Arturo had almost ignored the weak howl. It was not far from his position on his patrol and as he knew it not to belong to Lotte or any of The Family he couldn't claim that he had much interest. If not for the fact of his alliance with Skellige and his pending alliance with Deirdre he probably would have ignored it but as the voice was not one that he recognized and the consideration that something happened to one of the aforementioned wolves he moved to investigate. He did not have a bleeding heart by any means of the word but he would not turn a blind eye and deaf ear to one of his allies. Fiery red-orange gaze burned as it swept over the mass of fur the color of spilled ink a few feet from his borders where the stranger had collapsed. The scent of blood was pungent, strong and coppery on the air. He smelled of a pack but not one that Arturo was allied with and therefore not one that the coywolf cared about. Instantly, his hackles bristled with hyper vigilance and his lips curled back from his teeth.

What the fuck? The instinct to chase the male away was strong within the Ceannasach. A stranger from another pack with open wounds collapsed near his borders? That sounded like a shit storm that he did not want his Family apart of. “Get up.” Arturo demanded, eyes scanning the territory that the male lingered in looking for any signs of an attack. No, he didn't like this at all. First, he was going to get the information that he could and then he would decide whether he wanted to chase him from his Family or not. Even with Furiosa as his red herring he had thus forth displayed enough power — which any guardian could do essentially — to chase unwanted wolves from his borders. He'd done it once to a potentially expecting woman and he would not hesitate to do it again.

“Why are you here? What happened to you?” What in the fuck did you bring to my Family's doorstep? was the unspoken question. He could have simply gotten attacked by a predator during a hunt or something, easily, but Arturo was protective over his Family and he naturally tended to assume the very worst case scenario in order to prepare for it; and he had no intentions of aiding a pack wolf he was not allied with.

An ear flickered towards Chusi as his daughter and Heir emerged on the scene. This did not surprise the Ceannasach and he did not oppose her presence. It was apart of her training as leader, plus it also served as guardian training. What he did not approve of, however, was her bleeding heart shown towards the stranger, a promise that he was safe now. From whom? Arturo had made no declaration that he was safe, nor that he would risk Teaghlaigh to take him in. “Chusi, we do not make promises that we don't know we can keep,” The smoky, deep, accented voice of the gangster was chiding as it was offered to his daughter. He had no idea who this stranger was or what sort of danger he imposed on Teaghlaigh. He was not from an allied pack. Arturo had yet to offer him sanctuary and he wouldn't — not until he got answers and only if those answers were satisfactory.

Olive arrived, to Arturo's surprise, on the scene and rushed to the ink colored stranger as if they were lovers since parted. And from their words this was that very scenario. Arturo took the information in stoically, unsure what exactly he was meant to do with it. Olive had not spoken of a lover or mate and this was unexpected to the gangster. Regardless of his connection to Olive he was not apart of the Family, nor an allied wolf and he was bloodied and clearly exhausted. This concerned the gangster. Greatly. His gaze burned upon the star-crossed lovers and thought of the one that he thought most precious. If it were Lotte collapsed and bleeding Arturo knew exactly what he would have done. There would have been no hesitation to do as Olive had done: rush to her, embrace her, assure her that nothing and no one would hurt her again, along with an added promise that he would find whatever bastard was responsible for harming her, hunt them down and kill them. And if he were in Olive's role and Lotte in the stranger's, wouldn't he look to his leader to trust him and accept Lotte in? The problem was Arturo knew he would have. Acting like he wouldn't would be hyprocritical. Nevertheless, Arturo took a deep breath as he listened to the words the male offered him, giving him his intense attention, for the moment determined to focus upon the male as opposed to the women.

“You have expatriated yourself from this ...Blackfeather Woods,” Arturo spoke, breaking his silence. “and they have attacked you for it,” This was where he had his ...concerns. “Clearly they do not take desertion well,” It seemed that banishment was not favorable else they would have let him leave simply put. “What is to say that they have not followed you? That they will not hunt you down? That they will not come for you?” This consideration clashed viciously within Arturo as he looked, then to Olive. “I trust Olive impeccably. She is apart of my Family,” He admitted slowly, lifting his muzzle. “but you, I do not know. Can you tell me for sure that you were not followed? That they will not bring war to our home? That they will not hurt our Family for you?” Sure, a war with the Depth wolves beside them was a war they had a better chance of winning but Teaghlaigh was still an infant and he would not risk The Family's safety. This was what troubled him and he wanted answers before he decided anything.

