"For all you know I was wanting time to myself away from the pack."

Torrin would stifle a laugh at the statement. "If that was the case, I would have met you long before I had." She mentioned with a small mischevious glint in her emerald gaze. His small wink sent more shivers down her spine, causing her to shift a bit, pulling her back legs out from under her and laying half on her side and half sitting up. As he slid the dead rabbit over to her, she looked up at him. The silence filled the air with a small tense feeling. Torrin's emerald green gaze was locked with the brutes snowy whites, causing her to swallow hard before he eventually broke the silence.

Blackburn was just full of surprises in her eyes. Now he was wanting to eat with her. He sure moves fast. She thought before she moved to take a leg. It wasn't too long after that she heard his statment and stopped mid bite. Torrin's audits flicked as she looked up at Blackburn. "It's funny.. Because, I had a pull to come back to see you too, Blackburn." She mentioned, sitting up fully now as she kept her gaze locked onto his. "It's confusing, I have never had this draw towards anyone.. But, after last night its like it kills me to run away from this place." Torrins eyes searched Blackburn's for possible answers to her many questions, but, she could tell he was just confused as she was.

He was glad when she took a leg off the rabbit. He grabbed the other. He had barely gotten a bit in before she expressed something similar to his own feelings. His gaze followed her upwards as she sat fully up, and he could feel her searching his gaze for the very same answers he himself was looking for in hers.

"I don't understand," he said softly, his voice nearly a whisper. He gazed into her eyes for a few heartbeats longer, and then shifted a little onto his side, letting his hind legs slip out underneath him. He shifted his gaze away and to the ground, watching the grass below to avoid her eyes. "Last night I just woke up out of my sleep to a deep stirring in my maw." he admitted, his voice low and rumbling. "I could feel a stirring in my chest, and soft aches in my bones...almost as if I was many many moons older than I am now. I felt compelled to take a night patrol which I rarely ever do, it felt like...like I KNEW there was someone near the borders."

He finally looked up to meet her green eyes again. "I've...I've driven out the packless before with my father before he passed on. Meeting you was not my first time coming across a packless, but for some reason I just..." He trailed off, not knowing how to finish his sentence.

"It felt like I was supposed to meet you. Like my ancestors lead me to you." He sat fully up, still looking into her face, then lowered his voice to a rumble. "For what reason....that I do not know." There was a brief moment where a deep feeling of knowledge, understanding, and love flashed through his eyes, before being taken over quickly by mischief. "I guess that's why I came to find out."

He flashed her a grin and swept his tail over to her once again, this time swiping it across her hip in a light flirting gesture.

Blackburn was overjoyed that Torrin accepted his offer to join the Baxtara's. Just after sunrise, he led them back to the Baxtara camp, entering the sheltered clearing quietly but with confidence. Some wolves were up and about already, but most were still sleeping.

"Will they like me?"

Blackburn lowered his head to gently nuzzle her cheek. "They'll learn to." he said honestly, not wanting to promise her popularity when there was a high chance of quite the opposite. He paused just inside the entrance, carefully watching the few pack members as they moved about, starting their day. "I'll host a pack meeting later this morning when everyone is up and awake." He told her softly. For now I want you to at least meet someone special."

He bumped her hip lightly with his own, and trotted into camp, holding his tail and chin high with confidence. A couple wolves out and about stopped what they were doing, their gazes following sharply. Blackburn led Torrin to a rocky cave opening covered in moss. "She's in here," he ducked into the cave which was lit with spotted rays of early morning sun. "Good morning!" he called, his bark echoing in the cavern.

"Oh good morning your majesty!" A female voice called from further within the den. "Making your rounds, I see?" A small and slender she-wolf emerged from around a rocky corner, carrying a bundle of herbs in her mouth. Around her head was a flower wreath of tiny pink flowers, and a few sunflowers decorated one of her ears. Her eyes were a comforting olive green, and her pelt was a calming mix of muted browns and greys.

"Well not exactly," Blackburn said, stepping slightly aside to reveal Torrin.

"Oh well hello!" The young she-wolf greeted her. Her tail wagged softly, a friendly greeting. "I've heard some things about you. I'm glad to finally meet you here face to face."

"Torrin," Blackburn said calmly. "This is Rift. She's our Healer. She knows a lot about the herbs of the forest."

