It hadn't been since the war that he'd heard mention of Poison Path. He himself knew little of the pack, but he remembered that they, too, were there when the Aniwayans had been killed. His gaze swept thoughtfully over the pair again. Even if the pack they'd come from hadn't allied with his own in a time of war, Kade remembered where Ava had come from. Lost Lake. Time did little to temper the regard he had for the hidden treasure or to dull his memories of it. He would never forget the days and nights spend on the shore of the lake, many of them with the woman who was now the mother of his growing children. Though he hadn't personally encountered others from the area, he didn't have any reason to believe that the mountain wolves weren't trustworthy.

Ava's words were straightforward as she explained and he looked upon her with as much love and respect in his eyes as he'd always ever had. She was a loyal woman, always considerate of others including himself, and with one glance at her now he knew that allowing them to stay was what she really wanted. If they meant something to her, he wouldn't turn them away. In addition, winter was coming and the children were growing; the pack would need able bodies to hunt and protect what was theirs when the snow fell. Moments of silence followed as he made his own considerations."Very well," he returned, giving her a subtle nod of approval before addressing the two. "You are a long way from the mountains," he spoke, moving forward to assert his dominance and acceptance by marking them without skipping a beat of his introduction. "I believe a good meal and rest is in order." Having said his piece and done his part, the silver-featured man returned to Ava's side. Only time would tell if life in Darkwater Rapids truly suited them.