Swiftcurrent Creek Anew

Setting this for tomorrow, 9/02/2023 if that suits everybody! Can edit if need be <333 tagging @Ensio since he's with Sovereign, plus leadership @Arric @Akavir and of course @Arlette ! <333

The journey back to the Valley took about a week, with minimal stops from Sovereign at least, save for sleep and small meals to sate the worst of their hungers.
However, anxiety pitted itself within the youth's chest. 
What would happen if this went badly?
Where would she and Ensio go then?

Shaking the stress away as the two neared the borders of the Swiftcurrent pack, Sovereign took a deep breath to steady herself before she stopped with Ensio several yards from the borders, a move she hoped would show her respect and deference.
Then, with a brief llook to Ensio, she tilted her head back and sent up a howl, a polite summons for leadership and her auntie, if Arlette was available as well.

He had made the trip with her and then back again to the eastern most valley of the Teekons. With the remnants of the past quite literally buried, they could now look ahead into the future. He stayed true to her in his pledge, never leaving her side in their quests together.

If they were turned away, if things did not pan out for them at Swiftcurrent, Ensio would be dismayed. But not as torn apart as Sovereign. Her anxiety was justifiable, with her auntie Arlette living beyond these borders. Having just reunited with her, he would hate for them to be kept apart. No matter what happened, he would stay. They would figure something out if worse came to worse.

Standing at the side of the beautiful white young woman (whom he felt an increasing pull of affection for as of late), he tipped his muzzle to the clouds. Called out in unison with her voice, identifying himself in that Sovereign did not come to these borders alone. 

He wondered who would be the first to greet them.

Arric heard the call and heeded it. Broad shoulders, big paws stepping from the shadows. The girl rivaled his height, but he had a few pounds on her. Younglings two. Were they a paor? Awful young, but that wasn't a bad thing. Blue eyes assessing.

You've approached SwiftCurrent Creek. What brings you our way?

Then he waited, patient and unassuming.

Arlette heard the howl and was quick to be on her feet. Sovereign was back! She made her way to the border. She had been hoping for this day. Arlette had mostly focussed on her healer work, or watching her grandchild. She appeared to be not the first one to arrive. Arric was there. Arlette moved in next to him. She have him a greeting with the dip of her head. 'Arric, this is my niece and her friend. The one I told you about?," she hummed. Her tail wagging happily. She had mentioned it briefly to them that she had been in contact with her niece and that her and her friend wanted to join eventually.

Arlette stepped forward with wagging tail and greeted Sovereign. She then glanced at Ensio, whom she knew less, but gave him a dip of her head. "Nice to see you again too," she commented. She turned to Arric. Surely he wasn't going to make a problem out of this, right?

His Beta was faster then he to the call—which was pleasing, given Arric’s recent illness. It was good to see him up and about, but he withheld the pleasantries for now as he sidled closer to the group, an ear flicking to the direction of Arlette as she spoke of the wolves before them—a niece and a friend.

His eyes were unreadable as he surveyed them, tongue pressing to the back of his teeth for a moment, choosing not to speak for the moment—Arric had begun the introductions at the borders, and for now, he would remain muscle if required.

Sovereign smiled slightly as Ensio entwined his voice with hers as she called upon the leaders of Swiftcurrent.
Soon enough, a man came, shortly joined by Arlette, and then another, more silent.
She could not tell who between the men was the leader, so with some wavering of uncertainty, she finally offered her voice, attempting to keep the jitters from her youthful tone. 

"My name is Sovereign, this is my companion, Ensio." She gestured with a forelimb to her broad chest for herself, then to her friend beside her, "Um...Our previous packs disbanded, and we've lived as loners for some time now, so...we would like to join your numbers, if you'll have us...?" 
Sloppy! She privately chastised herself. 
The youth went through her mind, and eventually offered more, "I can fight and defend, though am still learning the art of combat as my primary skill, and am decent at hunting." She looked to Ensio then, for his own words on his what he could offer them alongside her. 
In her mind she prayed to her mother's Gods, that this would go smoothly. 
That they would be accepted...

