Moonspear call me a thief

It had been a few hours since Hydra had led Frøya away from Big Salmon Lake and accepted her into Moonspear territory. The dark furred female had spent a short time exploring, scenting out the numerous paths that weaved their way through the vast mountain range. She would get time to properly explore them at a later time, but for now, with dusk swiftly approaching with the setting sun Frøya had set her mind to digging out a private den for herself. 

Being the newest member of the large pack, she felt uneasy sleeping amongst the others having not yet had the time to properly introduce herself to each of them. So she wandered part way down the mountain slopes into the Netherwoods, the shadowy woodlands which edged onto the rockier heights of the mountain. 

Loping between the maze of tall conifer trees, her long legs brushed confidently through the carpet of ferns, moss and tangle of creeping vines as she sought out a suitable den site. The scent of another creature in the breeze caught her attention suddenly, and her nose quickly guided her to the secluded entrance of a small fox den. A hole had been dug down between the roots of two neighbouring conifer trees, their overlapping roots and closely positioned trunks providing ample shelter and protection from the elements. Frøya crept closer, sniffing the small fox den with interest. 

Poking her head into the dark entrance of the den, she attempted to determine if the den was still inhabited. A growl rumbled up from the gloom, causing the dark wolf step back, lift her head, and prick her ears up in surprise. It seemed that the fox would need to be evicted before Frøya could steal the den for herself.

Word could travel fast for the right sorts of curious ears. It didn't take all too long for Antares to catch wind of the new recruit his mother had found in the flatlands. He was spending a lot of his time prowling the borderlands this week anyway (since there was enough of interest to keep watch for, and enough motion within Moonspear to warrant it), but for the right other threads of motivation, the shadow angled back up the slopes on the trail.

The forests shifted around him and he took their turns in stride. With a little time, and after he eased back into a slinking trot, he found his route to pay off in full..maybe, with interest. It was too soon to say, but he slowed down further the closer to her he came. It looked like she was busy with something there in the crook of the earth..? He hung back with an interested, alert look, and approached slowly--a wiggling nose first, as he gauged the new stranger first, as well how he must step into this encounter.

Frøya did her best to reach her head further into the burrow, but the snarling fox remain out of reach. She would need to make the entrance larger if she was going to stand a chance of chasing out the red-furred habitant. Fortunately, a smaller wolf, a dark pup had turned up to observe her — a pup that the female was unaware of until she finally lifted her head from the den again.

Immediately catching his scent, Frøya spun around quickly to face him, her ears perked up and her tail waving behind her in surprise. He had startled her. Still, the female steadied her heart and her widened eyes softened as she greeted the younger wolf with a polite smile. "Sorry, I didn't realise you'd snuck up on me." She said, acknowledging him with a playful glint in her deep orange eyes.

"I'm Frøya, and you must be one of Dirge and Hydra's brood?" She asked, assuming so by the common appearance the pup held with the Moonspear queen. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to help me rid this hole of a fox, would you?" The female asked, a mischevious grin spreading across her charcoal lips as she turned to glance back towards the den.

Voices pulled him from his thoughts.

He had taken to quietly patrolling through the depths of the woodland and not for want of better things to do. It was a failed distraction, the first of several in a long line of succession that accomplished little. He had exhausted his ideas for where some had gone and wondered after others and the frustration therein. Perhaps it should have been unsurprising; Moonspear was often handed things by a one-two punch.

Spying the dark coat of Antares through the spring growth, he soon took note of the newcomer in their midst. Hydra had mentioned her, briefly, knowing the lack of details would inevitably bring him to cross paths with her. She seemed a pretty thing, full of promise and all the confidence youth brought; for a moment, he felt envious of the mirth in her good natured request.

But not one to want to stay downtrodden at all, least of all in the company of his children, Dirge found his own composure as he broke into the scene beside Antares: "I'm sure we could do that. Perhaps this time the foxes won't want to reclaim that old thing." And then to his son: "What do you think? Worth a shot?"

His sniffs were paused when she turned to behold him, rather quickly at that. For an instant there, he might've held his breath--he wasn't going to say, but when what he wanted to think looked like surprise registered on her features, he twitched his tail knowingly with a nod, and exhaled. Not quite apologetic about it either, but.. certainly noted, and since maybe not his exact intentions but one he would claim since she didn't give him the impression she was overly offended about it. Also noted, and perhaps a touch encouraging...

She was right, though, and he knew very well what it looked like. Yeah. Antares, he said with a small gesture towards his chest to match, and mention of fox perked his ears. Then, his father appeared at his side, warranting a good look his way and tail wag to compliment. Instantly bolstered then, he peered towards Frøya's hole and loomed closer himself. Definitely, the dark youth said, showing the tips of his teeth for a quiet sneer. Between the three of them, he had no doubts. Even if he didn't know the stranger, Frøya, rather, her bearing gave him no cause for concern. It was her idea, after all. They've been stubborn lately... he added, craning his neck to potentially spot the offender from its depths, contemplating the best approach now.