He had decided. The night that he'd spent with Poem telling scary stories had solidified the redwood mans thoughts and feelings. Sparhawk needed Poem. He needed her like he needed air. He couldn't imagine his life without her in it. Meeting Poem had been like finding a piece of the sun. A treasure that could never be surpassed by anything else in the world. He, the demon reformed, was in love. Total and complete love. Sparhawk had taken the time after their first meeting to think it through. The thick, womanly woman had been in his thoughts non-stop. He knew that he had to meet her again and so he had. The spark had still been there and had burst into a full blown bonfire. He couldn't be away from her any longer. Sparhawk needed Poem. Traveling to the land that he knew was her pack, the man released a quick howl, requesting the alpha. He wanted this to be a secret. He wanted to surprise the woman the he loved. He hoped that the leader of this pack would accept him and grant him entry because... Sparhawk needed Poem. "Speech"

An unfamiliar male voice sounded at the edge of the territory. Theory set her teeth on edge and headed towards the sound, signaling Alouette to follow her along in the sky. The handy thing about all of them having ravens meant that they could communicate across great distances - if any Lou caught hint of any trouble, she'd bring Rhyme and Poem to the border's edge just as fast as a raven could fly. It was comforting, especially when she didn't recognize the voice at the border. Strangers calling didn't happen often. Theory made good time, approaching the stranger slowly and with a wariness to her eyes. It wasn't often that she ran into a wolf larger than her outside of the family besides Sirius and his uncommonly huge brood. The young alpha flagged her short tail as high as it would go to signal her rank and lifted her chin just a hair before addressing Sparhawk. "Hello. What brings you to Abaven?" she inquired genially. Alouette roosted in the tree nearby, her dark eyes staring intently down her beak for any sign of distress from her mistress.

In time a woman came. A tall, handsome woman, but Sparhawk found that his appreciation ended there. There was no attraction anymore. He'd learned that with Aranea at the caves. No, Sparhawk's mind and heart were all for Poem. He had a healthy appreciation for the female form, but it was like looking at a piece of art. It stirred the mind rather than the loins. It was a sobering reality as to just how much Poem had encompassed his being.

A friendly smile was given as the woman came near and spoke. Ah, how did he want to go about this? What brought him here? "I am here because of a woman." He started out truthfully, his claret gaze fixed firmly upon the blue and purple eyes of the bob-tailed woman. "My name is Sparhawk," he smiled again. "I am very much wanting to join your pack for the love of a woman." Ah, he'd said it out loud. It was real now.

Poem had told him just how important her pack and family were to her. She had told him how good her home was and how much she loved it. He wanted to love it too. He wanted to be in a place that she loved, loving her while she loved him. And it. And all of them. The tall, redwood man was a lover now. He was a good man, he thought. He had atoned for his past sins and would continue to do so until the end of his days simply by bringing happiness to others. The man wanted this obsidian woman before him to see how much he wanted to bring that happiness to Poem.

"I am here for Po-em," he said softly, though his accent was thick. "For the love of Miss Po-em." Soot colored ears flicked forward as he looked at the woman expectantly. He really was a lovesick mess inside, but outwardly he tried to make himself look like less of a smitten boy.

She inspected the man carefully. He was big. And strong. If worst came to worst, Theory still thought she could take him - especially if she was able to call for reinforcements. In fact, she was so caught up in assessing him as a possible threat that he caught her completely off guard when he spoke. "O-oh," she said, her brow furrowed. The young alpha tried to take a mental inventory of the eligible females in the pack, conveniently forgetting about herself and her sisters. Uh, Eulogy? Rhythm...? Internally she balked, resisting the urge to laugh aloud. Finally he declared the object of his affections and her world ground to a halt. Birds may have been singing but she didn't hear them. The sun was shining but she didn't feel it.

"I am Theory, alpha of Abaven. And Poem is my sister," Theory said haltingly. "And very precious to me. Who are you, exactly, Sparhawk?" And what makes you worthy of her love? She knew the depths of Poem's love. It was vast and warm and wonderful; the kind of love that could envelope you entirely. Her love was synonymous with safety and home. This love was what made Abaven so special. She wouldn't grant her blessing lightly. In fact, Theo felt oddly possessive over her sister. Simply put: it had never occurred to her that one day she might have to share that love. Motif and Poem and Theory had spent so long tucked into a sisterly bubble and now here was the first man come along, ready to (possibly, maybe) ruin everything.

Ahhh, so this was a sister to Poem. Sister and alpha of the pack. He would have to impress,  but he refused to be anything that he was not. The woman gave her name and already the striped man could see that she was feeling a little taken aback. A little defensive. It was to be expected. Family was important. Sisters should protect one another. No doubt Poem had men drooling at the borders. What would make him different? He would tell her.

Theory asked who he was and Sparhawk would give her the truest, most honest answer. "I'm just a man who met a woman in a cavern during a storm." Her smiled and shrugged lightly.  "A man who taught a woman silly, Russian love song. A man who collected blue clay to bring back for a grandmother to make pots. A man who sang sweet songs and comforted a sad, lovely woman." The brutes red gaze grew a bit more stern and he nodded.  "A man who took time to make sure that these feelings weren't fleeting. A man that realized a woman is a thief. Stole his heart clean out of his chest."

