Raela's chosen task was one the girl found herself taking part in more and more frequently since the birth of the Crest's new heirs. The woman was developing a familiarity with hunting, even an affinity with the task she had been so vehemently denied back home. Home. No, that word was completely wrong. This was home. This was more of a home than she had ever been afforded. This is home, this is my family. Those pups are my family. Such thinking led her out into the woods of the surrounding hills time and time again. She would not let these pups feel as she had. Never. So early on, this meant patrolling the borders often, and hunting for the Alphess and mother the rest of the time. Rae provided many meals for @Minka; she was a regular sight around the den when meat was clutched tightly between her fangs. 

So was Gent though, and the observant girl had taken notice of the dark-furred wolf's affinity and protectiveness toward the little ones since the days before their birth. In a way she was grateful to have such a formidable wolf at the birthing den so often; she knew his mettle by how quickly he'd ascended the ranks, and by how fiercely he and Aeus had fought. The man was certainly no pushover. Still the girl worried about his ambition. Such speed and persistence had the potential to speak for a darker side; one that craved power above all else. It was something Rae had pondered about her partner since their meeting with Kajika. Gent had a dark side, and there was no denying it. At least the pups seemed to be bringing out his best. She could not bear to see him act like the war-mongers from her first pack.

With thoughts much like these, the ruddy girl began making her way toward the border. She would check for dangers or breaks in the line as she made her way down; as she always did. The girl hadn't made it quite to the edge of their domain before her ever attuned senses gave away the proximity of the very man who was so occupying her worried mind. His scent carried easily on the breeze today, but she wasn't able to discern how close the great ebony brute was. What was apparent was the fact that he was approaching. His distant and faint pawsteps thumped into her sensitive eardrums. There was no attempt at stealth here. Confident that he posed no threat, she took another sweep of the landscape with her ever brilliant golden eyes. The appraisal turned up no prey, and no threats, thankfully.

The girl turned to face the swarthy character as he spoke, still moving forward and revealing himself from behind the foliage. The subordinate stood still as he commanded, her expression curious. Gent seemed anxious, or perhaps just extra serious. His demeanor only worried her further, but of other things. Swiftly her fears were laid to rest, but replaced only with confusion. Clearly there was no emergency, but something obviously troubled the man. Her face devoid of the usual greeting smile, Raela's words came quickly. ”Gent what is it?” She spoke in a hushed tone that oozed concern. Her eyes searched his face for some clue as to what on earth was wrong, but of course only speech could truly clarify. 

Thankfully, Gent's explanation came quickly; without much hesitation. It was something she'd anticipated the towering man to do after his fight with Astraeus. Why stop at second when the one holding the crown was gravely injured? Lugh would never be strong enough to be an Alpha. Rae knew little of the ruddy pelted male; only that he was a good friend to Minka and their only herbalist. It was much better for them all if a hardy beast like Gent stood atop the hierarchy, but only if his lust for power could be controlled. Her companion's speech seemed cut off; as if he truly wanted to continue but was suddenly dumbstruck.

Sensing the stall, she opened her maw a little to cut the growing silence. Gent abruptly picked up the ball himself, dropping a strange and prying question on her shoulders. How did she feel? The girls eyes and expression clouded over with confusion. What kind of question is that? She'd no experience with “romance” or what it really meant to be in love. No one had ever asked her about such things before. Taking the question the only way she could, The girl tipped her head to the side a bit. “How do I feel about him? He's my friend, I like him, why?” Was there some question as to her behavior with pack mates? Or was Gent opposed to the idea of her friendship with the chocolate male after their rivalry had developed? Was she now supposed to gainsay their friendship? Now her orbs held a suspicious glint beneath the waves of puzzlement. What on earth was he getting at?

Again the deafening silence grew. Gent was apparently unwilling to answer her question right away; she even went so far as to think it was not the answer he wanted or expected. Now visibly as confused and uncomfortable as she, the large brute shifted his weight absently. Then his piercing gaze hit her square on yet again, suspicion practically spilling from his voice and expression. More? She had to remove her eyes, flicking them about as her thoughts attempted something of organization. More than friends is love, right? Was he asking that? She knew so little of that kind of love; catching only brief descriptions and glances of what it truly meant in the loners she happened across those months ago. It was supposed to be friendship – but more. More. Just as he'd said. What was the more? The little extra waves of anxiety she felt when Aeus focused on her? That didn't happen with others, but wasn't that just her unstable nerves? When did caring about a friend's well-being morph over into “love?” She certainly cared about his state more than she did the others. 

Profoundly puzzled by this line of thinking, she glanced back to Gent with the confusion plastered all over her face. She wanted to say “no” but, was that wrong? He continued his scrupulous stare, making her swallow uncomfortably and chase her eyes away again. “I...” The shaky utterance had barely made it into the air before her interrogator spewed out an even more concerning string of words. Her expression melted, ears rising with concern. The tone of his voice was so low and, ...frightened even. It was unlike him. She could recall a similar moment from their discussion before, but he'd not been so weak as he appeared now. The man's tightened jaw spoke of witheld emotions, hastily covered cracks in the wall. Leave? Why would she leave? And what did this have to do with... 

