Even if it Breaks your Heart

Slowly, things were settling into a gathering speed. Life was beginning to spark, he thought. A few new members had come to the Pack, Solveiga was back, and most of the Yearlings and former apprentices were taking some initiative to be active in the pack. They were still low on adults in the pack, but that would improve, he felt. Not to mention, His youngest siblings were two now. A meeting was imminent. He had plans for the ranks, and many things to announce. It was high time the pack truly started moving again.

A familiar howl broke through his thoughts as he was patrolling the Moore, pleased with his choice to move the borders to here. The lake would be open once more to loners in need of a drink, at least until they expanded someday. He felt it might lessen the possibility of loners crossing the border when parched with thirst.

Now, however, his mind swerved to the howl, and a mixture of relief and irritation flickered through the fathomless eyes. On the one paw, he was glad to know his cousin was alive. On the other paw, he words of improvement had fallen flat in the transition to action. Not only that, but both she and Dagger had up and vanished, without a word to himself or to Faite before she’d gone to start Lirim. That was unacceptable behavior, especially in a wolf that was already on thin ice the last time he’d spoken to her.

His path shifted after he gave a last solid mark to the border. He knew what he had to do. He didn’t like it, but he would need to do it. As his near silent paws drew him close enough to see her in the mists, he nearly wavered. She was exhausted, scrawny, and paw sore. But the fact still stood that she could have avoided this condition if she had made him or his sister aware of her plan to leave the territory. They could have sent someone with her.

His expression was coldly neutral as he came to stand before her, on the interior side of the border. “Well?” The one rumbled word spoke volumes as he waited for her to explain herself and give him a good reason why he should let her come home. He didn't like what he would have to do if she truly wanted back in.

But he would do it. He needed to be a consistent leader, and not show favoritism just because of their ties as blood relations. But he knew that he would very likely be adding an omega level wolf to the pack. A Punished member.