Correct in her assumption it was information he sought, not only of Grizzly Hollow, but rather of all those in the Lore as well. "
You're wise," she commented, off-handedly but genuine. Ava used to ponder on this for hours at a time, if Rhysis had not intercepted her almost immediately on her debut into the Lore's territories, would she have been a Poisoned wolf? Would she have found herself perhaps in Swift River, witnessing first hand their betrayal and feeling the hurt it caused them? Would she have ventured further, to a creek where a pack no longer stood, or would she have gone
here in the first place and started a life with Kade long before now? Even more, she wondered if she would have even stayed at all. No matter how, she reminded herself, rolling the stone of an idea away from her mind. Whatever decisions she had made they had lead her to this point, and here was where she truly belonged.
"There are many packs, especially now. Spring is a dangerous time for a lone wolf to approach a group, but it is also the cause for all the fledgling packs popping up around us." Ava gave her warning in good faith; he seemed to have pure intentions, so she would hate to imagine him snapped at, but that was life - especially now. "One lies in the Sacred Grove - Swift River. They're quiet, almost secretive. Be wary of their border." Of course she was bias, but Ava had to speak the truth. The thought of going near there still terrified her (Marsh) to no end; when she would see her dearest friend @Ice again, she had no clue. "There is another group hardly very far from here, in the Willows. Two packs in the Mountains. And one other, but I don't have enough knowledge on them to even recall where they are." She did try, of course, to recall the scents on those wolves' pelts from the vast meeting of Leaders that had occurred not too long ago, but there had been such a haze of tense information being passed around in the Wildwood that she could not be bothered to remember something so trivial.
Cautiously she observed their surroundings, not used to divulging so much information in one sitting. Of course, who could harm her with the things she said? He could figure it out for himself if he had several days to travel around and sniff the other packs out - Ava was only being convenient. "Some packs are severe, strict with heirarchy," she said, thinking of the warring packs on the Mountain, "Ours is kinder." Such was her word. Delicate Sibyl and shivering Vel were not prime examples of steadfast, terrifying Guardians - but they had their place, and were capable of many tasks. Their gentler company was quite the different change from her time at Lost Lake, but it was welcome. "I only care that our members care for each other. Of course, we expect anyone bearing our scent to be loyal to us and better than useless. But I've found there is better unity in love than fear."
Those last words were loaded, so she lifted her chin ever more slightly as their slipped from between her teeth. More than anything she wanted a tight family, one where everyone was well acquainted and did their share and were happy, together. But a pushover was one thing Ava refused to be known as - those fantasies of hers did not make her weak.