A flit in the shadow

[Electus]

Arnlan was as quiet as ever. The dark lands revealed none of their secrets, and everything was, as usual, shrouded in deep shadow. But slowly, an ash-grey form broke the swirling mist and darkness, his own eye gleaming softly in the dark. The form was lithe and graceful, its paws barely touching the ground upon which it trod.

Mortil quietly flitted in and out of the shadows that permeated Arnlan, his mood thoughtful, his goings quiet and unnoticed. His injuries after NightBlood's rescue had healed successfully enough on their own, though they left additional scars on his torso due to a lack of proper medical attention. But the ash-grey warrior did not particularly care. What were a few more scars, give or take a few? So long as they did not take his other eye and his movement...he would be content.

The lithe wolf slowly stopped, his ears perked. Something was moving. Prey, perhaps? It had been awhile since Mortil had hunted anything but wolf flesh. And that was for combat, not for food. Mortil slowly lowered himself till he was completely flat and parallel with the ground, baring his fangs ever so slowly. He crept closer towards the sound, his body shrouded by mist and shadow.

It was a rabbit, nothing more. He could see that. It was no errant wolf, or young pup. So it was safe to kill it. Yes, the rabbit's death would only fuel the eternal wheel of life. Mortil moved closer still. The rabbit still did not notice its imminent doom, so well hidden it was.

Like a coiled spring, Mortil unleashed himself and leaped forward with a powerful burst from his hind legs. He shot forward like an arrow, jaws open wide and eye alight at the pleasure of the hunt. The rabbit, too late, attempted to flee, only finding clamping jaws that tore flesh and snuffed out life as its only reward.

The ash-grey wolf slowed down and shook his prize in his jaws, spitting it back out to pick over. In the meantime, he looked up at the sky. It was night, and the stars dotted the great expanse above, like pinpricks on black stain. The nostalgic image reminded Mortil of better days, when one of his eyes was gold, and the other turquoise and gifted with sight. But no matter. That was in the past now....yet he couldn't really throw it away.

Mortil sighed. Even in Arnlan, he was but a flit in the shadows.

[Bandersnatch]

Crow gave a frustrated sigh, though all that could be heard was the rush of her breath as it joined the bitter wind.
She’d found herself . For the third time in the past hour. She’d been pacing, walking in circles. She couldn’t sleep, she couldn’t eat... boredom gnawed angrily at her bones, forcing her to move, making her itch in anticipation. It was so bad that she couldn’t stand still. Her fur stood on edge.
It was time to return to her Sentry duties, she could tell. She felt perfectly fine, healthy, fit. The only problem was that it was the dead of night and the territory as though to match was deathly quiet.

Wistfully, the sepia wolfess raised her head to the sky. It was gorgeous tonight, a carpet of blue-black liberally sprinkled with silver sparkles, seen through patches between shadowy leaves. Her paws let her pause, if only briefly, to wonder if there was any other doing the same. She forced air through her nostrils, forming a snort. They were probably asleep, or at least being constructive.

Just then a soft squeal reached her ears from somewhere in the near distance. A rabbit’s death cry. Her coat ruffled. Poachers were not welcome here. True, it was probably too deep within the land’s borders to be an intruder, but she ached to fulfill some sort of duty.

With a dutiful canter, she carried herself to it’s source, a fair distance out. Low-slung branches whipped at her and her imagination scolded them for hold her back. It seemed ages that she ran like this. In slow motion her legs flung out, but she was gaining ground. Her lips turned, revealing a toothy scowl. The scent of another, just ahead, flooded her senses.
The smacking of leaves hitting her and brushing past sounded as she leapt through branches. She landed with a crunch of snow, sinking down. All too late she realized her mistake. Her ears flickered back uncertainly, apologetically, at the scar-marked ashen male. She was feeling so useless, and tense as a result. No excuse and certainly no need to take it out on pack mates – a sting of guilt and regret tugged at her. Pulling herself into a more formal stance, she dipped her maw with returning delicacy – a greeting.

[nightblood]

A black and tan form stood as a statue on the hillside. The ground at the scene of NightBlood's near death experience had become even more soggy from the snow fall, which hadn't worried her too much. It would soon freeze from the bitter cold. The sight of the overturned earth and rock was foreboding, but not threatening. Not unless one was unfortunate enough to find a hollow spot like she had.

I'm not the one that's so far away when I feel the snake bit enter my veins...

