Since coming back home from his impulsive trip with the yearling Taima, the grizzled male who reigned over the Pass had spent the hours after his arrival scouring the scent-marked borders of Naira's territory. While he had initially traveled in her footsteps to re-establish his own contribution to the invisible fence, he actually was sniffing about for any sign of anything peculiar that had happened in his brief absence. It was clear after a mile or so that the whole of Nomads Pass remained well-protected, except... What was this?

Mapplethorpe's brow furrowed and the withers along his back rose defensively upon picking up @Naira's scent with a whiff of cologne. New recruit. His tail, which had been idly swaying to and fro in a gentle arch just behind his hind limbs, instinctively rose, and he immediately went out of his way to seek out this certain individual. By scent alone, he had been given all the necessary details he had needed. Gender, male. Age, mature... Mood and health... Well, when it came to those particular things, the Advisor was certain of two things: first, this male did not smell of disease or blood and, second, whatever mood he was currently in, Mapplethorpe was certain that upon his arrival any feelings of indifference or casualness would surely change.

Taking his time in tracking the new recruit's path through the Pass served him well and, somewhere alongside the stony creek beds and the narrow strip of scrub pine forest, he found him. He straightened his posture, standing a good distance away as he stared at the relaxed form of the sable stranger. If he hadn't been relying on his nose to divulge certain information beforehand, he might have sworn that Rhysis had returned. His eyes narrowed but after much speculation, he strode forward and stopped just close enough to be within comfortable distance to make acquaintances.

His head rose up as he shifted his weight from one side to the other, his stern gaze boring into the foreign male as his gray-and-tan tail came up like banner that announced the arrival of a monarch. He could have said a lot of things, jestful words that hinted at being mistaken for someone else or a friendly greeting that had to be accompanied by a smile, but what left his mouth instead was a serious and heavy-toned "Salutations."

With Rais out on a mission to search for Chulyin and Crowe still needing to prove his worth, this gentleman, here, could only be the very man who held a position below him. Mapplethorpe had been rather smart to choose the gentler and milder greeting. Not only had it coaxed a "Greetings, Sir," from the peppered man, but it had also reaped a simple and pleasant introduction.

His name was Faol. It seemed familiar, but the Advisor could not recall anyone by such a name in all the seven years of his life. Perhaps he was just reminded of someone. Hmm. "Mapplethorpe," he introduced himself in turn, taking a few steps forward before stopping once more. At the very least the man seemed both respectful and respectable. "I trust you've settled in all right?" he asked, his tone edging on the brink of amiableness in hopes of finding a trace of compatibility between them. The last thing Mapplethorpe wanted to do was to send the man, who was apparently a bit younger and physically much larger than he was, into the beginnings of a rebellion against him. The tawny man had come this far and he had grown so selfish and vain to a point where even thinking of putting his position at risk was something to be avoided at all costs.

"Have you taken your vows?" he then queried, wondering now just what his dearest Naira had seen in this brute. "I'm sure you've met the Queen, herself, but has she assigned you a role to fulfill as well?"

Open ears were eager to drink up the words that told him of Faol's ease into the pack and its stony, mountainous lands. To this, he nodded once, appreciating the curtness in his tone and the words he had chosen. "I see," he mused, a small smile playing long his lips. The brute then mentioned that he didn't quite understand what Mapplethorpe meant by vows. It made sense, really, the Queen's Consort was usually the one who made it his sole duty to bestow upon the newly recruited and the familiar the words that bound Naira's subordinates to the Pass. Faol also mentioned Naira's name - something that assured him that the gent hadn't wound Mapplethorpe up in his own web of words - but had not had the chance to be assigned a specific duty.

"The vows are simple," he heartened his companion with a small wag of his tail. "I normally have new recruits undergo initiation by taking an oath, otherwise, I have them make their declarations upon requesting or receiving proper employment within the pack if they haven't already." His amber eyes narrowed as he looked over Faol again, sensing the flame that smoldered at the heart of him. This one was determined... Naira did well to snatch him up. Even upon first impression Faol seemed to be the type who could easily take up the spot beside a bluestocking, in turn rendering him into someone Mapplethorpe would readily keep an eye on. The smirk that had graced Mapplethorpe's lips from before evened out into a more genuine grin, expectation heavily laced along each syllable, "Would you like to be given a role to fulfill?"

"I suppose I shall take a role to fufill," came the brute's eager response. Mapplethorpe had expected it. Determined indeed... "Then I will have you prove you are worthy of one," he muttered. "To Naira... To me..." A dirt-dusted paw lifted as he angled his body in such a way to suggest he would be leaving soon, that their curt encounter had been a means for Mapplethorpe to test Faol's personality.

"Everything here," he eyed Faol now with daggers in his eyes, "is earned."

His tail lifted now, still and bristled in an intimidating fashion, but his ears remained lax and the expression on his masked face as judgmental as ever. He gave a brief nod to the coal-pelted male as if that alone would instill in him mutual understanding. A second sweep of his eyes over the man suggested that perhaps the pack could use another Guardian, someone Chulyin could "buddy-up" with; and, Faol seemed amiable enough to balance the dark knight personality-wise. "The role is not mine to give," he admitted grimly, wanting @Naira to have the upper-hand in dealing with her recruit. "If you are seeking some sort of occupation, I suggest you trail along Chulyin's paths about the territory. Familiarize yourself with the borders. The pack needs an extra set of eyes towards the western woodlands."

Mapplethorpe made to make his leave but an idea struck him and he jolted as though Faol had said something insulting or intriguing. His eyes immediately went back to the brute's face and his eyes narrowed once more, "If you've had the chance to acquaint yourself with the cubs, might I also advise that you keep an eye on them? @Aponi has a penchant for running off without my or Naira's permission. If found out-of-bounds, will you please bring her to me?"