Along her pelt were faint blue splotches, highly unnatural markings.

When Blackburn didn't promise her, it took a toll on her mentalality that she'd fit in here. Torrin had never really fit into any pack, and this pack being so small, it was easy to be driven out by silence. As they walked, she could feel eyes burning into her pelt and hear the murmurs.

There commented didn't exactly help, but she continued to follow Blackburn throughout his camp. As they made it too the den, she entered behind him, hearing his voice boom throughout it before another replied. Torrin wasn't exactly expecting a young female, but, when she greeted her and said that she had heard a lot about Torrin, she put a small smile on her maw. "I didn't know Blackie talked about me." She mentioned with a small giggle, glancing over at him before looking back at Rift. "I love your flowers." Torrin added.

Torrin would then sit down, smiling at the two. It was evident she had some scars that were once minor or major wounds, and she had tended to them herself.

Blackburn smiled bashfully at Torrin's greeting to Rift. The young Healer was wise beyond her years, and she had worked diligently during the harsh winter to try and save as many wolves as possible. If it hadn't been for her, many more lives would have been lost in those months. The brute owed his life to her, for she stopped a terrible sickness from spreading inside of him during the middle of winter. Without her he would've fallen just as his father had.

"Thank you," Rift replied to Torrin's compliment. She looked over the packless female, noting her scars and old wounds. "If you've tended to those yourself, you've done a very good job." she complimented. After a moments pause, she tilted her head slightly to the left. "I've never seen markings like that on a wolf before. They suit you. You're very beautiful."

Blackburn smiled softly, pressing his side gently against Torrin's.

"She saved my life." he said quietly. "She's on of my most trusted members, and among the kindest. If you ever need anythin, especially if I am not around...come to her." Rift smiled kindly, nodding at his words.

"Come," Blackburn said, turning back to the exit. "There's much more to see." He walked her through the entire camp, showing her his den and the rest of the dens spread throughout it. He showed her where the prey was usually stashed, and walked her towards the area where the elders stayed. They had their own separate dens, much like the mothers and pups.

"Here's where the elders stay," he said quietly. "We won't go in quite yet, not until after I've called the meeting." He moved with confidence and ease through the camp, greeting wolves as he passed. Some greeted Torrin as they saw her, and others simply stared, unsure of what to think. Dahlia stood in the middle of a clump of wolves, watching the Alpha as he approached her group.

"Hello Dahlia," Blackburn greeted warmly. He nodded at the two males that stood with her, exchanging greetings with them silently. "I want you all to officially meet Torrin," he said, flicking his tail towards her. "I've offered her a place in the pack." The two males grunted in surprise, but not unkindly. One of them was a handsome black wolf, his pelt as dark as night and his eyes a warm gold. He was older than all of them by a couple of years, and he held his chin a little higher than everyone except for Blackburn. Both of the males looked rather excited and pleased at the thought of another wolf joining the pack, but Dahlia's face was unreadable. Her brown eyes glittered with hidden thoughts.

"Torrin, this is Darkheart." Blackburn said, nodding at the large black male. "He's my Beta. This is Dahlia, and that's Ajax. They're two of my strongest hunters."

Blackburn talked with the small group for awhile, looking around occasionally. The camp was starting to come more alive, wolves crawling out of their dens and stretching in the morning sun. Finally, Blackburn said his partings and nudged Torrin to follow him.

"Follow me to the big rock near the center of camp," he said quietly. He strode through the clearing, wolves watching eagerly as he jumped gracefully up onto the rock. He howled, and others joined in, stopping what they were doing to lift their heads and join voices with their leader. After a moment all went silent, and the large Alpha spoke with a clear voice that ran throughout the camp.

"Let all who hear my voice join me for a meeting!" A total of roughly 8 wolves gathered at the base of the rock, looking up at their leader and casting confused glances towards Torrin. "You all remember my order of peace for the londer who hunts on our grounds." He went on. "Today I brought her here with me to inform you all that I have offered her a place in the pack." Murmers spread through the small gathering, and one wolf called out,

"She's just another mouth to feed!" Blackburn looked down to see one of the elders with his ears flat back, casting glares at Torrin.

