She did not stray far from the den these days. The pups were only five weeks of age – their clumsy paws began to skirt them closer to the outside of the den, and she spent much of her time either ushering them back within the safety of their home beneath the tall tree, or allowing them to romp upon the stretch of grass under her careful watch. Maksim would visit after patrols, though she seen less of her silvered mate than she would deem appropriate. Still, she was not without company – Naia, Karina, Orren and even Kjors saw to that.


It was the one-eyed wolf that beckoned her forward today, and slipping away from her two dozing puppies, she felt the warmth of the air upon her pelt before casting bright green eyes upon her companion. She was not sure what to make of him just yet – but he kept her daughter happy, and she found herself not wishing to delve further in to the persistent thoughts that crept along her mind.. the one that questioned just how much time spent with her yearling girl was appropriate for a man of his age.


“Kjors,” she greeted smoothly, brushing her nose to his cheek in way of a pack mate greeting. She slipped past him then, senses alerted as any motherly instinct would at leaving her den entrance open to her two puppies, and yet the man had done nothing to warrant concern. Her paws slipped in to the banks of the river – the one they had named their homestead after – before she bent her muzzle down, quenching the thirst that suddenly plagued her.

The honeyed woman soothed her throat with the river water before pushing herself straighter once more, her eyes drifting back to the swarthy one-eyed male who sat so comfortably at her den. Kjors was an interesting fellow -- she found herself quite taken with his presence if only that he seemed to get straight to the heart of matters. Her gaze would flicker to the squirrel -- something not missed by the regal Baranski, but unwilling to throw her weight around by snatching it away from his presence. Who was she to assume her pack mates bestowed gifts upon her?


Yet his gaze would draw to it, and then flicker back at her, and pulling herself away from the water's edge, Kisla canted her muzzle toward the meal in a manner that bore a simple question -- was this for her? It was a simple statement -- and if he chose to challenge him for the squirrel, she could.. and would. She was certainly brazen enough to do so -- it was how she had challenged Astra for her rank that had ultimately lead her to the role she now sat within.


He spoke then -- his rumbling tone slurring words in a way she found almost soothing. His news, however, was not, and the female blinked, a light frown marring her slender features. "Tokino was Minka's mate, yes?" She paused, rolling over the name 'Gent.' It was unfamiliar to her -- though she would have been bemused to know it was the very same wolf who had once tried to steal from their cache at Cut Rock River during the winter. "Do they know who did it?"

Kjors did not answer her silent question when she indicated to the squirrel, and so, the honeyed woman helped herself instead. She inclined her muzzle in a direction that allowed her to listen to her companion while also beginning to gnaw the creature in half – what she assumed to be a present from the swarthy male who kept looking at it, and yet she would certainly share with him if he desired it.


Upon completion, the she-wolf settled her rump down, licking the blood form her lips as her eyes fell upon him – his statement suddenly caught her off guard, and she blinked at the man before her. Did he just say what she had heard? He knew who killed another.. and wanted to hold the information for leverage?


Stoical, the Baranski lady took this in, feeling her stomach churn slightly. This was the man who kept her daughter company – this was the beast who was molding her now. Her respect for him plummeted, and yet.. she inhaled sharply, willing herself to gather the facts before settling her judgement. “And what are you looking to gain in exchange for information like this?” Her tone was neutral, her gaze sharp as she studied him – this was dangerous water they treaded now. Minka was their ally, and the information was invaluable to them.. had another withheld information if it had been Maksim.. Kisla was not sure she could be held accountable for the havoc she would wreck upon those that would do such a thing.

There was decent reasoning to her pack mates words – but that didn’t aide in the sticky situation they would find themselves in. There was no doubt they would need to tell Minka and Round Stone Crest, and so she gave a final nod. “Thank you for coming forward,” she offered then, unable to shake the uneasiness that shrouded over her like a fog now. “We will need to tell our allies – if only to allow them to rest.” She paused then, though, hearing his hesitations on the wolf called Gent. “I don’t believe I’ve met him – but perhaps you and I will go and seek an audience with Minka herself.” After all, she was the widowed wolf, and the one who truly deserved to know what had happened to her mate.


Her appetite had drained from her, but politely, the honeyed woman continued to gnaw almost absent mindedly on the meal provided. “Round Stone Crest are our allies, but I am not sure how well that is serving us,” she finally mused, knowing her mate would not agree with her. Maksim was a trusting wolf – a loyal man, who put his word above all else. But to what benefit did either pack see of it? The Downs had not aided them with Whisper Caverns – and had almost ignited a war with Secret Woodlands. The tension between the River wolves and their allies would be palpable if they knew they were withholding information for so long. She would need to tread lightly on this.


“What did the offender look like?” She was not sure it was of consequence to her, but perhaps she would better be able to provide a name. She had lived within Relic Lore her entire life, after all.