par the time the four loups arrived to the territorial lines, the sun began its days work of bringing brightness to the world. Clouds dissipated and moved from around the sun as its heat dropped to the earth below. With the globe warming and the land washed in orange and yellow, the night had donné way to the dawn of a new day, all was gone of its dark counterpart save for the memory, and much of the chill in the air. The four approached the fifth member of their team, and a sixth form, just opposite of the understood boundaries.

Jayne stood along side the Cougar, his attention toward the rest of his approaching party as they closed the distance.
A distinct trail could be seen left in their wake, the sun glistened off of every drop of moisture and dew that rested on every blade of grass. Every drop and blade, that is, except for where paws had tread only moments before.
Jayne smiled gently to the lionne before tracking over to rejoindre their sides as they approached.
Each stopped at the same time, Eight simply followed their lead as Deogee continued vers l'avant, vers l’avant a few paces.
When he stood face to face with the female Cougar, he spoke,
"Good morning. Thank toi for meeting with me."
She spoke not a word for a moment as she took everything in. Her eyes gazed over the old Alpha as he stood, allowing her to feel at ease. She glanced around the small pack, working the air with her nose, sniffing and searching with curiosity, but most notably, a wild-eyed caution, as though she was uncertain of their intentions as of yet.

"Please, allow me to introduce myself." Deogee began, in attempts to keep communication flowing, "My name is Deogee, head Alpha of the clan here to this land. You've already met Jayne, to my left are Otto and Benjamin, Huntmaster and Lead Hunter, respectively."
Deogee motioned to the other loups in the order he had called, Otto to his far left, and Benjamin to his inside left. Otto gave a nod and a small smile, as Benjamin simply nodded.
"And I believe you've already met Eight."
Eight nodded to her and spoke "Good morning, Miss."
His voice seemed to break her further from her skepticism about the situation. She stood vers l'avant, vers l’avant to them now with the look of business in her eyes.

"Well," Her elderly voice came forth, "Young Eight told me that toi were all polite, but he didn't tell me that toi were all so strapping!" Her words may have sounded false, but her kindness was genuine and unmistakable.
"Good morning to toi all." She a dit with a smile and a low nod. She didn't give her name to them, just as she still had not to Eight. She seemed very uninterested in this prospect, like it wouldn't be an important conversation point in a few short hours.
"I am sure that Jayne filled toi in, but just to be certain I want to state that I am not only pleased that we could come to an agreement, but your terms are fair and we will accept and honor the arrangement."
"Thank toi for that." The old Cougar returned, "And just to make sure we understand each other, I want this done as quickly as possible. There will be a strict 'in and out' policy while on my land, and I would request further that toi only enter near the eastern borders."
She stated her business just as it was - business. This, Eight had seen before. When she spoke she had no time for nonsense nor dallying, like a drill instructor. Surely she had been the matriarch of a pride before she found herself here. She had such leadership qualities about her, something that was easily discernible. Something that Deogee and the others both recognized and were prepared to pander to, if it meant that the deal would go along smoother.
"There is nothing wrong with a few addendums, especially in the light that we can both help each other along in this time of need." Deogee stated, ever the diplomat.
"I'm glad we're in agreeance." The Cougar stated back with little breath in the conversation.

"Please, let us be on the way." Deogee implored, "The herd will be on the déplacer soon, and we don't want to miss our chance. Shall I fill toi in on the way?"
"You have a point. Please, lets."

With that, six forms traveled parallel to one another to the east as Deogee filled the Cougar and the others in on their main strategy. When the ground between them and their destination came to a close the conversation dissipated as well.
"All in all," The old Alpha reiterated, "This run should be kept tight and fast. The faster the better, it gives the beasts less time to think. Benjamin, you're pulling. Eight, you'll follow him, keep the grouping tight. Otto will take the East Flank, and I'll take the West while Jayne will work crowd control and stragglers. Miss," He turned to the cougar, "If you'd be so kind -"
"I'll support toi where I can, of course." She cut him off, in her usual 'why waste time' fashion.
Eight could hardly contain himself, seeing each of these stone hard veterans doing what they did best and enjoying every seconde of it. Even the lionne had limbered up and taken on a light in her eyes at the suspense of things to come. There was an energy here emanating from each of them, as though they were tightly coiled springs and all they needed was to be released. And each of them felt this way, their muscles tensed, the hair stood up on the backs of necks - they were ready. With one final look to one another, and then Deogee turning to the Cougar, there was one last matter of business to attend before they were underway.
"Very well." Deogee stated, standing straight and tall as each member who followed him did the same, Eight quickly catching on.
"Lioness, do we have permission to enter your territories?"
The female Cougar's ears perked and her eyes gleamed at this, toi could see the excitement riding her entire body from tip to tail.
"Yes."
"And will toi agree to work along side each of us, to honor an arrangement until such a time that it is completed."
"I will."
"Then so shall we."

With that, the old Cougar moved aside, her tail flicking excitedly at the almost military execution of the current happenings and she made way as Deogee took the first steps across the threshold of the borders. The first time a loup had passed over since Eight left almost a mois before.
Each member filed slowly onto her land, she stood and watched as she let them pass, an almost playfully curious look on her face. Eight smiled as he was the last to pass, her own smile grew slightly as she nodded to him.

The six of them spread out side par side, Deogee just ahead of the rest as they trotted onward toward the new resting grounds of the herd. The sun once again at their back, now fully over the grasp of the horizon pushing warming what little dew was left on the ground to the point of evaporation. The night was now a distant memory, now was the time for light, and with it, a new day.
The veteran Alphas seemed to anticipate something in silence. Before Eight could wonder to himself what it may be that each of them glanced at Deogee for time and again, the Lead Alpha shouted out a cadence,

"Alphas!"
"YES." Each of the loups answered in unison, their voices one, booming entity.
"Get fired up!" Came Deogee's call to arms.
"FIRED UP!" Came the reply.

Eight almost faltered in awe at this display of unity. There was a reason for these loups to be in charge, that reason was simple - from their bière, stout steps forward, to their skill and knowledge, these wolves, these Alphas were as a clockwork machine, each of them knowing the other as well as they knew themselves. Their skills and abilities, limitations and faults known well to the other. Each of these loups were a close, tight knit band of brothers, a family. Each knew the capabilities of the other and through this, the capabilities of themselves and even more, the capabilities of the pack.

"Take em' on, Boys." Deogee a dit with a determined and mischievous grin on his face.

Each loup became a speeding bolt of fur, fangs and claws. Jayne went ahead to discover the herd, the others went toward their positions, Eight maintained a growing distance on Benjamin while the Cougar maintained a sprint beside the Pack Leader.



The world stood silent for a brief moment in their wake as a cool wind passed over each of them, a blessing from the earth, a passing wish of good fortune from the sun itself.