After so many days of hunting and patrolling until she had not an ounce of energy left, she had gone high in the slopes to regroup. Alone, she had needed the solitude to gather her thoughts in preparation for the weeks to come. Especially since lately, she had struggled to find any sort of whole mental solace. Her thoughts were far too scattered in too many directions with too many different things to focus on. Inner peace was easy to unconsciously sacrifice for the sake of other matters, namely at times when so much depended on her.

Still feeling a bit tired, but calmed, she picked her way down from the upper reaches. Ame picked a narrow path and followed its guiding, until it was a familiar scent that touched her nose over the scent of the unseasonably warm, humid winds. She moved with a touch more haste now, skillfully maneuvering the mountain's terrain.

When she spied her, the dark alpha's tail waved. Welcome back, she whuffed as she closed distance across the rocky footing. While she did, her eyes were sweeping over Rain studiously. I am glad to see you have returned.. although her expression shifted when she detected a hint of blood, perhaps?

She had been waiting for Rain's return, and to see her back was a clear relief. But as the silvered female said, there was much to talk of and she wasted no time peaking Ame's curiosity by bringing up a matter at the borders. Her head tilted, and soon after, she nodded hastily as she grasped the urgency of it in greater detail when she learned of a someone else here, evidently. That provided an unexpected depth to this, but all the same, she would see to it.

Now more than ready to follow Rain to where this male waited, she was quick on her paws and continued to listen. Ankyra Sound? This is the first I have heard of them, and.. pets? she asked as she felt her hackles stiffening at the potential of an enemy. Their last bad blood had been with the Creek, which was not really a pack all that different from their own when it came to the bare bones of it. Amekaze knew some packs subscribed to radically different beliefs and practices, but to be an enemy of that sort was not something she had any experience with. Are they what happened to your neck? for she had seen the subtle trace of blood staining the sterling fur.

And with that, she follows, although winced and rushed forward with an extra burst of speed when she saw Rain falter. She recovered not long after, but Ame eyeballed her with quickly-growing concern..

To divide between the sexes was not a notion she could see the benefit of, especially when it came to treating the males poorly. Amekaze felt that gender did not necessitate a division, although was part of nature's own duality -- one without the other could not flourish as well. She scoffed softly beneath her breath, trying to wrap her head around this all as the story unfolded.

She swiftly found Ankyra leaving a foul taste in her mouth, all the more confirmed when she learned they had tossed Rain from a cliff. Amekaze bit back a rumbling snarl, frustration welling in turn. Truly, you are lucky.. after this, you should rest, she intoned gravely, feeling suddenly justified in her worry while Rain had been away with packs such as that out in the wilds. If they come here, they will be handled swiftly and I will suggest the wardens to keep an eye and ear out. The mountain was their fortress and Ame dared them to come here with complaints. She wouldn't go seeking trouble, or retribution of any sort. Rain had only traveled there to seek information. She could not have known she would find herself tangled into their mess.. Although as this.. Nishu says, away from the coast they may not be so brazen, she rumbled.

How far away are they? And to the North or South? She was trying to remember as much of the coastline as she could. Ame had been most familiar with Horizon Ridge's area back when it had been Akhlut's pack (in which she had nearly chose to settle) but that had been moons ago. I am curious as to what they will do, though.. a small smirk played across her features. Ame wondered if Rain's involvement irked them that much, or if they even suspected her survival at all, and before she could say more, she spied the figure of another wolf at the borderlands. She zeroed in on him, keened, with a confident stride about her as she approached.

After this, and after she was appropriately filled in on all matters, she would take her time to make her full considerations of Ankyra. For now, it was the obvious choice to be on their guard and make word of them known to her fellows. It was a start. From there, she would put further thought into it. She did wish to know of what Ankyra's distinct pack smelled like, just so her guards would be properly raised in case of any. Ame did guess it was a very female-dominated with the obvious overtone of the sea. This, however, was just an assumption.

With that said, and Rain's mention of resting when all was done, Ame would do her part to make this time effective. And the silvered female was right; already, she was finding this interesting. The full tale of it was sure to be much the same, and with a silent eagerness, she was readied to hear it out.

As they arrived in his vicinity, she focused on Nishu -- who was a sizable wolf of silver shades. Greetings, she chuffed first. Ame held her muzzle up effortlessly, and her tail swayed slowly above her rump as she looked to him. You are Nishu, yes? I hear that you may have matters of interest to tell me, she tilted her head slightly, studying. There was an undeniably curious glint to her eyes in an otherwise neutral expression. I am Ame, the Alpha of the Sunspire. She watched him keenly to see how this information would be received and how he would behave in turn. Although, she was obvious enough with the way she carried herself that he probably knew that already.

He most certainly had her attention, and while she saw him catch her eyes, he bowed as well, so she did not suspect it was out of outright disrespect. As contradictory as it seemed for one gesture to precede the other, she would have to learn more. Still, she was watching to see how he would receive her.. as it would dictate much of her response as well.

