Ute's Guests

[Pavane]

---Tranquil Pond, with Miakoda and Hadir---

Considering the trauma that this pack has recently endured, and the subsequent tension that it has caused, the young she-wolf has decided to keep her distance unless someone she's already met is awake. At the moment, she is lying a little ways off from the group of other wolves, just along the edge of the pond. Miakoda is watching the small waves lapping at the soil, but her ears are relaxed and it's quite obvious that she is lost in thought rather than paying any real attention to the motions of the water.

Hadir generally lacks a great deal of energy but this morning has found himself feeling pretty ok. The move from home hasn't exactly been easy on anyone, and Hadir is no exception. He had spent most of his life somewhere near the den or in it, and now the world is considerably larger than that. Filled with big scary dogs and other bad things that can get you and kill you. Of course though Hadir has been facing down the prospect of death long before the dogs came and disrupted his life. He lifts his head from his paws and glances around to see who is awake and who isn't. His gaze comes to rest on Miakoda. He has no idea who she is, though she doens't seem to be any sort of threat, "Hi." he says.

Miakoda's ears now come to attention, pricking up and turning toward the sound of an unknown voice; her eyes and head turn in the same direction a second later. Spotting the overgrown pup amidst the pile of sleeping wolves, she makes the immediate decision to stay right where she is. She remembers Ahiga's reaction to her being near the pack before they were introduced, and she does not want to invite a repeat scene with some other member of Ute for being near one of their pups. But still, no reason not to be friendly from a distance. She smiles, nodding her head and giving a few small wags of her tail. "Hi," she answers.

Hadir is indeed something of an overgrown pup. He is still smallf or his age, but shortly will be a teenager along with his sister Althaea. Its rather remarkable that the pup has managed to live this long through everything that has happened, but he isn't ready to kick the bucket just yet. He watches Miakoda for a moment or two longer before speaking, "What are you doing?" he asks. He hasn't really ever had a full conversation with someone who wasn't a member of his family or his pack.

Miakoda leans her weight off to one side a little, slouching over into a posture that is both comfortable and that evidences her total lack of aggression. It is a position that she hopes will be noted should a grown member of the Ute pack awaken. To Hadir's question, she shrugs, her golden eyes glancing back to the water. "Not much of anything," the she-wolf admits. "Just thinking." Her gaze moves back to Hadir and she says, "I'm Miakoda, but most just call me Mia. I met a few wolves from your pack yesterday. Ikuna and Tala and Ahiga."

Hadir had figured if she was hanging around that she had met one of the three wolves that basically run the pack since his own father is more or less absent a great deal of the time. If the three of them have no objection to her being here then he can't see why he would have a problem with it either, "I'm Hadir. Its nice to meet you Mia." he replies. He has a few questions for her. Just the usual stuff about where are you from...why are you here and that sort of thing, but will hold them to a later time after he has gotten to know her a bit better, "What are you thinking about?" he asks instead.

The name he gives is stored away in her memory, just as the names of the three wolves were yesterday. And while Mia is prepared to answer the typical questions that Hadir was thinking of asking, he instead asks one that she was not expecting. As a result, her first response is silence as she blinks across the distance between them. But eventually, "I was actually trying to figure out what would make that pack of dogs run your pack out of its territory. I don't know much about dogs since I don't know much about humans, but I figured that some logical thinking might be able to make some sense of it anyway. But... apparently that doesn't work. Cause I just have no idea. Unless they're all rabid or something."

Hadir has no idea what being 'rabid' might mean and he too has no idea what caused them to arrive all of a sudden like that. He doens't really feel like there was any reason for them to do what they did. They certainly has no business huring Wachiwa or the others. Especially when they hadn't done anything to them, "I don't have any idea...but they are really mean. Maybe they just like killing stuff." he says with a shrug. Can't see why anyone would like that, but its a real option for them he thinks.

Miakoda exhales a rather heavy sigh, and shakes her head. "I guess that could be it, too." It's admitted with a grimace that wrinkles the bridge of her muzzle. "Well I'm glad all of you managed to make it out. Hopefully the dogs get bored soon and decide to move on. Go terrorize someone else, someplace else." Her ears tilt back. "Someone mentioned going to see a pack called Cerulean yesterday. I guess they live nearby?"

Hadir has only ever heard of the pack. He knows that his dad had said that his sister was going to go visit them with the younger adults when the spring came. He had been under the impression that he wasn't going to be allowed to go with them, but it seems now that he is going to get the chance to meet some of these other wolves, "I don't really know where they live, but Ikuna and the rest go to visit them sometimes. I've never met any of them myself." The Cerulean wolves don't seem to really visit anyone else but keep largely to themselves, "I've heard that they are nice though."

Miakoda listens with clear interest as Hadir explains a little about the other nearby pack. And she is glad for the information; even if it is limited, its more than she knew before. "Well I'm glad to hear that they're nice. I wonder if they know about what happened to your pack yet." It's not exactly a question, and it doesn't seem to be directed toward Hadir as if she expects him to know the answer; she seems to simply be thinking aloud. "Well! Anyway. Are you related to Tala and Ikuna or Ahiga?" She's quite glad to change the subject to something less depressing.

Hadir has no idea if anyone else has heard. He would suppose not since no one has been over there to tell them. Unless they have heard by other means. Which is always a possibility. Certainly he hopes that they have not met with a similar fate, "Ikuna and Tala are my aunt and uncle, and Ahiga isn't related to anyone in the pack as far as I know." he says. He's never really heard the story of how Ahiga came to join the pack. Its an interesting thought though. He'll have to ask him the next time he sees him, "Skahla is my dad and Shawnee is my mom. We don't know where she is right now."

