He noticed Soraya and turned to face her. He spoke clearly to her as he had noticed he had developed a habit of muttering to others. "Soraya, please may you tell Snow I will be back soon as I am just about to collect some chamomile for poor Mishka?" She asked. Whilst he waited for her reply he added that he had many other herbs to gather whilst he was out. Chamomile. Wild Yams. Goldenseal. Elm Tree Bark.Blackberry leaves. Borage.' Comfrey roots. It was a lot but It was neeeded. Roscoe gathered a simple man -made or well wolf-made bark sledge. It was basically a slab of thick tree bark that curved inwards in the outsides snd bottoms section. Perfect for Roscoe. He looked at Soraya again as he was ready now to listen .

Sagefire| Female | Warrior | Zena | M: Mishka, Zena alpha male (Ind.)

Sagefire yawned, forcing herself awake, hoping her eyes would soon adjust to the bright sunlight streaming through the warrior den. It took a moment before she regained her senses and remembered all that had happened. He's really gone.. I can't believe it, it actually happened…

Sagefire thought of the Alpha Male who she deeply respected and felt a pang of sorrow. She knew very well that Mishka, their alpha female, must be taking his death very hard as the two were mates. I will avenge him! Shival pack will not get away with this! Sagefire silently promised to herself, fully intending to keep it. Giving one last yawn she stepped out of the den and into the center of the camp.

From what it looked like few of the Zena pack members were actually awake yet, although personally Sagefire felt it was late enough to get up and start the day. She decided that she might go out of camp and maybe train, after all it was a good idea to be prepared as Sagefire assumed they would soon fight Shival pack, another reason to train would be to clear her head. Sagefire walked out of camp and into the bright forest that lay ahead of the camp.

.

Early morning light filtered through the leaves of the trees, bathing the large, dark wolf in spots of shimmering light. Karim sat quietly, watching the open clearing in front of him, that led to Zena pack's den. He had come out here a while ago, unable to sleep after the harrowing events the pack had faced. For hours he had sat outside the dens, watching every shadow, every movement, making sure no more harm would come to the pack.

Karim had moved over to the clearing shortly before the other wolves had begun to stir, just out of sight from those who woke, but close enough to still keep an eye on their surroundings. He could not let anything slip through their defence. He couldn't fail again...

The sounds and scents of his fellow pack members leaving their dens reached him, and Karim knew it was time to return. It was time for the delta to receive his orders, and help ensure the other pack members fulfilled their duties. He had come to cherish these early morning moments, where he discussed the state of the pack, and the plans for the coming day with the alphas.

This morning however, it was different. He would only be meeting one wolf, and Karim wasn't sure he could face Mishka. The loss of her mate had come as a shock to them all, but he felt personally responsible. He had been unable to protect his dearest friend, one he had sworn to protect and serve. How could he face Mishka, knowing he had broken that promise?

Sighing, Karim rose from the soft grass, and walked back to the dens. He knew where he'd find Mishka. She should have been holed up in her den, mourning, or off in the forest, raging... but Karim knew she would be where she was every morning - dutifully waiting outside her den, to take care of the pack's needs before her own.

As he reached the alpha, Karim sat down in front of her, his head dipped low in respect like he always greeted her, only this time he kept his gaze fixed on the ground. He couldn't meet her eyes, fearing the look of dissappointment and betrayal he was convinced she must feel for him.

"Mishka."

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Leaves rustled and bounced off the ground, as a sleek, black wolf rose from the pile of dead leaves she had burrowed herself into the previous night. Angelica shook herself awake, leaves falling from her fur, and stretched her long limbs with a yawn. New day, new possibilities... It was impossibly early, an hour best spent for the dead or dreaming, according to Angelica, but since she was awake, she might as well rise. That leaf pile wasn't exactly a dear, cozy home to her after all.

Angelica trotted over to the stream she had found last night to get a morning drink, while scouting her surroundings. It was a quiet place, but she knew this area wasn't far from her previous home, meaning she could run into wolves from the Shival pack, or their rivals, the Zena pack, at any time.

She knew full well she had no business staying so close to these packs, but as much fun as she had on her adventures as a lone wolf, Angelica couldn't help the pull she felt to her family. At times she liked to think she couldn't care less, but the tuth was that she missed them. Her sister, Nightfall, her adopted parents, Breeze & Navajo... Even the other pack members would sometimes sneak in and pull on her heartstrings once in a while.

Finishing her drink, she shook her head as if to force the thoughts away. Things were better this way. On her own, there was no way to dissappoint or harm those she loved. Moving away from the stream, Angelica wandered off from her temporary home, scenting for prey as she went. Time to find breakfast, before any nearby pack woke to go on patrols.

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Breeze / 6 / Female / Shival Pack / Alpha / M: Navajo, Zena Alpha, Angelica

She awoke slowly, her eyes blinking a few times before her vision focused. She heard Navajo leaving the den and smiled to herself before getting to her paws and stretching. She padded outside and took a deep breath, admiring the fresh, woodland air. Breeze scanned the clearing, pleased with how the camp and it’s occupants were faring, before tucking tail around her paws and sitting down. She watched th forest for a few moments, admiring it's beauty and silence at that time of day. She sat quietly, seeing her mate across the clearing. She trotted over to him, flicking her tail and nodding at a few of the camp’s early wakers.

