The looming darkness of a winters night hardly phased the man as he crept along the floors of the small grove, winding with the infinite streams of water as he wandered. He hadn't been in the woods long, but it had been dark for many hours now yet he had no plans to leave or any place to be. His muscles ached with his travels, but it wasn't something they weren't used to. Perhaps the type of use was different, but it was use all the same. Despite cooler weather accompanied by a southern winter night, he soaked his sore paws in the trickling water of a stream he stopped by, just under a willow enough that the tendrils almost grazed his pelt. The water was refreshing and relieved some of the ache, but it could only do so much. It'd be likely he'd rest here for the night, but sleep hardly came for the man. A resting spell, if anything really. Moving from the water to the soft loam beneath the willow, his body thud against the ground as he settled and he huffed softly. It would be a long night if he didn't get any sleep, yet things were already looking to be against his favor tonight.

"Speech"

for Sirius, but anyone can enter

Sirius was out in the night hunting. He had seen the pawprints of the enemy against his borders. The panther had been brave, and foolish, to venture into the Armada. He had forsaken sleep in his effort to find the creature. To kill it, or put a fear in its heart that would not soon fade. One did not cross the Armada borders lightly. He saw the form of the dark-to-light wolf before he scented him, and for a moment thought he had found his quarry. He approached on silent feet, and then the scent of wolf caught his nostrils. He snorted softly, and turned from his path to the wolf beneath the willows. He lingered on the far outskirts of the man's space, and would have left, if the stranger hadn’t in that very moment opened his eyes and found him. Sirius paused, one slow blink across blue eyes, and then he spoke. “It seems I've intruded upon your night. I hunt a panther, if you’ve seen any hint of it.” An invitation and a question both. He was always intrigued by the unaligned strangers he met. If they proved worth his time, he would tempt them to join his Armada. "Speech"

Everything was so quiet. Quiet for too long actually. When a sound did break the silence, his eyes flashed towards the cause and found another standing just off to his side, just at the edge of his comfort zone. His eyes narrowed and a low growl began to form in his chest when the stranger spoke, breaking the sound from emerging through bared teeth.

Interested by their question, he'd been curious as to how he didn't notice such a beast prancing about near by if this man had. His eyes narrowed, in thought mostly, of how he could have missed such a thing. Shrugging it off a moment later, he glanced back at the man from his glazed over, lost in thought look and his lip twitched in annoyance.

"I've not." His hissed quietly, rising from his crumpled position beneath the willow. Littered with droppings from it's branches, he hardly noticed and focused on the man. If there was a panther around somewhere, this man wasn't going to get all of the action. If things for him changed tonight, perhaps he could take down the panther before they could. Using the man to track the panther seemed like a smart decision, so he smirked eerily and invited himself along for the hunt. "It's no easy feat to hunt a panther alone."

"Speech"

for Sirius, but anyone can enter

He had startled the creature, he could see it in his deep violet eyes, and the ripple of his lips as they pulled back in preparation to snarl. No such sound emerged, instead, he seemed intrigued. The Warlord waited a moment as the man admitted to no such sitting, and rose from his place of rest beneath the ancient tree. He shook off the trappings of sleep and focused on the Warlord, who made no indication of movement, only coiled patience. He could have called for members of his pack, but the Warlord could be rash, and prone to thinking himself immortal. That did not mean he would turn down a temporary partnership with this sharp-eyed beast. Instead, he grinned softly, the corners of his lips twitching. He was not alone, but he did not need to tell this fellow of the leopard traversing the undergrowth some distance away in search of a trail, or the bear that followed her. Nor of the vulture, that drifted lazily in the cool night air somewhere above them. The Warlord was rarely alone. “Is that an invasion to join me?” he mused, taking a step back and gesturing, as through he had no issue with the man tagging along. "Speech"

His eyes narrowed at the other as they spoke, falling for the bait easily but vary aware of the risk he was taking by hunting with this stranger. They were much larger than him, that much he could tell with the distance between them, and a panther was a strong predator to hunt. What were they doing out hunting anyway?

Of course, many things were like a game to him and this was really no different. His smirk never relaxed, shaping the words that followed with a sharp tongue. "You look like you could use the help." Making a few steps towards him, he was still keeping a respectful distance despite the obvious gesture. While he had no intentions on letting him take the glory of killing the panther, he surprisingly wasn't considering sinking his fangs into the flesh of this man either. The game was the panther now, and he would have his prize, one way or another at least.

