A Moonlit Encounter

Viktor committed the information from the pair to memory. He wondered how long the younger werewolf had lived this dual life, but now wasn’t the time to ask. ’Any aspect of nature is easier for a wolf to transform in. Human habitats are so confining in this form. You must be young indeed to not have known this sooner,’ he remarked to Alex neutrally.

He sat only once Rory had, listening to the females’ thoughts. Viktor’s ears started to flatten when questions of identity were returned with the same amount of force Rory had used. A growl left his throat in time with Rory’s own protest over the shortness in tone from Lainey. He supposed the animagus had a good point.

When the muggleborn comment was let loose Viktor immediately turned his gaze from both the young male werewolf and animagus to gauge Rory’s reaction. Lainey’s tone was unmistakably devoid of the usual prejudice that he’d heard exploding from the term in times past, but he wanted to make certain. When Rory seemed unaffected the wolf resumed watching their company. He would be sure to ask Rory about Lainey, if he didn’t get a chance to speak of the matter in human form with them later.

A smug and wolfy smirk came across Viktor’s transformed face as Rory’s tail once again curled around his ankle. He affectionately nuzzled her, though kept it brief. ’I am an artist, tattooist, and musician. Graduate of Durmstrang; class of 2031. Our pack is small, for now. Rory, my mate, invited me to the forest so I would have a safe place to accompany her during full moon.’

Alex turned his head to the male wolf, and gave a sort of mental shrug, "Until now I have chosen self confinement, been infected for almost 2 years now" he informed. He had always assumed transforming in a more natural environment would be easier.. just haven't experienced it until this night. "Was not safe enough to do so..." he said a whine escaping his throat and wishing it hadn't.

Alex's ears did perk up slightly at hearing she had transferred from America like him, but other then that he showed little reaction or recognition.. though he supposed he would recognise her when sunrise came.. he was better with faces, human faces..

He nodded to the now named Rory, as she assumed his name, "Yes" came his short conformation. Now that the tension in the introduction's seemed to be fading Alex seemed to look more at ease, though still stayed beside Lainey, glad the issue of proving her identity was resolved. he was not big on the thought of her having to prove it to these to wolves. Now that the tension had faded his thoughts became more.. human like as he was drawing less on the wolfish instincts as he had been earlier.

He would still keep a close eye on the pair however, he couldn't help it..

He did perk his head when the now named Viktor mentioned they had a pack, and that he was the mate to Rory.. In wolf terms as far as he knew that would mean they were together much like he and Lainey were.. it could even mean the equivalent to marriage.

He had not even thought actual werewolf packs like that actually existed...

"You have a pack?" he asked purely curious to what exactly that meant.

Lainey really had no response for the subject of packs; for once, the normally knowledgeable Ravenclaw was well and truly out of her element. Try as she did to research the condition of lycanthropy as thoroughly as possible, there was almost no literature on the subject of werewolves, beyond immediately dismissing their entire species as violent and to be avoided. None of which were particularly of use. She sat down and listened to Rory and Viktor intently.

"Times are changing. The whole idea of a 'lone wolf' is exactly what has given werewolves such a bad reputation. Left to ourselves, we become more vicious, bitter, and destructive -- the very predictable result of forced isolation. It is not our way -- to be alone goes against our very nature. You know that, on a subconscious level. That's why you decided to tell Lainey your secret, isn't it? You needed to reach out to someone like you....given the form her animagus takes, I'm willing to bet you found yourself inexplicably attracted to her. You've only just started dating recently -- trust me, even someone like me who doesn't seek out gossip heard all kinds of wild things about you two. You were turned, and soon afterwards you felt a kind of...fascination about her, right? At first glance you make no sense together -- you should be rivals. And yet just the opposite has happened. Viktor and I had a similar meeting. Or series of meetings, rather."

