Chan diligently tracked rollcall in his head with each face that appeared. They couldn't all teleport to him, but it was still agony to wait. What if someone got left behind, made even more vulnerable by the pack gathering here, what if someone else was attacked too?
"Wait, please," he answered to Nadine, dual gaze settling on her a moment while his muzzle bobbed once up and down. They would indeed be proactive, but more information from Adelard was needed first, and it certainly would be more than just pairs when the gathered group next broke up. They could be dealing with multiple aggressors, and so needed to prepare accordingly.
Chan, Lyall...
He moved to step closer, ears pressing forward to catch every word, but suddenly the russet face of his own child filled his vision and blocked his path. Addy had indeed settled
directly in front of him, clearly oblivious to what might be inconvenient or even inconsiderate about their actions. Something he'd grown well used to and did not find off-putting in the least bit. He simply lifted his head higher then settled it heavily upon Addy's crown while leaning forward, tucking them against his chest and regaining focus on Ad.
Who, very thankfully, was apparently uninjured. The scales had not tipped with this news, however. Things were still
bad, and he couldn't help but think of what had happened to Flair before... what they had lost because of one wolf's petty grudge.
"Did he smell of anyone else, could you tell?"
He spoke around the others best he could, trying not to be an impediment on Adelard's care, but swiftly came to feel that sharing his thinking with the group would be the most efficient way to move forward. He lifted his head and raised his voice a touch.
"We cannot let anyone else get ambushed the same way. We have to act as though there might be multiple unfriendlies out there. We have to act as a pack."
It would take a touch more time, but if it meant avoiding catastrophe, it was worth it. As much as he wanted to run out himself to find and rescue Towser, as leader, he couldn't just consider one wolf above the rest.
"We'll get Adelard and Riven to the infirmary, and have the children and their parents gathered there as well. Half the pack will stay to protect them and each other. The other half will move out to find and rescue Towser."
A lot of this can happen off-screen if/as you guys prefer. Unfortunately the Towser party cannot be successful, but a valiant attempt will have been made! Of my characters, Chan, Atara and Marigold will be going with the Towser party, and Addy, Ryder and Tin will be staying at the infirmary.
(This post was last modified: Sep 16, 2024, 05:24 PM by Atara.)