Sacred Grove no one's from here

...i have to LOL that the word of the day is mojo. XDD

As Borlla broke through into Sacred Grove, she could hear Marsh moving behind her. He'd given her a head start. A small, amused smile spread onto her muzzle. Chase! Chase! When it came to games, she was the best of the best. Even though he really had the upper hand, she'd gotten the head start. Tail curled lazily over her back, it waved like a miniature flag. Sure, she'd said that she could get herself home, but if he wanted to play, then she didn't mind. As long as he didn't try anything weird.

"You can't catch me!" She called, yipping into the trees. Fun-fueled adrenaline pumped through her, and in that moment, she tripped on an exposed tree root, rolling, long awkward limbs flailing as she did multiple somersaults. Another root stopped her, and she instantly rose, then crouched, watching for the quiet male. She couldn't see him, however, and made off again, giggling. Her trail was zig-zagging about the Grove. Why go home when you could play tag? Of course, assuming that he'd catch her eventually, him making her "it" would probably involve him carrying her home, so she just had to make sure she didn't get tagged.

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<blockquote><font style='margin-left:20px;'><b><i>ITS STARING RIGHT AT YOU WHY CAN'T YOU SEE IT</i></b></font>
Initiating the game in this situation had been a good idea, it seemed; Marsh could see her little tail wagging, and the excitement in her step, the joy at winning. She was too young to really press, to really challenge, and thus it was enough to simply let her win. Several times he came close, though, surging forwards to snap gently at the air near her tail, but then let her get ahead once more.

To be honest, he was more interested in the path they were taking; he hadn't yet verged far from the waterfalls, and now was running in a completely different direction. As they moved, he could sense that they were indeed coming closer to Indru's home; he could <i>smell</i> them, more and more. At least the pup wasn't bluffing him, and the little game of chase was going in the right direction. Were they following the river? One ear twisted to the side as he heard faintly running water. That would make it easier to find his way back 'home', and that knowledge gave him confidence, urging him on more, killing his inhibitions at leaving familiar territory.

But then - where was she? His mind had wandered for too long, and she was gone... but then there was the scampering again, the soft noise of her tiny paws on the ground, the sound of her breath, her scent trail clearer now. He gave one sharp bark, to let her know he was in pursuit again, but as his nose filled with Indru and his family, his mind wandered and his nerves grew. He could not leave the pup until she was definitely safe, but he was in danger of trespassing - if he wasn't already, it was hard to tell when he was concentrating on chasing a tiny puppy. Just in case the scenario gave the wrong impression, he let the gap between them grow another foot or two, and his heartbeat increased as he prepared for an inevitable encounter.
<font style='margin-left:20px;'><b><i>OPEN YOUR EYES BOY AND YOU'LL SEE IT SHIVER</i></b></font></blockquote>

It was the bark of a stranger — not a member of his pack anyway — that first alerted Indru to any danger or intrusion. The wind was halted and shielded by the Grove and any that had managed to break through was not in his favour, but though his nose was not the most useful now, his ears were certainly fine. He noticed it was not an aggressive bark, and if it was Indru decided it wasn't the smartest idea to announce your unfriendly intentions, but it still belonged to a wolf not meant to be here, which was wrong enough.

His once casual patrol of the borders was forgotten for a rushing movement to the source of intrusion and as he got closer the familiar scent of his youngest sister was there, sending a quick tremor of worry through him. He picked up another scent not long after, a male and a lone wolf, and it only took a few seconds to identify it and Indru bristled as he wondered whether his leaving impressions of Marsh had been wrong. Borlla! A sharp bark of his own broke through the trees as he called his sister too him, before approaching Marsh, tension clear in his body, what are you doing on Swift River lands? It was a stern inquiry, but not a threatening one at the moment, as Borlla appeared unharmed and the bark he had heard was playful. Yet Indru's movements were stiff and controlled, his head raised and his tail curled confidently over his head as he waited for an explanation.

Borlla was more than surprised to come across Indru coming after her here. Great. Why couldn't he just leave her and her friends alone. As she'd been running, she spotted him through the trees, and padded over bouncily to meet him, although she wasn't feel so bouncy. "Indruuu." Borlla sighed, deciding that it just wasn't worth it this time. She was sure she'd have to say something though, since her savior wolf didn't seem to say much himself. "He-he..uhm....I didn't go that far away! Just to the falls! He helped me!" There was no way around telling him that she'd slipped into the water. It wasn't like she was going to drown or anything though, or that's what she thought, at least.

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<blockquote><font style='margin-left:20px;'><b><i>BE ON THE WATCH CAREFUL NOW</i></b></font>
Was it good luck or bad luck?

On the one hand, as Indru's scent suddenly became a little more focused, as the sounds of a third wolf became clearer, Marsh was pleased. He and Indru already had an understanding of sorts, though much of the neutral acceptance was voided by the fact that yes, Marsh had managed to trespass. He had thought he was being careful but it was <i>so hard</i> when he was concentrating on the escort and he couldn't have been very deep - but it was trespass nonetheless, and upon the rightful challenge, Marsh acted appropriately. This was the other side of the coin.

As Borlla stopped to speak boldly to her brother, correctly assuming that her 'saviour's instincts wouldn't be for words, Marsh simply dropped. This was the cumulation of his efforts; the puppy was reunited with a sibling - the most powerful sibling, in fact - and thus safe. Marsh was done. But with that out of the way, you had the tricky matter of a lone wolf on owned land, and that would take a little bit more effort. Marsh didn't even pretend to be in the right; flattened his ears, tucked his tail and cowered, eyes fixed on a spot just below Indru's chin. <i>He was no threat. He meant no threat.</i> Borlla could explain things whilst Marsh gave the owner of these lands the respect he was due, considering that he had no intention to challenge them. Similarly, he had no intention to join them, so his submission was controlled, less absolute that it may have otherwise been. He was still his own wolf, for now.

