It had been a while since he had last seen another. Yes, quite a while and even he, the solitary creature he was, could feel the pains of loneliness now. Loneliness that he didn't give into but, still… if fate provided the company who was he to pass up the offer? And besides, this other smelled of Alpha, didn't he? Alpha… he recalled when such a word brought about respect and majesty. Funny how 'respect' and 'majesty' now went to such a young creature. Young creature, young fool - words ever interchangeable or so they were in the eyes of he. Of course he was young himself, just hitting five years a few days ago he had no right t the grumpy old man that the pack tolerated grudgingly. But, really now when he entered a pack he expected someone wiser then he to be on top. He didn’t expected someone younger. Yet, he should count his blessings, no? Kiba could be a yearling, eh? Eh.

Moving along the forest now, he now moved with clear precision. Paws place with fatal ease but fatal silence - movements obviously masculine but obvious graceful. His gait unhindered by age or by wound he moved as fluently as he spoke. A hunter’s walk he had. One capable of stalking prey without burden and yet… if one desired the utter truth he was about as good as hunter as any creature. Hardly superb he relied, like the rest, on sheer numbers to do the creature in not his own ‘talent’. Which was quite a great thing, considering the fact he was among a large pack. A pack that hunted on a regular basis and kept it’s members fed. It seemed Kiba did well in that respect, keeping one’s belly full. Which seemed the male's only talent, truth be known but…

Fool. A sharp, prickly thought as the other came into sight. Male’s eyes of hauntingly light yellow eyeing the other with critical scrutiny. Foolish it was to wander off on one’s own, especially when one had the pack to back one up. Or did this other prefer to chance fate? Chance the possibility of an ill-tempered buck or a exceptionally murderous wild cat? Or maybe even loners, though they often strayed from heading into the forest it wasn’t unheard of… No, on the contrary as winter neared it was very much possible wolves were drove into the forest and started murdering those of the pack, for food, no less, since prey was so lacking and… well… wolves were much easier to prey on. Especially considering the temper of most of the pack mates. Kind, sweet, helpful. Bleh, fools they were. All of them. Sad, it was, he recalled the tales that painted this pack as great. Yet, it seemed that was what they were now. Just tales to tell the children, to make them ‘appreciate’ their ancestry.

Rough black paws skimmed the ground. Tender pads crushing the leaves gently under the weight of one of the masculine race as his eyes flickered. Examining the setting, this place among the forest with lacking interest as a gray tail flicked. Boring. That was what the world was now, that was what this pack was now, that was what his life was now. And yet he wasn’t a fool. Boring meant peace and peace meant content. Content without thrills, yes, but really now… war or peace, which would any one in their right mind prefer? Sadly, most of the time the answer would be peace. But all needed at least some excitement in their life, didn’t they? One got restless otherwise… Kiba would need to find a way to release all this pent up energy the pack as a whole had… if not… well then, wouldn’t the result be an interesting one? A putrid, yet darkly charming smirk slipped onto the lengthy creature façade as he came ever near. His presence gently coming to be known as he broke through the shelter of the trees and allowed his silent stealth to break and crumble.

“You seem like your having a time of your life, twiddling your thumbs and waiting like an ass to be led to water.” His voice was a ‘dark’ one. Deep but not overly so, with a hint of clever repose and mild jest [and mild seriousness] his voice carried a sheer ‘I could honestly care less’ feel, the feel it always had, as he took a seat. Paws brought together formally as a tail rested at his side. His eyes rising from the arena he had walked into, to the brute that rested in such tranquility. “I haven’t seen you before. Who are you?” He inquired after a moment, tilting his head and with that half-closed and mildly narrowed gaze ever unnerving settling on the creature before him. Black lips but a line on his face, he did not thingy a friendly smile… but in the same light he did not bring about a sinister snarl, did he? No… he didn’t.

