Early evening. Clear - 41º F / 5º C

Things seemed to be getting better and while Borden was gradually on the mend, he found that following the week he had returned home, he could leisurely travel and patrol much longer than before. Dusk was quickly gathering and while he intended to make his way back to the den, the heart of Grizzly Hollow, he found himself distracted by the scent of a young male. By the strength of the male's 'signature' he could have easily been there no more than two hours ago. The Lyall had just missed him.

The fact alone made his fur bristle. The minuscule twinge of jealousy made a growl rumble through his torso. Who was this guy? When did he become apart of the pack? Most important of all, why hadn't he seen him yet? Did he have his own den or had Borden just not paid enough attention to mind the brute at all? Realizing and learning that another male apart from Raigo lived on the territory made a possessive streak within him flare. Had Jaysyek sought to replace him in order to keep the pack in working order?

His ears swiveled forward and his brow wrinkled as he lowered his nose to the cold earth. Perhaps if he trailed the stranger, he would meet him soon enough... No longer was the fallen leader afraid to act out of his given rank of Lowest.

"What is it you're looking for in him?" a voice called out from behind him. The Lowest member of Grizzly Hollow froze. Elettra... His body sank for a moment but straightened up slowly as he turned around to look at the pack medic. In turn his own bristled fur flattened. "Nothing too important," he replied in a light tone. "Just a few word 's all... I wasn't even aware he was here until now." The words rolled off his tongue in a cool manner, the evenness in his voice attempting to spark the notion that he had no intention to get wrapped up in any form of bobbery with her. In all actuality he was irked and felt absolutely threatened by him - even without knowing his name.

"Has he been here long?" he asked, merely curious now and trying to keep on Elettra's "good" side (that is, if it was actually possible).

"A lot has changed since you've been gone, Borden," Elettra stated. "I don't believe that's any of your business..." Her words bit at his ears and ate away at his insides. For a moment he was torn about how to respond to her. He was quick to note the state she was in, being tired and worn from whatever escapade she had taken fancy to before coming back home, and decided not to press any of her buttons. The feeling bubbling up in his chest and stomach, however, began to simmer and morph. Where the jealousy had started to burn within him, defeat and that agonizing feeling of longing extinguished it.

"It used to be my business," he said firmly, looking at her coolly. Then, without warning as he tried to keep himself level-headed, the facade he had been effortlessly keeping up began to crumble. "Could you at least entertain me with any musings of what is going on here?! I've had it with being in the dark! The least you could do is answer me with facts rather than deny me my right in knowing. Is this not my pack also?" He blinked, unable to keep back the distress in his tone. "I'm apart of it, aren't I?"

He slumped down onto his haunches and averted his gaze from the dark lady, his tail tucked and his ears folded back tight against his skull. He felt terrible now for thinking he could easily intimidate the foreign male and earn himself a ticket out of the hell that was defining his position in the pack he had established.

"They're... together, aren't they?" he whispered.

She wasn't paticularly doing anything, just walking around the familiar confines of the hollow letting her thoughts get the best of her. She'd simplly decided maybe if they were let out of the box she desperately shoved them in now, she would possibly be able to rest by the time the sun fell. The idea was already set up for failure, and she started the task of checking for rapid wanderers near her borderlines.

The familiar scents of those from the hollow greeted her, and did a bit to sooth her worried soul. If it was one thing she new, it was at least those who lived here were of good hearts, and everyone strived to keep each other safe. This, though not exactly an accomplishment of hers alone, it certainly was not a failure, and helped only further her good mood. When she came upon Elettra's fresh trail she had to follow it, because there was something odd about the muddy tracks. It just didn't seem like El, and her brow furrowed wondering if something had happened.

Jayse was taken by surprise when it met with Borden's scent, and she thought she could hear the faint murmurs of their voices. Oh, dear. Would she have to seperate them? Had they gotten in a scuffle last night? Her pace quickened, and she came upon a worn, red lipped El, and well Borden didn't appear much different. She was utterly surprised, what the hell was going on? She had not been listening to their chatter, as she was more concerned to quickly make sure Borden, and Elettra were without wounds. It was clear they were, and a puzzled look shaped her pale mask.

