Today had been just one of many days passed where he had been unable to do anything but sit and watch his world crack and shatter. Sitting beneath a tree long dead right outside the official pack territory, Element was going over everything that had been going on.

The gnarled and twisted limbs of the old tree seemed to reflect Element’s thoughts – curving and winding and all in all leading to no where but a further stretch into nothing. Releasing a sigh from his parted lips, he turned his silvery gaze out across the land below. The view from Mount Shadow each evening had always been something he’d taken pleasure in watching, but now his weary eyes took it in absently. Element was tired and all in all defeated, unsure of his next step. Thanks to the illness his own mate barely knew who he was, and no matter how hard he had been trying nothing had improved her condition. He had started to dread watching the sun set across the Salvajes because inside, Element knew that come morning she’d be a little sicker and a little more lost. And with that she’d be a little farther away from him than she was now.

Choking back a growl that wanted to burst from deep in his chest his eyes narrowed at the scene before him. Releasing his gaze from the sunset he turned instead to his surroundings. This sickness had come from somewhere, most likely the water from what he’d heard, so there had to be a cure somewhere too. Nature always had a remedy for everything. There was still no news of any improvement from any of the ill wolves, and the epidemic was still spreading. He knew there were pack members searching for a cure, but none of it had led up to anything yet. How much time did they have before this thing spread to everyone? How much time until it got worse? How much time did the wolves who were horribly ill have before they got even worse?

With all of this tumbling in swift currents through his mind, Element rose to his feet, ready for a jaunt across the territory. He’d been out cure searching a bit on his own – not as much as others, but just nosing around at the possibilities. Mostly he’d been taking care of anyone he could, trying to comfort them and make sure they had any of the necessities they needed. When he was able, he’d left the mountain and done the same for others along with going out and trying to find all the information he could get his paws on. The more he knew the better he had a chance of helping. Now it was time for him to do some searching around home base. Kiriana was asleep, and he knew she probably wouldn’t wake until late morning. During the night he could search all he wanted, and that was the Zeta’s new plan.

As he rose from his spot beneath the tree, Element’s ears perked as he picked up the sounds of someone approaching. There was no mistaking the sound of paws across the rocky surface and the light click click as claws tapped at the rock. A top his head his dark ears swiveled towards the source of the noise, and his gaze soon followed. Approaching him at an easy gait was a dark figure, that of another wolf. A bit surprised to see an individual approaching the borders at this time, Element remained silent as the distance between them closed.

A casual hello came from the other, and the Shadower ducked his head in his own greeting, mirroring the words. “Hello.” The stranger spoke again, asking a question this time. Considering the other male momentarily, Element nodded. “Yeah. Element – Zeta of the Mount, here.” He usually cared little for adding his rank into introductions, but the words slipped out as he found himself contemplating the others reason’s for being here. There also seemed to be something about this stranger vaguely familiar, if not just in posture and stance. “And who are you, if I may ask?” The words came calmly, and just to make sure he wasn’t coming across negatively a friendly smile graced the Zeta’s features.

Judging by the time of night and the way the male presented himself it seemed this was nothing more than a check of the lands, maybe a place to sleep or a wolf (like Element had been previously) who was seeking about for information. “If your looking to come on in, I’ll probably have to check the reservation list,” he joked. He didn’t think was just another soul coming to join the pack – usually the types like that came wary and alert, not to mention submissive and half the time downright scared. This fellow definitely wasn’t the type. “Of course, a few good bribes or a good name tend to make the list unimportant.” All in all the words were another wisecrack and a statement for the black males own introduction all in one.

For a moment he blinked in contemplative silence as the dark male introduced himself. Sinistra? This was Sinistra... alpha of Nova Mountain? Immediately feeling like he should have given the obsidian alpha more respect, he took the present time to lower his head in submission. No, the wolf before him wasn’t his own alpha, but he was an alpha nonetheless and that in itself demanded a good share of respect.

Keeping his posture more submissive clearly submissive now, he listened as Sinistra continued. This caught Element’s interest, and his ears perked noticeably. “I’m guessing there hasn’t been much luck,” he replied. “I haven’t heard any news of a cure or even an idea.” With a more hopeful glance in the alpha’s direction – maybe he had some new and improved news to offer. Probably not, since he had stated he was here looking for a cure’ not spreading news of one. The look faded as quickly as it had appeared.

