Unbeknowest to Tamlin, he was not the only wolf headed toward the scent of the newcomer. The fickle wind had blown the perfume of one of Bright Moon's warriors away from him and into some other part of the air that the lord's olfactory could not detect. However, he was not unaware of the presence for too long, for as he neared the unmistakable tang of estrogen and canine on his borders, he became aware of his comrade. Judging on the concentration of the aroma, the king surmised that the approaching creature was not too far away from his current location, and was continuing to get closer as he trotted through the lands. He flicked a single ear, detecting faint sounds of passage approaching his limber form just as he broke through the foliage and began to survey the pale she-wolf. He had arrived a bit before Rhoe, and was able to complete a small exchange with the newcomer before she came into the vicinity.
Tamlin's face had been blank as he inquired as to her name, and she had replied well to the question. The wolfess responded maturely and elegantly, dubbing herself Winter Shadow and stating her intentions. Her bow was short and to the point, not a waste of time. His facial expression did not change much, but it softened slightly, showing his approval for her actions and demeanour. His navy blue eyes, which had been cool and detached before, were noticeably less so as he next allowed his lilting voice to flow from his maw. “Thank you, Winter Shadow. If you are willing to commit to protect the pack, I welcome you to Bright Moon.”
Rhoe had arrived just as he opened his maw to speak, but nevertheless, he finished his sentence before turning his head toward the ebony-coated maiden, inclining his crown in response to her demure nod. He was pleased to see the relatively new recruit already taking her duties as a pack warrior seriously. Tamlin respected the black canid for her hard work already, despite the fact that, due to the recent challenge, he hadn't been able to get to know her. He watched, silent, as the miss effortlessly took over the conversation, asking Winter Shadow if she was alright and gaining a quiet response in return. The alpha took their companionship as his cue to disappear. He let a slight smile turn up the corners of his lips before he spoke. “I'll take my leave for now. Welcome to Bright Moon, Wintershadow.” He glanced at Rhoedias, gave another quick nod and let more words escape his maw. “Thank you for your hard work.”
With that, the lean male turned heel and vanished into the underbrush – off to his next assignment, which was to get a little sleep before his next obligation dragged him into the exhausting world of social interaction.
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