While standing there, gazing upon the ground drenched with the blood of Mortilitas Umbra, ShadeBlood, Archer, and herself, she had heard a slinking sound. Something was hiding in the debree. Looking down, she discovered that she had invaded the personal space of a very irritated, very venomous snake.

Had she moved a millisecond slower, she would have found herself in a very painful position. Her paw was less than an inch from him. Not an entirely safe place to be. Even as his jaws snapped at the air where her right leg had been, she looked down with a smile. Even being at death's den again, she was more than happy to be alive.

"My apologies, sir Snake. I didn't realize you were there."

The snake looked up with a look of confusion, but quickly transformed it to a glare.

"You'll be ssure it doessn't happen again," he said, flicking out his tongue. With that, he turned and slithered up the side of a still-standing tree.

Never did I want to be here again, and I don't remember why I came...

NightBlood nodded and turned on the spot, cringing as she put weight on her left leg. It still hadn't fully healed.

She turned away from the border, taking a break from her patrol. It wasn't long before the wolfess heard the sound of a dieing rabbit. The squeal made her pause and look around. Shadows. Nothing but shadows.

She sighed at the darkness and took off at an easy gallop in the direction it had come from. She had no business checking it out as it was probably a pack mate getting a midnight snack. But what better way to get to know someone than by interrupting their meal? She laughed at the thought and increased her speed, not knowing if she was going to run in to someone knew, or a friend.

{{For those of you who know snakes are cold blooded creatures (and I know all of you do) that was a type of snake that burrows or finds deep holes in the ground during winter. I forget it's name...}}

[archer]

……your not alone…

Arnlan was home to many types of creatures, but not all were evil or possessed nature. It was a frightful being at times, with all mystery and mist shrouding in in darkness and creating a aura that loomed over the pack, giving it the feared shadows that shaded and contrasted the packs foliage. Yes, Arnlan was indeed a great and somewhat numerous pack, but it was home to Archer and his family. He had never thought to actual fall in love before he had come to the pack; furthermore, the wolf had never even known what love outside of a family was. He certainly understood pain and anger, and these two emotions had always been dominated, causing his true self to fall dormant, that is, until he came to Arnlan. He had realized that there had been a whole word he had never taken notice of and wondered how much he had truly lost over the years, how many times had he taken a life out of sheer anger or boredom? The black wolf knew not the answers to those interrogations and did his best not to think about them.

……together we stand I'll be by your side you know I'll take your hand……

As he lay in his den, he felt cold without the warmth of his mate, both eyes closed as he rested in a light slumber, his expression that of peace and comfort. Next to him, lay a black and white female who addressed his still healing wounds and broken claws. The female sighed happily as she finished cleansing the mud from his feet and rewrapping them in a soft pieces of deer hide. The various other scratches had not bothered him, but as his mother attended to him and the injuries, he grunted as he awoke from his sleep. His black fur mixed with the dark, earthy brown of the floor below him and almond eyes stared at his mother who greeted him with a smile. He did not see his mate, and her always comforting presence was missed.

……When it gets cold and it feels like the end……

He shrugged himself onto his feet, nodding politely to Cota as he left the den and although his feet and legs hurt with every step, he walked. The limp showed and he sadly shook his head, not caring much for the pain he felt in comparison to that of Nightblood. Her leg had to have been set to heal, and she too, was in pain. He walked slowly and gingerly on his front feet, all normal fluid motion stopped for now. He had somehow forgotten the season as a blanket of white fell evenly and gracefully downward in an arc over the pack. He stuck out and shivered, not used to such cool temperatures. Although he had been born in the mountains, he had never taken a liking to the cooler weather or had always been far off in distant battles during the blizzards or otherwise unearthly freeze.

……There is no place to go, you know I won't give in, no I won't give in……

As he spotted the very ground in which Nightblood's existence had almost been claimed, stained from blood, his, hers and Mortil''s. They had pulled together to and created a family of sorts. As he raised his brown eyes, Archer laid eyes on Nightblood and smiled, although he clearly stuck out. The wolf would have to start hunting at night, as to cling to the shadows. Snow was not good for a black wolf like him, he and Nightblood and Mortil and his mother, Cota, the family needed to stick together. Wait, family? Yes, Archer thought, there was he, Cota, Nightblood, Mortil, and the most recent Shadeblood. They had formed a family in the midst of a battle, somehow drawn into each other as a mystical force seemed to lull them in a trance of peace. How strange the times of peril had been to induce such a reaction from the hunters.

