Take A Breath [Shri/Nocturne]

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The male had offered to go ahead and scout of the area ahead of Nocturne. The conversation had twisted and turned between the two of them about settling, but Reece felt the burn in his system. He had never liked winter coming, and the fear that he would be unable to protect the female endlessly pulled at him. Whether or not he dared admit that, it was another thing, and his mouth twisted wryly. This was a new advancement in society. Somehow he had managed to trickle down to the point where he considered a pack.

Reece had never been exposed to pack life, had never been granted the chance to call such a place home. His family slaughtered by a beast who had wandered the land, it had been a heartbreak he had never recovered from. The abandoned, the lonesome had crawled their way into his dark, burnt out heart. Eventually they succumbed to life as well, and his last sister he had adopted had not lived to see a year and a half. Such was hard on the heart.

Keeping Nocturne alive was a devious ploy, something that he assured her was more for her benefit of the free food. Perhaps he would find a play, but somehow he suspected he would not be welcomed. He had no desire to belong to a pack who would quell his rages, it was inevitable that he would be banished. No, if luck pushed him aside, he would simply offer his pleas in favour of watching over the black wolf. At least until Winter’s fall away, and if he survived the winter on his lonesome, perhaps he would walk his way back to her. No, he would have walked willingly, but again - it was not something he wished to share.

It bothered him that he felt entitled to continue on his hopeful search, but he had wandered around the pack boundaries for two days with his companion. While he had sent her off with the food they had buried, reassuring her that it would keep him sane if she stayed away for a few moments - he sucked in a breath. Most assuredly, the wolf could be permitted a satisfactory greeting. He owed it to himself not to look like an idiot.

The male tipped his head back, and allowed the howl to start from deep down. It reached down from his stomach, and pulled up until it caressed on the air. Yes, he knew the call would beckon the curiosity of Nocturne. It hardly mattered, the female would have to appear at some point. He only hoped he could make things work in her favour. He could feel winter cold as death as it crept upon the land.

ooc:| @teme, @lassiel, let's get some pack wolves settled.

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They were going to join a pack. She was at once hopeful and terrified at the notion. Her birth pack with its backward traditions had been poison to her independent spirit. On the other hand, the bond she shared with Reece indicated that there were other wolves for her to connect with. She didn't have much hope for anyone reaching her male's status - she wrinkled her nose at the possessive way she was beginning to think of Reece - but one could always hope. She headed back towards the small deer she and Reece had managed to bring down the night before. Carefully off pack territory, to be sure. She itched to be back with the male. She just couldn't leave him on his own - he'd make a bumbling mess of things to be sure. He simply thought to much and acted too little on impulse. She shook her head, speeding up to a canter. The sooner she found their welcome presence and brought it back, the better. Then she could help charm the alpha lady into accepting them. It had seemed like a small pack, from the scents clustering around the borders. Which in turn meant that winter was going to be harsh on them too if they didn't have enough hunters. She and Reece were in their prime, still nice and healthy, and well-trained in the arts of bringing down food. In short, they had a good sales pitch. It was comforting to know that. It meant that only a true fool wouldn't offer them a place to stay over the winter...and potentially for longer. They see how things worked out. She stubbornly ignored the little voice in her mind that Reece might chafe at pack life. He wasn't as outgoing as she, though he could certainly talk when he put his mind to it. Her musings were brought short when she came across the deer, two crows picking at the carcass. "Shoo! Be off with you!" she snarled at them, the guttural sound sending the avians into the air with shrieks of dismay. She kept a sharp silver eye on them as she crossed the last few metres to the deer. There was still plenty of meat on it, she noted approvingly. It meant no-one else had found the burial site. "Time to get you home" she told the silent carcass with a playful smirk, leaning down to fasten her jaws around its withers. With a faint grumble at the strain, she began hauling the body back the way she'd come, crabbing awkwardly sideways with the added bulk. Her passage was painfully slow, and she cursed the male for sending her off on the errand...and then she cursed herself for meekly doing his bidding. Oh, she was far too generous with him! Her mental tirade was cut short at the distinct howl that caught her ears. He hadn't!!!! That little monster she cursed mentally, yanking furiously on the deer as she increased her pace. He really was going to speak to the alpha alone! Well, not if she could help it he wouldn't. "Speech"

