Though it be impossible, Cry tried to keep up with every member he held under his eye. While Kai tended to the unnamed female they had found at their borders, the birdfriend of the fae took to flittering off, and not too far behind it was Cry. Try as he might, he kept himself around the vicinity to ensure no vile creature harmed the bird that was so precious to his Kai. They had already had an encounter with a Raven; they didn’t need something like that repeated.

On his trek through the lush hidden paradise, the ebonian followed the bright blue Tula, enjoying the warm draft of air that blew through the trunks of the massive trees. Passing through both flowery meadows still holding onto the hope of their lavender and amethyst carpet, along with several paths of smaller steaks that were fed from the single river which flowed through the forest, Cry took the palace in with calm reserve.

It it was once he and Tula came to the unstoppable waterfall itself did his heart beat slightly faster. The verde and azure falls held every aspect of glory, crashing with liveliness into the pool of healing water below it, river thrusting fast and hard it’s weight below. Ripe for a dip, it invited Cry with the temptation of a wanting lover, roaring its delight in caressing him with those crystal waters. But promising the duet another day, he denied the falls and river his swim, choosing instead to walk the mossy line of rim around it. Dark pads eased over algae and grassy bank until something caught both he and Tula’s scrutinizing gaze. 

A red and white body, a stranger in the lands of Shadewood. Not fox, as it’s body was less than feline, but it held feminine curves and the pelt of a wolf enough as it was.

Wintry gems narrowed at the body who so easily came and did cake and did as they pleased in the woods, but he could not yet condemn this one; Shadewood hadn’t been claimed yet by him and his Empress. Yet regardless of such, he harbored injured souls here - should this stranger wish harm upon them, he would have to defend them.

”Hey” he called out, his voice carrying over the pools body. And he said nothing more, expecting this being to identify themself, atleast.  

It seemed the woods had tricked him; as she dried off and neared, the gloss of water retreated, revealing this one to be brown, tan in some areas, those the majority seemed to still be waterlogged. Meeting her gaze, he watched the submission settle before a puppyish jubilance bled back into her. Nothing too energetic, but friendly, and unimposing. She seemed nice enough. Though with youth cane ignorance.

Glacials settled across the jewels of the fae before him, her own matching almost perfectly with the waters she had just unsheathed  herself from. 

Dulcet tones crisp rips with a yearlings pitch ran over his auds as he listened and mused over her inquiry. He didn’t have a soft spot anywhere in his heart besides the crevice he gave Gwen and Kai respite in. Even Tula had a ledge which to rest. But this child reminded him of innocence. A child who hadn’t had much wrong cross their path. However, it was too soon for the assassin to make such a judgement. 

Onyx lips responded, his tone calm and baritone reflecting his age in sharp contrast with hers. Despite the bass, his murmur was only loud enough for the girl before him.

”I’m Cry. I’m also the one who plans to take this forest as home.” He chose not to mention how many he had, let alone who they were, but had this child passed his investigation cleanly, she might be given an offer few lone wolves refused. It was clear this place was paradise - but was she going to be given solace in Shadewood? 

“Who are you. And where do you come from.”  It was emotionless, direct, and clearly he wasn’t planning to let her roam through the woods unannounced and unintroduced.

A brow raised as he watched her amp herself up even more, even in the face of a male who clearly wasn’t playing, nor in the mood for it. It had been a while since he had come across someone with such vivid joy, and that relaxed him considerably. A voice less laced with the stillness of winter crossed her yet again, his own flag beginning to sway modestly.

“Alright then, better question -  what are you doing here?”

Was she here to simply steal their provisions? Was she a spy? Or had she come seeking a home? Considering she had just washed all scent from herself in the rushing waters of the river, he couldn’t tell whether she was of pack or not. The dark guardian wanted to be on the safer side of things.

Now has he been disrespected by her response, he would have had no problem culling the child and burying her underneath one of the gnarled roots within the Keep. However, he words paired with her stare sent a single message-  she told the truth.

Wolves who were shamed and untrusting did not peer into the eyes of another. This girl held him fast with her stare as his own picked apart every word and syllable to find some twitch that didn’t add up. But his resolve came when he figured the advantage of her purpose, had this been it. She was meant to bring gloom to this troubling and silent Eve. And he found no harm in smiling.
So he did.

”Then you are welcome into Shadewood if that is your calling.” 

And as he he stepped forward, towering over the short fae, he rubbed a dark cheek against her own, giving her the slightest of his scent.

”Welcome home.” He stepped back to watch her further. Inwardly, Cry hopes she truly would bring some kind of happiness betwixt the few he had saved; they had all gone through hard times and needed the refreshment. 

