The Vargulf was still frowning, trying to make sense of her words. He really didn't know how to be a member of a pack, he had been alone for a long while, though he wasn't quite sure how long. He had forgotten many things about being a person, and the only things he knew about being a wolf were instinct. He chewed his bottom lip, that body tensing slightly when Lynae stepped towards them. He had mostly assumed now that they had established who was the stronger, the other male would leave him alone. Apparently such assumptions were wrong as Rea spoke of being kind, he glanced at her, uncertain as always. Still he really had no intention of being cruel to the other, though when Lynae spoke, his body tensed slightly and he growled. The words sounded almost like a challenge to him and he couldn't help to wonder that this man wanted to be shown his proper place again. This was his pack, true Rea was the pack leader, but that territoriality didn't extend to just places of dwelling. His pack was also his territory. This other male was lucky the Vargulf had allowed him in it, even at a low station and now it sounded to him as if the other wanted to try for a higher place. The Vargulf's place. He growled again.

Rea

"My My My, you two are not very good at understanding each other are you? Stay here Red, you need to decide if you're genuinely willing to be a Dominant to anyone in your pack. Sit by the fire or go in your lean-to for a minute, I don't thing Ly meant that as a challenge dear heart. Still, I need to talk to our new friend. You can cuddle me later." She said with a soft laugh as she gave the vargulf a gentle pat. She then nuzzled Red to give him some reassurance, her forehead against his jaw in a gentle acknowledgement. She then slowly disentangled herself from the wolf then and gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze as she let him go. She then walked forward to Lynae, giving him a simple reassuring smile.

"Come here Ly, I need to ask you something." She said with a genial laugh taht suggested she meant no harm. Her arm did snake around Lynae's shoulders, however, and with a supernatural strength that rivaled that of any with only one animal would pull him towards the edge of the small clearing they were in. Once they had she would whisper, her voice low as her eyes peered at him from beneath her hood. Her voice held a soft warning, but not enough to be considered a threat.... it was more like concern even if that was hard to believe with who she was.

"You need to be more careful sweet heart, he does not think like a man but a half rabid wolf. He has lost himself to the cursed hunger to the point he has lost even a wolf's proper pack instinct, wanting only the domination and blood often even when in human form. So only challenge him if you really want to love, he does not have your ability to think once his beast kicks in. That luxury is one only time can regain for him if at all. So be careful and realize you are among beasts, especially when the moon rises." She explained to him softly, only to wink and laugh. She whispered to him so that Red wouldn't hear, not seeing any reason for Red to think about those details even if he could. He would face them later as all therians had to eventually face their inner beast. She then patted his shoulder in a way similar to what she had Red. She glanced back towards Red then to see if he was pouting....

He had calmed almost instantly when Rea spoke to him and nuzzled him. The other wasn't trying to challenge him again, then why say words that could easily be taken as a challenge? People were strange creatures. That nose wrinkled slightly almost in disdain as Rea dismissed him and excused herself and Ly away from him. Though he was sure she was just going to go over the rules with the other male, so that he could further understand his place, he wasn't too sure about how he felt with sharing her with others. The Vargulf moved towards his lean to, but he didn't go inside of it, he sat down at the entrance of it, and watched them. They were to far from him and Rea was whispering to quietly for him to hear what she said but he still just assumed she was laying down the ground rules.

He was supposed to be thinking, making a decision. Though he wasn't even sure how to decide or what the right choice would be. He only wanted to dominate and be seen as a superior, under only the pack leader. There was no doubt in his mind that he could not dominate Rea. She was superior, smarter and stronger than him. She seemed to know more about the way things worked than he did, about how a pack should work. The frown on his lips only deepened as he tried to work things out in his own head, he would be responsible for the other. Rea said he should be kind to the other male, dominating, it seemed, wasn't the only thing a stronger wolf should do.

That frowned lessened slightly. He looked to Rea for guidance and protection, so then, did that mean the lesser members of the pack would also look to him for such things? Of course Rea would make all the real decisions and important choices, but if they were a pack they should work together for the good of all. The Vargulf shook his head. Could he protect the pack? It was a small pack. He wanted to try at least, the wolf inside him wanted a pack. The non wolf inside of him just didn't want to be lonely.

