Steady had started out this morning, a day like any other day, patrolling and marking the territory. Unbeknownst to him, a stranger was en route to his borders with information that could very well change things, and it was unclear on whether it would be for the better or for the worse.

The howl that reached his ears was unfamiliar to him, but it was clear that he, and he alone, was being summoned. His eyes narrowed, wondering who this wolf was. He dropped his patrols in favor of this stranger, and made a beeline for him. Steady's head was held high, as was his tail. It was stationary, not waving in friendliness as it normally may have. But, he wasn't aggressive, either. He stopped several yards from the male. Can I help you? he asked, curiosity lacing his voice.

His ears perked in interest as the other male admitted he had a message, and matter to discuss. He then introduced himself as Sebastian, Pearl's mate, and it seemed he knew Mason. Steady instantly relaxed at the drop of the names, a soft smile appearing on his maw. Mason is my nephew, he said. Pearl was gracious and let a few of my wolves and myself hunt with her and some of her pack during the famine. He thought highly of the Alpha female. Though, if you're looking for Mason, I haven't seen him since the passing of his sister, he admitted. Maybe the message he had was from Mason? 

But, it wasn't. The moment her name was spoke, and Steady began to digest the information being fed to him, he felt like his world was collapsing all over again. He averted his eyes from Sebastian, and sat back on his haunches. He had thought Odette dead. He was glad she wasn't, but the fact that she refused to come home left his heart broken all over again. He didn't even know what to say in response to all this. He was angry on one hand that Odette didn't want to come home, but incredibly grateful to Sebastian and his pack for taking her in on the other. Whatever he felt, he knew nothing would change the facts. He would have to accept the fact that Odette may never want to come back.

Is... Is Stoic with her? he asked, finally, his gaze going back to Pearl's mate. He worried the answer would be no, since Sebastian had only spoke of Odette.

Sebastian seemed proud of his mate, as Steady thought he should, nodding in agreement. As are we, he replied. The pack worked because they had become such a tight-knit family in the face of the famine and possible death. They had lost many, but gained many, too. 

The good mood that Steady was in at the beginning of the conversation quickly diminished, though he kept his composure about him. The fact that Odette refused to come home hit him hard, but there was simply nothing he could do about it. Were he to try and forcibly take her back, he had no doubt that Broken Antler Fern would do their best to stop them. Steady knew it would only cause more problems, and that isn't what he wanted. If Odette came back, it would be on her terms. 

He nodded to confirm that Stoic was her brother, and frowned when Sebastian informed him that he had not been found. If Odette had spoke of him, Sebastian would have known who he was for sure. Maybe Stoic was still out there, somewhere, maybe found by another pack. 

Steady didn't like the turn in conversation, and his expression hardened. It's easy to judge when you're sitting on the other side, he said. His voice was matter-of-fact, void of anger, though he felt it. Though Steady respected Pearl, and Sebastian and their pack along with her, he would not try and justify himself to any one. No one except the Silvertip wolves knew what they had gone through, how they lost so many lives in such a short amount of time, and how they had done something they never thought they would have to do to stay alive. He knew the Wilds as a whole had suffered, but he would no sooner judge them by what they had to do than he would take the judgement from someone outside his pack. If this was what Sebastian wanted to do, Steady would leave him at the borders.

Looking back on it, Steady didn't think it would have mattered whether or not he did it in front of the pups, or had taken the meat to them and not told them who it was from, or even if they hadn't eaten at all. They still would have hated him for what he had done. Adeline was the only one who didn't know, but he knew one day she would find out, and she would hate him, too.

Sebastian's face told Steady he wasn't lying when he said he hadn't mean to be judgmental. While the Silvertip Alpha appreciated that, he still didn't want others outside of the pack commenting on it to him. Sebastian hadn't been there, and so he would never know the feelings behind what they did. Even if the other Alpha had voiced he wanted to talk about it, without judgment, Steady would have probably declined. He simply didn't know Sebastian well enough to open up to him like that. He nodded to acknowledge that the other male hadn't meant to sound judgmental, but didn't comment beyond that.

Steady wasn't sure if time would heal this wound for Odette, and he wouldn't allow himself to hope that it would. If he thought she would hate him forever, it might make it sting a little less when each day passed that she wasn't here. I would appreciate that, he said sincerely. He was about to ask why not just bring her here himself, but he refrained. Steady would walk the earth to get to Odette, if that was what she wanted. 

He went silent after that one statement, not sure where Sebastian wanted to take the conversation from here, if anywhere. Steady had nothing else to say.

Steady nodded in agreement. I hope we can stay close, as well, he returned. Though, he didn't feel he owed anything to the other pack. He had paid his debt to Pearl, and Sebastian had taken in Odette on his own accord. If he didn't want to expend the extra energy on her, he could have brought her back home, despite the pup's wishes.

Thank you, I would appreciate it. When Odette had ran away, he assumed she went and got Stoic and they ran together. It seemed that wasn't the case, however, and now Stoic was out there on his own, or maybe with someone, or worse. 

Is there anything else I can do for you? he asked. He wasn't really sure what else there was to discuss, unless Sebastian had more information or questions for him.

He only had to think for a fraction of moment before he spoke. Yes, if you don't mind. Could you tell her I passed on her message to Aria? He hoped Pearl trusted him enough not to need the confirmation, but if he had a way to get it to her anyways, why not?

He nodded his understanding. I don't like being away too long from home, either, he agreed. But, if... If Odette ever wants me to visit, I will, he added quickly. He still held a little hope that she would come around to forgiving him. 

This conversation hadn't gone as well as Steady as liked, and he only had himself to blame. He was so worried about being judged that he had forgotten his manners. Sebastian seemed to have taken it in stride, though, and had been very polite. He nodded when the other male pointed out that at least Steady knew Odette was safe. Thank you for coming to let me know, he said sincerely. He knew it was a long journey, and Sebastian hadn't really been obligated to come and inform Steady of Odette's whereabouts. 

He watched the male trot off towards his own home, waiting until he was out of sight to turn and head back into the territory. He knew the rest of the pack would want to know this new information.