Sleep was fleeting, restless, and a creature of the night anyway it only seemed natural that she would be roving. In fact, in recent days, it was hard to pinpoint any set time in which she wouldn't be lurking around somewhere -- the hours she kept were irregular and seemingly random. Usually, though, she was busy.

She now spent more time than ever on the borders of the mountain. Duty resided there after all, and a quick rest and fishing endeavor just before sundown had powered her through. She moved through the forested eve with a simple trot.

In much of her time here, the borders had been quiet. No cougars, few wolves, and little else of note, so when the scent of someone else lingered, she was quick to notice it and zero in. Amekaze approached smoothly from the cover of the night and regarded the strange female critically.

Her minty stare may have been her sharpest feature, what with the dark and a concealed expression worn, it was at least painfully clear she was watching. What brings you, stranger? she asked as she measured up the other. Amekaze stood confidently keen here amongst this mountain that smelled so distinctly of her, their spire, and all they had come to be.

The dark-furred female had not been a leader very long, so could not say if she had garnered any reputation beyond the boundaries yet. Interactions with other packs had been on the slim side, and it was distinctly in her nature to not reveal too much to outsiders; frankly, she did not like them to know much about the goings on in the Sunspire. Inevitably, knowledge spread, and she was just left to wonder how much and how far. At least she knew she had not had time to gain a bad reputation. She had ascended quietly but certainly and insofar, kept the pack together and healthy.

Also because of the newness of the role, she was still learning. Amekaze had been a watchful follower and knew what she liked to see her in leaders. The goal had been to emulate this, albeit with her own distinctions in place.

I am, she answered simply, and took in what the lone female said. In doing so, she kept her eyes on her. For having been alone for a year, she did not look in poor health -- which already suggested she was a decent enough survivalist. Perhaps the Sunspire may suit your needs. You look.. well enough for being a loner that long, she smirked. As far as a home went, they may be just what she was looking for. Ame may be biased, somewhat, but she believed it to be a good home. What could you bring to us? For their strength was in their members. And what could I call you, since you already know my name? she asked, letting her stare linger curiously on the scar on the female's eye just briefly.

She kept her expression masked, though was surprisingly interested -- her name was Rain, not so unlike her own.. or rather the simplified version of her name she preferred. It did mean 'rain' as well. She chuffed softly.

Strength, loyalty, and respect, she replied, lifting her head up marginally and letting her tail twitch upwards, too. As a new Alpha, she was still working out how best to carry herself, and how much her presence could demand without needing to actually demand it. Her charisma was not quite the same sort as Ferdie's, but she was steadily sharpening her skills and understanding what felt.. right. Everyone within the pack had seemingly taken to her without major issue, so she felt it important to instill the same in potential new faces. Their pack could always use the growth, after all, especially with winter looming steadily closer.

Her ears quivered forward, catching the implications here readily. Mm. Well, tell me of your other skills that may be of interest, she said, striding closer and remaining ever-watchful. Amekaze could not say for certain, but guessed that an adult wolf of her caliber had some interests or preferred set of skills. Every wolf that managed to survive could hunt, travel, and guard to some extent. And your strength, she drawled through a growing smirk and lunged forward into Rain's space, pressuring her for a reaction. I would like to see for myself, she flung her tail up tall and was ready for what would follow.

She peeled back her own lips in an expression somewhere between a smirk and a snarl. While she did not fancy having her eyes met, nor the questions turned so easily onto her, she swayed her raised tail eagerly to enforce her position. Recently she had been feeling grim and wound-tight by the weight of Ferdie's sudden disappearance, so perhaps she was a dash overeager as well.

I see. What did you guard? she asked and took to fluid motion to circle the female in long, easy strides (for conversation in between action suited her well enough). Naturally she assumed a former pack and its lands, considering that she was a mature female who surely had at least a natal pack in the past. However, life took many different paths depending on the wolf. I have many skills, she quipped in turn with darkening eyes, although there was a hint of mischief too. I fight, defend, keep the history, watch the skies, and resonate in nature's energy.. among others, she spiked her own hackles as she explained. This was to say, there was a reason why she led, despite her inexperience in positions of power -- underneath her she believed the pack and its mountain were well-cared for; she and Jace were among the ones with the most honed skills, and just as the dark-furred Beta was comfortable where he was at second, she was at a growing ease where she now stood.

