Hideaway Strath A Newcomer

The gangster hears the call the first time it rises into the air, cutting through the quietude of the Strath where he walks upon it’s opposite borders, refreshing the borders absent any children. Some handle border patrol better than other’s — Roarke in specific jumps to Arturo’s mind for the boy’s reluctance to border patrol rivals Arturo’s own (except unlike his son he can just shuck his duty) — but the Lotturos have other lessons they must attend and he lets Lotte and/or Chusi take over their lessons for the day. He little more than half way when her second howl penetrates the air and when he arrives upon the scene Ceannasach is not surprised to see Hemlock is already there and the conversation already started. He comes in as the stranger answers what he presumes was the question Hemlock presented: that she has no skills to offer Teaghlaigh but is willing to learn. The coywolf wonders if any has the time to teach her when already their plates are full with the Family’s five children whom need the lessons much more pressingly than an adult who should already have at least one skill.

He moves to join Hemlock’s side when the woman asks her — them, rather — to divulge in information about the pack. Arturo assumes that Hemlock has already told her what she is going to know without becoming apart of the Family. “We are a Family, extremely territorial and elusive. In Teaghlaigh, The Family comes before Everything else and Ceannasach’s Word is Law,” Though he has always been stringent upon whom he allows into the inner fold of The Family trusting those willing to work for it, he has become even more so after the betrayal of the star-crossed lovers. “We protect our own but we will cut you from the Family without hesitation if you betray us.” Arturo rather thought that was implied but he adds it, now, as a pre-Teaghlaigh disclaimer. He is a man that means business and he will stick true to his word regardless of hurt feelings or believed injustice.

If this consistency makes him a tyrant; then he will accept the title without grievance.

He falls silent, then, studying her. She does not appear emancipated so she can likely hunt for and defend herself well enough; thus then she is not entirely without (some sort of) skill; but he does not accept those that do not pull their weight by contributing to the pack their skills.