Nova Peak When you skip steps on the way up

Yami's jaws split into a wide jaw as Kiwi broke into conversation. There was a buzzing in her ears as she shut her mouth and pinned her friend with a curious, surprised look. Had she just heard that right? She was quiet, calculating as Kiwi continued to announce a plan that left Yami feeling... mildly alarmed.

She knew her friend was a leader. Kiwi was bold, smart, cunning and powerful in her own right. She was the kind of wolf an alpha ought to be, and prior to this particular moment, Yami had been certain she would follow her friend down whatever path she lead. But this... Yami had a flashback to her travels with Firefly, the day he'd attacked and nearly killed the alpha of the pack down the coast. Starting a pack was one thing, but to take one? Yami had learned that day that she apparently had a line.

She hadn't crossed it then, and now Kiwi wanted to lead her back to it. Would she cross it this time? For her? Yami frowned, trying to be careful about how she chose her words. "I'm not... opposed to joining an established pack..." she began, her ears falling back, "But taking one? How would that even work?" She thought of Firefly's attempt to kill that man. He was a perfect stranger, and he'd nearly died simply because Firefly had decided he wanted what the alpha had. She hadn't stuck around to see where that had gotten him, but she imagined it hadn't ended well.