It wasn't long before the other members emerged from the forest, each figure one by one stepping out of the darkness, though the sounds of their approaching stirred her nerves. Kashikoi and Kanosak arrived, the latter taking a seat beside her. She shot him a grin, glad to see he considered her high enough on his list to have taken a seat by her. She noted, surprisingly for the first time, that Ruiko wasn't here yet - but he soon arrived, along with... Rebecca? Volkan narrowed her eyes slightly, wondering if Ruiko knew about what Rebecca had told her about her previous exile from Swift River. Somehow it struck her the wrong way.

But she directed her attention to Ruiko, fighting the urge to go forward and greet him. Instead she stayed put, as an unfamiliar male entered the scene - which didn't surprise her, given that she'd recently come across an entire group of wolves with the Copper Rock Creek scent. They weren't strangers anymore, though, and as Wille entered, Volk watched her carefully. So this was the first time Aeylen was meeting her, too? That seemed strange. All of this was just... strange... but, she supposed, it'd have to do. Because now, they were going to be family, no matter what.

And finally, Kinis. Her tail began thumping the ground lightly, though Kinis seemed perturbed. She could tell intuitively that his choice not to approach the leaders had been a conscious one. Was the pack not living up to his expectations? Because... if so, Volkan thought, they should have a chat. She made a mental note of this as Aeylen started speaking. And then, things got somber real fast. A particular thought crossed Volkan's mind then, but she did her best to battle it away, knowing that of course it couldn't be him Aeylen was talking about... still, she didn't realize the glaze that crossed her eyes as she descended involuntarily into the dark pit in her own stomach, the one that tore at her every day.

So lost in thought and his own concerns, Kinis did not notice Volkan's cheery reaction to his presence. He attention was on Aelyen, who had clearly called the gathering together. He ears pricked forwards as she stood before them, regal and strong, everything Ruiko deserved, and began to talk in a most serious manner.

Instantly, a pit of dread formed in his stomach; what was going on? Had he missed something? These were very serious words indeed. Maybe he was just not used to pep-talks, or motivational speeches, for Aeylen's display was quite something, and he could not help but wonder what had necessitated it. Indru had never spoken quite like this. Perhaps it was a Tainn thing.

Guilt mixed with the wariness as she spoke of being a strong unit, and he knew that he was behaving like a weak link, and hated himself for it. But he would not betray them, that he knew, even the faces he was not familiar with. His leader's final line forced him to suppress a low whine; he had been making mistakes, if not of the kind that she was implying.

As her eyes moved from face to face, as did Kinis', curious to see his fellows' reactions to such a speech. He almost did not want to speak, afraid of broadcasting his ignorance, but betraying his need to know was not feasible; meekly, he looked to Aeylen, ears back. "Has... something happened?"

There was a wolf that Kano had not yet made acquaintance with, he pinpointed her scent so he could track her down later and make his existence known. His liege's words sent a jolt through his system, and he felt now was the time to raise his concerns, or never.

"There has been a persistent scent testing the borders for a few days now. Male. I am yet to catch sight of him, the scent always seems hours old when I pass it. It would seem our new friend Rolu" he struggled to keep the growl from his voice. He hated the male and he would not have it unknown to his family how hard it was for him to remain civil in his proximity, "May have some information on who it is that is leaving their stench behind..." he took a moment to observe his family one by one. He was stepping on dangerous ground but he would not have his family vulnerable if he were to leave for any period of time. "I believe you mentioned a name?" he questioned when his eyes locked on the other males, his tone hard, challenging him to repeat the drivel that had sprung from his mouth on their first and so far only encounter.

Aeylen's words of trust had not fallen on deaf ears, he loved and trusted all of his family but one who was yet to prove he was worthy of it. Now the wolf would prove his worth or not. As far as Kanosak could see there was only one chance the other male had of redeeming himself in his eyes, and this was it.

"Has...something happened?" Though it had been some time since she'd been in proximity to her young brother in law, Kinis' voice was no less familiar now than it had been the day he'd bounded through the river to join she and Ruiko. Her eyes fell upon the man for a moment, taking a good look at a face she'd missed more than even she knew.

But, before the female could address his inquiry, Kanosak had stepped forward to offer words that absolutely caught every dimension of her attention. She had encountered several scents on the borders, a number of which had weighed heavily on her mind...but- what was this?

Immediately upon the utterance of his name, the tawny red female, with a glint of malice to her cold gaze, turned to face Rolu - a wolf she'd marked herself when he was first accepted into their ranks. Ears now flattened, a ridge of fur erecting down the length of her nape and back, the words she spoke would not come from her mouth, but from she shewolf's menacing eyes. Now, they demanded from him.

i ain't seen the sunshine since i don't know when....

The regal male’s gaze locked upon Kinis and Volkan, his thoughts silent as he cast them the briefest hint of a smile; the corners of his lips twitching with the upturn. Along with his mate, the Leader held the two yearlings above all others – they had been his family when he had first left Swift River, and had remained loyal by his side since. Without the two of them, the Creek pack would not have existed.


Aeylen’s words were strong, and the tawny male fixated his gaze upon his beautiful mate, feeling a surge of pride for the headstrong female – she was looking to unite the pack, the dutifully, Ruiko remained quiet for now. The words she spoke were true – Copper Rock Creek was quiet only for a few weeks before a sudden onslaught of lone wolves began to litter their borders. Welcoming many of them in, Ruiko knew the pack would soon be at a maximum limit, and he would soon be turning them away. The lands could only sustain so many of them, even with the warmer weathers coming.


Kinis’ hesitant voice was only the first to break out among the group before him, and Kanosak was quick to deliver a few interesting words to the regal wolf. As attention turned to the male Rolu, Ruiko’s emotionless mask broke finally, his wolfish brows lifting. “Rolu,” he spoke strongly, suggesting the male best explain what Kanosak meant.