Laika focuses again as Rider steps forward, she made no move or a sound. Not acknowleging Rider's condolences, or ignoring them. Though she sqaures her shoulders slightly at his next words. Laika's eyes flicker to her wolves, their pelts almost blending in with the night. Laika watches as the wolves begin to mingle and Moone jumps down. Ari gets to her paws, touching her nose to Silver's ear, before jumping down as well. Mingling among the wolves. Laika glances at Ferox, dipping her head as well. Her voice formal,"You as well." Laika flicks an ear towards Silver as he speaks. "I am sure you two will do fine." Silver was more on the kind side then the harsh, unless you really made him mad.

Ferox gave a slight nod to Laika, then looked over at Silver, somewhat surprised to hear kind words coming from the Akvo Lupi Alpha. "Thank you, Silver," he said with a slight inclination of his head. He found it difficult to remember that he no longer needed to show submission to any of the Alphas, but he kept himself from bowing. Rider looked Ferox and Laika up and down, then shook his head lightly. "I doubt you two will last a month," he said indifferently, then turned away from them without a second glance. Ferox's gaze darkened slightly, and he glanced at Laika, then back at Rider. 'I'm going to prove you wrong,' he thought fiercely. He looked out at the gathered wolves. 'All of you.' Ferox watched his packmates for a while, but he didn't particulary want to talk to them, so he stayed on the ledge. Rider wasn't paying any attention to him or Laika, so Ferox turned around to talk to the Ignis Lupi Alpha. "How are things in your pack?" he asked.

Laika flicks an ear, her way of thanking the Akvo Alpha. As soon as Rider says that, Laika turns her fierce gaze on the Caeli Alpha. "Remember those words, Rider. You'll soon regret them." Laika replies, her voice calm and fierce. She meant no threat by them, she had no plans of attacking any of the other packs. But, she did not bow down easy and she did not like being insulted by other wolves. It wasn't even an ego thing, but rather being undermined by other wolves. Especially other packs who had no idea what she was capable of. Laika turns her attention back on Ferox as he speaks,"Doing well. Yours?" Keeping it vague, no need to let Silver know the two were already acquainted.

Ferox nodded his head. "Well enough, thank you," he said. He wanted to talk more, but there were too many wolves around, and besides, they could talk later tonight. Ferox dipped his head and said goodbye to Laika, then jumped down from the ledge to mix in with the others. He allowed his wolves to stay until the Caeli Lupi wolves left, and several minutes after, he led his pack back to their camp. Once they arrived, Granite bounded off to tell the other trainees about the Gathering, and Slate must have been in a good mood, because he let his trainee go. Ferox organized a small hunting patrol, and that evening, after everyone was asleep, he quietly made his way to the Ignis Lupi border to wait for Laika.

Laika dips her head, and leapt down shortly after the Terra Lupi left. Laika gathers her own pack, and they head off, leaving the Akvo wolves the last one's in the clearing. Khan murmurs,"Was Rider threatening you?" Laika shakes her head,"No, no. He was just making it clear that he did not believe I would last a month as Alpha." Khan states,"Well, he is wrong." Laika's steady lope breaks, surprise catching her off guard. Her Beta's were like most of the pack, they didn't exactly show rebellion. But they didn't show full support. Khan chuckles,"Laika, the whole pack trusts you to lead them."

Laika scoffs and Khan continues,"Those who challenge you? They want you to prove that you want to be Alpha. That you are willing to do whatever it takes to protect the pack." Laika blinks at Khan,"Really?" The Beta Male dips his head,"There may be a few who don't fully support you, but that is just life. No wolf will ever have the complete and full support of his pack." Laika dips her head,"Thank you, Khan." Khan had no idea how much the young Alpha had needed to hear those words.

The wolves file into their camp, where the rest of the pack was waiting. The wolves mingle with and chat, and soon the camp is filled with the buzz of conversation. Laika trots over to Khan and Nova,"I'm going out for a walk... I need to think some things over." Khan and Nova dip their head,"Be careful." Laika replies,"Of course." Laika makes her way to the entrance of camp, stopping to talk to a few of her packmates as she goes. Including her siblings.

Once outside of camp, Laika breaks into a trot, and then a run. It didn't take long for her to reach the border that split the Terra Lupi and the Ignis Lupi. Much of the night had gone to the Gathering and trip home, but there was still enough time. Laika bounds up to the border, finding Ferox waiting for her. It was clear she was in a good mood, but the young Alpha was not still completely trusting of Khan's words. Her pack sure did not show their loyalty and trust of her.

As Ferox waited for Laika by the Ignis Lupi border, he passed the time by laying down in the warm sand and pondering the Gathering. He thought it had gone fairly well, but he still wasn't sure he had presented a strong enough face in front of the other Alphas. Laika, on the other paw... Ferox smiled to himself. She had done great, and he'd be sure to tell her so. Still, a worm of doubt was still present in his mind. He wanted the other Alphas to think he was strong, but that want paled to insignificance compared to his need to prove himself to his pack.

After several of worrying and wondering, Ferox heard pawsteps approaching and cautiously looked up. Laika was here! Ferox stood up and shook sand out of his fur, then padded up to her. "Hello, Laika," he greeted, dipping his head and giving his tail a friendly wag. Ferox gave her a smile. "Great job at the Gathering," he said. "You did amazing!" Ferox sat down in front of Laika and added, "You definitely looked like you had more experience than you really do."

Laika dips her head as she greets Ferox, a smile on her face. "Hey." Then,"Thank you! You did well too!" Laika's tail wags as she sits down,"I was aiming for that. Especially after Rider's comment." Rider's comment had hit too close to home and in return Laika had flashed her teeth. Now Laika was looking forward to prove the Alpha wrong, but as always her main focus was her pack. Laika focuses back on Ferox,"You seemed a bit nervous, but that's fine. It was your first Gathering as an Alpha. A young Alpha." Laika's fur shakes as she shivers slightly,"Especially while being judged by the older more experienced Alpha's."

Ferox gave a half-smile and shook his head. "I hadn't met Rider before the gathering," he said. "I've got to say, my first impression of him wasn't great." Ferox winced slightly as Laika told him he had looked slightly nervous. He had hoped not to show any anxiety, but apparently, he hadn't succeeded. "Well, I was pretty nervous," he admitted. "I guess it's impossible to expect none of it to show." Ferox smiled at Laika. "It looked like you weren't very nervous, though," he said. "You were solid as a rock. It was impressive!"

Laika agrees,"I haven't met any of the other Alpha's before the Gathering. I mean, I went to plenty of Gatherings before. But I never mingled with the Alpha. I stayed among my pack." Laika chuckles as she remembers how she used to be intimidated and scared by the Alpha's, now she was one of them and she feared none of them. Laika blinks reassuringly at Ferox,"Don't stress about it, the nerves will go away. The first time always sucks." Laika then chuckles slightly,"Thanks. I was trying to live up to my pack's reputation of fierce and unafraid." Laika flicks an ear, chuckling again.

Ferox smiled and nodded. "You did a great job," he complimented. "You certainly did better than I did." When Ferox had gone to Gatherings in the past, he had always watched Obsidian closely. The late Terra Lupi Alpha had been a hero to Ferox, and the young Alpha had hoped to imitate his steadfastness. Ferox sighed and shook his head, his smile fading a little, although it remained on his face. "How are things going between you and your pack?" he asked. "Is it getting any better?"