Blacktail Deer Plateau Skip to the good bit

When Hawkeye began to pace agitatedly, Pied moved further back, giving the Alpha space. When Hawkeye addressed her, the Delta's ears flattened at the accusatory implication, though she didn't think her friend meant it that way. Her thoughts flew back to the encounter with Jinx, replaying all the details, particularly the words exchanged. She wondered if Hawkeye would be disappointed in her for not hounding Jinx more aggressively, yet it just wasn't in Pied's nature.

"I told her she was a shitty Alpha but nothing would convince her that she's anything but the gods' gift to earth—almost literally," Pied said lowly, sullenly. "I was reasonable with her, giving her so many opportunities to redeem herself. She failed absolutely. She doesn't care that she left us in the lurch, that she violated our oath and that we had no choice but to move on for our own survival. She's the worst wolf I've ever met."

Hawkeye's explosive howl startled Pied into silence and she cut off her grousing, shooting the infuriated Alpha female quick sideways glances but unwilling to risk angering her with a direct look. Pied let her gaze drop to her feet, staring at her blotchy toes for a moment, before her gaze slowly lifted again. Although Hawkeye's agitated state intimidated her, she knew it was not directed at herself.

Still, it took three swallows before she could manage to eke out a burning question. "Will you seek her out and mete out punishment?" Pied wondered, trying to decide whether or not she favored that idea. "I think she probably does deserve it—at the very least, she deserves someone to wring her neck—but she's part of another pack. We could have war on our hands..." she mused aloud before letting her voice trail off.