, Fire."

Lakona yipped again and bounced in a circle, "I'm going to catch the most fish!"

Though a little more subdued, excitement began to glimmer in Agarian's eyes too. He looked to Torek, "Are fish hard to catch? I've only ever seen the little minnows in the stream."

Blackout

He nosed Darling and then snarled at the scents. it not like they killed that females family. He sent up a howl.

Torek smirked **they can b...** but he stopped when he heard the howl.

Crow, Hawk, Iopa, Icara, Firelight, & Waterlily

Hawk stiffened, all thoughts of fishing taking a backseat to his beta's howl. Whatever it was about, it didn't sound good and a queasy feeling settled in the wolf's gut. "Alright Cara, easy up." He murmured at the little pup currently engaged with his forepaw. He darted a look to Stormrunner and Iopa. "I can stay here with the pups."

Crow rose to his paws and howled back, letting Blackout know that his message was received. He then took up a space next to the alphas, ready to follow them to Black's location.

Iopa took this moment to shake off what remnants of sleep still clouded her eyes and rose as gently as she could without sending Firelight tumbling. "Please do, Hawk. Waterlily, stay with them as well." With a passing glance to her mate, the wolfess was bounding towards the border.

Waterlily stayed obediently where she was, while a groggy Firelight yawned and stretched her legs. "What's all the fuss?"

Stormrunner & Others

"Be good, and stay with the sitters." Stormrunner told his pups, giving them a quick, stern look before bolting after his mate. He covered ground quickly, and in a matter of minutes reached the grizzly scene that his brother had discovered.

"Darling..." Her name fell as a whine from his throat as he stepped towards her body. "Why? She.. she's on our land. She never..." The words continued to fumble out as he tried to make sense of the heartless murder against the one wolfess in the pack who had done nothing wrong to anyone. He'd never seen her so much as bristle a single hair or raise her voice into a growl. At a loss, he looked to Blackout, pain shining in his eyes, "It was them. Our cousin, and one of her packmates."

Blackout

He sniffed **Thier trail is leading out of the territory**