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The crisp autumn breeze ruffled the fur along Shri's back. The mixture of white, grey and black wasn't all that conducive to hunting in the green Dove Hills, but it was nothing Shri couldn’t work with. She could not have survived on her own if something as silly as coat color had held her back. But she wasn't on her own now, was she? Maira had grown, despite not having the luxury of an alpha with a multitude of friends. And truly, Shri felt there was something to be said in having a pack formed from wanderers and loners. Perhaps they did not have the close ties other packs boasted of, but there was strength to be found in a group formed of individuals who knew how to survive on their own.

Of course, that independent spirit could also cause problems if Shri could not get them to work together. It hadn't happened, but the worry gnawed at her thoughts. It was hard to shift one's loyalties to an entire group of wolves when you were accustomed to living alone and Shri sometimes wondered if she had bitten off more than she could chew. Of course she knew how to survive on her own, but how to keep a pack together was something she had no experience in. Her own familiarity as a loner allowed her to understand her pack members better, but it also left her lacking the tools another alpha raised for the position might have. But there was little she could do save to forge ahead. These lands were hers now, and she did not intend to give them or her pack up without a fight.

But as the weather grew cooler, she was faced with a problem she'd been content to ignore since first arriving in the spring. Winter. There was little shelter to be found in these lands and she suspected only northern wolves would know how to properly weather the winter here. She herself was from the north, having grown up in the White Forest before striking out on her own. But now she had the responsibility of looking after an entire pack, and not all were used to the cold weather. And prey, of course, would be a problem as well. But these hills were a favored home of animals throughout the rest of the year, so Shri hoped some of them would stick around for the winter as well. It would be difficult to to feed a pack, but certainly doable.

For now though, autumn was still here and she had borders to maintain. She knew the hills well by now and she kept to the ridge lines where she would have the greatest view of the surrounding area. Two new scents had caught her attention a day ago and though they seemed careful of actually entering her territory, their proximity had Shri keeping a close eye out. Two wolves hardly counted as a threat, but it always paid to be cautious. They could be a scouting party from another pack or nothing more than a pair of wanderers. 'And if they are,' she mused, 'they might be potential members. If only they would quit sneaking around and show their faces.’

At that moment, a lone howl rose up into the air and Shri stilled her movements to listen closely, prepared to turn back if a pack member needed her. But it was not one of her own. A small satisfied smile curled the corners of her lips. Perhaps the strangers were finally willing to show themselves. The howl echoed from only a short distance away and Shri quickly trotted toward it, crossing a few sloping hills before finding an unknown male. There was no sign of a second wolf. But this stranger’s scent matched one of the two she’d been keeping track of, so either they were not actually affiliated with each other and it was chance that brought them in close proximity to each other, or the second wolf was just out of sight. Planning an ambush on a lone alpha, perhaps? Maybe the other simply wasn’t here at the moment, but Shri’s guard rose anyway and she approached slowly but confidently, tail raised and eyes fierce. If they were attempting to spring an attack, she would not be caught unaware. "I wondered if you would show yourself," she said. "I caught your scent a day ago. What is your business here?"

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When his song ended, his head dropped and he watched the shadows that played around him. The territory was so open, but he realized there was something to be said for hiding in plain sight. His smile was faint about his features, his body shifted restlessly as he listened for the sound of approach. Most likely, they had been noticed. It had occurred to him to linger further away, but he never would have grasped the span of territory as well otherwise. Tail flicked lightly, and he braced himself for the appearance.