He scratched the back of his head lightly, blinking and watching Rea and Ly as they spoke with one another. He was quite certain now that she was laying down the law to the other, as that's what a good alpha would do, at least in his opinion.

The affection between the two, it was like that between wild animals. No, not wild per say ... but something else. He reflected on that as he was guided away, and stared at Rea sullenly. As she spoke, he nodded. So that was what was going on. It made things all the harder for him, since the wolf man was obviously not in control of himself. He barely seemed aware of most things...

"In that case, anything I can do to help him recover himself sooner? I'd prefer not having to kill him. That is what I was sent to do after all." Now that he knew how wild the other man truly was, well he thought in a way he had the advantage. He'd fought many a wild beast and won. He bore the scars to prove it, though this time ...

His attention slipped away to take in the camp, and widened. "She's gone...Of all the .." Cursing beneath his breath, he remembered who exactly she'd left with. A shifter of some kind, two maybe. That girl didn't have much sense, not nearly enough caution for her own good. Shaking his head, he strode away and crouched down where he'd last seen Vivi. A slight indentation, the disturbance of a few rocks and a newly broken branch, all of these were enough to set him off on the right path without a care for the fact that he'd walked away so rudely from the apparent alpha.

Vivi could have gotten into trouble, leaving with those two as she had, and he'd been far too busy to notice.

Rea

"Just be kind, and try not to pick fights with either of us. He needs a pack structure to feel safe and heal" She said simply but had already started to walk away, waving a hand towards him dismissively shortly after he responded. She did not seem at all surprised that he had been sent after the man. She had expected someone would, considering she'd found the man covered in blood. She was already returning to the wolf by the time the other male had noticed that Vivi was gone. Thankfully this prevented any apparent rudeness that Red might have otherwise thought anything off. She was not concerned with the others, the shapeshifter she had gathered was relatively harmless unless provoked and the sugar sweet vivi didn't seem the kind to provoke.

With a few quick steps she reached Red's lean to and was leaning against one solid supporting strut. She reached out a hand to place on the top of Red's head. She simply acknowledged him and let silence stay between them as she gazed after the man. She suspected he would go find Vivi and the other quiet ones. She was not too concerned though she did nod to her owl which caused it to take flight to follow the man just in case. There were things in this forest after all. Still, this meant her hunt would have to wait..... oh well the rich men could wait as long as her beast could.

Though it seemed their small pack had mostly left. Rea was moving towards him, but he was watching the other. When the other moved off into the woods, his body shifted, muscles tensing as if he were about to jump up and follow. Instinct told him to give chase, to run after the other, because a race in the forest would be fun, not just a race though. A race to prey. To hunt. Eyes narrowed slightly and he licked his lips. Something else told him to stay, that something else was the hand Rea touched him with, and he blinked looking up at her with innocent eyes. Though the hunger for a hunt was in him now, the feel of ripping flesh between his teeth, the taste of it. He shivered, part of him trying to push the thoughts away, the beast in him trying to embrace those thoughts.

Whatever Ly had run off after, the Vargulf wanted a piece of it, for he was certain the other had left to hunt. At least, the air seemed to have a scent of hunt in it, it wasn't an actual scent just a feeling he got. Those muscles tensed and untensed. His eyes on Rea. "Hunt?" He sounded eager and hesitant all at the same time, a hint of blood thirst flirting at the edges of his features. It was in the way his lips were barely held over his teeth, ready to give way to snarling at a moment, the way his muscles had tensed as if he were ready to spring up and run at a moments notice, it was in an odd gleam that seemed to be entering his eyes. He glanced off in the direction Ly had disappeared in and back to Rea.

