His family was starting to act more like one and he couldn't be more pleased. Malleah was finally getting her strength back and Lucia was glad to have her mother to play with. It seemed his daughter had also found a new friend in a young boy about her age. He was still the protective father and she was his only child so it was only right that he was skeptical. But at the same time, he knew that being a band of loners was lonely for a young pup with no siblings her own age. Myrria did her best to be a good big sister but Lucia was full of energy. He admired Myrria for the way she had taken to Lucia. He knew that she didn't care for him and he wouldn't push for it because she was trying for Lucia and Malleah.

He hadn't had another chance to talk to Myrria since their encounter at the tundra but he hoped she would give him a chance to explain. He wanted her to know that while she may not trust him, he would do whatever it took to keep her and the rest of his family safe. He was out hunting for them as it was, trying to find more food so Malleah could keep her strength up. He didn't want to lose this side of her now that he was finally getting her back. He took to the usual trails through the free lands, avoiding most of the other loners cause you never know what you're gonna get. Some were friendly but others were decidedly not.

He saw the flick of a tail as a young wolf went trotting past his path with a squirrel in his mouth. He could smell the forest on the pup so he let him pass quietly, sure that the young wolf was more than ready to get back home with his prize. It only made him yearn to be back in the den with Malleah and his own family that much more. But first he needed food to keep feeding them all. He always thought of Myrria when he hunted. She wasn't around as much but he always tried to have extra food for her when she did come by. He wanted her to feel welcome because she was family, even if she wasn't blood to him.

He was about to continue on his way when he heard the rustles. He moved like a shadow, falling back on his assassin training to blend in and watch as not one but two wolves moved past, their strides filled with purpose as they moved in the same direction of the young wolf. Could they be stalking him? Exodus had been on his own long enough to know when there was bloodlust in the air. The thing that troubled him the most? He recognized the second smaller wolf as Myrria. He moved from tree to tree, staying where they wouldn't catch his scent. The bigger wolf was unknown to him but he understood well the feral look in her eyes. She had a plan in mind and he was going to watch and see, until he saw Myrria moving in blindly toward the young wolf.

At first he thought for a pure second that she was going to help him, warn him of the other wolf's intentions. Maybe there was good in her, just as she had shown when she was with Lucia. But then she snapped, going right for the wolf's neck. He was on the move even as another wolf came out of seemingly nowhere, going for Myrria's leg. He rushed the smaller female, using his brute force and the distraction of the other wolf (Jinan) to try to barrel into her side and knock her away from the younger wolf. He might have hesitated before to attack Myrria but not after what he just saw. He would worry about the repercussions later.

Once she was out of the way, he turned on the other wolf he knew was waiting. She could be coming to help Myrria any moment. He braced himself and curled his lips back, a silent snarl on his breath as he kept the young wolf to his back, wanting to be between him and any danger.

"I'm Exodus. If you're thinking about running, that's probably not a good idea right now. You're easier to protect when you stay still. Got it?"

He flicked one ear back, hoping to hear a favorable response from the wolf as he kept his other ear rotating, listening. His gaze was ever watchful for Myrria and the other two wolves. He could smell the forest pack on the wolf who went after Myrria as well so he had to believe he was protecting a pack mate, maybe even a family member. But right now, none of that mattered. What mattered was getting them back to their pack safely. He had to believe he was back in Moladian to make a difference, to do something more than kill innocent wolves. He was trained to kill but he didn't want to anymore, not unless it was necessary.

Exodus_male_10 years_41in_195#_loved by Malleah_unable to imprint_father of Lucia_loner