Kisla’s fitful dreams had been jolted the moment two rising howls summoned the wolves of the pack. Sleepily, the girl fluttered her eyes open, already feeling the sting of cold air as Rihael and Fenru had already both disappeared to the call of their parents. More stubborn to leave her place of comfort on a whim, the pale honey whelp remained where she was for a few moments, her eyes casting to the play of shadows that danced along the den entrance. Something was happening, and finally her curiosity got the better of her. Wth a clumsy roll to her paws, the only daughter of Indru and Corinna prowled her way to the den entrance, her eyes blinking as she came in to the light.


Her gaze first falling upon the two regal and proud forms of her parents, Kisla’s tail gave a light wag, her eyes already searching them to see if they had food with them. Only then did her eyes flicker to the gathered wolves, noting that her brothers were sitting beside a stranger and uncle Triell. Blinking uncertainly, the little girl realized the amount of unfamiliar faces that surrounded her, and while she realized this was no ordinary gathering, with an air of stubbornness and nervousness, Kisla sought the small space between both Indru and Corinna, pressing her cheek tightly to her father’s arms as she gazed up at him for reassurance.

The call echoed across the land he was temporarily calling home; Indru and Corinna’s voice mingled together in a sonnet of pride and dominance, demanding their members to congregate together. A derisive snort escaped the male’s nose as his eyes cast back to his current task at hand; the act of adding a rather small rabbit to one of the pack caches. After the regal tawny wolf had joined to help his sister and her pups back to health, the River pack had slowly trickled back up in its numbers, one by one. Relief had flooded the large male’s being the day Indru had returned, and even though Ruiko had not managed to catch his brother alone for conversation, he had seen that his littermate had been badly injured, whatever had happened to him.Still, even though the Tainn knew there was reason to his brother’s disappearance, it did not quell the bubbling disgust he had for Indru’s wayward wanderlust. Ruiko himself had never once strayed from Relic Lore, and somehow.. with his brother leaving twice already, Indru was still seen as the family head brother who never swayed his loyalty. Apparently, his disappearances were easily forgiven.


Pushing the last bit of dirt to bury the scent of the pack cache, the hefty male trailed toward the direction where his brother and his mate’s call had come from. Corinna’s health was improving, and as annoyed as Ruiko was at his brother for now, even he could not help but admit that the she-wolf seemed to glow around Indru. Coming upon the meeting, the regal Tainn noted the amount present. Indru and Corinna sat at the head of the pack in their rightful places, while those surrounding them looked on in patience. Despite being one of the last to appear, Ruiko made his way to the pack leaders, lowering his muzzle in respect to their rank and presence. Casting an affectionate and submissive nip to the chin of both, Ruiko’s gaze settled harshly upon the wolf called Marsh; the pack Second. Bristling momentarily, Ruiko withheld a growl of dominance. He was unsure as to whether or not he wished to claim his place as the pack Second; he had promised Kinis and Volkan their stay at Swift River would not be long.. that they would leave once the pack was flourishing once more and Corinna and her whelp’s health had returned. Even so, it seemed unnatural for him to bow to anyone but Indru. Dipping his muzzle in respect to Marsh, the tawny wolf then strode his way to settle on his haunches by Volkan, who seemed to be nervous. With a reassuring rumble, the male leaned forward to nip gently at her ear before nudging her cheek. All would be well.

In hardly no time at all a large number had began to amass, each wolf in turn walking towards where Indru and Corinna stood vigil as leaders of the pack and showing their respect, their submissive actions showing they had no challenge to their authority. The commotion outside had drew Hael from the den and Indru watched him with a bemused grin as he introduced himself to Kinis, an uncle he had yet to meet. Fen was quick to follow, sitting himself beside his bolder brother and when the young boy turned his gaze attentively upon Cori and him Indru gave him a small reassuring nod, a small smile on his face. Rihael seemed to have little fear, something Indru could only imagine he and his littermate Ruiko had mirrored at the same age, but it was Kinis that Indru saw in Fenru, a comforting thought when his eyes drifted towards his newly returned brother and saw the wolf he had become.