Spirit walked along after the other two women,quietly pondering the idea of clothes.When she was asked what kind of clothes she liked,she just shrugged."I do not know.I have not worn enough clothes to know what I prefer." She said.They soon reached the place where the first woman lived and were being shown clothing of all sorts.Spirit took a hesitant step forward and started looking at the clothes,wondering if any of them would fit her."Maybe something good for hunting....or something I can move easily in..."

Rea

"Search, Not Hunt. He is likely looking for the girl he brought with him since that is her track, his very important friend. That makes her a pack friend, not food. If you want to hunt there are plenty of creatures in the forest that would like to hurt any who cross their path, including us. That is who you hunt, those who would hunt you. Those who are dangerous enough to be a challenge but still weak enough to defeat. Besides they're bigger and have more meat" She said simply. It was easier to appeal to the beasts pride and hunger for more blood then it was to morals. She doubted he was ready for right or wrong yet.... he barely seemed able to think of emotions at all. Still, as long as he was animal enough to be unable to he would be animal enough to instinctively obey his Alpha. The full moon may cause him to loose control for a bit but she had her own ways of dealing with that... and that would establish her dominance enough that the next moon would be easier.

"Besides, hurting those who walk on two legs bring hunters and danger to your pack. Do you wish to do that? What you did before was forgiven because you did not know.... now you know what danger you would bring to yourself and your pack." She glanced towards him then, her voice and expression growing briefly cold. 'You do not endanger yourself or the pack' seemed to be her warning and for a moment her beast's aura would seem even larger. She would keep the wolf calm, even if she had to remind him of all the reasons to obey her. He would at least understand these reasons, even if 'it's wrong' he would not.

Vivi

"Oh! I'm sure I can find something then... and really? Let me help" Vivi spoke first to the shapeshifter then to spirit. She quickly found a scarf that matched her outfit and soon had it tied up in her hair. After her own little gift seeking was done she began to look through clothing and find various things she thought would look good on spirit and that seemed comfortable. She would hold them up to spirit and then lay them to the side. Soon she had five outfits she thought would look beautiful on the other woman as well as be easy to hunt in.

"I like these for you Spirit."

If he had ears they would have been drooping, instead he ducked his head submissively, even a little dejectedly. Part of him disappointed that he wasn't hunting with his pack, the other part seemed glad. So he wasn't entirely sure how he should feel about it. He listened to Rea though, she was his alpha, and creatures in the forest could be hunted, but people could not be. So the girl was a very important friend..did that mean it was the other male's mate? The Vargulf assumed it did mean that, then would that mean she was a member of the pack then? He was frowning again.

Brief images flashed through his mind, people. He had hunted them, brutally and hadn't even eaten them. He had done it for the pleasure of the kill. He flinched away from Rea almost violently, his hands going to rest on the sides of his head and he closed his eyes tightly. He didn't like those nightmares, or the memories of those nightmares. He certainly didn't like knowing that they were more than just nightmares, he didn't like it. The beast inside of him liked it, but he didn't. That was the only part of himself he could grasp clearly. He shivered lightly. He was dangerous. He knew that, dangerous to people, and probably dangerous to his own pack.

He hugged himself for a moment, and slowly stood. Though now that he had stood, he wasn't sure what he had intended to do. He looked around for a moment feeling a little lost. He had wanted to run away, so that he couldn't be a danger to his pack, now that he was standing such a thing suddenly seemed foolish. He hesitated for a moment, then moved to Rea and nuzzled her softly, more to reassure himself than anything else.

It wasn't too far, thankfully. The man made his way through the brush with ease, bending and weaving through the forest as if born there. He might as well been, considering how much time he'd always spent there. The girl he as looking for, there she was!

Quick steps brought Lynae to her side. "You shouldn't have left like that." Reproach crept into his words. Protecting her was his duty, self imposed perhaps, but his duty nonetheless. "We're going back to the camp." Rea's words still rang in his mind, and Lynae was a sucker when it came to protecting people, even in such a roundabout way as creating a pack to stabilize a half crazy wolf man.

As the other two women spoke, Alryn moved to the clothing chosen for Spirit and packed all save the outfit the strange woman chose. She was neat about it, folding the clothing into a leather bag which would make carrying it much easier. Once done her self appointed task, Alryn handed the pack to Spirit with a smile. "Here you are, we should be heading back soon."

