Paz had returned a few days later, possibly this morning, but the male really could not remember. He was happy to at least have his daughter back, but he could only wonder what Krystalle was thinking about the child's disappearance. Paz hadn't spoken much of her journey, or of how she was able to escape her mother's protective grip. She had, however, been very clingy since she came back. She had been attached to Mars' hip like if she let go of him, then he would turn into Hurricane or something. It was weird, and Mars did apologize a million and a half times to the child, and he was still in the middle of apologizing as he had fitted her into a new dress that he was supposed to be giving to her mother, but since Krystalle was not around, he had modified it to fit her, tail and all. It was form fitting for the growing girl, meaning that he would need to make something bigger for her sooner or later, unless she was going to stay small like her mother, in which she might just do since it seemed that she was at her full height even at her young age of 8 months. The small girl stayed at Mars' side the whole day though, getting in the way when he was trying to make tea, or have a cigarette or anything really. It was starting to get on his nerves when there was a howl for the pack. A pack meeting. Just what he needed. He really needed to explain why Krystalle and Amon were not present. Maybe he wouldn't. Maybe he would just keep his big mouth shut and be the quiet man he was always besides seemingly at pack meetings. Sometimes he liked to express himself. Most of the time, no.
Mars got himself ready, pretty slowly though, not wanting to be the first being there, because he was not really particularly close, nor was he really partial to the pack yet. They had juggled him around ranks for no reason other than him protecting his family, so he felt like they did not like him, or really care for him. Not only demoted for protecting his family, but also they never even sent anyone to check on the Russo's that lived in the village that bordered the lake. That alone gave him more reason to protect his family rather than be at the frontlines of every battle during the war. The pups were young, and Krystalle was small and weak, so they could have been kidnapped if Mars had not been there to protect them, even though the enemy had fortunately not gone through Piccolo to attack the Manor. Yet, he still lived here, and he still would attend this meeting. Maybe he would leave here too. He grabbed his daughter by the hand and led her to the location in which the pack was going to meet. It still took them a while to get to the place, since Piccolo was a good distance away. Sometimes Mars was surprised that they would hear the howls of the pack.
He moved to the back of the gathering when he got there, and Paz hugged his hip again, looking at the leaders as the darker one had spoken about what, loyalty? Mars snorted. Then there was some other wolf who made some dramatic speech about how he was going to still be loyal to the pack. Mars, he said nothing, his face was blank, and he looked straight at the hulking woman, Savina. There was a hardened look on his face. What was this meeting for? To ask for their loyalty? Any leadership that needed to do that seemed like their reign was coming to an end or something. He snorted again, but did not speak. He held his tongue this time. But this did not mean he was going to stay. He was still within the period of time where he didn't know if there was anything here for him anymore, if this was his sanctuary or not.
Mars speaks