Moonspear Invasion is a term used by the victors, isn't it?

The first thing Glaukos did upon his acceptance to the mountain was to go to the sleeping places. He passed by a few that were familiar for their location, and noted the absence of any scents. The place where Sialuk had once made her ulaq was well kept, but perhaps that was something Tiuttuk did out of respect for her mother.

He found two masculine scents, neither which were outright familiar — and as he patrolled among these sleeping-places he counted two adult women, no signs of illness, and no sign of children. It seemed like the ideal place for Glaukos to make his home, he surmised.

With this initial patrol done, he went ahead and began to map out the cache system. He worked on this as he climbed the winding paths of Moonspear, keeping occupied while he waited to cross paths with @Alaric.

just jumping in here, feel free to jump over me if/when Alaric joins!

The bear had roused; he'd heard the news shivering down the slope, and felt himself ever ready for the threat. Even more so, given that his daughter had faced down the beast and saw it trundling away.

He did not trust such a creature to leave the mountain entirely.

The new grayscale man was big enough to bring Killdeer's hackles up, and he approached the wolf with gritted teeth and raised brows. Once he registered 'wolf,' and found his daughter's scent upon the man, he relaxed, if only slightly.

You're new, he remarked, nodding toward the warrior. What brings you here?

You're new, spoke a voice, and Glaukos looked for the source. What he saw was a slender, smaller wolf; he could not remember what Alaric looked like, only vaguely recalling that there had been a party in the desert at the time and Glaukos had been serving in the palace of Akashingo.

I was invited to stay by Tiuttuk, the warrior went on to explain, watching the other man for signs of weakness out of habit. I am looking for Alaric by her request. There was a visual similarity between this man and Tiuttuk; a sameness to the shape of the jaw, the ears, maybe more.

He looked more stoic now than when he spoke with the girl, but also alert, expectant.

Tiuttuk is my daugher, he replied, smiling. She's good at the welcome wagon stuff. I'm Killdeer—it's nice to meet you.

As for Alaric. . . I haven't seen him around today, but I can show you around while you look, if you're okay with that, he offered, brows raising in query. It felt kind of wrong, offering to give an introduction to a pack that he might ditch sooner or later, but he ought to be cordial, at least.

Killdeer bent into a low bow, stifling a yawn as he stretched out. He patrolled fairly frequently, but it was usually by himself. He wasn't used to playing tour guide as of late.

The man admitted to being Tiuttuk's father, but confirmed what Glaukos had initially thought: that this was not Alaric. He did not suit the idea of a warrior which Glaukos held in his own mind, but it had been some time since his tour of Akashingo, and that night of revelry where the pair had met. Evidently he was not available; perhaps Alaric now stalked higher reaches, or tracked prey for their dwindling number.

Alright, Glaukos accepted.

Learning about the mountain and its layout, or at least how the wolves used the space they carved from it, made the most tactical sense to him. He did not have anything else to say and when he moved, made sure to let Killdeer keep in the lead.

Alaric had met the wolf Glaukos before and upon his seeing the man's face. A grin broke out on the other man's face and he laughed. 

Well hello smalls. HE joked. 

He remembered this one well. He had been so uptight at their initial meeting. And he hadn't seen him since. Had smelt him in and around the borders, but never in them. Another impish smile and he dipped his head towards the other man. 

Killdeer.

lord god almighty i forgot that Killdeer & Glaukos were in Mereo together

There was something familiar about the brawny grayscale wolf, but he couldn't quite place it. At the other's acceptance, he nodded with a smile, then moved along the path—

Only to be interrupted by Alaric, thankfully, who greeted Glaukos with a familiarity that brought his eyebrows up.

Alaric, he replied, smiling. We've been looking for you. Treepie let this guy in, apparently; I'll leave you to it.

He continued to stare at Glaukos, though, as if trying to puzzle something out. After a few moments, he shook his head, chuckling, and meandered away. Perhaps it would come to him eventually.

Crap. Did this forgetfulness mean he was getting. . .OLD?!

TBH SO DID I.

