Blood Titan seemed pleased hear Horizon’s ideal rank, and he’d even laughed at the small jest of his former rank. The thought of wrestling pups did not exactly appeal to Horizon, at least not right now. There was still much to discover in himself before he’d ever even come to the conclusion that he could find himself capable of love, let alone take care of a pup. The bastard’s upbringing had never exactly lent itself to the formulation of confidence, familial skills, or emotional development – except for maybe anger and betrayal. Those were the basic emotions that Farant beat into all of his army and the servants were the same except maybe the anger was overruled by fear. Some wolves would tremble at the sight of Farant, others would cower, and some would just freeze in their tracks until he told them to move. And rather aggressively at that. The King of Faraway seemed to just hold an intrinsic ability to instill cowardice and aggression into everything or everyone he touched. That was why Horizon was having a more difficult time letting himself trust Blood Titan. All male figures in his life had beaten him down, berated him, and made him to feel worth less than the dirt they walked on. There was a reason Horizon wasn’t making the effort to build connections or bridges back to his family in Cold Summers. If he’d gone back there he would have never gotten the chance to start over. Not with Akuji and Shae still in the terra, and the looming threat of Farant’s return hanging in the air.

Suddenly Horizon was jolted back into reality as his Alpha stopped, and as if on cue he stopped almost perfectly in sync. That was the residual effect of having been the servant to another wolf for so long. Horizon didn’t have to be conscious to do certain tasks, like stopping and starting in sync with whoever he was walking with. Horizon blinked to refocus himself and looked to Titan finding himself staring eye to eye with the Alpha, I’m glad your eyes are set on gamma, that’s exactly what I was hoping to hear. Your reasons are clearly based on what you feel qualified to do or, you know, with what you could most help the pack. I’ll always want to see that rather than a wolf that’s just in it for the title. The official decision will be made between Ameira and myself but for now you’re definitely in consideration for that rank. Horizon nodded his head, thankful that he had a shot at Gamma. My interest in the pack whole heartedly based on the fact that I know that this was my second chance and it will be for many others. I want those wolves to feel just as welcomed as I did when I first came to Munashii Gekko, I want everyone to be given the same chance to grow and evolve into a better wolf like I am trying to do.

There seemed a momentary pause of breath at Titan gathered his thoughts once more. And without even thinking about it Horizon fell in line at Blood Titan’s shoulder as they traveled deeper into the terra. Horizon over the last few seasons had been getting to know the territory through and through. Most of the pack land had become muscle memory for him, especially to his den by the creek. It was off on the outer border of Munashii but it was still enough ways in the pack lands to be counted as safe in his mind. Titan was going on about the liason skills that would be required of him as a Gamma. Horizon nodded along more into the listening to what all was said. From the moment the kalak had met the dual colored Alpha, he seemed best at giving long winded speeches laden with information. This did not bother Horizon one bit considering he had to memorize lists of chores and tasks back in Faraway that way outweighed the amount of information that Titan was feeding to him. The one thing that did surprise him though was the thought of have an apprentice. Horizon had always been a loner in his life of servitude, and he had never expected this change. But change was good, right?

The recruitment part of the job is not the main focus but it probably will take up more of your time during slow seasons. Like now, for example, when we don’t have many new wolves coming to the borders. We want to encourage large numbers in our pack land. Safety in numbers is a good sentiment but it’s an understatement. There is survival in numbers. Not just safety but food and exercise and procreating and really thriving is based in numbers.

Horizon couldn’t have agreed more. Packs were a safe haven for the reason that it offered a wolf a safe place to stay with wolves that were of similar mindsets. And the more the merrier, but really Titan had it right, there was survival in numbers. It was why Farant had no issue taking control of wherever and whatever he wanted. The brute had amassed an army that could have easily dwarfed a single pack in Blossom Forest. And to top it off there were ranks and within those ranks were the best of the best, from asaasins, to spies, to the monstrous brutes for paw-to-paw combat. He’d seen some of those males, and they made even Horizon look somewhat small. Sure Horizon towered over most kalaks because of his height but these soldiers were bred to be massive. And it was terrifying, but the maned wolf pulled out of his thoughts to pay attention to Titan, who had begun to speak on a systematic way of bringing in new wolves.

Horizon cocked his head slightly, it was an odd way to do things, but there was no denying the efficiency that could be achieved. He was somewhat against the idea only because Horizon preferred to get to know the wolves he would be bringing to his homeland, but it he couldn’t draw full judgment until he’d tried it for himself. Horizon chuckled quietly as Titan apologized for the overload of information, Do not ever worry about overloading me. I have had to memorize and carry out lists of information that are much more than what you’ve just told me. And I say that not to sound cocky, but to tell you that there are very few things that faze me. Horizon looked to Titan, his mismatched ember and mud optics holding an open, honest gaze. After all that you have told me I hold no reservations for attaining the rank of Gamma. If you are ready to move forward, then so am I.