Oh now isn’t that darling? A mind, ever sarcastic and ever sharpened, spoke. Smirking, he was, if only in his skull. Curious he was about this other, now that he proved to have rather the lengthy fuse. Something that was hardly common. Something he rarely noted but… still. Other didn’t seem a child, seemed that he would prove to be able to keep up in an intelligent conversation. How interesting it would be… the others’ views on this Whelp King. Surely this other couldn’t be entirely enthused about being led by someone younger? Wisdom didn’t necessarily come with age but experience sure as hell did. Experience the Alpha lacked. Experience the olders had. Ooh… what traitorous thoughts, hmm? What traitorous chittering rumbling around in his head?

Too bad. He would sing his own praise - he was awfully smart and if he so desired the Whelp King to lose his precious rulership it would be only a matter of weeks before the event occurred. But, alas, he had the lazy nature in him and lacked, really, any yearning to disrupt the… ‘consistent’ food flow. ‘Sides it was only a matter of time before the others grew restless and bored enough to throw the alpha out anyway. Or so the ever pessimistic Nios predicted. Not that another thought didn’t bob in the ocean… If others planned mutiny where would he fall? He doubted any of his packmates had enough brain to really come up with anything that could get rid of the alpha. Sure as hell had enough brawn but…

“It isn’t obvious?” Nios mused, looking about once again his attention wandered to the doe. A tooth, ever eager to do it's duty peaking out from his lips as he smiled quite wolfishly at the feminine herbivore. Mhmm, she would be nice to eat... if only the hunters were around. Yet, odd that was also. Since when were dear idiotic enough to come towards predators? Then again he shouldn’t overcastted the pathetically insufficient ability to think the creatures had… But, the never ceased to amaze him, you know? Really it was so... surprising how stupid they could truly become, if they put their minds to it, eh?

“I’m part of the pack - same as you old coot. There is only one in the area, sadly.” He said, his eyes finally wandering back to the opposing male of the same age. Tilting his head once more as his tail flicked, a slight frown coming to his features as he heaved a sigh. This conversation could get more fast, couldn’t it? Another ‘sadly’ there as the male slid to a sphinx position. “Anything else or have you another ridiculous question.” His words were rude but his words. That is what one needed to think, to hear, to see. His words upfront were rude… and yet his tone, his posture, his current movements and the words beneath the words. Did you hear what they say? He was rude but it was obvious he wasn’t minding the prospect of company… if the opposing wasn’t either.

Brow rose as the other spoke so sharply. Pondering that for only a minute as a reply was easily and seamlessly formed and voiced, “Oh, I am not as stupid as you presume.” Words directed to the others notation of Nios’ interest in the doe. Unlike others the male knew what he was outmatched and knew, quite readily, the extent of his ability and expertise. Hunting was not an exactly strong point and… on his own he was hardly anything remarkable… or anything that would be able to eat well. But, alas, he fared all the better when there was a pack hunt. Though he was not high in the ranks he could be very persuasive and managed quite the lovely cuts now and again when he put his mind to it. Which really wasn’t all the hard - the council had yet to really be established and the only soul to be truly wary of was the Alpha himself…

“No. I expected you to use your nose, but apparently that is too great a task for you.” He said, tilting his head with a narrowing of the eyes. Unnerving gaze placid but slightly… hardened at the others mild insult. An insult that hardly dug under his skin but, all the same… He believed in shattering a habit before it started… an in this case and in the case of others he believed in making sure it was obvious he didn’t take insults well… so they would be ever reluctant to throw them so casually at him. He believed in the chain of command. Believed in checks and balances and believed in the concept of ‘respect’. Though he seemed… otherwise he still had the core beliefs somewhere at heart. His family had been a respectable one… and despite the fact he was hardly as great as they, he was still part of that family and had yet to tarnish their name too much… Then again considering he rarely gave his surname, Aiku… Mhmm. Nios Aiku, his great grandfather… a sadistic conqueror but a family man at heart…

The other knew the correct procedure to unnerve another. Well, not really unnerve… personally Nios could care less but it was his ’duty’, persay, to act in such a way that… Mhmm. To put it simply it was not ‘correct’ that a packmate of another pack was in these lands. That was a no-no, and though the male wasn’t too caring if corruption came from within the pack he was not fond of the prospect of another pack moving in and a turf war fallowing suit. Contrary he didn’t like it at all, having experienced war, mildly [he honestly didn’t get directly involved, you see] he saw how ridiculous it truly was and how it was so… inconvenient.

