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The coyote exhibited what submission he could in optime form, and Wayne let his stiff shoulders droop slightly as he decided this wouldn’t be a violent encounter. Even though most border-callers wanted to join, he still remembered the raiders and the slaver who had come threatening his new home. The raiders had been run off or killed, and Amy’s supposed authority had been crushed under the weight of the Cavalierites, but the assurance that this was a pack of warriors did not make it any easier for the suspicious Labrador mix.
It sounded like this loner had heard of the pack before, much like the others, and that was reassuring. Word of Casa di Cavalieri had spread, positive word, and it wasn’t attracting many wolves ignorant of their name. It’d always bothered him when someone approached the borders with no clue of who they were.
A hint of pride softened the hard squared-off lines of his face, and he nodded when the other introduced himself as Biff Williams. “Where south?” he asked mildly, his tone making it clear that this was a casual query and not part of the interrogation. He didn’t sound like he’d come as far south as Wayne and Dixie, but it was good to know they weren’t alone nonetheless.
The cowboy smirked slightly. “Yeah, we’re pretty safe. Casa is a home for warriors, those who fight for peace. It’s our job t’ make sure wars don’t break out in the other packs; we were formed after one of these wars.” He cleared his throat. “Certainly, all of us ain’t warriors. I’m the Cavallo, master of horse.” He didn’t want the coyote to be scared away from contributing to the pack if he couldn’t fight.
“If you wanna join… What skills d’you have t’ offer us?” He glanced at the case. “Besides playin’ that violin, I mean. One of our alphas plays violin too.” Although he was sure that it’d look more proper with Biff playing it; giant Jazper all but dwarfed the petite human instrument.
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