Swiftcurrent Creek death brings life · pack meeting

She parted from her prayer circle, her last motion to Lethe as a Shearwater Bay wolf, with a dark cloud looming over her vision. Just as quick as the Alpha's death wracked the pack with grief did Fox lay claim to it... And though the Kesuk longed to barrel in with teeth bared and remind Fox that she knew nothing of Lethe's legacy, she did not. She located the Alpha and approached smoothly, though in her eyes burned a bright defiance. No longer would Jinx Kesuk bow to an incompetent leader. She was tired of incompetent leaders. Though she made no move toward the rusty yearling, her gaze spoke volumes.

In a distant past, Jinx was placed in this same position. Her abilities were doubted by her pack mates. Her claim was questioned. Though she felt it was unjust then, she felt it perfectly acceptable to do the same to Fox now. Hers was the brilliant gaze of a wolf who had seen one too many complacent Alphas in her time, and did not intend to see another. This reality was as plain to read as any open book would be. Her posture did not falter in Fox's presence, but rather, pushed the envelope, perhaps a little too far... It was not an outright challenge, but challenging nevertheless.

As though to confirm she would allow Fox this one (and only one) chance to prove herself, she spoke quietly, before anyone else arrived: "if you falter even once, I will remove you and ruin you." Of course, an open threat. It was not meant to gain Jinx any disrespect. Wolves pushed the envelope with their leaders all the time, ever eager to test what was allowed and what was not. What Jinx did was accept Fox, for the time being, as her leader... With the very firm reality that should Fox show an ounce of weakness or hesitation as a leader, or become an eighth as scarce as Akhlut and Nanuq had in packs before Swiftcurrent Creek, then she would not be permitted to continue leading.