Kisla had been sunning herself on a rock – fatigue had plagued her since her spill in the cold grips of the River, and the pale girl found herself leaving quite a distance between herself and the water since the accident. While she would never admit openly to anyone that a fear tingled along her spine at just the sight of it, it was hard to even deny herself that the idea of being near the River caused the breath in her lungs to hitch and her limbs to tense with worry.


Lifting her muzzle, the near-yearling made to groom her limb when her father’s cry eched across the pack lands. For a moment, Kisla remained where she was, grooming herself as if the summon had not occurred. Why couldn’t she be left alone this day? Just this once? Yet a silence stirred on in the aftermath of Indru’s call, and worry for her negligence tickled at her imploringly.


With a grunt, the youthful she-wolf slid from her perch, her limbs stretching leisurely as she began to weave her way to whatever was being conspired. Taking a longer route to avoid the river as best she could, decent time had passed before she emerged from the foliage, her bright green eyes falling upon the gathered wolves. Dipping her figure lower in submission – for she was no longer a pup – the female nodded to her pack mates, though did not speak.

As Indru had expected, it didn't take the pack long to slowly begin to gather. Loyal Ice was the first to arrive and as he broke into the clearing where the leading pair waited Indru's chin rose proudly—as his tail—while he waited for their rightful fealty. The pack's Guardian nuzzled against them and Indru dropped the weight of his muzzle onto the top of Ice's briefly before the white male retreated in acceptance of his submission. Next, Indru was pleased to note, Elsa came and he and Cori both mimicked the other as they gripped her muzzle between their own, though Indru with perhaps less force, she was on trial and their harsher dominance of her rank would show that. Next his first-born came and roughness of his son's shove was not lost on him and with a quick smirk Indru nipped at his ears with a similar mischief and though he smiled about Hael's informality soon that would have to change when he joined the adult ranks. Distracted by the arrival of Marsh, Indru turned his pensive gaze onto the Second as he greeted each of them with a lick to the chin in turn and, like with Ice, Indru rested the weight of his muzzle against the top of Marsh's.The youngest male Tainn came and Indru noted his more formal greeting (at least at first) with a pleased smile, nipping at Fen's cheek as he passed. Corinna questioned their children and while Indru was not yet concerned at his daughter's absence he awaited the answer with curiosity and when Triell approached to give them his fealty Indru repeated the manoeuvres that he had with the others. Not long after the question was asked the young female in question arrived and as she lowered herself he inclined with his head to encourage her towards he and Cori, to sit with her brothers. Bear arrived and while the newest male lowered himself in submission Indru was unimpressed by his lack of approach to he and Cori both and his hackles rose slightly in a sign as he waited for the large male to correct himself.

After everyone had settled Indru cast his eyes across the gathered pack warmly, his eyes resting last on Cori before he turned them back to address the pack. As you no doubt know, Cori is pregnant again this year—Swift River expects more cubs. A smile broke Indru's muzzle as he spoke, the pride and excitement clear in his voice, and he turned to Cori and nipped her cheek affectionately while he waited briefly to see if she wanted to add anything. We require a new den, this time a bigger one, and we have selected this spot here to begin, turning slightly Indru used his paw to hint towards the shallow hole that would form the start of the den, it needed to be widened considerably of course, but it was where they would start. The tall, still-standing tree beside it offered shelter from the elements and the broken tree beside it would help to cover it and break the wind, it was ideal if it was only larger. A pack worked together, especially when it came to cubs, and with a curious eye Indru turned to watch his cub's reactions to the news as he let Corinna explain what she wanted from the den.

Affirmation given, Marsh had gone in search of Kisla, who, as expected, did not take long to appear. Rather than make it obvious that he had been looking for her, instead he simply fell in line behind the child and made as if to arrive at the meeting together. Once returned, he took his place beside Elsa once more, silently accepting the nod of thanks from his leadess. It was his duty and nothing more, nothing less.

A strange, large wolf arrived then, the sight of which put Marsh on edge just the same as Elsa's presence had. (Ice's reaction to that very female was of note, as well.) Was it really necessary to have so many strangers?! Where did they all come from, anyway? Did they come crawling out of the woodwork after Indru? A quiet growl escaped him as the newcomer failed to address his leaders properly, though Marsh held himself back from any larger display of displeasure for the sake of a pleasant meeting. If the awkward-acting male did not sort himself out, though...

Indru's cool voice snapped him to attention, and he let most of the words wash past his ears, only needing to pick up the most important ones. Corinna's pregnancy was plainly obvious to anyone with eyes or a nose, but he supposed that such formal announcements were needed for wolves who prized spoken language so much. It was times like this that he was quite sure that his way was the most sensible. Respectfully he listened, though, particularly when Corinna began. As far as he could tell, it condensed into being all about rebuilding the den. That wasn't too complicated. Glancing at Ice, as if to make sure that he hadn't missed anything (though the white giant would no doubt put him right if Corinna did not) Marsh stood once more, ever compliant, and awaited instruction - or just being pointed at the right patch of earth.

