The cool head and air of confidence that Skyfire liked to surround herself with, was actually her carefully woven shield. She had been taught to stop a fight before one could begin. However, she could never be as cold and calculating as Machiara, the silent sword of the mountains, had to become due to fate's meddling hands. The only thing she knew about her mother, the swift and powerful hunter Lightning Fang, was her name and rank. Her grandmother could hardly speak, and the pair of them had been abandoned, days before Lightning Fang had wasted her life trying to bring the next generation of hunters into the world. Her generation. In Skyfire’s opinion, she was no hero, she was the one responsible for ripping her family apart.

Ruby’s eyes narrow further and the black hackles across her spine rise in challenge. For whatever reason, the moor mistress didn’t like her mentioning Apollyon out aloud. Jealousy perhaps? Or maybe the prince or Iromar was betrothed to another? Ruby is getting closer now, too close for comfort. Skyfire is determined to stand her ground, but she doesn’t want to fight. “Hoi! Kivet suuren taivaan,” she barks stamping one burgundy paw into the mud. It wasn’t a threat, it was a less than polite demand for a little space. Honestly, Skyfire new very few sentences in her native tongue, but she was proud of her heritage, what little pieces she had managed to pick up and sow together.

With a swing of her long crimson tail she commands all the hairs in her thick russet coat to stand down. Ruby was testing her, it was making the young huntress nervous, but she would not fail this entrance exam. Oh no, she was going to pass with all seven flying colours. She had to do everything in her power to prove herself worthy. Today there will be a twist in her fate, from this day forward, Skyfire would be in control of her own destiny. Blue glaciers harden as Ruby continues to probe with that owl like stare. What was she looking for? What did she expect to find?

Slowly Skyfire tilts her large head to one side in question. Relief washes down her snow white face when she hears Ruby’s decision. “You are quite right, Mistress of the Moors,” Skyfire dips her head in respect towards her new alpha. “From this moment on, I relinquish my home in Spirane, and take on the title of the Iromar pack.” It was difficult to be cool and polite when it felt like a million sparklers are fizzing and wizzing just under your skin. The excitement was too much to contain and Skyfire finds herself grinning broadly, her tail lashing behind her in pure joy.

“Thank you, Ruby,” she wants to run over and lick the black woman's face, but she has a feeling such an action would have negative consequences. “I must go and say farewell to the Mountain Pack, and I will return before the sun sets,” her large paws are already in motion as she starts to trot towards the North West. “Even though I never found my place in their ranks, some of them are still my distant cousins. They were kind enough to feed and shelter me when I needed a home. Therefore the least I can do is say goodbye.” Stating her intentions was only courtesy, since there was nothing Ruby could do to stop her. Other than booting her out of the pack straight away, but that would be a horrible joke.

Skyfire pauses mid stride and turns her attention back to Ruby. Her burgundy brow is furrowed over her white eyebrows in visible confusion. “You asked what use I could be to you and the pack?” She hums gently as she thinks. Grinning like an idiot she states dumbly, “How about I do some border patrol for awhile?” Chuckling nervously she elaborates, “I need to learn the lay of the land. And,” she hesitates, “maybe I can deal with the next troublemaker for the pack without you needing to get involved?” Skyfire wasn’t trying to be cheeky, she genuinely felt like she owed Ruby one, and perhaps the best way to pay her back was to become a scarlet guardian on the swampy border.