Like Heartless, I have been patrolling the borders waiting on the captive's arrival so she must have snuck in during a hole in the patrol to have made it past both of us. Never once during my patrols did I come across her scent or find her holed up anywhere in my home. I know my pack lands like I know my own coat since I was born and raised here. I've explored all there is to explore of the ravines and the plateaus so to know that Nakato has been here hiding out concerns me. Perhaps I'll double the border patrol after this. When Tick Tock comes to "call," if that's what you would call her growling, snapping march on the borders, it would seem that something does get through to the scared stolen wolf though for it's not long after that she comes running up to meet us. The first thing I notice is her stubby tail wagging and after the obvious question of how she got a stubby tail in my mind, I note that she must be happy to see them so maybe they're less grumpy at home and she actually likes it there.

I never wanted a wolf stolen from another pack. I'm trying to make alliances with all the packs of Moladian if it can be done and that's certainly not the way to do it. I believe this must be a misunderstanding but will Tick Tock calm down long enough to hear me out? I want to end this on peaceful terms but we both have to have clear minds to do so. Hyrule told me that the mysterious alpha is smart and I know she has no qualms with my mother and grandfather for what they did for her. Will she give me the same benefit or throw us down a pit without knowing all the facts? As the stubby tailed prisoner moves toward us, I step aside with a reassuring nod of my head, letting her know that nothing will become of her for going to her rightful alphas. I would never step between a pack wolf and her chosen home. I watch her move along the alpha's side before standing behind her and I then let my gaze return to the scarred female.

There is so much righteous anger in the alpha's eyes and I don't like it. First off I'm a prideful creature and I don't believe anyone has the right to be angry with me unless I know damn well what's I've done and I have my reasons for doing it or if I'm just as angry in return so I could care less about their feelings. But I've never met this alpha to know much about her and I certainly don't mean her ill will. I understand that she's upset about her wolf being taken but couldn't she have come in asking for answers instead of demanding them like we left a note saying "come pick up your pack wolf at Diveen, haha?" It must be a mistunderstanding; I can believe no less of Heartless. She has never struck me as a wolf to go against the word of her alpha and I have stated that no pack wolves are to be stolen. I do not blame her disability in sight, only her right as a wolf like anyone else in Moladian and the world to make mistakes. Perhaps Nakato was just visiting Asteraia at the time and she thought she might like to see Diveen. I cannot believe that she would see Nakato deeming herself a pack wolf of Asteraia and decide it's a good idea to steal her.

She looks at me like a traitor but I feel no guilt under my coat for wrongdoing, only a disappointment that I am not to face a strong alpha with open mind such as I have offered up myself. Covet called Angels hypocrites and snobs, ones with such closed minds that they would no sooner look at a black and red wolf than kill it. And yet look at us now? We take in wolves of any bloodline and any color and I offer rewards as fairly as possible. I come to meet her on neutral grounds to discuss what has happened but I only feel slighted that she can't look at me with less judgemental eyes than I'm seeing right now. Do I not deserve the right to defend myself and my wolves? I know I'm taking that chance to defend them anyway because that is my right as their alpha. Maybe this would be a time to know Kane's input or Isola's, to know how they would deal with such hostility but they're not here right now so I can only react in my own way. Maybe it's right and maybe it's the complete opposite. Either way, I'm going for it.

I'm sure with winter in the air, hormones are not on her side and neither are they on mine. We are restless and strained, helpless to our instincts at this time of year. And now her possession of a pack wolf is in question and she's reacting with instinct. I get that. Now let's fight the instincts and do something about it. I respect the fact that she stopped on my borders. Tobias meanwhile seems to keep eying it like a deep endless abyss awaits on the other side. He edges forward before changing his mind like he's going to drop dead the minute he even thinks about crossing so maybe luck is on my side a little. I know it wouldn't have gone well at all if the alpha had come on across the borders to reclaim her wolf so I still have hope that we can calm the situation and talk about this like adults. I had come in time to hear Heartless' greeting to the wolves that seems innocent enough but it seems to only feed the alpha's anger. I don't like her threatening steps or the tell tale eyes of a killer she fixes on MY wolf. I did not harm a hair on her wolf's head. Heck, we never even saw her in Diveen before today. I understand that she's angry about Nakato's stealth but how would hurting Heartless help the situation? That's not the thoughts of a leader but of a straight up killer. How can we possibly have peace between our packs with thoughts like that?