As if summoned by Alryn's words, Lynae came into sight with a suspicious look on his features.

Rea

Rea watched him a moment, her face passive. She had expected something like this may happen, as his mind tried to balance. She did not move until he turned towards her. She wrapped an arm around him and nuzzled back gently. She wanted to reassure him that she warned him but was not angry with him. Stern but fair was what she needed to be, of that she was certain. She didn't say anything at first, and simply gave him the physical reassurance he craved. Really, being an Alpha to someone so lost as this was too easy.... there were less kind therians who would love to get their hands on such a man and direct him to their enemies. Perhaps that was what made Rea so careful.

"Listen to what I have said and you won't be a danger to this pack... I won't let you be. That is my job." She teased softly as she nuzzled against his jaw and shoulder before she released him. She gazed towards the forest then, with her arm still wrapped around him without any particular expression. She simply rubbed his shoulder her hand was nearest and held him, she knew what he was remembering. Everyone like her had memories of some mistake, something that weighed heavy on their conscious as they failed to control the beast.

The reassurance was a welcomed thing, and it did much to soothe him. Her words helped, she was strong in more ways than just physical strength. There was no way he could be an alpha like that, he might be physically strong, but he didn't have the other strength one needed for such job that thrust so much responsibility on someone. He leaned slightly against her, letting his head rest against her shoulder. "Protect the pack...and..pack friends." The others then, the ones that he wasn't sure of as members of the pack were certainly included as pack friends. He had calmed, the images of his nightmares, memories he didn't want to remember had faded. Now his thoughts were more completely on his pack.

Something about the other member leaving on his own was beginning to set ill with him. Even if the other wasn't hunting for food, he probably shouldn't have gone alone. He chewed his bottom lip uncertainly for a moment, pulling slightly away. "...Search for pack and friends...to keep safe from monsters in the woods?" It was a suggestion and a question all rolled into one as he looked to Rea for confirmation or denial. If she said no then he wouldn't go, but for some reason, now that he was thinking a little clearer, or rather, thinking more about the pack it seemed odd for one member to go alone even if he wasn't hunting. Especially in this forest. As dangerous as it could be with it's undead and unliving monsters.

Spirit eyes the clothing that had been picked for her.She liked the colors and the look of it.She picked out one particular outfit that looked comfortable and put it on.It was simple,just soft brown trousers and a green blouse,but she liked it.She then took the pack from Alryn."Thank you.Thank you both.May I ask....why is clothing so important?" She asked curiously,slinging the pack over her shoulder.Her hair was a mess,and she shook it out of her face.

Rea

"That does sound like a wise thing to do, lets go Red." She said with a soft chuckle after watching him a moment. She patted his shoulder as she withdrew her arm from him and began to track the path towards the others easily. She looked with practiced eyes, being a ranger and hunter even before she'd become a beast like she was. The innocent Vivi did little to hide her tracks so she had expected it would be that easy and she was not disappointed. Still she moved at Red's pace more then her own as she wondered if her owl and Ly had reached the other girls yet. She suspected they may meet them on the way back since it had not been long.

Vivi

"Sorry..but... Arlyn said it wasn't far...." She responded quietly, her head down slightly. She seemed a little embarrassed really, and genuinely sorry. She hadn't expected him to get mad.... Then again she didn't really consider how the others could want to lead her off just to steal a few pieces of jewelry which was all she carried of value. They would disappear if removed anyway being they were magical constructs of the necklace more then something truly physical. She only glanced up as Spirit spoke, and she watched her for a moment as if trying to figure out how to answer.

"It keeps us warm and other important stuff.. Ly could put it better. We should pin your hair back too so it doesn't get in your way" She finally responded with a nod. She then dug into the small satchel at her side to take out an elegant comb. She approached Spirit then and began brush the woman's hair absently if she allowed her too, the comb appearing to actually clean the hair somehow as well as remove the tangles fairly painlessly. She would only pause when finished and then wind Spirits hair into a braid and put a ribbon at the end to hold it. She would continue this even while they were walking, appearing to know where to put her feet without looking.