Taking the chance to throw in his own bit, Element spoke. “I’ve looked around a bit... but I haven’t really found anything at all. The main thing I’ve been doing is trying to take care of who I can,” the easy look on his face faltered a bit as he continued, diverting his gaze to the hard earth. “My mates one of those whose really ill, most of the time she doesn’t even know who I am.” He was fairly sure Sinistra could care less about his personal stories, but the words leaked out anyway. It was clear on the younger males face how much his mate being ill affected him so.

“We have a fairly good share of those that are sick though.” Of course he wished they didn’t, but you couldn’t help what was true and there right in front of you. “It’s a lot of the same symptoms I’ve seen here that I’ve seen elsewhere. Hallucinations, mainly.” Was it the same on Nova Mountain? “How has your pack been faring?” Then, quickly, before he forgot his manner’s entirely he straightened up and added another question. “And, of course – there anything I can do for you while you’re here?” If Sinistra truly was planning to stay for a while Element would like to take the chance to discuss as much as he could about the illness with him. The more anyone knew the better their chances were for finding a cure.

Shaking away any shown need for Element to show more clear submission were the source of Sinistra’s next words, and Element responded with a simple agreeing smile. He’d still keep himself at an appreciative level, enough so that the dark male knew he had the Shadower’s respect and attention.

He couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed as Sinistra shook his head at his hopeful glance, but Element had figured as much. He knew it would be no easy chore, especially not with what seemed like such a small selected few that were taking the matter into their own hands. “Your the first I’ve seen to come so far cure searching,” he sighed. “Even I haven’t gotten to travel much with taking care of Kiriana and all.” An ear flickered and he glanced to the alpha, adding in a position with the name he had just thrown out. “My mate,” he clarified. “I’ve mainly only been able to look around the mountain... but I don’t know quite what to look for. I’m no herbal expert.” He knew a few things, but clearly not enough.

In his turn, Sinistra spoke of their own unfortunate few that had come down ill. His ears lowered at the mention of one of the pups, a frown coming on his face. It was bad enough thinking of friends and family ill, but he couldn’t imagine how a mother or father must feel being unable to help their own child. “I’m sorry to hear it too... I wish there was something we could do about all this already.” He shook his head, put off about the whole ordeal. Everything was such a mess. “Feel free to look around all you please,” he then said. The invitation was open from Element and he was sure it would be to anyone else who knew Sinistra’s purpose on the lands. “Hopefully you’ll find something someone else may have overlooked.” Himself included.

“Oh, sure, of course.” Nodding, Element took a few steps forward, moving around Sinistra and looking back over his shoulder at the male. “Not too far, just right this way.” Turning back and picking up a casual pace, as he led the way to the spring he spoke, offering what information he knew about the illness to the alpha. “I’ve found out it doesn’t pass to others by just being around those who are infected... or at least I’m pretty sure of it. I’ve been around a few of those who were sick and I’m fine.” He’d been around Kiriana majority of the time and hadn’t contracted anything at all. “If it passed that way there’s no doubt I would have come down with something by now.” He had only had a minor headache, but that had been even before he had been around Kiriana or the others when they were so ill. The information may not lead to much more in general, but putting it out there couldn’t hurt.

Dark ears flickered and his brow furrowed as the word ‘humans’ came to his hearing. Humans did this to the water? How? “Who’s your advisor, if I may ask?” A question of common curiosity, nothing more or nothing less. After he asked he went to thinking about Sinistra’s own question, going over little facts and details he had acquired about these humans. “Well,” Element started. “I haven’t had any experience with them at all, but when I first came here a friend told me a lot about what she knew of them. She’d seen them and been…” She’d been captured by them, right? “Been captured before.” He seemed to consider the thought momentarily, then gave a little shake of his head and continued. “She told me humans alone are harmless, but they have weapons. She called them devastating. Quick to kill.” He paused again, searching his thoughts for the name Illira had told him. “Guns – that’s what she called them.”

He remembered other parts of their conversation that day, how amazed he had been that he didn’t even know these creatures existed, but Illira on the other hand had known them all too well. It was a shame he hadn’t seen her around for such a long time; his friend seemed to have faded out of the picture like one of many pack mates who stuck around a while then took their time to leave soon after. Sighing, he kept moving, leading Sinistra to the spring. “Just a minute up ahead.” But none of that human information seemed to play in at all with the sickness. He didn’t see what it was they could have done, but who knew… he wasn’t a human expert either.