The sight of the female started him, but he held his tongue and he managed not to appear disappointed. The overlay of female had been strongest in his nose, but it still surprised him. His own mother, and sisters, had always been strong of heart. But in the end, they never could have led. It never would have worked, it would have fallen apart at the seems. The attempt to have not passed judgment was swift, reminding himself respect was what counted. At the end of the day, he needed a place to be safe. To keep Nocturne safe. That reminder was enough to to make him feel faulted, and the world turned against him.

When she was in distance, his ears twisted back and he peered at her for a long moment. The assessment rang out of the yellow eyes he carried, but somehow he forced it back. He struggled it away for the safety of his own mind, and the half hearted laugh braced itself as it filled the air. Ah, she was a clever one, direct. It pleased him for a moment, and he managed not to look surprised.

“Well,” Husky words returned, amusement lingered in his voice, “Couldn't have myself become too much of an oddity, I wasn't in a rush to be driven away.” His words seemed reasonable, his head cocked to the side. If took a moment - and a fair bit of mental debate - before he stepped forward and dropped his head. “Lady Elegance, my name is Reece.” The introduction was required, pleasure before business.

“I--We, my companion and I, have scouted restlessly over your borders for a purpose.” His head inclined, “We've traveled a fair bit, our both packs of our home life have been destroyed. Emptied of our ability to survive.” Words trailed off carefully, and he forced himself to huff. “We seek a place to rest, to survive within, to offer what we can and in return be offered a chance at weathering the storms that come.”

ooc:| @teme, @lassiel

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The deer was getting heavy, her neck was aching and the entire posture was simply uncomfortable. Why had they decided to kill the deer all the way over there? Then again, the distance did seem far longer now that it had the day before. She paused for a moment, spitting out the deer to give herself a careful stretch and a brisk shape. She heard no answering howl from the alpha-lady - she was quite certain it was a lady; they'd only caught her scent on the borders - which meant that she must have been close enough to drop by. That thought prodded her back into action, jaws snapping angrily around her quarry as she set out on the last leg of her journey. Oh, Reece was so going to pay for starting this without her! She didn't make any effort to keep her passage quiet, the deer's carcass snapping twigs and sending little pebbles clattering off each other. Their newest companion was sure to have realised that there were two of them - she'd not be worth her salt if she hadn't - so there was no need for her to lie low. That, and sneaking about the place was a recipe for arousing suspicion. As much as she liked keeping her cards close, there was some situations that required forthright answers...and this was going to be one of them.  She was breathing heavily as she dragged the blasted welcome present up the slope to where she was sure Reece had waited. His scent was definitely strong on the air, and she'd left him fairly close to this spot earlier. She caught sight of his mottled colours up ahead, a foreign, paler figure standing close by. Ha! Just as she had thought. She took a moment to congratulate her powers of deduction, before moving towards them. She was careful to keep her steps measured, curbing the desire to rush over and hear what everyone was saying. Unfortunately, the wind wasn't in her favour, so she couldn't even catch snippets of the conversation. She huffed through the deer's neck, resigning herself to having to make a grand entrance without really knowing who had said what when. As she got closer, she heard bits of Reece's story, the word's 'pack', 'survive' and 'rest'. Well, that could mean absolutely anything and nothing! Oh, she really shouldn't have let him walk into this alone! He was bound to make a pig's ear of things...and as far as she was concerned, pig's ears didn't taste nice at all. She dropped the deer at a respectable distance, before moving lithely towards the other lady. "I apologise for my tardiness" she informed smoothly, bowing her black head in a gesture of polite respect. "I am Nocturne, Reece's companion." A small smile curled the edges of her lips upwards, silver orbs peering at the other lady with veiled curiosity. Well, for now she must be silent and see if she could piece together what the other two had been talking about. She really, really hoped she hadn't missed too much. "Speech"

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Her gaze swept over the wolf, studying him carefully as he replied. The male was nothing spectacular—average sized with a mixture brown and white fur. There were no particularly interesting scars to speak of or to hint to a violent past. There was an air of amusement to his voice as he spoke though—an amusement that Shri did not share. An entirely unimpresed look crossed her face at the title he labeled her with. Lady Elegance, indeed. It tasted of nothing more than insincere flattery. Thankfully, the wolf—Reece—moved right into answering her question, even going as far as to mention the second companion she was already aware of. He was not hiding that at lesat, though it still begged the question as to where exactly the other wolf had disappeared to.

