Moments before Asta had the chance to relax and for Sagacity to have a chance at getting to know the new female in the pack- finally, she was not the only one!- Mapplethorpe, who had apparently been hiding under the cover nearby, interrupted them in a rush. It surprised Sagacity to see him without having been able to smell him, even with the wind so still. It was unusual and almost unnatural, the way he'd been able to conceal himself and spy on the two of them; Sagacity was not pleased by this trickery but showed no sign of spite, even though she suspected he'd simply been waiting and watching to see what she'd say to Asta. Did he have that little faith in her? They had been so civil the last time they'd met. The authority with which he held himself now suggested to Sagacity that he'd been poisoned by the power he'd been given. While she had respected him at a lower rank before, she found her admiration for the male dwindling with every moment.

She was chastized, something she did not appreciate but she bore with silence and patience. Her ears flicked back and, recognizing that he was now ranked above her- or at least he acted as though it was so- she lowered her head to show respect. Had the Mapplethorpe she'd known before been promoted she would have been quite pleased. Now, however, this brute who stood before her, growling a spiteful question at her did not impress her whatsoever. Nor did she appreciate the way he snarled at Asta; if he'd listened a moment ago, which she suspected he had, he would've heard her ask Asta to rise and be relaxed in a much more dignified manner. Her eyes glanced to Asta to see what she thought of this- had she even known the kind, clever Mapplethorpe which had been the wise advisor not so long ago? Or had she only known this snarling badger?

She was about to speak when yet another familiar- and definitely more revered and respected- face came forth. The calmness with which she approached suggested that she'd heard the conversation's progress, indicating that she too had been listening in. So Naira too possessed this unnatural ability to listen in on conversations and appear from thin air- it put a sour taste in Sagacity's mouth, though in truth she took on a feeling of relief when she saw the alpha female. At last someone who had two cents to rub together in their brain. She lowered herself to show respect to the woman she respected most, and the surprise on her features was replaced with a look of relief- she was glad to see that Naira looked well after having whelped.

"My queen," She greeted, speaking first to the wolf who had first been her superior, before she answered Mapplethorpe's questions. To him, she gave the title "Sir," spoken with respect and reverence she assumed she owed, though the entire truth about the situation she had yet to hear. Naira positioned herself in such a way to allow Mapplethorpe's inquiry to be seen as the first to be dealt with- whether this was because she wished her to answer him before she had her own questions or that she was hinting of Mapplethorpe's true rank Sagacity could not tell. So she decided not to assume and step that dreaded step, calling him 'my lord' before she knew for sure that Rhysis was no longer the alpha male. Oddly, she did not want to make that assumption not because she cared for Rhysis, but because she did not want to insult Naira, nor did she want to hear that something bad had happened between Naira and Rhysis.

"I went on my second scouting mission on April 21st with the intention of returning within two weeks, which had been discussed before I left." She said. It took time to travel from here to there, and any less then that period of time wouldn't have allowed her much travel, fleet as she was. "Those I met along the way were mainly lone wolves who have been scouting out packs. I learned from them what I could about the packs they'd visited, though there was little to be learned from them. I've seen no new trace of diseased wildlife, though there is a fen, thick with trees and fireflies, where I saw more foxes in a short space of time than I have ever seen in my life. I would avoid the place when the Summer months come. If the disease makes it to the fen, it will spread like wildfire through those vermin." She said. She hoped this would be of some "A female named Enoki told me she had been to Willow Ridge and had met the alpha female, Elettra Archer. I also met a wolf named Faol- a loner I'd met before I joined Nomad's Pass- though he had little news to offer. I did not tell him that I was in a pack, though I believe he is looking for one to join and that he would be an asset to Nomad's Pass." She admitted. He was level-headed, reasonable, smart and could survive quite well on his own, meaning he was a good hunter and had a good head on his shoulders. "I met another loner named Chetan, who helped me when I was on my way back with this pup. He helped hunt for me when I could not." She said. Perhaps another good recruit for the pack, she thought, so long as he would keep the secret.

She drew in a breath to answer the question about the pup. Her eyes flickered to Naira- she still wished to know how Naira's whelping had gone, but now was not the time. "I was delayed while on my return voyage when I found a lone female who'd given birth to three pups but had suffered during the whelping. I do not know her situation, but she'd perished by the time I'd caught something for her to eat." She said. "I knew I had a duty to the pack, to you, Naira, especially in this time. But nor could I allow myself to walk away from three mewling babes. I did what I could for them, but didn't have the milk for some time. It was slow going, trying to travel with three of them; two perished from malnutrition." She said, her voice lowering. There'd been nothing she could have done for them- she hadn't had the milk supply to feed three pups.

"I tried to do right by the pack and by my instincts; I know I have displeased you, but I beg for mercy- not for me, but for him. By your mercy I beg that his life be spared and that he remain in my care. In the interest of bettering myself, please tell me what I ought to have done." She said, testing the waters to see if she'd actually done the right thing, or if she was to be reprimanded for making the wrong choice.