……Keep Holding On…… cuz you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through……

Archer trotted toward the seen of the incident, his tail curcled tightly around him to warr his body. He whimpered as the cold broke through the thick coat. He looked around and laid sight upon his lover and smiled, white teeth shining brightly. He wagged his tail and waved it back and forth in a happy manner, despite being cold. The wolf padded over to where she stood and then, with the sounds of a hunt, she was gone. Archer sighed and limped after her, keeping an eye on her, not trusting her to be alone after what had happned. Yes, Autumn was setting in, but that gave no reason for slackening patrols. Archer decided to keep up to her and put no a slight bit of speed. "Nightblood", he called out, hoping to catch her attention.

……Just Stay Strong……

As nightlight filtered downward, Archer finally caught up to Nightblood and smiled, pressing his shiverinmg body against her. It was merely for warmth in the cold air, like to lovebirds clinging together, or lovewolves as it were.

[Electus]

A soft crunch of snow was all that warned the ash-grey male of another's approach. But no panic or wariness set in- he simply sat down on his haunches, tilting his head as usual. He regarded the female curiously, regarding her sepia colored fur with slight interest. It wasn't long before he broke the silence.

"Hello", he said softly, his voice quiet. It was as if talking loudly would spoil the beautiful night, and dispel the dreamlike quality of which this scenario played out. Mortil got up and circled his spot once, before sitting once again. He dipped his head perfunctorily, his mouth forming the thinnest of smiles.

"What brings you here tonight wolfess? I do not believe that we have been introduced." He looked down at his late-night meal, and then to her. "Join me?"

[Bandersnatch]

Crow paused gently as she raised her head back up. Her clear blue eyes his own gold and blinded ones, travelling down over his ash-grey pelt and the growing number of scars. Fresh ones covered him - what had happened? Was this what had been happening off in the distance when she had acted as tour guide for the sparrow-marked wolf Mordecai? This one was certianly of Arnlan - his individual smell had been almost completely enveloped by the complex earthy scents of the land.

"Hello. What brings you here tonight wolfess?"[/i][/color]

She smiled softly to him, tension mulled for the moment. Her glance wandered to the part-eatten catch and them back to him. It was the best explanation as she was able to give.
She was certian that this one had not been here before she left. It seemed many were like that - the half-year of her absence, it seemed, had been busy.

"I do not believe that we have been introduced. Join me?"[/i][/color]

Crow wished she could've rewarded his well-intentions and polite tone with a Name. Instead, she tilted her head and gave him a kindly smile, hoping to indicate that she atleast meant no ill by not providing it.
She paused for a moment, but swiftly continued foward and sat rather near by. She wouldn't take any of his meal - a rabbit was only really enough for one - but his company would be appreciated. Tilting her head again, she gave him a curious, questioning look. She had no particular question in her mind, but there seemed like there was a certianly complexity to this wolf...

[nightblood]

"Nightblood."

The sound was barely a whisper to her ears. The black and tan wolf turned and watched as her ebony mate seemed to appeared out of the air, the very falling snow itself. Like a ghost come back from the dead for just the night as he ran beside her. She smiled, wagging her tail just slightly. The feeling of safty and comfort drifting over her. She was completely relaxed.

"Archer," she said simply for the joy of saying his name. She slowed her pace to a quick walk as he leaned on her for warmth. She could feel him shivering. Perhaps his winter coat had not grown completly yet. It was natural. Most new wolves had trouble with their first Arnlan winter, but they all got used to it eventually.

NightBlood leaned into him, sharing his own warmth and hardly paying attention to what was in front of them. She closed her eyes, savoring a moment with him. That's when an image popped into her mind. A very large and all too familiar tree. Her eyes shot open at that and she swiftly led their path away from a picker bush. They didn't need anymore injuries.

A quiet voice caught her attention. Mortilitas Umbra. She lifted her head and strained her ears to listen, not to eavedrop, but to find out who he was speaking with. There was no answer on the wind. No voice to say he was talking to anyone. Not entirely strange. She had witnessed him 'speaking with' Umbra in his head. His voice had been raised at that time, but right now it was soft and nearly a whisper. And there was the metalic scent of blood on the air.