I don't like the tone she uses on Heartless. Accusing, like Heartless put it in her face what she did and is taunting her about it. My own eyes narrow, my hackles crinkling but I calm myself, remembering what Hyrule said, that an alliance would be good. I just have to remind myself to be respectful while also setting boundaries because my own pack wolves will not be put in harm's way just to get an alliance going. That's no way to be a leader either. I leave Heartless to answer her words even so, if only because I'm curious of what she'll say. When she turns her glare on me, I dare to show surprise only for a second before I fix her with an even but neutral gaze, neither judging nor closed off, merely measuring her up, deciding how best to proceed further. As Nakato appraoches, she steps aside before taking a protective stance in front of her pack wolf. Her hackles raised catch my eye with a flash of displeasure in my own gaze before I recover and put an impassive facade back on. Body language is something I've always been very observant of and hackles are a threat, a warning. I see no need for that here since neither Heartless nor I have shown protest in their presence here or in Nakato's return to her side. I see only a threat to the safety of my pack wolves and I don't like it.

When she speaks to me, her voice drips with venom and my eyes flash right back at her now. I am patient enough to let her say her piece but my jaws are tight even at her first words. She even brings up the beetle, Covet, as if the sound of his name will sway our opinion of the situation. I'm sure a lot of pack wolves would turn him down because he was a jerk and a liar but his name only pushes my own temper with all the crimes he brought to my family and my rightful place. She brings up other names, my mother, my grandfather, putting them out like gifts she did for my benefit but I only see things she did for her own favor. Did she feel obligated to do these things? No one was forcing her paws. If she didn't want to come, she didn't have to. I understand that she wants it to be known that she has not shown ill will toward me or my family but she could just say that. Why the tirade? Only when she is completely done do I take a deep breath before I choose to speak, wanting to choose my words carefully so as to try to defuse the situation.

"I understand your anger. I believe there has been a misunderstanding, nothing more. Heartless set out for Nakato when she was still packless and by the time it was done, Nakato had made her decision in favor of Asteraia. She did not make herself known in Diveen or I would have sent her back home. You come with accusations but don't give the chance for another side of the story. We have not come to stop you and we do not hold a threat to you or your pack members. Nakato is more than welcome to return home with you. If I had known her presence within my pack lands before this, you wouldn't have needed to come. You misunderstand our intentions and throw it at my feet like I planned it all in advance. I know the winter is strong but I ask that you calm yourself and speak to me as a fellow alpha, not as a child to be scolded and lectured."

I keep my tone level the whole way through, not spitting my words are her like she did to me. I'm hoping in this way I can show her that I owe her nothing but respect but I ask the same in return. I listen as Heartless responds, my eye brow lifting at one pieace of her speech. My gaze turns to her. "I'm sure she was just busy with other duties to her pack, Heartless." My voice is smooth as honey and yet there's an underlying authority to remind her that insulting the alpha of Asteraia will not help the situation. I like Heartless, don't get me wrong. I have a soft spot for her but I cannot allow my pack wolves to instigate either and I feel the remark about the alpha's up-keep on her wolves is both unnecessary and inappropriate. At her next words, my own hackles rise a little and now I turn my body to half-face Heartless, disappointment in my gaze. "I will find you later, Heartless. Please dismiss yourself." My tone leaves no room for argument now. She is not going to help the situation speaking like that and I cannot even think about an alliance while worrying about her safety in front of a wolf like Tobias. The alpha is already angry and she's poking at her with a stick with such words.

I wait for her to do as told and leave before I turn back to the alpha, bowing my head. "That was uncalled for and it shall be dealt with. If you need to get your pack member back home, I understand. All I ask is that you give Diveen, that you give ME, another chance to earn your trust. I will even come to your lands if you wish for your own comfort. I want to wipe the slate clean and I worry that there is too much tension right now to get anything accomplished. Tell me your thoughts on the matter."

{Kane x Isola} {8 years} {42in, 200#} {Diveen's Blood Angel} {Vega's Heart} {Father to Paravana, Emil, & Atlas}
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