The two elders in opposition to Ylva's need looked to one another. Maja ran her fingers through the ends of her long, thick hair, lips tight as her eyes fell away from Ilvin's to peer into the crystal clear water at her feet. A gentle sigh escaped her lips. She licked them briefly before speaking, her words measured. "Though I worry for the safety of our family, and I do not like the thought of putting our alpha at risk, it appears his mate-to-be will act on her plans regardless of whether she receives Kriki support. And Valko will aid her, won't you?"<br/><br/>The alpha nodded, his stare hard and determined.<br/><br/>"Very well." Maja tossed her braid over her shoulder. It draped heavily along her back, curling into the patch of grass where she sat. "If Valko is intent on moving forward, then I see no reason to not offer him all the support we can muster. More wolves means a greater chance of success, and we have many young, strong fighters among us."<br/><br/>Ilvin's grizzled face maintained his twisted frown. He was shaking his head, shoulders tense as he looked to his pack mates. "You all invite war upon our land. What happened to Evergreen is<i>none of our concern.</i>Do you all not understand the lives we could be putting at risk--"<br/><br/>"Enough!" Valko snapped, his voice booming, firm. His cheeks were flush as he looked to his elder, jaw tight. "I have heard enough. Vargfader, I value your opinion. I value the opinion of all of you," he added, looking to each old wolf in turn, "but I refuse to accept that Kriki is a pack built upon isolationist ideas. It is the human way to see their brothers and sisters suffer and turn the other cheek, to whisper<i>better them than us</i>and go about their day blind to the cruelty others must suffer. This is not what I want for Kriki, this is not what my parents would have wanted."<br/><br/>Valko sighed, his mouth twisted downwards and brows tight. He looked to Ylva, admired the gentle curve of her cheek. She spark of fire in her eyes. "She is to be mine," he continued, softer this time, never taking his eyes from her. "I feel it deep within me. The wolf inside has been howling for years, trying to find her, and when she is near me I feel the peace of contented silence. If she chooses me, we will mate. Perhaps... perhaps even raise a family together. She will be alpha.<br/><br/>"I realize troubles lay ahead regardless of whether we fail or succeed. Even with victory comes the challenge of figuring out how to provide for such a large pack. But Ylva's grandparents did it. They combined two packs to create Evergreen. Perhaps we can do the same. But we cannot decide it is impossible until we make an attempt."<br/><br/>Vargfader Ilvin was quiet. After a moment, the old man shrugged his withered shoulders. "Call your gathering. We will see what the pack votes."