I wasn’t sure the reaction I was going for was laughter, though it wasn’t that nasty sort of laughter- it seemed more amused really and I could handle that. I was nearly four after all, nearly an adult and I think I should act like one- letting that smile stay on my lips all the same as the golden of my gaze flicked from one wolf to the other. They looked a bit the same and then different all at once. Maybe they were friends, or cousins or something- maybe even brothers I don’t know. It didn’t matter I suppose. As long as they weren’t here to try and launch an assault on the pack or anything. I doubt they were though. This was Asteraia after all- everyone knew exactly who protected Asteraia now and so far no one else had tried to challenge it since. I’d say everyone knew the Alphess too, but no one really does so that would be a moot point. Either way it remains the same, no one, I think, will attack Asteraia again, at least for awhile with Tobias snarling all over it and maybe he scares me just a little bit- but, well, it’s not like I don’t feel safe. I mean, we haven’t even had a single intruder since Tobias and Mrs Tobias took over, even with Mistress Jaidah there were wolves who just strolled on in sometimes. I think most were puppies though. Oh well. I wasn’t supposed if I did it right?

“Oh.”

I think I managed a sort of bemused look. If I didn’t ask if I did it right then he was I ever supposed to learn? I was new at border patrol, I was a spy after all, that was my trade and talent. Walking right up to wolves and saying hello isn’t exactly what spy’s do. Well- maybe if they are terribly bad spies. As it happened however, I was rather good at it. Maybe that just meant my border patrol skills were lacking, not that I think either of the wolves before me had much intention of pinning me down and storming the metaphorical gates. Actually- they seemed rather pleasant, kinda pretty too, for boys at least- even if they couldn’t seem to decide who was walking were and almost looked a bit tangled in each other for a moment before one of them spoke, introducing themselves as another grin touched my lips- tail waving now.

“I was right! Well, I was half right. I thought maybe you were friends, then I thought cousins and then I thought brothers, it was my third choice but I still got it.”

Aurum and Argentum. My Father would have had a field day with those names. I was sure they meant something, words I had heard Pan use before but that I couldn’t remember. I was truly a disappointing son in that regard. I let my attention rest on Aurum, he seemed to be the one talking the most all the same as he spoke of the leadership changes and searching for a pack to settle down in. It was smart, I suppose, to visit packs before joining them. I still had to visit Diveen, to see that land though I was sure it wasn’t the one I was looking for, the one that hunted my dreams. The land I needed so badly was flat and open like Asteraia but….it wasn’t green, not at all. It was different somehow, this place I had never been but was so determined to find one day. My thoughts managed to be distracted when the other brother spoke, asking to be indulged with the information of the pack as I nodded and my dreams of a land I couldn’t find disappeared to the back of my mind.

“Well I’ve been here a long time now. I came to Asteraia just after Mistress Jaidah took over it, she had a mate and children and I liked her alright- then the new Alphess came. Some of the wolves went with Jaidah I think and our pack was quiet for awhile but a few of us stayed too and the pack is growing again now, new wolves are coming and we are getting busy again- not to busy though, I like that though, there are lots of ranks to be filled and I want to have one of the good spots before they all get taken.”

Well. It was true, in a huge pack like Spirane there was almost nothing left to win, here in Asteraia, well, there were ranks to be had still and I liked that, things to work for, things to do.

“I like the new Alphess to, she does not talk to much but she is fair. Our new Alpha is a bit…er….strange. He scares me a little bit but since he came here we don’t have trespassers anymore and no one from our pack has been attacked because he guards our borders so well. He is scary but, well, we are safe here- both our King and Queen have won battles. She does the talking and he keeps watch and it works, our pack is growing again and I think there are going to be puppies again in the spring.”

Well, it was just a guess, but I was pretty sure I was right. I am a spy after all, I do know things. Hopefully soon Asteraia would be united with Diveen and Spirane too, we could use ally’s and why not have the best ones?