“It’s time for you to go, then, I am afraid.” He ignored the other’s questions as he heaved a breath of boredom and slight annoyance. Rising from his sit he gave a small shake before waiting for the other to also rise. His words rung true, it was time for the other to go. If he was not part of the pack he was not to be here. That was a certainty. Another certainty was that he would not receive answers about the pack from this gentlemen, after all he refused to give anyone the chance to charge him with treason. No, no, no he had that happen in his youth and, admittedly back then he was planning treason but nonetheless! Others were not gentle to those who committed such a crime and he wasn’t in a state of being where he was eager to receive the brutality of such a large pack. No, no, no. “Come on you old pile of crap. Time to go - leave. Don’t tell me you need more incentive then words.”

Experience. Experience in failure, experience in success. It took very little effort to speak and act in a brawny, strong, manner. Took very little effort indeed but that is why, so many ‘true’ warriors profess, talk is cheap. And Nios couldn’t agree more. Yes, true he preferred his ‘snide remarks’ and the bullshit he poured on others more then a slapping contest with another… but you could say that if he hadn’t a good reason as why he shouldn’t… for example, a reason such as… this other was an alpha, a decent one who didn’t allow his pack to be captured by pathetic humans, who had his company on hand… or that this other had the favor of Kiba, and thus had the Alpha of The Pack to back him up. But, alas, he did not. Old Buzzard has no one to back him up, no one to watch his back, and very, very little influence in this land. Contrary all Nios could see that the other had, was hot air. Yet that was what he could see. Multiply that ‘deadliness’ by four or so and perhaps that will be the reality of this situation?

But, it didn’t matter. His sharp tongue was sharp. His form, lean but well fed after his scavenging of the pack’s hunts, showed muscle but, as spoken, leanness. Not all brawn, but not all mind. A balance, and balance was ever deadly. This Jack of All Trades was a dominant creature,. One who only bended to the ways that must be bended to. And… Old Buzzard was not a way that must be bent to. And thus… Oh, this was nothing personal. Just as the other would not conform to someone he barely knew, and though, really, little of… Nios was the same. He would not conform to just anyone, and even when he did it was often unwillingly. “If what you say is true, which I truly doubt, most likely you became to old and senile and they simply kicked you off your throne… But, if what you say is true about humans capturing your pack… Give up. They may not be dead, but they will never be seen again. Save yourself the hassle, or not. Others who try so idiotically in vain amuses me. Like seeing a fool run into a door time after time, expecting a different result. So bored am I, that such can be considered prime entertainment.” He spoke, not bothering being kind and relaxing him opinion. Nios wasn’t a very enjoyable person, nor someone fond of others or someone others were fond of. He liked it that way, too. Less prying eyes, less wondering thoughts. They took him how he is, and didn’t bother to see him as anything else.

“You’re… an idiot.” He heaved a breath and a tired roll of the eyes. Sharp gaze finally leaving the other as he took in another breath and offered a shake of he defined skull. His expression that which was easily speaking that, yes, he thought the other impeccably stupid to begin with but he surpassed such expectations. The other couldn’t figure out a name by scent. How idiotic was that? You Can’t smell a bloody name. You learned if by mouth, by word. But, again, perhaps it didn’t matter. Though it bugged the hell for someone to know his name without him telling it he supposed that the fact the other knew his name… didn’t matter. If the other knew it, then surely he would know what beast fallowed that name. If not? He would have a nasty surprise, and a nasty accident if he kept talking to him like a damn child. Something that annoyed him by no means - you see - being talked to like a runt, a child, a whelp. An easy way to avoid the safety trigger.

