Shadewood Tight rope

He smiled gently at her reply, amused by it. The smile felt odd upon his face, if only because the last year of his life had been ridden with strife (mostly his own doing). It was a welcome change, and it seemed his guess was correct on her heritage. Unfortunately, the pleasantries were cut short by a rather abrupt questioning.

Unlike the first wolf to approach him, this one greeted him with ice and stone. Instead of warmth, she spat questions. This one reminded him of how Towhee would react with somebody on their borders, and he wondered if she had more authority than the first wolf who had greeted him. If he went on body language alone, that would be his guess, but the other wolf clearly had plenty of years of experience in comparison, so he waited patiently to see what her reaction was to the sharp inquiries.

The Blackthorn seemed to think that they knew one another, and when she named the other female by the name of Phex, her previous question seemed a lot less strange. He had never considered that another wolf might have a name so close to his own. This was amusing in its own way, though he kept that to himself for the time being. No need to potentially upset the lady who seemed to have it out for him for no reason in particular.

My name is Phox, and I came to ask you the same, he replied in a neutral tone, refusing to mirror her venomous one. I am seeking information on the wolves who plan to make their home here. What the Redhawks would do with that information was not really up to him. Niamh, Quixote, and the rest of the respected Redhawks would likely be the ones to carry that burden. Phox was merely a messenger, and anybody with half a mind should know that old saying. He was not to be shot.

Had he gone missing, he idly wondered what the Redhawks’ reaction would be. He was no respected member, and he had deserted them once before. Would they assume that he reverted to his own ways, or would they come looking for him? Perhaps Niamh alone would worry that he had gone, for she was the only one who seemed to be actively giving him a chance to repent for his mistakes. This mission—he presumed—was just one of many he would need to complete in order to get back in their good graces. Phox was more than willing to put in the work.