"And what is it you can offer—you and your companion? There is little shelter to be found here. Do you know how to survive when there is nothing between you and the winter weather?" There was a bluntness to Shri's words, a way of speaking that could be taken as disinterest, even if it was not. While she was hardly one to seek out charity cases, she was also not one to deny aid when directly asked for it, so long as it did not endanger those under her protection. And of course, the chance of adding permanent pack members to their ranks once spring began was a tempting thing.

The wind changed then, bringing with it the sound and scent of another. She turned her head to see another wolf dragging a carcass over to them, not even trying to hide herself from Shri's view. "Is this your companion then?" She asked, glancing toward Reece as she did so. His answer was hardly needed though, as the female’s scent was identical to that of the missing wolf.

Her gaze slid back to the black female, watching the newcomer leave the deer behind to join them. Shri returned the nod with a slight incline of her own head before answering. "Shri Kanti. Your companion tells me the two of you are seeking a home for the winter." The coolness in her voice from before had disappeared, her slight annoyance mollified by Nocturne’s more tasteful introduction. Her eyes landed on Reece once more. "He was just telling me how you two might aid my pack this winter. I can not endanger my existing members by taking in those who do not already have the skills to survive."

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As the male swallowed down his thoughts, he managed to look at the unimpressed look of the Alpha. Ah, she was the protective sort. He understood, he felt touched that he was being humoured when she clearly had others that were valued enough to beckon that glint in her eye. Perhaps if he would have sang a thousand promises of remaining and being faithful, she would have relaxed. But he would not lie to the female, not before his value had been proven.

The problem was, Reece’s question of value was very unpredictable. It was not desired in the common tongue, and it was why he had been a lone wolf for longer than he had been with a pack. His eyes twinkled faintly, even as the air caught the scent of the female he had attempted away from him. Oh, he should not have been surprised, but before he could have ever answered the female leader — there she was. Nocturne.

His head twisted, and eyes narrowed lightly at her firm words. Oh, to think he would mess it up. He would have, if it would have been for his own needs. But this was for her he was making this pained change that he doubted he could handle. The introductions between the two females caused him to realize he had never offered his name, but the frown that danced across his face was clear. He was not the charity case the female assumed, he had simply lost a fair bit of social skills along the way.

“I would rather freeze on my own attempt then live to be a burden, my lady fair.” Rough words grumbled softly as he turned the attention back to him, glancing at Nocturne with a pointed grin. “My little huntress has proven her worth - she would gladly share a meal with you if you wished to take her in.” Soft words filled the air, and while he was speaking for his companion, his words held an undertone of encouragement. He was proud of her, there was not a reason for such to be doubted.

“I, on the other hand, am not well fit for pack dynamics.” Warning words were soft the air, and his laughter was apologetic. “But I would happily stay away from whoever you pointed out to me, I will avoid causing any damage while I am in these grounds…” His voice trailed off, but his head turned away and he debated it over in his mind. “I have never fought for a cause, and do not know if I would be willing.” Dropped tone was thoughtful, and he considered his next words carefully.

“But I am a killer. I will stand for where I am told to, I can give obedience. My outlets will be left to my own accord in whatever manner you would feel fit.” The announcement was left on the air, and he shrugged his shoulders. Warrior. It seemed like a silly word to say he was a fighter for the greater good. He had slaughtered unfairly, although he was fairly stable in his mind. Perhaps if the bones and graves of others did not enchant him so much, he would never have found reason to stay attached. But death was a comforting companion, and he embraced it willingly.

