Arrow Lake — disappearances, after all, have explanations. usually.

like thorn, mahler kept a close eye on the trajectory of the group who approached their borders: six hale wolves. lavender stare fastened to their meeting with the diasporans who moved to greet the newcomers, and when takiyok strode proudly among them, the gargoyle descended. 
as he had not with the insipid melonii, this time the proud flag of his plume rode high overtop his hips, a standard he would rather not carry. but perhaps in these days it was necessary. moving alongside @Thorn, he listened impassively as the tessarius leant toward him and murmured what had been said in the moments before, then trained his gaze upon each of the strangers in turn.
scarred twins, one heavily pregnant; a male with a vicious wound upon his throat. a loam-toned wolfess who might also carry young, from a flick of mahler's briefly appraising eyes. and another pair of seemingly related she-wolves, one whom the gargoyle knew well. isleña was granted a minutely warmer nod before the musiker's attention belonged solely to the pale woman who had first spoken.
"you vill forgive my questioning," he began after a moment's tick. "the last band who claimed to seek shelter here vere insolent and threatening upon meet. therefore, the promise of your numbers is perhaps less important to diaspora than the promise of your loyalty, your pledge to follow our vays."
"three things: the manner of strife you have fled, vill it follow you here? how many among you carry young? and vhat skills do you bring to us?" his tone, while firm, was not unkind. diaspora would thrive with more numbers, and children were the lifeblood of any pack. but he was not so quick to admit them upon their breadth of band alone. care was necessary here, something mahler practiced in every moment.