That she wouldn't make Arlette look bad if the time came that the pale youth had to reveal where she came from.

Their wait was a short one. They were promptly greeted by a large man, followed by Arlette and another, silent dark male. Sovereign spoke up first, introducing herself and him. He bowed his head in a deliberate nod of agreement. "A lifestyle which we would rather put behind us. We seek stability." He explained. The natural look in his icy eyes was of a young man who had gone through too much.

Keeping his posture open and neutral and his rough voice measured, his eyes flicked across the trio. "I can offer my skills where need be. Like my friend, I am still learning combat and can hunt. I am also quite well traveled, should you be in need of a scout."

The ball was back in their court. He had lain out his offer. No beating around the bush or adding on any extra frills. Short, sweet and to the point.

Arric listened to both the younglings and Arlette. She seemed to be staring at him intently as if she were unsure he was there. And perhaps he was wrong, but it certainly felt that way. Should he have not come here? As the Beta, was it not his right to be here. 

He didn't know what rank she had held before, but here he and Akavir were the final say of who was allowed in. Perhaps he was just grumpy, that could be it. He still didn't feel real well, and honestly he just wanted to sleep and the more the conversation went on the more so he wanted too.

He listened to the girl and the boy and then dipped his head. I see no problems allowing you entry. Though we are vigilant in our borders as of late. There have been rogue attacks, so keep your eyes peeled.

He looked to Akavir, wondering if he had anything to add. I'm Arric the Beta. Akavir is our leader. A note of finality in his voice.

A head tilt towards the dark man.

A small smile to Arlette, though the tiredness was claiming his gaze. Arlette please show them around and get them settled.

Arlette was glad when Arric wasn't being difficult. Not that she expected him to be difficult. She beamed. "Of course!," she spoke. She was more than happy to show them around. She now noticed that Akavir was there too. She then turned to him, dipping her head. Perhaps he would have something to say about the two younger wolves joining, so she waited a little before showing them around the territory.

Arric had settled the matter—in truth, both seemed decent candidates for their ranks, though Akavir couldn’t help but wonder if Arlette vouching for them had swayed the giant more than anything else.

His gaze swept past them, offering a small nod. “Welcome,” he spoke, his eyes drifting to Arlette who seemed all too keen to show her niece and friend their new home. “Maybe take them to the caches, if they need something to eat?”

There wasn’t much more to be said on his end—the adept Healer was eager to grant a tour, and he gave a sideways look to Arric, withholding a small smirk. “Wanna patrol?”

The dark giant Arric, he offered his say in the matter, to which Sovereign's gaze brightened, slightly surprised but no less relieved and pleased, though it felt too easy, in a way.

Sovereign raised a paw to begin following Arlette, though she paused as her auntie did to catch the words of who she assumed to be Akavir, the man who now swept his gaze over her and Ensio with a welcome, and a suggestion to Arlette. 

The yearling smiled with obvious gratitude to Akavir and Arric, offering a "Thank you!" That expressed (mostly against her will) the relief and gratitude she felt for their decision to take her and Ensio into their ranks. 
If nothing else was to be said, the pale yearling would begin to make her way to Arlette, assuming Ensio would be at her side as she did so.

He felt more at ease as each of the adult males voiced their approval. They seemed solid, reasonable wolves, from what he could tell at first glance. Ensio would have to get to know each of them on a personal level later. Arlette would be showing him and Sovereign around, to settle in.

He exchanged a quick glance and a smile with his large white friend, pleased that this had gone off so smoothly. Dipping his head down, ears flitting back with a wave of his tail, he acknowledged Akavir and Arric. "Thank you both. We really appreciate it." A flash of earnest in his eyes. 

Warmly, he fell in step alongside Sovereign, with Arlette as their guide, to explore their new home.

Blue eyed gaze sharp and assessing watched as they moved into the packlands.

They seemed young, but decent and yea arlette vouched and he liked the healer. So he took her at her word.

He nodded at Akavir. Lead the way shitstain.

A small smile to the man.