.

Her ears swivaled hearing pawsteps approach, looking to find Night join the small group. Her gaze shifting to the other wolves mentioned, pausing as Mairea stated she'd be going to find the medic. "I believe I saw Sundown checking in on Anya and Bri, so he must've returned recently" Willow voiced glancing at the light colored female that wanted to see a medic, giving a brief nod of understanding. She pushed her nose into Brute's shoulder, a small smile as she leaned into him. "I'll join the hunt alpha Night, I know how to spot traps and disarm them if we need" she dipped her head to the larger male.

.

As much as she fel apprehensive about hunting beside wolves she knew little of, Night had her respect and trust. Besides if Brute was coming she wouldn't be alone, and Solaris looked like he'd have no problem taking anything down. She sighed rougly as her tail twined with the male beside her, enjoying the warmth his pelt provided against the slight chill in the air. His presence helped ease the dark swirling of thoughts that lingered in the corner of her mind. Honey colored gaze shifting around the group as they prepared, the alpha was wise to bring a larger group considering recent events.

Quilo || 3 Years, 5 Months || Male || Strays United Guard || M: Temari, Kenai (Ind)

The male’s tail becomes a blur at Temari’s thanks. His tongue lulls out of his maw, breaking the grin and shifting it into a smile. “Phew! I’m gla- I mean, of course it did! Help, I mean. I’m glad I could help you.”

Blush creeps across his cheeks at his own rambling, raising the hairs of the surrounding area. However, her next comment completely shatters any composure he managed to hold together at his fumble. The blush turns from a soft warmth of a hug to the blazing sear of a fire instantly, causing the Quilo to duck his head to the side to hide it.

“Y-yes. I… I suppose we could.”

The husky watches from the corner of his eyes as the light colored female returns his grin and sits down in front of him. Following her lead, he steals himself and sits on his haunches – keeping his head bowed but not to the side from lingering embarrassment. His tail wraps around his paws, now stilled from his earlier embarrassment.

As time ticks on, he observes her silently, unsure of what to do or say. Slowly but surely, his formerly still form begins to move once more – having grown antsy from the slim amount of inactivity (it had only been a few seconds). The shuffling of paws. Constant repositioning of his fluffy tail. The rhythmic flicking of ears to a tune only he could hear. Anything to satisfy the urge to get up and leave without warning.

But, it would result in stretching my legs… No! No. That would be rude. I cannot risk losing a new friend over such an action.

At the following question, his icy eyes finally meet her equally as blue gaze – his head lifting slightly and tilting to the side. The fur of his cheek had now fallen to its usual position, but he could still feel that near-constricting emotion deep within his chest. Taking a breath, he finally lifts his head to its usual height and grants her his usual award-winning smile.

“Not very long, actually. Alha and the other actually caught me when I was running from the dog catchers, just as they were. But, besides guarding the camp, we usually accompany other pack members to various locations as well as gather needed supplies.”

The blue eyed canine glances down to the ground for a moment, “I’m uh… still getting used to this whole ‘pack’ thing myself. Never… really had a family to call my own until now,” his eyes linger back to Temari’s own, “What about you? Has it always just been you and… your brother? Or have you been with a pack before?”

Brute l Male l Beta l Raven l M: Hunting Group, Willow

.

Brute smiled as Willow burried her muzzle into his shoulder, a wave of affection seemed to swallow him up. He gave her head a quick lick before she told Night that she was coming along. A small quiver of worry hit Brute. Her paw was still injured, and she wanted to go right away. He looked at his paw, and he supressed a small shiver. The huge scar that ran up his right foreleg. He remebered how long he'd been out of commission, and the pain of when he reopened the wound. The scar on his head seemed to throb again, from where he'd hit it on the tree. He looked back up at Willow, "You sure you want to go?" He asked, and his voice came out more worried then he'd meant it too, "Your still injured, and I dont want you to get hurt." She twined her tail with his, and he supressed a soft, warm smile. "But if you want to go, I can't say no." He gave a small chuckle, warmth flowing through him. Then he gave her paw one last look, then turned his attention to his Alpha.