Night turned to Archer, a worried expression on her face. Did Umbra manage to kill a pack member? An intruder? It wasn't impossible. NightBlood took another wif of the air. She relaxed once more. Rabbit blood. She reminded herself that that was the reason she was coming this way. The dieing sound of a rabbit. How easily one could forget something when one's mate came into view. She smiled at Archer in reasurrance and turned her muzzle in the direction of Mortil's voice.

[archer]

Archer watched her turn to face him, shadow had arisen from the earth as a guardian from Heaven, black as night and strong as a god, only the limp in his step could suggest otherwise. No matter how he put, he was in love with and would follow her to the end's of the earth if he had to. A trait passed on by his mother, he guessed. Even though his mother had been ravaged by wolves, she still was a kind and loving soul toward everyone, an angel to see the light when there was none, a divine wolfess she could have been perhaps, although she would never told anyone something so vain. Cota was the light at the end of tunnel and had stood faithfully at Archer's side even when the worst he come, he had still had her. Yes, Archer decided it was a characteristic he had learned for her. She had taught him to stand by whomever you loved with all your heart, to Nightblood and so he would do so.

"Archer,"

They slowed and he felt her return the warmth. No words were needed to thank her, they were left unspoken on the silent snowfall. Frozen snow fell gently around them, powering him in a light blanket of white, creating a luminescent halo of empty color. He smiled appreciatively. A moment in time, that was all he needed to be with, a moment in time to know what she was, who she was. Archer thougt he knew these answers, but there was more to Nightblood than meet's the eye, he knew. She appeared large and gruff, but really had a gentle and loving soul, as was he. They could be called a case of mistaken idenity, but that was their choice.

There was the metallic scent of blood, but Archer barely noticed a they redirected around a bush. He did not question her, simpoly followed. The black male saw the worried glance she relayed to him, but he did not seemed fazed by it, but he did return a gentle and relaxed looked. It was amazing how much he could say without speaking, but that was the gift of love and compassion, the ability to understand and be as one should, never doubting or second guessing their own actions. What is done is done. She then smiled, remembering. He nodded and followed her closely.

[Electus]

Mortil slowly scrutinized the wolfess, looking her up and down. He thought he understood: she was mute. It was as best a guess as any, and it seemed correct. After all, no wolf was that anti-social, not even himself. He smiled briefly at her polite refusal to take part of his late-night food and nodded slightly. His ears perked briefly and he started, staring off in some random direction. Some noise of some sort. Oh well. He wasn't surprised. After all, Arnlan was a wolf pack. Why wouldn't there be some noise, even this late at night? He shook the thought out of his head. He felt obligated to speak.

"Oh. I think I understand."

The ash-grey male saw her looking at him curiously, like he was a display at a museum. He understood that too. If she could have spoken, it would have been a question almost, an inquire about his seemingly more complex interior. He began to answer.

"Ah. That. Well, I suppose I should introduce him."

Mortil closed his eye and concentrated. No need for this to get violent.

~Hey.
~Yes...?
~Cooperate for once and introduce yourself.
~Mmm...if you insist.

Mortil opened his eye again, but this time, he seemed...different. More alert. More...malevolent.

"Ah...So nice to meet you." Umbra said smoothly, grinning. "Albireo insisted that I introduce myself. I suppose a formal introduction is called for, hm? I am Umbra. Albireo prefers to be called Mortil. Our full name would be Mortilitas Umbra...", Umbra laughed, then looked at the sepia wolfess again. "But I believe its time for me to take my leave. Ha..."

The ash-grey wolf closed his eye again, and he seemed to revert back to normal.

"Well, now you know, at least."

[Bandersnatch]

[*read c-box* Sorry guys, today was the one of the two days I actually was doing anything this week *coughwork* >_> I haff let down teh team T_T]

"Oh. I think I understand.” [/color]

Crow smiled softly, perking an eye brow. It seemed these days it was all too easy for newcomers to the land to understand what ailed her. Were those who shared her affliction outside the packlands? Had she a voice, she would’ve praised the intelligence of her packmates.
He had even caught her enquiring look.

"Ah. That. Well, I suppose I should introduce him." [/color]

Him? Was there some other wolf lurking around in the shadows? Crow’s face was overcome in confusion, but she did not have to wait long for an answer.

