Slowly but surely aplomb had started to appear in Indru's appearance naturally once again; while the male had always managed to tread quite successfully on the fine line between confidence and arrogance before, since returning expressing confidence had not come quite as naturally. The leader rank had felt heavy on his shoulders as he recovered from his injuries and it had left Indru restless on his security in the position as well as he had hidden it but now, with his strength and health returning he found his confidence doing the same. Leadership had been something Indru had taken to like a fish to water — he had an easy grace and size enough to warrant the role on first impressions and then when that was tested most often felt satisfied beyond that as well. Swift River was home and leading it was part of what made it so.

The Tainn male did not like to leave home for long now, nor did he wish to push his recovery too far, but on occassion and after a good stretch he stretched his usual patrol further, eager to leave his mark throughout the surrounding territories as an even further deterrent. The pack had pups after all, his pups, and it proved vital that he made sure other had a healthy respect of the packs strength, even if for a while it had all be a farce. The Lagoon was not somewhere he travelled too often (having ample water supply at the River he called home) but after a brisk run south from the borders and then west through the Dropping Willows a quick visit had been to enticing to miss.

As usual a foray of stale, strange and unfamiliar scents coated the non-claimed lands of Relic Lore, a fact that had long since become uninteresting to Indru now, especially since mating season had gone and passed. It was only the fresh ones that perked any sign of interest and as it seemed there was only one; a wolf unmarked with the scents of others, a male, and one who had only just recently grown into their adult body. Hesitation marred Indru's confident posture for a moment before he decided and prowled forward, his hackles rising slightly along his spine, his tail rose only just above the height of his back in a quiet confidence and his ears perked forward, alert. Sometime offence was the best defence and Indru was aware that his sheer size could sometimes provide a good tool for such a manoeuvres, he shifted his weight from his still healing leg trying to conceal a small limp as much as possible and halted, waiting, when the brown male on the ground came into view.

When submission was presented so freely it was natural instinct to dominate the other and so Indru's posture shifted instantly from the neutral but confidently poised one he had previously held to one more suiting. Though his tail had been held near level with his back it now raised to a vertical, ninety degree angle to his spine and as he stepped towards the younger male his movements were stiff and rigid, empathising the strength in his limbs. Each step brought him closer to the wolf and then, eventually, over him as well as Indru placed his paws either side of the cringing male on the ground, dropping his nose to the others underbelly and examining the scents on him more closely. It was clearer now that the wolf was not in the best condition, the harsh life of a lone wolf was obvious on him and judging from his attitude Indru felt right in presuming he had never held a dominant role in a pack. The lack of dominant scents on his fur had been obvious enough to declare him a lone wolf before being this close but now Indru could deduce that he had been a loner for some time as any scents remaining on him were stale if detectable at all. A low grumble escaped from Indru's chest in warning as he stepped closer to the others face, his body now crossing the others horizontally and his front paws rested next to the males left shoulder, his nose proceeding to absorb the scents around the other's muzzle. The prey this wolf had caught was meagre at best and it seemed he had not had any for some days, life alone was not suited to this one and Indru couldn't help think his days were most certainly numbered if he remained living as such.

Slowly he followed the path of his front paws, stretching his back limbs over the others belly until he was paused by the younger male's left side. A wolf, even a meek one like this, was useful to a pack and Indru pondered over Swift River and his pups quickly. Letting unknown wolves into his pack was a more important decision with pups around, they were defenceless and their safety had to be considered when assessing the other. For all Indru knew this submission was a farce and ploy to sneak into his pack's safety, but the position and whimpering did not seem new the wolf, and his condition seemed to state otherwise. What do you seek, wolf? His tone was neutral, neither friendly nor unwelcoming, but it had a hardness that expected an answer and also one that was confident that he would receive one. Indru felt no need to point out the obvious, the fact that he lead a pack was clear from his scent alone and the multitude of weaker, less dominant scents that coated his fur and represented his pack mates. If it was a pack that the wolf wanted he was able to offer one.

