It was a hard thing to accept that Lunette found her happiness outside of the cove, or maybe he'd known that was what it would take all along. Perhaps he'd needed to hear it from her but it left a lot for him to think about. He was putting it off of course as he didn't want to consider what it might mean. Instead he let his thoughts drift to Chan, he was a much happier thing to think about especially with all that Kajika wanted to teach him. However, his godson didn't keep his mind from drifting back to Lunette and on to Des's killer, Moonshadow's attacker. Things seemed so much darker these days in the cove.

As he plodded along taking in the scents around him on his border patrol his mind had become stuck on the things he tried to stay away from. They were no closer to catching either murderer or attacker and it only made the anger in the beta seeth more. Coming to the lake he caught the scent of a stranger. Granted the lake wasn't within cove territory it was close enough that Kajika felt it important to check on this stranger.

The dark man made his way along the path that led through the trees and down onto the shore. He stopped however just before stepping into full view as he watched the male who didn't seem a threat. Kajika couldn't help but he more alert and cautious as he finally stepped onto the shore and into view of the man. With Chan to worry about and the recent events he wanted to be sure his pack and those he cares about within were safe. This male did not hold the scent that had been so faint on Des's pelt when he'd found her.

“What brings you to Lost Lake?” He asked politely as he approached the water's edge and the male. There he bent to lap at the water but always keeping alert as to what the man was up to.

Trying to focus on the happy things that had happened like Chan’s birth was even bittersweet because he’d lost his siblings. The beta wondered if Moonshadow or Tagg had any plans to tell their son about his siblings. Kajika wasn’t sure which was the best option, to tell him because he should know that he’d had siblings or not to so that he wouldn't have to be sad not being able to grow up with them. It was a hard choice and part of him was glad that he didn't have to be the one to make it.

The cove wolves had faced a lot of hardship over the past months which he felt was part of the reason positive thoughts were so hard to come by. He went through his daily routine like he always had, trying to be the best packmate he could. Sometimes he had to wonder if it was worth it anymore with all of the bad things that had happened. He also wondered if the cove could ever recover from what had happened and flourish once more. He wanted badly for them to experience some happiness that might boost the moral of the pack.

He knew as he came upon the lake where he would stop for a drink that patience was important and that the good times had to return. Then maybe the cove would feel like it once had but he knew that they might have to find closure for Des before that could happen. Being unable to find any clues that would lead him in the direction of her killer only frustrated him.

The scent reached his nostrils causing them to flair as he tried to taken in as much information about the stranger. He wanted to know what he was doing so close to pack lands, after all that had happened he felt it important to be cautious and keep an eye on the wolf that had finally come into view. Finding out what he was doing was necessary for the safety of the pack especially with Chan running about. He would not let something happen to that pup if he could help it.

As he apporoched the man he took in everything he could about him and tried to figure out if the stranger was indeed a threat to his pack. From what he could tell just by sight and smell the man didn't seem to be a threat. Still he remained cautious and asked the man what he was doing at the lake. While waiting for a response he got his much needed drink of water before turning to face the man.

Kajika nodded when the stranger said that he was thirsty, they were going to play this game.”That's as good of a reason as any.” Of course that left the question of how did he find the lake when it wasn't well known. Still the stranger had every reason to be at the lake since it didn't fall in the cove’s territory. “Is your home in the east?” Inquired the beta though the man didn't smell of others or have a pack scent on him. As for what had brought Kajika to the lake, “Thirst,” he supplied before sitting back on his haunches. “I was close by and caught your scent. Thought I would make myself known since my pack isn't far from here,” he answered more fully. A subtle warning that the pack border wasn't far and the man should be careful.