How that fact burned.
<font style='margin-left:20px;'><b><i>AND NOW YOU HEAR THE GUNSHOT</i></b></font></blockquote>

Ahhh sorry! For some reason I didn't think it was my turn as I'm an idiot. My bad!

She was safe, which was Indru's main concern, and he took his eyes of the figure of Marsh quickly to lean down and sniff her lightly to check was not wounded, giving her a look that told her to stay close. Borlla's words, however, were of no interest to Indru at the moment, he could remember Marsh and their encounter where he had spoke of not being a threat so Indru did not think he would trespass without a reason. However, that was beside the point, reason or not boundaries had been crossed. It reinforced Indru's thoughts when Marsh submitted, showing he was no threat, but he approached him still, head raised and tail flung over his back proudly, limbs stiff and well placed and a his fiery eyes not leaving the male lowered to the ground. He stayed this way for a moment, using his size to loom over the other, showing his strength and power to dissuade Marsh of any challenge if the wolf planned to do so.

When he felt the point had been enforced Indru backed away slightly and though the tension lowered and the wolf would be able to shift to a more comfortable position he still remained the dominant wolf and his posture made that clear. Marsh. The Tainn confirmed he recognised the wolf, scenting him lightly and being able to smell the falls on him, Borlla's coat smelling of the area as well, her fur also oddly damp. What brings you onto Swift River lands without permission? His voice did not hold the amicable and friendly voice he departed from their last meeting with, instead it was hard and challenging, demanding an answer almost as much as his posture required submission.

Nervous eyes shifted between the two males, and Borlla was at a loss. She hadn't been all that far away, really. And it seemed her savior, Marsh, was the one in trouble. "W-we were playing tag! It was an accident." Borlla stammered, wondering if it was even worth it. Indru looked like he was in his scary mode. But she didn't want Marsh to get in to trouble...Did that mean she'd be willing to damn herself? Maybe.

"Marsh saved me, you know." The girl looked up at her brother, looking slightly uncomfortable, waiting for the angry attention to be turned her way. She didn't mind it much though, really. Probably because she was used to it. "So...You shouldn't be mad at him." She assumed that the weird posture Marsh had meant that he was trying to be nice. Borlla couldn't understand why Indru was being mean anyway.

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<blockquote><font style='margin-left:20px;'><b><i>COULD YOU FEEL THE HEADSHOT</i></b></font>
So Indru did recognise him, as Marsh had expected. Did he wonder if Marsh had been lying in any way? He tried not to consider that, or make it seem believable; when the lead approached, Marsh improved his submission, suddenly aware that Indru was certainly able to assert himself when he needed to.

That was admirable. Marsh had worried he was a bit of a pushover when they had first met.

The situation would have been improved without the questions, but Marsh had already half-expected them. Was it not how their last conversation had been? This, of course, wasn't quite a <i>conversation</i> as much as it was an <i>interrogation</i>, but it all required the same thing. Borlla, the sweet, infuriating creature, offered her own words as explanation. It seemed as though she was attempting to replace her brother's anger on herself...? Marsh didn't quite understand why - he had trespassed with no apparent reason, he deserved aggression - but the sentiment tickled him. The actual content of her words, Marsh agreed with, and thus felt it prudent to simply demonstrate thus; whining quietly, he glanced at the puppy and twitched his head, trying to convey that... well, he had little more to add except this:

<b>"Acks, accident,"</b> he muttered, wondering once more just how far he had foolishly strayed, <b>"did... nnn't mean - th, this <i>far</i>. She - alone, did, didn't... leave hhh, hh, without - family."</b>
<font style='margin-left:20px;'><b><i>ENDURE THE PAIN YOU BROUGHT IT ON YOURSELF</i></b></font></blockquote>

Half tempted to force the male of the lands before any resemblance of a conversation began Indru decided that while Marsh had trespassed he had shown he posed no threat and it had seemed like some form of an accident, though that didn't explain to Indru why Marsh did not use his nose. Also, from what he was gaining from Borlla, and now Marsh as he listened to him speak, was that he had done the pack some form of favour with the youngest Tainn. Borlla I am mad as he entered our lands without permission, this is dangerous for us as what if he meant us harm? You have to defend from non-pack. He explained, not facing her but his voice allowing no argument, she would have to have more teaching on pack etiquette for trespassing, clearly.

Attention now back on Marsh he sighed, rolling his shoulders as he thought. Fine. Indru replied to Marsh's previous explanation, his voice no longer as threatening but still not as friendly as before. I understand you did us a favour with Borlla? So I thank you for that. He turned his head to peer down at Borlla, annoyance shown clearly in his gaze and the frown that wrinkled his face clearly suggesting that they would talk later. Though next time stopping at the border's would be advisable. Though sarcastic Indru's words held a tenor of threat, he would not be so lenient if Marsh was to cross again, as two attempts at trespassing would not seem so harmless.

She swiftly opened up to retort, but from his tone, she knew saying anything else would just end in tragedy. Besides, he didn't sound angry-angry. What was the point in making everything worse? For once, she tried to see it from Indru's perspective. She supposed if she hadn't seen herself and Marsh playing tag, and then Marsh was in Swift River, that could be bad. But she was with him, so what was so bad about that? But if Marsh wasn't Marsh, and she hadn't been there at all...Thinking about it all made her brain hurt, but she understood it a little bit.

A grin spread across her muzzle, despite the clear annoyance on Indru's face. For once, talking had done something good for her, rather than just get her into more trouble. Although, there always seemed to be something when they got back to the dens. It probably wouldn't be any different.

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