"Elettra, are you alright?"She asked, not hiding her concern in her voice. She had wanted to ask whose blood was upon her face, but it seemed unimportant for the moment. She could have had an unsuccessful hunt, and it had ended in mishap. Eyes were quick to shift to Borden. "You two weren't at it again, were you?" There was something far beyond her, and she was going to get to the bottom of it.

Borden closed his eyes wearily before slowly opening them again, keeping his head turned away. When Jaysyek appeared, his ears perked forward but he folded them back again when he cowered and looked in her direction. His eyes flitted to the white lady before landing on Elettra's paws. He let the Second answer her since she had the right to speak before him. "No, Jaysyek," Elettra replied and the renegade shook his head as if to confirm that they weren't fighting or anything of the sort. She continued to let Jaysyek know that she was just correcting him and Borden involuntarily shivered before nodding. He wanted to keep his presence as inconsequential as he could once the topic shifted.

He tried hard not to listen but with how Elettra was openly talking to the Hollow leader, he idly took in the information and did not do or say anything more. The guilt that had been washed away when he and Jaysyek met up not too long ago swelled up and nestled in the pit of his stomach again; though, if she hadn't traveled so far north, perhaps she could have avoided such an encounter. His eyes kept alternating from being fixated on the paws of his superiors, the earth under his paws, and the dying frondescence at his side to fully avert his gaze. His timing though caught him off-guard when the silvery eyes pierced his own; he immediately dropped his gaze, even if a sort of frown had knitted his brows together. Sure, he had been part of the reason why she had been wracked with so much grief, but it was ultimately her fault that she had been attacked away from the Hollow. There should have been enough pack territory to separate herself apart from the pack. Hell, she could have hidden away in her infirmary for the night or the next few days and allow time to heal whatever wounds she had suffered. He was certain no one would have or could have bothered her there.

It was no loss to her the coldness, and anger shooting from Elettra to Borden. The evidence was clear what was happening now was nothing more than what had sadly become the usual between them. She noted Borden's meek nod of agreement, the trembles of his body not escaping her attention though she was clearly looking at Elettra through the whole matter assured by her smile. The only change in expression as a small flicker of surprise wondering what kind of meddling Borden was doing. He didn't appear to be any different, and what could he possibly want to know he wouldn't ask her in the first place? Clearly Elettra didn't want to tell him, and she would not question her intent. It became another matter, the issue at hand was what had happened to El.

The story unfolded, and the leader kept her pale mask a composure of indifference. She knew exactly who Elettra was talking about, but waited to hear the whole story to understand how the circumstances had come about. Her heart went out to her, knowing she was just as affected by the tragedies of Grizzly Hollow as she was, and silently nodded, understanding how El would want to be alone. Jaysyek had often worried how El vented anything out with her tough exterior, wanting to keep her pride intact. She knew it was a great strain, especially all that they had endured, she could easily picture Ruiko flairing her Second's already thin patience. "Ah, I'm sorry it came to that, but I can't say I blame you. I hope you didn't leave him in too many pieces?" Tone was not warm, but soft in rhythem while her eyes noted all the blood upon her wondering why Ruiko had not left a mark. Clearly she would ponder if this might put a strain on between herself, and the River wolf. Or if Elettra would disaprove of Jayse reamining friends with the Tainn if it did not. More lost questions, and something else to haunt her thoughts. She couldn't sort it out now, and time would only tell if she would see the tawny male again to find out.

Elettra was her concern, and everything else would have to fall into place. A harsh sigh, she took a step closer to make sure she really was not harmed. When the closer inspection brought nothing, she half smiled to the dark lady in a sort of awe mixed with earnest of her well being."You sure your alright? You look dead on your paws." She of coarse was aware of Borden in the mix, but he did not offer a single sound, and Elettra's look had him still defeated it would seem.