The redwood man smiled because he simply couldn't help himself.  "I come because I am very much loving Poem and I think she cares for me too." Maybe it seemed too good to be true,  but it was how he felt. "Family is very important to Poem. She loves this place,  this pack and all of you in it. I would very much like to be part of and to protect what she loves." Sparhawk looked to Theory, complete and utter honestly in his claret eyes.

Theory was ready to turn him away. Her body language was tense, her upper lip was stiff, she was ready to say no (an entirely selfish act, perhaps - and the very first one of her short life). Then he spoke. She slowly sat down to listen to him as he recounted a similar tale to the one that Poem had told her on the beach. This was love. True, real love; it colored the words he spoke, his eyes, his body language. Theory couldn't help but crack a tiny, wan smile, especially at his joke. "Yes, she's stolen mine too. When you find yours you'll have to let me know where she hides them all." If she had a tail, now would be when she'd thoughtfully curl it around her paws. Since she didn't, her short tail simply quivered a bit as she thought.

"I will welcome you to Abaven. Our values, as you can tell, are family first. If you love my family, you are family of mine. Where do you see your talents best used?" she asked, her head tilted slightly. She was always open to taking input on ranks, particularly from newcomers. He was big and broad, but she didn't want to incorrectly assume that he was a fighter just from the scale of him. Crafters and healers could be just as stout as a strong warrior. "And... may I ask why you've come to join without Poem by your side?" Her eyes scanned briefly to Alouette in the trees. Her raven could summon Poem in just a moment, but she had a feeling that there were other elements at play.

At first he really thought that she was going to say no imply by the set of her shoulders and the rigidity of her frame. Eventually though, Theory seated herself and seemed to give in to the situation. Her comment about hearts brought a chuckle from the man and he nodded. He joked in turn. "Maybe she eats them. That's how she keeps that youthful glow, eh?" No doubt the hearts that Poem stole were kept safe close to her own. He wouldn't expect anything less from her.

Theory went on to welcome him to Abaven and the redwood brute grinned. When she asked about his skills, the giant motioned to the massive bearskin sack behind him. "In there I have all of the makings for mead. I brew drinks but I also build and craft." Ears flicked to the side momentarily as he added, "I can also fight, but I prefer not to unless there is no other choice." Sparhawk tried to be a pacifist these days. How else was he supposed to make up for his sordid past? "I tell stories. I bring happiness." He grinned again. "I sing."

When asked why Poem was not with him, the man chuckled yet again. "I would very much like to be a surprise for her." His gaze grew a little more serious as he looked Theory straight in the eye. "Also, I want you to see who I am without any distraction." He wanted the alpha of Poem's pack to see just how serious he was about this whole thing. He was here for Poem, and by extension, here for them all.

It was difficult not to warm to his rough hewn humor and soft edges. Theo couldn't help but crack a grin. No, Poem certainly wasn't made for eating hearts at all. Theory tried to remember a time when she had ever watched her sister be needlessly violent and failed. Poem was a valiant warrior. She was not cruel. "Yes, she's certainly pretty," she conceded. Although it was easy to admire Poem and Motif from afar, she wasn't able to reconcile her own self as any kind of attractive - just that she was related to them, and by extension, must be doing okay. But they were lovely, perfect, incomparable creatures. Of course Poem had this gentleman admirer, it just made sense.

She peered around his shoulder to the sack he had brought. Ah, a crafter! They could always use some more cunning wolves in their ranks. Their numbers of healers, hunters, and warriors were steady and didn't seem to waver. Plus, most of those roles had some interchangeable skills. Most wolves had rudimentary knowledge of the three primary skills - after all, everyone to feed, defend, and soothe themselves - but crafting was another thing entirely. It took a special kind of grit to be truly good at it. Theo's mouth watered a bit at the thought of mead. The recent festivals had made her develop quite a taste for it. "What pack couldn't use more stories, happiness, and song?" she murmured aloud in agreement. He was a good man. He seemed like a good man, she checked herself. Theory was ready with her approval but would wait to form her final opinion until she was able to watch them together. "I'm grateful for your choice. Come, let me show you around. You'll have to tell me how you plan to spring this on her," she grinned, standing up slowly and gesturing deeper into the pack's land. There was much to discuss!

Theory admitted that happiness and song were always needed. Sparhawk whole heartedly agreed. Perhaps he and Poem could teach the pack songs together. That would be lovely. Really, anything that he did with Poem would be perfect because Poem was perfect. And if they had children... just imagine how musical they would be. Sparhawks heart fluttered in his chest as he lost himself in his mental musings.

The voice of the dark woman brought him back to reality. He wondered if she realized that he'd gone missing for a moment. As Theory invited him into the territory, Sparhawk hefted the heavy bearskin sack that he carried with him everywhere. Slinging it over his back, he followed the woman as she led him into what would be his new home. Her question brought one of his well used chuckles and he shared his little plan to play a sweet trick on her sister. "I figure you tell Po-em that you're very busy. Ask her to show the new member around. Then I come out. Surprise!" He thought that Poem would appreciate such a gesture. "We play a sweet little trick on her, eh?"

Once they made their way a little ways into the territory, Sparhawk unslung his pack and hooked it on the branch of a tree, keeping it up off of the ground. This way he could travel more comfortably as Theory showed him around. As they walked, he spoke. "In all my time, I never feel for anyone what I feel for Po-em." Red eyes looked sidelong at the woman beside him. "I very much believe I will ask her to marry me in time." He wanted his intendeds family to know that he was serious about this. Very serious.