Peaceful was the best way to describe the alpha male as he lounged around the dwelling cave that Fallen Tree Cove had come to call home, enjoying the offered warmth and escape from the dropping temperatures just beyond the blanket of leaves that hid their den from prying eyes. Beside him lay an ivory form tucked into the curvature of his body absorbing the added heat his thickened fur produced, her head propped against the scruff of his neck while the two lay there content in the moments peace and solidarity. Silver, the pack's second female was off on no doubt another scouting mission about the territory while Andromache made use of her time growing more and more accustomed to the land they now called home. This left Vespertio and Athena with precious alone time together that came rarely now that they had a pack to run and a territory to protect.

But even these moments had to come to an end and today was no exception. Disturbing the alpha's slumber a howl rang out on the crisp air, filling the den site and playing with the hairs on Vespertio's ears. Recognizing the pitched song belonging to that of Silver his head quickly perked in interest while his jerky movements jostled his ivory queen's head briefly. Constantly swiveling his ears with each note being deciphered it didn't take long for him to receive the message that both Athena and himself were being beckoned to the boarder lines. 'Why is she calling for us at the boarders?' He thought through a foggy mind as sleep clung on for dear life and his head turned to nudge his sleeping companion before slowly rising to his feet once her head lifted from its position against his neck. Confusion then replaced the sleep within his mind as he continued to figure out why she had called for both of them. Was there a recruit at their door waiting to be given the pack scent after babbling about what an asset they would be to the pack? Was there danger? The answer remained anonymous to the sandy male, but the urgency that rang within her howl did little to calm the nerves it awoke.

As soon as his body became more alert a quick shake of his pelt followed to rid the last bit if tiredness he still felt, a glance towards Athena revealing she had finally came to. With that he maneuvered through the canopy of leaves blocking the entrance, a shiver running down his spine the moment the cold air sucked the warmth from around him. What he wouldn't give to simply turn back around, reclaim the warmth and be lulled back to sleep for another couple hours and forget his presence was needed. But that was not an option now that he had responsibilities to attend to. Padding lightly in the direction of the second's howl it didn't take long to come upon her swarthy form that was accompanied by another swarthy colored form. So there was a recruit? This was good news for the pack who needed the able bodies. Closing the distance his pace slowed into an easy lope, tail and head raised high to indicate his place within the pack to the stranger settled at Silver's side until the small group was at a close distance where his pace came to a standstill. "Hello, Silver. Have you brought us a hopeful member?" He addressed his pack mate, nodding in greeting before switching his golden gaze to the wolf to her side.

Upon inspection the obvious facts were given as Vesper took a deep inhale of the strangers scent. Male, healthy and pledged to a...pack? This caused red flags to rise within his mind at this piece of information. This man's presence left many different paths of thought open for the lead male. Was he hear to pledge an alliance between their packs? Did he bring news of war? Had he left and now seeks safety within Fallen Tree? Or was Silver planning on leaving? Quickly his gaze returned back to Silver's scarred face, his done adopting a less casual tone and taking on more of a business one. "What was the reasoning for your call, Silver?" Now that he was able to take a good look at her he noticed the silent signals that radiated off her slender frame. She was tense with nervousness, her body pressed into his in a manor he knew all too well. She was using him for strength and that could only mean one thing. She was planning to leave when the pack needed all the wolves they could get. Abandoning the pack when they needed her most. This couldn't be good..

The change in body language from this dark coated man did not go unnoticed as the two locked eyes daringly for a moment's time, enough for Vespertio to see that spark that flamed within his fiery gaze. It was then that he wasn't to be surprised if the man held no real respect for the Cove male other that what was customary for their kind. Silver didn't and he knew it, he knew that she only put on the facade to please Athena who truly held the respect within the pack, even now as she offered the comfort that the man could not bring himself to show completely. But what they did not know was the fear deep inside chipping away at his foundation, the fear that his brother was right with his words of not being capable of having a pack to rule like he dreamed. How could he rule a pack if they didn't see him worthy of genuinely having their respect? Athena was the only one who believed in him.

Not wanting to reveal his inner demons fighting among themselves the Cove male gave a disguised heavy sigh as his ears twitched at the flow of words that left the swarthy pair's lips. First it was Silver who spoke, her words fumbling from her lips much in the way a young pup would plead for mercy from its parents asking for Athena to understand what it was she was trying to say. Then the pack wolf spoke his piece, offering only the basics of who he was and his reasoning for being here. 'Drestig Avalon. Oak Tree Bend.' He mentally stashed the name of his company and his loyalties should the need arise in the future that he would need to recall such information. But the man remained silent as he took a hint that this was mostly between the two woman to discuss, opting to take a few steps to the side to give the woman some space though never becoming out of earshot should he indeed be needed for some odd reason. Surely Athena who had experience in running a pack before could handle the situation. Vespertio was merely there for support at this point.