looks like rain (aw)

It was ironic, that Jinx had wrought such a change in Akhlut and yet might never know it. It wouldn't have pacified her overmuch, he didn't think, to know that he was taking her words to heart. She would only be smug and self-satisfied that she'd been right. Only through long-term success and maintaining his hold on the reins of Horizon Ridge could he overturn her judgment. And although Jinx was the catalyst for his change, it had been a long time coming and sorely needed, and in the end had more to do with a change in his own leadership style than anything to do with his long-fled half-sister.

So he now veritably lived upon Horizon Ridge 's borders, making circuits morning, noon, and evening, and sleeping wherever his paws brought him along the way. In the afternoon, he swept his patrol inward to bisect the Ridge, climb to its top, and return back again, ensuring all was well in his kingdom. If his course brought him close to the den of Pied and Kisu, he told himself he was only looking out for the well being of what was effectively his second-in-command, though he was perhaps secretly hoping to catch a glimpse or a snippet of casual conversation from her as well. The more he considered the girl who was recovering from her whale attack, the more he wished to see her and be with her. He'd toyed with the idea of elevating her to Beta, to be second in command in truth, and his closest confidant, but something in him hesitated, feeling that Kisu would be affronted by this and might begin to question things that Akhlut had not sorted out in his own mind.

Instead he threw himself whole-heartedly into securing their borders, stocking their caches, and seeking out his wolves to reassure them of his continued presence and the strength of the pack. He intended to travel south soon to meet with the queen of the forest pack there, and further inland there came word of two other newly established clans. One of these trio surely harbored Jinx, for Blacktail Deer Plateau was formed of the wolves who claimed she'd abandoned them and surely they would not accept her back. In any case, he meant to establish communication with each of them, to assess their leadership and evaluate the strength of their packs and the character of their wolves.

That was a trek to make over several days, however, and he would not do so until he was satisfied that things were running smoothly at home. This fair afternoon as he began the border route that would take him until sunset, it was hard to even think about travel. The skies were glum and a slowly falling rain froze quickly after hitting the ground. Cold seeped into his coat and his muscles and his bones, and he ached like an old man before his time. Growling obscenities, the Alpha nevertheless took to his walking and his border marking and wondered what he might unearth from a cache for dinner.

Perhaps it would have bothered some to be ruled by a younger leader. As for Edy, he did not mind one bit. In fact, because Akhlut had barely been around, Edy had not given his leader much thought at all. He was a distant figure, though not one that Kennedy could say that he knew well (or at all, for that matter). Today, though, he intended to change that. While Kennedy knew that he would not be able to become the best of chums with his new Alpha overnight, he would like to at least chat with the guy a little bit. It would also help to prove that he was here at home, making an effort to do his part to keep Horizon Ridge running smoothly. Although his current place in the pack was nothing to brag about, he still had his part to do.

Akhlut was an easy guy to find today, and Kennedy tracked him down easily just by following the scent markers his leader was leaving along the borders. Akhlut rivaled Kennedy in size, but the Razorback was sure that his leader had quite a different personality. Not that it was a bad one… but he had simply sensed something about him that was different. Trotting swiftly, Edy soon caught a glimpse of the blue-eyed Alpha. Woofing in Akhlut’s direction, he hoped to gain the leader’s attention.

Akhlut is grumpier than I'd intended him to be in this thread, but it's fun to play him that way for once. :D

Kennedy could perhaps have chosen a better time to approach the Alpha. Despite the rain, Akhlut turned a keen blue eye on the dark male and recognized his presence with a jerk of the head that meant something like follow at your own risk. The black-and-white male was not typically in a bad mood, but the hormones of the oncoming breeding season had heightened his most feral instincts of territoriality against other males, and Jinx's cutting criticisms had made him more authoritarian than he had been before, and damnit it was raining and cold and he was sore and tired. Akhlut kept striding along his course, long legs and strong muscles carrying him quickly, silently, and effectively forward in search of a damp meal that was surely buried in one of their nearby caches.

