The other seemed to hold no words to his, and silence enveloped the small group. Ruiko’s gaze drifted from the stranger to fixate upon Nina as she approached him, his eyes worrying over her as they scanned the scar over her right eye. Nina had become a great part of the Creek pack, and it was only from this that the regal took her words so seriously and placed his trust in them.


After his healer said her part, the tawny male allowed his bright amber eyes to flicker over the stranger once more, his tail giving an idle flick. Nina held a point – with her injury and Volkan’s disappearance, the Creek pack was weaker than it had been before.. and they had three mouths to feed. “What’s your name?” His tone was softer now, though still not welcoming. If the male could provide a decent introduction and was interested in joining a pack.. Ruiko held no qualms about introducing a trial member to his family.

Ruiko was met with a single response; the wolf’s name. There was a pregnant pause in the air as the tawny Leader allowed the stranger to speak more – but it became apparent the wolf had nothing to add. His patience was wearing thin.. he wasn’t here to coax words out of a stranger’s mouth, he was here to keep his family safe. With a quick glance to Nina, Ruiko re-directed his gaze back to the male, his tongue smoothing over his lips.


“If you want to try to make use of yourself and settle to a home, you have the opportunity right now to tell me what your talents are,” he rumbled with a light growl, his agitation at the entire situation finally revealing once more. “But if you’re going to sit there like a sulking cub, you’d best take your meal and move away from our lands.” Those were his options: Ruiko left no room for argument as to what the stranger should do and he wasn’t going to stand here any longer wasting time when he and Nina had other places to be. Either way, a decision was going to be made by the stranger sooner rather than lingering.

“Earn your keep then, Durai,” he offered, his tone firm but soft as his eyes settled upon Nina. Loyalty was important to him, and it seemed these days it was waning with the many wolves that came and went as if nothing was important to them. The male had made a mistake, but Ruiko would not hold it against him – unless he proved to be absolutely worthless.


As his fellow pack member moved toward him, her figure pressing against him in gratitude, the regal male dipped his muzzle to preen her ear in return – a gesture of trust and silent thankfulness that she remained with them.. Nina had faced her own hardships, and yet her loyalty had never swayed. For this he was grateful.


With one last glance to the male, Ruiko gave a nod to the direction of the pack den. It was his own gesture of a silent welcome, and without another word, the tawny wolf prowled towards his densite, eager to see his children. Whether Durai or Nina followed was up to them.