That afternoon had started out like any other. Raigo had taken it upon himself to continue to secure the pack's borders, as was his daily routine. Borden had returned, but he had yet to do more than chance by his previous leader. Certainly he did not expect the old leader to assume his old responsibilities of preserving his pack borders. That was a possibility Raigo had passed out. Even now, as he lifted his leg and allowed his urine to flow freely over the base of the tree as a clear warning to curious passersby, he was having a hard time adjusting to the idea that Borden was back. Gone was the father figure who he had once looked up to, and while the transition was difficult, the sandy coated wolf knew that he would be able to adapt and adjust. That was simply what he did. Breathing in deeply, he lowered his leg, and padded away, towards the next one to repeat the process. But as he did so, he stopped, one fore-paw still in the air.
The reaction was instantaneous.
Tail rose dominantly over Raigo's back, and the hair along his spine stood on end. The roar coming from his body was impressive, especially for him. But the scent of the intruder, who had not even so much as paused at the territory borders, was enough to drive the second mad with rage. He had taken so much time to painstakingly patrol the Grizzly Hollow grounds, only for this to happen. Black nose flaring, he scent flight, long legs carrying him with ease over the familiar ground. His mind was racing wildly, thoughts jumping to the wolf pups who still happily resided within their mother's borders. They were relying on him to protect them. That was his job, his sole duty, and he had failed them at even that.
But it was not too late to make amends. His nose took straight to where he needed to be, and with horror, his golden eyes took in the sight. Arlette and her sister Trisden had grown - they were hardly small at six month's old. They were standing near each other, and clearly rattled. Beyond them was the intruder, a black female slightly smaller than Raigo himself. Growl escalated to snarl, and without warning the second swept past the two Grizzly Hollow princesses. In three short bounds he was between them and the laying down female. Teeth snapped angrily and body threw itself into an attack, aiming for the side of the neck. No warning was given - this intruder had come way too far for that. She would suffer the wrath of the Grizzly Hollow Second, absolutely no quarter would be given.
Lettie often believed Trisden was the toughest, and bravest of all of them. But it didn't mean she was invicible, and the wolf still out weighed either of them. She did not wait for an answer, a sharp growl that peaked into something more fierce snapped her to a standstill. Mouth opened in a gasp of surprise when she saw Raigo's brown streak of fur rush past them, and tear down upon the wolf. She was relieved, and worried all the same. What would happen now? Where was mom, where was Elettra? Fear prickled at the back of her spine, and she stood closer to Trisden. Could they help him? She didn't have to see Raigo was bigger, but she didn't want him hurt either not while trying to protect them.
<b>"What should we do?"</b> She asked Trisden, on the edge of running over to Raigo, or running back to the safe confines of the den. She was confident Trisden would know, she would pick the best choice....wouldn't she? </blockquote>
Sadness flowed in her. Sometimes being friendly didn't work, then she didn't know what she should do. It depended how she felt in that moment, today she didn't feel like fighting. She only wanted friends.<b> "Why you can't can't just nderstand it?!"</b> Rebeca wasn't ready to leave, she wanted to get this thing open. She haited to leave bad feeling swarming around. But how do talk to someone who has already decided that she was evil killer?
Trisden watched as he struck, dearly wishing to be big enough to help him, but she understood that she would have only got in the way. As such, when Lettie asked her what they should do, Trisden hesitated for a moment before acknowledging the only thing that they could really do.
Giving her sister a poignant look, Trisden lifted her head and sang <i>intruder! intruder!</i> to the rest of the Hollow, to give Raigo the support he may need. Faintly she heard the black female contest the treatment she was receiving, and anger bubbled in the young Lyall's chest again. <b>"Liar!"</b> she snapped, remembering how the wolf had deliberately bitten at the air above her. Fur bristling with aggravation, Trisden remained with her sister, watching carefully for signs of victory from Raigo, and for the backup she had called for.</blockquote>
A paw lifted from the ground as his head and tail shot up responsively; what danger could be lurking so closely and threateningly to evoke such a call, especially by a pup. Silver eyes darted to the direction from which the cry bellowed, and he was quick to notice a group of black birds ascending from the dying tree tops in the distant sky - a possible sign of some sort of scuffle? His thoughts shifted to the children, who he hadn't seen much of since his induction. <i>Were they safe? Where were they? Was it one of their voices calling for help?</i> The only way to be sure was to see for himself.
