Ragnar was not surprised that Verrine had agreed to come along on this trek, and the Viking had sought the Ridge’s newest (one of them, anyway) out specifically for his scouting experience; what had surprised Ragnar was Julooke’s desire to tag along. He had not given specific details at first, if only because he was still trying to gather his thoughts and more so than that control his territorial instincts. He had no viable proof that the annoying (as far as Ragnar was concerned) wolf of Silvertip he knew as Majesty had claimed the Isle, nothing more than a mass of scents trailing to the water’s edge to where they vanished either from crossing the sandbar the Viking had discovered or swimming. The things that Ragnar had discovered were enough to fit into the puzzle but it was not enough to say for certain and in reality, the Head Warden was hoping that Verrine could offer his opinion on the matter before Ragnar led him — well them, including Julooke — across the sandbar to confront the wolves themselves. He could not chase them from the Isle just because he felt it was too close to Horizon Ridge; as it was the small strip of ocean between them was not much of a buffer for Ragnar who preferred a wide berth of land or in their case, ocean. It would be too easy for one of their wolves to get caught in the tide while trying to cross and end up on the shore within Horizon Ridge’s territory — especially because there was no scent marker bordering the sea since that was entirely illogical. Up until that point they had no reason to think any wolves would be trespassing via the shore.

Ragnar inhaled deeply, the footfalls of his companions a small comfort as he neared the Totoka River, retracing his steps from the previous trip. “I had been exploring the Totoka River,” The name was officially butchered by Ragnar’s thick and heavy accent but he hardly cared at that point. There were more important things to worry about then butchering a territory name (which was not something he had much control over). “When the wind picked up from an oncoming storm and carried several scents my way,” He explained, finally, break his silence as he trudged through the shallows of the River, pausing to make sure they crossed safely before he led them forward into Sea Lion Shore. “I wanted your opinion on it, Verrine, on if you think it means they formed a pack on the isle, before I made any sort of approach,” He focused his gaze on the man before it flickered to Julooke offering her a small smile remembering her eagerness to learn his ways to teach his pups. “The scents disappear into the sea but there is a sandbar they must use to travel the small strip here, unless they swim.” He explained figuring that neither of them were aware of it.

His expression was stoic and contemplative as he stared at the Isle now in full view of him. In truth he could have easily swam the distance from Horizon Ridge but it was better, he felt, to take Verrine and Julooke the way he had originally discovered the trails. Beneficial for the Outrider. They served as explorers, as messengers but also as ambassadors and Ragnar wanted to be sure he knew what he was getting into before he went marching to their borders as one of Horizon Ridge’s ambassadors with his grim warning on his lips. “I recognize one of those scents from a male I chased out of Ravensblood Forest. He spoke of a pack called Silvertip Mountain and spoke that he did not intend to be there long. I suspect he has claimed the Isle, his scent leading to it is the heaviest,” Normally it would not have been Ragnar’s business, normally he would not have cared but the risk was too great, they were too close (as far as Ragnar saw, anyway) and his territorial instincts were heightened making him irate and willing to kill first, ask questions later to protect his family. The fact that the Ridge had not even been approached with the knowledge that the Isle was being claimed provoked suspicion and annoyance in the Viking. He was not sure of Pump’s entire feelings on it, or even if she would care but Ragnar cared. He was in charge of the pack’s safety and now he would have to have the Wardens extend their patrols to the shore because he couldn’t risk pack wolves traveling through their territory on the terms of an ‘accident’ because the currant had carried them further than they thought (and it could happen easily); especially given that the landslide had forced them to include the shore in their claim because it had taken up the bulk of the lands they had previously held claim too. "His name was Majesty," The Viking added coolly as if his name was something he had only just remembered, unimportant until that point.

He stopped where he had found the sandbar, the waves licking up against his legs as he turned to observe his subordinates. “If they have claimed it they need to be made aware that there are consequences for crossing to the mainland through our lands. The sea can carry you further than you thought and too easily could they find themselves coming into our shore. As Head Warden I will make my warning clear. I cannot do anything without Pump’s permission but I can and will make it clear that they are too close and that trespassers will be dealt with.” He did not mention how he envisioned on dealing with them because he had to clear his punishment ideas with Pump first. If it were up to Ragnar he would kill them for their crimes, it was in their nature. His nature. It wasn’t up to Ragnar and while he sometimes thought Pump was too lenient he had to do as she said and trust her to take his opinion into account and make the best decision, but he would push for his option because there were children. It didn’t matter if they had been someone else’s children, his answer would be the same. Children were vulnerable and it could not be assumed that the intent of the wolf was not meant to be bad. “Common courtesy would have been to at least inform Pump and I since we are the closet pack to it and have been around much longer.” Whether they agreed with him or not Ragnar didn’t care.