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Sharp grey eyes assessed the female, taking in the slight tension between her and Reece. The dark lady huffed softly to herself, making a mental note to berate Reece at the first opportune moment. But for now, she would play nice - there was no need to make a foolish impression this early on in the game. She smiled faintly at the name offered to her, good etiquette bringing the words to her lips. "It is a great pleasure to meet you, Shri." She took the leap to keep to given names. Nocturne never wanted to think about last names - because that was more defining of character to strangers. First names were safe - first names didn't often leave too many painful clues to ones heritage.  Shri didn't take much time beating about the bush, and Nocturne added that to the list of positives. She really didn't like wafflers - they were annoying and simply frustrating. She set her rump to the ground, her shoulders and posture indicating her complete lack of tension. Shri was no threat - not with Reece beside her, and the whole idea behind joining a pack was to build up trust. True, she'd take a while until she was actually far enough along to trust anyone other than herself - and recently, Reece - but she was sure things would come in time. It would just take her some careful observation of her to-be pack mates until she'd assessed their worth. But in the mean-time, it wasn't particularly difficult to make a good impression. Grand-daddy Sirius had taught her how to be charming after all. A fond smile pulled across her lips at the thought of the one male who had influenced her life so dramatically.  "He tells you correctly" she chipped in, diving nose-first into the conversation. With Shri's comment and Reece's first words, she was getting a bit of an idea of what was being asked. She felt the heat rise to her cheeks vaguely at Reece's praise, mentally berating herself for such a foolish notion. He was her friend...and unwittingly, he had managed to slip under her skin more than she would have liked. Still, she supposed she needed someone on her side, and the golden-eyed male was just that. "I can assure you, both Reece and I are more than capable of weathering the winter alone" she informed the alpha, sneaking a glance at her companion. His features had the faint lines that heralded a moment of blunt honesty, and she worried for what he was going to say. She knew he was closer to the darkness that she, and she hoped that he wouldn't blow the entire scheme by being too open about that. Yes, they shouldn't lie...but perhaps they shouldn't air all their laundry at once. She kept her features in a pleasant mask, inwardly cringing at Reece's words. There he went - all honest and forthright. She took a moment to count to five - she didn't have the time to count to ten - before turning sincere eyes to the alpha lady. "He will not harm a member of your pack." She shot the male in question a stern glare, daring him to disagree with her and make the entire situation more...messy. "I have spent enough time in his company to know that he has a good heart" she continued, leaning forwards and lowering her voice slightly. "He has his moments - I wont sugarcoat the fact - but those urges can be diverted." She pulled back a little, favouring the male with a fond smile. "When he's not playing thr part of the aloof philosopher, he makes a decent companion, and you'd be hard pressed to find a stauncher ally when things get rough." "Speech"

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Shri remained impassive as the male spoke up once more, quick to dissuade her from the idea that he would be a burden. It was an easy claim to make and Nocturne was quick to agree as well. But far more interesting to Shri was his comment on Nocturne. Or perhaps it wasn’t the comment so much as his tone of voice. There was affection there, and more than that of wolves who were simply traveling together. It made his next words all the more interesting for the warning they held.

Her eyes narrowed, lips thinning at his blatant admittance of not being fit for a pack, though the honesty was…unexpected? He seemed quite intent on making Nocturne out to be a good addition to Maira but had no qualms about disclosing his own flaws. But he was also obviously thinking over his words carefully, aware they might not be taken well. And why should they? He was a self-admitted killer, already warning her of his violent tendencies. He could so very easily be a danger to her pack, even if it was not his intent. Every word he spoke gave Shri more reason to drive him away. The words to do so were gathering in her throat that very moment, her muscles stiff and gaze hard.

Nocturne’s brighter voice interrupted her thoughts, but Shri still had to drag her eyes away from Reece to look at the female wolf, doing so just in time to catch the look she gave the male. Ah, so she wasn’t happy with all he had revealed. This was not an aspect of his personality that was new to her. In fact, she went on to insist on his good heart with an honestness Shri doubted was faked. Clearly, Nocturne knew of a side of him that he was not divulging. And for his part, Reece seemed to be fond of her as well.

