-Hell's Gates-

Robin's ears folded back at Balthier's words. He kept his tail level, now attempting to reign his temper in. "I'm sorry," he grunted, but he really did mean it - his wife was a healer, and he should have known better than to bring such a temper near the patients. He took a couple of steps back, somewhat surprised that he had not been attacked on sight already. And when Balthier spoke of the improper etiquette, he was even more surprised. Perhaps Jabbar was more organized than Muerta.

Sunset-hued auds flickered to the sound of Blade's voice. Robin's brow remained furrowed. "Not him himself," he said, wanting to make his points as clear as possible. "But someone from this pack. I don't know what's been going on in these lands lately. All I can say is that someone from these lands killed my son." He kept his head and voice low, knowing that his voice carried anger and rage and his eyes probably simmered like burning blood, but he did not want to start a fight. He just wanted answers. "If any of you could tell me who the hell would commit such a crime, I will gladly leave your lands if I am causing too much trouble. And if the culprit is dead, all the better."

A part of him knew that he shouldn't have come here, but with the way things were going with his family, he couldn't help himself. He knew that one day, Robbie would be in his place, demanding the name of his brother's killer. They were of the same blood, afterall. Which one of them would seek out the killer and slaughter them in revenge, though, was an entirely different matter.

Robin's temper began to fade as Blade spoke. He listened quietly, auds forward, receiving the information. He didn't respond right away; none of those loyal to Damean would have made such a move? Robin didn't know Damean, but Blade said that they were not like the corrupted souls of Muerta. A part of him wondered where Damean was at, just so he could meet the bru himself, but looking around at the battlefield... He assumed that was a topic that didn't need to be brought up, as his pack still followed his law.

"So you had a bit of a war here, yes?" he asked, motioning at the dead bodies. "Reclaiming your lands? You are more realistic than I had believed you to be..." He was more-or-less clarifying the situation; he didn't know whether or not Koda's killer was one of these wolves that had taken over Jabbar, or if he was still alive and thriving in the Lone Lands or in Muerta. He also didn't know what the killer looked like, so it would be useless to search the bodies. He sighed. The part of him that had screamed he shouldn't have been here was now sitting back and laughing at him; if he had come with Nephritides, who had seen the murderer, things may have gone along a little easier. Then again, these wolves may not have treated him so kindly.

His maroon eyes, no longer the shade of burning blood, looked at Balthier, the one from Midnight Meadows. He shook his head. "No, that won't be necessary... I believe him. Though I've never come across a darker pack with morals, or one aligned with a pure pack, it doesn't mean I should disregard his answer. If you don't mind... I am going to search the bodies," he replied, changing his mind. Maybe the killer was someone of Muerta or that Midnight Clan. If the wolves here smelled either of Jabbar or distant lands, then they were probably innocent. "And I don't know where your King is, but... With the way you speak of him... Tell him that he has just made a friend, one from the lands of Tirisfal." His eyes met Blade's again, and then he turned away to scout the bodies.

He went from one to the other, their scents indistinct and rancid. The only possibility was that since they had been so busy with their takeover, personal hygiene was one thing they didn't consider. He spent his time inhaling the putrid scents of stained blood and rotten flesh, hoping to find some semblance of his dead son. The sun passed in the sky, strangely hot for this season, beating down on his white coat through the hazy clouds. Just when he was about to give up, he moved onto the last one, one with his throat torn out. Robin sniffed him, beginning at the center of his body and working his way up and down... and then, he smelled it. On his maw.

It was unmistakably Koda's scent. Robin's senses went wild and he sniffed again, wanting to be sure, needing to be sure... He couldn't imagine this. He quickly went down to sniff the bru's pads, and faintly, very faintly, he smelled a trace of Tirisfal, his home. He raised his head, looking down at the dead wolf. He was Koda's killer, and he was dead. "Damn it all..." he cursed to himself. It was not that he had been seeking revenge himself, but looking out for Robbie. Robbie would want revenge, but he would not find it... and he would not listen to him. He would have left after this discovery, but came back over to the group of wolves he had met.

"I found him," he announced, his tone hard again, but nowhere near as angry or vengeful. Just informational. "He's dead. Whether that's for better or for worse, I really don't know. I have another son... Robbie. He looks just like me. I have the feeling he will be going down a different path than most pure wolves... If he takes refuge here, one day, I hope you treat him kindly, as you did to me. Thank you."

He paused. He wanted to leave, but would wait in case they had anything else to say.

Robin followed Blade's gaze as it turned towards a pair of wolves and a young pup. He nodded his head, understanding that the Beta would probably not want him around at this time... And, being on the battlefield (though the battle was now over) as a pure amongst darks, probably did not look good. He started to walk away when Balthier came to him, and he nodded again. "I understand. My pack probably isn't too fond that I'm here," he replied. He had told Doctor that he had considered coming here, then told him he wasn't, but he was here now and that was all that mattered. "But thank you. My wife is actually a healer, Alaina be her name. She's probably worried sick about me... And I'll keep your offer in mind. We haven't had contact with Midnight Meadows in some while, but I feel that we should get to know you more."

He finished his statement with a smile, and then trotted off back the way he had come. He sprinted, a certain relief flooding his veins. He could tell his family that Koda's killer was dead, and there would be no need for revenge. He specifically thought of his remaining son, the one named after him... He prayed that nothing bad had happened in his absence.

Akiko had stalked in with Damean Junior, Despair right beside her. She stayed back while the pup ran forth in his excitement. She vaguely watched the interaction between him Blade and eventually Gladiator. She found that normally she would have said something but at the moment she couldn't quite care. They had picked up the two wolves that were with Despair at the borders and Akiko did not move forth to greet her pack. Looking at her brother her eyes lowered. "Many thanks to you brother...now I must go attend to my wounds..." And with that she turned and disappeared into the woods. Her body ached and her coat was crusted over with blood. Despair watched his sister go and was tempted to follow her but knew she needed to be alone. So instead he would wait here until she got back. He settled in and grinned to Sorrow and Terciel at his sides.

The white fem drifted off into the forest and only then did her limp become pronounced. The rest of her body trembled and very quietly she nestled herself at the base of a tree in a complicated web of roots. Curling in on herself she began the tiresome task cleansing the blood from her stark white fur. Though she might clean this blood from her fur she felt that she might never get the itch off her skin..

In her dazed state she barely even took notice of the lumbering male coming to her side. Her eyes were glazed over with a baleful sort of look. He crept forward and she fixed him with an empty gaze but did nothing to stop his advance. As he began to clean her wounds she flinched but realized she didn't have enough energy to feel anything. It felt nice to have someone else tend to her. But she knew that this moment was not something she should or would ever feel used to. And suddenly everything was drifting. The world slid away into a murky darkness and her head fell upon her paws and just like that Akiko fell asleep, the smell of Jabbar, Damean Junior and Gladiator filling her nares...