Torrin knew she wanted to be a part of Blackburn's world. Though, she couldn't help but feel terrible for what she had caused. As he began talking about Dahlia, she lowered her audits and just sat back down. "They want her to be Queen.. Don't they?" She asked him softly and with a small frown.

Blackburn appreciated her kind and comforting words. He nuzzled her back, pulling his tail closer to his body. She was right. She offered to hunt or to get a share of food, and he nodded. He tilted his head a little as she told him she gave her share of food to Jax. Jax was a young wolf, just barely an adult, and he was just now finally starting to recover after the sickness spread.

He was weaker than the rest of the pack, and often left on his own. His parents had both perished, he had no relatives left in the pack, and with most of his life spent in sickness, much of the pack stayed away from him. The only wolves who paid him much attention were Rift and Blackburn himself. It was nice to hear that at least with Torrin, Jax might have another friend in his life.

"Thank you for doing that," he said. "The poor pup needs a friend." As soon as he had mentioned Dahlia, her mood seemed to shift slightly.

"They want her to be Queen..Don't they?"

Blackburn looked at her, feeling for her. "I think they just expect it. Her parents were the Betas, her father was best friends with mine. I guess everyone just thought it was supposed to happen that way." He paused, looking into her pretty green eyes. "But I don't think of Dahlia that way, I don't want her as my Queen. As fine of pups as she could give me one day...I'm not entirely sure I want that right now anyway."

He touched noses with her and quickly licked her cheek. "Perhaps I will choose a Queen," he said quietly. "But it won't be Dahlia." He gave her a shy look and flattened his ears, the tip of his tail wagging cutely. He looked like a pup who's crush had figured out he liked her.

Torrin would hear these words and frowned, looking down at her paws as she sat down. She felt as if her heart was breaking more and more by the moment, she felt as though she'd be the reason Blackie would lose his place as alpha. But, she knew she couldn't let him go. Torrin knew whatever god was above wanted them to be together. Almost as if it was sealed into their fate. Though, as he said something about pups, she'd flick her audits too her head and give him a slight glare before she gently nuzzled her. Calming down, Torrin would sigh softly and gently nuzzle her head into his chest.

"I just hope if you choose me.. It won't cause more harm." She told him softly, looking at the ground but keeping her head place in his chest fur.

"By the time next spring comes, when it is yet again the proper time for me to hold a ceremony and choose...I will have an answer." Blackburn said, speaking the words into the air as a promise. This time he would not disappoint his pack by not having a choice or an answer. He will choose a queen. "When I pick you..." he said quietly, trailing off. "This pack will have the strongest queen they've ever known."

He knew deep in his maw that Torrin was the wolf he was destined to choose as his queen. Why else had his ancestors brought him to her in the middle of the night? "Perhaps we can go hunting together?" he suggested, perking up a little. "Clear our heads and have some time alone, away from everyone." Another part of him told him that if Torrin and himself came back with a good catch, the pack would appreciate their efforts and calm down. The prey pile was getting low, and it needed restocked with fresh.

"There's plenty of deer in these woods, and right now its fawn season." Doe brought their babies everywhere with them, but sometimes mom needed a break. During those breaks, the fawns were left alone and unprotected. There were also many young bucks about, too young to mate for the first time, but old enough to be fueled by the urge. They weren't the smartest of creatures at this age, and often were careless. This made it easier to hear and spot them.

"When I pick you.."

A happy smile would spread onto Torrins maws as she sat there, staring at him. She was speechless up until he asked if they could go hunting together. Giving him a nod, she stood up, "I like that idea." She replied with a small tail wag.

It wasn't long before the two made their way out of the den. Though, instead of glares, Torrin saw Dahlia and some other younger wolves being rather hateful towards Jax. Lowering her audits to her crania, she walked over and got in between the small group and Jax, almost standing over the small male. "Leave him alone." She stated simply, growling lowly.

Dahlia would look up at Torrin, a small snarl escaping her throat. The black and white fae would stand her ground, "There's no need to be doing what you are, Now, leave him be." She stated louder this time, glaring harshly at the golden brown female.

Blackburn waked with Torrin out of the den and crossing back through camp. His ears pricked forward as he heard Dahlia and a couple others being mean to Jax. They stood by the dwindeling prey stash, and from the looks of it, it appeared that none of the group was letting Jax get near the food. The Alpha stopped walking as Torrin walked towards the group. He wanted to see what would unfold.

