This was the furthest Indru had been since his return to Relic Lore and it surprised him that this was not such a hardship to him. But with his mate, Cori, growing a belly full of his cubs again Indru found it hard to part from her, so fierce was that protective instinct inside of him. Swift River was strong at the moment, it had many able bodied adults, yet it worried Indru a little at the lack of females in the territory. Corinna would need someone she could trust to help her with the birth and to then help with the cubs, as while she had clearly proven herself an able and strong mother they would take any help that would increase the survival of their offspring.

As the leader reached the edge of the treeline of Drooping Willows, where the trees gave in to their losing battle with the vast, consuming size of Hush Meadow, a howl suddenly echoed up and wavered in the air, the sound clearly coming from the tall grasses south of him. Ears perked, Indru paused for a moment as he digested the scent that he could pick up now that he knew what he was searching for; distinctively female, similar to his own age and, oddly perhaps, a lone wolf. The leaders curiosity was perked to say the least—how often did loners draw attention to themselves without howling? Besides, it had a beckoning tone to it, for company perhaps, but it was hard to understand the meaning of a howl completely if you didn't know the wolf in question. Never the less, Indru decided to head in the female's direction.

Hello there, he called out when he caught sight of her, he was still hugging the treeline and it was a mixture of his reluctance to stray any further from home and not wanting to suddenly approach and startle her that kept him there. I'm Indru Tainn, I lead a pack just north of here. Did you need something? She had howled after all, and he couldn't help but ask whether he knew her or not, it was in his nature to assist if he was able.

As the female turned to face him Indru tensed, like he always would, while he waited for her reaction to his presence. He was a large wolf—uncommonly so—yet his size could cause conflict to go both ways, it either avoided it encouraged it. Yet this shewolf kept her head and tail held low and at her reassuring posture he relaxed in turn, giving her a dip of his head in acknowledgement. She began to close the gap between them and Indru watched her carefully with his fiery eyes, pleased at her respect for his rank that she could undeniably smell due to his dominant, musky scent, especially with Corinna's recent pregnancy.

The female's tail had started to wag and Indru offered her a quick smile in response when she turned to quickly look up at him. She began to introduce herself, with more back story than Indru had, and he listened attentively nodding in agreement as she mentioned his rank. Abruptly though, she interrupted herself and at her question he shook his head and smiled reassuringly. Not at all, Elsa, I was merely scouting the lands out beyond my own packlands. As it was no good to live within your borders and let the goings on of the Forest escape him and pass him by, to keep the pack safe it was important to remain informed.

Indru paused for a moment while he thought back over her earlier words, his eyes politely (yet curiously) scanning over the female as he checked her health and condition. She seemed as healthy as a lone wolf was able to be with little food and protection compared to a pack, and the time she had spent as a lone wolf only helped to demonstrate her prowess as a hunter. Is it a pack you want then? A home? At his words Indru smiled again, showing the good intentions of the words. As I have the ability to offer you one. My pack needs strong females too, the curiosity in his words was easy to pick out, Indru was keen to recruit females but the pack was strong enough that he was not desperate either. Our borders claim a swiftly flowing river, and the pack is strong, though our numbers are mostly made up of males. We River wolves are a family not just a band of wolves and it would be your complete loyalty that we'd require. The leader's voice had adopted a seriously tone as he spoke of his pack, yet the welcome in his voice hadn't disappeared. Swift River had suffered a great betrayal recently by some of their newer members and Indru would not see it happen again.

Quickly she closed the gap between them and then Indru soon felt her nose underneath his chin, the gesture quite clearly marking him as the dominant wolf (and no longer just an acquaintance) and return he lowered his head to grasp her muzzle gently in between his jaws. It was not a move aimed to harm or discipline—Indru's grip was soft and easily breakable—but instead it was intended to reassure the shewolf in front of him and accept her. It marked Indru as this wolf's leader and if she accepted this claim, his teeth gently around her muzzle, it would truly make her pack.

At her words Indru's nodded, pleased, she was confident in her abilities but not overly so and she had a soft, respectful temperament which he knew would please Cori. It would be good for his mate to form a strong friendship, the last female had the potential to do so until she stole away in the night betraying her whole pack and family and now would never be welcome near the River wolves. We are expecting cubs, the leader replied at her next question, the pride in his voice was clear as he spoke of the unborn children belonging to he and Cori. Her forwardness and eagerness to help impressed him and Indru nodded, pausing for a moment as he gathered all the information he felt relevant. We have a strong number of wolves at the moment like I said, but admittedly our pack has distinctly more males. We have Corinna—my mate—who is the lead female and then one other beneath her, but we lack a strong enough female to take the place of Second. So far, Elsa looked more than capable of fulfilling this role. We have 3 cubs from mine and Corinna's litter last year, two boys and a female, and they will need guiding still in their skills and knowledge when they soon become yearlings. As while the young wolves would be adults in terms of their bodies and other physical attributes, they were far from it mentally. Then, soon, of course we will have the second litter of cubs born to the pack. Swift River had not looked this strong in a long while, the previous yearlings made up of his youngest siblings would soon be adults and taking their place would be his own children, who in turn would be replaced by the newest litter.

The leader gave her time to absorb all of the information he had provided, he was more than certain that Elsa would acquit herself quickly into the pack and the idea of having another capable female join their ranks was a great prospect. Especially with Cori's impending pregnancy. Let's go home, Elsa, Indru suggested, smiling at her as his tail waved behind him softly, eager to show the newest pack member her new home. But first... And with a playful grin Indru pushed forward, aiming to rub himself against of Elsa's sides, leaving his dominant scent along her fur, as it was this scent that made a wolf undeniably pack.

The leader waited for her to digest the information, pleased that she was already taking such an active role in the pack by seeking out this information. Most wolves were not quite so forward thinking and Indru couldn't help but think they may have found themselves a great shewolf to hold the second dominant ranking within the pack. As she confirmed the choice he expected Indru nodded, pleased, and his tail waved behind him to express it. A good choice I think, Elsa, he admitted truthfully as he scented the air, eager to return home with the newest shewolf in tow. I think you'll make a fine Second for the pack, and I can't help but believe your determination to prove me right.

Indru laughed quickly as the pair mixed their scents, the leaders' naturally becoming the more dominant one of the two, and the Tainn was reminded of the importance of this ritual as the pair began to bond like all pack should. The female's energy did not go unnoticed and Indru grinned at her refreshed posture, soon she would be well fed and protected by the pack she would help fed and protect in turn and her strength would only grow. My pleasure, he rumbled as she thanked him and he turned to nip gently at her cheek before beckoning her on with a quick nod of his head, expecting her to follow him home as he led the newest River wolf to her new home.