Some dots are linked together, and as a result, a clearer picture of the core family of the pack is drawn in her mind. So this is the son of Ikuna and Tala's older brother, perhaps expected to become Ute's next alpha sometime in the future. And his mother, who is presumably the female alpha of the pack, has gone missing? Miakoda frowns at this, her forehead wrinkling as well. "I'm sorry about your mother. Did she go missing after the dogs came?"

Hadir doesn't really know what happened. The whole thing was sort of a blur. He is pretty sure that his mother got away...at least he really can't bear to think of the alternative, "Yeah. But she's really fast so I'm sure she just hasn't found us yet." None of the pack members really saw her in the fight so he figures that she might have been away from the group when the dogs came. Hopefully she didn't try to go back.

A slow nod acknowledges his remarks, but judging from Miakoda's expression, she is still mentally debating the matter, just as she had been doing with other subjects when Hadir first woke up. The she-wolf stretches out her front legs, the toes of her front paws just shy of dipping into the water that laps at the soil nearby. "So do you have any brothers or sisters?"

Hadir takes a moment to think about this as he formulates his response. He does, of course, have siblings, but should he really go into great depth talking about them. At this point he figures way not? He takes a moment to yawn and then answers her, "I have my sister Althaea, and my other sister Soyala is dead. The dogs didn't kill her...she just died on her own."

Miakoda's ears turn back sharply as he mentions the death of one of his sisters. "It happens," she murmurs, her voice quiet. "One of my brothers died when we were all very young. There just wasn't enough food to go around." The she-wolf shakes her head, looking off over the surface of the water. "It always seems to be something, though. Not enough food, not enough water, not enough shelter, the attack of an enemy... " She falls quiet for a few long seconds and then returns her attention to Hadir. "Well hopefully I'll get to meet your sister one of these days. It's nice to have someone to talk to again."

Hadir gives a bit of a shrug. Death does seem to be sort of all over the place, and he is definitely a morbid sort of pup. He has been confronted with death..the death of others and his own death from the time that he was small. He takes a quick glance around to see if anyone else is awake. At the present moment he doesn't see anyone. He knows that they don't like to hear him talking like this, but its a chance to talk to an objective individual who won't try to coddle him, "I'm going to die soon too. There's something wrong with me. The others won't say it...but I know by the way that they look at me and talk about me behind my back."

Whereas most others would probably begin to back away from such a discussion, not to mention the individual talking in such a manner, Miakoda only tilts her head at him in fresh interest. "What makes you think there's something wrong with you?" She hasn't gotten a sense that there's anything off about this other wolf. He seems older than his years, yes; but considering what he's been through, that's certainly not surprising. Intrigued, she repositions herself again, scooting her body around so that she's directly facing the younger male while still lying upon her stomach.

Its true that nothing might appear wrong from the outside, but on the inside things are very very different, "I can't run like the others can. When I get excited my chest really hurts and I sleep alot. Sometimes I get fits..." he says. Hadir was unlucky enough to be born with a couple of different difficulties. Though the pack has no words to describe it he was born with a congentital heart defect that causes him trouble at times, and also was born with epilepsy. He hasn't had a big fit in awhile, but they have never been predictable before, "They don't let me do much of anything really."

Miakoda is silent for some time after he shares his difficulties, and her mind turns over what could be causing such things. But her experience in the world is, to be honest, extremely limited. She's had only brief encounters with her own kind, save for the time spent with her family when she was growing up; during her travels since leaving them, Mia has only crossed paths with a few wolves, all loners like herself. "Maybe they will get better as you grow," she eventually suggests. "Something that you'll grow out of, perhaps. I mean, you've made it this far... I'd think that if you weren't meant to be here with your pack, your life would have already been over."

Hadir wishes he could be optimistic about things like that, but he knows better. He remembers having more energy when he was younger, and while the fits have subsided the lack of energy and the pain hasn't. Its actually a rather minor miracle that he was able to escape with the rest of them at all, "Maybe. I don't think so though. I don't think that they think so either...but I can't prove it cause they only talk about me when they think I'm asleep or when they are off by themselves." he says, "Ikuna, Tala and Ahiga that is..." he randomly throws in there as well, "Ahiga and Tala are love."

"What makes you so sure that it won't get better?" she asks him, her question direct; her eyes are direct as well, meeting the other wolf's evenly and not deflecting. But the last remark, seemingly random, about Ahiga and Tala throws her off a little. She blinks, brows raising. "What do you mean, Ahiga and Tala are love?" She's not quite sure how to interpret that statement.

Hadir was just sort of being random. He had to throw something sorta nice in there. He has noticed that talking about things like this makes folks uncomfortable so he threw that in there. He gives a shrug, "They are.....they totally are. They hang out all the time and nuzzle each other and stuff." Its at the very least just a little bit of pack news, "I'm just not. I don't feel any better than I did when I was young. If I was going to get better I would have been better by now."

Oh! Now she understands what Hadir meant; the two of them are a couple, or at least on their way to becoming one. The thought does make her smile, and does serve to lighten her mood, although the feeling doesn't last long. Miakoda shakes her head to his latter remarks, and points out, "It doesn't look like you've even hit your big growth spurt thing yet. You know, that adolescents go through. That might help you a great deal, that's usually when wolves get bigger and stronger. Well, at least that's what my parents told me back when I started going through it, just a little before I left." Mia is now nearing the end of that growth spurt, having gained as much height as she is going to; now she just needs to fill it out.

Hadir has never been a particularly large fellow, nor probably will he get to be as big as his sister even, still there is always a possibility, however remote, that what this lady says might be true. That would certainly be cool if it was the case, "Maybe..." he says, though he is certainly not convinced, "Wachiwa is going to have puppies soon too." he adds. Yep. If you stick around long enough he will just throw out all sorts of information about what is going on.

