Swiftcurrent Creek kiss the night goodbye

Bazi could have kicked him. Such tension for so little? She regarded him with pursed lips and a tight jaw, but a smile twinkled brightly in her eyes again. In a past life, his tale of woe might have grabbed her, but the Teekon Wilds was a pragmatic and unromantic place - and like any young, pliable soul, she had subconsciously molded herself to suit it. Blood did not matter here, and perhaps it never would; certainly not as long as Swiftcurrent Creek was composed primarily of vagrants and vagabonds. Fox said as much, and Bazi nodded her agreement, receiving the alpha's look with a relieved smile before the rust-red girl took off to do whatever it was that called her.

Bazi watched until Fox was scarcely out of earshot, then whipped around to face Galileo with a wry, scolding grin. "You scared me," the white youth half-screeched, reaching forward to nip at his peppered ruff. In all fairness, it was she who had failed to prep him. The loosely formed packs of the south had come as a shock to Bazi as well; especially the number of wolves that had come from a tumultuous background. Theirs was a crew of sad stories. Everyone had skeletons, though most shared willingly enough when prompted - even Jace, whose hidden traits might have cost him his place.

But Bazi did not volunteer her story - and nobody had asked since that first day at the borders.

"We've got work to do," she announced, moving around the older male to nudge impatiently at his flank. "Come on - let's find you somewhere to sleep. What sort of job do you want here? I'm the head outrider; we report on the goings-on beyond the borders and keep track of the other packs in the area. We're the only ones on this side of the mountain - for now - " Jace and Ferdie were pack wolves to the core, and wouldn't remain wanderers for long. Bazi cast a suspicious glance to the west. "What are you interested in? Gamekeeping? Counselling?" He was certainly old enough.