A red furred ear twitched as the smooth sound of a distant echo met it, the rest of Neela's body remaining stock still and focussed on its task. The howl also had the effect of startling the rabbit that Neela was currently staring down, causing both rabbit and dog to spring forwards in a flurry of motion that left Neela panting, but with her now dead lunch clutched firmly in her mouth.
Hunting done Neela let herself puzzle out the howl that she had just heard. The howl was of the kind typically used to gather the pack for meetings but strangely it had been X'yrin, not Nayru or Razekiel. Despite this being rather unusual X'yrin was still high enough in the rankings to make such a call legitimately so Neela dutifully started off towards the sound, thick Secui form legs propelling her quickly through the undergrowth as twigs and leaves bounced off the wiry growth of fur that accompanied this form.
As Neela began to approach the source of the howl her confusion grew. While there were several scents bunching together those of Ichika's two leaders were conspicuously absent. Still rather confused Neela made her way out of the trees towards the gathering, slowing to a trot and slipping down into her slimmer Lupus form as she walked into view, the change just finishing as she crossed the open ground between the trees and the assembled canines.
The mood was rather grim at the gathering, with none of the assembled canines talking. Neela scanned over the over the few people assembled and noticed that many of them appeared upset for some reason, especially a young brown female that she had never seen before. Just as Neela was about to move forward she caught sight of somebody that she hadn't seen before and her heart skipped a beat in shock.
Jace was an absolute mess, cuts and blood littered her fur and one leg was held off the ground, obviously injured. What worried Neela more was Jace's expression, a cold, distant look that likely had something to do with her appearance.
Worried Neela quickly threaded her way through the assembled wolves, coming to rest by Jace's side, dropping her rabbit between the two in a silent offer to share as she sat down beside the three toned woman. Two of the woman's pups were crouched nearby, Dalgina crouched behind a tan and brown puppy that Neela was less familiar with but recognised as Keldava. Neela flicked her tail towards the pups as she sat, the appendage skimming their ears gently in a comforting gesture.
Tilting an ear to make sure that nothing had started yet Neela sent a quiet, multi-toned whine towards Jace, expressing both her sadness and curiosity at her friends condition. Neela didn't speak; it seemed wrong somehow with the general quietness of the gathering. Keeping one ear slightly tilted in-case Jace answered her Neela directed her attention towards X'yrin, wondering what the golden woman had called them here for.
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