Her amber eyes touched first the male wolf, Borden whom she'd become quite attached to as of late. They then roved over to the smaller female - Atiris as she'd introduced herself. This female knew quite a bit about herbs and remedies, so she could be considered trustworthy, and rather helpful..in finding the herb she needed. Vlarindara had almost relaxed, having settled back onto her haunches before the other wolf made herself known. The white females reaction was to spin around and cut loose with a deep throated growl, the plumed tail curling up over her back in a tight coil. The new wolf was smaller than she - and she was already nervous, excited... worried. Some new canine sneaking up on her set her on edge, quite frankly.



The growl turned into an open mouthed snarl, her lips curled back over her teeth, displaying her long canines - despite her recent illness. Simply because of this, her coat was matted and lacked the usual luster of a healthy animal, but it did nothing to diminish her size. Everything about the large female spoke of her fear at having been snuck up on - the stiff, splay legged stance, her ears flattened against her skull, her tail up in a position usually saved for those in a more..dominant position within a pack. Vlarindara was neither a member of a pack, let alone in a dominant position over the slinking female. Despite her polite words, she had seemed to startle the female wolf - and not in a good way.



Thankfully, she seemed rooted in place, as if she was unsure whether or not charging the wolf was a smart idea. Strange...to see one usually so meek and mild move instantly on the defensive - possibly to the offensive at the simple approach of a wolf. It..hadn't helped that she had come from the direction of her den - where she'd left Raigo. Coincidence - quite possibly.. but to a wolf already worried for the pup? Dangerous.

The white wolf had taken a stiff step forward when Adonis mentioned her state of health, and it seemed even her fur was standing on end. She had opened her mouth as if to say something further to the wolf before Borden stepped between them. At his frst request to calm down, she tilted her head to the side and whined, instantly backing down. The female took a few steps backwards and lowered herself to the snow, tucking her tail beneath her legs. She hadn't meant to upset Borden, and still wished to avoid that outcome so she turned her head away when he mentioned the female was pack.



Had she ACTUALLY kept her head where it belonged - squarely on her shoulders, she would have noticed the smells of the two other wolves were lingering on this female. She hadn't, and that had been her folly, one that she regretted - but knew that she would have to take care of. "My apologies.. I just wish that you wouldn't sneak up on me..." Her tone was soft, contrite even, despite the somewhat condescending tone of the female in Bordens pack. Vlarindara kept her eyes averted, her large ears resting back against her neck as she was known to hold them when she was relaxed.. though there was a tension that was humming through the female - a tension that hadn't been there before.



She was scared - scared for her pup, and she'd taken more than her fair share of knocks for the boy and she had no intentions of stopping now. Vlairndara VERY carefully didn't look at the two wolves, and did her best to remain as small and unthreatening as possible. "Elecampene is the name. It's a yellow flower that looks like a daisy, but yellow.. with saw edged leaves and a thick, fuzzy stalk." The amber eyed wolf adjusted her position and abased herself, belly crawling towards the older male and let loose a small whimper escape her muzzle, lifting her nose up to lick at his jowls in submission. She then crawled over to the smaller female, Adonia and repeated the gesture - proving once and for all that she was no danger to any of them. Once she finished, she lowered herself to the snow and went belly up - the ultimate gesture of submission. Her eyes had closed, and she had gone silent, wondering what would happen.. but had left each of them with the choice to do as they saw fit.

She wasn't really sure what had been the catalyst for finally reacting to the male wolf like she should have - whether it had been the sight of so many wolves, or the knowledge that he was quite simply out of her league. Vlarindara would never know, but she did know that he ranked higher than she - as did Adonia.. and the other female had seemed to want to press the advantage in rank she had to her.. which she would have fought against, but listened to. She had abased herself, knowing that not only had the Midnight Plateu pack grown in size - but she couldn't simply treat Borden as another wolf. She knew her feelings concerning the older male were muddied and confused - but she hadn't taken the time to sit down and sort through them - she'd been busy.



Raigo was her primary concern, and getting aide for his survival was foremost in her mind. She knew, or rather, had been reminded that in order to request assistance from a wolf pack - she had to act as her rank dictated. Normally prideful, the female would have gone belly up for No-one wolf.. unless it had been a member in her own pack ranking above her. This situation was slightly more... delicate in nature - a young life rode in the balance. She had been wrong to go on the offensive with Adonia, even if the female had snuck up on her. It hadn't bene until Borden's request.. no his Order to stand down that it really sunk in that he was Beta wolf of the Midnight Plateu pack... and as such, demanded more honor and respect than she'd shown him.



The sound of feet approaching in the snow made her squelch the instinctive reaction to right herself in the snow and confront the approaching wolf.. but she didn't.. she had put herself on her back - none of them had. Perhaps the realization of their stations... but not physically, none had put her there. She DIDN'T manage to stop the tremor of unease that went through her, or the fact that she tensed up as if in preparation to be bitten.. Instead, when she simply felt the light brush against her shoulder, she found herself to be most puzzled. He was standing close enough that she could smell his woodsy/salty scent..the scents off the mountain, but mingled with the smells he picked up while he scouted for his alpha. The female cracked an amber eyelid, watching him with something akin to shock, and confusion. He hadn't done anything but care for her and her young adopted pup, Raigo... and from the conversations they'd had his care was nothing out of the ordinary.



Her head returned to the pillow in the snow it had made when she'd first rolled over - waiting on the reaction of the other two wolves. For Raigos sake, she would abase herself as often as she had to to find that root. Though, despite all of this.. she was confused... uncertain. Knowing his position in a pack, and that he hadn't reciprocated her feelings had made the white female doubt herself.. consider withdrawing and returning to the life she and the pup had had... One of lonly travels with only each other for company. It wasn't as bad as it could be - but Raigo would be old enough to learn to hunt.. then they would have more than their fair share of food. She was looking forward to when Raigo could help her hunt - they would be able to take down the larger prey animals.. older, wiser boars... badgers, even the occasional injured deer. Prey that really was impossible for a single wolf to catch...When Adonia *apologized* Vlarindara wasn't really sure what she should do.



Taking a hint from Bordens soft touch, she rolled carefully to her stomach but stayed laying in the snow. The mention of water made her heart fly - she could look near the banks.. but WHERE to look for the root..She lifted her head slightly, high enough off the snow not to be soaking in it, but not high enough to be a challenge to the three wolves, nor did she make eye contact. In fact, Vlarindara very carefully kept her eyes averted from the three wolves, the wolves who ranked above her and held Raigos chances in their paws. "My thanks, pack member.." A tentative glance at Borden as she lifted her head and slowly got to her feet before taking a few steps backwards. Even though she had been on her feet, she was crouched as low to the ground as she could get. As she continued to back away, she returned to looking at the snow before she felt she was far enough away to straighten back to her full height... though her plumed tail was still held tightly beneath her legs.



Only after she was away from the three pack members did she lift her head up and look at Borden, those amber eyes speaking volumes - but not void of her defiance, her pride. "Your company...Beta of Midnight Plateu... would be an honor..should you have no other duties.." She gave him a last, longing look before turning and bounding over the snows, the white flag of her tail returning to its usual position over her back before she arced towards the river. Raigo was depending on her.. and she couldn't let him down.