It was important for the dark beta to know the scent of the male he'd come across at the water’s edge. Just as it was any other strange male he came across, what if they carried the scent that he had spent so much time looking for. Kajika did not want to miss his opportunity to avenge the woman that had been his first love and his first friend in these lands. If it hadn't been for her he may not have ever made it to where he was in his life. As he took in the man's scent he came to the realization quickly that this was not the man he was looking for. Which set him at ease some though the curiosity about him lingered. Once Kajika had gotten the information he wanted from the stranger's scent he focused in the conversation for that was where he would find the answers to his questions.

The first being about the man's home and it being in the east, “Have you come to these lands looking for something specific?” Or had he stumbled across the lore as he traveled and decided to stay. Kajika could remember how he had ended up in the lore having left his birth pack he had wandered into the lore and ended up staying. He'd now been in these lands and with his pack for over two years and had no plans to leave. “Life is full of leaving things behind it seems,” he commented almost absent mindedly as he knew from his own experiences. He'd had to leave his sister behind and sometimes wondered if she had fallen onto the same path as her parents or if she had chosen the path he'd taken and left the pack.

His first answer to the stranger's question had been in efforts to keep things friendly and light between the men. However, he became more serious as he offered the real reason that he had come to meet with the man. Letting it be known that his own pack was close by gave a subtle warning that the man needed to be cautious. Kajka didn't want to see any harm come to the man because he accidentally crossed their border. Of course that only matter as long as his intentions were innocent, he did not foresee going well for the man if he meant harm. After what had happened to Des and Moonshadow he did not think a stranger close to their border would go over well especially if he had plans to harm anyone.

That didn't seem to be the case in this situation which helped the dark beta to be a little more at ease. He even went to far as stop take a seat next to the water as the man spoke. He couldn't help but chuckle lightly, “I am not surprised for a pack is home with a den and family. It's a place to return to at the end of each day so pack wolves talking of home I feel is only natural.” His pack had most certainly become his home over the past years and he couldn't imagine if something happened to it. “Perhaps one day someone will but l must say that is quite the observation as I haven't ever noticed that about pack wolves.”

Having mentioned his own pack he wasn't surprised when he was asked about it's name as that seemed to be a normal question when he spoke of his pack. “Fallen Tree Cove,” he supplied.

Once he'd ascertained that this stranger had nothing to do with Des's murder he fell into his normal routine. He needed to make sure that this male would not be bringing harm to the cove for they had been through so much already. He remained strong for his pack but inside he wasn't sure he could take much more pain within Fallen Tree Cove. They hadn't deserved what had already happened and they didn't deserve any more that could happen. So far he did not view the man as a threat so he relaxed a little though he still remained alert to any change in the stranger. He felt he would find out what he needed to know through their conversation as long as the man told the truth in his responses. Asking his question he watched the man closely for any sign he might be lying.

The dark beta would not allow any more harm come to his pack if he could prevent it which was what led him to ask his next question. Then he waited for the response which he hoped might reveal something of the man before him. A shrug was given as the man returned with a question of his own, “I suppose it depends on the wolf.” When he had come to the lore he had come looking to do good. “Well, I hope you find it. I believe the lore would be the place to look as I feel that I found what I came for.” At least he had before the most recent events. Kajika had been unsure of himself more and more as the days passed.

Kajika had found his home within Fallen Tree Cove with Alphas he could serve without worry that they would turn on him as his parents had. He trusted Namid and Vespertio for when it truly mattered they had not let him down. Though he now worried what would become of him should they discovered how he felt about their daughter. He knew them both to be protective of their children so felt it was best to prepare himself for the worst case scenario.

That was a matter for a later time as the man at the edge of the water agreed with him about a pack. Kajika then nodded in agreement of the man words and as he recently found out, “There are plenty of packs in the lore I am sure that you can find one that will fit you best.” It was what the man said next that had Kajika thinking he might retract what he'd said previously but he did not, “You do not strike me as a man who enjoys a life without the companionship of a pack.” Perhaps the beta had been confused of what the man's meaning was. He wasn't sure he could believe that there were any wolves who were true loners, to live their lives moving on the outskirts of the packs merely surviving.