For some time Fenru was fixated on how Hael was keeping his grip but Corinna's question pulled him from his musing. He simply shook his head, unable to provide an answer. If anything, he figured Mum needn't had worried; he had somewhat noted that Kisla usually stayed well away from the Swift River. As his sister showed up, Fen glanced up to his brother before watching as Kisla settled in. For a third time, his gaze was torn from his target and he peeked up over the tree's roots to stare at a large and rather daunting stranger. His brow furrowed and he instantly cast a glance over to his parents as they bristled and eyed the chocolate-pelted male. As Indru began to speak, Fen attentively took in his words.

It was a wonder how the boy couldn't have figured out why Mum's scent had changed, but hearing straight out that the family was anticipating the arrival of more cubs Fenru had to consider what had been said. Cubs... as in more playmates? Just about his age? Or...? His head had tilted slightly to one side. Though when Corinna commented about her size then assigned the task of moving the dirt away from the new den site, he merely nodded, not wanting to question it further. He had subtly tried to ask Finn about where puppies or cubs came from but had ultimately ended up frustrated. Perhaps Hael or Kisla would ask... after Bear, here, was properly initiated into the pack.

Before he could answer his mother's question, he was distracted by a nip from none other than Uncle Triell, who'd arrived silently behind him. Hael wasn't startled, but he gave a little playful growl as he hopped off the roots of the tree, watching his dark uncle, and moving to Fenru's side. He wasn't sure where Kisla was, actually— but just as he began to wonder at her whereabouts with a hint of worry crossing his dark-masked face, his worries were abated as the pale female entered the clearing. He grinned at her, watching with mild interest as she paid some rather adult respects to Mom and Dad. Soon it wouldn't be long until Hael had to do the same; he would only need to be shown his place once for the lesson to stick, but for now, his childish arrogance prevailed. Though he was technically the oldest of his siblings, it could probably stand to be said that his maturity level didn't yet match his age.

Soon things seemed to get started, and Hael plunked to the ground obediently. But... wait, what?

...Pregnant? What was pregnant? How did that relate to them having more cubs? Was that why Mom smelled so weird - was she sick or something? His orange eyes narrowed, Hael gave his brother a sideways glance, but it seemed to him that Fenru appeared as perplexed as he was. More cubs? Hael... wasn't sure if he was okay with more cubs. From where? Why were they going to let some weird stranger cubs into their pack...? Dad seemed to think that everyone would've known about this already, but Rihael certainly hadn't, and he wrinkled his nose in mild annoyance that he'd been left out of the loop. He'd have to ask Dad about these cubs later, or maybe Uncle Triell, or someone. Or maybe Marsh, he was old, so probably knew what was going on, right?

Pushing this matter aside, though his curiosity had riled him up, Hael listened with bubbling curiosity to the rest of his parents' plans. Rebuilding the den did make sense to him at least. For a moment, his vision clouded over at his memories of the old den... their den. Yet he knew there was nothing they could do about what had happened, and that no amount of sad or nostalgic thoughts would bring his birthplace back. Luckily, it was easy enough for him to get excited about new things, and the idea of building a new den with the entire pack's help promised to be fun. He nodded excitedly at being asked to help move dirt, and beamed at his two siblings, eager to start helping. As the strange, new male spoke up, his gaze flickered between him and his father, wondering what would become of this. The River pack was no stranger to, well, strangers, but... between this new guy, the new Second, and these mysterious cubs, their pack sure was going to be large, wasn't it?

The beige brute at the back of the group continued to listen as the footfalls of others drew near, slowed, then came to a stop. An unfamiliar scent wafted past him and his eyes flickered up from his tail to stare into the back of Bear's head. He had missed the exchange of gestures between the man and the two River leaders but attentively watched as the meeting eventually commenced. He had noticed the shifting of the leader's scent and it was no surprise as the pregnancy was announced. A smile smile lifted the sides of his muzzle, a small token of congratulations, as he noted that his stay within Swift River would probably be extended by a matter of months. He would have to speak to Indru sometime then, to work out the dilemma at hand. Once Corinna and the cubs, maybe even the yearlings, were taken care of, he intended to meet with his betrothed... The distance and separation were already enough, aside from the constant hunting and caching, to cause him distress.

The instruction to help construct a new home and denning space for the new additions drew Angier's thoughts away from the parts of Relic Lore he had yet to travel. His eyes consciously fell upon the tree in question. He tensed the muscles in his forelimbs then relaxed them and pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth. When his gaze finally found its way back to Indru and Corinna he attentively watched them, even as Corinna began to form the entrance of the new burrow. Wherever they needed him, he would go and whatever was asked of him, he would dutifully do... digging, clearing away debris, or simply minding the youngest members as they, too, helped out.