Kodiak had traveled for what seemed like an eternity. It had taken him many months to reach this strange new world. A few weeks earlier, he had finally reached the point where the snow covered ground ended. It was quite a trivial site, to see such a big imposing wolf hesitate at something that would seem so simple to wolves who have lived in those unfamiliar lands. Kodiak had soon cursed himself for being such a fool, it was ground just like any other ground, so what if it was not white? Besides, he had better things to worry about, like trying to find prey to hunt in these new lands.

As he scented the air looking for something he soon came upon the stench that was a pack border. At this he was slightly intrigued, he had been looking for a pack that wouldn't attack him on site, or got angered enough with him to attack. He didn't understand why the latter would drive him off, little did he know it was because his stance simply did not waver or show any submission, which was not a good thing for a loner to do in front of pack members on the edge of their territory. This was even worse since a wolf his size not wavering at all could potentially be a threat to the pack. Kodiak did not notice this however, he just figured all packs were just out to get loners like him. So when he howled, a deep howl that traveled far, obviously the howl of a rather large male wolf, he was already ready to fight as he waited near the border.

Once he dropped his head after howling he then simply waited at the border, he was confident he could face anything that answered his call should he have to, although he secretly hoped to be accepted by the pack. Hopefully his pride will not get in the way.

The border was, at least, a distraction. A distraction from that night's events and the horrors she had to endure. To some, sharing a den with a brute wasn't overly burdening, but if that brute was their enemy, as it was in this fae's situation, it made things more complicated. Her eyes were emerald slits that morning, weakened by the lack of sleep though only appearing as if she were aggravated to members. Sleeping with Beta Steele was not easy, how much the snake wished to pierce her poisonous fangs into his neck and take his last breath of life...but she had to avoid temptation; oh why did the world mock her?! Why must fate torment her and to go as far as making her soul feel bent over backwards and twisted with contempt? When would the time come that her reign was to begin, when she could stop this facade and rule with an iron paw of strength and will?

Distracting herself with the lone rogues, rogues she could now judge at her own level with the new promotion of Beta, Esmeralda followed the first howl to reach her erect, ashen ears. As if parting the trees with force, ashen paws tread the land quickly, closing the distance between her and the intruder. "You," a firm tone rang throughout the area, emerald hues raking across the figure's pelt to evaluate what the fae was dealing with, "who are you?" The latter question was asking with a less firm tone, a slip of annoyance put onto the plate. She wanted to get names over with and move on to the more important category, a wolf's skills.

Kodiak did not have to wait very long. The brute soon caught the scent of a she-wolf on the wind, just a few minutes after he sounded his howl. He snorted softly as he further examined the scent. It was definitely just one fae heading his way. Was she so confident as to face Kodiak by herself? Kodiak tilted his big head in the direction the scent was coming from, the scar running along his muzzle catching the early morning light for a moment. Maybe this encounter would be different. Most of the time, packs would answer his call with at least two or three wolves.

His ears perked, pointing in the direction from where he heard the fae approaching from, emerging out of a line of bushes. She seemed slightly annoyed at the moment as she approached him. If it was because he had summoned her or for some other reason the brute did not know, but he didn't particularly care either. The male wolf was larger than the she-wolf, as he noted. She also seemed to walk around in the odd way that some of the pack wolves he had met tended to walk, with their snouts pointed towards the sky and whatnot, which Kodiak could not help but think was foolish.

When he firm tone rang out, instantly demanding, and questioning, Kodiak's fur almost instinctively ruffled out a bit, before he was able to flatten it again. If anything, he knew by instinct that ruffled fur would not convey that he wanted to be friendly. When his nerves were slightly calm he snorted somewhat in amusement at the fae. He did not particularly like that she instantly thought she was better than him, and she was mostly not even of high ranking, atleast in Kodiak's eyes, since he did not recognize the body languages of packs that denoted dominance and submission.

So he looked her straight in the eye for a few moments, before replying, "Well, obviously I am a wolf at the edge of your pack's border." he said matter-of-fact tone smirking slightly.

His attitude was expected for, to Esmeralda, all males were the same; cocky and ignorant. He did not seem costumed to pack laws and behaviors but she did not know the wolf well enough to judge yet, though it rarely stopped her from assuming things. Emerald hues narrowed with agitation, not entirely thrilled by this encounter. "Show some submission before the Beta, or you will not last long in this pack, fool." She neared him, tail curled to show her dominance while her teeth bared threateningly. Would they male show the respect due to her or maintain his arrogant aura?

"We will get down to business since your presence annoys me, you're lack of customs mostly." Her teeth were no longer bared as it was difficult to speak with teeth out to kill. Her tail remained high though, not allowing him to do the same. Being Beta now, she had an excuse to wield the power she felt herself capable of, glorious really. "Now, get to your skills, make haste, do not waste my time."

