He wasn't required to do what he did. For the most part Tharin brought small prey that he captured on his own into the pack, coupled with the occasional injured deer or goat that he'd been able to kill without help. Beyond that there wasn't much he did. He played with his pack mates and lazed in the rising sun, and worked on exhausting himself so that the nightmares didn't plague him. Occasionally a particularly bad one would send him to attempt training for battle, something he wasn't very good at. On this day, he moved along the borders, making sure that it was strong.

The border was strong as it was meant to be, nothing like the weak visage that used to line Kiara's pack. The pack didn't exist anymore, something that chilled him to think about. She couldn't move with her pups, leaving him making trips out there. The scent of someone that didn't belong reached him then, hackles standing up. Angrily he picked up his pace, running along. Who was doing this? A growl built in his throat as he ran. It wasn't long before a black figure flickered into view, dancing daringly along the edge. A roaring growl was all the warning she received as he moved to slam her away from the border.

His blow was dodged, but the purpose was still served. The black female was a distance from the borders now, if not by much. His hackles were still raised, the large wolf looking even larger. He stared challengingly at her, waiting for some explanation of her behavior. Why had she been following along the border? She had been dangerously close to trespassing, and clearly she was aware of the line from the way she followed it around. The submission did calm him some, studying the pose.

There was respect, if a slight spark of wishing to stand up. It looked like this one was just as submissive as him. At least he wasn't so foolish as to put himself in situations where submission was required. He cocked his head at her words. A trader? The only other trader he knew of was Ignatius. It didn't take long for him to compare them. They didn't seem alike at all. Where Ignatius had been granted permission by the alpha, this one had no scent but her own. Why were you so close to our borders? His anger had cooled a little, but his dominant stance hadn't relaxed at all, assessing the threat.

His hackles raised at the pause. It was a simple question. Surely she should be able to answer it. Her answer finally did come, the wolf letting it sink in. Distracted by the beauty of the land. It wasn't something Tharin understood himself, as attached to it as he was. There was nothing to be distracted over. Nothing that this stranger had any right to anyways. She should have remained focused and called for someone to come, not letting herself get distracted at all. Surely she knew that it was a stupid move. He'd almost attacked her after all.

There was a glint of pride in his eyes at her words. Tharin was very quickly growing attached to this land with all his heart. It was an incredible place that he'd been lucky to find, even luckier to be accepted into. Tharin thought about her offer before shaking his head. I'm not much interested in trade. It'd be better if you called for someone else to trade with. I don't need what you have. His words were polite, dismissing the female to go on her way.

She wasn't going to heed his warning? Would return? His hackles stood tall, looking even larger than he did before. An angry howl raised up through the air, telling the pack of this intruder, of the threat that she held. So much disrespect! He held his ground, knowing better than to charge her. He wasn't much of a fighter, despite his strength. He might be able to take her, but then again he might not. He wasn't prepared to find out.

He simply snorted at the words, lacking the sting that her earlier words had held. It was just the same thing repeated in a weaker format. The only thing angering him was the threat of returning to mock the pack again with this great disrespect. Tharin would personally make sure it didn't happen. He wouldn't be leaving this border alone again. He already patrolled it, but it would be even more deliberate now, watching the female leave. The next time, he would attack without waiting for an explanation. Next time.