"Merc?"

She peered into the den they had chosen, searching for his frame among the darkness. She sat by the entrance, waiting for him to stirr. It was early in the morning but she felt restless. Heck, she felt uneasy being so close to another pack. Even if it was Armada. Wren didn't want Sirius to feel like he had to protect her all the time. She felt confident, with Voodoo and her kids and Medusa being here now. Away from the potential dangers of Habari slave-keeping. Confident enough to move locations.

The Gorge was pleasant, but they had to think about expanding. Already, others flocked to the location. She felt they were being suffocated on all sides, no real expansion possible. She had scouted the lands on both sides, finding them unsuitable. It was only when she remembered the safety of the massive ship, and the pines below it. Ending in a massive wall. It would be good protection from raiding, and frankly... Who would raid them so far north? Seemed a huge and long trip for just a raid.

Still, as an alpha she considered the possibility. All that was left to do was discuss it with Mercury.

"Wren" & "Mercury"

Mercury groaned as he stretched out, yawning into the darkness and feeling around for Wren. he had heard her voice, but she was no longer beside him… his eyes adjusted, and he found her silhouetted by the faint light barely beginning outside the den. “Good morning” he said sleepily, running a paw through the messy fur between his ears as he stretched once more and got to his paws. He was sleeping better with Wren nearby than he had since… well… since he had lost everything.

He shook the thought before it could cloud him and smiled at the brilliant blue eyes that watched him. “Beating the sun today?” He teased her lightly. He wondered how long she had been up already.


"Speech"

She would reach out for her partner, giving his cheek a quick but affectionately lick as he woke up. "Something like that" Wren began "I was scouting the places around the Gorge today and..." She furrowed her brow, wondering how to say this "Merc, they suck." An embarrassed laugh escaped her jaws. She could claim the Red Forest, but that could make things tense with Armada. She didn't want that to happen so she assumed other places... would be good. They were not. Not at all.

"I think we should move Menagerie to a better location" she told him bluntly, not beating around the bush with it "I wanted to foolishly be close to an ally, but... Not at the cost of new lands and a better expansion" She shrugged "what do you think?" She eyed him, knowing the Gorge was a great location but failed in other situations. It would be good protection from the wind, but there were other places in the North... Like the ship.

"Wren" & "Mercury"

He smiled warmly at the display of affection. The expression melted away into something more serious as Wren spoke. His Alpha and closest friend spoke of the territories outside of The Gorge. This bowled territory was a good one, but the Menagerie was showing every sign of growing quickly. Mercury could understand her concern.

He stepped up beside her, shaking away the last hold of sleep. “I think it would be best to pick a location before the pack gets too settled into this one.” He suggested. They would need to put down roots before winter, and it would be best to do that in the territories that would support them for longer. “Did you have anywhere in mind to start?”


"Speech"

She could tell Mercury thought it was serious and was glad for the opinion. Especially the understanding.

"Actually, yes" she puffed out her chest proudly "the ship. S.S Antiox" Wren had seen the faded words on the side of it upon a time, knowing the name of the hull "and then the pines below it" Sparse they were called, but still good cover for the pack itself. She nudged Merc "it's close to water too. A couple of islands or something in the distance."

She veered to the side and let him out properly. Stretching a back leg out herself, that had once been injured. It felt a bit sore still. "I figure we can't hover over Armada all the time" It was high time to clear out and move, but still be close to the other pack in case shit went down. Armada could hold its own, but she was there to help if they needed it "best nip that in the bud now, I guess?"

"Wren" & "Mercury"

Mercury remembered the ship, of stumbling upon Wren there and learning about the sweet present she had been attempting to assemble without his knowing. He’s stuck his paw in that one, but the memory still made him smile. “The ship would offer some promising, warm dens” He agreed, thinking about it. “Let's go walk the space and think about the ways we can use it?” he suggested. Of course, if that was the land she wanted, he would support it.

He slipped past Wren as she cleared space for him to do so. “Our independence will be important” He agreed. The Armada had supported them, and he didn’t mean to belittle that, but the Menagerie would grow into an independent and strong pack. “Ready?’ He asked, glancing back at her with a slow smile.


"Speech"

"Ready!"

She walked to the side of Mercury, grinning and wagging her tail. It was nice to have a partner in all this. Sometimes she felt she had to do it all alone. With him, it felt relaxing and just right. Wren let the man lead the way, curious to see if he remembered it. It hadn't been that long ago, but it felt like a big step regardless. He agreed with being independent but also allied with Armada.

The two things were different. Sirius had tried to get Wren to stand on her own. She would appreciate the gesture and repay it down the road. Of course, the guild and the pack were also two different things. "I thought about repaying Armada" she mentioned to Mercury because she trusted his diplomacy "severing the 'debt' that invisibly hangs between us." But what would be best?

"What would you get a Warlord? Not just a Warlord, but his queen and heir? I've met Zee, his mate. I thought about crafting a nice compass for her. Azure, I don't know... I don't... erm, particularly like what I've heard of him but it won't do it leave him out" she frowned as they walked, pondering options and crafting "Sirius has so much, so I feel like anything we gift him... Would be insignificant."

He had years of their lives already, more experiences to count. Zee was easy - the woman was easygoing and friendly. She would like a custom compass, with her name - Zee - on it in nice cursive. A reminder that not everyone called her by her full name, which gossip told Wren she hated. An idea struck the woman. "How about a nice set of glasses for Sirius and Azure? They can serve alcohol and spirits to diplomats."

"Wren" & "Mercury"