Theta had done it, she was here. No more waiting, no more pussy footing around. It was time to find that boy. Noir had never left her mind since the firefly festival, their plans to run away had been stopped by the volcano, but no longer would she wait around hiding from her family, hiding from her life. Theta was gonna take some action.

She had taken herself to where she last knew Abaven to be and followed the scent from there. She could see why they’d relocated a bit, the volcano had basically ruined their lands. She doubted she’d find Noir still living in Abaven but she’d take any clues she could get. Theta sat her ass down at the borders and let out a summoning howl. She’d take anyone, Alpha, Family members, people Noir particularly disliked. She wanted info and she wanted it now.

The impending raid kept her on her toes - which meant patrolling the borders twice or three times as much. Theta didn't have to wait long for an answer. Theory approached at a clip, her tail flagging high to signal that she was at home (and top of the hierarchy) within these lands. She slowed down as she got closer, her eyes raking over the interloper for any familiarity or signs and smells of Winterfell. Nothing. Theo relaxed a little bit once she was standing before Theta but she didn't slouch or lower her tail. What was a stranger doing here? Abaven usually attracted those who were in a pinch or needed a safe place to shelter in. The stranger didn't look like she needed the sort of help Theory was used to providing to the wolves at her borders. "Yes? I am Theory, Wisteria and leader of Abaven. May I help you...?" She said, leaving the question open for an answer. "theory speaks!"

Somebody had come to answer her call, she remembered the other wolf faintly from her time in Abaven. It wasn’t that long of a time, but she remembered it feeling like forever. She clearly hadn’t made much of an impression on the other wolf as they made no indication of recognizing her.

They introduced themselves as the alpha as well, that might as well have been a bold faced lie. They had to be around the same age as her and given what she remembered about Abaven wolves, that they were a bunch of wusses too nice for their own good, there was no way a yearling could end up an alpha. No way that they could produce any child capable of baring the weight of an entire pack on their shoulders.

It didn’t matter though, she knew they had to know something about Noir. Alpha or not Theta bet she could get some answers out of this wolf. Theta stood tall to indicate she meant business, “I’m here to find some answers about a wolf I believe is your brother. Noir, I need to know what happened to him and where he went.” Theta put some emphasis on her last sentence, she needed as much information as she could get. She couldn’t afford to let on her true reasons, she was a wolf desperate for her love even though she wouldn’t call him a love herself. If anyone found out she’d gone practically head over heels for one wolf her whole image would be sunk.

The stranger's attitude rankled her a little bit. Slowly it dawned on Theory that she was familiar, in the faintest sense. From a long, long time ago. Her childhood had been full of comings and goings. It was difficult to remember who was who. To add a complication, the interloper was now sporting a full, wolf-sized rack of deer antlers. Theo was unable to help but quirk a brow as she racked her memory for a name. Th...eba? Thera? Theta! Still, her attitude was impetuous and held little respect for Theory's position. She didn't like to lord over others but a certain modicum of respect was expected from strangers at her borders. Ah well. She didn't pose a threat by herself. There was no need to be cruel, especially when she was asking after her brother. Well then. Theory recognized a certain kind of desperation in Theta's voice that gave her pause. Clearly she cared deeply about Noir. Noir? How could anyone care for that coward? "Your guess is as good as mine. He fled during the volcano, but I have reason to believe he's still alive. Regardless, he is no longer welcome in these lands, so you will not find any evidence of him here." Her tone was cool and measured. She hadn't spoken that aloud to a soul, but it felt right. Noir had tried to kill her sister out of jealous. Childish rage or not, his choice to flee during the eruption told Theory all she needed to know about the content of his character. "Good luck in your search, but I would be wary of getting too close to him. He's only let us down." Theory, of course, thought that her warning was a kindness. Theta may have thought otherwise. "theory speaks!"

Noir had taken the same path as Theta it seemed. They were all too similar, flee during the eruption and no longer welcomed by their families. Theta’s encounter with her brother before she had started her journey made it clear to her that even the more rational members of her family would be against her returning.

Theory’s warning made Theta smile, it was already too late for that. If getting close to Noir was a mistake the time for preventing it was long before, had she never been in Abaven she would never have met Noir. Being a let down to his pack didn’t surprise her, she likely was one to her own pack. Noir was right to let down a pack like Abaven, the strong survived on their own, being a push over didn’t get anyone anywhere.

Theta had gotten the information she needed, but she wanted to see where the interaction could go. “I think it’s a bit too late for that. Noir and I are quite alike and so far he hasn’t been the source of any of my troubles.”

She raised an eyebrow at Theta's impetuous response. If she and Noir were so alike, there was hardly any reason for her to be trespassing on Abaven lands. In fact, the alpha took it as a personal fence. Her hackles raised instinctively and Theory stood up and eyed the other female with new contempt. Although she wanted desperately to engage in a fight - Theta's insolence and refusal to submit in any way at her borders would be reason enough - she didn't want to stoop to her baser instincts. Her antlers posed somewhat of a threat but they certainly didn't scare Theo. "Well, count yourself lucky then. I wouldn't be surprised if he decided to murder you in your sleep once you cease being useful to him. Go ahead, play the foolish slut. Keep trailing after him - but get the hell out of my lands," Theory spat. The anger tasted both hot and sour in her mouth. Even as she said the words, the venom in them surprised her. As much as she'd thought she had made her peace with Noir's selfish and violent behavior, the impending raid had been wreaking havoc on her nerves. Any reminder of additional threats to her pack's safety kindled a fire within her that she hadn't known was there. No matter. If Noir showed up again, she knew she could run him off. She was stronger now. He wasn't stupid, either - he wouldn't return here unless he had a damn good reason to. Theory stared Theta down and waited for her to leave or make a move. She didn't have time to play these games when there were more important matters at hand. "theory speaks!"

Theta smiled at the words thrown her way, Noir certainly had stricken a nerve with his sister. She liked that. Whether she was playing the foolish slut or not didn’t matter to her. From what she had seen Noir respected strength in the same way that she did. If she needed to prove that she was more than willing to. She’d just like to see him try to kill her in her sleep, she needed to be kept on her toes.

Theta let out a laugh before turning around to leave. She’d gotten what she wanted, she had her fun. She wouldn’t leave though without giving one last remark “You’re just jealous he likes me.” With that she would start to walk away.

-Exit Theta-

Theory couldn't help but watch Theta walk away. What a simple-headed girl. She genuinely seemed to take pleasure in whatever ruckus she caused. Having been thrust into responsibility from such a young age, she couldn't imagine having the same attitude. It was clear to her that the interloper had no common sense, otherwise she wouldn't be trailing after Noir at all. If the suggestion that her life was in mortal peril truly inspired humor, well, Theo wouldn't stop her from waltzing straight into her own grave. At the very least Noir would certainly be the cause of some early grey hairs. She didn't have the patience for whatever excuses her brother had, but if he had women trailing after him already... well. Theory foresaw him leading a life similar to their father but with decidedly less "fathering" - a trail of broken hearts and sired litters in his wake. What a headache. Hoping that would be the last of her, she turned to take her leave. With a flick of her mistress' tail, her raven Alouette took off from the nearby trees and began to trail Theta for a few miles outside of Abaven's borders. Better to be safe than sorry. exit Theory "theory speaks!"