However, he was their Beta, and Ragnar had prided himself on being a fair leader (albeit harsh and gruff at times), on listening to his subordinates. “What are your opinions; your suggestions?” He asked both of them, letting them know that he would listen to what they had to offer him and at the very least consider it. Just because he was feeling extremely hostile, felt that he was well within his rights to be so, did not mean that he was correct on it.

Ragnar was a perceptive man and had noticed the jovial atmosphere that seemed to radiate off of Julooke and Verrine when they were within proximity of one another. In a way, the Viking understood it and brushed it off as simply being in love. It was not similar to the love that Ragnar felt for Thistle, if only because Ragnar was not playful and the love he might have pinned upon Verrine and Julooke was young (despite that they’re about Ragnar’s own age). It was too easy to get swept in the moment, even for Ragnar who would have described the love he felt for his wife as carnal; a savage love for a savage man. He spoke nothing about it to them, assuming that if the time came to approach this maybe pack — Ragnar knew it was a pack deep in the marrow of his bones but he knew assumptions could only lead to problems; and he didn’t fancy making an ass out of himself on the slim chance that he was dead wrong — that they would put the playful, lovey-dovey feelings aside to handle the seriousness in which the situation demanded. It was what Ragnar expected of them; and if they couldn’t he would send them away with the scolding of a father and the tenseness of a leader and handle it himself. However; he did not foresee that being necessary, he trusted them enough to believe they would perform to his expectations.

Icy, Caribbean eyes flashed to Julooke, giving her his rapt attention when she admitted that she, too, had met Majesty, that he had spoken very similar things to them both: that the intention to leave his pack at the time was clear. It might have been, should Ragnar not have been overly territorial and annoyed about the man’s presence in Ravensblood Forest that Ragnar might have found out about Majesty’s intentions of claiming the Isle. However, Ragnar had no patience and zero tolerance for his prayers being interrupted nor for the ‘everyone is friends’ approach that Majesty, if Julooke’s pip that he seemed nice was of any indication, seemed to take. Black, leathery nostrils flared slightly if only because the man’s nicety did not give Ragnar any comfort. The Viking turned his head to glimpse at the Isle coolly, his stare hard and vicious. “I think he is a fool,” It was a harsh opinion, Ragnar realized, yet it did not demean the truth of how the Viking’s felt any. “Regardless of his disposition everything in me wants to chase him from these lands.” As it was, Ragnar was not confident he could approach this as any real diplomat would, though as far he was concerned the time for diplomacy was well over before he it had even begun. Diplomacy should have been before the outright claiming of the Ridge’s doorstep.

Verrine, the Viking’s attention moved, respectively, towards his male subordinate, giving his rapt attention in turn, confirmed Ragnar’s suspicions and assured him (likely without realizing it) that Ragnar was well within rights to feel hostile. There had been moments of doubt, spurred by the consideration that how he handled things in Odinn’s Cove was starkly different to how things seemed to be handled here and Pump and him did not always agree on the severity of things; tagged along had been the consideration that he was more territorial than usual because of his infant children and laid up wife who could not deter from them for very long. He had a family and his protective instincts had skyrocketed to the Heavens, understandably. Verrine also suggested something that Ragnar had not thought about, too busy obsessing over the fact that they could be using Horizon Ridge’s shore as a path to the mainland (even on accident), food. Obviously, the Isle, as Verrine pointed out, would not hold prey big enough to sustain an average sized pack, and that the wolves of the Isle would be moving in on their hunting grounds to feed themselves. That meant less food for them and the children, especially considering it would be a while before the children would be able to hunt for themselves. Their reliance upon the adults of the Ridge was great. The fur of his shoulders bristled at the thought, nostrils flaring with the Viking’s ire.

A low growl rumbled in his chest as he considered everything, mind wheeling at a rapid pace feeling the urge to pace though he stayed stock still, his tail twitching in aggravation behind him. “I will warn them about coming to the mainland on our shores. If we catch them, apprehend them. Horizon Ridge is not a passage way and neither should it go unpunished. It is not our problem their leader claimed an Isle otherwise cut off from the mainland,” His instinctive answer was death, but because Pump had to give the final say he could not tell Verrine to handle it such. The Wardens would have to wait until she made a decision once they presented the evidence and proof to her. It was within the Head Warden’s right to demand any wolves that were not of the Ridge that found their way onto the shore should be apprehended until a decision was made. There would be no escorts. There was no alliance between the wolves of the Ridge and the Isle and Ragnar thought that Majesty had shoved his own paw in the fires by ensuring that even if Pump would have been open to the idea it would not be an option now. Of course, Pump had a tendency to surprise Ragnar so he was not sure how she would react to this news.

