Early Afternoon; Sunny.

Time out. It was amazing how two simple words, when placed together, meant something completely undesirable. While Renier, Ryvet and Calla were enjoying the day with one of the adults down by the creek, Taima had been excluded from the venture. Roughly twelve hours ago Borden had caught her outside the den again well after bedtime. Resting just within the den entrance, the girl was sprawled out in a listless fashion. If she hadn't been so put off by the words that defined her morning, she probably would have tried to escape, even if Borden was periodically checking up on her every so often.

Her ear twitched as the breeze carried her father's scent her way and she listened as he stalked away for the third time and counting. She repositioned her chin over her tawny wrist then snorted. Yeah, go away, she snapped in her head. Go. A scowl wrinkled the faint mask that was starting to show on her face and she closed her eyes. It wasn't until that familiar buzzing sped past her ears and she squirmed, eyes immediately flashing open as she tottered onto her feet and into the sun. Whether it flew past her or into the den, she wasn't sure, but she was certain of one thing: it would not be allowed the chance to bite her, as Jaysyek had said.

Taima's ears swiveled forward as she cast her gold-flecked eyes about the clearing. Hopefully her father hadn't seen her. She hopped back into the coolness of the underground tunnel then poked her head forward, anticipating the all-too-familiar reprimanding to sound out to her.

It didn't come.

She waited. One minute. Two minutes. Two minutes, thirty seconds. Nothing. Borden had gone. A mischievous grin spread across her muzzle and she planted one forepaw into the patch of sunlit grass. Then the other. Eventually she stood tall atop the small knoll with her tail and head held high. If her father had taken his time to return for a third occasion, then it would take him much longer to return for a fourth check-in. Perhaps within that time frame, she play on her own, make her own discoveries. She definitely didn't need playtime by the river to enjoy herself.

So with a few bold steps, followed by a spirited trot, she bounded into the woods, leaving the den site behind. Every so often she stopped to examine unfamiliar things - a moss-covered log, a gnarly branch... a collection of bleached ribs. Her eyes widened as she took in the decaying sight. She and her siblings might have been weaned but she had never seen food presented to her in such a way. Her small tongue grazed over a dry bit of bone and she instantly withdrew from it. Ick!

Taima shuffled backwards into something bristly and solid. She tilted her head up to gaze into a pair of unfamiliar eyes. One gasp was all it took to realize that this creature was something to be wary of. It did not smell like mom. It did not smell like dad. It was definitely not one of her siblings, nor was it any of the adults she now loved and trusted with all her being. A terrified scream lifted from her chest and she curled up in a ball, only to feel the beast move away and make itself scarce with a rustle of leaves. Only when silence washed over her again did she lift her head and let out a more specific, but feeble and panicky, cry,

"Daaaaaad!"

Trespassing was a crime, he knew this. When it came to growling stomachs, and disappearing muscles sometimes a few unwritten laws had to be broken. He could not starve to death, and he rather be ripped to shreds than die so slowly...his stomach eating itself inside out, and slowly guzzling the rest of his internal organs. He was no fool, and he had to do this right. If he was going to steal, it was best he did not get caught, and that maybe he might be able to replace it. Maybe....

So he searched for a pack, a thriving pack that was no too large nor small and started to get familiar with the regular routines of their comings and goings. It was a hard task, but it gave him something to do, and soon it would all be worth it. The problem was he had watched the dominant male come and go to what he presumed was the den site. Why he could not tell. Were there pups there? It was something he was not sure about, and could make his plan a big failure. The thing was he had not caught anything in two days, and his hunger pushed him to investigate. Once the lead male had stopped frequently checking the area, he decided it was safe to snoop around, and maybe the pup had even been moved or something. That was his first mistake.

When he went to check out where a scrap of meat might be, he caught the scent of some bones that might suffice until he could come up with a better plan. With his nose downward, it lead him to the spot. Before he could take a single step forward a young pup had backed into his thick neck, her wide eyes meeting his. It was no time to see she was caught in fear. For being such a scared little wolf, she sure screamed! He did not need any more to get his paws shuffling away from the startled child. The last thing he needed was angry parents.

Charging up a slope he thought would lead him away, he heard her scream for her father. It was a shock to his system. Why hadn't he went somewhere else? He broke the brush, pushing his protesting limbs, when he suddenly saw a small puff of white at his feet. What the hell?! Another one! She let out a scream of her own and he was certain he would soon be a dead man. Looming upon the hill, unable to tear himself from the terrified girls. It was in him to help them, to do something, but how could the very monster who startled them comfort them?