"It'll be no different than what it has been," Blackburn said calmly with authority. "She's been hunting and eating our food for the past few days, and there's been no shortage." He paused, waiting for another argument to come out of the old wolf, but none did. "I believe she will be of great use to the Baxtara's," Blackburn went on. "Our numbers are low, and we could always do with more good hunters and warriors. She's a strong individual and knows things we as pack wolves don't. We all have something to learn from her. It takes a lot of knowledge and skill to survive on one's own."

"Our numbers will continue to grow with or without her," Another voice said, this one eerily calm. Blackburn saw Dahlia sitting in the crowd, staring up at him through dark eyes. She spoke calmly, sitting with her tail wrapped neatly around her hind legs, but there was an air of hostility that everyone could detect. "There's more than enough females in this pack, and great hunters. They will supply strong offspring for the future." Blackburn felt an uncomfortable tingle spread down his spine, but he was unsure why.

"I hear your words," he said slowly, thinking. "But she's an adult who won't need the time and training of a pup. One more wolf to help our strength can do no harm." Dahlia stared defiantly up at him, seething in silence before flattening her ears and falling silent.

"That does it then," Blackburn said, staring at Dahlia with a new stregthened sense of authority. "Torrin, you will now be known as Baxtara's Delta Female. With this position I give you the power and authority to work alongside Darkheart in training adolecents. Your knowledge and skills from living packless are something all wolves should learn."

Looking at the slightly smaller female, she recognized those eyes. She had seen her before, she just wasn't very sure from where. As Blackburn talked, Torrin was listening to her surroundings as well as trying to focus on meeting the pack. Her nares flared as she took in the multitude of scents. Torrin did have to admit, this was all sort of overwhelming to her. Though, she didn't mind the attention for once. As she was introduced to Darkheart and the rest, she dipped her head too them. "It's nice too meet all of you." She stated softly with a small smile. As Blackburn talked too the small group, Torrin got lost in thought.

Will they like me? This female doesn't seem so thrilled..

Though, it wasn't long until she was snapped back to realiy with the nudge of her shoulder. She then stood from her sitting position and followed Blackie to the center of the camp, jumping up onto the rock and sitting beside him. The wind blew gently through her fur, her emerald gaze staring down at the small group of wolves as they gathered with Blackburn's howl.

"It's just another mouth to feed!"

Hearing this, Torrin didn't really seem to be phased. Though, she knew what it was like to be starving. Her heart went out too the elder, even with his hardened glare towards her. As Blackburn retorted and made a valid point, she didn't feel as bad.

"Our numbers will continue to grow with or without her."

This comment made Torrin a little worried. She had grown quite attached to Blackburn, and she could be rather possessive. Looking around along with Blackburn, she noticed Dahlia staring at him, a hidden secret hidden deep within her hazel orbs. Hearing her next words, Torrin would flick her audits back, standing as her muscles tensed a bit. It was evident the females build was rather stocky though she looked slim. As Blackburn replied to her rather rather ptitful statements, Torrin would look at him, her audits peering forward.

As there seemed to be no one else that objected, Blackburn turned too her and stated that she'd be a Delta. Torrin smiled and dipped her crania to him before gently licking his cheek and hoping down from the rock, looking directly at Dahlia. Seeing the very defiant glare toward her. Torrin quickly looked away and back at Blackburn, her tail slowly swaying behind her.

Blackburn hopped down from the rock, feeling a tight knot in his chest. He felt himself beginning to worry. Had he made the right choice by asking Torrin to come live here? This was one of his first big actions as Alpha, and some of his pack had not taken it well. There was little outward objections, but that didn't mean that there weren't many silent ones. He didn't want to taint their vision of him as a capable leader. If he couldn't make any good decisions in the beginning how was he supposed to make good ones in the future?

"I'm sorry if that all made you a bit uncomfortable," he said to her quietly. "I didn't forsee that there would be objections." Part of him had hoped that his packmates would share his feelings, but maybe he had been wrong. He hoped that any tension with Dahlia would fade in the next few days. For the first time ever he'd gotten an odd feeling from her. Jealousy, perhaps? He knew she was the wolf everyone expected him to choose as future Alpha Female and mother of his pups, but had she really believed that too? Did she feel about him the way he felt about Torrin?

Rift approached them as they walked away from the group.

