On the line

Sorry I took so long for this @Caiaphas

After the cougar attack, Akela had taken it easy , until he was able to take care of himself and investigate. Mountain lions were normally at Panther Park, and he wondered if the recent disappearance of the Hoshor Plains  pack had something to do with cougars coming south. They must have followed the herds. His investigation had led him to Otter Creek, the nearest territory to their pack. That's where he had tracked the mountain lion back, but as the trail was old, he lost it do to the rain. Damn it.

However, while thinking about going back and patrol, he picked up on a scent. Fresh and followed it. To any wolf, Blackfeather was a hostile environment, most kept their distances, what he was smelling however, was awfully close to the borders.  Not close enough to justify a kill , Burke had given him orders after all, but close enough to see who it was that dared to come so close to the border. " You must be either crazy or suicidal" he commented as a greeting when he sighted what he was tracking.

thanks for starting! :D

the sloppy marsh that hugged blackfeather was not unfamiliar to caiaphas - she had been there before on several occasions. each time she had been intercepted by a supplicant of meldresi's -- and not all of them had been unpleasant.

there was a particular fern she was looking for as she combed along the rotted roots, pulling through black peat with her body causing ripples along the seedy algae bloom. she dipped her head below the water once, and when she emerged she appeared a sodden rat, her plume doused in rime and froth.

as she pulled towards an embankment she spied a wolf who had caught her unnoticed -- she quickly assessed his posture and did not perceive any aggression from his stance. neutrally she stood in the water, relishing the cool mud that seeped along her spindly legs. "hello." she called ambivalently, scenting the pack's prominence along his black fur. "how is the daedric mother?"

you're welcome !

Akela took her appearance in. She had a strange aura coming from her. Not negative, but not the most positive either.  " She is well. " he spoke. Outsiders had not to know if an alpha was ill or not. Word had already gotten out that Meldresi was expecting, he was not going to encourage anyone to challenge the pack leaders now. If she was talking about the goddess herself, then he could not have answering truthfully anyway. Supposed , gods were always fine  he supposed. "I take it you have met her before then ? " he asked politely.

she watched the coal-doused wolf, noticing the heavy scarring on his strong-featured muzzle. he supplied an answer politely enough and she was delightfully surprised by his cordial mein. it was not often a wolf, of any variant, engaged in genteel banter.

"on several occasions." the coywolf spoke smoothly, wading from the heady waters towards a rotted root that festered on the embankment. "blackfeather woods was supposed to aid my pack during war." her expression darkened and her voice soured with bitterness. "alas, my pack is no longer -- and blackfeather never showed."

The wolf remained neutral at her tale.  He could not defend his pack on this because he had only joined and his first thought was to think that not following the given word was rude. However, he could not voice this in front of the female.  You did not speak against your pack, that was not showing the right attitude and giving away that the pack was no unity.  "I am sorry given promises were not fulfilled. Do you wish me to give a message to  Meldresi on your behalf, maybe? "

did caiaphas blame blackfeather for ankyra's sunder? the thought crossed her mind and the depths of her yellow gaze turned adamantine. her gums tightened in pursed disregard. ankyra still haunted the shores - she felt the pack's death stain the sand and she felt its desolation in the rushing water. it was there and could not be hid from.

"sure." the coywolf offered at length, her expression still devoid of softness. "you can ask her if she remembers me." that was all the vague she-wolf offered for now. perhaps that was all that was worth saying.

That was a strange request. Akela wouldn't argue. The female obviously had her reasons to give such cryptic message.  "I will give her your message.  " he answered simply and walked along side the border. "I must warn you, wolves along the borders are to leave within the day or are met by death. " he told her.  " I'd rather not do anything to that sweet face of yours" he added and gave her a strange and sly smile , chilling almost. He was not of a cruel nature, nor did he thrive on others pain like some others, but he just had a flair for dramatics.  " You wish this message to be relayed now or later ?"

caiaphas briefly entertained the idea of issuing a sharp rebuke, but the words paled on her tongue and sunk in the manner of melted sugar. she offered only a brief smile instead, one that was clearly constrained in its origin.

"relaying it now would be best." she spoke with strained dignity, rousing herself to leave. "in return for your prompt deliverance, i will leave your land with haste. should meldresi wish to find me, i reside in ankyra."

with that the pale silhouette rose, gave the dark wolf one last glance, and then vanished into the tunnel whence she had come.

"Fair Enough." He gave the female a nod and walked his own way , not without eyeing which way she went. Once deeper into the forest, he softly called for Hugin. The raven approached, and Akela lifted his head.  " Follow her, make sure she stays true to her word"  he asked the Raven before making his way back. Bend on staying true to his word, he went to @Meldresi and disturbed her just enough to tell her about the message Caiaphas had. He described the female and said that she asked if she remembered her, and that if she would want to meet her, she would be in Ankyra. His deed done, Akela returned to his resting place at the rendez-vous sight.

The dark raven had observed . He was never far from the wolf, even though he did not particularly like him. These last months have proven that Akela was a good star to follow when it came to his own interests. As suspected, he called, and the raven flew to the wolf.  He stretched his dark wings and croaked loudly before taking off. There was not much to follow, that wolfress had disappeared in tunnels and Hugin did not wish to be taken into one. Self preservation. She was long gone , he remained by the border, for a while, just observing before returning to his own business. There was no side of the wolfress after hours. He had nothing to report back. He flew over the rendez-vous site, not stopping and joined his own nest for the night.

- end of thread-