Her cry was quickly answered though the being that she had called for was not the one who materialized out of the forest. A scream echoed out not long after her own and Calla emerged, making a beeline straight for her! The masked girl's mind began to race as her sister proceeded to bury whatever she could into her mottled pelt. She stared into the stranger's face, her blue-and-olive eyes stricken with fear. What was she s'posed to do now? How could she, alone, protect her sister? Someone should have heard her.... or at least heard Calla who seemed to have screamed even louder than she had!

Her black-lined lips parted and she sat up just enough to press her back firmly against Calla's quivering, pale frame. Where the solid, confident, characteristic statement of 'You'll be sorry you messed with me' should have growled back at staring rogue, a moment of weakness flickered and a whine left her throat. There had been a reason why her father had constantly been checking up on her and walking about on alert... and it had been him.

Taima's eyes had been so intently glued on the trespassers face that she had not even seen Sibyl arrive. What little power emanated from Sibyl's stammered warning reached the girl and her jowls slowly dropped open. Would this man even dare to mess with her? She wasn't particularly small but mom did have some height and bulk over her; and the threat (was it... a wolf?) in question looked as though he easily could overcome all three of them. That is... until Vlarindara strode into the space in front of them, blocking the rogue's figure from view.

The ivory Guard's fur stuck out in all directions, and after pairing the sight with a ferocious snarl, Taima was floored. Her heart thumped in her chest and she gaped at the size of Vlarindara's figure before her. Surely now the intruder would stand no chance of escaping the consequences that came with encroaching on pack territory...

Silver-tipped toes fell upon the dry, shaded forest floor with discretion as he made his way deeper into the heart of Grizzly Hollow. The morning's events had entailed an uneventful patrol and a successful, if not meager hunt. The fallen, feathered creature toted in his bloodied jaws was not much of a cache-filler, but he was no less proud to return it to the pack's store. Perhaps, if nothing else, the kids would have fun plucking it.

He had kept to himself, more so than usual, and it had felt like an eternity since he'd had any sort of interaction with...well...anybody. The warm, summer days faded into peaceful, summer nights, and before he could blink an eye it would seem as though part of his life had simply passed him by. More importantly, his time was passing him by, and with it, every opportunity to reconnect. Today, he would break the clock.

The scents of Grizzly Hollow criss-crossed the territory, permeating the air gloriously, and the black ghost of a wolf would pass each with a whetted interest. Just as soon as he could drop his offering, he had it in mind to check in. Past a fallen trunk and up and over a small hill, he was nearly at his chosen destination when a startling chain of sounds echoed through the forest. One scream, two screams, a distant snarl...

Without a second thought the Attaya dropped his kill, abandoning his errand and adopting a pace suitable for the occassion. The wind that ripped through his dark coat carried a foreign, male scent, and as he encroached on the scene the scent of a handful of Hollow wolves grew stronger. Just as soon as he could make sense of what he was smelling, the scene came to view. A low snarl drummed in his chest, lips curled and ears pinned, as he tactfully appraoched from intruder's back, his body primed and ready to back the ivory warrior up in a split second.

It was a great task trying to keep in check three pups on the way to the creek, even with Taima remaining behind under the watchful gaze of her father. She struggled to have her attention diverted, and her boys proved to be more than she had bargained for. The two did not only want to be in the water, they had to jump, and splash each other trying to get not only Calla but herself. First it was nothing but a game, see how wet they could get. Borden came to check on things, and in return Calla had gone with him to possibly nap. If only to get the boys interested in such a wild notion. A grin slipped on her lips, and she chuckled as another leap was made into the creek. It was all fun and games until Renier slipped getting a good mouthful of water. That was enough to scare the hell out of her, and with a sharp tone she told them it was time to get out. What she would not know is the danger her girls were in.

Until she heard their screams, and terror gripped her chest. How would she reach them? She could not leave her boys here, but... Panic tried to take her in it's arms, hold her as it's hostage. It would not work, she collected her wits, and turned to her sons. "Come," she stated, and without a word as quickly as she dared she trotted forward, her ears pointed sharply ahead. Borden. She thought, hoping he was closer...hoping anyone was closer. She could not bare to think what was out there, what could happen.

She turned her head to make sure her sons were at her heals. She tried not to lose them too. What good would it do her? She had to take care of them, even if she felt her heart race in another direction. Placing her eyes back to her path she raised her head, and let out a sharp call of warning, of hope, of need. She recalled the old hollow tree she had had her first litter not too far ahead. She took her sons there, and pointed them inside."Boys I want you to stay here, don't you dare move till I come back." She gave them the most serious look they would ever encounter, and she was racing across the forest.