"Don't lose hope," she advises, a smile spreading across her muzzle. And then again, Hadir blurts out another random tidbit of information. But this one kind of makes sense to her, Vaguely at least. "Ikuna and Ahiga were saying something about her last night. They had mentioned moving all of you to Cerulean, but then they said something about not being able to go right away because of someone called Wachiwa. I haven't met her yet." She pauses for a second, thinking. "The two of them didn't seem very happy about all of it."

Hadir isn't really all that sure yet why no one is happy about this. He hasn't really put the whole thing together yet, though at some point he will. Wachiwa had told him that she wasn't all that happy about the sitaution either, but the point is rather moot at the present time. This bit of information from Mia is new though. They are all going to Cerulean? He had figured that someone would go over there to talk with those wolves, but he didn't really think that the whole pack would be moving itself there. That would just be sort of strange, "Thats gonna be different."

---Later That Same Day, now with Ikuna, Tala, Ahiga, & Brutal---

The nap she'd taken earlier had been quite refreshing, and Miakoda had awoken and been unable to sit still. A typical teenage symptom. But rather than fidget around, the she-wolf decided to put herself to work, and she left her post on the shore of the pond. She was gone for a fair amount of time; but now she is reappearing again, coming into view at a steady lope... with a hare hanging from her jaws, its legs dangling limply.

It had been an interesting conversation that he had had with Mia earlier in the day. He isn't really sure about this whole 'going to Cerulean' thing. Sure its probably better than sitting down here at the pond, but what would it be like there. He had initially wanted to go with his sister when she got the chance to go but now he isn't really sure that he wants to go there. Especially if having lots of wolves around will draw the dogs attention. Perhaps they would be better off just hiding out somewhere far away and leaving the dogs alone, "Hi Mia." he says as she comes back. He is basically in the same spot he was before resting.

Miakoda's eyes sweep the general area as she comes closer, scanning to see who is awake and who is asleep. It looks like things are the same now as they were before, with most of the pack asleep with the exception of Hadir. This prompts a grin from the she-wolf, the expression curling around her mouthful of hare; for supposedly being a weaker member of the pack, he sure is up and moving a lot more than the others. A nod is given to the male since she can't exactly say hello as he pace slows into a walk.

Hadir hasn't really needed to do much today so he has more or less rested. Just because he is weaker doesn't mean that he isn't awake. A wolf can be awake and resting and not have to expend much energy. He watches her arrive with the hare. Hopefully it isn't his rabbit friend. He hasn't seen him since before the winter was over, he would hate to see him get killed by either the dogs..or by one of the wolves in the area. There really is no way to warn him about anything and he will have to take care of himself more or less, "You have been hunting huh?"

Miakoda moves back to the spot where she had previously been resting while talking with Hadir, and here she hesitates, eyeballing the expanse of soil that separates them before eyeballing the sleeping pack nearby. She weighs things in her mind, and the result is a compromise... for she slowly walks a little closer to where Hadir is reclined before she lowers her head and deposits the hare on the ground. "Yeah," she answers him, backpedaling away and returning to where she'd been settled prior. "I already ate... You can have it if you're hungry."

Hadir is more than a little bit hungry. He doesn't really know who to ask about that sort of thing here. Normally Ikuna or one of the others would bring him food, and sometimes his mom or dad would. Here though everyone seems to be rather preoccupied with their own stuff and Tala not feeling well. He gets to his paws and wanders over toward the rabbit. Ikuna would probably say that he shouldn't accept food from a stranger, but at this point in time he is hungry so he will make and exception, "Thanks." he says as he begins to set into eating the rabbit. First checking to make sure that it isn't his rabbit friend.

Miakoda is very mindful to keep an amount of space between herself and Hadir as he approaches the meal and begins to eat. Despite the fact that he is no longer much of a pup, at least to her since he seems to be on the verge of stepping into adolescence, she knows that the pack still thinks of him as one. So she gives him room while he eats, just in case one of the other wolves wakes up and doesn't know her and assumes the worst. "Welcome," she says simply, finding a sense of pride and satisfaction in knowing she helped fill his belly.

Hadir is almost an adolescent its true. The pack of course still does treat him like he is a little puppy. That is something that he means to change when he has the shot. He continues to chew on the rabbit and wonders what Cerulean will be like. Ikuna and them seem to like it ok over there. He's never met this Anoki that they keep talking about. Maybe he is cool to hang out with too. Once he finishes he looks up and looks around, "Thanks again."

Miakoda busies herself with cleaning off the last few spatters of blood that fleck across her chest and forelegs, her tongue washing over her fur, pulling out not only the red stains but also some tufts of fur. Summer is coming after all, and her coat is thinning out in preparation. Making some awkward 'pthebh!' noises to get the fur off her tongue and out of her mouth, she shakes her head in mild annoyance before Hadir speak to her again and she notices that he's done eating. "Only wish I could catch something bigger. But I've been afraid to... If I get hurt, there's no one else that can feed me while I recover. Well, if I recover."

Hadir could understand her concern. You probably have to be a fair bit more careful when you don't have a pack cause if you get hurt you starve. That would probably be one of the worst ways to go that he could think of, "You will probably end up staying here with us." he says. After all she seems like she fits in and the pack could use more wolves...lots more wolves, especially if there are going to be the dogs around for a long time.

Miakoda can't help but laugh at his straightforward thought. She settles her haunches down on the soil, her tail whisking over the ground a few times as her golden eyes land back upon Hadir. "You think so?" she asks him, ears pressing forward. "You sound pretty sure of yourself. I wish I could be so confident. Not just about whether or not I wind up staying here, but... just in general."