The pieces fell into place as she stared at him. Realization painted itself plainly in her eyes. Those loners she spoke to – many had fled packs with their beloved to have pups. Only the Alphas had children; they alone had the rights to breed. It was a clear and stone-etched law in a wolf's very culture, and even harsher so in her natal pack. There pups were produced only for the sake of strength, not love. Love was attachment, weakness. But oh how it had warmed her heart to hear of the packs who created life out of love and love alone. Little Kino, Mariana, Draven, each was a product of love she had the fortune to bear witness to. She relished in everything about pups; but her own? And running away with Aeus to have them when she'd just found refuge last winter?

The message was clear but the words still fumbled in her shaken mind. “Gent, I don't want to leave.” Every syllable was as sincere and kind as she could muster. “I just got here. I don't ever want to be on my own again.” Now her very heart opened itself to the somberly slouching black wolf. “I like puppies, I love them but... I haven't even considered my own.” Looking away now in thought, her head hung lower in silent apology and shame for making him worry so much. “I do like Aeus a lot, but I don't know if it's love or, whatever it is yet.” Would I even know? she pondered flatly. The whole ordeal was too much to really consider all at once, and it left her spinning. Did Aeus think that way? Did it happen at the same time? It sure sounded like it from the stories she heard. Forcing another few sentences from her mouth, the subordinate looked up again. “I don't want to be a loner again, and I don't want to try my hand at true leadership yet either. With puppies it's one or the other. I don't know if I could even handle the stress of being an Alpha,” she admitted with downcast eyes. Gent seemed prepared to do it, chasing it even. The notion caused a final question to slip from her throat. “Aren't you nervous about it?”

Her heart began to sink; following her friends eyes on their sorrowful path to the ground. She was trying to make him feel better; but outright lying to the man wasn't something she could bring herself to do. Puppies weren't out of the question forever – who knew what fate would have in store for the girl? Right now though, it wasn't remotely on the woman's mind. She thought her answer would have quieted his rushing thoughts, but it seemed nothing short of a complete denial would do. Accepting that she could do little more in the way of words to repair his depressed state, she settled into listening as the cracks in his ever-confident demeanor grew wide enough to let her in.

He was unsure after all. The woman's soft eyes hardened a bit, reflecting  the seriousness of this business. Internally she was impressed of how thorough he appeared to be in his consideration of politics and pack dynamics. Truly it was nothing she ever wished to get involved with, though her position as one of the pack's thirds was an important one. Some politics would inevitably find her at such a height; but not until more females joined the group. Raela's sunshine eyes thickened as the gears turned in her head. Tokino had not been gone very long, but there was no reason to mourn his death to the point that it weakened their group. They needed another Alpha, and their current one didn't exactly reek of confidence and strength; amiable as he was. 

She would feel better with Gent in charge, seeing as Aeus had lost his chance. Gent's temper had clearly simmered down since their discussion, and she was beginning to think that she would have an influence on his actions, Alpha or not, should he turn into a monster again. Here he was begging her to stay by his side; there was definitely an emotional and understanding animal under his icicle stare. Perhaps she could even advise him in his patriarchal endeavors, if he allowed it. The silence grew again, forcing the girl to extemporize somewhat on the matter. “You know there have to be mistakes somewhere, there always are.” Her voice flowed gently toward the swarthy wolf, expressing as much sympathy and concern for his predicament as she could. “Just make sure you never panic, like me.” Raela smiled now at her own folly. Just because she knew what she ought to do, didn't mean she always could. “Admit it to them and they'll respect you for it; as long as you waste no time fixing it.” The words were candid; spoken casually as a simple truth instead of some revalation. It was more reassurance than anything. Her mind drifted to the men he had to climb to get where he was now. Surely there was some resentment there. She doubted however that Minka would hold any serious objections to the Lieris man assuming the throne. 

Her expression and voice melted like butter as the next string of words formed on her tongue. “I'm sure not everyone is ecstatic that you're going to be an Alpha, but if it means anything, I support you.” Letting her words sink in, the russet-coated girl watched his reaction before continuing. “They'll come around eventually if you lead well, but you and I both know some desire leadership and leadership only. ” She didn't feel that more was necessary on the subject; Gent was no fool. His position was coveted and hard one – but he'd proved his capability.  Finally answering his first statement directly, the woman straightened her posture. “In all honesty I don't think it's too soon. We need another leader, and Tokino isn't coming back. There's no reason for the pack to weaken in his absence; I'm sure he wouldn't have wanted that. He probably wouldn't want the burden of leadership to fall on Minka alone either.” She thought to mention the herbalist turned Alpha, but it was unnecessary. He couldn't have bested any of those below him in his current state; it was seniority that handed him the title, and that wasn't enough.