What If There Were No Heavens?

Glacier titled his head to blow on the forehead of his younger sister, mussing up her fur with a subtle brotherly teasing – partially disguising his brotherly pride in her actions in taking an interest in the borders. His attention shifted to Surreal a moment later, and Glacier didn't miss the exhaustion eating away at the corners of Surreal's smile, but her greeting to the Donostrea giant was still pleasant and welcoming. She would mention the pack that he had been building a budding friendship with – before the pack had crumbled and vanished. He gave a minute nod in recognition of the news, his smile thinning into a grimmer expression. He had already made it clear to Sin that he was on the bench in this matter. Threar had been his friend, but this 'Abaven' Sin feared was a stranger to him. He would not stand beside either pack in how they resolved their differences, but he had reluctantly pointed out to the man his weakness to the innocence of pups.

As his thoughts took that trail, he wondered at Surreal's standings in the matter – he did know how or who she aligned with. He wouldn't have to wait long as she continued on to speak of the Plains and he would realize it wasn't so much who she was aligned with, but what. Even in their short meeting he had quickly come to realize the importance of the land to her and the rich history it bore. More then that, she had been living on the territory well she went about how to claim it as her own. “I'm sorry to hear that” it was noncommittal, intended to empathize with her without interrupting her thought trail.

In her next breath she would give him some enlightenment, giving her the name of the Abaven leader and his connection with Threar. He winced at the mention of just giving birth before the challenge and understood the position they had been in when faced with a strangers challenge. The problem was, Sin wasn't a nameless menace but a man and a father whom he could put a face too, and even if he did not approve of the mans methods he would not wish war upon him. She would ask him where he stood, his thoughts on the matter, startling him from his very musing upon them. “Hmm” he said, stalling for time. How did he begin to go about explaining his extremely neutral stance, when he considered Surreal a friend and empathized with her problem? He caught Gale's look as she turned to him, her expression as questioning as Surreal, but it reminded him the utter importance in staying strong in their neutral standing. They weren't so much a pack, but a family, their very existence was to bring stability to their siblings. “I know what the Plains means to you and wouldn't wish you to lose them. I have in fact briefly met the new Alpha – he was the one who delivered the news of Threar's downfall to me. Have you spoken to him about the plains? He's only newly arisen and perhaps hasn't grown too fond of his territories that he might be open to the suggestion of relocating. Of course, that does beg the question that if he was as open to negotiations as that then why challenge Threar to win a slot in Alacrits? Why not do as you do and bide his time? Hmm..” he added again, making it clear he was thinking newly formed thoughts out loud, letting her in on his thought process which the quite leader didn't often do. “I would be open to negotiate on your behalf if you do not wish to approach him, I know you've just had to relocate your family and might be weary of an unknown in all this - I assume Sin is still unknown to most? I have never heard of him before all this.. through that isn't much to judge by.” he paused, his thoughts still catching up with him “When you say ask Abaven for help what exactly where you hoping they could do for you?” he doubted she would have asked Abaven to negotiate on her behalf, truly the only help she could request from a pack who had just lost their Aunt and Uncle's stability would be to rain hell upon the assailant. For Glacier, it seemed a strange first request in losing her family's land, he for one never resulted in violence first unless it concerned the safety of his family, perhaps there was more to the story he didn't yet know. He let his eyes trail to Gale, hoping she might give some opinions or thoughts of her own.

"Burn Baby Burn"