After A Job Well Done

Coven sat down next to her and gave her a long look, finally sighing. He couldn't force her to go in there, even though staying outside and staying awake were not going to help her recover like a nice sleep in her warm den would. The wolf was close enough that Molly mumbling to herself was as good as her mumbling to him, so he responded. "Fine. What are you going to do if you don't go back in?" It was the middle of the night, she was exhausted, and it was freezing. It was disconcerting that she would rather suffer through all that then go inside, though.

Molly frowned as he heard her muttering and responded. She should have known that he would have heard it. He had probably been listening for it anyways. She sighed, looking up at him and frowning. She didn't really have anything past the fact that she didn't want to go in the den. That was as far as her tired mind would let her go. But already her body was betraying her, and her eyelids were growing heavy, harder to keep her eyes open and stay awake. But she fought it, forcing herself ot lift her head stubbornly.

After Molly didn't respond and it became obvious that staying awake was now becoming a battle for her, it was time for Coven to get her to go inside. "Molly, both of us have to sleep. Go on," he urged her, standing and nudging her back gently. The day had been long for him, and it was starting to hit him hard. And he knew that tomorrow he'd have another day just like it. Even if Molly wasn't going to go to sleep, Coven might not be able to help falling asleep and deserting her unintentionally anyway, or he'd be paying dearly tomorrow for not sleeping now.

Laek laughed as the three of them played and wrestled. It was a joy to play again after the long days that had passed. After the time of sickness and near hunger, they were all happy for a moment. Laek's eyes followed Fallon and Blitz as they walked some distance away and wondered what was happening. Coven distracted her by his whispers, asking where she'd been. She hesitated, but luckily Coven was called away to help Molly. She placed her head in her paws, slightly worried they had caught on, and fell asleep.

Pravin watched Inferno walk over to him, and spoke his hello. After the beta finished speaking, Pravin looked back to the storage den and to the dispersing group. Him as head hunter? Even after so short being here, they were offering it as a temporary position. He looked to Inferno and nodded. "It'd be an honour." He said shortly. He thought back again and wondered who the rogue was, or where he was. "This rogue. Has anyone encountered him?" Pravin laughed in his head at the fact that he was now Head Hunter, to replace Chaos. He remembered Chaos' not-so-welcome welcoming to him, and briefly wondered how she would react.

"Good night, Blitz," replied Fallon, wagging her tail and turning away to look down at Laek, who had very quickly fallen asleep. Chuckling, the female stepped the few feet over to her look-alike and nudged her shoulder with a paw. "Laek! Don't fall asleep out here!" laughed the wolfess, trying to prod the hunter up and over to the large hunters' den, since Fallon was heading over there to sleep anyway.

Inferno nodded as Pravin accepted the position as head warrior. The warriors hadn't bonded together well, probably because half of them were so new to the pack, but the beta was hoping that a wolf who wasn't Chaos would be good for them and be able to pull them together. He wasn't going to mention that, but if it didn't start happening naturally (which was possible, since all the warriors were proving to be much more aggressive and reserved than the others in the pack) then Inferno would step in. Fortunately, he knew that would not be necessary for the hunters, with Fallon leading them now.

Only too happy to elucidate on the issue with the rogue, Inferno responded, "Yes, Laek and Fallon have, only once each as far as we know. From his tracks, his frame is almost delicate, it seems, so I don't think overpowering him will be an issue for anyone when he is found. I've been tracking him for months now, and he is extremely slippery and on to us. It would be best to begin thinking about new strategies to go about this, since running him down is proving futile." With all the other jobs Inferno had, coming up with a plan to be one step ahead of Cas had been out of the question, time-wise, but now this task could be turned over to the warriors to figure out themselves. With the four healthy ones working together, Inferno felt confident that soon they'd have no more loiterers in Silverlight.

Laek groaned as Fallon nudged her. After a few stubborn moments, she finally rose tiredly and purposely rammed her head into her could-be sister's side. Smiling, she gracefully bounded over the old snow to the hunter's den. Hopping inside, she spun a few quick circles and plopped to the ground. Swooshing her tail slightly, she waited for Fallon to return, placing her head in her paws. She floated between sleep and reality.

Pravin listened to Inferno intently, making sure to note the most important things. Fallon and Laek had seen the rogue; those were the two look-alikes who had just walked away to the hunter's den. Inferno had been after this rogue for months; that meant he was sly and knew what he was doing. Inferno said chasing would not work. Pravin was quickly wrapping up a plan, but he needed to know more. "Where has he been seen most? Or sensed, rather. I may know how to stop him." It was only in pure luck that they'd chosen a ex-rogue as their new Head Hunter. A rogue knows what other rogues do. To Pravin, this may be easy work.

Fallon padded along tiredly behind Laek, still grinning at her friend's stubbornness. With a contented sigh, the female flung herself to the ground and embraced the happy prospect of a good night's sleep. She rolled onto her side and pressed her back against Laek, soaking up the warmth and finding security in the presence of the other wolfess. She spent a few minutes reliving Blitz's talk with her, still awe-struck that she'd been given such an honor. Fallon was determined to do the best she could, and it would start tomorrow...though getting up extra early like Inferno and Blitz was still not part of the plan.

Pravin's eagerness to learn more was a good sign, as was the spark that suddenly began to light his eyes. Inferno divulged as much information as he could, "He hangs around the Northern Ridge and border of the Eastern Forest most often - that's where he met both Fallon and Laek, but his scent has been traced as far in as the lake..." That last part had the wolf grinding his teeth. His bad feeling about the proximity of the loner to the pack was not only increasing, but it was making him angry. When this rogue was caught, his punishment would be severe, if Inferno had any influence in the matter. [b]"You have an idea?"