Gruffly, and with the presumption that the Theta would keep pace with him (if he didn't depart entirely), Akhlut asked, "Doing alright at the Ridge?" It was his grumpy form of small talk, for he didn't know enough about the subordinate to ask anything else, and he irritably had to admit to himself that in this, at least, Jinx was right. His subordinates were strangers he'd met once or twice only, and he ought to be grateful they'd stuck around this long. Stifling a sigh, he slowed his pace to a more conversational stroll, supposing he couldn't possibly get any stiffer, sorer, or more uncomfortable in the freezing rain at this speed than he would at any other.

If Akhlut was threatened by Edy's presence, he had no reason to be. The meek (yet large) Razorback had no intention of trying to usurp his leader or do anything to undermine him. Kennedy had lived his entire life under the rule of his brother, and while he had never been particularly pleased about it, he had always known his place. Not once did he attempt to upset the order of things. No, Kennedy avoided conflict at all costs, and dreaded awkwardness and embarrassment. It was for that reason that he had slumped along beneath his brother for so long. Only when he felt he could do better elsewhere had Kennedy left his brother and birth pack.

Despite whatever his alpha was thinking, Edy did not seem to think him rude or abrupt at all. Instead, the Theta fell in stride with his nose at Akhlut's shoulder, giving him just enough room to lead them wherever they were going. When asked the question, Kennedy responded as honestly as he possibly could, “Well enough, though it has been quiet.” Due to his dislike of conflict, quiet was not necessarily a bad thing.

Soon enough, Akhlut Regretted his bad mood and his surly attitude to one of the pack's newer members. Kennedy was likeable enough, and so the dark Alpha forced himself to consider the male with a softer gaze. "You weren't around for our last pack meeting, but you may find it helpful to learn about our co-ranks. They're a way to use your specific skills to contribute in a particular role for the pack."

He tried to cover the co-ranks with each joiner, but they were typically overwhelmed enough that they forgot most of the details in the mental challenges of learning a new place to live, and new names and faces. Ignoring the rain that came down with a vengeance now, Akhlut dodged a rotted out log and said, "are you in introvert, or an extrovert? " Personality type would go a long ways in determining a suitable role for the male.

With the rain causing an almost deafening sound, Edy had to listen close to his leader's words. Kennedy was familiar with having assigned duties back home, although everybody had always been told what to do, rather than just picking themselves. It had worked out well enough that way, since it was usually obvious who was going to be good at what. Edy was often assigned with helping new mothers with their children, watching out for any strange behaviors in his pack mates, and being a confidant to his brother (which had to be some form of irony).

Akhlut asked if he was introverted or extroverted, which Edy could not honestly answer right away. Taking a few more strides alongside the Alpha, he searched hard for an answer that was the most truthful one. “More of an extrovert, I believe,” he replied. As awkward as Edy could be, he was always willing to chat with others who wanted to be talked to.

I apologize for this, but I'm going to fade the thread here since Akhlut will no longer be in HR or HR's Alpha and I'm trying to tie up loose ends. If you want another thread another time, I'll owe you a rain check! <3

Akhlut's mood shifted gradually to a more pleasant one, so long as he ignored the rivulets of rain that trickled down his sides and set him to shivering faintly beneath his wet matted fur. A smile curved the wolf's dark lips as Kennedy labeled himself an extrovert; Akhlut had been betting on the opposite, for he hadn't seen Kennedy to be a talkative or outgoing type as of yet. However, he'd offer suggestions for the male to choose for himself.

"Perhaps you'd make a fine Counselor, to keep peace within the pack, or maybe you'd be interested in interpack affairs as an Outrider, a diplomat, among other things." Akhlut's suggestions were midly given, clearly only meant to spark interest in the other's wolf's mind, and so they talked casually as Akhlut continued his guardian's circuit around the territory on a rainy day...