The Alpha was incredibly tired, but refused to show that as she trained the trainees. Working alongside their trainers to get them better. She fought against Afi as she had promised and he held his own pretty well. Laika did manage to win, but after, she blinks at the two. "We'll have to see about you two becoming Delta's soon. You two are advancing well." Afi and Elijah exchange big grins,"Really?" Laika shoots a look at their mentors who looked just as excited,"Of course. You two are great fighters and from the reports and how much prey you two bring in, you are great hunters. It won't be to long."

The two start bounding around in excitement and Laika laughs, news like that and they were reverted back to pup like actions almost immediately. Their mentors were just as excited though, yet weren't quite jumping around in excitement. Laika dips her head to the group before moving to join the group of younger trainees who were just learning how summon their fire on command. Laika settles down to watch. Throwing in advice every now and again. Ignoring the both curious and half resentful glares thrown at her. She had made her point earlier, she was Alpha until the Elders voted otherwise.

"Laika!"

The Alpha's head comes up as she spins her head towards her Beta Male who had called to her, trotting down into the clearing. "Khan, what's wrong?" She rises to her paws, noting the worry in the male's gaze. Khan sighs,"A rouge approached my patrol at the border. He demanded to talk to our Alpha, and when we told him that you would have to come to him he insisted that he come to the camp. We couldn't stop him." Laika's hackles raise,"You let him into our camp? With almost all our wolves gone and practically only the Elders, mothers, and pups there?"

Khan stares at Laika stress and worry in his eyes,"No. I left my patrol with him. He wouldn't dare attack." Laika flicks an ear,"Did he happen to mention why he wanted to talk?" Khan shakes his head,"No." Laika sighs, before taking off at a run back towards camp, her Beta Male on her heels. Worry pulsed through her pelt as she ran, what could the rouge possibly want? And why did he want to come to their camp? To see their weaknesses so that the rouges could launch an attack?

Laika slows as they approach camp, before slowing to a walk as she enters. Sure enough a white wolf was sitting in the middle of camp, Ignis Lupi wolves surrounding him with bared teeth and raised hackles. Laika approaches, her head high and her voice authoritative,"Who are you and what do you want?" The rouge turns towards Laika, a malicious grin coming to his face. "I am Brutus. And I've come with a warning." Laika snarls,"What kind of warning?" Brutus flicks an ear,"An attack of course."

Laika bares her teeth,"You rouges would dare launch an attack on us? Our fire will keep you far away from our lands." Brutus' eyes gleam,"Perhaps so... But the rouges outnumber you." Laika scoffs,"You do realize how stupid it is of you to come and warn us?" Brutus shakes his head,"Ah, but I am not a rouge anymore." Laika wasn't convinced and Brutus sighs,"I was once part of the rouges, however I left them. All they wanted was death to the Elemental Packs. They hatched plan after plan, and every one failed. And it resulted in many wolves' deaths. I cannot stay and watch my packmates die any longer. So I left."

Laika narrows her eyes,"And why should I believe you?" Brutus shrugs,"Because, do you dare risk not?" Laika sighs, glancing at the darkening sky, then back to Khan,"Take your patrol, escort him out of our lands and make sure he is gone and no other rouges are around. Set guards up when you return, we will deal with this in the morning." Laika waits for Khan, Brutus, and the patrol to disappear before she slips into her den and settles down. It had been a long day and she was tired, and so decently quick she drifted off.

(All good, no worries! Thanks for the warning! Also I apologize for this one. It's kind of long and kind of rushed)

Ferox awoke the next day feeling much more physically rested than he had yesterday, although he was still mentally fatigued. Stress had slowly been piling up ever since he had become Alpha, and he had managed to deal with it for the most part, but now, it was much more difficult to convince himself that he could continue onward. There was so much to worry about just within his own pack, but on top of that, he was racking his brain for an answer to he and Laika's situation.

Ferox stepped out of his den and gave a yawn, blinking against the sunlight as he made his way toward the center of camp, where several wolves were gathered to join patrols. Looking around at his pack, he realized that Steel was not there. Ferox hadn't seen him since their confrontation last night. "Cobalt, Bracken, Lily, I want you to patrol the Akvo Lupi border," he commanded. "And keep an eye out for Steel." The three wolves nodded and departed. "Crystal, Invictus, Ferrum, hunt near the border of the unclaimed lands," he said. Crystal and Ferrum's eyes both took on a rebellious glint, and Ferox's gaze grew dangerous. "Do not test me," he growled, his teeth bared slightly.