A Royal Knight was not a familiar title to her, and she suspected it tied into the contract Rain had mentioned. Which she also guessed was why he looked to her, since evidently, he was in service to her.. whatever that entailed exactly. Ame could make her guesses all she wished but hearing him detail them would be leagues more informative. It is. I wish to know.. all you may share, especially if they may take issue with Rain's involvement and how likely they are to follow through with any frustration, she said, letting the sway of her tail slow to a subdued metronome. And, she mentioned something of a.. 'contract'? What is that, precisely?

Certainly, she listened. Of religion, of the sea, of males serving them. Ame nodded softly here and there, with a look of clear concentration as she busily absorbed this information, right down to the details of their territory's access point, their fighting style, and their numbers -- which the Sunspire did outrank them in. She still stood by the thinking that should they make a move here, inland, that their might would be superior.

So I am left to guess that it was no blessing to serve them, judging by.. what happened? Which, I only know the gist of thanks to Rain.. that you were being attacked? she tilted her head. The reason behind this was unseen still. What are the odds they may seek to finish what they started -- to the both of you? she asked next. There were a great many questions and this was only the beginning. I appreciate your insight. I did not know of Ankyra prior to this. Which was saying something. She took pride in her knowledge and yet, the coastal pack had gone undetected.

When he stepped aside to tend to the dirt on his nose (which Ame had paid little mind), she glanced to Rain with a curious look. Then, listening on, she chuffed softly. Ah. So you devote yourself to her cause and.. then what? Do you seek out a new goal or..? Ame was trying to fully understand this aspect of a Knight and his contract. It sounded honorable, to an extent, especially the willingness to devote oneself to the other but it was still a strange, foreign concept to her and the culture she in particular had come from.

At least he took the good from it all, and she nodded in understanding. She was pleased that he had drawn strength from the situation, and possessed the mental fortitude to do so in the first place. Mm, that is my thinking -- that they suspect you are both dead. But, know, if they come here, I will be far from hospitable, she huffed. Strange that they would attack you without cause, though. Was it really that sudden? Had you even been with them all that long?

Anyway, she still had a long way to go before the depths of knighthood was fully understood. But his answer did paint a clearer picture, in some ways. So, I understand you have pledged yourself to Rain and all, and would this entail.. staying here, as a part of the Sunspire? she then asked, to get to the root of this. Since Ame, and perhaps even more, the Sunspire, held Rain's loyalty, did his translate at all as well? If he wished to stay closest to her, Ame deemed this likely. Or, maybe he did not want the affiliation. With winter present as it were, she thought this would be most advantageous to all parties involved. She would allow it, even if he did not see it fit to integrate fully. So long as her lands and wolves got respect, and if needed, his strength could add to their cause (such as, if Ankyra moved against them in the future), she would be most satisfied.

Ankyra was an enigmatic mystery of a place to her now, and she could not find a good reason to attack and exile a strong wolf from their ranks. Their loss, she supposed. He did not seem to be of poor disposition, nor health, so Ame didn't see the explanation clearly and was swift to deem the coastal pack's actions as downright bizarre. Hm, well, it is their loss then.. she scoffed softly at their poor management.

His answer was then about along the lines of what she anticipated, with Rain being his focus and the rest following. She could not foresee any issue with this, and so long as he was not trouble and would be around for the betterment of the pack, then it was acceptable. Fine. Even if it is not permanent, respect my mountain and the wolves on it and all is well. I do not mind where you settle, near the edges or not. That is up to you, she answered with a nod of her head. It would do him best to integrate himself as he pleased, for the effort he put forth would be returned depending on his actions. If many Sunspire wolves were familiar with him, things would probably go more smoothly, but time would have to tell.

With Nishu's acceptance final, she listened on about the packs. There was much to hear. When it started with the Creek, Amekaze felt vaguely uneasy at patching anything up and wondered who she had spoken to. Probably not a wolf that had lived there when everything had happened, so therefore, not a wolf Ame would know herself. The Creek is a complicated matter. I can explain at length later, she said. Although she was getting the sense that as more time passed and newer wolves made up the majority of both packs, the relationship was mending and some hoped for absolute peace, it was not easy to set aside everything with them just like that.

From there, the news was mixed. Some packs more friendly than others. She took it all to heart, although frowned at the mention of Peregrine; knowing they were territorial was little surprise. Amekaze didn't know him herself but had little of good to think of him just knowing he was Fox's mate by choice. So she had already long since marked him as company she was entirely uninterested in.

So it was an interesting trip.. and it sounds as if you covered a lot of ground, she said, still trying to pick apart all of the information and decide what to focus on. The nearest packs were of most importance, although the Caldera left her displeased (largely due to Peregrine attacking her, and assuming Fox lived there) and the Plateau was at least a positive encounter from the sounds of it all. I want to consider where I want to focus the scouting first.. and if any packs are worth knowing better before I send you out again. Plus, depending on how winter shapes up.. she replied thoughtfully, whether that meant they would need to focus more on the mountain itself or if the weather took a distinct turn for the worst. I will let you know. Her tail swayed slowly, and she smirked in silence to Nishu's words of a promised spar. Surely, they both could use a good, long rest.