A slight smile touched his lips for a brief moment when she called his decision to go after the others wise. It felt good to be complimented by the alpha like that, and he trailed along behind her, at first seeming a little uncertain and letting her take the lead. Soon though, the Vargulf was next to her, and following the trail by instinct. Instinct noticing all the marks in the ground of the other's passing, and his nose picked up hints of their scents. The closer they got to the others, the faster he moved, as if eager to reach the missing friends.

Lynae simply shook his head and sighed as they retraced the path back to the camp. That girl was too trusting by far. She'd been lucky this time, but what about the next? He couldn't let her out of his sight, it seemed, lest she get embroiled in trouble.

Alryn walked along happily with the little group, glad to have found them. Maybe they could really be her friends. Speaking of friends, her eyes alighted on Rea and Red. She grinned happily and waved at them vigorously. Racing forward didn't seem like the best of ideas though. Red might very well lash out without meaning to.

Spirit was cagey at first,but let the other woman comb her wild hair.She even started to like it.When it was all braided,she turned and offered a smile to Vivi."Thank you.My hair was getting annoying." She said happily.It was turning out to be fun,having people around.

Rea

Rea smiled softly and let the wolf go in front of her in silence. She was glad he seemed to be cheered up. She was wary he may become too into the hunt but she made no apparent sign of this. She walked with her hands in her pockets, her long strides allowed her to keep up with relative ease. She didn't really speak or react until Alryn waved and at that point she removed her hand from her pocket to return it. She was rather amused by the little 'pack' that was forming, though they raised her curiosity as well. No one seemed bothered by the fact she'd kept her hood on all this time.... usually someone would say something. She didn't keep it on for any particular reason, she just didn't see any reason to remove it either.

Vivi

"You're welcome, i like doing people's hair. It's fun." She said brightly to the other woman as she reached out to give her hand a squeeze. She then glanced at Ly, aware he had ignored her invitation to speak about the reason for clothing. She pouted a moment and squeezed Spirit's hand one more time. She then wrapped her arms around one of Ly's and peered up at him with big sad violet eyes. She was biting her lip slightly which made it slightly more pink as she gazed up at the male hesitantly. She was clearly concerned a little bit.

"A...are you mad? I'm sorry I went off alone.... "

It wasn't long before the others were in sight. When Alryn waved at them, the Vargulf tilted his head slightly for a moment and glanced at Rea, she had waved back but he made no move to imitate the action. He did slow his pace some, there was no need to hurry now, the others were there and all together and that was all that mattered. His pace had turned to a more casual one, as they came nearer. Those red eyes on the others, and then darting to look around for a few moments, as if to make sure they truly were safe. There were things in this forest, things that frightened him, things worse than a simple Vargulf. A shiver raced down his spine and all he really wanted to do now as hurry the others back to their little area. Their territory. He was silent though. Just watching and listening.

Lynae sighed. "I'm not angry, Vi, not really. Worried, is what I was." He glanced down at the young woman with a small smile. She looked so upset about such a small thing. "Don't look so sad. It's alright." Or it would be soon enough anyway.

His green eyed gaze turned to the curious way the Vargulf was acting. "Is there something out there, Red?" Did the other man even recognize the name he'd been given so casually? It was hard to imagine what the other man knew, how he thought. He needed to figure out what he'd say to the villagers when he went to see them again, eventually. At least he'd warned them that his hunt might take a while.

Alryn sauntered over to the other group and tugged at Rea's sleeve happily. "Hi again, did you want any clothes too?" The pink haired woman was grinning. It was fun, having others to talk with. Hopefully nothing happened to shattered the small peace they had.

Spirit was able to relax a little bit when she realized that their pack was all back together again.She was aware that the Vargulf was tense,which made her worry.Spirit knew what horrible things were out there,but she hadn't really worried about them since she had met the group the night before."We should get back to camp.Safer in our own...territory." She said,hesitating a bit just in case one of them objected to her being part of a pack.She was still waiting for someone to realize what she was and punish her for it.