“Their hunting grounds should be restricted to the Gyrfalcon’s Keep and these Sea Lion Shores. I cannot tell them they cannot hunt on the Totoka River or Ravensblood Forest and we cannot extend our patrols to them for they are free territories,” Yet, he would issue a warning all the same. “but they were our hunting grounds first and it is within our rights to be territorial over them, is it not?” It was a rhetorical question but his eyes searched each of his subordinate’s faces in turn, nevertheless. “We have children to provide for, families. Maybe we will have more children soon. I do not concern myself with other packs, other wolves. My people come first to me; my power as Second in Command limits me. Pump makes the final decisions on matters.” As was her right as sole Alpha. He was aware approaching them without her consent would probably bite him in the ass, had accepted it even, and if, and when the time came he would take the fall and the blame without involving Julooke or Verrine who were only here because he had asked them to be as their Beta. “I know,” Was all the Viking offered Verrine’s assertion that it would be a big problem, Ragnar’s tone grim as death.

Tail twitched one last time before it stilled against his hind legs, throwing his head back and calling for one of the Isle’s high ranking, or even, their leader himself. Hostility bristled in his fur like razors along his spine but he attempted to dampen it if only because today was not the day to spark a war and even so it was not his place to initiate. Only to warn (and even then he had taken that duty into his own paws).

Julooke was silent and for a passive moment Ragnar looked at her, knowing that if things should turn hostile he could easily send Verrine and Julooke back to safety. Ragnar was well adept at taking care of himself in battle, had faced down larger numbers with less wolves for the Berserkers went out on raids in small numbers for efficiency, never bringing their full host when they went. The situation was annoying but hardly what Ragnar would consider daunting. He wasn’t afraid of these wolves. Icy Caribbean eyes moved to Verrine then when the male spoke offering something that Ragnar hadn’t considered. That Gyrfalcon Keep was hunting grounds to the pack that Majesty had left, and though Ragnar was not aware of how the situation went down, did not know the Silvertip’s leaders he could not help but feel that much like the case with Horizon Ridge the intrusion would be highly unwelcome. At Verrine’s observation the Viking grinned coyly though the grin itself held no real mirth but the irony of poor choices on their leaders‘ part was nothing short of amusing to the savage. Either they would be smart or they would quickly regret the choices made. “Stupid,” Ragnar agreed in a low murmur cast back to his subordinates though he no longer faced them.

The Isle pack had backed themselves into a tight corner with Silvertip Mountain and Horizon Ridge; one at their doorstep and the other damn near there. To be fair, Horizon Ridge held the claim of seniority. It wasn’t like they had both formed new at the same time, the Ridge had been a clear and superior presence in the Wilds when Ragnar had joined months ago and it showed no signs of going anywhere of that Ragnar would make sure.

The woman that somewhat approached the group, though she kept a wide berth which was a mixture of irritating (if because he felt the need to raise his voice and Ragnar did not often do that) and begrudgingly appreciated; smelled too new. As it stood, Ragnar was not interested in fighting with these wolves outright. Not today, at any rate. He simply came bearing a message — nothing more. It was about all he had the power to do without asking Pump’s permission first. The Viking inhaled deeply and let it out, canting his head so that the sun brought to the light the scars on the left side of his face previously held in the shadows. His position was not relaxed but it was not as hostile as it could have been, as the muscles in his body screamed for it to be. Presently, Ragnar had no choice but to entrust his message with this woman and hope that as it passed from her to Majesty that nothing important was let out of it. To be sure Ragnar already began making plans in the back of his mind to seek out their leader privately after he spoke with Pump about it. For a long stretch of moment Ragnar was silent, assessing, studying with the patience of a predator that had been at this game for a very long time.

