Viorel had planned on meeting with Clover a little farther from home than normal, away from prying ears or eyes. Not that he had anything serious to speak about, but now that she was his co-lead they needed some time to discuss. Plus, he was increasingly aware that while they were deep in winter now, it wouldn’t last forever and soon spring would be upon them and everything that came with it. He needed to ask Clover her opinion on the standing rules, he was fine keeping things the way they were, each leader had the right to a litter, either their own or delegating to someone else, but needed her opinion too.

He was not exactly looking forward to the conversation. It was a little awkward given their history, and the fact that she was now….something with his cousin. Vi still didn’t fully understand what was happening there, and he wasn’t sure that he ever would, and though he couldn’t admit it, he was a little jealous. He was deeply lonely without Vanadis, and resentful that she had left in the first place, and Clover was, well she was Clover. It wasn’t like he was into her in that way, but they had raised a litter together.

But, though women were in the forefront of his mind, that was not who he ran into out in the woods. Hearing movement up ahead Viorel did not even think about the fact it could be someone other than Clover and let out a chuff in greeting. Surging forward he was taken aback to find that it was a loner male, and not his co-lead and that he had a weird shiny nest of some sorts at his paws. Swishing his tail in apologies, dark ears flipped backwards, ”Oh uh, sorry, my bad thought you were someone I knew.” He should probably leave now.

The leader had been hoping to pass off this slightly awkward encounter quickly, but they were joined by Clover and all hope of that was gone. Flicking his tail against her haunches in a silent greeting, he had to press his lips together to keep from laughing. The stranger - Malien - looked ridiculous with whatever that was hanging from his teeth, sparkling in the light and wiggling when he talked.

Breathing in deeply from his nose to smother the laughter, he cleared his throat, ”Oh, yeah I’m Viorel Valle.” Then his yellow eyes zeroed back in on the tinsel in his teeth and he felt the need to keep talking to keep the laughter at bay, ”We’re leaders of one of the packs nearby, Dead Empress Backwater.” He wasn’t ready to give their exact location given what had happened the last time a loner had been invited back, but that seemed fair enough.

Viorel looked away at the trees nearby, as if deeply interested by one of the birds up in the branches. He couldn’t care less, but he knew that if he spent even one second longer looking at Malien and his shiny accessory he would break out into uncontrollable laughter. Not exactly leaderlike.

The leader was thankful that his co-lead had come to the rescue because he had been only seconds away from letting the laughter out. Breathing out slowly through his nose he glanced towards her and noted the gentle concern on her expression. The loner, Malien, did not answer whether or not he was just passing through and that caught the dark man’s expression, his eyes leaving Clover and looking closer at the stranger. This whole interaction had been silly, but he was still more critical of loners than he ever had been before.

Then Clover ruined all the fun and Viorel finally let out a brighter smile. Showing off his teeth which had nothing in them. He wouldn’t express the thought, but it did make him feel pretty pleased with himself. Then the nest was shoved towards them and silver eyebrows rose high onto his forehead in surprise. He for one would not be adding a weird thing into his teeth but he looked to the woman at his side. Flicking her playfully with his tail he gestured with his muzzle, ”Ladies first.” He hoped she did it, he would never let her live it down.