Arcus was not here to see Donostrea, not at all. Ever since seeing Gale he couldn't stop thinking about his stupid family and their puny pack. It angered him, really, how much they seemed to be on his mind. He couldn't help but wonder how his siblings were, wonder how the packlands were doing. Before he knew it, his aimless travels had brought him closer and closer to Donostrea packlands, until he was jolted from his thoughts by a very familiare and loathed scent. He stared with his one good eye in full and utter confusion at the sight. Grasslands? When did they get grasslands?! He huffed heavily and trotted along the loner edge of the border, staring with a narrowed gaze at the strange little packland. When had Dono gotten a new land? And why? It wasn't like there were a lot of them. He huffed again, a growl on his tongue before he froze as another border scent met his nose. Wait, that wasn't right. He turned to look at this other packland, staring angrily at it. There had been a different pack here, this hadn't been here. Where had this pack come from?! Without a second thought he turned his attention to this strange new thing, staring at the grass lands and breathing in the packscent. What is this place? They were right beside Donostrea, did that mean they were friends? He sighed softly, shifting on his paws as he stared in contemplation. It wasnt safe being so close to his family, they would probably be able to pick up his scent easily right? He just stared in contemplation, not making a sound, not even moving. "Burn Baby Burn"

Why did he even bother patrolling? What did it matter anymore? His mother was gone. Two of his sisters were gone. Two other members had mysteriously disappeared. Had they taken little Kate? He didn't think so, since it was Akemi and Cypress. But still. There was only... three members left. Nixie, his only sister left. Holly, the daughter of Cypress and the only sibling remaining of the Cypress and Arian litter. Would she even stay? The same with Ravine, the mate of Akemi. Would he stay with his mate now gone? Furthermore, why had his mate left without him? Questions for another day, he supposed.

He froze when he scented another scent on the border. What? It started near the shared border with Donostrea, but now it was further up. What was going on? It couldn't be someone joining... could it? If so, they might have chosen the wrong pack. It didn't take long for the stranger to come into view, and he looked positively stormy. "Who are you, and what is your business here?" he questioned lightly. His attitude was not hostile; why would it be? If this male truly did want to join...

Arcus didn't have to wait too long for his answers, it seemed. He stared at the stranger as he approached him, his good eye narrowed and bright. His lips were pulled back in a scowl, further twisting the gruesome scars that curved along his face and through the space where an eye should be. Long since healed, but never healed properly, he felt positively grotesque. But he just stared at the boy as he questioned him, his nostrils flaring as he took in the scent that clung to the deep blue furs of this stranger. If Arcus were to make an educated guess, this man would be a high up rank. His scent was everywhere. He just stared for a moment before taking a deep breath. If this man was an alpha, it wouldn't do Arcus any good to get too mad at him. "This is new." He said in a grumble, his tones bitter as he boldly looked the boy up and down, sizing him up despite the fact that he was actually his height. Full grown, then, he hoped. "This.." He enunciated, tossing his head towards the packlands behind the blue boy. "How long has this been here?" He rumbled, staring with a narrow gaze at him before he looked away, towards Donostrea. So close to his home, this wouldn't be good. but for some reason, he felt this was a good place to be. "My name is Arcus." He rumbled in his deep tones, turning his nose to look back at the boy. "Stumbled upon your border, didn't know this existed." "Burn Baby Burn"

The scars were gruesome, and they foretold a harsh life, or perhaps simply a story. Either way, Ren would peed them no mind for the true nature lay underneath; his mother had often gotten strange looks even when others had gotten used to her and he could see the judgement. Scars were scary, but nothing to judge. He could, however, judge other things. The man's words were less than eloquent; rough. Perhaps it has been a while since he has spoken. "Yes. This pack is relatively new; we've only been here for a few seasons," he answered quickly enough, standing firm under the stranger's scrutiny. He nodded to the man's words, relaxing a bit since Arcus had answered his question. "I am Ren Agatsuma, Imperator - or alpha - of Borealis. Are you looking for a home, Arcus?" Why else would he stay so long near a pack?

Arcus would turn his gaze to look back at the packlands that spread out behind the boy, and he didn't much like how close it was to Donostrea. And besides, would a pack really be good for him? He hadn't really excelled as a loner, and he was rather hungry. Hunting had been proven difficult since he became half blinded, and he had lost most of his brutish form. Almost too skinny now, he stared at the grass that spread around him. A few seasons, huh? Made sense. And then he blinked, surprised as he looked back at the boy. Hold up. "Aren't you a little young to be an alpha?" He asked with a grumble, sizing him up then. There was no way this boy was any older than a year, a year and a half. Even Voltage and Glacier had been about 4 when they claimed their pack. "Did you make this?" He asked, tilting his head, curious now. Had this boy picked out a territory and decided to make a pack? Or did something happen and he just got tossed the crown? That was the more probable, but Arcus really didn't care about probability. He was still mulling over the fact that this pack was neighbors with Donostrea. "Do you know the alphas of that one?" He asked, tossing his nose in Dono's direction. If the two packs were best friends, Arcus may have to decline...or maybe that would make it all the better. He could show up his family that he was just fine on his own. You know, besides the eye...and the obvious malnourished...and his lack of maturity. He was just fine on his own. But that didn't mean the temptation wasn't there. "Burn Baby Burn"