Ikuna has been absent for a time. Not too long; not longer than a hunt, though he has no prey in his muzzle as he returns now. Maybe he just didn't have much success in his hunting; that would explain his current frown. He lopes toward the rest, ears perking as he sees Hadir and the new arrival Miakoda in conversation.

Hadir figures that it seems like something of a slam dunk. She needs a home, and Ute can provide that. At least they can sort of provide that. They aren't exactly at their most organized at the present moment, but that doesn't mean that they can't all be a pack together, "You probably will get more sure about things once you meet everyone." After all it is up to his dad, but he figures that his dad wouldn't turn her down in she asked. He glances over toward the sound and spies Ikuna returning, "Hi Ikuna." he says.

Ahiga has been taking advantage of the peace and sleeps. And he's been sleeping for a long time, perhaps catching up on the many sleepness nights and days that have plagued him. For once, his sleep seems restful, and absent are the twitches and growls that usually disturb him the few times naps did find him. But now his body is telling him that he's had enough sleep, and he begins to stir. A slight murmur first, then a slow stretch and yawn.

Miakoda is tuned into the happenings around her despite her conversation with Hadir, and so she is briefly distracted from their talk when movement comes not from one direction, but from two. Her eyes first move to Ikuna, identifying him with some relief as he makes his way in; and then she glances to Ahiga, who is also identified with similar feelings. Good. Two wolves that she already knows, and so there shouldn't be any sort of rebuke for talking with one of the pack's 'pups'. Resuming the talk with Hadir, she says to him, "I guess we'll see. A lot of it will depend on how well I get along with your father, I bet." Looking aside again, a smile is given to Ikuna once he is closer. "Evening."

The waking Ahiga gets a glance from Ikuna, but there's no rush, so he'll just let the wolf wake on his own time. He comes instead to Miakoda and Hadir. The first gets a smile and a nod. "Hey, Mia." He certainly doesn't seem displeased with her, nope. Hadir also gets gets a smile, and a tilt of Ikuna's head. "Hey, Hadir. Who introduced you to Mia?" Because we don't talk to strangers without an adult of the pack around, dooooo we?

Hadir glances over to Ikuna. As hard as it might be to believe Hadir is capable of bending the rules every now and again, "She did." he says simply, "I figured that since you let her stay here that she was cool. So we talked and then she gave me this rabbit." he says as he motions to the rabbit as his feet. He looks back to Mia, "I'm sure that dad will think you are ok to stick around." He seems to let most people stay if they aren't a threat.

For being a wolf of such unnatural size, Brutal seems to possess a talent for up and vanishing like dust in the wind. For all but the one day after the wolves had settled in near the pond, it has only ever been the one brother to come in among the members of Ute and to that point, when most where sleeping. The reasons for this are many, but the underlining speculation is rather a simple one. Brutal needed to recover and he desired to do so without those of the Ute learning just how much of the brunt of the battle he shouldered for them. They needed confidence in themselves, not a hero. The loss of their land and the sight of the wounded already dampened their spirits, he didn't need them feeling sorry for themselves any more than they did. Of course, Grim did a fine just in riling the sick she-wolf up, it was a shame he wouldn't take up making those same endeavors with the male sort. The thought puts a grin on Brutal's grizzled muzzle, just the memory of Grim's revulsion at the suggestion causing the massive wolf to chortle quietly to himself. It would have been a good show. As it were, Brutal is well enough now to see things through himself, so with a confident stride and high carriage, the big male emerges from the shaded woodland on the northwestern side of the pond, yellow eyes immediately roaming a broad proximity to take it all in. Most of the faces are familiar, though the wolves themselves are still strangers to him in a sense, though this does not alter the wolf's commanding stride or aloof regard, but of all those present, it is Miakoda who catches Brutal's direct attention. He doesn't remember her. A glance is briefly sent in Ikuna's direction, followed by a lofted brow, "Late straggler?" he questions with baritone voice.

Ah voices. Comfortably familiar voices drift to his ears. There's one that's not /as/ familiar, but it doesn't belong to a stranger either. Ahiga's slowly waking mind remembers Miakoda's sound, and thus there's absolutely nothing that's giving him the need to hurry along his waking process. So, he stretches again and yawns one more time, then rolls onto his side as he pries his eyes open. Hadir is talking. That's good. He hasn't seen the boy up and about much since they stopped here to rest. He rolls onto his back, then over to his other side, eyes focusing. He peers towards Ikuna and smirks at his question to Hadir, and the smirk only broadens upon hearing the youngster's reply. "Wrong answer, pup," he murmurs to himself before finally pushing himself up to a sitting position. Brutal's arrival shifts his attention, and his ears lift and press forward as he regards him. Not a stranger, yet not a packmate. Ahiga's still somewhat unsure about his and his brother's lingering presences, but their aid in the fight has slight dominance over any wariness he may feel for the two.

Miakoda can tell from the tone that Ikuna uses that trouble could be lurking on the horizon for Hadir, and then she becomes quite sure of it when Ahiga contributes his thoughts on the matter. And so she attempts to at least deflect some of the blame away from the younger male onto herself, following along the lines of what Hadir says to Ikuna. "I did see him awake and thought it polite to say hello... I didn't mean to cause any trouble for him." As for the rabbit, she doesn't say anything about it, and this is largely due to the sudden appearance of the oversized male. At first, she thinks he may be the pack's alpha; but no, what he says to Ikuna makes no sense for that hypothesis to be true. So then who is he? A wariness rises about her now, but she is unsure of whether or not to edge herself closer to the pack that she met only yesterday. Not wanting to offend anyone, and mindful of her current loner status, the she-wolf instead backs herself to an edge of the pond that is empty. From there, her eyes carefully watch Brutal, her ears slanting back and her tail lowering nervously where she stands.