A dark, looming shape crossed before them on the path, and soon enough the trio were together. The voice of the stranger was familiar—but most familiar was that condescending nickname that Alaric had tried to bestow upon him, years ago. It brought a rise to Glaukos' hackles all the same.

The ruddy man, Killdeer, slipped off quickly after that. A piece of Glaukos felt a touch of resentment for being left here; but he had been seeking the one Tiuttuk told him to find, and it wasn't until this moment as he connected those dots where he felt a touch annoyed.

Oh, well. A home was a home. Work was work.

As he said. He motioned to the retreating figure of Killdeer and regarded Alaric wholly, his expression a touch more grim. I was going to patrol while I hunted for you. The girl and I made a deal, but she is not the one in charge. And you—a general here? A warden? What would you call it? In the back of his mind he wondered if Sialuk had chosen this man, too.

Alaric knew that he was playing with fire when he uttered the nickname. But he didn't care. Glaukos was rather foreboding and irritable. And Alaric much like the recklessness of his nature enjoyed poking the bear.

Alaric shifted. The girl's name is Tiuttuk or Treepie as she prefers sometimes. I am the High Sage. I took over the position when Sialuk abdicated and went in search of her mother's family. Pie tells me she is happy among them and I hope it so. She wasn't here.

Alaric shifted. What was the deal exactly? And Pie and I spoke about it. She is now second, but I did caution her in letting strangers in without speaking to me. Though you aren't a stranger.

Alaric shifted. Would you like a hunting partner?

It made very little sense to Glaukos that a child would be put in charge anywhere, but, he was older now and did not appreciate the concept of apprentiships. That sort of role was what saved his life, more or less, those many years ago and led him to his brief service within Akashingo.

Then again, the governance of this place was of no concern to him, in the end.

She mentioned the low numbers, and I told her I was willing to hunt and patrol in exchange for a place to sleep. The standard contract. He shrugged his broad shoulders.

Tiuttuk seemed surprised by the offer - do people around here struggle with follow through? Was that his attempt at a joke? A dig at those who came and went through the proverbial revolving door of Moonspear.

Alaric did not see Tiuttuk as a child anymore. She was nearing a year old if not already there. And she was born here. Her mother had forged this path on her own. Alaric had no claim to it whatsoever. He was not a moonwolf. He was a willow one.

Alaric listened closely. Do you not want more out of life than just a place to sleep? Alaric meant no offense by this, but the perculiar ways of Glaukos had always made him curious. I mean no offense. I just remember from before you wanted the same. And I am curious.

Alaric snorted. You should know the answer to that if you have been in many packs. There is alway sthose that are willing to bleed for the land and those willing to run first sign of any hardship.

Having answered the question, Glaukos was expecting acceptance or dismissal so that he could get to work, however he was met with more questions.

I don't aspire for anything else. I want to live quietly. Putting that in to words felt disingenuous given his size and capability. I have fought in wars, trained my share of warriors, bedded enough women, and seen enough of the world. But I am not broken or incapable - and a contract is a contract.

If the mountain fell, he would find somewhere else to carry on. Maybe he would meet someone with a contract he could not refuse? Until then, Glaukos had to exist somewhere, and he couldn't do that without some kind of payment - his effort, his time, or his teeth if need be.

Alaric was not a silent wolf when something nagged at him. And this wolf's lack of well anything bothered him. Made him wonder if he'd ever been happy.

Alaric listened and nodded. Well it sounds like you deserve some peace. So hope it stays as such. The spear is usually pretty peaceful.

Alaric dipped his head.I'll let you get back to it.

Glaukos saw nothing wrong with his current life. He had learned years ago to trade his abilities for the very basics, and had tried to step beyond that when he had gone to the Bypass — but life was transactional. He had been living in this state for so long that he could not comprehend anything different. In this way he could not parse the inscrutable manner of Alaric's attention.

Better to be dismissed.

With a nod Glaukos would turn and depart, having done as he had been asked and spoken to the leader of the village. It seemed he was welcome to work, and that was all he required.