Invictus looked a little nervous, but the other two stared Ferox straight in the eye, immobile. "Come on, it's not worth it," Ferrum said finally, his tone mocking. Crystal joined him, and the three wolves left. Ferox finished organizing the patrols, then found Garnet and told her she could have the day off. Garnet looked slightly disappointed, but perked up almost immediately upon realizing that she had a day to herself. "Thank you, Alpha!" she said, wagging her tail as she walked over to her mother.

Ferox trotted out of camp and sat down beside two pairs of mentors and trainees to watch as they worked. The others trained not too far off, but Petra and her trainee, Amethyst, and Slate and his trainee, Granite, were the ones that held his interest. Both trainees noticed him watching, but stayed on task, Granite in particular clearly doing his best to impress Ferox. Ferox sat and observed for the better part of the day, following as they moved about, and finally, Ferox called the two mentors over. "Petra, Slate, may I have a word?" he requested.

Slate and Petra followed Ferox a short distance away and the three of them sat down out of earshot of the two trainees. "Amethyst and Granite are both doing quite well," he began. Slate and Petra both nodded their agreement. Pride was visible in Petra's eyes, and although Slate's expression was a little more deadpan, Ferox knew he was proud of his trainee. "Do you think that they're ready to become Deltas?" Ferox asked. Petra didn't hesitate. "Of course!" she exclaimed. "Amethyst's really been pushing herself hard these last couple weeks." Ferox nodded and looked over at Slate.

Slate took a breath."Granite's ready," he answered. "He's grown a lot since I first took him as my trainee." Ferox gave a nod and stood up. "Then I'll get back to you both after I've talked to the Elders," he said, giving them both a nod. Slate and Petra both returned to their trainees, and Ferox made his way back toward the camp. Evening patrols went relatively well without Steel there to stir up trouble, although there was still a lot of resistance. After they returned, wolves began dispersing to their dens, and once Ferox was sure it was safe to sneak out, he did so.

Ferox acted with extreme caution this time, knowing that Steel was likely out and about. Nobody had seen him since yesterday, and Ferox thought it was too much to hope that he had left the territory. However, he found no trace of him. Soon, he was at the Ignis Lupi border, where he sat down to wait for Laika.

(I'm back, sorry about the wait!)

The next morning, Laika emerges from her den. Even more emotionally and physically drained then the morning before. Last night's events had her tossing and turning all night. Was it the right call to send the rouge away? Should she have kept him as a prisoner? She wished she could have asked her Elders, but the rouge needed an answer then, and she was not willing to show anymore weakness to her pack. Especially not in front of a rouge. The rouge would pounce on that opportunity at once. Laika sighs, shaking her head before trotting over to join her Beta's. The wolves of the pack gathering before them.

Laika's gaze flickers over the gathered wolves,"Khan. Take a patrol along the Terra Lupi border. Take Helios, Topaz, Aragorn, and Phoenix." The Beta Male gets to his feet, dipping his head. Helios and Aragorn leap to their paws, joining the Beta, however Topaz and Phoenix hesitate slightly and Laika bares her teeth towards them. "Be glad I am not punishing you again, Topaz. Do not push me." Her gaze flickers to Phoenix,"And do not think I will not punish you either." Finally the two relent and join the other three and Khan leads the patrol out of camp.

"Aiden, take Rhys, Cole, Cyrus, Hugo, Fintan, Tyson, and Soleil. Head to the unclaimed lands, venture out slightly, do not get lost. But check for signs of rouges. Make sure they are staying away." Those eight wolves rise to their paws, they were older wolves, wolves almost able to become Elders. They were still strong and swift, but they were well respected and they respected the rules. So there was no arguments or hesitation when the eight leave. Laika had sent a bigger patrol just in case they encountered rouges. Another reason why she sent older ones instead of younger ones, they could keep their heads better.

She sent Ignatius, Inigo and a few others to the Caeli Lupi border, and then she sent a bunch of the older trainees with Ember to gather herbs. That left the Elders, mothers, pups, and a few Delta's behind to protect the pack, along with Laika. Which the Alpha paces, back and forth, stress clear. Which was why Seraphina approaches her daughter, shaking her head. "Laika." The Alpha flicks an ear,"Seraphina." The Elder sits down,"What is wrong?" Laika doesn't answer, simply continuing to pace. Until Seraphina's voice takes on a sharp edge,"Laika!"

