The regal wolf had not strayed far from Swift River since he had discovered the state of it's female leader and future. Corinna's ragged and distraught appearance haunted him each time he closed his eyes, and while Ruiko worried deeply for his missing brother, he could not help but feel anger at the male just because of the state of his family. Deep down the tawny wolf knew something devastating something had happened to keep Indru from his family, but that didn't stop his illogical anger at the fact that his brother had let something happen to him when so many counted on him.


The hefty wolf hadn't set paw in the Wildwood since his foreboding visit with Ozera, who in turn had also left Swift River and it's whelps to their demise. Pitiful. Long forgotten was the crimson blood that had been dangerously placed on a large rock on far from his current position now; instead, his mind was solely focused on finding a meal to not only feed the small mouths of his nephews and niece, but one that would fill the belly of their delicate and pretty mother.


With the sun beginning to set in the horizon, Ruiko stalked his figure closer to the ground, his gaze finally falling upon prey that would at least help soothe the hunger pangs of his family. With a growl, the golden male leapt forward, his paw agilely striking the pheasant as it's feathers lifted to run; having stunned his prey, the Tainn males jaws clamped tightly with a deathly grip upon the creature's throat. As the taste of blood filled his senses, Ruiko Tainn released his anger with a snarling growl that echoed the oncoming night's silence.

There was a flurry of motion the minute his jaws began to tightly squeeze his unsuspecting victim. It had been a swifter hunt than normal, and Ruiko was thankful it had been so, for Corinna and her pups needed nourishment as soon as they could receive it. With a vicious shake of his muzzle, the tawny hunter drained the life of the prey, and only when it’s body lay limp did the wolf settle it between his paws.


A low yet feminine voice echoed the silence of the dead woods, and the regal wolf jerked his crimson-stained muzzle in the direction of the she-wolf. Tracing the blood with his tongue along his lips, the large male cast a quick glance across the pale girl, his shoulders lifting in a shrug. “No,” he responded, his figure shifting ever more protectively over the meal. “This is for my family.” It felt strange to say – his family for such a long time had only consisted of he, Kinis, and Ranger. Yet with Indru’s disappearance and Swift River’s gradual downfall, he knew Corinna was hanging on by a thread, and he had already made the decision to casthis own thoughts and plans aside until they were living a stable life again.


He had yet to decipher the she-wolf’s intentions, but because of his sister’s circumstances, Ruiko Tainn was fully prepared to fight for this catch, and he wouldn’t pull a simple stunt of just protecting this meal. He would make sure she would regret even looking at the pheasant hungrily.

The pale girl moved closer to him, stirring one sharp canine to slip out past his lips in warning for her not to come any nearer to him. His hackles bristled lightly, only smoothing when the stranger settled herself abruptly to her rump, though his guard was not yet down. It was getting dark, and he had finally found a meal to give to Corinna and her pups; his sad little bird was going to feed three hungry little mouths.


She seemed uninterested in much, and the sudden dramatic look that blanketed her features drew a derisive snort from the large male. “Wildwood,” he answered in monotone, his eyes glancing over her once more before his muzzle bent down to begin plucking a few of the feathers from the meal. He wasn’t about to let Corinna clean it, and the moment he swept back in to Swift River lands he was certain she or Triell would be there to greet him and wish to take over the daunting task. When he had said he would provide for them, he had meant in every aspect.