Larksong Grotto Now we got problems

Mmm, rolling with this as best I can. If Sebastian doesn't run now, he'll die.

While Nochtli turned out to be a reasonable wolf with reasonable motives, her companion immediately earned the ire of the Redtail Rise Alpha when she dared to snap at Reek. Saena paced a few steps forward to intercept, rumbling fiercely in her chest, but Arion had already taken care of it and the other wolf was speaking. Saena listened only because they had the time and advantage.

"They are the same. Pack is family. They were my pack, my family. He is their pack, their family. They harmed my family, I harm theirs." Saena answered to her claim that she was making it a pack problem. Reek and Junior, who had both been attacked by Redhawk Caldera members, were family, but they were also pack members. It may have been Saena's father and mate doing the attacking, but they were the Alphas of their pack. Every wolf beneath them automatically shared their viewpoints... which is the same argument she would've made against Sebastian if he was worth her breath. He might not have done anything himself, but by following them, by defending them, he supported what they had done, and that was enough for her. Of course, subordinates had no choice but to do so, but for that reason it was a pack issue from the beginning, whether anyone else saw it that way or not. Citali then proposed that Frostfire Ridge take Sebastian off their hands, and Oliver was quick to agree that it was a good course of action.

To most wolves, this sounded like a good way for Redtail Rise to get away free, but to Saena, it was a worse idea than allowing him to run back to his pack. At least if he did, it would serve as a warning to Redhawk Caldera that they weren't to be trifled with and that the north was closed to them. Citali's proposal benefited only herself and not those who actually deserved Sebastian's blood. Aside from deflecting Redhawk Caldera's interest (something she didn't give a shit about), it didn't earn the Redtail Rise wolves anything. If any should benefit from his capture, it should be the Rise, not a pack that had no business being here. Plus, there was the fact that in his moment of need, Sebastian had called these wolves... they, or more specifically Citali, couldn't possibly think Saena was stupid enough to trust them when they had come to her enemy's aid. She couldn't trust that they wouldn't let him go the second they turned their backs.

"That's enough," Saena snarled decisively, pinning her eyes on Sebastian, but meaning it for Citali as well. She liked Nochtli and liked how she thought and would respect her, but Citali was another story after snapping at her Beta and insulting her decision making to her face. "I won't have it. The north is ours," and she meant this to include Nova Peak and Frostfire Ridge, though no doubt someone would assume she arrogantly meant only herself, "and we must protect it, not bring enemies home with us. We are sending a message to those who started this fight. My sister might've deserved what she got, but my Beta and I did not. We return the favour." She stood up straight, tail lashing, and glanced to Nochtli. "If he dies here and they try to blame you, Redtail Rise will stand beside you," she assured the more sensible of the two, because Redtail Rise didn't need some other pack to take the heat for them nor would she allow Nochtli to bear the pain of punishment as she feared she would, "but otherwise, this isn't any of your business. His life isn't yours to take. It belongs to my wolves who have suffered and bled at the hands of his pack. Go home, and rest assured his only choices now are to run for his life or die here."

And so, without waiting for anyone to respond, Saena lunged for Sebastian again, giving the signal for Redtail Rise to tear him apart if he didn't turn and run now. As for Citali and Nochtli, they would be left alone to return to their pack with Saena's promise to fight with them should Redhawk Caldera ever come, as unlikely as that was, but if they interfered, Saena and her wolves would rip them apart, too.