Tried as he might, he couldn't keep himself from scowling. It sounded eager, a bit too curious... but because of that, Mapplethorpe thought it was best that he would be one of the first to investigate such a call. It sounded as though it had come close by and it was only a matter of minutes from one stretch of the borders into another until the individual who had requested his presence came into view. He was dark and, judging from a distance, a great deal larger than him - not that the Advisor had been counting on his brawn to begin with...

The mottled Nomad edged closer, raising both his head and tail when it seemed like he had caught the stranger's full attention. His scowl had softened a bit, but not by much; at the very least, it could have been assumed that Mapplethorpe was merely concerned as to why this brute had come so close to the borders he had recently marked. For a few passing moments, he eyed the rogue from the ground up before deciding that the encounter at hand might be worth his time. Despite the piercing looks in his eyes, the voice that accompanied his facial expression didn't match until he issued the question at the forefront at his mind. "Good to know that border patrols haven't been in vain... Why have you come? How did you find us?"

"So, you didn't hear about this pack from anyone else?" he half-interrogated, half-questioned, his cadmium yellow eyes scrutinizing every movement in his new companion's face and frame. When thinking back to what he had said, the Advisor also sat down, suddenly all too interested in the scenario at hand. "The scent just might be only," he taunted. "But... what scent would that be? You don't look like the type that would go about climbing mountains and scaling rock faces."

He had to smile, already considering just how beneficial it would be for Naira to have a knowledgeable botanist at hand (between the two of them and Sagacity's knowledge, it would seem they would be set, but certainly at this point it wouldn't hurt to consider recruiting one that could, in turn, educate Datura, Taima, and the younger girls). "Not unless you were born and raised on them... then I'm guessing you're rather familiar with a variety of highland plants?"

The brute had other talents to speak of, ones that were on the homefront - so, he had some training in regards to wartime measures, okay then - and the grizzled man allowed him time to fully answer the questions he had practically thrown at him. Even though he corrected Mapplethorpe's assumptions about being a skilled botanist, the stranger let him know right off the bat that the scent that he had been so keen about investigating and asking about was the one that he believed belonged to his sister. Sister? Huh.

He had to take a moment and consider how he was able to pick up on such a scent. From what he knew about Naira, she had had two litters - the second litter being the two daughters who currently called him "Dad." Her first litter consisted of three cubs - Datura, Adonis, and the misplaced daughter, Belladonna - and they were all well into their yearling days... as was Taima. Judging by the maturity in the man's voice and how well he carried himself, the possibility of him being Taima's older brother was highly plausible. Given that he had been spending a good amount of time with the young Lyall, it could have been her scent that he had picked up on. Since the pack's relocation to the new den, he had barely been in contact with @Sagacity, and further isolated himself from her as to keep himself uninvolved with @Mercy's initial upbringing. He could iron out the boy later if he had to, but at present, this man's relation to Sagacity was not particularly feasible (unless she, too, had been running border patrols while Taima looked after the crow-child when she was away)... He had to mentally shake his head. That was just highly unlikely. The Lyall had been sticking to her lessons and training since the two of them had had their first decent conversation with one another.

Assumptions aside, he carefully took in the stranger's body language, trying to pull from his every move and every pronounced syllable any possibility that hinted at any means of ill-will. There seemed to be none in how meticulous he was with his words and how he spoke them. When it all came to a point, all that mattered now was her name. "And what is her name?" Both of his brows rose in such a way that implied his anticipation and avidity concerning his relationship to any of the current Nomadic women. If there was any chance that this gent was related to Naira, then he was going to have to test him further if he had initially come in search of a place to stay... It might not have been apparent, but time was a good judge as any and even the brother of the Queen could be a potential threat if allowed too close.

It didn't matter if the man's words sounded foolish or not, either way he had come from the north in search of her. The Advisor managed to keep a straight face, his expression utterly sober as he took in his answer, processed it and mulled it twice over in a matter of seconds. Not many wolves, he believed, knew Naira unless they had something to do with Swift River or Poison Path or, as the rogue had voiced, had grown up with her. Having only been allowed one chance thus far to really get to know his beloved Queen on a personal level, he only had one valid question that would further prove that this stranger on their borders was really her brother. His chance opportunity against a simple inquiry about something only Naira and her brother would know should leave no room for error. There was only one answer and it had to match word for word.

"Not foolish at all," he stated calmly, staring across his muzzle at this supposedly honest brute. "I only have one more question after this one, but you must answer this one simple prompt before I take our conversation further." Ever so slowly, he stood up, his tail rising instinctively though he still held his head level, his ears drawn forward as to hang onto every breath and syllable that would become his companion's response. "Describe your mother for me..."

"Forgive me," he rumbled. "Sir." When he next allowed his eyes to scan over the man's frame, his stare was less intense, looking more as though he were making sure the knight was in good health and that nothing was wrong. "I've heard of you," he then explained, coming to full realize what facts he had been putting aside and ignoring for speculation's sake. Of course Naira's brother was going to come looking for her. "You... you were separated from her." His brow spots touched one another for what seemed like it last time and it was apparent that concern had wholly replaced all intentions of testing the brute further. "What... What happened to your sister?" He made sure to emphasize the last two words; obviously he had known what happened to Naira, but in regarding their other sister, he simply wanted to be well-informed.

His breath caught in his chest and, among the already churning emotions and thoughts in his head, he had to wonder how Naira would react if she came face to face with her brother again. From the short story she had told him, it occurred to him that they had at least been somewhat close, and that having him back would mean a great deal. If she thought otherwise, then he was going to take absolute full responsibility for him. "I...I can't be sure how Naira will react, but I am willing to allow you in." His ears relaxed and instead of an intimidating front, Mapplethorpe morphed into the epitome of regality. His skull at last lifted and he patiently waited for his Queen's brother to offer him any gesture or testament of fealty before opting to proceed in indicating that he was a superior figure to behold. "I am your sister's Advisor and consort, no one gets to visit with her without going through me first."