Gwen & War Dance

Gwen stood at the invisible border of the Silver Glade's cadre, stopped as surely by the scent as a human would be by a physical wall. Crossing this without permission was an invitation for a fight, and the alphess of the Shadow Lurkers was not here to start a war. She was here to prevent one.

Tagging along behind her mother was War Dance, a close replica of her dam in all but her her coarser fur and lack of white patching along her dark, brindle coat. And like Gwen, War was attentive and keenly aware of the diplomacy needed today. She stopped when her mother did, and waited quietly while Gwen tossed her voice to the wind, calling for the alphas of the Glades.

Aakari & Orcai

A response came with little delay, strong and authorative. It was only minutes later that the alphess herself appeared, long legs pumping and pale coat dancing in rhythm with her hearty strides. She approached the pair with a proudly flagged tail and raised dial, leaving no uncertainties about who was in charge of the land they were standing before.

"Shadow Lurkers?" She questioned as the breeze brought their scent her way. Eyes as piercing as an eagle's bore into the pair, "I'm Aakari, daughter of Aakasi and alphess of the Silver Glades. What brings you to my home?"

Orcai traveled some distance behind her mother and stopped a few feet back from the trio, letting her dam handle this conversation. Her mind was already preoccupied with questions about her great uncle, and her stymied attempts to relocate the brutish canine after first running into him some weeks ago. While Aakari addressed Gwen, Orcai was already looking back over her shoulder, and sniffing at the wind for any signs of Atticus, or the soft-coated fae that had been with him.

Gwen & War Dance

Gwen's gaze roamed upward, taking in the sight of the pale alphess who was double her own size, and appeared even larger thanks to that thick wolven coat. Her first act was to dip her muzzle down in respect, and even though her own alabaster tail was held aloft, it was down so loosely and just a step behind the invisible boarder of the Silver Glades, so as not to be a threat to Aakari's leadership.

"Gwen, daughter of Dixie and Argolis, alphess of the Shadow Lurkers." The boxer-mix confirmed before raising her broad, boxy face back up. "And this is my daughter, War Dance." A glancing look was thrown to War, who'd already bowed her head to the white wolf and kept her own tail appeasingly low. "I was hoping you had time for a discussion on an alliance between our packs? I know we've sent a delegation already, but I felt a meeting between leaders was long overdue to solidify an alliance."

Aakari & Orcai

"I had expected you for quite some time." Aakari frowned slightly, but kept her words just civil enough that they didn't sound pointed. As for War Dance, the younger female was given a quick glance by the alpha and a vague nod of her muzzle. Then it was back to business, and staring hard at Gwen, "An alliance between our packs is established, but I have to warn you that our pack is small yet and my grandmother is growing weaker in her age; I can offer you shelter and food if needed, and my own fangs should you require it, but I can't promise you the fangs of my mate or children."

Orcai's attention jumped back to her mother as she belatedly caught up with what the white wolf had said. Fighting had never occurred to Orcai during her relatively peaceful life in the Silver Glades, as she'd never really been outside of the packlands before and run into anyone remotely hostile.

Gwen & War Dance

It was almost a little unnerving to be under that pale yellow stare, especially one that came from a wolf twice her size, with an attitude that bore no hesitancy or meekness to boot. Gwen was a leader herself though, and held it without a flinch, even taking that slight admonishment from Aakari on their tardiness without any argument or rebuttal. "We have several elder members ourselves. Unfortunately, we lost one and two of our yearlings this spring to an ambush." For a moment her eyes dropped as she thought of her daughter, pausing just a brief second or two before continuing, "I don't expect you to put your own family in any danger, but we do appreciate your support, and you can count on my fangs as well as those of able-bodied Lurkers, should you ever find yourself in need. And of course, shelter and food at our home, too."

Aakari & Orcai

Aakari allowed for that moment of silence, though her eyes never dropped from Gwen. She herself had not experienced any recent loss, and surely none as personal as her own children or younglings in the pack. The ridgedness in her stance became a little less tense, and a heavy breath from the white wolf seemed to carry away some of aggression. "I'm sorry to hear that. It does bring an important question though; who ambushed you? Do you have any enemies or allies?"

Gwen & War Dance

Gwen had braced herself for this one; it was the main reason she'd sought out the Silver Glades pack today, and she hoped that her father was right about these wolves' loyalty. "We do have the former, unfortunately. It was a group of large cats that ambushed our pack; they call themselves the Makucha, and the apparently live out in the prairie somewhere. We've done nothing to instigate the attack - we never even knew of them until this spring." The thought of the aggressive pride set a heavy stone in her gut. "We're not looking to go to war, with them. But I am keen on gaining allies as a deterrent."

It was at this point that War Dance stepped up, her dark, brindle head held an inch or two lower than her mother's. "There's also the Shadow Haunters." She glanced up at Gwen, who nodded. War continued, "They want to make an alliance with us, but we're leery of the proposal; there's been a lot of bad blood in the past, before my time."

Aakari & Orcai

"The Makucha isn't a name familiar with me." Aakari admitted, "Big cats are nothing to tangle with, either. But I've given you my word that I'll help you, so I will. If the Makuch are your enemy, they are mine as well." Her attention flashed to War Dance next, and the pack that she mentioned did ring a bell with the white wolfess. A frown darkened her visage and a sigh escaped her long jaws, "I'm aware of the Haunters through story, but I can't say I have any personal experience with them." It was at this point that Aakari wondered if secluding herself and her pack in the dense forests of their home had been the right thing to do; it had offered them safety and protection, but at the cost of isolation and disconnection with the rest of the Valley. Somewhere deep inside the alphess, a restlessness began to stir. "I know in times past we have been enemies with them. I'll trust your instincts on this; whatever line you draw with the Shadow Haunters, we will stand on your side of it."

