The growing boy had been in higher spirits since he had last seen Inali, his dear angel was still near and it brought him great joy to see her face reoccurring throughout his days. His reason for staying here might not have been all because of Inali, but a large part of it was, and he had long since devoted his life to her and now Whisper Caverns. He couldn't leave, not after he so faithfully put his trust in her for taking care of him and he knew he wouldn't mind guarding his pack for the rest of his days. It was his duty, as he had so recently been taught. It was what Guardians did, put aside their own lives for those of their packs, and the young Thorben had no problem in doing so, preferring to walk around and make sure no terrible fate had come upon any of his pack members. It was not something he detested, but he found he rather enjoyed his tasks.

It came as an highly unpleasant surprise when Minka's voice raised above the territory, causing Yuka to freeze in his spot. The last time the woman had called such a meeting he had later been scolded for his accusations and harsh words towards her, but could anyone really blame him? He had been standing up for his mother while the rest of his siblings sat idly by and watched. The thought made his blood boil and it caused the small temper, that he found could be set off easily, once again come to life. Growling and muttered harsh nothings under his breath he started towards where the lady had called for them, his body moving easily through his home. He was at least pleased to see that Inali was already there upon his arrival and had no problem with walking up to her and comfortably sitting down next to her, his frame now towering over her, and bent down to give her an affectionate lick to her head.

Ash had been spending more time with Narimé ever since Minka had called a meeting between the two of them, needing to get use to the thought of the other woman being his partner when the other bitch had left them. It had deeply angered him when he had realized that Minka was going to be taking their members with her, and the Hervok knew what had to be done, no matter what the consequences. Ash had experienced too many loses already and the other woman seemed to not think too hard when it came to family and that seemed to Ash like one of the biggest betrayals he had ever experienced in his life. He was even talking to Nari now about their arrangements once the other woman left, and the thoughts brought an unwelcome pit of anger into the pit of his stomach. He had been expecting the stupid woman to call eventually, and it always seem to be that she caught the both of them in the most inopportune of time. With a soft snort, he thought to himself, Let the show begin, you little wrench.

He moved easily with Sloane's mate by his side towards where Minka had called for the pack, his mossy green eyes glaring at the area that he was moving towards a small growl rumbling in is chest. When they finally got to the clearing, Ash lifted himself tall, encouraging Narimé with a small glance to do the same. If Minka was going to disrespect them by leaving them and taking their family with them, then it was only respectful of them to give her no such respect. He didn't move towards his current partner, glaring at her in greeting before looking towards the wolves that were already gathered. It seemed that Yuka, who had gotten quite large, was standing next to Inali. Without hesitation, Ash looked towards the girl, his heated glare burning the girl and he hoped dearly that she felt it. No one would leave here without feeling terrible and guilty for the betrayal that they were about to commit.

Titan heard the call but did not immediately head for it. Instead he nosed around the smelly dirt where a fox had killed a rabbit earlier wishing he had come upon the scene to rid the fox of his prize. The child was always hungry.

Once sure that the rabbit scent was stale enough that the fox would have already finished the meal by that time, Titan moved away pointing his nose in the direction of Minka's howl. He hated having to answer to that female while his mother was back. However what Titan hated more was the fact that his mother hadn't done anything about her lowered position within the pack. Instead she had dutifully bowed her head even after Titan, Yuka, and Malia had told her to take her leadership back.

Malia... He groaned inwardly. He hadn't seen his wayward sister for some time now. In all honesty Titan thought that she might be slipping away to see the pups over at Willow Ridge. It would explain the lack of her annoying attitude around the den. At first Titan had relished his sisters bossy voice not being around, but now that she had been gone for so long he began to wish she would come back and at least speak with him.

Thinking back on the emotions the dark pup had last left her with made Titan sick to his stomach. He didn't want her to be angry with him. He was just scared for her, but obviously he was over dramatizing the danger. Even his mother Nari had said that thick ice could be safe to walk on. If only he had known back then maybe Titan would have actually had fun with her and slid around without being a frightened little child.