“I wonder what they could be doing to the water…” he mused as he moved along. “And, the thing that’s been troubling me too, when there is a cure,” he stuck to using the word ‘when’ instead of ‘if’ “What do we do about the water? If it’s these humans, who says they won’t stop doing what their doing now. If it’s something else, how do we make it go away?” This had been what was resting on the Zeta’s mind the last couple of days, and it hadn’t brought him any comfort yet. Now this new addition with the humans possibly playing a part in it all brought a new edge to his discomfort.

Curving around a bend of jagged rock wall, they finally came to the spring. Stopping, Element gestured with a bob of his head. “And there you go.” Maybe he’d take a nice long drink while he was here too. “I’d offer you something to eat, but I don’t have anything fresh here.” He’d been busy hunting for Kiriana and Akeboshi, and the last fresh meat he’d had had gone to them earlier in the day. “I don’t hunt much in the lowlands at this point, I’ve seen too many sick or dead prey around. I’m not sure if the illness would spread through them.” He looked a bit put out he couldn’t offer better assistance to the visiting Nova wolf, but clean water and a bit of information was all he could give right now.

So Nymphe was the Advisor, huh? A smile trickled across his dark features, and he let out a light “Ah.” Yes, he’d met Nymphe. A few times, actually. “Yes, she’s a friend of mine.” The two had gotten along well, and the friendship had sparked easily. She seemed to be a great choice for an Advisor, but Element kept the comment to himself. He didn’t want to make it seem like he was judging Sinistra’s actions in any way.

Lowering his haunches and taking a seat while his guest quenched his thirst, Element let his eyes wander upward to the sky. As always, the stars dotted the dark canvas and twinkled down, peacefully unaware of the drama unfolding here on earth in the Salvajes. “No problem,” he replied to the thanks. He knew the water was clean, for it was the source he’d been drinking from the past few days as well. One of a handful of springs located on the mountain.

With a thoughtful expression, he took a look at the plants growing in the moist earth around the water source, wondering if right before their eyes one of the bits of foliage could hold the cure to this epidemic. After Sinistra finished, Element shrugged in response. “Not sure, but I don’t want to take the chance. Maybe getting the meat in your system could get you ill.” No… he didn’t feel like being a lab rat and experimenting the idea with himself. Then the question shifted to Oni.

“No…” He admitted, almost sheepishly. “Actually… I haven’t really seen her around lately.” Oni never had been the type of alpha he suspected was out clear in the open all the time… but he knew she had a watchful eye and knew what was going on around the mountain nonetheless. But he really hadn’t seen or heard from her since this started. Frowning at the thought, Element shook his head. “I’ve only talked with her once… but that, well, wasn’t the best of occasions. I was telling her about the flood.” From what Element had heard he didn’t think Sinistra had still been around at that point, so he cast the Alpha a glance to see if the information came clearly. He did know about the flooding already, didn’t he? “I’m not sure if anyone’s gotten to talk to her about it. I figure the leaders probably have.” He could only hope at least.

He nodded again, keeping his eyes on Sinistra as he spoke. “Yeah, in Gold Moon Forest. It was a couple of months ago now…” What month exactly? “Around early April, I think. I may be a bit off on the date; time wasn’t quite the most important thing going on at that point.” His expression changed slightly, a thoughtful look coming to him. “I got to be one of the lucky visitors at the time that got caught up in it…” he added, this time a harsher edge to the young male’s voice. Clearly it wasn’t a pleasant series of memories. “I was there with a friend, helping him make his den – he was injured, couldn’t do it on his own. Perfect timing had me there when the storm started and when the water finally came.” Another brief moment of silence as he reviewed the series of thoughts.

All the ‘what ifs’ of the matter still tended to bother him. What if he hadn’t been there when the waters came? Dathan hadn’t been able to swim, so surely… surely he wouldn’t be where he was today. What if Indris hadn’t come by and found both Dathan and Element afterward, what then? Biting his lip absently, Element diverted his gaze again, looking at the water of the spring. “It was awful really. The whole thing. And I don’t know much of the details about the things going on within the pack, but from what I heard their two Alpha’s left, leaving their pups behind. That’s when the pack moved to Strawberry Fields.” He couldn’t remember the named of the Gold Moon Forest Alphas, never having met them. “At least most everyone came out okay though. With something like that’s the most you can hope for, I guess.” And the same goes for something like what were dealing with too…

He sensed the end of that story didn’t end quite happily, and the Zeta considered for a moment whether he should question what had happened or not. He was curious about the history of the Salvajes, having only been here since some time around the end of the winter season. He remembered the time well enough because it had been roughly a few days after his first birthday. Finding a home had been the best gift the young wolf had ever imagined. Traveling through the winter alone had left him weary and disheartened, but from the moment he’d been accepted into the back by Cypress everything had seemed to brighten. Now he was here and here to stay. That was probably one of the other reasons the illness sent a tremble through him; the thought of loosing what he’d gained here. Not just rank in the pack, but his friends and his home. He wasn’t a fool; he knew that if things didn’t get better many probably would not stick around.