Molly, of course, was stubborn as hell. Especially when it came to Coven. She frowned, pinning her ears back childishly before looking up at him. But she couldn't fight back the yawn that threatened to burst from her. Finally she growled softly, leaning back in one more futile effort to be stubbborn before getting to her feet and entering the den without a word.

Blitz smiled as Fallon accepted his words and the position of Head Hunter. Good. The pack would have someone to lead their hunters. But after the distraction of Molly, Fallon ran off with Laek and Blitz went right to his brother's side. He nudged the other white male, walking into the den and laying down, relaxing as his brother joined him and the two fell asleep together for the first time in a long time.

"'Night," murmured the wolf after Molly finally entered the den. Once she was completely inside, Coven watched her for a minute more and then turned and made his way over to the pack member he'd been using since Chaos had been confined to the warriors' den. Though tired, it took a while of restless readjusting, curling up, and worrying about Molly before the exhaustion was enough to finally drift him off into a continually restless sleep. Tomorrow was going to be tough.

"I might." Pravin said, drawing a mental map in his head. The dens were the center and he'd come in the Eastern forest, which was where the rogue had said to have been. He hadn't exactly been to the Northern ridge, but judging by name, it wasn't far from his last hunting ground. Even Pravin could tell that there were plenty of hiding places in the area, enough for a single rogue to travel. Inferno mentioned that the rogue had come as far as the lake; Pravin had been there too, but maybe there was something more to this rogue. Something to do with the two look-alikes here on pack lands, or at least, one of them. Which one, Pravin couldn't figure. But he easily figured that one of them was unpurposefully carrying the rogue's scent around the area. Scents were tricky, Pravin knew. He looked back to Inferno, "Before I send patrols, I'll take a look myself. Tomorrow morning. I find anything, we know where to start. I don't, and we just wish for good luck by great gods."

Inferno usually wasn't comfortable not knowing exactly what others were thinking, but he conceded to trust Pravin. After all, Pravin was now head warrior in order to figure stuff like this out. With a nod, the beta replied, "Alright. Let me know what you end up figuring out whenever you can, but feel free to send out patrols as you will." With that, he bid Pravin good night, yawned, and walked over to his den and slunk inside to sleep, feeling confident that Pravin would do well in this new position.

"Aye, goodnight Inferno." Pravin wasn't terribley tired, so he stayed where he was. By now, everyone had dispersed, off to do other things. The celebration had ended, and Pravin was left alone at the center rock. Blitz and brother had gone to the Alpha's den. Pravin wasn't sure how he felt about Xerxses, but it had only been a day. The hunters had gone to their den, and Coven off to help Molly. Remembering his new position, he counted the warriors that he was aware of. Himself, Coven, Xerxses, and the sick Chaos. That made for three wolves ready to send, but the hunters could help as well. Laek, Fallon, Sibirsky, KiRae. It made for a sensible group now in his head, as he stood to stretch and roam the den area. He'd find sleep eventually.

(I'ze feels like a total ass for disappearing like I have... Sorry all d: Really, really, really truly sorry... I hope you all can forgive me? T.T")

Sibirskiy had remained quiet the entire time the group headed back to the dens, relieved they had found something. After finally dragging it there, he gave a small nod the everyone as he headed to Tessa, smiling as he found her, laying right beside her as he nuzzled against her lightly. He had noticed Rayne in the other den with Molly and them, and figured she was busy so he refrained from bugging her. She would come when she had the time, bothering her wouldn't be good, especially if she had something important to do.
"Hey there, how are you feeling?"
He asked, licking the back of her scruff lightly. He was sorta relieved to be back finally, near her, he had already dreaded leaving her, especially with Coven, but then again he knew nothing would happen, they were hunting, the pack came first.

Rayne had stayed with Molly long enough to notice her finally coming to again, relieved greatly that she seemed fine for the most part. She stayed there, silent as everyone started to come back, seeing the kills they brought in, though, it seemed Sib had already disappeared somewhere, and to where she didn't know, but instead of looking for him she stayed where she was until she noticed Molly wander off with Coven. She took this small advantage to wander away and look for Sib, and perhaps finally get some answers, and finally talk to him for real, not having to be rushed like before. She made her way towards where she could scent him, finding him with another Fae, seeming to be rubbing up against her, Rayne's ears perking slightly.
"I.. Uhh.. Welcome back brother!!"

(Murr... tried to generalize it to the point I could catch up properly... sorta went off of what everone else posted... bbleh... Feeling like a real fail right now -.-)

((Sib/Tessa continued: https://incendio.rpg-board.net/t99-together-again-sib ))

((Rest of the pack continued here: https://incendio.rpg-board.net/t98-stubborn-jenn ))

KiRae Had wondered out on his own after the hunt. He was happy with their catch, though he stilll felt this way. He always seemed more like a hassle than anything else, But then again, being a little older than a pup has that effecton him. He walked to the edge of the encampment, looking over the forest again. The silver wolf's ears were flat as he thought about what would have happened if he hadn't ran into this pack. What would he be doing, Would he have become one of these wolves' prey? he sighed softly and shook the idea from his head as he heard another come up behind him. He looked over his shoulder, his tail curling around him as he saw the silloet of the wolf.