“Chusi,” Arturo warned her not bothering to elaborate because he knew she was a very smart girl and that she would know what he was silently warning her of without him needing to explain it. They had talked about this and if she could not learn to listen to him then he would demote her accordingly. Arturo did not want to have to be that father but he could not have a rebellious heir running around making promises to strangers that she had no authority to make. She was learning but he wondered if she would ever truly learn if she insisted on stepping over him. That was not what she had promised him when she had accepted the offer to become his apprentice and his disapproval was in the terse set of his lips. His daughter pleaded with him to not break them out, pleaded their case but in the end Arturo would do what he felt was right for the family whether it was popular opinion or not. If he had brought death and war to Teaghlaigh's doorstep then no: he would not be welcome. Chusi was young, and obviously had a bleeding heart. Strange for one that so fiercely sought to be a warrior. She would learn. She had a trying life up until he adopted her, admittedly, but she would learn the true cruelties of the real world someday. It looked to Arturo like they would be having another conversation about it — and that perhaps his daughter might not like it. Nevertheless, the dark male spoke in response and Arturo refocused his attention to the present as opposed to the future. As Dakari told it he hadn't actually been apart of their ranks — Arturo compared this to the Comhlach rank — and was reassured that the leader wouldn't risk his wolves for an ...associate. Arturo wouldn't and he took that at face value. “Good,” That was satisfactory but admittedly not all that Arturo was interested in. “What skills do you have to offer Teaghlaigh?” He inquired next, hoping that Chusi was paying attention to how he approached this (even if she did not agree with his stoic and distanced methods).

Arturo studied the wounded, ink colored male with undecipherable eyes, listening as he spoke of his skills. Olive's brazen question, as if he'd already made his decision, drew the ferocity of his gaze to her. Olive was right: his wounds would likely fester if unchecked and that presented a problem, didn't it? How long would Dakarai be out of commission? Winter was coming and Arturo didn't like the idea of Isley using her stores on someone who wasn't apart of The Family. For the moment, Ceannasach ignored Olive because he wasn't done and he didn't appreciate the assumption that Dakarai was accepted and that it was concluded. Her star crossed lover or not Arturo did not know him and like every one that came to Teaghlaigh's borders he would be an Associate until he proved himself worthy and earned the trust and respect of The Family. For a moment, Arturo let his worries fester about the two, before his gaze slid back to Dakarai as the male nuzzled Olive's neck. The gangster cleared his throat. There was time for affectionate gestures and cuddles but a business meeting? Wasn't one of those times.

He understood that Olive had never seen him work the borders, nor handle those who sought to join before but this was how he conducted business with non-Family. It was serious, pragmatic, professional and at times it was harsh. The Arturo that Associates and wolves outside of The Family (and alliances) knew was not nearly as warm as the Arturo that everyone else knew. The difference was easy for Arturo to make: there was the outsiders and then there was The Family: plain and simple. “You have a right to know what you ask to join. We are a Family. We are extremely territorial and we take care of our own, understand?” Arturo asked, the smoky timbre of his deep, accented voice weaving through the distance between him and the lovers. “There are two main laws that everyone, Family and Associates alike are expected to obey and enforce: The Ceannasach's Word is Law,” Arturo's tongue drew across his jowls. “and The Family before Everything Else. Failure to follow them will see due punishment decided by The Family.” What the deciding factor would be he couldn't say. It differed from case to case and he had a strong group whose opinions differed from one another in a way that was well balanced.

“If you can accept those rules then you are welcomed as a Comhlach — an Associate of The Family. This is the rank you will hold until you prove yourself to The Family and are officially welcomed into our ranks. Get your wounds tended to by Isley, become acquainted with the The Family, and once your wounds are healed enough your final task is to track a herd — any herd will do — for a pack hunt.” Arturo told him. With his peace spoken he drew nearer to the pair to — whilst being mindful of the male's wounds — rub his scent against Dakarai so that all would know he was their newest Comhlach. “Come on, let's get you inside the borders so Isley can take a look at you.” Arturo encouraged unwilling to let anyone linger outside the safety of Teaghlaigh's borders. Though Dakarai vowed that the Blackfeather wolves would not come hunting for him it was not a risk Arturo was willing to take regardless.

Arturo dipped his head to Olive as she thanked him with a grin. His lips twitched ever so slightly but the distanced gangster's eyes did soften as he looked to her. Dakarai's connection to Olive certainly had a little pull especially since he'd been debating, initially, whether to chase him out or put him out of his misery all together. In the end, only Dakarai could decide what happened. If he cared for Olive he would do what it took to complete the task that Arturo set for him and he would integrate himself into The Family. And if he didn't well...he didn't. Dakarai made grand promises and Arturo hoped, for Olive's sake, that he could keep them. He nodded but did not comment further. Comhlach was not a true acceptance into The Family and Dakarai had his work cut out for him. What he did with it was up to him and Arturo would not interfere further lest he was needed, but he deigned to keep a watchful eye on him as he did the other two Comhlach's. “Make sure he meets Furiosa.” He advised Olive. “When you meet our Póilín be respectful, do as she says. Answer her questions honestly and you should be fine.” Arturo offered to Dakarai as he made sure that Olive was able to help him into the borders. He did not offer a tour as it was obvious that the ink coated male was in no condition for it, figuring that when he was well enough Olive would probably tend to that. Once he was assured they were settled and well he beckoned for Chusi to follow him on the rest of his patrol though he did not pressure his young daughter either way.