Just as he stepped back, he felt the air tense between them with electric fizz, and the assassin braved himself for some unseen danger the fae suddenly posed. However, the sand and wood hellion threw herself up into the air with a fantastic flip, landing herself back onto the ground with an unbelievable ease.

Blinking in dazed astonishment, Cry stuttered a bit before laughing. “Yea, you’re perfect.” The girl was quite the ball of lightning, and it seemed she was eager to please. He accepted her gratitude, standing still but loose as not to spook the zippy youth. 

“Believe it or not, I’m not one to fit the description of ‘Kind’. I’m trying to get a bit less... emotionless. It’ll take some time.” He admitted it, trying to reassure her meekness with revelation of his own fault. But was it a fault to be so aware? Serious? Relentless and remorseless? 

Turning to head further into the forest, he decided to introduce her to @Kai , who he knew needed more smiles than his overly protective self could offer her.

Though it would be a bit too soon to say how many they had, as she had just been inducted, Cry decided against his skeptical judgement. Crisply he tallied off his meager but modest ‘pack’.  “There’s myself, a female who will rule with me who goes by Gwen, and Kai, along with another female she’s rescued.” He gave the wolfdog the credit, as the speckled fae was who saved the dark girl’s life, not him. The stocky girl would prove swift to be a potent healer, a nurse to those cane to Shadewood’s capable border. And eternally, he was grateful for the silent child.

”We are also on slight peaceful terms with a bear,” He casually mentioned, but specified a bit more with “well, not really terms, just more of ‘okay, you exist here, I’ll exist over here”.

A chuckle left him, but inside he cringed at having a bear be their ally; he was still traumatized by the terrible event in his youth where he was mauled by a bear. That cross board of scars across his shoulders and back didn’t fade and neither would his perceptions of ursine folk. “And now, there’s you,” he returned to the conversation with a bit of recognition to the jubilant soul beside him, a twinkle in his frosty eyes. “So that makes us what, five strong?” He didn’t count the bear. Though it would take time to accept terms with the bear, it would take even LONGER to consider it a packmate. 

”Loyalty.” The word was so powerful enough as it was. It spoke to him in more ways than one, and it was what kept him bonded to Gwen. Such resolve could be enough to move mountains, should they need it. And they would, one day.  “And love.” They all needed it. Everyone was scarred and scared in their own way. There was no perfect life; Hell even Aerasha admitted she had some turmoil. And that said a lot.

”I personally look for those things first and foremost as they pave the way for unfaltering teamwork. Such a bond is unstoppable, Phex.” 

What did she expect from a Family? Wondering enough as it was, he chose to ask her. “What is it you look for in a Family, Phex?”

Now she may have been young, but behind that age lie a woman awaiting her roots to take hold. A smile graced his lips as the assassin noted her potential. "Then just be here for the Family, and every bit of that will come to play. That's the only way a family can function, anyways."  It was true, and there was no denying it.

Taking a turn down into the meadows path, they began to trek slowly through the carpet of flora that was mulched by prior season's fallen foliage. Apparently, the water and materials kept the flowers alive long enough to greet the pair of wolves, now. "I do truly hope this place is fitting for a pack; there's plenty here, food, places of rest, lack of extreme predators. There's not much that could drive us out," the guardian began. "I just hope it's enough."

Musing generally over the never-thought-of question, the assassin chuckled after not knowing the answer to something, for once. “In all honesty, I have no clue. I’ve seen it hunting fish with ease, but not too fond of many nuts or berries. Maybe a few bugs? But I’ve know clue. It’s crest is a bit regal though, the crown it wears. Pretty and blue, so I’ve just assumed it was a royal little fisher bird. Something along those lines.”

Turning to scan her face, he couldn’t decipher anything along her that would point that she was disbelieving in her own words; she meant what she said, believed it with seemingly every ounce of herself. And that made a stronger resolve in himself. He gave an appreciative nod, continuing in their journey through the fantastic home. “I believe you,” he said, no malice in his voice at the seemingly disbelieving response.

With a certain thought, he decided to try and atleast help her out as much as he could. “It is rather fond of Kai; your search could start there.”  The bird was a talisman of sorts to the speckled fae, and the two were often never far from each other. “She’s a spotty one here- you’ll know her when you see her. But fair warning; she doesn’t speak much, of at all. So might have to be prepared for that.”

With giving her her as much information as he could, the Phantom decided to leave her up to settling in, and departed with a “Ill leave you to it, then.” Heading back into the heart of the woodland, he chose to find more food to feed the growing mouths in the Keep.