Shri was silent for a moment, studying both of the wolves in turn. Nocturne’s insistence had tempered her initial reaction somewhat and now she found herself with a decision to make. Most pack members were simple to accept. They asked to join, explained what they could offer and so long as they did nothing to anger Shri, were generally welcomed. She liked Nocturne well enough, but Reece caused her concern for obvious reasons. But…perhaps they could make it work.

Finally, she opened her mouth to speak, gaze firmly on Reece. “To put it lightly, I am apprehensive about even allowing you in my lands, much less having you in Maira.” She paused, looking at Nocturne. “But she vouches for you, and you are at least open about your…moments,” she said, borrowing a word from Nocturne. “You both may stay here—through the winter at least. We can consider a more permanent home if everything goes well. For now, I think you would do well as a hunter, Nocturne.”

Eyes moving back to Reece, Shri’s voice hardened as she continued speaking, allowing no room for disagreement. “You are welcome to keep to yourself if you wish, but you will not cause unnecessary harm to any who wander in Maira territory. If you agree to this, and believe you can bring yourself to fight for the defense of the pack, I will give you a place as one of my warriors.” Shri was…cautiously optimistic. She did not know if she could entirely trust Reece, but she was willing to take that chance. The winter was just beginning and she would surely have plenty of time to form a more complete opinion of him before it ended.

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There was no apology in Reece's eyes, despite the look that his companion cast him. Oh, he knew Nocturne would not have settled if he had not agreed to try - but he would not risk the health of others. While he was quite confident he would not harm the black female he had spent months upon months with, it was another story when it came to considering the value of others in his mind. It had taken a fair amount of mental training not to take the female and shake her senseless, although there had been a few times he had come close. The physical pain he had to inflict himself on after, and make excuses on the cause, was not something he would so willingly sacrifice to other members of the lands.

“Nocturne,” Tempered voice chided as she vouched for him gently. How could she say that he would not harm anyone? He had set the warning out with the purest of intentions not to make harm come to another. But there was little negotiation once Reece lost it. Around and down the bend of insanity was forever going to be a quick little slide for the male, and he was not prepared to risk her health over the fact he was unstable. So the male offered a considerable frown while she laced the conversation with good intentions, and he ignored the burning under his paws as he hummed the saying. The road to hell...

But then his attention snapped to Shri, and the softness expressed through his face. Ah, the dark female had saved his tail apparently. There was a noble edge to this leader, and his head bowed respectfully as her words laced the air. “To not be apprehensive would prove you too young to lead, fair lady.” His eyes glanced toward the silver ones, and he offered a deep sigh. “Brightness shines out of this one like a newborn, unfortunately.” There was no harm in his words though, and it was a rehashed conversation between the pair.

When yellow eyes lifted again, his throat cleared as he tempted himself a step back. Offering a bit of space, his eyes met the female's for one strong moment. “I vow I will keep your requirements in mind, and will place my best foot forward for the occasions. My duty will not be one I will fail, Shri Kanti.” It was everything else that had to be worthy of a concern. He was good at survival, good at killing, thus he assumed it would only be sensible. Once his gaze lingered long enough, he managed to drop his eyes.

“I thank you for offering me a chance.” Sincere words murmured, before once more his gaze was on his companion. It was for Nocturne's sake he acted on the impulse, but his politeness was well ingrained. He was not so well spoken as to dance around the truth and make it seem safe, but he managed to be true to his nature. The most that could be asked of him, for the time being.