"I'll help." Orcai finally found her voice, and despite a sharp look from her mother, the dual-coated shewolf stepped up and let her tail hang light and amiably behind her, "You have my fangs in whatever fight you need them in."

Gwen & War Dance

Gwen smiled and dipped her muzzle in a nod to Orcai, "Thank you." To Aakari, she also gave a nod, this one deeper and including her whole head as she addressed a fellow alpha, "And thank you. The stories my father and grandfather have spoken about your pack still hold true. Hopefully we don't have to endure the same hardships they did, but it's comforting to know we have such loyal allies." The brindle dog inhaled deeply, taking in the fresh air and letting it out in a quiet billow of frost that was quickly taken away by the breeze. She was beginning to feel more confident and assured in her decisions now, and hopeful that this was the right move to make for the well-being of her family. "On the note of allies, we are on friendly terms with a small pack just outside of the city, known as the Delvers. Other than that, we have no other bonds. How about you?"

Aakari & Orcai

"We will do our best to live up to that legacy." Aakari returned, offering a stoic facade while feeling the growing sting of isolation that she'd kept herself and her family in. Gwen's last question further stirred that emotion, and it left a bitter taste in the white wolf's mouth to admit that she had no allies, "No, we have none. It's been quiet around our territory. We have no close neighbors, and humans have been our only scourge."

At the mention of humans, Kate flashed in Orcai's mind and her ears slid back a little. Her father had not been too happy with her encounter with the humans, but the young wolfess's opinion on the two-legger was far brighter than that of her parents. "..they really haven't bothered us too much, though. No boom-sticks or anything." She dared to offer, stealing a glance at her mother, which was returned with the sharpnes of a razor.

Gwen & War Dance

Gwen made no comment on the interaction that played between the mother and daughter, seeing clearly that the pair had differing views of the two-leggers. Gwen hadn't yet noticed the tracking collar that Aakari wore, thanks to the alpha's dense winter coat, or she might have better understood why the she-wolf had such hostile feelings to the humans. After giving the pair a moment, Gwen offered her own advice, "Where we live, we have to coexist with the humans. It's actually quite easy once you get to know their behavior; most will leave you alone, and some will even try to help you. As for the bad ones, we just stay out of their way."

War Dance took this opportunity to showcase her knowledge, "Their body language really isn't too hard to read either, once you get to understanding it. It's mostly in their face, but you can also hear it in their voice. I can help teach you, if you want?"

Aakari & Orcai

Orcai had ducked her head away from her mother's gaze and wisely zipped her trap. Aakari, meanwhile, didn't appear too impressed by the upselling of 'good' humans by Gwen and War Dance, and let that be known with a continued frown that showed her reservations for such ideas. "I'd prefer they not be on my land at all." Still... these Lurkers did have a point, and they had survived for several generations now in amongst the two-leggers, so the alphess knew there was some logic behind their views. "It wouldn't hurt to learn what you know, but I don't plan on becoming friends with any humans in my domain. I'd be grateful if you could show us some way to repel them that wouldn't instigate an attack." From the corner of her eye, Aakar could see the disappointment in her daughter's body language when she said that, and for once, the white wolf relented, "And if you deem it safe, you can show Orcai around the outskirts of your home, so she can learn what you know of these creatures."

Gwen & War Dance

"We can do that." Gwen vowed, happy to have found some common ground with her wild-blooded ally. "My daughter can give her a tour of the outer city limits, whenever Orcai has time. If you'd like to come with us on our way back, we have no hunts planned until later this evening." The offer was made first by looking at Aakari, and then to Orcai, knowing it was the alphess who's permission was needed.

War Dance was wagging her tail in calm delight, "Shouldn't take more than a few hours to show you the basics."

Gwen spoke again, "And any time you'd like us to help with your human problem here, just give us a howl, or-" A thought suddenly crossed the brindle dog's mind, "Would you be accepting of a falcon in your ranks? They are very helpful for delivering messages, and acting as scouts."

Aakari & Orcai

There was some resistance in Aakari on the offer to let her daughter so close to the humans. That was made apparent in the way she delayed her answer while she gazed upon War Dance, as if trying to discern whether or not the young Lurker was capable of keeping her child safe in such a foreign environment. Ultimately though, she gave a slow nod and softened her gaze, "The sooner we learn, the better. You may go with them, Orcai. Listen to War Dance, and respect Gwen as your alpha while in her territory."

Orcai's backend wiggled as her tail swung, with excitement getting the better of the black and white lupine. She managed to contain her excitement to a quick, appreciative lick beneath her mother's chin, and a quiet "Thanks, mom." And then subdue the tail-wagging altogether as she crossed over the invisible border of their home to stand beside the brindle War Dance.

To the offer of falcons, Aakar's expression devolved into one of hesitant confusion, "A.. falcon? As part of the pack?" The idea sounded so foreign to her, even though Sweetclover had told her stories of Pirqua and her flock. She had to admit though, having eyes in the sky would be nice, and especially helpful in keeping a watch for humans. Despite her reservations, the white wolf found herself giving in rather quickly to the idea, "I could see a falcon coming in useful, yes."