Once, their pack had been happy, prosperous and filled with a joy that rivaled any human family. Now they were a sorry and often sad bunch that made Aidan wonder if the Claws had won after all? However, there was little time to ponder this ethical conundrum; for no sooner had their pack slip up the howls began. The first belonged to Eryan and her heart broke from the sorrow that she heard there, as true as her own, it echoed through the souls of the whole pack.<br/><br/>“Looks like…”<br/><br/>Before she could even get that thought out another howl broke through, this one from Cade and she was hurt. Even before she looked to him Eidhin was up and ready. “There was no follow up howl, but we can’t be too careful,” she started only to once again be interrupted by another howl, this one from the enemy. “Well shit, ain’t this a vocal morning,” she said with a bitter laugh then got her head back in the game and focused on the task at hand. “Track them, find them and help them if need be. I don’t want you guys fighting if you don’t have to, but you know that if it comes down to it…” the words were left unsaid as Eidhin nodded and took off in the direction his mate and Cade had run off to. This left Aidan with Samuel, David and Juliet.<br/><br/>“This morning is just chalked full of surprises, huh?” she tried to joke a bit, but deep down worry gnawed at her stomach. Everything about this just screamed some form of a trap or plan, just like that night when the Claws attacked. Dread was in the air and she knew that was what bothered her Alpha then, now she wondered if that was what bothered her Alpha now. “Alright, let’s get this place cleaned up and ready for whatever the groups are going to bring,” now in work mode Aidan set the cooked meat in a container by the fire to stay warm, then gathered up the other dishes to take down to the river to wash.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i.imgur.com/SrzL48j.png?1">[ img ]</a></div><br/><br/>The world of man slipped away from him, each foot fall that touched down on the soft earth and he felt more of his human self, cease to be. The wolf, strong, proud and primal asserted itself within his mind and rejoiced at the freedom. So many sounds and scents basically begged him to investigate, to explore and just be a wolf.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Remember, we have to get to our mate.</span><br/><br/>Eidhin reminded the wolf before it became too distracted. At the mention of its mate it was nothing to change the focus. Large paws touched down in the soft earth as powerful muscles redoubled their efforts for a new goal. Felled logs and the like were of no consequence to the male, those that he could not power over, were charged through. When he finally came upon them he gave a loud yip in greeting, his initial thought being that of relief that Eilidh was safe and in one piece. So, when he bounded up to them his focus was not completely on the injured wolf rather the joy and relief that he felt at the sight of his mate. Licks were done given, along with nuzzles before the wolf was able to then turn his attention to Cade which at the site of her wounds made him whimper and whine with concern. Even if Cade was able to make it back on her own that did not stop him from being concerned. Being the most abled bodied of the trio he ducked in and out of the brush as he circled the other two females to make sure there was no danger that lurked in the trees.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i.imgur.com/SrzL48j.png?1">[ img ]</a></div><br/><br/>There were no words to express how Eryan felt at the moment and nothing really that could be done. Her howl was stifled and the pain was left to fester within, Eryan was hardly there as they walked back to the den. No greetings were given when they came within the sight of the den, none given when she entered the clearing. Without a word she dropped her bag on the floor by the cave entrance before she slipped into the welcoming darkness. Once there she made a beeline for Sherman’s spot and that is where she stayed for the moment. There was too much to express, too much that she felt before she could even begin to socialize with the rest of the pack. The pack was her family and she would always love them, but at the moment she just needed to be alone.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i.imgur.com/SrzL48j.png?1">[ img ]</a></div><br/><br/>Following his encounter with Eryan, Aderol lopped back toward his own pack’s territory and was questioned nearly immediately when his Alpha spotted him.<br/><br/>“How’d it go?” Darksky asked as he stood near the fire.<br/><br/>Aderol smiled as he strode into camp, “The lots of them smell like weakness and defeat. We could attack them now and win without issue.”<br/><br/>“Ah yes, but then we would lose out on the fun we have planned,” Darksky replied cryptically.<br/><br/>“Plans? What plans?”<br/><br/>“Oh, that’s right they’re my plans,” Darksky replied with a chuckle then walked off into their den with their only female on his heels.<br/><br/>This was one of those instances, where Aderol seriously questioned if he had made the right choice when he betrayed the Shadows for the Claws; as if he operated on borrowed time.