"Speech"

for Sirius, but anyone can enter

He would not give away the aces up his sleeve, not trusting a dark stranger in a darker night. Egoistic in his belief of his own strength, the Warlord still did not twitch as the purple-eyed creature agreed to join him. If he became a snake among his feet, Sirius would put him down. The Titan of the Armada towered above this man, and his elongated fangs longer and sharper than any such amenities the other boosted. His claws, long and unsheathed like a cats, dug softly into soil, unnoticed. Hidden daggers in his sheath complemented the quiet arsonal of the Warlord. He could not help but laugh softly, arrogantly, at this wolf's words. He did not refute them, believing that actions spoke louder than words. “Sirius.” he introduced himself as the stranger moved closer to him, joining his hunting party of four, and making it five - unbeknownst to the newcomer. “I lost its track where it entered the stream” he explained, as he moved closer to the swelling banks once more. Explaining, in that simple sentence, what he was doing as he walked by the shore, searching for its exit point. Ever the Alpha, he expected the stranger to follow. "Speech"

Eager to get on the hunt, his nostrils flared in search of a scent when he introduced himself. "Magnus," he huffed then, when he picked up nothing in the cool nights air. Following the man towards the waters edge, he wasn't surprised he lost it there. Panthers were smart and knew their trail and scent would be washed away by the water, or else there wouldn't be many left. The question was how long did the panther take to decide it was safe before exiting the water?

Trotting off ahead a bit, he crossed the shallow stream to search the other side. Careful to not cause too much noise in the water, he studied the soft dirt next to the edge for tracks. While he hadn't been here long, he hadn't picked up on a Panthers scent and much less saw one walk by. He couldnt help but wonder how stale the animal he was tracking was.

"Speech"

He had a name for the man now, the stranger he found asleep beneath the trees of this rogue territory, unaffiliated with any of the powers of this land. Judging by the scents in his coat, which the Warlord caught as they descended upon the stream. Sirius watched him for a moment as he moved across the stream, searching for scent of prints across the bank. Finished his observation, the Sirius put his nose back to earth on his side of the water, and continued the hunt. The two wolves did not get far before a sharp cry of a bird struck the night. The Warlord glanced up at the vulture, as he glided on quiet wings into the Warlords vision. Clicking his beak together, the bird turned until he faced the way Sirius had come. “Well, it seems my companion has found our quarry first” he explained, turning from work, he began to follow Marshal. "Speech"

While oblivious to the bird in the sky or the leopard in the trees, the cry from the bird hardly frightened him despite how sudden it was. Looking up in time to see the bird come into view and facing back towards where the man came, his gaze followed the birds into the darkness from which Sirius came. Wondering if the panther was smart enough to circle around or this man had just completely lost the scent, Magnus smirked a bit but let it fall from his lips before moving on.

Although he wasn't much of one for small talk, or really any talking, he was curious as to what had him out here hunting anyway. The man hardly looked like he'd missed a meal and panthers weren't typical cache food. A game hunter perhaps, but it's not like he sneezed at the idea. Hunting was a sport and the man rather enjoyed a good one himself. Although the scents of other wolves mingled on the mans pelt, he assumed he was no more than a simple pack wolf. How often to you really meet alpha's anyway?

"What's got you out here, hunting this beast, anyway?" He mused, following Sirius' lead after the bird.

"Speech"

When the panther had entered the water, it was chance to Sirius if it had moved East or West along the watery path, he had sent his companions one way, and himself moved this one. Which had taken him not to a panther, but a stranger who wasn’t opposed to hunting with the Warlord in the middle of the night. Sirius followed the wake of the bird, who slowed his wingbeats to ensure he did not lose the wolves. As they walked, Magnus would break the quiet with his question. The larger wolf tossed him a glance, considering, before he spoke. “My pack lies one land over from this one. The creature had the audacity of crossing my border, and now it will face the consequences of its transgression.” He explained. Sirius did not easily let lie an insult. As they approached, Marshal rose into the air, and out of view into the night one more. His dark blue coat mingling with the night. Sirius crouched down, indicating to Magnus that they were close. The Warlord picked up the scent now, finding where it had left the stream, and moved West. The hunt was on. “Head around, cut the creature off, i’ll come at it from this angle” he whispered to Magnus. "Speech"

Following the bird was an easy task, well trained he assumed to match the slower speed of the wolves. He'd never considered the possibility of taming something and using it for his benefit, but he did have to wonder what was in it for the bird. Maybe nothing more than its life. Smirking at the thought, he listened to Sirius when he responded to his question and although he was a bit surprised to have come across a pack leader, he hardly let it show and remained quiet afterwards as they continued to follow the bird.

