As the white girl pawed at the ground nervously, the subordinate smiled down at her and nodded with hopes of raising her spirit a little. “Everyone has a use. I’m sure you’ll prove yourself to be more than a valuable asset to Kade and Ava.” Whilst she didn’t have the bulky frame a guardian required, she could possibly flesh out into an adept hunter. If that wasn’t her calling there was always scout work or tending to the young or working with flora. The idea amused him; a girl called Lily working with flowers and plants. Then again, with a name that meant The Greatest, you’d think Maksim would be an alpha. Maybe someday … bah, it wasn’t the time for foolish little day dreams. He was attending to a potential recruit and that was what he needed to focus on. Regardless of her path in life, she would have the support she needed to see it through.

Perhaps she’d appreciate some advice to use when speaking to the alphas of Darkwater Rapids? “When they come,” he started (he was sure they would come, else he’d have to make a call for them too), “let them know you’re eager to learn and adapt. They’ll like that.”

The youthful cry sounding from the borders was a curious event, one which Ava had practically forgotten about. Motherhood had taken the forefront of her mind along with those existing members who worked so tirelessly beside her. The idea of expanding their group had somehow fallen through the cracks in her focus, although it would be the smartest thing to do. Invigorated in her quest to be a good Leader for those whom she trusted, she picked herself up from her nook beyond the tree roots.

Ava left the den with care not to awake her slumbering cubs, knowing that once she did they wouldn't fall back asleep until after another mischief-prone bender. Oh, those kids. The four of them together was already proving to be a reckoning force. For now they were little and easy to push back into the den - later they would need a little more help than that.

She moved swiftly, though without so much urgency. There hadn't been a loner yet on their borders and Ava would not take their claim to this land lightly, since they were so newly established and still so naive of the rest of this side of Serpent's Pass. Head held high and tail nearly curling over her back the blackened she-wolf approached the scene. A nod and a brief smile thanked Maksim for his interception. She drew off his calm demeanor and fell into a strong stance, but left all threat out of her face and posture.

She'd failed to pick up on snippets of conversation as she approached, though the easiness of her subordinate and lowered posture of the white yearling made it plain to see there was no trouble here. Perhaps it was her maternal instinct heightening the fact but Ava had never wanted cruelty toward innocents - and what could possibly be more innocent than that face? "You called for me?" she started, adopting a delicate tone to ensure her crooked grin didn't look too imposing. "Ava Attaya, Leader of Darkwater Rapids."

The Leader's dark form cut through the tangled forest with purpose, weaving between the thick, mossy trunks of the trees like smoke through a bundle of burning wood. Since settling in the area, calls such as the one that drew him from patrol to the north were rare, and in fact this was the first that didn't belong to a member of the pack. It was easily recognizable, and he'd guarded Grizzly Hollow long enough to distinguish a neutral summons from any other; the only question in his mind as he drew near to the gathering was who had been the first to discover them here, hidden away from the world in their verdant haven?



Perhaps he was late. Ava's scent was heavy in the air, strewn along the path he now followed, and Maksim's carried in the breeze like a spray of the river as it collided with the boulders that lined its banks. Wide paws sunk briefly into the damp forest floor as long strides propelled him, and in the distance and through spaces that separated the dense foliage he caught a sight of the small group. A steely gaze swept approvingly over the earthen-hued form of his subordinate; Maksim had proven a worthy addition to their ranks, one that Kade was thankful for. In time he envisioned the male to rise up, perhaps even as his own right hand. Gliding to Ava's side and short of catching any of the ongoing conversation aside from his mate's introduction, Kade was every inch the king—dignity emanating from the stoic mask he wore so naturally as his achromatic eyes fell upon the form of the cream-furred girl.


He remained silent and expectant of the girl's response, his dominant posture a wordless introduction as he thoughtfully looked her over. She'd called for a charge, and here they both were.