As the fae approached Kodiak teeth bared, he almost bared his teeth back at her, before restraining himself. As it was, instead of taking a submissive posture as she probably expected he just tensed, as if ready for action. Her demanding voice spoke again, now demanding he show submission. Kodiak sighed then. this was usually around the point he was chased off by whatever pack he approached, usually his pride would get in the way, he would rather seem arrogant, than ignorant. After a few long moments although he decided he really did want to at least try and win over this pack, although he wasn't particularly sure why.

The brute stood there for a few moments, seeming to have a bit of internal conflict. He decided that the best course of action was to at least lose the attitude, and not jump to conclusions about the fae so soon. To Kodiak, one had to give respect to him to get it, and the fae's slight annoyance had been enough to send Kodiak on the defensive. As he was about to explain his ignorance as far as pack customs go, she had already started her next sentence cutting him off. He noted her tail remained in the same erect position, and she called herself a Beta. At this point he was able to decipher that Beta was probably a pretty high rank, and he was something below that so he just had to not have the same posture as her. Kodiak figured it was most safe to just stand naturally.

When she asked about his skills the brute stood for a moment, as if trying to figure out how to describe his skills in the quickest, and straight-to-the-point way. "I have been a loner all my life, I have had to hunt for myself and fend off countless beasts by myself to simply survive." his voice carefully held no arrogance this time.As Kodiak thought this over, he thought it was quite adequate, it summarized what the fae - no beta, could expect of his skills, and also explained his lack of these customs the packs spoke of.

His form lessened with pride and instead remained neutral, something Esmeralda did not entirely foresee. Why was this male not like the other wolves in the pack - either over confident or butterflies and happiness? She narrowed her eyes, considering his worth for her further plans; she had yet to bring a male into them. But would he be able to withstand her dominance and accept her as a leader? She doubted it, so Esmeralda decided to just get his acceptance over with.

"A Beta is the second command, below the Alpha, leader of the pack," the serpent stayed matter-a-factly, letting the male, whom was obviously ignorant to pack customs and ranks, in on why she was acting so. Venomous words spoke again, not fathomed by how the brute saw the snake in the slightest, "I can tell you've been a loner, your ignorance is thick, but hunting for yourself shows some intelligence. If you have survived, nature must have taken pity on you, congratulations. What can you bring to the pack, male?"

Kodiak's gazed at the beta as she seemed to be contemplating something. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at him. The suspense was killing him, was she about to either deny or accept him into their pack?

As she began to speak again, the large brute shifted slightly, snorting softly. One side told him to just shoot back her venomous words, and be done with this conversation, and if she didn't like it, he was quite sure he could handle himself against this fae. On the other hand, he actually wanted to try and join a pack for once, even with all their strange customs and procedures. Perhaps it had been the fae he had met at Cathedral mountains previously.

Whatever it was, the large brute had trouble keeping his muzzle clamped shut when the beta finished, the venom in her words hung heavily. After a few moments the brute replied again, "I bring to the pack my hunting and fighting skills." he started, "I can prove myself as well, since words don't seem to mean much to you." he added with a slight edge to his voice, maybe even the slightest hint of a challenging tone in his words, it seemed to would take much more effort to suppress his pride completely.

His pride did not falter, his voice laced with confidence and a challenging tone. It sickened her but Esmeralda managed to keep her feelings at bay, she just had to get this over with, putting him in his place would have to wait until later. The snake neared him, canines bared just mere inches away from his face, "You..." being this close to the male brought on new scents, scents Esmeralda was furious to find upon the stranger's pelt. Closing the mouthy weapons, the venom almost dripped from her mouth when she spoke next, "Why do you smell of Warrior Chiara?" Not allowing him to reply, Esmeralda let out a wicked snarl, jaws snapping threateningly as his nose.

"Matters not, just head my warning male, you will stay away from her, got it? Now get out of my presence, Warrior." Beta Esmeralda would make it a goal to meet with Chiara later that day, she wanted to know exactly why the loner had crossed paths with her loyalist and why her scent was heavy around him. This arrogant male would not be tramping around with her wolves. Oh no, never would she allow such things. Esmeralda waited for the male to leave, disregarding any comment that left his mouth, before she too disappeared into the haunting woods.

As the fae neared him with teeth bared, his muscles tensed, as if ready to strike. A deep rumbling growl almost emerging from the brutes chest before he choked it down. If he growled now he might not have any chance of being accepted, and he wasn't about to let that happen after all the patience he had summoned while talking to the beta, no, he had come too far. As her face, and her bared canines were just inches from his face the male's gaze did not falter. Just then the fae spoke, and his heart sank at that moment, his thoughts going back to the fae he had met at Cathedral mountain.

The male didn't foresee this situation until he was now in the midst of it, and he silently kicked himself for it. Not only was he in much more trouble now, but probably Chiara as well, and it was his fault. Just then the fae snarled, snapping inches from his nose. Kodiak blinked, flinching slightly, the move slightly unexpected from the beta.

Then before Kodiak could explain himself she continued, leaving him with a threat should he go near the fae. Kodiak snorted at this, looks like he will have to find a new friend. He did not try to explain himself further as the fae stormed off into the woods. As he watched her leave he sighed slightly then, quite exhausted by the encounter.