The red man took in a deep breath as Elettra began to speak. She began by introducing the newest wolves of the pack. Taking note of each face, Reed knew he'd have to speak to and get to know each wolf. With a stoic face, the man shifted a bit, breathing out. His ears twitched as the dark coated leadess went deeper into the latest news. Disbandment of Copper Rock Creek. How curious.

Without a spoken word,Reed nodded his head to her words before some of the pack mates began to speak up. It was a mix of both questions and introductions- passing of names. He remained silent; to him, there was no time for such right now. He would just listen for the time being.

[
One by one they arrived. Most of them paid him no attention, but from several he received blatant stares and snarls. It was as if they knew instinctively that he was not one of them, that he was worthless. Among their pack mates, the hierarchy was more relaxed. Those who weren't Elettra or second seemed not to care about who was above or below them. But they knew and they cared when it came to Kiche. But there was no fight left in the red man, and he lowered his eyes and sank farther down into the ground, hoping that they would just forget about them and go on with their lives. More than anything he wanted Elettra to get on with the meeting so that he could get away from all these wolves that made him so nervous.

A breathless question tore him from his reverie. "Who're you?"

So taken a back by a voice so near, the red man balked, his head snapping towards the sound. There she lay only feet away from him: silver and young, panting in the dust. Distrust and confusion churned in his stomach as his eyes scorched her strange little smile warily. Instinctively he felt that this was a trap... That no one would want to talk to him, no one would need to talk to him. This one just wanted to get him in trouble. Shaking his head in a violent no, the big ginger saint turned away from the girl and her stupid trap. It wasn't long before she gave up on her terrible game, and he felt her get up and heard her move away. But not before giving him her name. Narimé What good was it to know her name? What was he supposed to do with her name?

What game was she playing with him?

Realizing it was probably best to put that silver wolf and her traps out of his mind, Kiche occupied himself with surveying the collected members. There were a lot. He recognized none of them. When at last the thirteenth wolf arrived to complete a pack that was far larger than Kiche was accustomed to, the black lady began to speak.

It was easy for him to hold his tongue.

At least it was at first.

Names were of no consequence to him. Not Narimé's, not Shade's, and certainly none of the other ones... although one sounded fairly familiar. The names of other packs mattered to him even less. Swift River he had never heard of, although unbeknownst to him, he had been there once along the borders; and Poison Path sounded just as alien and frightening. Why a pack would have a name such as Poison Path did not sit well with Kiche. It reeked of voodoo... even if... even if he didn't believe in voodoo anymore.

But his disinterest could only last so long.

As his justice spoke the words, "Grizzly Hollow," Kiche's ears twitched and swiveled forward. The Hollow was where his home was, his real home. It had been Elettra's once, too... And by the way she spoke of their alliance with Jaysyek, it was clear that part of her heart still lived in the Cedarwood — the part that loved Jayse regardless of the distance and disagreement. Elettra's loyalty was enough to break the poor saint's heart, and he ached as he watched amongst her cluster of wolves.

"— Followers of Borden, however, are not welcome."

The dying coals kindling in his heart erupted into an inferno. Borden. Borden was his liege, his lord, his God... and this Elettra knew very well. But this was her domain, and these were her rules. With great care, he tucked Borden back into his secret heart. It would only have to be for awhile.

As for Copper Rock Creek, the name sparked only infinitesimal recognition or interest. He had been there once, hadn't he? They smelled bad. Especially that wolf Kanosak. Kanosak. Oh. The realization echoed dumbly inside the empty cavern of his skull. What was Kanosak doing here then? Was it because the creek wolves had disbanded? That they had meant little to the saint who had lived in the Hollow during most of his time in the Lore. None of the other wolves or packs had mattered much.

The next bit of her speech about herbs lore and little gifts on the border was equally uninteresting to Kiche, who was unsure if he was ready to reevaluate his feelings on Elettra's dark practice. His interest might have waned completely if not for one name — one name that did matter. Lyall. Lyall was Borden's name... Borden and Jaysyek's family name. Who was this stranger who left gifts for Elettra, who came wearing his lords name? It wasn't one of the children, because Kiche knew all their names, he had them written in his heart. Prosper, Hocus, Trisden, Arlette, Theodore, Ryker, Ryvet, Calla, and Taima... Angier was not one of them. A burning curiosity was lit in his soul... and he had to know. What was the connection between this Angier and his Borden? Between Angier and Elettra?

Before he had chance to weave any theories in the silence that followed Elettra's speech, Shade broke in, questioning the threat of Borden to the Ridge and to the Hollow. A faint crease appeared on his scarred, red muzzle. None of these wolves knew Borden. Elettra didn't even know Borden. Kiche felt as if he alone knew Borden... he knew that he was a good soul, a worthy soul... He had sinned, but he was trying. He... he was like Kiche. Perhaps that was what Kiche loved so much in his man: that his lord's trials and doubt reflected his own. Borden was a danger to no one, but it was not Kiche's place to speak. With great effort, the saint of the Hollow swallowed his frustration and emptied his head and his heart. I am not here to defend Borden, I am here to defend my own soul against my devils. I must not get sidetracked. But secretly he waited for Elettra with an interest keen and impatient.