“…I am Umbra. Albireo prefers to be called Mortil. Our full name would be Mortilitas Umbra..." [/color]

Umbra. Or was that Mortil? While he looked little different, there was some sort of malice in his eye. Even as a cold chill slipped down the mute’s spine, setting her fun on edge, amusement sparkled in her eyes. Two wolves in a single body? Now that was something different. Arnlan certainly had a habit of collecting odd wolves, and that included herself. She dipped her head respectfully, repeating her prior greeting to this ‘new’ wolf.
Then it struck her – this had been the wolf Mordecai had told Karolek of! How could she have not realized before? The description given fit him to a T. The sparrow colored wolf had said that this one had caused a fight, that he was potentially dangerous. And yet just now he had seemed polite, reserved, even thoughtful. She watched him for a moment more. If he was as violent as Mordecai’s description had told, how was it that he still got into Arnlan? Maybe this pleasance was all an act, one used to worm his way into the pack.

"But I believe its time for me to take my leave. Ha..."[/color]

Her uncovered eye stared into his good eye as it returned to as it had been. No - he seemed sincere, he was open in his words. He’d had his chance to harm her, but had been fine. Perhaps it had all a misunderstanding. How was it that a wolf become split into two in the first place? Curiosity, perhaps, was getting the better of her.

"Well, now you know, at least." [/color]

The sepia wolfess nodded thoughtfully. It seemed they both had… quirks.
Before she could make any motion in attempt to continue conversation her ears perked in an automatic response to noise. No rabbit would dare approach the blood of a comrade, if there was a rabbit of such monstrous proportions to make such a sound in the first place. Another wolf, then?

[nightblood]

“…I am Umbra. Albireo prefers to be called Mortil. Our full name would be Mortilitas Umbra..."

NightBlood turned forward, ripping her eyes away from Archer, and growled. Umbra was awake. And even though he had helped save her once, she couldn't help but be warry of him. It was as if Mortil's trained mind was on a whole nother levle from Archer and herself. It was second nature to be on high alert while he was in control.

"Well, now you know, at least."

Who? Who knows? Who was he talking to? As if to answer her inner questions, they finally reached the area where the two wolves had met. There was Mortilitas Umbra, siting over a freshly caught rabbit, with a female beside him. Something about the female told Night that she had better get to know her, as if she was an important equal.

The wind blew and NightBlood caught a face full of snow. Unphased by it, she sniffed the air. The sepia female was an Arnlan native. She had caught her scent before. But it had faded slightly in the deepest parts of the land. She had only recently returned to the territory.

Her good eye focused back on Mortil.

"Are we interrupting something?" she asked, trying to be polite.

[archer]

Archer nose twitched as two sets of scents hit him. One he knew, that of Mortil, a wolf he was familair with, but the other, that of a female, he was not so sure of. In fact, he only knew a limited portion of the pack as it were. As he and Nightblood walked closer, the smell became stronger, and he could hear voices, but he knew that by the sound of it Umbra was currently in control. But he had agreed on a truce, they were equal and they would not do well to start a unneeded fight.

He smiled as he saw the female and dipped his head as a sign of respect to her, then to Mortil. It was strange how many fighters, or once fighters, had gathered here in Arnlan. He was trained to work together here in the pack, they had an unspoken desire to protect one anoth as a packmate should. They settled the bad blood between themselves and now were allies of sorts. Archer would protect him, and he hoped he would do the same.

"Mortil." He said in a sdoft and quiet voice, still shvering slighty. He stood watching, seeing if he should leave or anything like that.

[Blackfeathr]

I stick out like a sore dew claw here.

Mordecai now knew how far north he was when he woke up this afternoon to see snow on the ground, nearly covering the shabbily dug entrance of his makeshift den. He wasnt a wolf to live large and extravagant concerning dwelling-places.
Of course he had hailed from a land much snowier and colder than here, but now he knew he was still north enough to experience the... ahem, wonderous season of winter.
But, on a good note, he had a coat thick enough for it.

At this time of year though, his coat color damns him to a bad winter hunt.
See, his coat is generally dark... dappled like a common sparrow. Of course, a caribou could spot him from a mile away. Sad, really.
He felt the cold seep in between his paw pads as he walked.
But then, alas! A rabbit with an equal misfortune... having a brown coat and sitting in the snow.

Natural Selection, I daresay.

Mordecai crouched, flattening himself against the snow.

Yeah, like that will do anything.