People. Others. Best taken in small quantities. Oh wasn’t that the truth. And the saddest bit? He was getting annoyed very easily… and his annoyance often led to more sinister things… and his annoyance, this ‘very annoyance’ oh it was sent up so easily. Easily, easily, easily, and by two wolves. How sad, truly. He wondered what the smaller quantity would be. Suppose that he could find a wolf with limbs severed and take a dose of that. Perhaps the company of one handicapped would be the smaller amount Nios needed. Doubtful? Yeah, but still. An instinctual thing it was… to search out others. And to say it was simply because they provided food and shelter and protection would do others little justice. Wolves were pack animals you see. Social. Sadly he wasn’t as great as the other heartless fools around here to evade that. Evade it completely, anyway. Almost, not quite. Mur…

The Luthos once was great. Or so the stories portrayed. The stories that were always spoken in his family, his pack, his origin. He once thought the Luthos were great. That they were a pack of gods and goddess - so strong, so mighty. He use to have dreams about them. About meeting the celestials of the Luthos Pack. How sad it was to travel such a long and weary way to come see this great pack… feeble, pathetic, and only on top because there was no other pack around. Disgusting? That was truly disgusting - those myths those legends. Lies. So greatly disappointed was he. So greatly indeed. Yes, he had expected the tales weren’t real to begin with but… still a cynic may, now and again, break the norm for himself and… for once… perhaps…

But… what if… Luthos… could be great again? What if it could surpass all the legends, all the folklore? What if it could be even greater then what Delicate Rose had? Or the Black Plague? And yet he forgot to check and define reality. He took a good look around. Viewing this place - this alpha. A white wolf. A rare thing after Black Plague’s massacre of the whites. But this alpha was young and this alpha showed nothing. And besides… “May-be.” He broke his thoughts. No longer caring for them. He wasn’t a dreamer, he wasn’t a child. Nor was he foolish - this pack was on the verge of mutiny. So damn boring. “Do you consider me part of your pack?” A smirking reply, but one nonetheless. Yeah. It wouldn’t be so bad to be in a pack if this Alpha didn’t mind. It’s give him full rights to being as malicious as he wanted to loners who trespassed. Loners like this old crone. Unless the old crone joined too... Eh...

Ears flicked to the sound of the male’s voice. Male, referring to naturally the youngest among them and seemingly the one with the most ‘power‘. because, surely, this other male, the one he didn’t have much fondness for was not the Alpha of the large pack he described, if that was the case he wouldn’t be merging, now would he? Admittedly this was an interesting thing to occur. And, admittedly it wasn’t a thing Nios particularly liked or so as really beneficial. Had it occurred to Kiba that maybe this other was lying? Was going to turn his pack against him? There was a reason that the merging of packs was rare and often unsuccessful. It wasn’t ‘just because’. But, what did it matter? Being officially apart of the pack would change very little. And… despite thought he would still have his own self-reliance and capability to take care of himself if this whole thing went swirling down the toilet.

Honor? Honor I disagree. He just couldn’t help his rude thought there. Despicable this was. Alpha allowing such a lowly thing enter the boundaries? Allowing the maggot infested wolves who had encounters with humans in? Pardon him but he thought any Ex-Alpha who couldn’t take care of his pack enough to keep them away from humans, was not a ‘key’ thing to have in any pack. But, just because he had a particular loathe for humans and all things human, he supposed that everyone else could have conflicting thoughts. Specially so when cattle was around and people were starving. Nevermind the fact how unnatural it was that the beasts didn’t run or fight. Nevermind that. “Possibly.” Response directed to Kiba, obviously, as his eyes remained narrowed on this ‘Dakota’ fella.