“Hello dear, what awakened you at this time of the morning?” She asked, her eyes dancing with amusement.

As she waited for an answer, her mind drifted back to the events of the past few days. She blinked rapidly and thought about the missing Alpha in the Zena Pack. Then she thought about the possible predators, or wolves that could have killed him and was immediately stumped as to what to think.

Then there was the matter of her adopted daughter Angelica. The gorgeous black female had disappeared, no one knew where she had gone or where she was now. Almost a year now, was it? That she had been gone? Breeze thought sadly. Such a blow for the Pack, she would have been an asset had she started behaving.

~~~

Akilina / 4 / Female / Shival Pack / Warrior / Corvus, Aspen, Zena Alpha

Her eyes were hazy as she woke, soon clearing as dhe blinked rapidly fot a few seconds. She sat up, her paws sinking into the mossy bedding and sniffed the air for her mate Corvus. Following his scent outside she saw him in the camp clearing and padded over before stretching and sitting down beside him. She also spotted Breeze trotting over to her mate Navajo and smiled. She began to lick her white fun, before asking her mate how he slept.

Waiting for a reply she sat up straight again and rested her head on his shoulder, generally happy about life. Yes the Alpha Male of their neighbouring pack, Zena, was killed. But no one knew the culprit? What happens if it wasn’t one of the Shival Pack? What if there was a traitor within Zena? Or perhaps it was a loner. She shivered, despite feeling warm against her mate’s fur.

I'm worried Corvus, I am so worried..." She whispered.

She spotted her brother padding over but ignored him. Not because she was annoyed, but because she didn't have the energy at that moment to talk to him, fearing that her worries would be heard by everyone in the Pack.

~~~

Aspen / 4 / Male / Shival Pack / Warrior / M: Junebug, Akilina, Corvus, Breeze, Navajo

Aspen had been awake for hours. Not sleeping had become a common theme in his lifestyle. Instead his mind whirred, but it kept coming back to one particular wolf. Junebug. He couldn’t get her out of his mind! It was infuriating but exhausting at the same time! She was just so…. Perfect.

But sometime he had to get up, and upon hearing his sister, Aki’s voice in the camp, he strteched slowly and left his den.

“Morning Sis! Get some sleep?”

He trotted over to the prey pile and found a small rabbit which he took for himself and a rather fat pigeon which he dropped in front of Aki and Corvus. What a good pair they make, he thought sadly.

