don't follow him

Though amused by the lone men that had joined him by the lakeside, Merlin would soon find himself quite put out by the others that began to join him. He found amusement in the lone green-eyed man, referring to their little party as a sausage fest. Well, it certainly was. And it seemed as though he was searching for someone as well? Merlin found himself unconcerned with the search of the other man, however, and instead focused upon the Poison Path man and eventually the two ladies that appeared. Of them, only one belonged beside the pack wolf, the other woman being a loner as they were. Merlin was beginning to feel the faintest inklings of claustrophobia. There were far too many wolves here, and these Poison Path wolves seemed rather trigger happy about this lake. Merlin bared his teeth faintly at the woman, dark eyes flashing as he smiled grimly, <b style="color:#a59f32">"Unless you own this lake, then our business is none of yours. If I meant any threat, then I certainly would have been far over your borders by now." Sinister joking accentuated his thick French accent.

Merlin was more than aware of his rudeness at this point, but had thrown all chances of asking questions regarding Arlette out the window. There were far too many wolves here, including two easily offended pack wolves, for him to feel the least bit safe, and so he merely took this time to fill his social quota. Except, of course, the Poison Path man seemed polite enough, and Merlin faintly regretted his rudeness towards the overeager woman. The man lowered himself just slightly, <b style="color:#a59f32">"I offer my apologies to you and your...Lady, but I find no reason why we, some mere loners, should be of any threat to your borders when they are hardly within sniffing distance. I am simply searching for a woman, Arlette, and if you know nothing of her, then I shall be on my way," Eagerly on it, he added, in his mind. His paws pulled him back, partially away from the group, knowing that, at this point, they would either give him an answer, or his face would be snapped at. He wasn't interested in an injury, and would make a quick getaway if an attempt was made at his life.

Dalton was glad to know that some of the company here had a sense of a humour to lighten to mood with his jokes. That put him more at ease at the situation of a bunch of male rogues happening upon the lake. This could have taken a much dirtier turn tor the worst. Still could, really. The youthful male seemed hardly interested in conflict, and only to quench his thirst. Although it shouldn't have by this point, Dalton was still surprised to find a dusty charcoal female bound into view of the four males. She was a smart enough girl to know she couldn't take off now that she had, so she padded forward and spoke the obvious answer of stumbling upon them and being too curious to pass up the explanation for their rendezvous.

The next female to arrive was clearly another pack member of the large wolf look-alike, based on his reaction to her appearance onto the scene. She did not seem particularly pleased about the small soiree that was accrete on their borders. They seemed to be being a tad overprotective, as they had all surely made certain to avoid the pack borders, though he knew his scouts from his pack at home would have also been wary of the situation enough to scope it out by now. They were doing their job, as they should, he knew. It was just strange being on the opposite side of things now.. him being the one of question rather than the questioner. Her look she gave him was one of seriousness and Dalton assumed that it would not be difficult to call for back up if anything went awry. He made a mental note to abort the situation if it looked that way even remotely. This was the last thing he had had on his mind that day.

His eyes flicked from one wolf to the another as they spoke, remaining neutral from then on. There were borderline too many wolves to be messing around with sarcasm any longer, in fear that one particularly aggressive wolf took it the wrong way. His nose twitched curiously when the brown pack male spoke to him and the first brute that had been at the lake. His eyes sparkled devishly at the thought of him speaking the name of his brother and it turning out to be him standing there in front of him. However, the handsome chance that this wasn't his brother was very possible. His pelt, his eyes, his faintly familiar scent, and his voice all seemed too familiar to leave good enough alone. Though, it had been years since him and his brother last said goodbye to each other.

His eyes passed to his scouting female beside him. Was this his subordinate? Pack member? Why would his brother be part of his pack, and even grown of rank when he had been sent for one job and one job only? Perhaps it wasn't his brother then after all.. He ended his internal queries as the first male had been speaking, and Dalton's ears flicked back against his head curiously at his offended tone. Although what he was saying was true, Dalton hardly found himself ready to back up the loner's point, in the case that the pack they had all stumbled upon was rather ambitious and adamant about expanding or viciously protecting their home. He eyed the pack wolves tentatively. The loners outnumbered them surely, but they were all one man wolf packs with personal agendas, and there was no saying how quickly other pack wolves could be called to the area.

Although amusing as it the rudeness in the french man's tone was, the male's tone dropped considerably at the pack brute's words, and mentioned something about an 'Arlette'. He watched curiously as the male made ready for his leave. Dalton would speak his business, but thought maybe he should let that wolf pan out his actions first. He watched warily, emerald eyes flicking to the easily offended pack wolves. Certainly the female would be annoyed by his insolence, however true his point hit home. He seemed hardly aware of the other wolves at this point, as no one else had made a point to be remembered.

I hope you guys don't mind the skip. I want to get this thread done with. Sorry for the PP, if there is a problem, please PM me.

At the strange loner’s comment to Namara, Ash had tensed slightly, one leg instinctively stepping out to take a protective step in front of his subordinate. However, when Merlin showed the slightest bit of submission, it was enough to cause Ash to relax. He truly did want to help these wolves because he wanted them far away from there, unless they had other business with him. Flicking his tail, he listened to what the first man had to say, his mossy green eyes sliding towards his lake before back towards the loner, a quick flash of sadness passed through his eyes before it was quickly replaced with what others called his “mask.” Clearing his throat, Ash spoke evenly, "My apologies…I am quite attached to this lake…and my pack has had many…problems…with loners in the past." He then listens to what the man would be looking for and at the mention of the unfamiliar name, Ash shook his head, his deep voice rumbling, "I suggest looking for her on the east side of the mountain if you haven’t already. From what I gathered a few days ago many wolves had migrated over."

Nodding his head towards the man and concluding he had nothing else to say, he took a look at the other male who looked slightly like him before glancing back at the other loners that had nothing else to say. They quickly took their leave away from his home, along with the man with the strange accent and watched as he too took his leave. Feeling more relaxed, but still not moving from his protective position in front of Namara. Some words Merlin said stuck out to him like a sore paw though. His…Lady? For some odd reason, he found the thought welcoming, but pushed it away in the back of his head. Looking towards the smaller male, he straightened his posture once again, not letting his thoughts wander too far. "And you? Who are you looking for?" The alpha narrowed his eyes, his posture tall and commanding the space around him. This was the male that had made the sarcastic remark and had left Ash with a slight headache. Now all he had to do was help him.

I think I've finally seen the light..in you.

Crap post is crap

"Normally, sir we would not be so wary but as your party here..." She flicked her tail at all of them with an irritable looking twitch of her lips. "Are so large that it makes one... wary." Her words were spoken with an air of dominance that almost dared one of these wolves to make a move towards her. She did not like Merlin's tone, nor the fact that he seemed to think he could pass their borders if he so pleased. Oh he could but he would never leave them and had he done so she would be washing blood from her jaws in the lake as opposed to standing by it talking. He was almost begging to be bitten, yet she would not act until Ash gave the word.

However pleasing the thought was of showing this wolf exactly who was in charge around here was, Namara knew she would have to wait. It did not irritate her any less however that his tone was so displeasing. She watched as the others left leaving but two strangers to deal with now. One for her, and one for Ash if things turned that way. An easy fight for both of them if Namara could trust her paws to hold her for she had not been any kind of fight since the accident. The greyish she wolf began to almost fidget waiting on something to happen. This idle talk was beginning to work her nerves to the point of anger.