He crawled a few feet, then barrelled toward the rabbit at a frightening speed. The rabbits ears perked and it too rocketed away.
Dashing here, there, left, right, to, and fro. Mordecai was gaining. As his legs spread outward to gain ground, his claws nearly touched the rabbits tail every time.
At the very last second, the rabbit made a hard left... quite nearly a 90 degree angle. Unfortunately an animal seven times the rabbits size couldnt do that, and Mordecai ended up crashing headlong into a sapling.

The tree vibrated and swayed on impact, causing snow to fall from the branches and with a airy WHUMP... he was covered in snow.

He lay there for a moment in agony, his thoughts screaming in pain as it felt like his head was being ripped in two. The pain seemed to echo to all corners of his body, threatening to overtake him. He curled up his body in reflex but his muscles protested. He was between a rock and hard place.
When the cold meltwater started to permeate his fur and chill his skin, he begrugingly got up with a groan and shook the snow off, which made his head hurt even more.
Now he heard voices...

Aw crap... damn tree is making me hear things!

Staggering beyond the small line of trees double-visions of four wolves seated before him swam in his view.

Mordecai sturdied his stanced and blinked a few times, allowing his vision to come back into focus.
He smiled as he seen the mute wolfess, Archer, and Nightblood... but then when he caught sight of Mortilitas Umbra his head gave a great throb as his thoughts cried out in suprise... the only time he met Mortilitas Umbra he was a raging psychopath... and now they all seem to be as civil as if they were sitting and having tea.

"Uhm." Was all he could say.

[Electus]

Mortil looked at the three wolves that had just intruded, a slightly surprised, and also slightly amused, look on his face. He dipped his head respectfully to the three.

"Hello, NightBlood, Archer. And...well, I remember you from that fight, anyways, though I never got your name. A good evening to you, nonetheless."

He looked at the two lovers, his brow slightly etched with concern. The bad blood between him and Archer was settled, and they had a degree of mutual agreement between them. But the alphas? Did they know? What would they do? He was troubled by these questions- he loved Arnlan, and he regretted that he had let Umbra lose control. He had trained day and night following that incident, nearly killing himself many times over to prevent such an outbreak again. He had a much more ironclad control now, but...

"Excuse me for a moment, wolfess", he said gently, turning his attention to NightBlood and Archer. "We do seem to run into each other often, don't we? We haven't had time to properly talk. Well, I made a promise, and I intend to keep it. It just so happens there'd be more witnesses to this tale than I thought. I'll get around to it, but I must know..." He looked seriously at the two, and also at the irish wolf. "Do...do the alphas know about...Umbra?" He almost whispered the last part. Umbra was still at thing that he had trouble talking about with people he had hurt, albeit unintentionally. He just wanted to forget.

[Bandersnatch]

Not just another wolf. Another three wolves.
Crow glanced them over. A large female and equally matched male - hulking and muscular frames, approaching a foot taller than herself. Crow cocked her head as she studied them. The female carried herself with pride and rank.

"Hello, NightBlood, Archer."[/color]

Nightblood, hrm? This, then, was the new Sentry Pollux had mentioned so long ago? This would be the wolf she worked with to fulfill border duties. A good relationship, thus, was important. Crow rose to her feet, mirroring Archer's dipping of the head to him and then to Nightblood. As she rose, her stance took on one similar to that of Night's, though it lacked in the confidence that the black and tan one gave off. She knew she was ready to 'talk' to Sofika, to get back to work, that she still held her rank - they were equals.
Her attention turned to the black male. Archer. Almost as black as Arnlan itself. He and Nightblood had turned up in unison and their smells mingled closely, yet his stance told that he had no rank. She looked at them curiously for a moment, but it was soon drawn to Mordecai. Ah, at least one familiar face! She smiled, glad to see him again.

"Excuse me for a moment, wolfess."[/color]
Crow politely returned her gaze and nodded politely, signaling that she'd heard and understood. As he turned his attention away, she trotted the few paces to Mordecai. Tail waving softly, she made to nose his cheek in greeting.

As Mortil again spoke gently, she listened curiously. A promise? Witness to what he had to say?
"Do...do the alphas know about...Umbra?"[/color]
Crow's attention again to the sparrow-colored wolf. She could awns that - she'd been there when Mordecai when he had informed Karolek. And if Karolek knew, Sofika did.

Feeling rather out of the loop, the sepia wolfess plonked herself back down, letting the events fold out in front of her.