when the pack had stabilized, or as much as it could, the sterling girl had gone east. she'd murmured to Aditya her intent and been off the next morning, for Sunny had been right. she moved with a single intent and thus made Easthollow after only a day of hard travel, catching only a hare to fuel her here. the borders had loomed, familiar, even after all this time. 

and now she stood here, making an effort to smooth out the hunched line of her back, to clear her pelt of any debris and appear every inch the ambassador she had to be, now. she did not allow herself any reprieve before howling, low and summoning, for the wolves that lived on the stone circle. call made, she stiffened, waiting then to offer the news that still pierced her heart with every step across the plain.

Valette arrived quickly, as if sensing something was off with the woman's howl. it didn't give her as much time as she needed to force herself into the image of a visiting diplomat, but it hardly mattered, she reflected dully. "no," she began, surveying the woman once.  "grayday is dead. an illness took him a week back."  to say that illness had took him sounded nicer, more detached, from what had really happened.

she'd didn't want to hear pity, but nor did she want to forge ahead in her message to her pack. she knew well that Valette's grief would to be strong, and thus she lapsed shortly into silence.

valette didn't offer her pity, and all Dawn could do was dip her head in acknowledgement of what she said, not offering anything in return. words were empty when death was concerned, in her mind, and she knew that the dark leader knew very well the weight of grief. 

"thank you - hopefully, we won't have to take advantage of your kindness." she knew it was a real possibility, especially with three whelping mothers. it would be hard, especially with the loss of her brother, but she did not mention that. "myself, and my mate, take my father's place. pema continues to lead alongside us." 

she paused, once, before venturing on with her next question. "after my father's death, sunny was consumed by grief. he did things he shouldn't have, and I asked that he leave, for a while. have you seen him near your borders, by any chance?" it seemed reasonable that he'd come here, especially after living within the borders so long. she didn't have to state the obvious - even though her brother was an over-emotional idiot, she worried for him still.

valette's response puzzled her slightly, but she only attributed it to some misunderstanding and did not press it further, dipping her head in the slightest. had there been any animosity between their packs, she would have pried into the woman's meaning, but merely catalogued it and moved on. she'd prefer not to take valette's offer, as kind as it was, but knew that her pride would only hold out until mother's started starving, should worst come to worst. 

at this she sighed, frown playing across her muzzle a moment. "so do I. he's hot-headed, emotional; and I worry he'll get himself into more trouble." she paused a moment before lapsing into silence, knowing it would be too much to ask that they alert her if he show up. that would be too much like him in their younger days, and no matter how childish he acted, he was an adult.

she dipped her head, grateful toward the woman she'd once seen as a distant leader and packmate, and now, an equal and an ally. "thank you, valette." with words were firm in their sincerity, her gratitude for the woman's kindness obvious. perhaps she worried to much for the brother that had left his pack and his position in time of need, had snapped when she had need of him most. perhaps she was cruel, for ousting her brother so soon after their father's death, forcing him away from his packmates and his lover. 

she felt empty a moment, just like when the grief had burned her hollow. but it felt wrong to dump her news on the woman and leave, and so she continued, "how fares your pack?" she had not missed the scent of milk and warmth, and so, "you have pups?". the ghost of a smile traced the outline of her muzzle as she looked to the woman, half hoping for good news to return with.