Igantius settles down beside his mother and sister as they sit down outside the Elder's den, content to watch and wait for the Alpha's. No other noise had been heard after the scream. But the wolves were still on high alert. The Beta's soon joined the three, talking in low voices. Igantius keeping one eye on the Terra Lupi wolves. Something about that Alpha... It bugged him, he felt like he knew the Alpha. Not personally, maybe by scent? But how? Ignatius had never actually been that close to the Terra Lupi Alpha. He'd seen him at the Gatherings, but that was it.

Before Ignatius could confront the Alpha, a call came from the wolves on the walls. "The Akvo Lupi are here." Ignatius rose to his feet, as did the Beta's. Ignatius glances at Nova,"Inform Laika the Akvo Lupi are here." The Beta Female frowns, she was the Beta, she gave the orders. But she simply turns and slips inside the Elder's den. While soon three wolves slip from the entrance. The Akvo Lupi Alpha Female at the lead, two other wolves with her. Ignatius dips his head,"Alpha. Welcome to our camp." There was respect in the motion, but Ignatius was sure to make it clear that she had no authority over him. "We are waiting on the Caeli Lupi now. We thank you for coming to our camp."

Laika soon emerges from the Elder's den, the pups had fallen back into a deep sleep, and she had one of the Elder's take her place. She did not leaving the pups, but her duties as Alpha called. Laika looked tired, she hadn't had sleep in a while, but yet she simply drew herself up and moved to join her brother. "Ari." The Akvo Lupi female turns her gaze,"Laika. How are your pups?" Laika replies,"Doing well. They are sleeping now." Ari bobs her head,"I am glad nothing bad happened during the delivery."

Out of the corner of one eye, Ferox could see Ignatius watching them. He thought nothing of it; he and his wolves were strangers here, everyone was on edge, so it made sense that someone would be watching. Ferox pulled his claws out of the sand and stood up at the call that the Akvo Lupi Alphas had arrived. Ferox, Bracken, and Amethyst all trotted toward Laika and Ari, and Ferox nodded a brief greeting to Ari. "I assume your pack heard the scream too?" he asked, taking a seat while his wolves hung back, eyeing the other tow Akvo Lupi wolves.

Ferox's ears twitched slightly as a small breeze blew up suddenly, carrying with it the scent of Caeli Lupi wolves. Glancing over toward the entrance of the camp, Ferox spotted Rider approaching, a pair of wolves flanking him, one male, and one female. Rider looked just as arrogant as ever, although his two wolves seemed a little nervous. Ferox watched as Rider and his two wolves stopped just outside the camp, waiting to be admitted.

Laika's gaze moves to Ferox briefly as he joins them, but she forces her gaze to flicker away just as fast. She had to continue to fight to pretend that Ferox was simply an Alpha. Not the father of her pups, and certainly not the love of her life. They would be slaughtered right there. By pack laws and none could do anything about it. Laws were laws.

Ari dips her head,"Yes. It was just lucky that Silver had already sent out a patrol to check the borders when they encountered the Ignis Lupi. We were more than happy to have a meeting. No doubt Rider and his pack heard it as well. This is not something that can be blown off." It was only too bad all of the Alpha's could not gather. But to leave a pack alone without an Alpha, it was not a good idea.

Laika glances towards the entrance as a breeze kicked up slightly, the scent of Caeli Lupi carrying inside. Her pack was bristling, so many outside wolves inside their camp. They were on edge. Laika did nothing to stop the bristling fur, they had every right to do so. Her wolves look down and Laika dips her head. Cole calls out,"Welcome to our camp. Come inside." Laika was not looking forward to seeing Rider. Last time they had met, he had told her that once again, he did not believe she would last as an Alpha.

Laika resists the urge to do anything as Rider sits down. However she growls as he takes charge,"I don't care you are the oldest. This is my camp." At the Gathering, that was one thing, but being in her own camp, Laika was going to take charge. She continues,"Yes. There was a scream. It happened seconds after I finished giving birth to my pups." She glances sideways,"Ember. Seraphina." The two step forward to settle down beside their Alpha. Ignatius and the Beta's were only a few feet behind. Ember continues,"Yes. I had just finished helping Laika deliver her last pup. I told Laika she had two girls and two boys and then the scream rippled through the air." Ember sits back down and Seraphina allows her gaze to roam the Alpha's. "We Elders have been talking ever since we heard the noise, and none of us are sure what the scream was or what it means."