Ikuna applies a stern look to Hadir. "If Mia wasn't nice, you could have been hurt," he says to the youngster. At Miakoda's attempts to claim responsibility, he nods. "Saying hello is one thing. But, Hadir.... you didn't know for sure we let her be here; she could have snuck in. You're lucky; she /is/ nice. But coming away from us toward her was a foolish thing for you to do, and /especially/ eating the food she gave you. There are bad herbs she could have put there." Poisons and medicines alike come from plants, even if he doesn't know much else about them. Ikuna maintains his stern look for a few moments longer... but fortunately, no actual bad came of it, so all that has to happen is a lecture. At Brutal's approach, Ikuna's shape stiffens slightly, his ears perking and his tail swayin to straight. Not the pose of a wolf relaxed and meeting a friend, though not that of one ready to fight off an intruder, either. He turns halfway toward the massive arrival, and gives a slight nod. "Brutal." A moment, then, "She is our guest."

Hadir doesn't really know what to say this. He has never really recieved a lecture from anyone before, other than just general advice on how to be safe. He thinks that Ikuna might be right, but he also has a feeling that if Mia was there to hurt him she would have just killed him when she had a chance. It seems rather convoluted to go to the trouble of poisoning the food. It seems that the lecture was over as soon as it had begun and that all the attention is shifting to Brutal. He has never met him, or really remembers seeing him. In any case he seems 'creepy' and that is never a good thing. He backs away from the rabbit and wanders back toward where the pack was resting.

Brutal, creepy? Impossible. Grim would most certainly take that title, because he at least can achieve conversation before the unfortunate victim starts looking for a place to crawl off and hide. Brutal. He is just down right frightening and this can be decided from a distance. Heavy paws propel the large wolf in a path that is set to converge upon the central locations of the others, mainly Ikuna, Hadir, and the young female in question, whom Brutal watches with no small amount of note when she moves to re-situate herself. Ahiga's presence doesn't go without notice, but for the moment, it does go without acknowledgment. This of course is not a deliberate act, but rather circumstantial, for Ikuna is the individual for whom Brutal's yellow eyes fix upon, meeting the gaze of the young wolf solidly and consciously ignoring his stiffened posture. The wolf's answer in turn is taken in with a quietly sounded hmm, a thoughtful sound on Brutual part, just before the massive male pivots his great furred head in Miakoda's direction, setting her in a gaze that leaves no doubt that her worth is being weighed, "And does your guest know that she has walked into the middle of a war?"

Ahiga's eyes follow Miakoda's movement as she seems to back off a bit, likely due to Brutal's presence. He can't blame her. The guy is a massive wolf, and from what little interaction Ahiga has witnessed, not exactly the type that radiates overt friendliness. He rises to his paws, golden eyes turning to the youngest one here now, Hadir. He moves to approach him, and thus approach Ikuna as well, remnants of sleepiness now gone. "S'called a lecture, an' you can't blame Ikuna for bein' worried. If not from him, you would've gotten it from me. You know why?" he smirks vaguely as he slows, nearing them now and thus passing Brutal, who is eyed in passing and acknowledged with just that. "Because," he continues to Hadir, settling next to him, "we care about you an' all that, 'course, but it's also because he was lectured when he was little. Jus' like me. Jus' like Tala. So many times that we can't forget. And we're gonna lecture you so many times that you can't forget. An' you're gonna lecture somebody so many times they can't forget. S'a vicious cycle." He grins lightly. "But a good one."

The young she-wolf may be rather withdrawn at first due to that natural instinct called self preservation; but eventually her own personality overrides even that. Feeling the large male's continued and quite unabashed study of her, Miakoda finds herself growing irritated. Who is he to be judging her? Considering the reactions of both Ikuna and Ahiga, this wolf is no member of the pack. Her wary posturing and demeanor begins to fluctuate to one more akin to obstinance, and Mia's carriage straightens as she stands taller, ears and head lifting and tail straightening as she meets Brutal's stare with her golden eyes. Overall, they are not gestures of aggression, but simply evidence of her self confidence returning in full swing. "And why can't you ask me these questions directly? I'm not deaf, you know, and I can speak for myself."

With Ahiga explaining the facts of life and lectures to Hadir, Ikuna is left between Brutal and Miakoda. His posture is a steady one, and at Mia's outburst... why, that actually brings a smile from Ikuna. It's nice to hear someone call Brutal on his overbearing nature who doesn't have to be grateful and polite to the massive wolf for perhaps having saved their lives. The smile lingers, and what Ikuna actually says is... not answering either of those two questions. "Mia, this is Brutal, who aided our pack against the dogs. Brutal, this is Miakoda, a guest of Ute." Just introductions! As though there was a perfectly polite start to this conversation. That's all! He doesn't move away, either. No, this situation seems like the sort that might need futher attention. He'll just keep an eye on it.

Voices, that is what she hears.. An that is what awakens Tala. She slowly shifts, a faint huff escaping her as she lifts her head and casts her steel blue gaze over the area while her ears perk. With a cough escaping her she gives her head a shake, nose twitching as her gaze turning one way and then another as she tilts her head. "What's going on?" Is soon questioned while she shifts to settle upon her haunches while working on waking up more it would seem.

Hadir listens to the the lecture about what a lecture is from Ahiga. He doesn't really care for them he has decided. After all he figures that he probably has most things figured by now. After all he has been alive for about a year now. That has to be enough time to figure out how everything works right? He rolls his eyes at Ahiga and shakes his head, "Ok." he says and then turns his attention toward Mia as she spouts of to Brutal. She certainly is a great deal more brave than he would be. He hasn't said two words to Brutal since he arrived, or his brother Grim and he doesn't really plan too. Not that he isn't pleased that they helped fend off the dogs.