He stood with his tail held high and his ears forward, ready to step in with authority if needed, but for the moment being he stayed silent. The golden-tan she-wolf glared at Torrin as she approached the situation, snarling. "Who are you to tell me what to do in my own pack?" Dahlia barked at Torrin, her hackles raised. The two wolves with her said nothing, but watched curiously. "You are not the alpha here." She said lowly, flattening her ears.

Blackburn studied Dahlia, confused by her hostility. In all the years he'd known her she'd never shown an ounce of aggression towards anyone. It was biazarre. He looked over at Jax, who pressed himself close to Torrin's side. He was trembling with nerves, but trusted the black and white stranger with his life. It wasn't often that someone stood up for him.

Torrin obviously wasn't backing down, her stance a very dominant one as her audits laid back against her crania. She stood tall and never raised her voice at Dahlia. "Now, if you wish to do your job, You're welcome to come with us." She stated, turning back toward Blackburn and looking at him before looking back at the three wolves, "If I see you depriving another wolf of their share of food again.. I won't e so nice about it." Torrin then looked at Jax and gently nudged him, "Go get your food." She told him softly.

After watching Jax get his share and scamper off, Torrin trotted over to Blackburn and nuzzled his cheek, smiling.

Blackburn watched, taking in the scene with icy cold eyes. His mind was reeling, taking the scene in front of him and filing it away for later. Torrin was handling the situation very well while still not stepping out of line. Dahlia, to Blackburn's relief, obeyed her. But the Alpha did not miss the she-wolf's glare towards him. She stayed silent apart from a deep growling in her throat, before turning and huffing off, disappearing into the undergrowth.

Jax shakily took the already half eaten carcass of a rabbit, his legs trembling as he bravely stepped toward the pile. The two wolves who were left were now silent, watching him. Without Dahlia's influence, they made no move to stop Jax. Torrin trotted over to Blackburn, and the brute lowered his tail as she nuzzled his cheek.

"You handled that beautifully," he said quietly to her. The two males standing near Jax waited for him to walk away before taking their small shares. Blackburn nodded at them before continuing on his way with Torrin, heading outside of camp. It was late morning, the sun well into the sky now. There would be plenty of prey about by now. As they passed Leader's Rock, Darkheart emerged from the shadows, approaching the pair.

"Good morning your Majesty," he greeted, dipping his head respectfully. "Good morning Torrin." His words were friendly and he showed no sign of tension with the new Delta. Blackburn wagged his tail.

"Good morning Darkheart," he said. "Will you do me a favor and organize a hunting party? Torrin and I are heading out now, but I'd like it if we could have more wolves on the hunt elswhere." He paused, thinking. "If you can, please fine Dahlia and give her the news. I want her kept busy." Darkheart nodded and trotted away, heading to spread the Alpha's word.

"Where do you say we go to start?" Blackburn asked Torrin.

After giving her greeting, the female let the two males talk, trying to pick up a scent. Though, as Darkheart trotted off, Torrin looked back at Blackie. That was quick. She thought, thinking Darkheart would be mad at her for what had just happened with Dahlia.

"Where do you say we go to start?"

Torrin thought for a few moments, allowing the small breeze to blow through her fur to feel which direction it was going. "Since the wind is blowing west, I say we head east and go toward the outskirts of the territory, working our way in." She stated, looking around before looking back at Blackburn, "That way, we won't get scented if any prey is nearby there, and we can chase it towards the possible party." She told him softly with a small smile. Torrin knew her ways were a lot different, but she was trying to show him she was attempting to become part of the pack after being alone for so long.

Blackburn was proud of Torrin for handling herself so well on the first official day within the Baxtara Pack. He had no doubt she'd change the pack forever in a good way. He felt deep inside that she was the key to the Baxtara's survival, no matter what Dahlia said or thought. He listened to her idea, nodding. It was something new, but he was willing to try. Afterall, she'd survived for who knows how long on her own, and he wanted to implement that knowledge into the pack. What better way than to be taught by her first?

"Alright then," he said, returning her smile. "Lead the way, Delta." He said, teasingly flicking her with his tail. He was excited to hunt with her. Some time away from the pack was what he needed, and he was also excited to learn some of her ways. He hoped Dahlia would settle down within the next few days, but something deep inside told him that something bad was coming.