(All is good!)

Rider gave Laika a somewhat surprised glance, but composed himself and said, "Very well, if you think you can lead us, be my guest." The corners of Ferox's mouth twitched slightly, as though he were holding back a smile. He sat up straight and listened closely as Laika and Ember spoke. 'Two girls, two boys,' he thought, forcing himself not to wag his tail or smile. It was hard though, he wanted to show Laika some sign that he was happy about it. Ferox turned his gaze to Seraphina as she spoke, and he added, "I wish I could say the Terra Lupi Elders have any more information than that, but so far, we're just as much in the dark as your pack." Ferox and Rider both turned their gaze toward Ari, both hoping she had more information than they did.

Laika simply blinks, yes, she was going to take charge because it was her camp. She was not allowing Rider to even think about bossing her around in her own camp. Laika was glad that her sister mentioned the gender of the pups, that way Ferox could know. The pups were still nameless, however. Seraphina sighs,"I was afraid of that. Stories have been passed down for generations, and yet, some always go missing. I fear the story we need is lost." Ari looks sideways at one of her wolves, an elderly wolf. "Kolora?" The female blinks,"There is a story of old, Seraphina, the one you speak of." Laika perks up slightly. Kolora continues,"The whole story is unknown. But it speaks of a scream, the terror of the packs."

Laika resists the urge to shiver, the terror of the packs? Kolora allows her gaze to travel the group,"I believe an action has been done, one that has awakened an old evil. According to the story, an old evil was locked away by the packs." Seraphina muses,"What could have released the evil?" Kolora answers,"The breaking of the Laws." Laika's body went cold as she stares at the Akvo Lupi Elder. The breaking of the Laws? Laika shakes her head,"Of any Law? It cannot be just any Law, surely. For if it were true, this evil would have been released when Elio broke the Laws." Seraphina's gaze flashes to her daughter at the mention of her dead mate. Kolora shakes her head,"No. I believe it was specified to a certain Law."

Igantius was deep in thought. His mind running over the Laws. Defend your pack, even with your life. Do not trespass or hunt on another's pack territory. Food goes first to elders, mothers, and pups. Prey is killed only to be eaten. Alpha's must be chosen by Elders. Wolves must have trained at least one trainee before being able to become an Alpha. No wolf may neglect a pup in pain or danger. The word of an Alpha is law, challenged only by an Elder. Killing is unacceptable. Romance between packs are forbidden. Half-blood pups are forbidden. None of the Laws had been broken.

The wolves have been defending their packs, there had been no trespassing on other pack territory. Food had been dispersed correctly. Prey was killed only for food. Both Laika and Ferox, recently appointed Alpha's, had been appointed by the Elders. Both had trained at least one trainee. No wolf neglected a pup. None had truly challenged and broken the Alpha's word. No recent murders. And no romance or half-blood pups that Ignatius knew of. The wolf turns his sights on his sister, eyes sharp,"Laika." The Alpha glances sideways, her body still cold,"Yes?" Ignatius half growls,"Usually I would respect your privacy, but for the safety of all the packs. We must know. Who is the father of your pups?"

Ferox couldn't resist a quiet chuckle at the look on Rider's face, although he stopped as Rider looked sharply at him, teeth slightly bared. Ferox met his gaze steadily until the older wolf looked away. Ferox knew he shouldn't feel so smug about him losing control of the meeting, but he couldn't help it; he had long wanted to see that arrogant Alpha taken down a notch, and it was just so satisfying. Ferox gave Laika a quick glance, then turned his gaze to Seraphina, who had begun speaking.