Rhea

Rhea watched the Vargulf's care and couldn't help but smile faintly. She could see he was taking the territory of their camp and his new 'pack' seriously. That was often the easier way to 'tame' a wolf, even if with other therians it was not an option. Still, it would be some time before the pup no longer needed a baby sitter.... Oh well, she had spotted several animals with magnificent pelts and who would give a worthy fight to challenge her beast. She could make quite a bit of money here so staying a few months rather then the few weeks she planned would not be too bad.

"There's always something out there in place like this, but most are opportunity predators. They'll wait for one of us to be alone." She said with a warm chuckle as she gave Ly a smile. It was likely clear she would have no issue with a fight. She knew her owl would give a warning hoot and her beast senses likely a warning before that, of course, so that helped. She was also nearing the full moon so a little blood would not hurt her either, and a good fight would release a little steam. She knew that her new....companions other then Red would likely feel it brutal if they saw her but she wasn't too concerned. Her beast was brutal and she saw no reason to pretend otherwise.

"Besides, we're not too far from camp. So relax you two." She teased lightly as she flung one arm around each male and gave them a gentle squeeze. She saw no reason not to try to keep them calm, however, despite part of her looking forward to a fight. She could sense no thing particularly dangerous and her owl was silent as it flew above them, so she doubted a fight was coming... yet. With the beasts in this forest she was sure there would be a fight eventually, probably the next time one of them left the camp or when night came. Many of the more dangerous creatures here were strictly nocturnal too... Her thoughts were pulled from that, however, as the shape-shifter grabbed onto her. She spoke softly to the shapeshifter as she patted her head gently.

"I tend to make my own clothes actually, but thanks anyway."

((*I'm changing Chantrea/Rea's nickname to Rhea. Same sound but it'll be easier to distinguish from Red xD)

Vivi

"Don't worry! We're with friends." She said cheerfully in response, instantly brightening as he said he wasn't angry. She gave him a warm, loving smile then. Her sadness and worry faded, content that he wasn't upset. She hated when people were angry with her. It made her feel like she'd disappointed them and that made her heart hurt somehow. She shook it off quickly, however, as she bounced at Ly's side. She glanced back as she heard Spirit speak and released Ly long enough to go wrap her arms around the other woman.

"It's okay, we'll be there in minutes!"

The Vargulf shook his head slightly at Ly's words. It was a stupid question in his opinion, and the others should be more alert. There were always things lurking in this place, but that didn't mean they were in immediate danger yet. He glanced at Spirit when she spoke, his eyes narrowing for a moment. She was a wolf, he knew that, but she wasn't exactly a member of the pack yet. She was a pack friend. Though it probably wouldn't be long before the Vargulf saw the pack friends as actual members of the pack.

When Rhea spoke, his attention shifted to her, and when she put an arm around him, he relaxed some. Their territory wasn't to far, and for that he was glad, it was dangerous to wander deep into these woods. His tongue peeked out to lick at his lips slightly and slowly he pulled away from Rhea, almost hesitantly. The Vargulf moved forward, to lead them back to the territory, a little eager to get back. He had felt so very safe in that small area that he begun to think of as his territory. His pack's territory, that feeling of safety was present even here though, with his pack and alpha so close. Still there was something a little more safe feeling about the place he now thought of as the den.

Spirit allowed herself to relax a little when Rhea made it clear that she wasn't worried.The woman had obvious power and authority,so if she said everything was fine then it was.It was also comforting when Vivi added her opinion that they were safe.Spirit smiled just a little bit as they headed back towards camp.It suddenly struck her that the full moon was coming.They were safe together,but what happened when one of them went running? She didn't know why,but she always had to run on the full moon.It was something inside her that forced her to move,and it mixed now with the fear that the bloodhunger would take over if she didn't run.But what if she ran and came across something? It had happened before.Surely she would be fast enough to outrun anything out there.Her worried thoughts showed on her face.