And so, to test Rain's reactions further, she darted forth with teeth first towards her nearest side. While packed with the speed her agile muscles gave her, she did not intend to do harm with the motion should she connect.

She was prideful of her skills, even if she did not consider herself a master at any of them just yet. There was time and experience separating her from that goal. Fighting was perhaps her strongest, or maybe just the one she believed came easiest, but she aspired to be a great naturalist all the same.

Nevertheless, she followed through as Rain spun aside. Amekaze danced delicately to pursue, while having to work her own legs out of the way defensively for the attack that came back onto her; Rain was quick, of mind and body, and answered appropriately with a response that satisfied her well enough: she was a guardian of many things.

It was the mention of a belief that sparked her curiosity. She paused for the slightest of seconds. Beliefs? Ame asked. This was mostly for her own personal reference and less about her rightful passage into the pack. Amekaze was tolerant of many types of beliefs (so long as they were not too farfetched, or contrary to her own) and liked the lore behind many of them. She then sprung forward again for Rain's shoulder, this time less with her outstretched jaws alone and more with momentum and the weight of her body behind it.

Even in a casual throw like this, she felt almost too alive. She relished in the experience and was enjoying this to be a show of skills of a potential comrade, one of her decision too. Amekaze's new alphaship was glaring to her suddenly. This was one of the first wolves to join fresh under her watch -- one that had no idea of the mountain before her, the second leading guardian of these slopes. But, this was also loyalty for her to gain all of her own doings. Insofar the Sunspire wolves once loyal to Ferdie had accepted her without challenge, and this was something different than that.

Anyway, she waved her tail and enjoyed the satisfaction of success while it lasted. All the while, she listened too. Sounds like logical beliefs, she replied as she watched the female circle her. Amekaze could not find fault in it; it seemed all parts of a cohesive plan to keep the pack strong. When Rain swung for her haunch, she was in motion, although left a swatch of fur behind--that caught by her opponents teeth and pulled out by her own momentum. Amekaze didn't stall, and had to prepare for the next move that this time came for her chest. She faltered backwards, backpedaling back to dodge as much of the bite as she could. Still, she felt the pinch of teeth on her scarred chest, not so far from where her sister had once seriously wounded her.

Rain outsized her, although not by leaps and bounds, and Amekaze would maintain this head-on approach now that she was letting questions slide for the time being. She snapped her jaws towards Rain's own, all while trying not to be pressured backwards much more -- for it was speed that was her asset, not sheer force of size. While not sure if she could actually gain ground this way, she enjoyed jaw-spars and would try to hold her position if nothing else.

She was never afraid to weather a few scrapes, cuts, and bruises all in the name of a decent spar. Perhaps she did like it more than she should for she even welcomed the injuries to a certain extent (so long as she could still function, she had no complaints) as they were just testament to a good fight. To her it only meant a job well done, whether she technically won or lost in the end.

Rain could move well and this kept Amekaze in motion. After her jaws snapped shut she began to wheel away, and Rain followed rearing up. Ame ducked her neck low, fluffed her hackles to obscure her edges, and attempted to absorb the brunt of it. She took a few of the bites to the backs of her shoulders and each left smarting stings behind.

But then she used this opportunity to whip her own bites towards Rain's haunches as she turned away with a buck. This was to possibly compromise her in any way so that she may sneak in what she could before deciding that this was finished; truthfully, she had seen and heard enough, but there was no harm in keeping this going for just seconds more.

She could feel her scarred nape beginning to protest already courtesy of Rain's bites. It was still a bit more tender than she realized, after a summer of scrapping with Swiftcurrent Creek wolves. However, now was not the time to dwell.

The second Rain disengaged from the spar, Amekaze slowed and settled her hackles. She rolled her shoulders, frowning slightly as she tested to see where exactly the aches were. Speed has always been my strongest asset, she chuffed and shook her fur. More stamina was never an issue, either, and she nodded. You have a great might, though. We should continue it, sometime.. she suggested with a friendly, albeit small, swish of her tail that was now no longer held so tall; Rain was officially a wolf of the Sunspire, by her thinking.

Now, you are welcome here as you please, so.. welcome, the dark Alpha said. Integrate and settle in as it suites you. She gestured towards the mountain, preferring to let the location do the speaking. My Beta is a dark wolf with blue eyes, Jace. You will probably run into him. Ranks are.. largely traditional; the smart, skillful and strong rise well.. she mentioned, but believed all of this was better learned in practice. She doubted Rain needed her to spell it out for her.