Ferox listened to Seraphina as she spoke, forcing himself to suppress a sigh, frustrated by the complete lack of information. However, he looked sharply at the Akvo Lupi elder that spoke, listening attentively. The terror of the packs... That didn't sound good. He grew more and more worried as Kolora spoke, until finally, "The breaking of the laws." Ferox felt a chill run up his spine. The only law he knew had been broken was he and Laika being together and having pups. But... surely that couldn't be the cause of the scream? It was forbidden, yes, and they had both known that, but it couldn't have been that!

Ferox glanced over at Ignatius as he spoke to Laika, and his blood froze. No, no, no... Rider looked over at Laika with great interest, his scrutinizing gaze steady and piercing as he waited for an answer. Ferox watched Laika too, panic gripping his heart, restricting his breath. This was bad... If the others found out about the pups, they were as good as dead! Ferox sat stone-still, waiting to see what Laika would say, ready to step up and take responsibility rather than see her get hurt. He did his best to appear calm, but he could not stop himself from feeling tense and anxious, his jaw clenched down tightly.

(So sorry for the wait! The last few days have been super busy.)

Laika would admit that it had felt good to put Rider in his place. The wolf may be the eldest, but that did not automatically make him leader. Especially in another pack's camp. If they were in Rider's camp, she would be more willing to allow Rider to take control of the meeting. However this was her camp and she would take control. Screw everything else. Rider didn't deserve it, and in no way did she respect Rider enough to even think of allowing him remain in charge of the meeting.

It was worrisome that her pack had no information, the stories would need to be passed down to future generations. Although if they could not figure out the source of the scream, there may not be a future generation. However the Alpha's body kept getting colder and colder with every word that Kolora spoke. Everything was unraveling before her, what was happening? How had her and Ferox's union caused such a mess? That had to be the source, it was terrifying and it was worrying, but what else could cause this? No other law had been broken recently, and definitely not one that would cause such a fuss. Had the birth of her children caused this?

Laika kept her gaze forward, fighting to keep it away from Ferox. Were they about to lose it all? They were about to be as good as dead. She was aware of Rider and Ari's gaze on her, as well as her own packs. Seraphina speaks up,"Ignatius. What are you suggesting? That Laika would break a Law? Especially one of such... punishment?" Laika's breath hitches in her voice and her expression falters. Seraphina stares at her daughter, disbelief filling her voice,"No. It cannot be." Laika finally looks at her mother,"It was an accident, mother. I never meant to fall in love. It was never meant to be more then friendship. But fate took over and we just--" Seraphina cuts her daughter of,"Who is the father of your pups?"

Laika looks sideways at Ferox, and Seraphina follows her daughter's gaze. Topaz suddenly snarls,"I knew it was wrong to have such a young Alpha!" Then her pack was howling and baying, demanding fair punishment for the two. Ari and her packmates looked stunned, but did not join in. Laika's own family was staring at her in surprise and disbelief. Others came from the Elder's den to see what the noise was about and when they heard, they took up the crying and baying. Laika could say nothing, how could she explain why she had broken such a rule? Her eyes flicker back to Ferox, heartbreak in her eyes. It wasn't suppose to go down like this. Suddenly the Alpha's head swivels towards the Elder's den.

Through all of the howling and baying, she heard her pups. How? Motherly instinct she supposed. Laika leaps to her paws, howling in anger,"Silence!" The howl, almost a roar, rippled through the camp and her pack suddenly quits. Staring at the Alpha. She turns towards the Elder's den,"Enough. I am still your Alpha." Topaz snarls, advancing on Laika,"You broke the Laws. You are not fit to be an Alpha." Laika's voice remains calm,"And yet the Elder's have not denounced me. My rank still stands." Those words stopped Topaz, that was true. Laika looks at her pack,"Would you so quickly sentence us to death with such a threat on the horizon? There is no time to appoint new Alpha's. Whatever this threat is, there is no time to try and shift leaderships to new wolves. You have to trust us."

Seraphina shakes her head,"Why? You broke the Law. You brought this upon us." Laika's heart twists at her mother's words,"Which means we may be the only thing that could return the threat back to wherever it came from." Laika's pack stares at her, unsure of their decision. Continue to follow their Alpha? Or demand the punishment for breaking the Law?

(No problem!!^^)