Well, well, well. Now ain't this one full of spit and verve! Brutal watches the transformation like one might watch the sudden and unimaginable change of a fuzzy caterpillar into a butterfly. It brings a subtle smirk to the dark wolf's lips, though this is not in a expression of amusement at her expense, but one of impression at his. Thick ears adjust themselves properly, with both appendages turning upon the young she-wolf, as if her words of provocation called their attention to her as well. Only for a moment does one ear cant in Ikuna's direction, a implication that Brutal has not forgotten the young male nor that the introduction Ikuna offers falling to the way side. In fact, the large male utters a gentle word of gratitude to the male wolf, "Thank you." This done, Brutal steps gently past, moving strait up to the young she-wolf, whom he keeps his gaze set upon, lowering his head a few inches in order to set his attention squearly upon her youthful visage as he comes to stand before her, "I, madam, did not ask you, because I was not speaking to you." he begins, his tone simple and matter-of-fact, though something of a smile still lingers upon his grizzled and freshly scarred muzzle, "Not because I think you deaf, or even below direct conversation. I asked /him/, so that I might bring to his attention, the fact that if you know what I /assume/ these untrained upstarts have told you, /I/ can't let you leave." A brow is quirked now, followed by a smirk that does reside a bit on the smug side this time, "So, since you are inclined to speak for yourself, exactly what have they told you, Miakoda?"

"Don't roll your eyes at me," says Ahiga frankly, lifting a paw to cuff at Hadir. Not terribly hard, mind you, the kid is all but breakable. But just because he is doesn't mean Ahiga is going to slack on his "older wolf duties" and let him get away with eye rolling. As his paw comes to rest on the ground again, his eyes drift to Brutal, watching his interaction with the spirited Miakoda. He rises to his paws then, moving to approach Ikuna with furrowed brows. He can't let her leave? A narrowed eyed look of question is given to Ikuna, though his ears turn upon hearing Tala awaken. What's going on? "Much, it sounds like," he answers to her, making a small gesture to the large wolf in question.

Tala tilts her head as she looks confused as she watches what is going on before her, she shifts up onto her paws tail flicking a few time in the process. "So it seems.." Is offered to Ahiga while she shifts towards his side and peers at Brutal. "Untrained upstarts?.." Is questioned with a faint tone as she just eyes Brutal. "You can't keep anyone here that doesn't want to be here Brutal." She says with a sudden thin tone." Her hackles raise a bit, her chest rattles as she takes in a faint few breaths. "We.. may not be as well trained as you Brutal but.. Don't assume we can't do anything for ourselves."

That need to safeguard her own life shows itself again when the large wolf moves away from Ikuna and approaches her directly, for Miakoda's posturing shrinks again... but only slightly, betraying itself in a small bending of her knees which lowers her body just an inch or so closer to the ground. But her ears remain fully upright and her eyes never waver away from Brutal's. And as he offers his explanation for not having addressed her earlier, she does not look overly convinced; there is something slippery to his nature that she cannot quite pinpoint. "I know about the attack by the dogs, and that they've been driven out of their territory. I know that the dogs seems to target lone females, and that is why I've chosen to stay here at the moment. But if I were to decide that I were ready to move on, I'm afraid not you nor anyone else could stop me... even if your intentions were well-meant."

In listening to Brutal speak to Miakoda, Ikuna begins to bristle. His tail lifts up, curving jaggedly from his back, and he gives a brief glance to Ahiga coming up beside him, at Tala as she speaks out. He speaks as well; and his tone is firm, without being all that loud. "Brutal. We are grateful for your aid. However." He steps toward the larger wolf, his posture stiff. "You are not a member of Ute, and you are particularly not Ute's alpha. You do /not/ speak for Ute, and none of these wolves take orders from you. If you are threatening a guest of Ute, then we have a problem. Now. Would you like to explain yourself?"

Hadir wasn't really expecting to be hit, even if it was a light hit. Its not something that has really ever happened to him before. He is rather surprised and as a consequence he falls over onto his side, "Ouch." he cries. He quickly gets to his paws once more and glares at Ahiga, "Why did you do that?" he asks. It wasn't like he did anything really bad and with everything that has happened he has a right to be a little bit on edge, "That wasn't nice at all." For the time being he ignores Brutal and the rest, his own personal concerns have the market on his attention.

The female had spirit, he has to give her that. Even the slight withdraw of posture does not change his opinion of her, for she stands far more bravely in his shadow than most ever attempt. The massive wolf's initial intentions with this female, or any other 'guest' that should follow, would be as they always have been; error on the side of caution. He is patient with Miakoda though, allowing her to answer his question in turn, though his tolerance fore the tension both felt and heard escalating around him runs much thinner. However, he does manage to stifle his urge to snarl a word of silence, at least until the female has said her peace. Which, when spoken, Brutal comprehends with a nod, but also gives the she-wolf something of a small, almost sad smile. "I also suspect you know of our plans? Our direction of relocation? Our source of possible allies?" These questions are asked of the young she-wolf, but as he speaks them, Brutal turns himself to stare out at all the faces of the others, looking upon their bristled forms, tight jaws, and hard stares. He meets them, each and everyone, with a stern calm, speaking in turn to answer Tala and Ikuna, but also speaking for all to hear, "There is strength in admitting weakness, because for it, you will find a way to be stronger. Deny that truth, and you will fail with a face of ignorance." he says, letting his eyes linger on Tala before sweeping across Ahiga to set firmly upon Ikuna, "And you are right, I am not a member of Ute, thank you for reminding me, though hardly is it needed. But I am a wolf who risked his life to come to the aid of strangers, who I knew were in no condition to defend themselves. And no, I am not Ute's Alpha, but nor have I seen such a wolf step forth and act as one. Are you this wolf? Ultimately, I will allow who ever leads this pack decide what will become of it, but until this happens, and until that wolf ask me to leave, I can't let a stranger walk away knowing where intentions lie. What if the dogs catch her? You think she, a friendly stranger, will hold her tongue for your sake?" Brutal steps boldly toward Ikuna, bristling his own hackles as he shoves his face down close to the younger males, his voice dropping to a whisper but still easy to be heard, "Why don't you ask your beloved Chewy, someone who /loves/ you, how long she endured? How do you think those dogs found your land in the first place?" He snorts a note of good riddance, pulling away abruptly, "Miakoda stays, or she goes back the way she came." He gives the stranger once last glance, his expression almost sympathetic that he should have to appear so..well, brutal. With this, he turns to take his leave, offering up words that are spoken with a tone of practical advise, "Whatever your 'alpha' decides, you should be moving on soon..."

