It looked very much as if the fellow before me was attempting to die. Maybe he was, maybe he had simply dragged himself all the way here so that a Diveen assassin could finish him off. Then again, my assassins are rarely taken with ending the lives of obscure young wolves for little reason then their own personal desire to die. Maybe he is attempting to die of bad hair. I am entirely sure were my pelt to look as ragged and destroyed as his own that I would be given to die of the shame of it. Hmm, maybe I should be a little more understanding, the boys Alpha pair did die- then again, I have spent my life looking at death, I offered my momentary condolences and the moment has passed and gone. I honoured the Alphas as they were deserving and I will offer no more. As far as I am concerned, if the boy has come running from the mountains in fear of his own life he could have at least stopped to fix his fur on the way. Is that entirely too much to ask? Maybe it is. No one really appreciates hair anymore….I feel I may be getting off topic. I paused once more, waiting for the boy to say something, do something other then pant at me in an unattractive manner. I was near about to ask if he needed some kind of medical attention before he managed to remember his name. Noel? I suppose it counts of a name.

The boy managed a number of uneven breaths as he seemed to struggle for the words once more, one eye lifting slightly in curiosity. Was Spirane under siege of some kind? Had Purge opened the doors for Iromar to feed? I’d hardly be surprised if she did, then again, her skill on the battle field left much to be desired, her victory over Moonglow notable perhaps, then again, Moonglow was near sixteen years of age. Either way if this boy was the messenger they had chosen to raise the alarm of some sort of impending attack I am entirely inclined to suggest they fire him. His next words however saw my handsome head turn sharply back towards him, violet eyes finding his own with evident interest as the beginnings of a smirk traced my lip. Well now…..it would seem I have misjudged the white pelted boy.

“Now you have my attention. I think we should take a walk. Come.”

Walking will also help his damn breathing to return to normal and allow him to string a few words together, my form turning from his own more submissive frame in that moment to wander lackadaisically into Diveen, the movement an evident invitation to allow the boy in and draw him away from the borders and any lingering ears or eyes. So shoot me, it’s been awhile since anyone assassinated a Queen or at least- had a planned dethroning. Hmm, I rather believe the last one to do it was me with the unfortunate Apollymi, about time somebody else made an attempt and really, I think he’s come entirely to the right place. Perhaps Isola would not approve, then again, Purge had sought to make an enemy of both Diveen’s leaders and truthfully I have little doubt that Isola may not be entirely displeased. I paused to wait for the boy, Noel, to find place at my side, aged limbs moving to walk beside the youth of his own as I moved to lead him towards one of the packs infamous fields of gold, turned green in the summer, waiting until is breathing settled before I spoke once more.

“Tell me, are you merely a pack wolf of Spirane or are you a child of Moonglow and Alcide, seeking a vengeance for their deaths?”

I paused only long enough to seek an answer, unaware indeed that the boy may well not know of the passing of the mated pair these nights past, continuing once more.

“Either way, I see no reason not to help you. I will accept you into this pack until you gain your own and indeed, I have no love for Purge and see no reason not to help you, yet it depends on what you want. Do you seek to defeat her or to kill her? After all, you have come to the land of Assassins and for your service in our ranks, there may be more then simply fighting we can teach you.”

Another smirk curled easily across my lips, tail flicking as I wandered beside him before another thought struck, head turned back to his own to eye him critically.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I require you to walk at least one wolf length away from me until you do something about your hair, this-“

And here I gesture to my perfectly groomed self with a nod.

“-does not happen without effort and if you ruin my fur I will ruin you before Purge ever gets the chance.”