Summer Trash

[Hector]

Fa-ninna want's the Alpha's blessing and he gets it.

"Yeah. That would be good. See, I held off going at them because I could never get a fix on their numbers. I think we are dealing with three, maybe four Ivory Claws. We got six when we all gather in one spot so I think the numbers favour us. But I would definitely like to get some certainty on that. Last time we faced Anshega... we got lucky and called their bluff."

Hector's face was completely and unashamedly honest. They had moved too hard, too fast that time at the winery. They had lured the enemy out without preparing the ground and had been outflanked. A good third of the pack had simply slunk away in the fracas. Hector's recollection of the event was a blur but he still felt certain his very personal challenge on the rival Alpha had been what had saved them.

Bird's thanks drew the Cahalith back from his grim musings.

"No need. Glad to have you. Its good to have a more... traditional... No Moon. Chris has his ways... Undercover: hidden deep in the Herd with his ear to the ground for the stuff we won't see coming. But that left a gap. You are welcome here, Bird. We need your eyes and ears."

[Bird]

Bird nods once, accepting the charge from his Alpha.

"I'll start with the club, track them from there. Shouldn't be too hard." Bird is patient. And that's all it takes: wait long enough, watch close enough, and you'll see what you need to see. "Next time, we'll be ready," he adds with deadly finality.

Hector's reply is met with a small smile. It quickly disappears in a cloud of smoke.

"Well... New Moon means no path. Each one's gotta find their way. I never was too good with the herd. Not like that anyway. But I was always good with watching. And hunting." It wasn't until Bird changed that he found his place. Before that, he never seemed to fit.

"All I'm saying is, my last pack... Well, it was a mess." Bird takes a drag and seems to be lost in memory for a moment. "This just feels right. Glad to be here."

[Hector]

Hector, mercurial as always, starts to laugh.

Then he looks around him at the vacant space under the freeway.

"Hey! Fancy a walk along the border of the territory?"

I feel the conversation is drawing to a close. End scene?

[Bird]

Bird stands and stretches. The time for talk is over. He drops his cigarette and crushes it beneath a boot.

"Yeah. Sounds right."

Where the Alpha leads, Fa-Ninna will follow.

Sounds good! Thanks for the scene.