There was a long silence as the elders considered Ylva's words. Ilvin combed his fingers through his beard, while the other male sat quietly, bushy salt-and-pepper brows furrowed over icy blue eyes. The vargmödrar shifted in the water, one pulling up her ashen hair and beginning to twist it into a messy plait while the other stood, hobbling over to Ebba. She appeared to be the oldest of the group, her hair the crisp white of freshly fallen snow. Her eyes were milky gray and puffy. Her hand reached for Ebba, brushing gently against the younger vargmamma's shoulder.<br/><br/>"Child," she began, her voice low and raspy, "you have suffered greatly under this Antony, haven't you?"<br/><br/>"Vargmamma Agne, Ylva is a strong wolf--" The older woman held up her wrinkled hand, and Valko stopped.<br/><br/>"I am old, boy. My eyes fail me and my bones are brittle, but my nose is as strong as ever," she declared, a soft smirk on her pale lips. "I can smell the fire in her blood. This she-wolf would not be here before us were she weak. You would not crave her as mother of your pups if she were weak."<br/><br/>The alpha inhaled deeply and stared at the elder with an intense gaze. Parenthood wasn't something you discussed with someone you just met, even if the gods themselves pointed you down the path of bonding. But Vargmamma Agne cared little for social decorum and she had no time for subtlety.<br/><br/>"I think we should help her," the elder wheezed, smiling despite the effort. "Evergreen is a good pack. Ylva's parents were always kind to Kriki, and the land feels their loss. A wolf who usurps his alpha with trickery and deceit has no honor and deserves no pack."<br/><br/>"Agne, hold on for a moment," Ilvin snapped, springing up like a wolf half his age. "This is Evergreen business. It is not our concern." Ilvin looked to Ylva, frowning. "My heart breaks for what has befallen your family, child, but to insert ourselves is asking for war. Our territory is peaceful and prosperous. Why would we want to risk that security?"<br/><br/>"If someone were to harm our Valko, would we not want justice for his loss?" the second male said, glaring at Ilvin.<br/><br/>"Viggo, don't be sentimental--"<br/><br/>"Too late, Ilvin. I concur with Agne. To leave Evergreen beneath the thumb of a tyrant is to doom the pack."<br/><br/>"Gah!" Ilvin spat, waving his hand toward Viggo. He looked to the third vargmamma. "Maja, you do not agree with this madness, do you?"<br/><br/>The elder with the long gray plait sighed, slowly shaking her head. "I am so sorry, child," she soothed, gazing at Ylva with sorrow in her honey-colored eyes. "It is too dangerous. We do not know what other sneaky tricks this Antony may have up his sleeve, and we need Valko. We need our wolves."<br/><br/>Valko's jaw was tight. He squeezed Ylva's hand. Though he did not need the elders' permission to call a meeting, their opinions would weigh heavily on the pack's ultimate decision. If the majority of the elders were against an attack on Antony, chances were high the pack would not follow in Valko's footsteps no matter how passionately he pleaded. Though Valko had proven himself a good, trustworthy leader, Ylva was an unknown. Not<i>true </i>Kriki yet. Why risk their lives for her, they would wonder.<br/><br/>"Vargmamma Ebba, you have remained silent this whole time," Valko pointed out, his eyes trained on the auburn haired wolf. "What do you think of this?"