“I have a message for you and the others of your pack,” The silence was finally broken by Ragnar’s soft, heavily accented voice. “Your pack is too close to Horizon Ridge’s borders,” It was a simple statement, his tone quiet but assertive because it was imperative she understand, that they all understood that if Ragnar caught even a whiff of them on Horizon Ridge’s territory he would rip them apart and throw their entrails back onto the Isle for their leader to find. “You will avoid coming to the mainland through our shore. If any Isle wolf is caught,” A devilish smirk had began to play at the corners of the Viking’s mouth. “And you will be caught, my Wardens are extending their patrols to cover the Shore; actions will be taken and lessons will be learned.” Despite his smirks Ragnar was far from playing around. His threats were serious and grim. “And you may have noticed but your little Isle will not sustain the pack it holds. Ravensblood and the Totoka River are hunting grounds for Horizon Ridge, have been hunting grounds for us before your leader ever came into these Wilds. My wolves will chase you out of them if they catch hunting happening. You might also want to be concerned about the wolves of Silvertip Mountain, too. I am sure they will not appreciate you hunting on their hunting grounds, either” It was food for thought, and either the message was received and heeded or it would be disregarded. Either way, that was on them. Ragnar did not care for any of their lives and liked to think that maybe next time some more sense would be put into claiming lands.

With his warning given the Northman fell into silence, watching and waiting.

For the duration of Ragnar’s little monologue/warning Julooke and Verrine remained silent though the Viking did not expect either of his subordinates to chime in though if they had something to add to what he had summarized he would not have stopped them or penalized for it. The woman spoke that she understood his warning, that she would relay it back to Majesty and then warned him not to take them as fools and bared her fangs at him. Ragnar did not outwardly express his irritation at such a display though it warred with amusement within him because he had already taken them for fools, likely long before they had even settled on the Isle. His opinion of Majesty had not been very high to begin with and now he obviously could not exercise control over his own subordinates as proven when she threatened them for trespassing when they clearly weren’t. They were on the neutral lands of the Sea Lion Shore lands that the Isle pack did not have a claim too. Just because they seemed to be using it to get back and forth from the mainland didn’t, automatically, make it theirs and if they wanted to get into an argument over territorialness Ragnar rather thought that Horizon Ridge and Silvertip Mountain would win it considering Sea Lion Shore had been shared hunting grounds as was the Totoka.

Given that both Horizon Ridge and Silvertip Mountain had been established much longer than the Isle they had every right to be up in arms over hunting grounds. The smirk that played across the Viking’s muzzle was a coy, beguiling thing and though she did not know it: it was a dangerous thing. Used to make his ire or irrtation unknown while he plotted the most effective ways to tear a creature apart limb from limb. Just as Ragnar’s lips had spliced apart to speak Verrine spoke up and the Viking fell silent, eyes never leaving the Isle woman though his ears twitched back unnecessarily to catch the male at his back’s words; and found his smirk twitching as he fought to keep it from widening. Verrine had spoken everything that had been going through Ragnar’s mind and so he did not bother for it was unnecessary to be redundant. “Are we done here?” Ragnar asked her with a charismatic grin though he felt like being anything but charismatic.

However, he had done what he had came to do and therefore held no power to do anything more. The warning was exchanged and it was up to the wolves of the Isle as to whether they listened to it with the importance it deserved or they didn’t and learned the lesson the hard way.

The woman than began to speak in circles around herself and though it probably would have been better to speak with Majesty directly than hope she relayed it with the importance it deserved Ragnar knew that he would rather not wish to have to speak to their leader again. His opinion of the man was not high. Granted, the Viking’s opinion of the woman before them wasn’t all that high, either. In one breath she threatened them, bared her teeth at him because they were supposed trespassing and yet, caught in her lack of knowledge she now offered the passage onto their turf. It was enough to make Ragnar want to snort with irritation and amusement. She spoke again in what Ragnar took to be circles around herself, making it seem like they didn’t have to power to make good on their promises. Technically, Ragnar hadn’t threatened anything. It was common wolf knowledge to not go trespassing into another pack’s lands unless you had a quantifiable death wish, of course. As far as telling her that him and his would chase them out of their hunting grounds if they caught them …well that was just a warning. A warning of what would happen if they were caught in the Ridge’s hunting lands. He would instruct his wolves to sabotage their hunts and it wasn’t really a threat if he meant what he said. Ragnar wasn’t sure what she didn’t understand about the fact that he wasn’t just saying he would do it, he would actually do it. He had no regard for them or their lives and they could all starve to death every last one of them and he wouldn’t care.

He did not bother to mention these things to her, however because he figured it would only prove to be useless and he had enough of wasting his time. Either she would passage the message along and it would be taking with the severity it was meant to be or it wouldn’t and the Isle wolves would find out just how serious the Ridge wolves were. With a nod back to Verrine he turned on the beach of Sea Lion Shore and led his wolves back to Horizon Ridge.