Malice led them to the river, but it wasn't a long journey. They reached it within around 15 minutes. They were in the South part of the territory, she could tell by the looming mountains in the distance, the ones too high to climb on. Malice went into the river without hesitation, wading to the other side and climbing on the shore at the opposite side. 

Let the work begin. She joked with a small giggle, and made her first mark on the borders. After today, everyone would know that they were there, ready to fight for what they now called their own.

Perhaps others would find a wet pelt to be annoying, but for a dark-pelted big female like Malice in the summer, it was quite refreshing. Yes, it dragged her down a bit and made her look scruffy, but she couldn't help but feel good. Far away from her sorrows, far away from the places and wolves she so despised and instead surrounded by family and friends in a beautiful land to call their own. Perhaps only once in her life had she been this happy-and that was whenever Avalon and her had looked at the stars. She hadn't forgotten about the Moonlit Wolves though, never could she, and she wondered how they were doing.

Rubbing her scent on almost everything she could find and peeing whenever she felt necessary, she joined her companion in marking the borders. It was true that there was silent at first, but it was not the unpleasant kind. But she also didn't find it to be ruined by Aeronwyn speaking up and asking something.

They are doing quite well despite the long journey. Malice answered with a smile on her muzzle. Even Pyro, the little thing, is doing just fine. They are a strong litter, I can tell. Malice praised her kids. Though now she found herself curious. How have you find traveling with us?

Every mother has pride in their young, and so have I. She responded dreamily. To think one fortunate meeting at the Greatwater Lake had resulted in this was unthinkable. It was the butterfly effect, one that effected a large group of wolves. The Moonlit Wolves had suffered, so had they, and now everyone under the rule of Damien and Nemesis would suffer. How long had it been since the day she joined Burke? Since she met Cogitemus? Where was he now? Had he found another woman who was able to make drastic decisions in the blink of an eye?

She was surprised to hear Aeronwyn saying she saw them as family. She hadn't though about it like that yet, but since they were a band now, perhaps she felt the same. They traveled further and further as they talked, marking their borders better than anyone ever before. I am glad and flattered to hear that. Malice said. I never did apologize for acting so mad at our first encounter, but Burke never wants me to say sorry again. She giggled. You know, I bet the pups would one day see you as their aunt.

Genetically, Pyro and Vassago already had two uncles, three if she counted Avalon. Malice found females to be smarter, so why couldn't they also have a aunt? Whether they already had or not, she had no idea. She had never hung around with her brothers much, and neither did she want to think about it now. She was busy with the future, not with the past.

She nodded at Aeronwyn while she marked a branch. Aeronwyn was the only female they knew beside their mother, surely they would see her as some sort of family. You would? It would be nice to have the troublemakers in someone else's fur for a day or so... She said. Of course she loved the children, but they could be very bothersome-especially at night. She laughed. I believe you. She said. If she had known Burke had dropped Pyro in the river, she would have begged for Aeronwyn to be the father.

The two had more in common than at first sight. Malice, too, had changed because of the feelings of home, of family. Never would she revert back to her feral state, the state that the Dark Brotherhood and Lucifer Peak so admired. Her kids deserved a better mother than a feral beast, ready to snap at any given moment. If she raised them with love and compassion, they would turn out better than her- and that was her goal.

Their task of marking the borders was almost to an end, she noticed as she marked another lone tree. But their conversation was not quite over yet.

Other packs only bring trouble. You see how well it worked out for me. Malice spoke, but then remembered Aeronwyn couldn't know anything of Moonlit Hills unless they had told her in the Brotherhood. I had my own pack in Phantom Hollow before I got pregnant with Burke's pups. Perhaps it would have been better if I had never settled there at all... She explained shortly. But I don't think I could miss my family nor you now. The point is; it's better not to associate with other packs. Rumors might spread about us settling here, and those rumors could easily reach the Dark Brotherhood.

Not even Burke knew her whole story, for he had never showed any interest in knowing. Not that she would ever tell anyone how fucked up she had been. Perhaps, with time, when she would be around Burke's age, she could talk about it more openly; but for now everything was fine. Only Judas knew of her twisted mind that now had been smothered by love for her family.

Their talk had made the time seem to go faster, for Malice could already see the point where they had started. Spending time with Aeronwyn had been nice, but now she wanted to check up on Burke and her children. She was, after all, a beginning mother and she was kind of stressed about leaving the pups in Burke's care. 

Then please do not speak of our names, nor the land we have claimed. Malice requested worriedly. The reached the beginning, and Malice made one final mark to top it off. Their borders were now strong, and any loner who would now wander in here either had a death wish or could not smell. Our work here seems to be done.