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The black wolf gave her a nod. "Yes, that is usually the way it goes." he said. His voice was even as he said it, but his eyes hid the sarcasm that wasn't expressed by the statement. Twilight laid his head down to go to sleep once more, yawning as he did so.

Kai shrugged, "Okay Una"
Una trotted away toward the river and didn't so much as look at her younger siblings. Some more thinking time would surely clear up her thoughts.

Tosca, tired from her early morning play, plopped down in the snow with a happy smile. Kai, who's energy never seemed to run out during the day, cocked her head.
"Why're you so happy?"
Tosca just shrugged. "I don't think I seem any happier then I usually am"

Yuma, also out of breath sat down beside his older sister and gave her a look. "Yeah right." he said. "You're practically glowing, you seem so happy. And you got the energy and the big smile on your face to prove it." he laid down and took a breather, being ever so tired from playing with his siblings. "Where do you think Una's off to?" he asked.

Tosca shrugged of Yuma's first comment but thought about the second one.
"I have no idea... she better not try to pull another stunt again though. At least not one like the last one"
Tosca thought about it.
"Actually, she's got a good point. Why don't we split up and just do a quick scan. After all, mom and dad never waited around. They always checked the borders of their territory. We should start doing that too starting with a group check right now"
Tosca leapt to her feet.
"Why don't I go after Una then?" Tosca suggested, nodding toward the river. "We need to talk things over anyway"

Twilight emerged from the cave and nodded. "I agree." he said. "You go after Una. The rest of us will split into groups of two. I'll go with Rowtag." The black wolf walked over to the virtually silent wolf.

Yuma jumped up. "I'm with Kai!" he said. The two laughed and took off to scout, and probably play along the way.

Kai yipped her excitement and took off, zig-agging and sending up a spray of snow as she scurried along. Tosca nodded to Rowtag and Twilight and watched them leave. As soon as she was convinced they were gone, she turned tail and headed apprehensively toward the river. Una's paw prints were clear in the frosty snow-cvered ground, so it wouldn't be hard to track her down at all. Tosca followed them nose high in the air in case any scents hit her nose at all.
It wasn't long before Una's lonely shape was in Tosca's sights, and Tosca picked up her speed to catch up with her sister.

Twilight and Rowtag moved in silence alongside the river going the opposite way that Una and Tosca were. The two had not said a word and they were prfectly fine with that. Rowtag gave a grunt and gave a small nod across the river. Figures could be seen through the pine branches. The other pack was also patrolling their borders.

Tosca caught up with her sister and Una scoffed, already knowing who it was.
"Hey, just wanted to clear things up" Tosca offered, falling into stride with her older sibling.
"Like what?" Una snorted. "To rub in my face that you're in charge now?"
Tosca was taken aback at first... usually she would be the one to say something like that.
"No" Tosca replied. "Just to say that back then, you were the leader. You were the oldest and you knew the territory better. Being oldest doesn't justify anything anymore. Especially leadership"
They walked in silence, Tosca always scanning the river bank. Una wasn't sure whether or not to insult her sister or argue, so she decided to skip the subject all together. Noticing her sister's gaze, she sighed.
"They're hiding over there right now... I heard something when I was alone"

Yuma and Kai raced along over a hill, laughing almost uncontrollably. "Man, this is great." Yuma said. "Wide open space to run around and explore! I love it!" Soon the two reached the forest on the Northern border of their territory. Unlike the dense forest, that was part of the Southern area of their territory, This forest was more open and less imposing. More fun to play in.

"It is!" Kai squeaked, diving and weaving through the trees. This was probably her favorite time of day! The time when she was allowed to "guard" the boarder. Especially since that side of the territory never had any trespassers or problems. The almost white wolf paused for a second, hiding behind one of the trees and waited for Yuma to wander by. As soon as she spied him, she pounced at him and galloped off again.

Meanwhile, Una and Tosca still hadn't seen anything even though they knew something or someone was there. Both gazed at the trees across the river, but in two completely different ways. Tosca's blue eyes searched with curiosity, wondering whether she would meet anyone else. Una's brown eyes dared someone to come out. She didn't know much about the strange pack but the only time she had met them, they made her feel foolish. And that was enough for her. Her mother Sitka had hated their neighboring packs. Una was sure she was supposed to hate hers too.

Twilight and Rowtag were the first to return to the cave a short time later. It was nearly noon and they were finished scouting, and were hungry as well. The two sat insilence for awhile, then noticed Yuma and Kai coming back at some distance away.

Kai and Yuma raced back to the cave, Kai ahead this time only because she had cheated.
"Finally going to beat you!" Kai yipped over her shoulder as she raced back to the two dark forms.
But even as Yuma and Kai slid to a stop by Twilight and Rowtag, the oldest sisters were nowhere in sight.

Una and Tosca still walked in silence. Neither had spotted any other wolf and had decided to head back. Una was feeling a lot better then she did, but still didn't have it in her to deal with Tosca. Something would come up for sure... but until then, she was content enough to walk along in silence.

Twilight smirked as the two came to a stop. "Having fun, I see." he said. He turned his head once more to watch for Una and Tosca they should be getting back soon. Then they should go hunting. "So did the two of you find anything interesting?" he asked, turning back to the two younger wolves.

Kai smiled, waging her tail, but shook her head.
"We didn't find anything at all! I don't think there's anything bad on that side of the territory... just a whole bunch of trees"
In the distance, Una and Tosca were finally on their way back, Una still refusing to speak to her younger sister. Tosca could've cared less. She already gave it a shot and didn't feel the need to try to make up again.

The black wolf saw the discomfort in the silence between the two and shook his head. They were clearly still mad at one another. "We are all hungry. I suggest we hunt." he said.

Yuma jumped up from where he'd laid down to catch his breath. "Yeah, I'm starving!" he said. "I could eat a whole deer by myself."