Noticing later that the bird had left, he was quick to pick up on Sirius' crouch and did the same. Letting the man track the scent, his gaze followed to the tracks the panther had left exiting the stream, heading west. His nostrils flared with the lingering scent as he was instructed to move ahead and cut the predator off, allowing the man to attack from behind while he had stalled and distracted the beast. Simple enough, he thought. A simple nod was the only response he gave, to keep silent of course, and he was off quietly in the direction the tracks had gone.

His coat left much to be desired in terms of camouflage, but he clung to the overgrowth and slunk behind trees to keep himself hidden as best he could. Hopefully he wouldn't have to move far before spotting the panther, but it did take a few moments to finally catch up to the animal. Stalking it from it's left side, he crept quietly to a better position while it hopefully hadn't heard his movements and he hid in the shadows of a large willow, behind the trunk and tangled in the tendrils. He had a good view of the flank of the cat as it knelt to drink from the stream, just a few paces away if he hurried. He leapt out moments later from behind his hiding tree and snarled at the beast, his fur bristling and nails digging into the loamy dirt while his paws spread for balance. Smirking, he simply dared the cat to come for him, and hopefully distract it from it's offender.

"Speech"

The man followed his direction easily, wordlessly, and for the moment the two would work as a team, seamless. Trusting for the moment that the man would not betray him, the Warlord gave him a moment to get into position, and then continued on, himself. His bear companion silently joined him, and he nodded towards her as he caught the sound of her steps. If Magnus did deal him a bad hand, Sirius felt confident he could get the variables under control. As he approached he heard the sound of Magnus’s snarl, and the sound of the cat as it turned abruptly, and let loose a menacing growl of its own. The Warlord moved into position, and even as the cat coiled in preparation of leaping at this new threat, the Armada wolf launched himself forward. He caught the cat mid-leap, his great paw wrapping about its back leg, his claws sinking into flesh. The cat crashed to the ground, and Sirius released his hold over it, leaping onto its back, and crushing it into the earth. “Go for the kill!” he barked at Magnus. "Speech"

A half second after his snarl, Sirius appeared and launched at the cat, catching it just before it were to make a successful leap at the man. They'd easily taken the cat by surprise, Sirius having snagged it's leg and was now latching onto it's back and pressing it hard into the ground with his massive in comparison size. There was nothing the cat could do now, unless it too had a few adversaries lingering in the darkness around them. Of course, that was impossible, or he assumed anyway. Honestly, it was the last thing on his mind.

He was barked an order, told to kill, and he didn't hesitate. His paws dug into the ground as he launched at the animal that was nearly flattened by Sirius. With narrowed eyes he pressed himself forward and sunk his paws into the neck of the beast, off to it's side to avoid snapping teeth. With a quick shake, the flesh of the animal tore and with it, it's windpipe. Blood escaped from the wounds into his mouth, but he kept hold until he was certain the beast was dead, likely longer than he needed to. It'd been a while since he'd been on a hunt, especially another predator, and the release felt refreshing.

"Speech"

The Warlord held the creature down, and it hissed and bucked and writhed, trying to free itself from him. He held tight, claws digging into its flesh as he fought to keep a hold over it. He wasn’t going to let this cat go until the deed was done. He could have asked any of his companions to take the kill, but the Warlord was intrigued by the beast. Intrigued to know if he would leap for the kill. He did so, and did a good job of it, keeping clear of its snapping teeth, and ripping out its throat. He held it until it was steady, as did Sirius, holding down until it moved no more. He released his grips slowly, and pulled himself back to his feet, looking down at the kill, and then to Magnus. “A fine coat it would make, to warm an Armada den. Your den, perhaps.” he said with a soft laugh, his words hardly subtle as he held out a paw to touch to the other man’s. An offer of a home, and the spoils, all in one. "Speech"

The beast was no more. No longer would it trespass on the territory it dared crossed, or anywhere ever again. Magnus stayed with his jaws locked around the cats throat even as Sirius removed his weight and stood once more. It was when Sirius started to speak that he was pulled from his minor trance, finally releasing his jaws and straightening himself. The blood stained his face and ran from his chin, but he made no effort to stop it. Letting it drip and create a small puddle before his paws, he barely caught the invitation as his breathing slowed and he began to focus again, but his ever present smirk quickly came back to his bloodied features.