Ahiga is not doing a lot of speaking. Not towards Brutal anyway. His words would be redundant, as Tala and Ikuna both mirror what he'd've said anyhow. Thus, he remains a quiet presence, kind of like a bouncer of a club. Doesn't say much, but will do much if things take a sour turn. Hadir's complaints are heard, though the younger wolf isn't given as much consideration as before. "I already told you why," he remarks simply, though he spares no more words for Hadir. Brutal is becoming a more pressing matter, and the longer the wolf speaks the deeper his frown becomes. There's much he does not like, many chosen words that fall upon his ears in a disturbing way, though still he holds his tongue. Brutal seems to be leaving, and if nothing else the wolf said he does hold onto one thing: He won't speak his mind in the presence of one that is not a friend. One that does not have his trust.

Tala watches Brutal and is quick to move towards Ikuna's form, her head only slightly lowered and ears back as she glares up at Brutal. She is not one to back down at the mere size of this wolf that is for sure. "Wachiwa would not have given us up. With as many dogs in that pack any one of them could have went scouting." She says with a thin tone, fangs just faintly seen. "Remember.. You an your brother came too our aid.. We did not ask for it. AND while we are all thankful for it you may not use it against us in blackmail for something that you think you have power of. Because.. You nor your brother has any power over any of us here. No matter your damn size." This said with a quick snap of her teeth. She does wish her older brother was here to prove there is an alpha to Brutal, but.. He is not leaving his younger siblings in charge it would seem. "An.. don't ever speak of Wachiwa in that manner again.. DO you understand me?"

Ikuna does not shrink away from Brutal's approach, his gaze remaining steady, his tail raised though the other wolf towers above him. "We thank you for your aid," he answers, "- though there is a question of what you were doing, on Ute land and so close to our den, in order to give it so very promptly." There's a bit of bite in those words, though he moves on quickly enough. "As you are not Ute, I do not blame you for not understanding our ways. If Miakoda wishes to leave, she may leave. If she tells the dogs of our position... so be it. I do not care to make Wachiwa relive her agonies for my curiosity. In Ute, we believe in trust. We believe in giving everyone a chance. The dogs may find us tomorrow, regardless of what we do; that is why we will live /today/ as Ute. I hope Miakoda will stay, for her own sake, but it is her choice. We give to her the same trust that we have given you and your brother. That trust will remain until we see a reason for our decision to change." A long look is given to Brutal then, Ikuna of the broken tail flanked by Ahiga and Tala. "If you must see enemies in everyone, and think only of how they might betray you... I am sorry for you." His tone is earnest, for that. "But it changes nothing. We are Ute; we will act as Ute." As for the matter of an alpha... he says nothing. The alpha is not something to be decided by an outsider, but by the wolves of this pack. Whatever the name means; for now, Ikuna stands for Ute, and the others stand beside him. It's enough; it'll have to be. After all, that's another part of being Ute; to keep on going, regardless of the odds. To keep on trying for the right thing, even when it's hard. So far as Brutal's final advice - "Our plans are already being made." And, no... he's not going to share them right now.

Hadir doesn't really have anything to add at the moment. Nope. Brutal isn't someone that he likes and he can tell that already. He backs away from the group and settles himself in the spot that he has claimed for his own. The others wouldn't want him to get involved in this conflict. Ahiga has pretty much made his point. Brutal is most definitely the 'stranger' kind of stranger. At least Mia seemed nice. This one seems mean and pretty much a bully.

Brutal has never been one to walk away and simply ignore the undertones of threat, and for this, it is Tala's abrupt outburst that has the big male pausing, his robust shoulders roll and he half turns to face the three wolves now facing him. It is with no minor regard or dismiss that he lets his gaze roam over them, the silent Ahiga, the temperamental Tala, and the spirit of the Ute pack, crooked tailed Ikuna. He does not appreciate the female's tone, scolding him as if he were some young pup. Brutal far to old for such manners, be they from a old haggard pup-sitter or a young short-tempered she-wolf. However, there is decisively naught he can do about it, aside from stomach her tone with a minor tightening of his jaws and a narrowing of his eyes. Afterwards though, the expression lightens and Brutal just sighs, "You presume too much, she-wolf. And with all due respect, I do not speak of Wachiwa in ill regard. In fact, I feel a great amount of sympathy for the agonies she has, and will continue to endure." Altering his attention, Brutal lets his gaze shift toward Ikuna, though this time is does not hold the strict glare as before, though neither is it entirely subdued. "Aid was given, because we were able to give it. As for why, is neither here nor there, if Ute should be as trusting as you claim, what should it matter?" In regards to Brutual's own mistrust, the large male takes a long pause, his expression strangely guarded as he reflects upon some distant memory, only to cast it aside with abrupt abandon, as if to harbor it any long might lead to something much more appalling than crossed words and accusations. For a long moment, Brutal just stands there and stares at the three wolves, though he does glance toward little Hadir as the pup backs away. Well, seems he's definitely made a impression. Maybe Grim was right, maybe this is all a waste and he'll succeed no better at saving this family than he was his own. Another sigh, and Brutal just nods, offering a quite, "Best keep strangers out of the know, hm?" He barks a short, half-hearted chuckle at this irony, though the expression on his face is heavy and it is with more of a slow lumbering that Brutal turns and heads out toward the prairie.