The timid Faolán was the next to arrive and give fealty to both he and Corinna, and Indru watched with curiosity the wide berth he gave Marsh and the apparent nervousness around the pups, unsure as to what had passed between them. His thoughts were quickly distracted by Borlla though, who approached them both like the others, a respectful change from the previous meeting, and as he accepted the submission he watched from the corner of his eye to see how Cori would receive his sister. The dark furred female Volkan was next to arrive and offer submission and he watched her until his attention was drawn by the last young Tainn to leave the den, the delicate and beautiful Kisla. An amused grin split Indru's muzzle as their daughter pushed herself in between himself and Cori and when he felt her warmth against his leg he dipped his head to meet green eyes, giving her a quick, playful wink, before placing an affectionate and reassuring lick between her ears. His brother was the last to arrive and once he had offered the appropriate subordination to he and Corinna Indru watched with curiosity his exchange with Marsh. The leader knew that if Ruiko's stay lasted much longer that it was likely he would challenge the packs second and test his strength, and take the rank if he could manage it.

When everyone had made signs of settling Indru dropped his head, trying to make eye contact with the two pups sitting across from him. Hael, Fenru, come here, he beckoned softly, shifting to the left slightly to make room between he and Corinna for them. It felt important for the whole pack to be introduced to the youngest members of Swift River, every wolf had a natural instinct to protect a puppy in their pack, and it seemed only fitting that they met them. This is the pack, guys, and Indru nodded his head towards the rest of the wolves gathered around the 3 pups, beyond their own individual scents they had his own on their fur, and this is Rihael, Fenru and Kisla. This time Indru addressed the adults of the pack, particularly those who had not met the pups, and indicated each of the Tainn's with his muzzle as he spoke their names. With the sudden influx of life within our boundaries we felt it only fitting everyone met at last. A smile was on Indru's face as he looked at each wolf before him in turn, drawing their familiar scents into his nose and expecting everyone else would do the same to familiarise themselves with their pack mates. If anyone wished to speak, to introduce themselves or to test the strength of the wolf ranked above them, this meeting would be the ideal time. Then, once content with what he had said Indru turned to Corinna, waiting for her to address the pack as well.

So they came. Marsh watched, with a pride lesser of that belonging to his leaders, as the pack swelled around them. It was quite a sight, he had to admit.

Triell, the young wolf with so much potential, was first, taking his seat next to Marsh. There was something faintly wrong about the boy of late, but it was not something that Marsh knew how to decipher; reluctant to have a simple conversation, he chose instead to watch and wait, knowing that he would act to help the young Tainn if the opportunity arose. After him came Triell's littermate, then the first two of the three siblings Marsh knew so well, followed quickly by the lowest wolf who had once tried to disturb their rest. The Second noted with wry amusement the way in which the fool avoided him and Corinna's offspring, hoping that it had been a lesson well learnt. The next was the biggest surprise; Marsh knew that the brat was back, but her manner had to be seen to be believed. He noted with no small pleasure Corinna's borderline hostile reaction to Borlla's greeting, thinking it a backbone well grown and treatment well deserved.

Volkan, the girl who had joined on their hunt, then the smallest Tainn, and then a much larger Tainn which caught Marsh's more direct attention. More hostility, but Marsh did not return it, instead lifting his nose a little as Ruiko nodded. The submission was obviously a difficult task. The possibility of a challenge stirred, but Marsh was undisturbed. If Ruiko felt the need to step up, the Tainn knew where Marsh was.

With everybody assembled, the meeting began, and it began simply enough. His mind blurred over the unimportant details, the words which obviously did not pertain to him, and therefore it was mainly Corinna's comments which drew his attention. At once, Marsh lifted his haunches only briefly, drawing attention to himself just to nod his head at Corinna, making his volunteering clear. It was his duty, after all. She should not have expected anything less.

Indru's subtle smile and nod was enough to prompt Fenru's tail to wag from side to side before settling down behind him. Upon being summoned by name, however, he immediately sprung up and scrambled to Corinna's side with a gait that suggested trepidation rather than panache. Were they in trouble? Had they not done someth-- Oh! While still inquisitive about how things would be with Indru's return, Fenru opted to lightly nuzzle the side of his face into his mother's ribs in lieu of licking her chin or whatever he had seen the four other adult wolves did when they approached. Not only was he already sitting down but he didn't want to call any more attention to himself by standing back up or moving to a more suitable place where Indru could see him. He curiously gazed to his sister, peeking around his mother's forelimbs before glancing up to both of his parents. Maybe she had greeted them properly... that was why she was allowed to sit there.

"This is the pack, guys," Indru then explained and Fen's gaze went up into the faces of seven adult wolves, three of whom were familiar. Oh. His eyes skimmed over Marsh and Triell, since he already knew who they were, and focused on the stranger Rihael had plunked down next to. He tried to smile as he acknowledged the others - an agouti-coated male, a tawny female (who actually reminded him of Kisla a little bit - just a little...), a silver-and-black female, and a wolf who could have been mistaken for Dad if he wasn't looking properly. While vocalizing wasn't his first option for most things, he merely gave a quiet nod. The other wolves didn't smell much like family, but he supposed that didn't mean they were not trustworthy. Perhaps they would be like Uncle Triell and Marsh, adults who would help look after him and his siblings.

