The rest of the day went well, patrols filed in and out of camps, hauling in prey and making sure the territory was safe. Laika only got one bad report the entire day and that was Khan's patrol who had taken the unclaimed territory border. Khan and his patrol had reported smells of rouges, at least four or five rouges. Laika and Khan had discussed it and decided for now nothing would be done except that no wolf would be allowed out of camp by themselves, and that a patrol would check there often. Laika felt a twinge of guilt knowing that night she would be breaking her own rule to meet Ferox, but she kept that to herself.

The day went quick and soon night came, the day had been incredibly busy and so most of the wolves were in their dens and asleep within minutes of the sun going down. The others took a little longer, but soon the camp was quiet. Laika ducks into her den before slipping out through a small hole in the back that led to a small little alleyway that led to a place she could slip out of camp without her guards knowing. The trip to the border didn't take long and she settles down to wait as soon as she arrives.

Ferox waited impatiently for a long time, and he left later than he usually did. By now, all his wolves were sound asleep, and he could sneak out without fear of getting caught. Quietly, he slunk through the camp, then broke into a run toward the Ignis Lupi border. The night was partly cloudy, and it was darker than Ferox would have liked, but those things were out of his control. It wasn't long before he was trotting along sandy ground, and soon, he was at the Ignis Lupi border.

Ferox sniffed the air and began moving along the edge of the territory, and he caught a familiar scent. He followed it further along the border and finally caught sight of Laika. His face broke into a smile and he trotted toward her, his tail wagging. "Hi, Laika," he said as he approached her. "Sorry I'm late, I had to wait for my pack to go to their dens for the night." Ferox sat down and gave a sigh. "How have things been going for you?" he asked.

As the night wore on, Laika began to believe that Ferox had been unable to slip away. And yet she waited, having laid down. The Alpha was getting sleepy, and had laid her head on her paws, eyes drifting open and shut every so often. Then the wind shifted and Ferox's smell hits Laika, who lifts her head instantly, eyes brightening. A few seconds later Ferox comes trotting out of the undergrowth,"Hey Ferox." Laika's jaws open in a yawn as she sits up, almost completely blending into the dark night except for her golden eyes. "It's all good, no worries." Laika chuckles,"My wolves went to bed almost as soon as the sun went down." Laika then dips her head,"Better, I suppose. I had to put one of the younger Delta's in place after he insulted Flint's death. And ever since then, my pack seems to listen a bit better. You?"

Ferox smiled at Laika's report, glad that things were going a little better for her. "That's great!" he exclaimed. "I bet that felt great." Ferox gave a small sigh and his smile faded a bit. "Things looked pretty bad the day after the Gathering," he confessed. "My wolves were getting out of control. They wouldn't listen to me at all." Ferox brightened a little. "There was one wolf that supported me, though," he said. "One of the Elders, a kind, thoughtful wolf that's been like a father to me for a long time." Ferox's smile returned, and he went on. "He gave me some much-needed encouragement. The next day started just as bad as the last, but this time, when my Beta male was being unruly, I finally found it in me to assert my authority. Word got around the pack that I had put Slate in his place, and things are slowly improving." Ferox gave another small sigh. "There's still a lot of resistance, but I'm making progress," he finished. He smile at Laika and said, "You seem to be handling things pretty well, though. You're a lot better at this than I am, I saw that much at the Gathering."

Laika dips her head,"It did, though I was half tempted to just let my brother pounce and give the wolf a lesson." Laika chuckles slightly as she remembers how eager Ignatius had been to teach Aragorn a lesson with his claws and teeth. Laika then listens quietly to Ferox's report, frowning slightly. Then she perks up at the sound of the Elder, she loved elders, they were kind and wise and not many wolves dared challenge them. Laika bobs her head,"Well, like Flint always use to say. Everything gets worse before it ever gets better." Laika flicks an ear,"But it is definitely getting better for both of us." Laika smiles back,"You could say that, though my mother did teach my siblings and I how to be assertive." Laika laughs at the memory, Seraphina had been a heck of a force to reckon with when she was still a Delta.

Ferox grinned. "I take it your brother wasn't to please with this wolf?" he asked. He fell silent as Laika spoke, and he nodded slowly. "I never met Flint, but it sounds like he was a wise Alpha," he said. "I would have liked to meet him." Ferox chuckled and nodded his head slightly. "Yeah, but there's still a long way to go," he said. "But I'll keep going. And I know you're going to get there." Ferox smirked and nodded "Your mother sounds like she might have made a good Alpha," he said.

Laika laughs,"No, not at all. But, then again, Flint was not only a very well respected wolf, but he was Ignatius' mentor when Ignatius was a trainee." Laika sighs,"Indeed, Flint was incredibly wise. But he was incredibly wise, because he started out struggling." Laika shrugs,"At least that is what Seraphina said." Laika agrees,"Flint often said that he never stopped learning and progressing. And he was an old wolf." Laika then glances up at the sky, then back down to Ferox,"You'll make it too, you know." Laika chuckles,"Perhaps she would have. But Seraphina wasn't much for Alpha, she enjoyed being a Delta."

Ferox smiled, figuring that Ignatius was Laika's brother, and Seraphina her mother. "Our old Alpha started out struggling too," he said, remembering what Oak had told him. "I wish he was still here," he added wistfully. "The pack did well with him as our leader." He gave a sigh and smiled again at Laika's encouragement. "I hope I do," he said. At Laika's last statement, he nodded. "You know, so did I," he said. "Everything was so much less stressful then." Ferox glanced down for a moment. "I never wanted to be the Alpha," he said. "But I never really had much of a choice in the matter." Ferox looked back up and gave Laika a small grin. "Do you ever wish that you hadn't been chosen?" he asked.

Laika dips her head,"As do I. Flint held the respect and love of every wolf. Things went well. Prey was always stocked. No one really bothered us. Trainee's, pups, and basically every wolf thrived and was lean and full. No wolves were rebellious." Laika sighs,"Indeed, Delta was a lot easier. Simpler, and less stressful." Laika stiffens at the question, she had been so worried about being Alpha and all the duties that came with it, that that question had never come up. Laika relaxes, an ear flicking as she thinks. Laika finally speaks, choosing her words careful. "No. I believe in my Elders and my Elders believe in me. My pack may not fully trust or like me anymore, but they have no fully rebelled against me. I was chosen for a reason and I will respect my Elders decision and I refuse to let them or my pack down by wishing another wolf had been picked."

Ferox listened closely as Laika gave her answer to his question, admiration for her sparking. He thought about her answer for a long time. He wanted to do his best, but he was ashamed to admit that during his breakdown two days ago, he had genuinely wished that someone else had been chosen, someone more qualified, like Slate or Ferrum. Finally, after a long silence, Ferox looked back up at Laika. "I wish I had thought that way when I was first chosen," he said. "But I was too weak. I spent too much time wondering why the Elders had chosen me. I was convinced that they were wrong." Ferox sighed and looked down again, shamefaced. "That's since changed, but the doubt never really goes away." Ferox looked back at Laika and smiled. "You're definitely going to make a better Alpha than I will," he said. "Whether they know it or not, your pack is lucky to have you."