Finally Laika stops and turns,"The rouges." Her voice lowers,"I'm worried about the rouges." Seraphina chuckles,"We're all worried about the rouges. Every pack worries about rouges. But we have never been faced with a full frontal attack by the rouges. We will be okay." Laika frowns,"Were you not there? The rouge specifically announced an attack. What are we going to do?" Seraphina blinks at her daughter,"The rouge may have been lying, to see if they could launch an attack, which they cannot. Even if they do out number us our fires will burn them away."

Seraphina tips her head,"Besides, if they do attack, you will lead us into battle and we will drive the rouges away." Laika sighs, finally sitting down,"Lead? Have you seen how most of the pack has treated me since I became Alpha? Half don't listen in general, many challenge me at every turn, and a rare few actually listen. And a rare fewer respect me." Laika looks her mother in the eye,"That is no way to lead a pack." Seraphina agrees,"No. But, respect is never given. It is earned." Laika opens her mouth but her mother continues over her,"You have earned the respect of you wolves, slowly but surely and that is all that matters. There will always be challenges, but you will face them."

The Elder gets to her paws, turning and trotting off before Laika could say anything. The Alpha sighs, climbing to her paws as one of the patrols return. She moves forward to lead her own hunting patrol out and she spent the rest of the day hunting. She was slower, but just as capable of catching prey. When the patrol finally returned most of the wolves were already asleep and Laika slipped into her den with no issue, tucking in a medium sized sparrow. Then finally when she was sure the camp was empty and asleep, she slunk out. Racing for the border. Her paws thud against the ground and soon she was there, emerging. "Ferox!"

(Welcome back! And no problem at all^^ Also, I'm thinking I'm gonna have to make a list of all the Ignis Lupi wolves, XD. I keep forgetting them and making up new ones)

Laika nuzzles Ferox back, before leaning back and noting the nervousness. She frowns at his statement, and his glance around. "What's wrong?" Before she could get a reply Ferox turn and ran, headed for the unclaimed lands. With another frown, Laika follows. Her paws thumping against the ground as she follows. Within minutes they were safe, beside the pond. Laika was panting slightly though she sits down beside Ferox. However instead of leaning against him, she frowns,"What's wrong?" She flicks an ear,"Your acting stressed, anxious, and nervous." She could understand the stressed part, but they have never been caught together. All of the night patrols she sent, she sent away from their little meeting place.

(Indeed, I just spent like an hour on it, XD. Reading through and gathering names then making up names for the other wolves. Just in case they need to be named. XD, so I have all healers, all Delta's, all mothers, all pups, and all Elders)

Laika listens to Ferox's explanation, nodding and finally relaxing against him. "That's not good." That made Laika thankful that at least none of her wolves straight up disappeared from camp. Except for Phantom, but that was an exile. And he had deserved it. In fact, sometimes if she landed on her front paw wrong, pain shot up her leg. Laika replies,"Fine. I suppose." Her body tenses slightly,"We did get an intruder. Brutus, he said he's a former rouge. And he came to warn us that the rouges plan to attack our pack." Laika shivers,"I sent him away, but I don't know if that was the right call. Nor do I know if Brutus is telling the truth." Laika sighs,"I can't risk him being wrong, and I can't tire my wolves out constantly patrolling the unclaimed lands."

(XD, I think I have like forty-fifty wolves total? I dunno)

Laika shakes her head,"I don't know. Brutus says he told us because he left the rouges, because they were too... I guess savage?" Laika sighs,"I don't know if I can trust him." Her ears pin back,"I don't know. All I can do for now is keep a constant eye on the unclaimed lands. Our fires are powerful, yes, but we grow tire and if their reinenforcements keep coming and ours don't..." She trails off, would the rouges be able to launch such an attack? An attack that could wipe out the Ignis Lupi? It was possible. The packs had no idea how many rouges there really were. And if they were managing to work together as a sort of pack.

(Indeed, XD)

Ferox gave a thoughtfully sigh. The predicament was a complicated one for sure. "Well, if they do attack, you can send word to the other packs," he suggested. "I know we don't get along all that well, but I don't think any of us want to see another pack be overrun by rogues. If nothing else, it at least makes them ask themselves if they'll be the next to fall." Ferox hesitated. "Of course, that might make the other packs think they have some sort of leverage over you," he added. "But I'd rather deal with that than be wiped out completely."