He reached his paw towards the larger mans, happy to take his invitation after that hunt. They'd worked well together, at least, and that was something Magnus couldn't say about everyone. Settling back into a pack life could be beneficial for him, although he had the slightest of clues what this pack was about. Any good leader would hunt down the panther that trespassed, but he accepted it nonetheless. "It'd make for better sleeping than the willow," he paused to laugh a bit, winking then as he jests. "Any worthy leader would hunt down a trespassing panther; why should I follow you?" His brows raised with the question, taking a serious note in order to deem this man worthy or not.

"Speech"

“Indeed” The Warlord laughed, shaking his head and letting his eyes move back to the dead cat once more. The kill hadn’t been clean by any measure, but it had been quick and precise. The man asked him why he should join the Armada, and Sirius took a moment to consider his words. “Because you can hunt more with us, then without us. Because you're bored of your life in the willows, and I can offer you excitement, training. Something to fight for” Why else had the man jumped at this chance to take on the cat, acting almost rashly in following Sirius. He had relished the hunt, Sirius could see that. "Speech"

Magnus waited while it took Sirius a moment to answer, yet what he responded with wasn't far off of the truth, if at all. He was right in a lot of ways, though perhaps not so much the way it was worded. Bored of his life in the willows maybe, but no so much as to sound desperate. Hunting with a group did sound appealing; it had been so long since the last. Mulling over his words a bit, he finally smiled a faintly and sighed softly.

"You're not wrong there, just maybe a bit off." He made him sound desperate, when in reality he was just living life as it came at him. Bored in the moment sure, but never fully bored. Of course, joining a pack would likely give him some purpose he was lacking lately, but that was a secret not worth sharing. "I accept then." He nodded once, certain he was making at least a worthwhile decision.

"Speech"

Well, maybe Sirius hadn’t been quiet on the mark, but he was close. The man did like a thrill, and he had a chance of finding it in the Armada. No doubt the pack would raid or be raided again before long. His wolves had practice in it now. “Excellent, i’m glad. Welcome to the Armada, Magnus” he said pleasantly, grabbing the cat in one paw, and draping it over its back, bloody and all. “I’ll show you your new home” he offered, and prepare the pelt for the mens den. It was certainly an interesting way to meet a new recruit. Chuckling softly, and burdened by the cat, the Warlord pointed himself in the right direction, and began the trek home. "Speech"

Magnus had nodded one final time when he was welcomed to the Armada and began to follow him. He could only hope this would be a benefit for him, and maybe the pack also. He hardly cared what others thought, but maybe he could be of as much use to them as they him. It would be an interested thing to figure out, but for now he had to figure out his new life. He wasn't a pup, so meshing into the way of life of others would likely be difficult. Having been a loner for so long now, conforming to the ways of the Armada may be a bit difficult.

Nevertheless, he was still interested in his new future. As the man so willingly heaved the cat onto his back and carried the prize, Magnus didn't complain. Although he would have been happy to carry the beast himself, he wouldn't sneeze at one last shot at laziness while he could get it. Something was telling him he better get a good rest before the new day, but the sun wasn't too far from rising either.. just another few hours or so. Maybe sleep would come easy after this hunt and a new place to call home, something he hadn't been used to in a while.

"Speech"

Sirius contemplated how well the man had worked with him, the seamlessness of the operation that took out the Panther. He suspected that Magnus would rise quickly in the ranks, and perhaps would one day be one of his lieutenants. With the beast over his shoulder, his bear and leopard companions at his heels, he would lead his newest recruit home. It wasn’t far from the Weeping Woods to Armada territory, and he took the man first to the communal area. Here, the pack laws were carved into a great obelisk, and some meters away a fire pit was dug into the earth and layered with stones. Even now soft embers lingered from the last pieces of fire that had been placed in its belly. The cat, Sirius took to the supplies cellar which lay in the opposite side of the Obelisk to the firepit. The entire space was flattened, and the end lines of the communal meeting space could be seen from where the grasses rose tall again. Dens littered the space, some taken, and many not. They stood ready to be filled with new wolves, or a temporary home where needed. He placed the cat by the door that led underground, and left it there. It would need to be calved, and separated from its pelt, the food dried. “Feel free to take a look around” the Warlord offered "Speech"