All these thoughts swirled around under his dark silver and black crown as the titanic shadowy pup loped slowly but surely towards the meeting place.

He met with a scene that threw Titan into confusion. Pausing at the edge of the clearing as his dark blue gaze swept over those gathered. Titan took in all that was happening around the adults and measured the emotions that their bodies gave off.

Yuka seemed annoyed with something, as usual, but also quite tense as he sat next to his favorite babysitter Inali. Inali out of the whole lot of adults seemed to be the most calm. Then Minka stood in all her glory as the alpha female of Whisper Caverns. The leaders gaze felt warm and loving, but held also a kind of conviction that left him wondering what she was thinking before he respectfully evaded his gaze to what struck him as the most odd.

His mother was standing very close to a gray, cream, rust, and black male with bright emerald green eyes. The boy recognized the new alpha males scent and narrowed his eyes on the man taking in the harsh outer exterior and horribly dominant stature. This male was fierce and it kind of surprised the child. Titan had known of slight dominance gestures between pack mates with little aggression. His father had never used force while leading the same as his mother, but this male... He was strong and knew it. The green eyed man seemed to want to make the others know of his strength too.

Switching his blue gaze to Narimé, Titan tilted his head to the side curious of her stance. He had arrived just as she switched from a submissive stance to that of the position he remembered her having since he was a tiny little pup. However he was awed because her stance was that and more. Not just a mothers strong loving stance ready to protect family, but the stance of someone confident in her ability to back that dominance display up.

"Mmm.. What have I walked into..." He spoke quietly to himself only just loud enough so that the two closest wolves to him, Inali and Ash might hear his words.

Though he had made good timing to the meeting, it did not seem as though everything else was going as planned. For awhile, no one else arrived, but eventually Ash came in, tall and proud, accompanied by his mother, who also looks slightly out of place as she awkwardly raised herself. Though she had been going through a hard time when Sloane had left, she seemed much better than when she had returned, and Yuka gave her a short nod of approval and a small twitch of his lips to indicate that he was pleased that she was doing well. His amber-teal then turned to Ash, the young man freezing up when he noticed the icy look that he was giving his angel. Shifting closer to her side slightly, he dipped his head in respect for his alpha before turning back towards the entrance, where eventually Titan came in and Yuka lifted his chin slightly, giving his brother a terse nod before moving his eyes towards where Tokino made his way in, placing himself next to Minka and giving his respects to Ash. The young boy flicked his russet ears forward as Minka began to speak. Eyes widening, slightly, he moved them towards Ash to see what his reaction was to Minka's news, but as Minka continued to speak, he could suddenly understand why their new alpha male had seemed so tense and angry, as well as to why Narimé had regained her dominant stature in the presence of the pack. It seemed as if the two had lost their respect for Minka, and Yuka could suddenly understand why.

When their current alpha female spoke of what Ash and Nari had decided, he could understand why and nodded his head in understanding as to why they were doing so. It made sense. The ones who left would be treated just as if they were any other traitor, Minka and whoever left with her, was just bringing this upon themselves. The Thorben wasn't truly concerned until he heard his angel speak up next to him, his heart stopping cold. She hadn't made a decision yet. Not long ago, they had both spoken of her undying loyalty to Whisper Caverns and with that Yuka had sworn himself to the pack, taking it upon himself to protect her. Should there have even been a reason for her to need to decide? His russet head turned towards her, for the first time radiant pain and betrayal flooding across his eyes. In the pit of his stomach he felt something of what he was sure was rage swirling within the pit of his stomach. Betrayal. Yuka suddenly understood, on a much more personal level, as to the decisions that Ash and Narimé were making. Wordlessly, the young man strode over towards Ash and his mother, the boy that was soon to become a man was about the size of Ash and still growing. Placing himself in between the to wolves, Yuka positioned himself to where he could place an affectionate nudge against his mother's side, before turning his glaring eyes onto the woman that was standing above them all.