Rory turned and gazed at Viktor, her overwhelming happiness and sense of well-being impossible to suppress. Although Lainey couldn't quite wrap her mind around such a large difference in their ages, it was difficult not to gloss over it a bit in the presence of such absolute proof of their genuine affection. Stranger things have happened, she reasoned, keeping the thought to herself. Besides, right now it was Alex's chance to finally get some answers, not for her to judge things she couldn't quite understand.

A very young werewolf, indeed, Viktor mused to himself when Alex mentioned his Turning Age. He replied to the whine regarding safety with a deep and respectful nod. ”I know the feeling. I have been a Wolf since the age of thirteen.” There was a sniff of pride when Viktor revealed this. Not superiority – simply pride.

Viktor couldn’t help but nod in complete agreement with Rory, the expression on his wolf-face genuinely sympathetic yet frustrated as words of the hardships werewolves faced were sent through the air. His human and werewolf thoughts floated back to his family and the packs he claimed membership to: his family, and the pack he and Rory were accumulating. It was in this moment that Viktor was reminded of the snappy analyses Rory could string together quicker than he himself could pluck out even a third of the notes to an improvised melody.

A toothy grin overcame Viktor’s wolfish face, and would’ve appeared rather threatening were it not for the utter absence of a growl. ”Curious how such things happen,” he remarked aloud, feeling her eyes on him and the affection she felt. Viktor turned his head to meet Rory’s gaze and projected his contented happiness for any creature and animagus in the vicinity to sense. It had taken him some time to dismiss the age gap, but the teens didn’t need to know all the details of his love life. The matter of Rory being his mate was plenty of information. After all, if Alex or Lainey so much as hinted to authorities... No. Viktor wasn’t going to think about that. Instead he reciprocated Rory’s earlier gesture by wrapping his tail around her ankle, and wondered how he might further answer Alex’s question.

”We are slowly seeking the ‘lone wolves’ in an attempt to persuade them to join a pack where they are wanted – needed – and participate in a good cause that shall eventually benefit all of Wolf-kind. We are also seeking the aid of other packs in the country. Discrimination and prejudice are utterly filthy things...

“Our pack is in good hands and paws of a trusted Beta. Rory and I are the Alpha pair, hence why we may have inadvertently come across as... strongly demanding. They understand perfectly why we have left another in charge, and accept it. Those that do take issue dispute my right as an Alpha when we return, and there is always at least one rebellious Wolf in need of a humbling scrap or two.”

Alex didn't really know what to think of the whole situation, he knew the words from Rory were true on some level.. The though of he and Lainey being together never came up until he told her about his secret... That part he could accept, he knew wolves were social animals by nature prolonged isolation would make things difficult... and it does..

However the thought of joining a wolf pack and embracing the his wolf side was something he has been fighting against since the whole transformation happened... The idea of pride in the Vikors words was something he couldn't understand. The idea the human and wolf mind could work as one.. seemed impossible to him...

If anything this whole conversation was adding more fuel to both conflicts in his mind... His human mind admired what the wanted to achieve.. To have a better life for there people. However it was also repulsed or terrified by the idea of working with his wolf side... His wolf side was eagerly wanted to be among his own kind of course, yet it's anger at the human side was obvious..

Alex growled in frustration for a moment as the conflict raged through his mind.. at this point he knew he could never fit in to Viktor and Rory's pack.. as much as he wanted to on some level he couldn't understand them... Plus the fact they were alpha.. something told him if he did join their pack he would be the rebellious wolf Viktor spoke of.. His wolf side seemed to want to challenge him and this stance was barely being held back.

"I can understand that feeling at least" Alex said finally pushing away the frustration, the confusion and conflict had brought. His eyes did lock with Vikors though as if trying to send a sore of unsaid message..

He then turned to Rory, "I understand and admire your cause, and your are right.. there was something about telling Lainey that allowed her to become apart of my pack along with my sister.. even though my sister is not a wolf... However..." Alex stopped abruptly having heard something a distance away and it was coming near them..

They were down wind and it smelt like an animal of some sort.. but he had little experience in animal sent he couldn't be sure what it was.