You Fought It Hard

Looking for... the children? Theory's eyes narrowed. She couldn't help it. It was a suspect thing, to come to her borders and ask for the only thing she would defend with her life: Abaven's youth. She was readying a polite denial when Balthier pulled up behind her. This is my sister. She sighed hesitantly before she saw it - yes, those were Aranea's markings. "Balthier..." Theo said softly, turning to look at him. He had filled out this last season, just like his littermates. Already he had the look of adulthood about him, even if it was still an ill-fitting coat. Over the next year, his siblings would all start to make choices. They would begin to craft the lives that they wanted to live. "We will... give them the option. I will offer them the choice." I will not bring them here. She smiled at him, trying to quell her own uncertainty.

But his instincts were good. They would not invite Viper further into the territory - she smelled unfamiliar, but with an undercurrent of something she just couldn't pinpoint. Familiar but different. Like the Armada wolves she'd met but not. She must come from one of their allied packs, of which she knew with creeping dread were many. Her relationship with Sirius had once been close but the long winter had isolated them all. She did not like the idea that they were beginning to be surrounded, for better or worse. Turning to Viper, she introduced herself curtly: "I am Theory, sole alpha of Abaven. Balthier may call to his siblings and see if they would like to meet. For now... we will go no further." She flicked her short tail to Balthier. "Call to them, if you would."