Through the trees and brush, over stones grown over by moss, they travelled making their way along the border. It was after only a short while that they too sensed another presence, despite the fact that the wind direction was not in their favor. Not long thereafter, a voice, an inquiry, was projected outward into each of their minds.

She had not necessarily anticipated running into the young wolf so soon, but Alvina was not opposed to taking advantage of the opportunity. A glance signaled as much to her companions, as they veered closer in silence unison to move toward the sound. They were just emerging into view when the Alpha addressed Branwen with a response. “You actually; you father sent me a thank you the other day.” Direct, perhaps brutally to the point even, she continued. Neither her tone nor her body language was aggressive, however, as she lowered her rear to sit. “Your mate; how long ago did you meet him?” As much as she disliked Connor, and wanted to know more details, it was important that she framed it in that way. She had more respect for the bond than disdain for Connor. With that, her blood-red eyes settled on her frosty ones.

Alvina’s tail flicked as she regarded the other she-wolf, before she offered a short answer. With a faint nod, something of a breath seemed to leave her. They were newly drawn together by the Goddess then, which might’ve explained why they had so haplessly travelled together. And why Connor had been stupid enough to state his claim to her pack members. Truthfully, those new members had suffered repercussions for their insistence in seeking to attack the pair. After all, Alvina’s most absolute law was centered around preserving that bond. But he had still been perilously stupid to so blindly state the words.

Her ears swiveled forward then backward as she seemed to digest Branwen’s statement, though she kept her face measured and cool. “Thank you. It’s been… A long time since that happened now. But thank you.” Her voice very briefly seemed like that of a much younger Werebeast, though it just as easily vanished as she continued. With a small head shake, she levelled her with another look. “Not exactly. But I was inclined to share some information with you after I came to understand what drew you both so far out into the middle of nowhere.” A small head tilt. “Which I don’t yet grasp entirely. He should’ve known it was risky to come out here.”

It became very clear right then that the dark wolf was maintaining a link exclusively with Branwen. Her companions had seemed to drift off yards away, going about their business without any visible mind to the pair as they discussed.

Alvina gave nothing away as Branwen ventured to explain, though inwardly gears were turning. It made the most sense that she, like many before her, would’ve sought to isolate herself after such an incident. The firsts of those were always particularly traumatic, and even more so for those who were… of a sensitive nature. Branwen seemed like that in temperament, at least thus far. Alvina herself? Well she had been at the time, but war also forced you to change. Killing, defending… It caused a dangerous blurring to the act. It simultaneously proved that life was precious and worth defending, even if it could be lost – or stolen – so easily. She, at least now, leaned more toward defending.

She nodded, her tone a little more empathetic. “I understand… It is quite fortunate that he was inclined to helping you, given the circumstance of how the bond works.” Even if the motive was yet unclear. Connor was a little more self-serving than she would’ve liked; honorable at times, yes, but his loyalties had proven to be for himself. That aside… She was curious to know the circumstances of the younger wolf losing control. With her following up with mention of Connor respecting her, however, she put the thought to the backburner. Also seeing her eyes searching for her pack members…. The Alpha felt the need to clarify.

“They’re inspecting the border. You have my word neither will bother us.” Her head tilted, a look of concentration somehow expressed even through her lupine features. “Connor respects me because of our knowing each other prior to his role as Commander. That is it. What favor do you have to ask…?” She trailed off briefly, before Branwen’s earlier comment came to mind. “Would you like help in dealing with your wolf?”

The Alpha regarded her with a calm sense of serenity, her ears merely swiveling forward in interest as Branwen seemed to grow shorter and shorter in speaking to her. Again, something she could empathize with, even if on some level she might’ve otherwise considered her actions disrespectful.

“You presume that I chose not to, though I merely haven’t offered it yet.” Her words held a type of punctuated tone that clearly did not dismiss Branwen’s disregard for offering answers. Despite that, however, the Alpha seemed to sense she might’ve gotten farther with honey, understanding, rather than vinegar, in that moment. Especially if for some unknown reason, the pup seemed to have some concern for being out too late. “Regardless, I do think an offer for aid, if that was what you were planning to ask for, was worthwhile discussing. And I know of a dark place to discuss further, if the morning becomes an issue on that front.”

Her eyes briefly dropped from her own, momentarily seeming to consider before she regarded the other she-wolf again. “About what I wanted to share. You cannot be unaware of Connor’s death power by now. And I know and respect the bond you have toward him – but be conscious in being around him. He has done unspeakable things to many for very selfish reasons. One of my old friends included. That man is not one which I have ever seen nor heard to serve others.” She seemed implore, albeit in a motherly way, with her next words. They were softer, not judgmental, but encouraging. “Just… Do not let him take advantage because of what the Goddess chose in tying you to him. Perhaps She chose it for a reason, but we have yet to see. The Bond works in mysterious ways.”

Silence greeted Branwen’s dialogue for a long, pensive moment. Darkness? If only the poor girl knew. Alvina hardly thought that she herself knew the full span of what exactly the man had done. His lifetime was inconceivably longer than her own. If he had committed atrocities in only the last two hundred years, she could hardly conceive an image of what crimes ten fold of that time could have allowed. “Perhaps he is one who has done shame, and that is why he doesn’t pass judgement on to others.” Was all she offered in a quiet tone of finality. She wouldn’t press, knowing how the bond might compel her to feel anger over such comments about her mate…. Which was a nice, preemptive thought given what next followed.

With the abrupt, frantic look that flashed in her eyes, and the slight shaking that grasped her muscles, Alvina’s ears pricked forward in interest toward the other Werebeast. Losing control? Well that was hardly something which was new among their kind. Such events were half the reason she took refugees as she did. And yet, the sentence that followed… Alvina nearly tsk’ed, but instead exhaled a soft breath. She understood, as she had moments before. The same compulsion had driven herself so many years before, and because of that, she understood. That, and the obligation she felt in her position, the need to be responsible when she had the ability to assist… “I can help you, and I will not speak more of your mate. I never claimed that my own paws were clean, girl.”

The shame that came thickly in Branwen’s voice caused her to take a step closer, as she seemed to hum in a sort of soothing mental presence. “Breathe, girl. Breathe. I will help you. It may take some time, but I promise that you can and will control your wolf. You needn’t worry of your father in seeking to grasp that.” A soft exhalation caused her shoulders to compress slightly. “I can make some space if you’d be receptive to staying at Blood Rose while I work with you.”