Redsand Canyon we connect, burning bright, holding every breath

Mahler first, please, then looking for leadership and/or sentries!

The sun was still rising over the surrounding mountains when they said their goodbyes to each of their children. Wylla paused longest at @Phaedra's cheek, bidding she take good care of the pups in their absence. It was the first time they had been left alone without their parents. There had been trespassing into the hollow of late — more frequently than Wylla had any care for, proving the world beyond their idyllic home was still full of imbeciles — and she worried that something would happen while they were away.

Wylla knew they came to this meeting with a specific goal in mind, but knowing it didn't stop her from wanting to turn around half a dozen times. In her jaws she carried a bundle of poppies from the meadow, a gift to endear them to the barracks. Their standing with Mereo was assured through her conversation with Kallik and Mahler's connection with their leading female, but it never hurt to bring gifts.

They arrived upon the sloping red ground and halted at a courteous distance from the strongest and freshest scent markings. There were many more wolves here than the hollow. The smell of them traveled much further. It reminded Wylla that she needed to refresh markings along her own borders, and perhaps double them up, given the trespasses. She was of half a mind to mention the two Mereo wolves skulking about on Sawtooth Spire, but knew they had no claim to the mountain, so she would bite her tongue.

Wylla glanced to @Mahler, awaiting his signal, no matter how much he insisted he no longer took the lead.

mahler too had been hesitant to leave. it was a new dynamic, having an older child there to engage the time-honored task of watching over her young siblings. outwardly he did not share wylla's inner trepidation for danger, perhaps because at his size and sex mahler was rarely bothered by a threat. 
he took phaedra aside all the same. "should something happen, take the children immediately north, toward mereo. ve vill hear your call."
they had set out, and as soon as they were out of his daughter's surely disgusted visage, he goosed wylla with an unexpected nip to her haunch. he was boyish a moment, chuckling and bright-eyed in the face of the gasping and scolding and giggling he hoped to glean from her. 
by the time they came to the borders, he had sobered from his laughter and picked up his bundle of herbs. the dark wolf followed at her side. she had thought to bring poppies and he thought they complimented the dove-grey coat she wore. mahler glanced to her, then a double take as he saw her expectant expression.
without a thought he set down his offerings once more and loosed a long, polite howl into the sand-scented air.

Kallik was long into his first patrol of the day when he heard the call from the borders, not far from where he was currently. He recognized the voice as belonging to the man that Ruenna had met with a while back. He had learned that this was the mate Wylla had told him about when she had visited shortly before that. 

He didn't keep them waiting long since he wasn't that far to begin with. When he arrived, Kallik stopped before them, greeting them both with a nod. He noted the plants they had brought and thought Aquene would be pleased when he brought them to her. 

He supposed he should have asked why they were there, but he didn't think the words were necessary. They had called and he had answered. Now it was their turn to speak.

Mahler's voice rose while Wylla dipped down to drop the poppies. Despite knowing it was the seeds that were dangerous, she couldn't resist working her tongue against the roof of her mouth as though rubbing away the very essence of them.

Mereo's rigid discipline meant they didn't have long to wait. In a lot of ways, Wylla admired this about the outpost. There always seemed to be a sentry close at hand, meaning they had eyes on trespassers almost immediately. She knew that sort of lifestyle would never work for Paleo, but lamented the lost advantage of being so regimented.

Kallik, hello, she said after digging in her mind a moment to remember his name. We've come with updates on the progress of Paleo and to formally discuss an alliance.

i will post w germ after another round if thats good

was it jealousy that blinked an eyelid awake when it seemed these two knew one another? of course they had; wylla would have gotten his name. mahler subdued the ridiculous sensation. the other man was well-built and young but not so that he would be naive. the eyes were shrewd.
he chose not to respond to the internal churnings and instead inclined his head toward his wife with genuine fondness as she steadily spoke. they worked rather well together, he thought.
he had set down his travel-bag by now and turned back to this soldier
"i am mahler. good to meet you, kallik."

They were here to update them on their pack and discuss an alliance. Kallik was interested, though he could only offer Epoch as an ally. He dipped his head to each greeting, eyes moving between the two wolves. 

The imperator will be here soon to speak on Mereo's behalf, Kallik said when he finally spoke. He had no doubt that Germanicus was already headed this way. Kallik had merely beat him to it. We have expanded to the valley in the center of the mountains; we are in the process of building another outpost there. My wife, Aquene, and I are leading it with two others. I speak for Epoch only, but I am open to discussing an alliance. He had no doubt it would be beneficial to for everyone to be allied with their neighbors. Epoch will be a place for teaching. If allied, you could send your young, if you have them, to us to learn fighting or healing. He knew Mahler was a healer himself, and he might like to teach his trade to his own children—he offered it anyway. And he was sure no one could teach fighting better than Mereo-trained soldiers.

Wylla bobbed her head, expecting that Kallik was only doing his duty as a sentry and prepared to wait in silence, but the Arctic wolf had more to say. There was something wry about the expression that crossed her face; was Mereo so large they were spilling beyond their borders, then, or had something else driven their expansion?

Either way, what Mereo did was no concern of Paleo's so long as the barracks expanded north along the mountains rather than south. Congratulations, said Wylla. Leadership was a thing to be taken by those strong enough to seize it. That was how she viewed it. But it was still an accomplishment to establish one's own territory. She had no inkling Kallik was not the primary leader of this newly forming Epoch.

We seek to teach as well, she revealed, glancing at Mahler for confirmation. Most of it would be in his paws, truth be told. Wylla was developing an appreciation for hunting, but it would be some time still before she felt capable enough to truly call herself a mentor. Hunting and utilizing the land, mostly, if that is something you would be interested in your children learning as well?

mahler was quiet as they spoke. epoch sounded like it would be an interesting place, though he was unsure what a teaching pack could offer that he and wylla could not.
his wife was diplomatic and offered paleo's own lessons. "i am a midvife and healer by trade. and ve are guardians. vylla is a varrior," he complimented, offering her a little smile as he looked back toward kallik.
his thoughts now followed her own: why was mereo already seeking an expansion?