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The black wolf blithely ignored Reece's chiding words. Yes, he could be difficult. Yes, he could lose touch with lucidity and be a danger to himself and others...but he could be sweet and caring and thoughtful when he put his mind to it. It never occurred to Nocturne that he may only show that side around her - that she had somehow managed to subvert his defences and open him up. But she wasn't quite philosophical or analytical enough to run through those thoughts....certainly not whilst in the midst of something as important as joining a pack. She held her breath as Shri spoke, keeping herself perfectly still to hide the nervous quiver in her paws. Let her say yes, let her say yes, let her say yes she thought over and over again. When the other lady finally spoke, it was as though the sun had finally broken through the cloud cover and was showering her with warmth. It took her considerable self-restraint to remain standing and not jump into the air like an electrocuted pup. She couldn't stop her tail wagging, however, silver eyes gleaming with excitement. At Reece's comment, she turned to look at him blowing him a soft raspberry. Newborn, indeed! Not that he was far off the mark, really. Some days, she could be as silly as a rabbit on the first day of spring. She bowed her head respectfully to her new alpha, a bright smile pulling her lips upwards. "I would be honoured to hunt for you and the pack, Shri" she intoned, taking a step to the side and pointing to the deer with her muzzle. "I brought a welcoming present!" She hardly listened to the words exchanged between Reece and Shri - they were mere formalities, after all. Just because they were in a pack didn't mean that she'd stop spending time with the male. They had a special bond, and he did need someone to look out for him. Goodness knew he'd get himself into trouble sooner or later. And she'd need him at her back, a time or two...or three. As much as she was capable of looking after herself, she had grown dependent on the male for sage advice and sardonic comments.   "Speech"

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For all of Reece’s warnings of his darker side, Shri had yet to see even a hint of it. He was careful to show respect when he spoke to her and his light teasing of Nocturne simply showed the fondness he held for the wolf. A small smile played at Shri’s lips when the other female interjected and she found herself agreeing with Reece’s words. Nocturne certainly had a youthful air about her, grinning even as she bent her head toward Shri. She wasn’t one to automatically equate youth with incompetence. The deer Nocturne was currently motioning to was honest proof of the hunter’s abilities. "My thanks," she replied, voice warm. "I’m sure our lead hunter, Cascade, will be pleased to have another hunter in our ranks."

Attention shifting to Reece again, she stayed silent as his eyes rose to meet hers once more, studying his firm yellow gaze as he pledged to abide by her requirements. Shri would be sure not to grow complacent around him, but a chance she had offered and a chance he would have. He would be treated the same as any other member of Maira until he gave her reason not to. Her head dipped slightly in acknowledgment of his words. "I will hold you to that vow, Reece, and hope you both find a home here." She shook her coat out, resettling the thick fur as she looked between the two wolves. "And speaking of, I am curious as to where you both came from. How is it that you know one another?" They didn’t look to be related, but Shri wondered if they hailed from the same original pack or had simply begun traveling together on a whim.

ooc: So sorry for the wait and the shortness!

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Something burned in him knowing that he had been given a chance. It was a strange feeling, something he was not well accustomed to. Acceptance, it caused him to throw him a glance of question in the direction of the female. Nocturne had accepted him as well, point blank for all he was. There was no strings attached in the matter, no rose colored glasses. The fact caused him to grin with affection toward the female, but then the alpha required his attention.

So his body shifted and he inclined his head to the words that were uttered in his direction. Well, Nocturne would do well, she was strong and more than capable. It caused him joy to know she would be safe, and his naughty eyes twinkled with a show of mischief. "I seduced her," His words seemed completely out of the blue, "I am originally from the Crater, that awful hole in the earth -- how appropriate, yes?"

His words were warmer, now that the formalities had passed. It caused him to glance at the female, "I met this beauty in the White Forest; she was hopeless to my intelligence..." His head inclined, "I am fair of mind for a male, as it stands. I matured... quite young." His words were noncommittal, not prepared to go into his dark past. On the other hand, he almost considered speaking of the female who he had lost.

But he shut his mouth at the thought of Emerald, the pain in his eyes was just a reflection. Ah, how painful it was to be alive with those he loved were dead. "I was very... alone at the time. Her company has kept me warm." His words trailed off, before giving his Alpha a better in tune look.