Submission seemed to come as easy to this wolf as easy as dominance came to Indru, he did not stop to ponder as to why this is, or what caused it, but instead was pleased with the others response and respect of his position. The male froze beneath him as Indru continued his inspections and it only confirmed his speculation that this was not the wolf's first experience in doing so. Indru had yet to deduce if this wolf was submitting only to avoid trouble and inevitably be left alone, or if he had an ulterior motive to try and seek a home as well and when Indru stepped from the male, satisfied, he waited for him to react to his question. The River wolf did not expect trouble from this stranger but even so he decided to keep his height, taking a step closer and lifting his muzzle proudly as the other sniffed lightly beneath his chin, his fiery eyes directed down towards the amber ones as he did so. The scent of dominance coated him like a second skin and so he let the wolf breathe it in as it would only reinforce his control further, it spoke that other wolves respected his authority also. Silence only increased the tension between them and Indru's hackles rose once again to reassert his dominance as the young male continued to examine his own scent without answering the question Indru had asked of him. He felt a tongue brush the fur on the underside of his muzzle in response and then a quiet whine but still he did not receive what he wanted and a low growl escaped Indru as he expressed his displeasure.

Well I am of no mind to start any, the leader replied after the other spoke, though Indru's tone and posture clearly implied that if this wolf did he would not end up in this other's position upon the ground quite so easily. However this stranger had only confirmed what he was already sure about, from his posture an avoidance for trouble was clear, with or without him seeking a pack and so Indru took another step forward, his left paw placed near the others belly, his form once again almost looming over the other. Is it a pack you seek, wolf, or a desire to continue on alone? For Indru was getting impatient, if he wished for peace the leader would drink and then give it too him for he had no desire to stroll around Relic Lore picking fightings. However, a potential pack mate was a whole other matter and one for which he may delay his return home for.

As much as Indru wasn't a sadistic wolf he used, like any wise leader, dominance to get what he wanted from the other, especially a wolf where submission had seemed to come naturally so far. When pushed that much further the wolf gave him the answer he wanted and as his tailed curled beneath his hind quarters Indru relaxed slightly, his fur lowering to rest precariously along his spine once again as the tension dropped once again now his orders had not been ignored. Yet Indru kept his closeness to the other and the advantage of his height as if it was a home he wanted, his home, he would need to get used to Indru as his leader. What is your name? Their was aplomb in Indru's speech and nor was it quite as distrustful as before, so far the wolf had not challenged his authority and had corrected any mistakes Indru had felt he made. The wolf by his feet reminded him of his younger brother Kenai in many ways, not in appearance but in his attitude, submissive wolves were not useless to a pack after all, they played a calming role within the ranks and Indru had begun to miss his brothers presence once again when tensions were so high.

Now that this male had caught Indru's scent he had no doubt that if he were to stumble across their borders he would know who they now belonged too. My pack is to the north east of her, our home is near a swiftly flowing river. They were a recovering pack, no longer weak but with wounds, yet still Indru was confident they remained the strongest in the area, and with pups they would only get stronger still. The smell off his offspring should cling to his fur rather freshly so this wolf would know they were not a pack without future, and that truly is where the strength of a pack laid. Slowly Indru lowered his head from its proud position, his jaws opening to gently grasp the muzzle of the male in his own, his teeth resting against the fur but not breaking the skin. Heartbeats passed and then Indru pulled away, his tongue brushing against the place his jaws had just left to reassure the male once more.

The wave of Indru's tail, still held above the height of his pack, gave sign of his approval at the wolf's quick response. Indru Tainn, the leader responded, the pack mainly consisted of his kin, but all of those accepted were considered family. It was redundant to state the number of the pack as the scents on his fur gave him that information; it was the strongest in the area and that was the most important fact. Once the male had been accepted, pushing his muzzle against Indru's side in response, Indru pulled away satisfied that the younger wolf was calmer now that the anxiety had fled the meeting. Now, however, Faolán's fur was conflicting in the smells that covered it; it had traces of a dominant wolf but no full claim to make him pack. To fix this Indru pulled away from him briefly before dropping down to a crouch to brush his side up tightly against Faolán's, their fur intermingled and the young male's scent joined in with the myriad of scents on his own, but most importantly Indru's more dominant scent marked the others, the weaker ones of the pack brushing over the submissive male thus making him pack. Indru stepped over him once again but only to repeat the same over his back and then his other side, soon Faolán would smell of the place he would think of as home.

When Indru was content that the other would be recognised as a River wolf, and thus granted the protection the label gave, he pulled away from him and left a space between them, an invitation to rise. Indru's tail rose and his head was raised proudly as he waited for the other to lift to his feet, a quiet reminder of who had claim of dominance between them. Let's go home, Faolán, the leader suggested, a grin on his face and his stiff tail took a moment to wave excitedly. Just before Indru turned in the direction of home, missing it already, he placed the weight of his maw on top of Faolán's, a reassuring gesture and one of acceptance, before he pulled away again and started to lope back towards the river expecting him to follow.