Instead of asking directly for fear of being rude or bringing up memories the dark Alpha may have found painful, Element deterred to the familiar method of beating around the bush. “I never met Midas and Rayen,” he began. “And I only came here late winter, so anything that happened in the valley before that’s a mystery to me. I’ve never heard the name Ravn though.” Considering again, he shook his head and added: "Actually, I dont know much about the valley at all except for whats happened while I was here." In fact, he didn’t know much of the history about his own pack either. He had heard that besides the disappearance of Cypress, the Mount had been cursed in a way with many a disappearing alpha. He decided to bring that matter up too. “Though I’ve heard from a few that Cypress leaving Mount Shadow here wasn’t the first time the pack’s had an alpha that seemed to disappear.”

Indeed, Element did feel much the same about the appreciation of the topic shift. If he managed to venture away from the Mount and his mate, he tended to run into someone along the way, and the largest degree of the following conversations had been about the illness. A different turn on the split road seemed much easier and less stressful to follow.

“Really,” he stated, a curious brow lifting. It wasn’t so much a question as a repeated expression. “Can’t say I’ve heard of anyone having a pet kestrel before.” The concept itself was an interesting idea though. “I don’t remember seeing it when I was accepted,” he added, flickering back to his memory of the occasion. No, no birds stuck out in his memory. “What was his name?” No doubt that must have been an interesting day for the inky male before him.

The Fields leader… that was Quicksilver. He gave a swift nod, opening his mouth to speak. “She was one of the first wolves I met when I came to the Valley. Not alpha at the time… but I don’t remember any rank in particular.” A grin replaced the easy smile on his maw. “She was fun to be around; good sense of humor.” He supposed things had changed a bit now with her new rank and new responsibility. “I saw her a short while back, actually. Her and Green – not sure if you’ve met him, but he’s Delta of the Fields. They just had a litter of puppies.” His tail gave a few delicate swishes behind him as he thought of the three young pups. “This was right as the news of the sickness as coming around, and probably around the time the first few wolves were getting ill.” There was a slightly more concerned look on his face now, but he sighed and continued. “I can only hope their doing well. Seemed okay then.”

A smile laced his features at the name, one brow raising. “Unique, I have to say.” Yes, there was probably a story behind that, but it wasn’t his business to jump in and delve deeper into someone else’s words if there was no invitation. He wasn’t one to pry.

The Zeta wouldn’t really know about the stresses of leadership roles, especially not anything close to the responsibilities of an alpha. He’d been the pack Epsilon for a fair amount of time, but he was proud of his position now too. His first held rank had been that of Theta, and the ebony male remembered how amazed he’d been at the jump (and at the thought that he’d actually earned such a thing). Mount Shadow was his first true pack, and everything he’d learned about pack life he had picked up while he was here in the Salvajes. Instinct helped too, of course.

He chuckled at Sinistra’s comment. Mount Shadow’s pups consisted only of those who had entered the pack on their own; not offspring of any pack mates. A more knowing smile replaced his previous one – come next season it seemed that wouldn’t be the case anymore. It was something the young male had thought about and talked over with his mate, and the two of them wanted the same thing. But that was a bit far off in the future still, and he returned his present mind to the conversation at hand. “Yeah… it’s really too bad. I think they’d know better now than to expose the pups though, as long as their being watched.” If the disease was only contracted from the water, then the pups would probably remain healthy. Hopefully, at least.

“Thanks,” he replied to his companion’s next offer. “I appreciate that.” He may not be the pair’s best friend, but friends were friends nonetheless. Element’s gray eyed gaze seemed to follow Sinistra’s to the brook, watching as the rippling water reflected the shine of the moon. From the reflection his gaze slipped to the moon itself. “Waxing Gibbous,” he mouthed quietly, hardly realizing he had spoken. Blinking, he shook his gaze and returned it to Sinistra. “Phase, I mean. I’m the pack Skywatcher.” Some thought of it as a rather silly job, but Element enjoyed it. That’s what mattered to him. “As for cure searching… I’ve seen plenty of wolves out and about information sharing and searching, but I haven’t come across any medics. I haven’t been out as much as most though,” he said. Hopefully there were some others out there doing just the same as Sinistra.