Third time is the charm

Kotori listened quietly as the two presented the case.  Fight, diplomacy, and crafting were all things that could be of use in the pack.  While Kotori could acknowledge the importance of wolves that had skills other than fighting it was certainly true that he preferred having a large amount of fighters over other skill sets.   Medical specialists were probably the next most important when you are prone to a pack of fighters.  The other skills also had their uses of course. Cinaed also spoke respectfully to Kotori and that also had Kotori expecting he would make a fine addition.  

Kotori had met Chimera twice though neither time had he gotten to know the alpha very well.  Chimera and Artorias had seemed to be on good terms from what little Kotori had seen on the pack challenge fight they had watched.  Chimera and Kotori had fought off and, of course, killed another aggressive beast once.  Not a lot of insight but he hadn’t seemed the sort to want an idiot in his pack.  So Chimera had gone sick and left?  Well, there were enough strange times around these days.  

Satira looked smaller as she moved to sit by Cinaed, a reminder of her real size.  Maybe it was from spending time with little Aia that Satira seemed less small until there were larger wolves right next to her for a size check.  He really should ask Tira what her dad was like at some point.  Tira added to Cinaed’s qualifications with mentions of winning raids and maiming a pirate.  Kotori grinned, teeth showing at the notion of ripping off a pirate's ear.  “Well done,” Kotori pleasantly offered, “The Fatalis and Pirates don’t get along too well.” A second pause before adding, “I don’t know who the pirates even would get along with, they seem good at making enemies.  If you can rip off a pirate's ear, have raid experience, and you can follow the rules of the pack I welcome you to Valta.”  

“Satira can show you around. Get to know the area and find yourself a den.  Just be sure if you don’t remember all the pack rules, or if you didn’t learn them, to ask Tira or another here.” Kotori waved a paw in a gesture that he could enter.  “You’ll start as an Alkaa, basically a rank for those waiting to prove themselves for a more specified role.  I assume you prefer to take up a warrior’s path?”  Really, Kotori could go over the rules also but Kotori liked to imagine Satira would have already told him the rules.  If Kotori was wrong the man had a chance now to speak up.

All the while in the back of his mind Kotori was musing over the idea of letting the lowest-ranked fighters attempt to prove they should be able to move up a rank by bringing him ears or tails of pirates.  Kotori imagined if he thought on it too much he’d find reasons it was a bad idea.  Right now it sounded fun.  Ko wondered if he did such a scheme if Azure would be sad he hadn’t thought of it first for the Armada.  His brother hated the pirates with a passion.  

“Oh, and Cinaed.  I’d like to see these fighting skills of yours at some point.  Perhaps you’ll entertain me with a spar tomorrow?”  It was one thing to hear about another wolf's skill but the real proof was in the fight.  

"Kotori Fatalis"