Northstar Vale I'm ready, Slick, are you?

What Chusi did not understand was that Mouse had already been forgiven by Morningside's leader. It could very well have been some misunderstanding - this was something the male readily acknowledged. But he still didn't care to see Mouse again, lest his anger at the situation get the better of him. For him, the matter was closed. The visit had not been about assigning blame to Mouse or exacting punishment upon him - merely to establish a certain set of standards.

Thus, with Chusi's agreement to pass on their message to the rest of her packmates, Grayday felt he'd done his part.

"Thank you," he said politely, ears flickering toward his companions in hopes of staying their tongues. There was nothing more to be said, even seeing the bristle of Chusi's fur. Grayday would bristle, too, if wolves showed up at his borders, talking of violence. He felt already that Pema and Catori had been a bit rash in their words. Next time, he'd have to be a bit clearer about what he wanted to get across.

There was no help for it now, however. Warily, the male turned his back on the cake and began the trek back down the mountain. He had a family to get back to.