Two [for] One

((Khalessi/Inferno continued from here))

He fell into stride beside the white wolf, thoughts flashing to memories of a drained, almost debilitated Khalessi. He'd forgotten just how devoted the strong-willed wolfess could be. How sometimes her journeys went too far. At least she was ok with him sticking around, so if there in fact was something actually the matter Khalessi would have someone to watch over her if she keeled over. Preventing the keeling over wasn't in Inferno's power; Khal would have to let him know what was up and then be willing to slow down to mend the issue. And that just didn't really happen, anyone knew - especially Inferno, as he had the same problem.

The howl that cut the air was so unexpected that Inferno nearly jumped. With ears pricked forward, the male looked over toward the Cliffs just as a second, deeper - and less resolute - voice joined the first. Bleu and Bandit asking for acceptance into pack territory...another pack...on Silverlight territory? The young siblings had said goodbye to their parents and had not stayed with Pravin and had not joined Khalessi. Other small details clicked together to create a semblance of sense, and within seconds, Inferno had concluded that Coven was nearer than he'd thought.

The coppery wolf looked over at Khalessi and tilted his head just slightly - a question and concurrent suggestion communicated in the look. Why not let Coven come to them? ...well, to Bleu and Bandit. It was a gamble that he'd show up, that this interpretation of this scenario was correct, that they wouldn't be wasting time. But if the gamble worked out in their favor, then a lot of tedious, looping tracking time would be saved.

The black wolf froze mid-step. What? That thought encompassed everything Coven was thinking and feeling as Bleu's shrill twined with Bandit's grating bay barreled like stakes of granite through his eardrums. Honestly? He couldn't believe it, not for one second! that those two seriously had come back. Ok...he could oddly understand Bleu (and he oddly did not sustain the need to retch at that idea, knowing exactly how the wolfess could be of use), but Bandit...no way. The sign in the howl was faint, but the resignation and almost-dread echoed sharply in Coven's perception. Bandit was not joining. Bleu was a stretch, but Bandit was not joining.

He was still for a long time, just not having expected something like this, others asking to join this pack that had deliberately isolated themselves high in these treacherous peaks. With a low growl of frustration tinged with complain, the male lowered his raised fore-paw and scrambled down the cliff-sides and through the loose rocks to the source of the howls.

And there they were. His yellow eyes narrowed with deep suspicion, Coven appeared in front of the youth and carefully studied each one. His voice was teetering on hostile when he demanded, "What are you two doing up here?" Obviously, they thought they wanted to enter the mountains, the pack, and stay. The wolf was hoping they'd take this escape option and just answer with some excuse for being out here, like that they'd gotten lost or something. He'd totally smile and send them off without any thought to how lame of a story it was.

The white huntress paused in her movements lifting her head with ears perked as she listened to the call. The voices were faintly familiar but nothing she could recall from the graveyard. They were young, which meant it had to be two of the three yearlings that hadn't joined Khalessi at the grave site. As they quieted she turned her attention to Inferno and caught his questioning look. She shook her head in slight rejection. "Coven has a potential target on his back that I'm sure he is aware of. I'm going to assume his clan might be a bit overcautious at the moment. And there is nothing more dangerous then a group of overcautious wolves. I rather have the element of surprise and catch him alone". Besides, Khalessi hardly had the strength to face a bunch of them should they attack for no reason, let alone one of them. "We'll wait for the pups to leave". She said calmly before slinking forward into the brush. There was a slightly hesitation in her step but she shook her head quickly and continued forward.



As they waited for Coven to arrive Bandit hunkered down at an attempt to make himself appear smaller than he really was. When the black wolf finally did make an appearance it took a lot for Bandit not to scoff at him. Hadn't their call said it all?

/Not as smart as he looks...and that's saying something/ he thought quietly to himself while rolling his eyes in his sisters direction.

Bandit was more than content to stay quiet for this little exchange and let Bleu do all the talking. He wasn't exactly how sure of himself he would be should Coven directly ask him something or make some sort of snide remark as he used to do when they were pups. For now, however, Bandit remained in his 'inferior' position and pretended not to be there.

The black wolf narrowed his yellow eyes and advanced a step forward. "You'd better lay down about a million really good reasons for you wanting to stay here," hissed the male softly, landing a heavy glare on Bandit. Though he so greatly disliked Bleu, it was true that she could be an asset, and Molly would be the one dealing with her anyway. But Bandit...that was a whole other issue, and both males knew it. The alpha had no qualms in rejecting either or both of these pups, obviously, so he was expecting a lot.

Inferno nodded and silently followed Khalessi to wait. Her reasons for holding out for now were sound, though once the Krajina members showed up, Coven could probably start to figure out that there wasn't a ton to fear right now. A wolf needn't have Inferno's obsessive diligence in order to successfully track Coven, but Xerxses, who had declared himself the alpha's biggest threat, hadn't yet tried to come up here. If that wasn't happening now, Coven would most likely not have to worry about it for a bit...because Khalessi had promised that she wasn't planning on starting anything.

After a moment of walking, gaze flicking every now and then to the white wolfess, Inferno asked, "Are you doing alright, Khalessi?" He glanced at their surroundings and slowed down a bit in a wordless suggestion to pause; this was a good place to stop and wait for Coven to finish dealing with the pups, and rest would hopefully help strengthen the Krajina alpha.

Once it was confirmed that Khalessi was going to be ok, and once they stopped, wherever that would be, Inferno'd be able to look around and appreciate how lucky he was that the Eastern Forest was his new home. The beauty and vantage of the Mountains rivaled that of the Ridge which Inferno loved so much, but some snow had never melted from many of the mountain peaks. With how much Inferno hated winter - snow was almost just as bad as water - living up here and having to endure the deep snow drifts constantly, not just on patrols, would be torture.

"Pup," snarled the male fiercely, snapping his jaws threateningly, "Shut up. I have no need of anyone - including you - who cannot prove undying loyalty to this pack. If Bandit can't tell me for himself why I can't live without him in this pack and why he desperately needs and wants to be here, then I don't want him. End of story." The wolf laid his ferocious gaze on Bandit for a second before warning Bleu, "You mouth off one more time about what and who I 'need', you walk away with your mute brother here." It was true that at least Bleu could potentially be useful, but unless she got more intelligent about figuring out here place in regards to Coven, the alpha would be more than happy to chase both the whelps off. This pack didn't need simply physical offerings of submission: the members' minds and hearts had to be in it, too. Bleu and Bandit were both failing.

(skip me pleasseee <3 There's really nothing much I can post with Bleu at this point anyways XD)