As fast as his thick limbs could carry him, the dark wolf took off in the direction of the birds, hurdling through the forest floor as though he were running for his own life. Closing in on what was sure to be the location of the caller, he picked up several scents: the scents of the daughters Trisden and Arlette, an unknown male scent (one that he'd becoming accustomed to in its mystery, as the territory was laced with old and new trails of it), perhaps of a pack member he'd yet to meet, and one last scent; one that was familiar. <i>Too familiar.</i> Had the black intruder failed to leave the forest, after he and Jaysyek had driven her from it? She was surely insane, but was she out of whatever mind she had left? Once again, and maybe for the last time, she'd made his blood boil.
A shadowy blur, the brute exploded from the forrest surrounding the wolves - two pups, a buff-colored male, and the stranger who had recently crossed his path. This time Jaysyek was not there to offer her a quick escape. Protectively, swiftly, and fueled by an intense distrust, Kade ran to the side of the grey and cream colored male, somewhat relieved to see the girls intact, and prepared to do whatever was necessary to help the Second protect what was now his home and family from a threat that he would not let escape a second time.
Teeth came together and met empty air, but the metallic ring to the snap held a menace all of it's own. The black she-wolf had rolled away, but Raigo had not faltered in his pursuit. Behind him he heard the howl of Trisden, calling for reinforcements. Not that Raigo was particularly worried about being able to handle this particular intruder, but the additional help would show the strong stance of the pack, and would hopefully make clear to her that the wolves of Grizzly Hollow were not there to be messed with.
Throwing himself forward, the second was more than ready for the upcoming bobbery with the she-wolf. This was his duty to the pack as its Second - defend them and its most cherished members from danger. What the stranger had been thinking was completely beyond him, and as she began to blubber away, he tuned her out. "Get out." He drew up barely short of her, hackles raised to make him look bigger and more intimidating. The intimidation only increased as the scent of the pack's most recent subordinate appeared on the scene - the backup that Trisden had so urgently requested. The two males had never meant, but Raigo spared no time on a greeting. He was there to help, and so long as the larger brute beside him helped him get the intruder off of their lands, he would be happy.
Snarls ringing loudly, the second lunged forward, not bothering with warning snaps any longer. If she turned tail and fled, he would sink his teeth into her thigh. But if she stood and fight, he would rip her shoulder to shreds. She would not leave Grizzly Hollow without a mark to remember him by, hopefully one that would keep her far from the well protected borders of the strongest pack in Relic Lore.
When she arrived she caught the same black female from the other night fleeing the scene. An annoyed growl rumbled in her closed teeth. There was something she didn't like about the wolf, and was glad to see both Raigo and Kade had answered Trisden's howl. A brief yet grateful look to the men of the Hollow, she was quick to then put her concern to both her daughters.
<b>"Hey, you both okay?"</b> Eyes softened, and her coat slowly began flattening when she stepped to inspect both her girls. A distance she saw no harm, but the encounter appeared to have shaken them. The mother's nose brushed against each one of their backs, letting out a soft huff, and she planted a quick kiss to both the tops of their heads taking a step back, while trying to draw her rapid breaths</blockquote>
Much as she wanted to help Raigo she kept back feeling he would surely scare her away. There as something about her friend she reguarded as an older brother who was unstoppable, and already she was ten times better seeing his familiar tawny coat. Some how she might have thought something could go wrong, as it always did for them, but it was the oppisite. Kade was next to the rescue, and took up to stand beside Raigo giving the message loud and clear she was not welcome. The coward finally realized she was in the wrong, and decided to go. It seemed sharp teeth had finalized this was no place for her. She took a step toward the Grizzly Hollow guardians, but she was torn because what if the loner came back?
Before she had too much delima the familiar face of her mother appeared on scene, and Lettie felt herself soften compared to the tight knot she had kept herself in. The familiar touch was comfort, and she quietly bobbed her head, planting a lick to her mother's chin. Things could have been much worse, and she knowing this, hardly felt bothered by what did happen. Especially now she was surrounded by four Grizzly Hollow wolves. She now went to Raigo, and bobbed her nose to his creamy chin in silent thanks, her tail wagging meekly when her eyes looked to his golden pair, asking if he was okay. She did not forget about Kade, and offered him a faint look of worry too.</blockquote>