Xola || 6 || Female || Wolf || Eastern Medic || M: Shadow, Icicle (Ind), Killjoy, River (Ind)

Xola continues to hold his gaze as she listens to his replies, soaking in all the information she could from the strange encounter. After all, if he were going to be a common sight within her pack’s camp then she should know everything she could in order to take precautions in the future to avoid such a reaction. Though, she couldn’t help but flush at his teasing towards Killjoy.

So embarrassing. But hey, at least he seems happy about it?

Following her own question, her striking eyes follow his form with a soft look – watching as he shifts to place his head on top of hers. The medic hunkers down slightly from the weight of it, ears flopping to the side in order to not be crushed awkwardly underneath the pressure being exerted. Which, admittedly, wasn’t much but it was enough to make the feeling of flattened ears uncomfortable.

The two stayed like this for a little while, and the night pelted female couldn’t help but feel a bubbling of fondness and calmness in her chest. With a sigh, she lifts upwards slightly into the touch – grateful for the comfort she was receiving. Thinking of him always seemed to take a lot out of her. Another briar stuck on her pelt from today’s stressors, she presumed.

One of her flattened ears shifts at this whispering, doing its best to catch all of his words. She couldn’t help but feel touched by his words. But…

If only it was that easy…

She releases a single, empty chuckle at the male’s suggestion. “I do suppose that you are right. I should let go of the past, just as you are likely planning to do now,” she scoffs at her own words, “If only it were that easy, for the reason behind my troubling past still lives to this very day…”

With a sigh, she pulls back from the gentle touch as Shadow himself lifts his head, “But, for you, I will try. If it will relinquish any of your stress, that is. Don’t need anyone worrying over little ol’ me.”

The female’s eyes lock with Shadow’s, as she listens to his words once more. Another small chuckle leaves her at what he says, which quickly turns into a short burst of laughter at his wink. A mischievous look crosses her face at the meaning behind it.

She grins at the alpha, her eyes being the only hint towards her mischievous intentions, “Yes, I do believe that he will be. But I can’t complain too much about it, even if he’s been getting underneath my hide already. It’s better than having nothing to do. And of course, sir. I can do just that for you. I have a feeling that both of us could use a bit of water after all we’ve been doing today.”

She grants him her own wink for her “sly” comment. Though, she couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed as a mask overtook him – one that she had noticed earlier. Any sort of glee falls away from her face and heart at the change, a sigh leaving her.

“Very well. Take care now, dear. And don’t go too hard on them. For your sake and theirs.”

The night fallen female hadn’t expected him to continue after his previous statement, but he did much to her surprise. And the comment in question? That really caught her off guard. Her eyes, which had flickered downwards at his shift in demeanor, shoot back up to meet his own. A small but empty smile graces her face at his “command,” and a puff of amused air leaves her.

“I do believe that I will be able to handle myself. I have my son and this lug behind us to cover my back if anything were to occur. But, I will be sure to keep that in mind. Thank you, Shadow.”

After this is said, she watches as the dark coated wolf grants her a nod to her words, and begins to pad off. She hears not what he says towards her own almost, being much more focused on staring somewhat harshly at the troublesome male in question. If not for his obviously black pelt (as well as Icicle’s own white one), she doubts that she’d even have noticed the other alpha stalking off.

Silence fills the air afterwards, with the charcoal coated female continuing to glare daggers at the blue eyed alpha left with her – waiting for any sort of response. And she gets one. An apology. A heartfelt one too. Her striking eyes continue to pierce his hide after his words, but they quickly lose their fire a second or two afterwards.

Yet another sign brushes past her lips as she dismisses the anger prickling at her mind and heart in that very moment. Standing, she walks up to the male until she is mere inches away – her eyes never wavering from his own the entire time.

With a soft smile, Xola presses a paw to her alpha’s chest. “You are forgiven, Killjoy. And that is fine by me, as long as you don’t sneak out again. Don’t want me retiring early due to stress, now do we?”

Listening to his response, she lets out a small chuckle at her own teasing. Removing the paw from his chest, she turns around and nods her head in the direction of their camp. “Now, shall we get going? I do have patients to get back to. One of which I need to… share some words with. Especially due to our interaction earlier.”