Tala is utterly quiet, letting Ikuna take the floor as it were.. She is temperamental she has NEVER denied that after all. Everyone can thank her motehr for this! She stands her ground while watching Brutal, on yes she hit a nerve, she can tell by the way he stiffens. An for a moment she is glad she did. Her jaw tenses while he speak up about Wachiwa, a flick of her ear seen but that is about it. A faint shake of her head seen and she actually says nothing.. Ikuna is doing a FINE job without her ill-tempered help.

Ute is trusting, indeed; how long has it taken for the question to even be raised? It took an implied threat to Ute's guest to make the reasons for doubt be spoken, and they were only spoken, nothing more - for Ikuna is making no further insistence that they be answered, only... stating them. Nor does he chase after Brutal as that wolf leaves; simply watches his departure. Once Brutal is well and truly gone, Ikuna... sits down, a trifle abruptly, and lets out a slow breath. He may not have his sister's snappishness, but that doesn't mean his emotions don't get stirred up. The moment is over, the confrontation is dealt with, and now... Wow. Uh.

Hadir doesn't really have any interest in being trusting at the present time. Mia didn't really do anything and she has been nothing but nice since he met her. She even gave him something to eat. The big wolf on the other paw hasn't given him anything to eat and the young wolf didn't really witness the fight so he can't really know what he had done to help the pack. He decides to stay quiet. First Ahiga hit him and then this. This day started off really cool, but hasn't really gone in that direction later in the day. He settles his head on his paws and frowns.


Well played, Ute, well played! No blood. No fighting. They handled it with no major or traumatic incident! For now anyway, who knows if Brutal or Grim may take offense on something in the near to far future. Ahiga, who has said a lot of nothing, decides against further speech on what was said. It's been stressful enough already, why drag it out further? He'll save his thoughts "That was fun," he murmurs with a glance to his friends, still looking stormy. He growls beneath his breath while he sits too. "Don' know 'bout those two. I'll be happier without 'em." he lays on his stomach, still tense, nowhere near sleepy. He keeps his head lifted, eyes set at a distance. He hasn't seen Grim in a while, and after this jolly meeting with his brother, he'll be keeping an eye out for him.

Tala watches Brutal leave, her tail flicking a few times as she shifts and makes her way back over to Ahiga, whom she settles down next to. She nuzzles against his neck a moment and takes in a breath. "I don't know about them, but.. We're have to wait and see I suppose." She offers with a soft tone at the thought and takes in a breath. A glance is sent over to Hadir and then she looks back to Ikuna watching him a moment. "You know.. You did really good there.." She offers softly. "Sorta leadership like..an all."

Ikuna turns his head to Tala at her comment, and... he's quiet. For a long moment. "I ... tried." Didn't he say as how Ute was about trying? Well, so he did. The young wolf sighs, and slowly lowers himself to the ground. He gives a glance to Ahiga, to Hadir, and back to Tala again, then just shakes his head. "I dunno."

Hadir has more or less fallen asleep. It has been something of a busy day and he needs rest now. He knows that Ikuna and Tala can keep an eye on things and if necessary protect him from the other wolves. Wow...bad dogs and scary wolves. The world is a mess.

Tala is quiet as she watches Ikuna a few moments. "You did alot better then I did Ikuna." She offers softly. "I just tend to make a mess outa everything I try to do. At least you think about stuff before opening your mouth."

Ikuna looks, briefly, to Ahiga, then back to Tala. Maybe not quite everything his sister has done has ended in a mess, now has it? "Maybe I made a mess, too. I dunno what Skahla's going to think about all this..."

Tala is quiet for a moment, sending a glance to Ahiga and hums softly, well maybe not evening she has done is a mess. "Why would he be mad over it?" She questions curiously. "As for Skahla.. I know why he didn't come to the fight but still he isn't even here now. We could sure use his guidence." Being alpha an all. She shakes her head slightly and lets her head settle against Ahiga, her eyes closing. "We're gona have to just wait and see now I suppose.."

"Yeah. Skahla was with his pups in the fight," says Ikuna firmly. There's no shame in that, at least so far as this wolf's concerned. "Now..." Ikuna sighs. "I think he's been lookin' for Shawnee. Nobody's found even her scent yet." Much less the actual wolf. He frowns a little. "Yeah. And... We will move on soon." A brief glance to the prairie where Brutal went, but it /is/ good sense.

Tala is quiet for a few moments, a slight nod seen while her eyes close and she snuggles close to Ahiga in the process. "I think we should leave in the morning.. Get a fresh start as soon as possible." If Brutal and Grim follow, well then they follow. She doesn't think they need to wait for them at this point.

Ikuna ponders for a bit, then shakes his head. "We're not deciding now. Not after that. We're resting first. After that... we'll see." With that, he sits up again, looking around. "I'll watch first. You get that rest."

Tala ears slowly perk as she listens to Ikuna, she takes in a breath and soon nods. "Alright.." Is murmured out softly. Her eyes are soon closed an after a few moments she is asleep, curled and cuddling close to Ahiga in the process.