(Sorry, been a hard week)

As the birds chirped cheerfully alongside the two, Faeris and Ryko walked beside each other in peace.

It was a bit awkward for a while, because neither of them had much to say and didn't know each other very well, but they both were content in the silence and forest around.

Eventually, Ryko spoke up, asking about Faeris' favorite things along with the other usually questions. It led to a pleasant conversation, and Fae was happy that she had decided to go out with him.

Lost in their dialogue, they lost track of time and place, ending up towards the edge of the territory.

Ryko slowed and laughed.

"Close call," he said, "I guess I was a little distracted" he added, glancing at Faeris with a mischievous look in his eyes.

Faeris turned away, embarrassed, "Well, good catch," she laughed nervously.

Dijkstra left off his friend and began to work away but suddenly stopped in his tracks. Something felt off but he wasn't sure what. He listened around but couldn't hear anything but the usual pack noise. Something told him to check the border though so he slipped into the woods and began running the way his senses told him to go.

After a quiet moment, the leaves rustling around them, Ryko lifted his nose and took in a breath.

"It's weird though," he said, "I think I smell one of our wolves over the boarder. Maybe somebody crossed."

Faeris averted her gaze up towards the tree branches.

"Yeah maybe," she muttered, "Lot's of wolves do it on accident."

Ryko shrugged and shook out his pelt. "Yeah you're right. Let's just hope no one notices."

Faeris smiled a little and stared down at the delicate blades of grass that covered the forest floor. "Let's hope."

She flicked her tail and slinked off a little ways, following the path of the border, staying a safe distance away. Fae heard the sound of Ryko catching up to her, his paws landing heavily on the forest floor, following close behind her.

Dijkstra could feel tht he was getting closer to the border. He stopped running and was jogging, his foot falls silent. He sniffed the air. Nothing. But something was still off. Luke as if something or more someone was tempting fate. He continued to jog the border hoping to find the intruder. As much as he wanted to be alone, this was his pack and he would protect it at all costs. Even if that meant his death.

(I'm sorry I haven't been replying, I'm hoping I'll be able to be more active, sorry for making you wait!)

Faeris looked back cheerfully at Ryko as she ran the length of the border.

"You know," she said, "I wish I knew you better. You seem like a kind wolf but I've never taken the chance to get to know you."

She glanced down at the forest floor, a little embarrassed.

Ryko chuckled. "That's not your fault," he comforted, "from an outside perspective I guarantee you that your parents are way too overprotective. I don't think they really gave you a chance to get to know any wolf, let alone me."

Fae laughed, "I suppose you're right. Thanks, Ryko."

She smiled up at him, lost in conversation as they went deeper into the forest.

She had always been fine with him as a prospective mate, and still was, but some parts of her were disappointed. She had hoped that being alone with him, having a moment together alone, she might feel some sort of spark or connection, but she still wasn't. Such was life though, and she could take it in stride, so she lifted her head and continued onwards.

Dijkstra sniffed the air again this time picking up the scent of two wolves. He picked his pace up again, his footfalls light and silent in the dense forest. His coat blending in with the shadows as he ran making it hard for him to be spotted. He continued running til the scent grew stronger then slowed down again and kept an eye out. He was so focused he hadn't noticed the sky growing grey clouds in til a soft drizzle began making him look up to see where it had come from.

Fae and Ryko continued padding along the length of the pack border, in a more comfortable silence this time. It felt as if they had both come to a quiet acceptance.

Fae thought about asking Ryko if he had expected his life to turn out this way. What if he had been striving for the alpha position this whole time? Or maybe he didn't want this at all. She decided not to say anything because she figured on the off chance that Ryko fancied some other wolf, she would rather not know. Fae would feel awful if she was tearing him away from the life he wanted.

Faeris basked in the warm sunlight that slipped through the trees as she and Ryko walked. She wished every day was like this. Unfortunately, it wasn't. She sighed and turned to Ryko.

"We should be sure to get back in time for the pack meeting."

Ryko laughed. "Yes, I guess you're right. But it won't hurt to stay out for a few moments more."

Fae held back laughter as he winked at her. "Alright, that works for me! Let's get to the corner of the border, then we can turn back."

Her companion nodded in agreement and they continued onwards, enjoying each other's presence and kind words.

Through some bushes, Dijkstra spotted two wolves. He crept closer staying in the shadows and making sure not to make a single noise. He watched and sniffed the air. They were definitely in his territory and they were definitely not from his pack. He continued to watch them carefully. It seemed almost as if they didn't know they were in his territory. He settled his gaze on the female. Something about her seemed to draw him in. He took another silent step forward.

Unfortunately for Fae, the corner of the border was much closer than she realized. It felt like just moments until they reached the end of the scent markings from her pack and the forest fell way to the territory of the dark pack.

Fae paused for a moment and stared out across the border. She'd been here at the edge so many times, but this time felt different somehow. And not in a good way. Her stomach squirmed uneasily, and she tried to shake off the feeling, but failed.

She glanced up at Ryko standing next to her, a concerned look in her eyes.

"Something doesn't feel quite right. Am I just imagining things?"

Ryko hardened his gaze and scanned the forest in front of them.

"No, I have the same feeling." He took in the air around him and closed his eyes, taking in the scents. "There's another wolf around here."

Fae flicked her ear in concern and tried to pick out the scent for herself. Though it was fairly faint, she found it as well, and it wasn't a wolf she recognized. She looked to Ryko in search of an answer to what they should do. He simply shrugged and turned away from the border.

"Don't worry about it too much, Fae. We're at the border, chances are it's just a patrol. We probably shouldn't be found this close."

Fae nodded in agreement. "That's fair. Although, we aren't breaking any rules. We never crossed the border. Some packs are just sensitive about that."

Ryko glanced at her. "Especially because one of our wolves seems to have crossed earlier. We could easily be blamed for that."

As Ryko watched her from a few paces back, Fae lingered around the border. Part of her wanted to see the wolf. She had never met any wolf from the dark pack. Her pack had always taught her how terrible they were, so she wanted to see how true it was for herself.

A growl escaped Dijkstras lips as the two wolves came to a halt. He slowly pulled himself from the shadows. He was just a few feet away from the two strangers. "Your from the other pack. I should have known." He said mostly to himself. He didn't dare take his eyes off the two of them. The rain began to pick up and it was now almost pouring. The trees offered little protection to the heavy rain fall and his fur was soon soaked. His gaze drifted from the male wolf and landed softly on the female.