His ears turned forward in interest as Corinna's voice sounded over him about moving from the den and learning how to hunt. Marsh stood up and Fenru glanced to his mother when he partially realized what she had said, "Where are we going, Momma?" The question just rolled off his tongue; if there was an order to these type of gatherings, well, he had yet to comprehend protocol as a whole.

Wolves came pouring in, but the ones of particular interest were those of his blood that he had not yet met. Kinis' eyes widened as the first pup emerged from the den, any trepidation at being in the gathering evaporised by this development. Of course he had expected to see them, but still - being so family-orientated, to meet these additions was something else. A disbelieving, happy smile twitched his mouth as the first brother - his nephew - brazenly approached him. There was definitely some Indru in this one.

When the pup introduced himself, though, Kinis' jaw fell open for a moment. He glanced instinctively at Indru, as if to share the fact that this was Rihael!, before he remembered his manners. He was a grown-up now, after all, even if it was so easy to forget. "Hi, Rihael," he grinned, still in awe. "I'm Kinis. It's a pleasure to meet you too." Would they know the name? Even if not, it didn't matter. They had plenty of time to know each other now.

After him must have been Fenru, and Kinis instantly identified a lot more with his manner. He offered the meeker brother a smile, wondering where Kisla was, when a less welcome sight and smell emerged. Borlla. At least he'd had a few blessed days without her. It didn't matter that her attitude had been castrated, but Corinna's subtle reaction still drew his attention. What had his littermate done to deserve that?

Before long, Ruiko trudged into view, and Kinis perked up immediately, his tail giving a wag as he turned to smile at his beloved brother and future leader. When Ruiko did not return it, or even seem to offer acknowledgement, his spirits dampened. They sank further when Ruiko went to support a female Kinis barely recognised, suddenly and irrationally resenting the fact that he had not had an open space beside him.

He tried not to let his affected mood show too much as Indru then Corinna spoke, stating fairly plain things. Kinis had already guessed the identities of the litter, mostly thanks to Rihael, and he was more in need of the names of other wolves in the pack. When Corinna mentioned needing help, Kinis wanted to joke and ask if he could borrow some skills as well, but the blow to his spirits and the faint nervousness around the crowd kept him silent. Though the pack's Second and Borlla - Borlla?! - both offered directly, Kinis stayed silent, assuming that it hadn't necessarily been a question requiring a direct answer. He was still learning, himself, but would happily spend time with his extended family if the opportunity arose.

With the arrival of one final male who reminded Kisla greatly of her father, spare for the warmth Indru's eyes contained, the lead male saw fit to begin the pack meeting. Her eyes intent upon studying the gathered wolves before her, she barely noticed Indru's affectionate kiss to the top of her creamy head. Glancing quickly to her mother to see her reaction, the girl blinked as Indru called over her brothers. They were formally introduced, and while Kisla's muzzle ducked down shyly, a smile twitched at the corner of her lips.


Corinna mentioned about relocating them, and the girl's ears flickered in interest. Fenru asked the question before she could, and the tawny whelp beamed at her brother. Sometimes it was like he read her mind. But even more important was the mention of hunting! Oh, how the girl wished to learn to hunt! As the other adult wolves offered their time, the young pup could barely contain the wag of her tail. "When can we start?"

As Ruiko finally settled to the meeting, the familiar voice of his brother broke out across the gathering. The large male's eyes were drawn with interest to the three whelps as they were introduced, and while he had seen them, the Tainn brother had kept to the quiet shadows since his arrival back in Swift River, finding his time wisely spent with stocking the pack's caches once more. Though with the number of wolves that gathered now, it seemed his presence might not have been as desperately needed as he had believed earlier.


His eyes flickered to interest at Corinna as she mentioned the rendezvous site, and at the mention of offering their time and skills to teach the future of the pack. Ruiko felt a light pang at this, his eyes drifting to Triell, Borlla, and Kinis who he had taught not so very long ago. He noted how quiet his youngest brother was being, and the hefty wolf made a note to seek him out later and reassure himself all was well; perhaps Kinis was not enjoying his stay in their old home. Blinking, the wolf straightened slightly. "While I'm here I would like to offer my skills," he voiced clearly.