The queen sneaked through the grass, leaving her stash of dead critters behind to hunt even more. With Cogitemus gone, someone had to get the food for the pack. They were a new pack, settling in Phantom Hollow, and they needed to feel home before they could go out in groups to hunt. For now, Malice and Sage would have to hunt the most, though anyone in the pack could go hunt for themselves to. Malice had already caught 2 little mice and a bunny that were finally out. Spring was really showing this year, and it felt amazing. Her first spring in Teekon was going fantastic, better than she had ever dreamed. 

Finally, she caught the scent of another bunny, and silently sneaked towards it. She was down wind, quiet and now saw the fluffy tail of the poor critter. Did it know that it was going to die soon? Could it feel that it's days were numbered? She hoped so, as that made hunting all the more interesting. Now, the thing noticed her and it turned to flee. But it was too late for the critter, Malice teeth already in it's neck, tasting blood. She shook it, ignored the last cries for help from the animal, before it died in her mouth. 

She turned around, going back to her little pile of dead things. It was enough for now, as she couldn't carry much more than this back to the pack. But something was wrong. The wind brought a scent to her, one of a lone male, too close to her pack for comfort. She dropped the dead bunny, her eyes scanning around her. Show yourself, now! She demanded, her voice angrier than her normal soft one.

The queen heard some rustling in the grass again, moving her ears to pick up the sound better. Was it behind her, left, right? She didn't have to wait long before that question was answered, as a loud voice broke the silence. The booming voice made her ears drop before perking up again. What an interesting accent though, had she heard it before? No, no, she knew no one with the same tone as this... guy? Yeah, it had to be a guy. Or perhaps a female with a very low voice.

footsteps neared, as well as the voice coming closer. He was making his way towards her, as well as her pile of dead critter. She protectively stepped over it, blocking the stranger's way so he couldn't take any of her hard work. Okay, good. She replied, this time a bit softer as the stranger had done what she had demanded.

The queen had no thoughts about running. She only truly feared the leader of the Dark Brotherhood, Burke, though that was only a bit. He was only intimidating, and she feared what he might do to her pack more than he himself. Perhaps you could say that she feared the future. Any other wolf she had met was... okay. Except for Cogitemus. He had stolen her heart, and just when she thought he was going to keep it forever, he broke it and threw the pieces at her face. She sighed, softly but noticeable. Where could he be? Dead?

Finally, she snapped back into reality when the other boy spoke, giving his name and a proper greeting. He showed signs of submission, which was always good for Malice. It didn't help the situation the boy was in though, as he was still on their hunting grounds and too close to Moonlit Hills for her liking. Yes, they were on neutral grounds, but as an alpha she could easily look down on the obvious loner. This wasn't one of her best traits, but it did protect the pack from trespassers. One unfortunate soul had indeed slipped in their territory and now walked around with no tail. The tail was hidden next to the alpha den, probably begging for a friend...

I am Malice, alpha of Moonlit Hills. Do you realize you are awfully close to our land? Perhaps he meant no harm at all, but still there was the possibility of him being up to no good. Or perhaps he wanted to join them, Malice didn't know. She did know however that being a loner was a though lifestyle, and she saw the the younger male was pretty skinny. Perhaps when the tension between them faded, she could be so generous as to give the stranger a dead critter from her food pile, though only time could tell.

Malice didn't think the stranger called Crius looked stupid right now. These were neutral grounds after all, but it just so happened to be Moonlit Hills patch of land for hunting. If the stranger wanted to change that, he would have to go all the way to the Dark Brotherhood to talk with Burke as this was part of their deal. MH would get this side of the lake to hunt, BD got the other. So if MH lost this land, they would starve or they would have to break their promise to their neighbors, probably starting a war. She could tell though that this loner wasn't scared of her. Pff, what a fool. If Malice didn't have a pack to take care of, she would've probably attacked by now, but she kept her cool. She couldn't risk getting injured with Cogitemus gone, even though they had a very capable healer.

He talked, now almost sounding sassy. This made her lose a bit of respect for the guy, but she was still too interested in the next part the boy said. Dark Forest? He had to mean the Dark Brotherhood! Which one had he met, Nemesis? Well, these are still neutral grounds. She pointed out and gestured to the trees a fair distance away with her muzzle. That is where we live, though these are our hunting grounds. We do not like loners taking our food, I'm sure you understand. I am not mad, not even a bit, at you, I am simply worried for my wolves. She said, a face showing no emotion.

A dark forest you say? Well, you must mean our neighbors, the Dark Brotherhood. The possibility of him having met Cicero, the one Malice still needed to thank for carrying a message to Burke, was small, yet it didn't stop her. What was the name of the 'creep' you met? If you don't know, please give me a description of how this wolf looked. If he said black and white with different colored eyes, she would know that it was Cicero. If he said a dark girl, almost looking insane with a red mark on her shoulder, she would know it was Nemesis. And if he mentioned a gray male with a docked tail, she was sure he was talking about Burke.

Moonlit Hills had a few spots open, and now more than they had started off with. Cogitemus and Renn had both left the pack without even saying goodbye, and their healer wanted to go off and start another pack all by herself. It made the queen sad to see her once loyal friends leave her like that, like there would be a new scratch on her fragile heart every time they did so. But she would never give up on her family, her true members. Even if at the end of the journey she would only have one wolf left to lead, she would not even think about giving up. One follower was enough for her to consider herself a worthy leader.

It seemed the boy wasn't here to hunt, he made that clear with 4 no's. Perhaps she had even wounded his pride a little, but his thin appearance had made her assume he was here for a meal. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. He also mentioned he was looking for a home. There were many packs in this area, even some that Malice knew herself. There was the Dark Brotherhood, but she was almost sure he didn't want to join that pack given his thoughts on Cicero. There was Moonspear, with a fine leader that she had met herself. There were their other neighbors, though they seemed a little closed off from them, almost like they wanted to be left alone. For short, there were lots of places the young fella could go to. Maybe even join Moonlit Hills, if he wanted to. Are you hungry? She asked, now with a little bit of worry both in her voice and eyes. If he was, and he wanted to join her, he could have one of the rabbits she had caught. Food wasn't really scarce this time around, the critters waking up from their long time beauty sleep.

Yes! She felt he had met the young boy Cicero! Maybe it was the faint smell of the Dark Brotherhood that clung to his own that had made her aware of it. Ah yes, the young white and black boy. Well, you're lucky you didn't meet the Beta of the Dark Brotherhood, she's totally nuts. The last part left her lips before she could refuse, yet it felt so good to say it. She knew better as to talk trash about someone, but Nemesis had kinda earned it by being so rude to Moonlit Hills' members. He continued, this time saying he had been lonely. No worries, you are forgiven. She replied, a gentle smile displaying her understandings on the matter. She had been just like him when first arriving in Teekon, and she knew how it could make wolves act. Loneliness is indeed not the best thing you can have around... Are you perhaps interested in my home? She added mysteriously.

The male seemed to be a bit slow, as she had definitely said if he was interested in her home. Yeah, she knew of a few more packs in the area, yet something intrigued her about the dark boy. Moonlit Hills is always open for wary, lonely travelers, yet you have to meet my Beta, Sage, too. She said, an inviting smile on her usual cold face.

Malice smiled at him and turned, her muzzle pointing now to the quiet woods that she called home. Come with me, we'll call Sage together. I'm sure you're going to like Phantom Hollow and it's members. She said, her head turned over her back to look at the boy. 

After whatever he still wanted to say, she started walking, slowly speeding up once she would notice Crius following her.