Hope Anchors the Soul (IC Joining)

He'd been tardy to respond to the call, and though the young leader had moved toward the borders with haste, he'd stalled behind the treeline when he saw the flaming crest of Tuwawi standing before the stranger who had lit the air with her voice. There Malachi had chosen to remain, concealed by the evergreens, allowing the fire-kissed queen to intercept, as once had been her duty in the ranks of Duskfire. Yet what held him back was hardly an interest to see how the mother handled the meeting, for he trusted she would handle it well. Rather, his mind was driven by a sense he should let the decision fall into the queen's hands. Though Alpha by title, he had always felt his leadership interim, and now with Tuwawi's return he knew how to exert his position over all but the fiery queen, for to do anything but submit to her rule felt wrong.

The words of the women's conversation barely carried on the air, and Malachi didn't strain to hear. He merely waited for a sign of the stranger's acceptance, a signal that would mark the beginning of Tuwawi's returned reign. But such a sign never came. Instead the queen stole a glance toward the treeline, and Malachi met the expectant turn with a pause of hesitation before removing himself from the cover of the forest's deeper shades.

"A new recruit?" Malachi inquired as he approached the two. His tail did not raise as far as it should have carried, hesitant before Tuwawi, but still unwilling to show submission in front of their visitor. Passing his gaze between the two, he finally settled upon the newcomer with a look of curiosity.