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Jono crashed his way through the forest, not needing to stay quiet. This was his land, and his alpha knew he was coming, but just in case, the big wolf gave a short warning howl to announce his presence.

Soon they would be at the very middle of the pack lands, where Loki kept her den, and where there was a slight depression in the ground shaped like a bowl. The wolves there called it the dust bowl, and that's where pack meetings took place, with Loki perched upon a large rock which stuck out from the tangle roots of the tree she made her den in.




The elder wolf waited, hearing the howl. Loki had sent him out not long ago, and was pleased that he was coming back so soon. From the smell of things, young Jono carried with him a female wolf. Traitor, or someone seeking refuge, she did not know, but would soon find out.

She sat high on her boulder, sunning herself. She was old and she knew it, but hiding around the dust bowl were other, far more dangerous wolves than she. They would protect her come hell or high water, and she was thankful to have their loyalty in these troubled times.

"Oh, um... thank you." his eyes went wide. For a moment, Jono felt as though he were the prey, and Kairi was the predator. "What did you say your name was, again?" he scrambled to find anything else to talk about. Was he even allowed to court a female?

He wasn't sure, but he did know that Loki was just over the next small rise, and that this was going to be a very interesting meeting indeed.

///

Loki sat, eyes shut, waiting. They would be here soon, and as long as she remained calm - something she was good at - the wolves in the bushes would also remain calm.

There was no reason to get Jono killed, and Loki sometimes doubted if his brother Castor, Heir to the throne, could even do something like that to the lesser white male.

"Hey hey, stop that." he whispered. "We're not playing spy anymore."

He was unaware of the wolves who waited in the bushes for an attack, but he was completely certain that Loki wouldn't dea very happily with a possible spy that he had just let waltz right in. This one had to be on her toes if she was going to get an invitation to stay.

///

"Hurry along now." she yipped out, hearing the two whispering across the brush. They weren't far away, but it seemed like they were dawdling. She did have all day, but she didn't want to waste it waiting for her scout to return with the female he had found.

She was curious, after all, and you didn't keep an alpha waiting.

Wonderful, this wolf was going to get him killed by his own pack. He could hear the alpha yip out her command and rushed ahead just as Kairi did. "Come on" he demanded of the female, finally making his appearance in the dust bowl.

He bowed his head solemnly, not daring to approach his grandmother. "My alpha, I bring you a... " he hesistated. He didn't want to out right call her a spy, she might be killed. But he couldn't assume she was safe and let his alpha assume that as well.

"I believe her to be without full mental capability. She was alone." he rushed through the words, hoping that Kairi was dumb enough to not figure out that that meant he thought she was just plain stupid.

///

Loki looked over the strange pair, and payed close attention to what her grandson had to say. This wolf didn't look stupid, in fact, she looked familiar. Maybe Loki had met her parents?

"Female, are you from the Outriders?" she asked carefully. Phib and Amelie were no strangers to Loki, in fact, Ame had kept Loki alive and returned her safely to this pack when she had been poisoned and stolen away so many years ago.

Jono, come here. The elder wolf stood on her rock, and jumped down with a bit of effort. She watched as her grandson obeyed, and gave him a well-deserved family nuzzle. "You've done a good job, but it's not over. It will be hard to do this next task, I think."

She looked a bit sad now, as she peered over the much larger wolf's head, which was bowed still. She looked at Kairi, just aching to bounce, and wondered if this was such a good idea.

Yes, it would be. It would have to be. The Outriders lines were not weak.

"Jono, you must mate with this female." she whispered in his ear, not waiting for a reaction. "And you must do it tonight."

TONIGHT?! Jono knew not to question his alpha. She had ways of making wolves do things they did not want to do. What was this for? He had no idea what was going to happen, or if Kairi would ... oh god, would he have to force himself on her.

"My undying loyalty, alpha." he spoke, code that he understood and would do whatever she had said.

He realized that Kairi was inching closer, and asked for permission to take the young female down to the ocean. "May I show her around?" he spoke, his voice shakey.

His grandmother nodded in reply, and Jono turned to Kairi.

"Have you ever seen the big water? The blue that goes on forever?" he asked, before turning and leaving the area in the direction he wanted. "Come with me."

Reaching the sand, Jono turned into a pup again. It was his favorite place that he had ever been in his life, and he reckoned it always would be.

"Kairi... this is called the ocean. If you started swimming, you would never find earth again." he spoke, nostalgic. "My alpha says you're welcome to stay in this pack, but that we have to play a game first."

He smiled, a bit grimly, and approached the female. It wasn't like that, and he knew it. Under any other circumstances, Kairi would just be a member of the pack, but he knew numbers were thin, and there were no couples capable of mating.

"The game is, you stand stock still, and I have to give you a hug from... behind." he tried his best to make things sound logical. "It might sting a little but in the end, we'll both have a lot of fun." he grinned, trying his best to convince not only her, but himself, that it would be fine.

"Can we play the game?" he pounced a bit in place, rump in the air and paws down in a play bow. Hopefully, this would get her excited enough to say yes.

Oh dear god, was he really being reduced to this?

He though his first pairing would be with a wolf he loved and respected, but.. if this was what the alpha ordered. He closed his eyes as he spoke, this time.

"That's.. perfect, though you might want to stand up straight on all four paws." he suggested, "And keep your tail high, as though you're a proud alpha." he added on, having at least a little knowledge about how this sort of thing went.

As she did what he asked of her, he approached, winding around her until he was behind the she-wolf. "Get ready, I'm going to jump on now, don't fall."

He grimaced as he gingerly rose onto two legs, placing his forepaws past her hips, holding her close to him. He tried his best to keep as little weight on her as possible, as he thrust into her, finding the doorway he needed almost instantly. Jono moved faster until all he could do was howl, and flop off of her.

"I'm sorry, Kairi." he frowned, looking up at her. He hoped she wouldn't hate him too badly for what was to come.