He had hauled himself upwards with the sun and limped after his pale tawny companion, making sure to stick close to her side. It became apparent the closer they grew, the more her nerves began to get to her and occasionally he would butt against her side, encouraging her to continue on. He knew it was hard for her. He had no family to return to anymore. All that was left was his brothers, one had stabbed him in the back and the other well, he was indifferent. He didn’t care to think of the rest of his siblings or parents right now. The last thing she needed was his bad mood dragging her further down.

As they continued the trees began to envelope the pair, and the earth began to hum beneath his paws. The atmosphere was unnerving, but it was also welcoming, energising at the same time. It truly was a strange sensation. He acknowledged the young wolf with a nod when she told him this was the place. Settling to his haunches he would wait until someone approached to rise. His leg may not be overly painful but it did become uncomfortable on occasion.

Her howl was short, but he supposed when returning home there was very little to convey in a howl. His ears were swiveling, listening for the approach of wolves through the trees. Raising himself back to a standing position on instinct his ears folded and tail low, he kept his head lowered as well, to appear smaller than he was but also to protect his throat unless those that were approaching did so with teeth bared.

All it took was the tone of her voice to set the silver male on edge. Sure packs changed, but from what he had heard most of her pack had been family, had some change taken place in her absence? Scooting closer to the pale lady defensively positioning himself slightly in front of her, no doubt drawing unwanted attention to his limp and scarred leg, he knew he would need to attempt to diffuse the situation lest the other man take offense. ”Peace Borlla.” he pleaded gently from the corner of his mouth before turning his attentions back to the man with the pale eyes. ”We have been traveling quite a while, she is merely anxious to see her brother...”

He realised he had placed himself in a precarious position between the two wolves but knew that if a fight broke out now, it would be the end of any small chance the sweet girl had to make amends. That was why he had bought her hear after all. He wasn’t about to let her throw it away before she even had the chance to lay eyes on a familiar face. He hoped someone else showed up soon.

It was a howl the River leader knew that he would always recognise—like the call of any of his family—and while it caused him to reel in shock at first, relief was the quick, secondary emotion that rolled through him. Borlla, he breathed to no one in particular and on instinct he turned swiftly from his patrol around the borders further east of where he sister sounded to be and loped quickly towards her.

As Indru neared her his brow frowned as while he recognised her scent and, he was pleased to note, Ice's there was a stranger with her and he could already tell by the way it intermingled with Borlla's that this wasn't a separate meeting that had happened by chance. Indru stepped from the trees into the small gatherings presence just as Ice asked his question and with a quick smile he felt inclined to answer it himself, me, Ice. He began and the fondness for her was clear in his voice, he walked over to stand beside the pack's guardian, his posture naturally taking on a dominant status as per his rank. She's my youngest sister, he explained and presumed that he could put two and two together to work out she was Triell and, the now missing, Kinis's littermate.

It wasn't hard to pick up on the tension on the air, nor did this male's posture—poised slightly in front of his sister—escape Indru's attention and he watched the silvery male with a slightly suspicious eye. Borlla, I'm so glad you're safe. Indru stepped forward, ignoring the male, to push his nose against his sister's cheek and lick her muzzle affectionately before he drew back, his tail raising and his fur bristling ever so slightly to show his annoyance. Ice is pack now, family, he is defending our borders—your family's borders—your nieces and nephews... And mine and Cori's unborn cubs. While Indru's relief and joy at her return had been clear in the first words he had addressed her with his tone quickly turned stricter, she was an adult now and he wouldn't tolerate her roguish behaviour as much as he had when she was younger, especially not to a member of his pack who was defending his mate and cubs.

Who's your friend? Slowly he let his eyes fall from Borlla, unable to resist flashing her a quick smile first, and onto to the unfamiliar stranger as he waited for his sister to explain his presence.

While he didn't appreciate the tone the other male was taking with him he knew that he was only protecting his home. His posture still spoke of submission while ensuring his friends safety, however when the other wolfs question was answered by another male voice he relaxed some, moving out of the way to allow the massive wolf to greet his sister. Still keeping wary eyes on the other male without making eye contact he shrunk under the fiery gaze of the tawny man. Everything about him screamed dominance, and so the grey wolf responded equally with submission. He wasn't going to ruin this for her.

He didn't want to intrude on their conversation, but when the large male asked his name he could not refuse answering or risk appearing impertinent. "Bardou." he responded respectfully. He was the outsider here, they could chose to run just him off and let Borlla stay, and he would be fine with that, provided no harm came to her. He had worked too hard to get her this far.

Unexpectedly, another wolf soon arrived on the scene. Her scent screamed of pups to come and he could only assume this was Corinna. Keeping his back arched with his body and tail low to the ground and his ears flat, he chanced a glance at her paws. Her tone was cutting, and his heart sunk with their chances. Both would need to be happy with their presence for either of them to be allowed to join... or at least that was how he saw it. Sure there were other packs, but he doubted she would be happy anywhere else, and her happiness was all that mattered to him.