Conquest [Airila, Isata]

[Toiro]

Toiro watched the two Isata wolves as they thought about his words. His mind was rushing through all the different ways they could respond, when suddenly another wolf appeared on the scene. That changed things. Dihren and Vixen looked pleased to see him, so he must hold a lot of respect in the pack. The newcomer strode forwards and growled an introduction. Ah, yes. That explained it. Although, it must have been a very recent decision because he hadn’t heard anything about the beta taking over before. Of course, betas usually took over as alphas if something happened to the previous alpha, but he was still a little surprised to hear it because of how long the pack had been lying dormant.

In any case, this wolf was certainly acting like an alpha by the dominant position in which he stood, with tail raised and head high. The larger grey wolf didn’t outwardly react to the other’s aggression, other than standing on guard. He was not going to cower as if the other frightened him, but nor was he going to risk upsetting the brute even more by matching the dominant position, which might be considered an insult seeing as he was on Isata’s territory. He had not come here for a fight, so if the beta – now alpha – wouldn’t listen he would just have to leave.

Toiro’s heart was sinking fast. He shouldn’t have howled as if he was an invader – he should have just asked to talk. This was all turning into such a big mess, and he knew he was unlikely to get a second chance.

“My name is Toiro, alpha of Airila. I’m sorry for intruding like this, but I’m not trying to take your lands from you or your pack. All I’m asking is that we join together, if in no other way then at least to hunt. Winter is coming and prey is going to be much harder to find around these parts. The more wolves a pack has the better”

Toiro wasn’t going to give up hope just yet; not until it was certain that Isata wouldn’t consider the offer. Neither Vixen nor Dihren had told him their views on the matter yet, so he didn’t really know where they were at. It was good that they hadn’t completely opposed the idea, but they did seem to have a lot of respect for Jay and his decision would ultimately be the one that counted.



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[dihren]

Dihren's ears heard Torio introducing himself to Jay. He wasn't so sure how this was all going to go down. He had never been in this type of situation before in hsi entire life. He had no idea what was comming ahead and frankly, it made Ren nervous. Was Jay going to hold this against him? Would he forgive him? Would he be demoted? So many questions and not an answer for a single one of them.

Dihren wanted to remain happy that Isata had an alpha again. He wanted to be happy that at least Jay hadn't died, he was not so sure about Sapphire. Part of him wanted to ask but, another part of him told him that it would be too much of a personal matter. Besides, it's too soon to talk about her. He wasn't even sure he wanted to talk about her right now. He still couldn't wrap his mind around why his alphess had just abandoned them like that. Why wouldn't she have at least said something instead of leaving them in dust? Part of him was a little angry with her.

He waited to see Jay's response. He was ready to stand behind his alpha no matter what. Jay's opinion was the one that mattered now, not his. Whatever Jay decided, would be the final word, he was not ready to cross Jay again. He felt like he had done something horribly wrong even though most wolves would have done the same thing. He felt like he should have known that at least one of them would come back. He knew that he would be kicking himself over this for the next week at least. Though, Torio's ideas weren't bad. Even if they stayed as two separate packs, hunting together would be very beneficial for them. Ren wasn't much of a hunter himself and Vixen was too young to go by herself and he wasn't aware of anyone else still here. So, he hoped that Jay took that into consideration when making this decision for all of them.

[jay]

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[atrb=background,http://i39.tinypic.com/ejxyqt.png] So this was their neighbor after all. Jay's eyes watched Toiro suspiciously, searching for any signs of malice or ill intent against his pack. With the absence of Sapphire, it only made sense that he do everything in his power to provide for and preserve Isata. He would not let their pack die away. He did not want it to be absorbed, either. After all, that was a sign of sure failure on his part, and he could not have that. But at the same time, Jay needed to keep his mind open. This decision would not only affect him and Sapphire's memory, but Dihren and Vixen as well. They were equal parts in this pack, and though they seemed excited upon his return, he wondered if they would grow to question his leadership as he had grown to question Meikou's. After all, Aldgar had only fallen to Meikou because of Xinelil's death. How could he be sure that they would not grow to resent him as he had grown to resent her? The pack was now his because Sapphire had apparently seen something in him that he could not see himself. Would they see what she had seen? Or would Isata crumble under his leadership? They were already falling apart to an extent. There were so few of them. Could they survived without this brute's offer? Jay's eyes drifted closed momentarily, an eerie sense of calm washing over him. Can I do this? he wondered worriedly. While he had backed off the brute a little, he still held himself proudly. He had been an alpha for a grand total of a few days, and he was already doubting himself. His self-confidence made itself known in a whirl of white feathers as Alearia swooped in to perch on his shoulder. The large owl hooted softly, turning a stink eye on the brute who she had never met. "Who is this, Jay?" she asked with disdain, her dislike prominent as she trilled. However, she almost immediately paid the brute no mind and turned to preen her feathers, leaving the wolves to their talking. "Toiro, I understand where you are coming from. I am not opposed to an alliance between our packs, but I will have to respectfully decline any joining that you may have intended from this visit," Jay asserted firmly. "Isata is going to remain independent though, particularly because we have enough to support ourselves. Any coalition is simply a convenience and intended to better my pack, are we clear?" The brute had no intentions of allowing Toiro control over him. While Dihren and Vixen did not bear high ranks, he did. For the first time in his life, he had something to be proud of, and he did not plan to let that slip away. Isata would survive, with or without Airila's help.

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[Toiro]

(OOC: Skipping Vixen because she can't really do much))


Toiro looked up in surprise as a snowy owl appeared and swooped down to land on Jay’s shoulder. He had heard that the beta of Isata had a companion bird, but hadn’t quite believed it. She stared at him with an obvious dislike glittering in her sharp amber eyes and then almost pointedly turned away and started to preen her feathers. It was a clear insult, but he refused to show how hurt he was by it. Instead, he focused back on Jay and listened to his words.

The Airila alpha nodded. It was what he had expected. After Keyara disappeared he wouldn’t have joined with another pack, even if it was to save his life. Shyia would forever be his home, and nothing would take it from him.

He was relieved that the new alpha had now taken a less aggressive stance, which meant that he had really considered the offer. “An alliance, then?” If Toiro was leaving, which it seemed he was, he wanted to leave on good terms with the pack that lived here.

Even though his visit had not got what he wanted, it had at least shocked the Isata pack into life, and for them he was happy. These were good wolves and he really hoped that the pack flourished. Jay the alpha, Dihren the warrior, and Vixen the gatherer. Which reminded him of how kind the youngest wolf had been to fix up his wounded shoulder.

“Thank you, Vixen. Your help is much appreciated.” He supposed that he would have to try to help Castien himself, with the knowledge of what Vixen had told him. Although he didn’t know what echinacea was, he knew a place in the forest where some dragon fruit grew.

Toiro turned to the others and politely inclined his head. “Thank you for considering my offer.”

After one last glance at the three wolves, the large grey wolf turned, and with his head held high, walked away, following the route back to Shyia. Inside, however, his heart was low and he wondered what he was going to do when he got back home. Two wolves would struggle to catch enough prey in the snowy mountains, and one of them wasn’t even a hunter. Yes, deep water was bad luck.



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