Why did Arcus keep looking past him? He knew there was nothing behind him; he would have heard or scented something by now, but there was nothing. Ignoring the oddities for now, he instead focused on the other aspects of the man in front of him. Skinny, but tall. Hungry, perhaps. Some wolves did poorly. It seemed this one might. A smirk did appear on his maw, however, when Arcus made a comment to his age. "Perhaps." He left it at that; no need to comment more. Arcus' next question made his head tilt, and then slowly shake from side to side. "I did not. The previous alpha - my mother - disappeared and therefore I became the alpha. I'm trying to build it back up, though." He fell silent, waiting for Arcus to speak once more. It didn't take long, and he asked about... the nearby pack? He frowned at Arcus. "I do; we're on friendly terms since we share a border." That, and Ray, but that was not the business of this stranger.

Arcus would stare at the boy then, his eyes not leaving him anymore. He was an alpha, and Arcus was a wolf. He did have that inate politeness for alphas, that natural understanding that he owned the land behind him, and he had rights and skills and wolves at his beck and call. But how many wolves, that was the question. It didn't seem so lively, he couldn't smell too many wolves. So he just stared at him, smirking as the boy proved his thoughts. He hadn't claimed this land at all, it had been handed down to him. Not that that was entirely a bad thing. The pack was still standing after all, it seemed. He hummed lightly then, tilting his head before he looked back over to the Prairies where his siblings' scents were strong. This could be fun. Gale hadn't been too happy to see him, which meant that they weren't happy with him at all. Wouldn't it be nice if the next time Glacier or Voltage came to say hi to this pack, that Arcus showed up? Could be fun. He wouldn't say anything more about Donostrea. Let Ren find out on his own that Arcus was an Elementas, if it even mattered anymore. "Building it back up, hmm?" He said softly, his deep voice a soft gravel as he looked back at Ren. "I'll join." He said nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders then. He wanted to have fun, and besides...he was kinda hungry. "If ya got room for me in there." He rumbled, looking down at the boy. This would be fun. "Burn Baby Burn"

Patience. It was something his siblings never really had, but Ren possessed it with ease and used it regularly; this was one such time he exercised the use of it to control himself. It seemed as if Arcus was coming to a decision, and he would await that decision. His gaze was as steady as his body; it would not leave Arcus nor would he twitch a muscle. Finally, Arcus came to a decision. He spke first, and Ren would nod once in affirmation, and then that decision came. Joining. He would join. A delight lit up his eyes, and he waited patiently for Arcus to finish speaking. It didn't take long. "You are welcome in Borealis," he told the wolf, stepping aside so he could enter the territory. "Walk with me, Arcus. I will give you a tour of the lands, as well as explain our ranks and laws."

Arcus would wait patiently for the boy to say...something. It wouldn't take long, and he couldn't help but smirk slightly when he was offered a tour. Here Arcus had just said he'd join with no invitation, and it was accepted. Good, that made this all go faster. He took a deliberate step forward, stepping over the invisible line with a gentle nod of his head. "Sure." He said shortly, moving to look around. It didn't feel any different, but then again he honestly doubted it would. He had been a part of a pack, once. If Donostrea could even be a pack. He looked back at Ren then, tilting his head slightly. "What kinda pack you wanting to be? Now that you got the crown?" He asked in a soft rumble, truley curious now. "I know some fighting..." He said then, looking down. He didn't have many skills to offer, but he did like fighting. It was kind of...sad, wasn't it. But he'd keep that quiet for now, Ren didn't have to know that he was practically useless. "Burn Baby Burn"

The step Arcus took was quick, deliberate, with no hesitation. IT was admirable, and approval would shine in the alpha's eyes. It wouldn't take long for Arcus to ask a question, curiosity in his gaze and voice. Alright, he could answer that. "I with for a pack that is strong in battle, yet is also compassionate to those that need it. I wish for Borealis to be strong, capable, and efficient," he explained best he could, gesturing with his tail for Arcus to follow as he started walking. He nodded to the words of the older male. "Perhaps you could be a Hastati, a wolf in training to be a warrior, or perhaps something else, if it interests you. If there is a field you are interested in, we will find a way to get you trained - or get you to a teaching position so you can mentor others."