His eyes scanned the clearing for June, or any other wolf he could talk to really. It was clear that his sister wasn't having the best day and he knew to steer clear of her when she was like that.
Licking his lips he padded across the clearing to where he saw his Alpha, Breeze sitting beside her mate Navajo. Nodding to them both he sat a small distance from them, beginning to groom himself. His claws sunk into the dusty ground beneath him and he sighed inwardly, almost audible to those around him.

~~~

Aurea / 8 / Female / Zena Pack / Elder / M: Soraya, Roscoe, Alpha Male (ind.)

Aurea lazed in the sunshine, her dark pelt becoming warm with the sun as it rose overhead. She had arose early, although not entitled to, and had moved her body outside of her den and into the light. She had spoken little, and was happy dozing the morning away before the pups woke up and she would be telling stories well into the evening. She had been moved to the elder den a little over a week ago, and she was still recovering from the illness that had moved her there.

She had been on the brink of the den, her leg injury forcing her to only go on one hunt per day as her role of hunter, and the nasty cough she had recieved made her accept the decision and move. She was recovering though, and with regular visits to the Medic, she was making a good recovery and had moved out of the Medic den, where she was recieving direct care. She lifted her head and took a deep breath, spotting her last daughter Soraya talking to Roscoe, the Medic Apprentice. Watching Soraya proudly she dragged her eyes away, before lying back down, stretched out on the floor of the camp. She coughed twice and then fell back into her dozing state, awaiting the day ahead of her.

She thought that being an elder would give her the chance to have no worry in the world. But after recent events, like her Alpha Male being killed, she wasn't so sure.

Nightfall|F|Warrior|Zena Pack|Mentions: Mishka

Nightfall got up and wandered around. She gathered the most beautiful flowers she could see, She made sure they were Mishka's favorite and then added a little rabbit on top. She then sat outside the door to the Alpha's den. She meekly whispered "I apologize for interrupting Mishka ma'am, I have brought a gift for you. Where would you like me to put it? I will also be going hunting to clear my mind if you don't mind" Nightfall paused after this, she readjusted the bundle in her mouth as it was quite large for her to hold gently.

Navajo's tail began wagging like a little excited puppy as he heard his mate's voice. He smiled and replied honestly "I am not sure,it's a mystery...." He did his thinking face that looked like he had just tasted a bitter berry. He shook it off and laughed at his own thinking face. He then added "When everyone is up and the hunters are back, we can finally have breakfast " His stomach almost seemed to know what he was talking about and rumbled in return. He looked at his mate, she was the most beautiful,unique,clever,kind and loving wolf he had ever met. He stretched out as he awaited her reply.

Roscoe|M|Medic's Apprentice|Zena Pack: Soyara, Aurea

As he heard Aurea's cough, he smiled at her and leaped off into the bushes to find all the herbs he needed, the bark sledge bumbled along as he leap over things and saw other things. At last after many trips back of his list was done. He checked the bark sledge and tucked the moss blanket in so the herbs souring fall out. He loved his clever invention, no one knew what it did and thankfully never asked him. It looked weird to some, maybe everyone thought it was weird. He counted the herbs.

Chamomile flowers, borage, and many others. As he lay there panting. He tucked in his tail around the sledge and just listened to the many birds that swooped and chirped above him. He then panicked and he thought Waot. What if there the wrong herbs, herbs that we don't need. I only know around 15 different herbs. Ahhhhh The thought disturbed snd provoked him and he instantly got up and headed back.

She replied to Midnight steadily as he felt her eyes give in. "If you don't mind, I will reside into the den ....Have a good day Midnight" With that she sleepily stumbled back into the den and lay there, the den which should of been full of others and pups. She smiled and worried about her future pups and thought of her mate. She wondered where he was right now . Probably sleeping,dreaming about the future pups or training or on a early patrol. Her mate, Kazmir was the sweetest of all wolves. She pictured him as a big bad warrior wolf who in the inside is a sweet adorable pup. She smiled at the thought and instantly fell asleep by the entrance with the rising sun relaxing her even more.

Sagefire | Female | Warrior | Zena | M: Angelica.

Sagefire started to feel more awake the more she breathed in the fresh forest scent. Birds chirped overhead, and she could smell all sorts of scents from different prey creatures. It wouldn't hurt to hunt would it? Sagefire silently wondered, of course it wouldn't! She dropped into a crouch and started to follow the strongest scent. As Sagefire crept closer she saw a rabbit, unsuspecting and unaware of the danger she would bring. Once she felt ready Sagefire pounced on the rabbit, snapping its neck. This will make for a good meal for one of the pack members! Sagefire picked up the rabbit and started to head back to camp to drop it off. She stopped, sniffing the air as an unfamiliar scent seemed to be drifting through the breeze. Burying the rabbit quickly beside a tree, Sagefire darted off in the direction of the scent.

The closer she got towards the border between the packs the stronger the scent became. Sagefire felt this was odd as it didn't smell like Shival pack. It's probably a loner wandering on one of our territory’s The thought made her snarl, if any wolf was trespassing on Zena pack territory she'd make sure they wouldn't again. When she reached the border she could see a wolf in between both territories, Sagefire wasn't entirely sure what the wolf was doing, but whatever it was she didn't like it. Sagefire felt that eventually that loner was going to stray onto Zena pack territory. Instead of crossing the border, which was something Sagefire didn't want to do she simply sat down, alert and growled, asking, “Who are you!” Loud enough for the wolf to hear.

.

Karim kept his head dipped low until Mishka was done talking, before he looked up to return her gaze. The calm, almost cheerful tone impressed him. He knew she was wise and collected, but she had every right to be upset. No one would have blamed her for being distraught, but here she was, putting everyone else before herself, even though it was her mate that had been killed...

Just as he was going to reply, the new wolf Nightfall came up to them. Karim gave her a slight nod and let the two females speak. He wasn't sure how he felt about this new pack member yet, as she had not been with them for long, but she had shown great skills for a warrior, and not given them any reason to doubt her.

Internally shaking his head, Karim turned his thoughts from the distrust that had brewed in him since their alpha was killed, and on to the tasks of the day.

Smiling reassuringly at Mishka, he nodded to her previous words. At times like these no one should be off on their own, unless necessary. "Nightfall and Sagefire will patrol on their hunt, and I might bring Skye to other parts of our territory. However... I don't like leaving you, and the pack, without warriors..." In fact, he didn't like leaving her at all, but he didn't say it out loud. Either we send out the hunters, and have them patrol while they are out, and I remain here with you - or I ask that they remain here until patrols are done."

Karim never imposed his opinions, but it was crutial to remain vigilant. "I doubt there will be a follow-up attack at this time, or they would have done it already, but other packs might see us as vulnerable, and want to take advantage before we can compose ourselves." He intentionally did not mention any packs, as they still had no proof of who had killed their alpha, even if suspicions ran high.

.

.

Angelica had tracked down and caught a rabbit that she had munched down in all haste. She realized that in her attempt to stay clear of the Shival pack, she had unintentionally strayed too close to the Zena pack's border. In fact, she was nearly smack in between the two packs.

Turning back, Angelica trotted off with haste, trying to stay hidden. Unfortunately, someone had caught her scent already. Angelica stopped and turned to the wolf that had called out to her. It wasn't a wolf she recognized, and considering where she seemed to come from, Angelica figured she was most likely from the Shival pack.

"I am none of your business, unless you tell me who you are first."

It was a little harsh maybe, but Angelica was on edge. If the female was indeed from one of the packs, she had a lot less to lose, with a whole pack to back her up, than Angelica who was on her own.