He waited for his companion to speak, before he piped up. "What about you, my leader?" His question seemed fair enough, "Have you always called this place home? Or did something call to you?"

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She started at the question that suddenly laced the air, her gaze skittering from Shri to Reece and back again. She was even more startled when Reece replied, and she sat down rather suddenly. He hadn't seduced her! There was nothing so sickly romantic between the two of them! She was about to interject hotly, her features twisted into a look of dismay when the male elaborated. She exhaled deeply in relief. Ok, things were good. He'd seduced her mind, she'd give him that. There was something...ensnaring about the way he always had an answer to any problem. For all that they were nearly of equal age, he'd grown in ways that she hadn't yet started. Whilst he was stuck in the darkness that she had yet to learn about, she walked as much in the light as she could. She supposed that was where the fundamental difference lay. Youth lay in the sunlight and goodness of deeds.  She felt herself grow warm at his words, though she kept the reaction to herself. "Oh hush, you silly goose" she chided him gently, silver gems twinkling. "I just distract him from the tedious whirrings of his mind." All this talk of warmth insinuated sappy feelings...and those just didn't exist. Yes she liked him, yes she got on with him beautifully...but that was where things ended. They were good travelling companions. End of story. Any words to other effect were simply embellishing the simple truth, and that was quite unnecessary as far as she was concerned. Reece was back in his talkative mode, and she waited for him to pause briefly before she chipped in her own two cents. "I was born close to Akeli Lake" she offered, not willing to open up more on the subject. Who knew how fast gossip travelled in these lands. The last thing she wanted was for Shri to panic about having allowed a murderer into the pack. Even if she had killed the idiot in self-defense...almost. She disposed of him as a precaution, before things got suitably ugly. When it came down to the hard facts, her own life was more important than anyone else's. She turned curious eyes onto Shri as Reece asked his question, honest interest upon her features. It was a fair question...and it was so nice to play this little game of getting to know one another. "Speech"

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The air between the three wolves settled into something more relaxed as the conversation turned to a lighter topic. It was a welcome change, as her decision was made and there was little reason to linger over it now. Perhaps later, in privacy, but for now Shri would try to learn more of her new pack members. The gleam which entered Reece's eyes at her question was intriguing and she listened with a slight edge of anticipation to hear how he would answer.

Seduced her? Shri’s brow rose in surprise at the words that reached her, eyes glancing briefly toward Nocturne as the wolf suddenly sat down. The shocked looked on Nocturne's face was amusing, but told Shri little as to whether Reece was speaking the truth about that little tidbit. The look in his eye though—mischievousness—and the fond words pointed more toward teasing than truth.

Her attention returned to Reece, listening as he mentioned the White Forest—and at this a light burst of nostalgia floated through her, a gossamer thread that dissolved just as quickly. That snowy forest may have once been her home, but it wasn’t anymore. Loneliness...well, Shri understood that, though not in any especially intense manner. She'd always been happy in her own thoughts, content with a few meetings with close friends before living on her own once more. Still, even she had found herself desiring more companionship after some time alone. Nocturne might try to downplay his words, but Shri suspected there was still some truth to them. It was explanation enough for how the two came to travel together.

Nocturne was brief in her explanation of where she came from and then Reece turned Shri’s question back on herself. It was a harmless request and one Shri had little problem answering. She huffed a laugh. "If nothing else, Maira is a collection of loners." A group of unknowns she did not know well enough to predict. They might agree to follow her, but there was no deep-seated loyalty to base that on. It was an understanding that would have to come with time, not one that would be established in the course of a single conversation. "Like Nocturne, I am from the northern lands—the White Forest, in fact." She shrugged. "There is little else to tell. I eventually wandered away in my youth, spent some time alone, and then found my way here in the spring." She suddenly paused for a brief moment, eyes narrowing as she studied both wolves closely. "Were you traveling long, before coming here? We can save this conversation for another time, if you would like to rest."