Phoenix Maplewood 'you were,' my dear, is the saddest sentence left to say

On their trek to Phoenix Maplewood Gyda kept her place beside Thuringwethil as her equal, feeling the thrum of anticipation at the potential battle within her veins. The valkyrie within her yearned for it; but upon their arrival at the fading borders Gyda was hit hard with an instantaneous sort of disappointment. The pack's scent was fading from these lands and that could only mean a few things: either they had disbanded or they had decided to relocate. Despite Thuringwethil's directive Gyda does not stay back, nor does she make room for the girl Heda calls to her side. For a moment, Gyda's frigid gaze rests upon the flame colored girl, wondering if she had such good connections in this pack if she was truly on the Dragon's side. Gyda knew nothing of her and assumed that her hesitancy to trust was because of those facts alone (and not that she scented the newest addition to their pack upon Thuringwethil more heavy than she did any of the others). No response came when Wildfire sent her call up.

Gyda's eyes scanned the horizon for any sign of life but none made itself present. The Viking Queen shifted her weight, lips curling back from her teeth as her ears slicked back to rest atop her skull, tail lashing once behind her in an empty threat for none appeared. At this, Gyda felt frustration. Her anticipation had been building for this moment and thus far it appeared as if she would be denied to unleash herself upon those that had threatened her wolves. Thuringwethil handed out orders and Gyda's glimpsed over her shoulder to let her eyes touch the two wolves with her. “Come,” She gestured them to her a sweep of her muzzle before she lead them to the West. There could have been a chance — albeit a slim one — that the Phoenix wolves were laying in wait, that this was an elaborate trap; though Gyda only considered this because it was something Ragnar would have done.

Trick his enemies to catch them separated as opposed to being in one large group.

Gyda heard Thuringwethil's demand that they not go further than calling distance and kept it in her mind as she led her small group deeper into the western reach of the maplewood's territory. Lorne was the first to break the silence that had settled over them, speaking what, likely, they had all been thinking out loud. That the Phoenix wolves were no longer here. “Their leader is either still pregnant or has very recently given birth. Last I heard she'd been pregnant,” It had been foolish of her to issue threats with babes on the way. “I doubt they would have endangered her children's safety by remaining.” Although taking young children away from their home a week or so after they were born, or moving when she was heavily pregnant and about to give birth was just as, if not more, risky. “Still, do not let your guard drop,” Gyda commanded of them. “Some might linger still.” She wanted them prepared, either way.