Belle was no idiot. If she was to survive the winter then she would need a pack. One could call it luck that she'd come across a border after such a shallow search, but it was bound to happen with or without "luck". Belle kept around the border for a moment, sniffing at the clear line. There were several scents, though they all seemed to be of good health so this wasn't a pack that couldn't sustain it's members.
Belle whipped her head back and released a short call for the superiors of the land, her stance stoic and unmoving. She wasn't in a dominant stance, so to speak, but she also wasn't on her belly in submission. She was an honest woman with an honest request, and in her mind, that meant that this encounter would be fair game.
Valette was not normally the one who would respond to howls at the border. She felt like Steady was way better at it. However this time she did react to the howl, mostly for a selfish reason. After their talk she hadn't seen Steady and she wondered if he was just alright with his loss. Valette though this would be a good excuse to maybe she her alpha on a casual note, see if he was okay.
The young female trotted up to the border, her tail raised. She stopped close to the female that howled for them. "Hi, I'm Valette. What is your business here?," she asked curiously. It was probably a recruit but Valette wanted them to state it.
I'm Mirabelle
, she started, and I come in search of a pack. I know the science of herbs and I'm good with the hunt.
Simple, straightforward, just as Belle liked. She was presented with a female of a similar age group, she assumed, so even though Belle was in the obvious presence of a superior, she kept her neutral stance.
I'm also willing to learn. If those trades aren't what your pack needs then I'd gladly pick up another.
Pleased with her delivery, Belle halted her statement and awaited Valette's response.
Valette bobbed her head in greeting to the other. The young female figured she was looking for a pack, a home. They were a very family based pack but by what she could gather Valette felt like she would fit in. "Perfect! I could always use hunters in my crew," she smiled kindly. Her tail as still held up high. Valette quirked up her lips though.
"I believe that you can do the trades you want to do. We do need a healer," she admitted. Which was probably a perfect solution for them now if they would accept this female. Valette was not the strictest at the border. Hopefully Steady would show up too. "This pack's name is Easthollow. We are one big family really."
Oh? That's nice
, Belle replied, sarcasm just creeping at the back of her throat. We're one big family. That's what everyone said when things were going good, but let one thing go wrong and the entire spiel about being "one big family" was down the drain. At least, in Belle's experience.
So you're the alpha here?
Though it might have seemed patronizing, the question was genuine. Belle was wholeheartedly confused as to why their leader was so...incompetent. She looked smaller than one would expect, and from the looks of it, her border patrol skills needed work. Almost like a child, and a child's place was nowhere near the top.
Steady's head lifted at the sound of a howl, and immediately turned to head towards the border. He was further away than he liked, and so wasn't the first to arrive. His eyes spotted Valette talking with a stranger as he trotted briskly through the field, his gait flowing easily. As always, his head and tail were high, but he showed no aggression.
He caught her question as he came to a stop next to Valette. She's our beta. I'm the Alpha, he explained quickly. My name is Steady, he added, not forgetting his manners. He looked to Valette, seeing if she would give him a run down on the stranger. But, this time around, he didn't really need one. As Beta, Valette had the responsibility of accepting new members, should she see fit to do so. She could also reject them. Steady valued her opinion, and would back her up either way.
Valette smiled when Steady approached them. Her eyes glanced over him briefly before she nodded in agreement. She was about to tell the female that Steady was the alpha and she was his beta. She was not that much in charge of the borders she really let that be Steady's job, while her job was more of the lead hunter of the pack. Both important jobs which they could combine perfectly.
"This is Maribelle, she wants to join us. She knows about healing and likes to hunt," she explained to Steady. "I was thinking she would be a good addition to our pack especially with the knowledge of healing," she added and looked at Steady to see what he was thinking, and also as an excuse to see how he was feeling. If you wouldn't know her one couldn't see that she was looking for something more in Steady's reactions.
Belle smiled as the obsidian male came into view, a kind smile wiping across her face.Now this is more like it.
Immediately her posture adjusted to the sudden dominance of the male. Steady, he'd introduced himself as. He looked much more like the wolf Belle was expecting than Valette, but she kept that opinion to herself. For now.
Yes
, she quickly added onto the Beta's words, I've spent time studying medicine for my own pleasure, but hunting was a vital skill for me. I've been a loner for a very long time, so it was imperative that I learned both skills.
Of course, she was speaking directly to Steady, working to keep eye contact the entire time.
If not winter's shriek of danger, this Alpha was motivation enough for her to join.
I'm so sorry for the hold up on this!!
Valette introduced the stranger as Mirabelle, adding in that she would make a nice addition to the pack. It was really all that Steady needed to hear, trusting Valette's opinion of the other female. He gave Mirabelle a smile. I agree, we could certainly use your medical knowledge, and hunting is always vital, he responded.
Knowing prolonging this was pointless, he turned his gaze to Valette. You get to make the decision now that you have the authority. I trust your judgement on newcomers, he said genuinely. It would be up to Valette to accept, or deny, Mirabelle, though he figured he would accept her.
Valette nodded when Steady have her the final say. She smiled at him feeling proud she got to decide this.
"Welcome to the pack Mirabelle," she wished and then smiled at her too. Only if she knew the real intentions of the female's plans. Alas she didn't and Valette was happy to have another female in the pack, which might as well be a new friend. The dark female looked at Steady. Hopefully this one would prove her worth and stay loyal to the pack. They did have a few cases that didn't.
Valette was still curious about Steady and his mental state and how he was dealing with this all. She stepped closer to him and looked at him curiously for a moment. She decided to tackle him perhaps later about it. Maybe she could help comfort him again.
-END-
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