It was a quiet night, but still he kept going. It had been another long season since he'd returned to her this time. Even now, he was reluctant to return without any signs of her.. their.. children to bring good news. Right now, honestly.. he just wanted to see her again. He spent the last two weeks trailing back out of Auster just to make his way home to her, and this time... he didn't have the patience to wait idly outside of the pack territory for her.

He was lost, not in navigation but in his heart. Guilt ate him alive, depression sunk into every corner of his mind and it was hard for him to find the courage to keep fighting for his survival. It's all he had ever done in his life, fight to survive.. and all he had ever wanted was to be there for his kin and to see their family thrive in circumstances far less harsh than what he was born in. When his sister had her litter, he had been thrilled and full of hope for a better place for them.

It wasn't long before his uncontrollable outbursts scared her to the point where he wasn't even welcome around them. The moment his sister stood between him and her children and he saw the fear in her eyes was the moment he truly realized how much of a monster he really was. A part of him was proud of his sister for protecting them from him, it was a bittersweet feeling.

Worn paw pads finally stopped moving, radiantly sore even though he still stood on them there at the edge of the territory for Lirim. She had told him to stay away, but something inside of him was searching for conflict in this moment. He had nothing good to tell her about her missing sons, and tracking was the only thing he was halfway decent at doing anymore. If he couldn't even successfully do that, what was his purpose hiding away as if trying to prove he was anything better than the rapist they thought him to be?

Perhaps, they would kill him. Perhaps, they would deliver the justice that he deserved to feel. He imagined it clearly in his mind, flying teeth coming down on him from all angles as her loved ones took their much-needed revenge out on him for what he had done. His ears perked for just a moment, eyes wide as he stood there in his thoughts. When he finally pulled himself out of them, those ears shot back and the behemoth threw back his skull, a deep sound resonating within his magnificent chest to come out as a bellowing roar for a howl. He let it ring fully, only stopping once his breath was weakening. He stood there, red eyes glowing beneath the full twilight as he watched the willows and waited for the pack to arise.

"Come and get me," he said quietly and under his breath. Though, as he stood there.. he couldn't help but hope that among the ones answering his call, she would be there- at least for him to see one last time.

He was sleeping with Kairi when that howl rang out. And the man immediately rolled onto his feet. Icy blue gaze hardened as he stared off in the direction of the call, and while he had no idea who it was, it sounded a little too close for comfort. His daughter stirred, asking him what was wrong, "Kairi, go find your brother and stay with him!" He ordered, and although she was about to protest, the look he gave her made her realize she should listen this time. He saw her off as she went to search for Rory, meanwhile, he turned and headed as quickly as he could to meet whoever had issued that call. The large man hurried across the pack lands, large paws pounding the ground as he went. Whoever this was, sounded threatening. Was he challenging the pack? Looking to take Lirim from the paws of his boy? "Not on my watch..." He hissed. He neared the stranger, and right away he noticed the other was practically toeing their borders. The large male was about the same size as he was, and scarred up. Ears flattened against his head, tail lashing as he put on more speed and aimed to come head on at the stranger. He acted as if he were going to charge right at him at full speed, but last second he came to an abrupt halt. He didn't know who this was, but he was sure as hell going to find out! "Are you aiming to trespass onto the wrong packs lands!?" He rumbled, piercing gaze boring into the other. His fur was bristled, stance threatening. If this man thought he could just stroll in without a scratch, he was dead wrong! And then...he noticed it. That smell. It was the scent on Zuriel's coat. The one that smelled similar to her pups. This...this couldn't be him, could it? This wasn't the male that Faite had told him about...right? Another sniff. And his doubts melted away. It was. His snarl grew louder, body tensing more. "You have a death wish, don't you!? You're not going one step further!" He'd be damned if this...this rapist came in and got his little girl! He wouldn't be surprised if this man had taken Zuriel's pups already and harmed them. Was he coming back for Zuriel too? Zell vs Elias for...(Nothing yet >.>; ) ooc//edited my post a bit since i didn't realize it was night and that elias hadn't trespassed yet lol "Talk"

Take one last look behind

Leshia slept restlessly.  She wasn't sure why her mind insisted on hopping up and down like a monkey, chattering incessantly until she wanted to bash her head against a rock.  Fuchsia eyes blinked slowly, peering up toward the moon before she got to her feet.  Well, she might as well get a drink and enjoy the warm summer evening.  It was bound to be one of the few left as autumn was lingering just beyond the horizon and was likely to arrive in a matter of weeks.

She'd just bent her head to drink from a stream when a low and foreign call rang out near the border.  There was something haunting about it but also something threatening.  Her eyes narrowed.  This was not the typical tone one would take when seeking to join a pack, no this call rang out like a challenge.  Great, what now?  Why was Lirim attracting so much trouble?  She leapt over the stream and raced toward the source of the call, hoping others had heard as well.  Leshia was a spitfire and a warrior in her own right but she wasn't confident in her abilities to defend the pack unaided.