"How are you feeling?" she asked them both, looking as if she sensed something was off with Blackburn. The brute attempted a smile, but his eyes were clouded with worry.

"I'm a little concerned." He admitted softly, casting an apologetic glance at Torrin. "The pack didn't respond as well as I had hoped." Rift nodded, sitting down.

"It's to be expected," she said. "It's been so hard lately, dealing with all the deaths the past few months. We all lost someone very close to us, a new face could feel a little like a replacement instead of feeling like a rebuilding and healing of wounds." Blackburn nodded quietly. He knew she was right. Healing was difficult, and it took some longer than others. Sometimes the process of healing causes pain and memories of the past.

"I'm sure it will be fine in a few days," he said, perking up a little. "We all adjust to things differently." He nodded a goodbye to Rift and gestured to Torrin to follow him.

"I want to take you to my den," he said quietly. "I need to be away from the pack at the moment." On their way, they passed Dahlia, who was laying with her chin on her paws underneath an oak tree. Her hazel eyes following Torrin the entire way. Something about her was off. She radiated a tense air, and walking past her sent a slight shiver through his wivers. Something told him that he would be yelled at if he even approached her. Soon he reached his den, crawling inside and squeezing into the entrance.

"Excuse me," A nervous male voice asked. Blackburn turned as much as he could to see a thin, scrawny grey wolf speaking to Torrin, his front legs shaking with nerves. "Torrin--Delta," He paused, casting a glance at the den. "This is Alpha Blackburn's den, no one is allowed to enter but the Majesty himself or if you've been given permission."

"The Delta has been given my permission to enter, Jax." Blackburn said, fully emerging out of the denhole. "Thank you for informing her though, be on your way please."

Whoever this Dahlia was too Blackburn was starting to get on her nerves a little. Why couldn't she just get over herself? Lowering her audits slightly too her skull, she would give a shapr glare back before continuing to follow Blackie. As they walked, she noticed Dahlia had moved and laid under a tree. Now ignoring the searing feeling of the females glare burning into her pelt. She wanted so badly too talk to this female about whatever was on her mind, but at the same time Torrin wanted to rip her head off of her shoulders.

Getting too Blackburns den, Torrin went to go in before she heard an unfamiliar voice. Turning her bodice, her emeralds would lock themselves onto a scrawny grey wolf with wobbly legs. Torrin's heart would drop as her audits lowered to her crania. Why was this poor wolf starving? Everyone else looked so well fed. As Blackburn came too her rescue, she'd smile gently at him before looking back at the one she now knew as Jax.

"Jax.." Torrin tested the name on her tongue before lowering her crania in respect too him, "You can have my share of food, alright? We can't have anymore wolves falling.. You need your strength.." She told him softly before gently touching her nose too his forehead and then turned to squeeze into Blackburns den. She knew she wanted to help lead this pack. Though, she wanted the wolves to like her as well.

Blackburn watched Torrin slip into his den. The large brute turned his head to watch as Jax hung around a moment longer, before making eye contact with his leader and turning away. Blackburn snorted and turned around, crawling inside his den to join Torrin. The inside was nice and cool, the dirt untouched by sunlight. He instantly curled up against the wall, laying his head on his chin.

"I'm not sure if I did the right thing," he said quietly. "What if my pack no longer respects me?" He couldn't get Dahlia's face out of his mind, her eyes filled with an emotion he'd never seen on her muzzle before.

"Maybe I rushed into it too fast." He continued. "Maybe they would have been more happy and accepting if I had waited." He knew deep down he couldn't have waited. He wanted to see and be with Torrin too much to keep sneaking away at night. It would have started to feel like a betrayal of his pack, and if he'd missed a night meeting up with her he would have felt bad. Inviting her was the best option, but he was wondering what some of the wolves in his pack now thought of their leader.

"So many of them have been asking me more and more lately when I'll pick a queen." He said, shifting his icy gaze to her. "Everyone seems to assume I'll pick Dahlia. Or if I don't pick her as a queen...they're at least expecting her to be the mother of my pups." He paused, picturing the pretty young she-wolf. He wouldn't mind her being the mother of his pups, she came from a strong and respectable family line, in fact Darkheart was her uncle. He knew she would give him strong and healthy pups and an amazing heir. But now that he'd met Torrin...he wasn't sure anymore.