Bearclaw Valley they are the force between

When he couldn't seize an advantage over the new pups to cause them pain or terror, Aventus avoided them entirely. The collateral damage was that he spent precious little time in the company of his dam, too. Whether or not this bothered Aventus, he maintained the new status quo. This meant spending a lot of his time on his own or in the company of whichever pack wolf was stuck putting up with his oft-silent, occasionally eerie company.

He'd wound aimlessly through the trees, only to grow bored and double back on his own trail. He was of half a mind to find his sister, wrangle her into another hunt for the weaklings, but instead he ran into his black double as she trailed them. Silver eyes met indigo in a brief flash, then he turned his head deferentially and looked away. Not before surreptitiously glancing by her flanks for signs of leeches.

Aventus had no words for Astara. He never had. He loosed a huff full of displeasure and disappointment in place of words she might not understand and certainly couldn't return. He didn't burn with envy the way Avicus did, but he was nevertheless unhappy with the change, cradling close the hot animosity he felt for the invaders. He wanted them gone.