Leshia came upon a large, scarred male and was relieved to see that Zell was there as well.  She pulled up to Zell's right side, leaving about ten feet between her and the Lirim male.  She wasn't going to make it easy on their intruder and if he decided to attack she wanted to make sure that both she and Zell had space to work with. "Zell!  Do you know this male?"  She set her defenses quickly, awaiting orders.

Speech

A howl woke her from her sleep. Her eyes drooped and she groaned as she rolled over. She lifted her head and eyed the den. It was empty it seemed but of course Rory was somewhere near by. She caned her head and gave a bark for his attention. She hadn't moved to a den too far from Faite's but she was alone in it now. She welcomed the independence from Faite's children. She roused then slid from her den. She shook out her pelt before hobbling out. Her pace was slowed by her limping but she was determined to make it there. She knew the dangers of strangers almost better than anyone here now, but she chalked up the courage anyway. As she arrived on the scene she noted the way Zell was acting and canted her head. Why was he so hostile? Whatever the case she moved to stand beside Leshia. She gave the stranger a tentative smile and dipped her head. "Boss be here soon," Her voice was shaky but she wouldn't falter. "why come? If not rude of Jewell to ask?" her accent was still thick but she figured someone had to be the friendly face. Maybe she should tell Zell to stop? She didn't know. He was older than her so didn't that mean she shouldn't tell him what to do? Walk, "Talk" Think

He waited for the bastard to answer him, but before that change happened, Leshia had arrived. He didn't know her well, but he appreciated her being there to back him up if things went sour, which in this case, they more than likely would. She questioned him about the male, and his lip curled up in a snarl. "No, but I know he's the guy that hurt Zuriel!" He growled, eyes never leaving Elias for a moment. Soon after...Jewell arrived. He cursed under his breath when the foreign child showed up, and he was growing more agitated with her presence here. When she spoke and dared to smile at the stranger, he had had it! He snapped his head towards her, blue eyes blazing. Did this girl not learn from the last time she tried to be friendly with someone!? Obviously not. She was always getting into trouble, and the pack had to keep pulling her out of it. She had no rights to show up and tell them that "the boss would be there soon." He had every authority to be here with or without his son, but her? She was no warrior. She did nothing to benefit the pack. All she did was cause trouble, and he was tired of it. He wasn't going to stick his neck out for her. Rory had done it and ended up having to fight her battle because she was a pack member, but to him, she was no more than that. Faite may have adopted her, but Zell didn't see her as one of his own. None of his children were that childish or dumb, even Kairi, and she was pretty childish. But even she knew to stay out of trouble. "Jewell, get out of here and go back to your den!" He snarled, tail lashing as he glared at her. If she didn't leave now, he'd have to call someone to take her back to her den and make sure she stayed there. There was no room for childish games here, not now. Why was she even up at this hour? He was boiling with rage, and she was only adding to it. If she wanted to continue getting into trouble, she could do it somewhere else and risk some other packs time. What was Faite thinking? "Talk"

The visitor didn't even get the chance to answer her and there was violence playing out. Not directed at the new male, but at her. Her ears pressed back and eyes went wide. Her tail whipped beneath her quickly and she took steps back, granted they were more of limps as she forced her injured leg to help her retreat from this aggression. She didn't quite understand why he was mad, but at the moment she went on instinct. Everything told her to run. Her eyes flash to leshia, silent pleas in them. Tears welled up.

She played the scene over and over in her head, looking for where she had become the enemy here. She shrank back as she looked at Zell's snarling face. This was all wrong. "Jewell just wanna help like Faite...." her voice was barely a whisper. No one truly knew how much she looked up to Faite. Faite didn't need aggression, didn't need help, didn't ever seem to have to rely on someone else. All she could remember was how kind Faite was and how had Jewell had tried to be just like her.

Her legs were shaking as she made her choice. Lifting her injured leg she forced it to work despite the pain that threatened to draw out yelps every time she used it. She slunk off into the foliage, keeping fearful eyes on zell the entire time. He was just like the nightmares, just like Ariet. After she was a good enough distance away she started hobbling again to relieve the pressure and pain. That didn't stop the tears as they streamed down her face. She wanted Faite and she wanted Rory. They were safety. She couldn't go to Rory though, zell would come for her there. And her den wasn't likely much safer. He'd find that easily. She'd have to move even deeper in then. Somewhere that wasn't easy to get to. She was quick to find a willow with twisting roots. It didn't have alot of space under it but the best part was getting under it would take someone of her size or smaller. She quickly crawled under, squeezing past the roots and that was where she curled up. Her eyes were on the slivers of light from outside.

-exit-