Swiftcurrent Creek rise to the occasion

After Bazi came Dovev, Galileo, and two wolves that she did not recognize. A swift glance over her shoulder showed two somber faces - not unusual on Dovev (the former Alpha was wholly unaware of her fellow Arctic's behaviour towards Paarthurnax at this point, and did not connect his stare with mistrust), but strange to see in Galileo.

There was no time to chat - as soon as her sterling friend sat down, Scimitar began.

The official welcome back made Bazi's heart swell. She returned the nod with a vague smile, waiting for more... but Scimitar swiftly moved on - no smile, no details about her accident, or any effort to justify her absence. Kaskara's (very deserved) appointment to the Beta position soured her mood further, but the white wolf kept silent. Of course she couldn't waltz back into a pack that no longer belonged to her and expect to be given the crown - and none of the wolves present would ever suggest it. One day, she might make something of herself again. Until then.. there was Scimitar to crack, and Paarthurnax to look after. With that in mind, she flashed Kaskara a broad, encouraging grin. Good on you.

Already, Bazi felt a fierce protectiveness towards her friend's unborn brood. She kept her own head high when the pregnancy was unannounced, ready and waiting for the first wolf that looked anything but happy for Paarthurnax (Saber offered a kind smile, which Bazi returned on behalf of her friend). The pups' father was irrelevant - a good wolf was raised, not born, and little lives in the Samarkand woman's belly had plenty of good role models within the Creek.

"I'll be staying with Paarthurnax until they're born," she announced, nudging her pregnant companion's downy cheek. "And help out afterwards, if she'll have me." Most of all, Bazi wanted to curl up with the 140 pups that would surely drop out of Paarthurnax's rear at any moment, but she would - begrudgingly - accept the soon-to-be mother's right to privacy if she had to.