I'm not at your orders

departure

When the sky still blurred between the blue and pink of dawn, Filip, Nori and the guardhouse found themselves at the gates of the pack house, with horses equipped for the expedition that would take them days to travel. The guardhouse was made up of ambiguous and easily recognisable characters: there was Sandor, pragmatic and sociable; Tormund, his brother, the gruffest; and finally Connel and Jean, the most goliardic of the group.
-It's been a long time since I rested my ass on a horse - said Sandor amused:-I hate having a thing with a brain of its own between my legs, and I hate these camping expeditions- followed Tormund, while Nori looked at them with almost scholarly curiosity, only to be distracted by the arrival of Marcus, who greeted everyone with cordial words but lacking any gaiety, as one could imagine. At that moment he seemed more like Filip than on the rest of the days. The two brothers looked at each other in solidarity, understanding each other without saying anything, until Marcus began in a low, serious voice:
-I am in your hands. As is Arya. I will pray for your return as soon as possible - Filip laid a hand on his brother's shoulder, speaking with complete confidence:- it will be so- his voice softened, addressing him as his brother and not alpha: - we will save her, Marcus-

Nori well remembered the moment when it seemed that Marcus was about to be moved, for he had rarely seen him so emotionally exposed, and so he found the scene imbued with a decadent romanticism, thinking back to Arya. Nori had greeted her as she lay in bed, although she felt more energetic than on other days: he had been general about the details of that expedition, describing it at times as an adventure:
-I want to come too-

-can you ride a horse? - she giggled
-no, but I can run like a wolf.
-the journey is too long, you would get tired after an hour.
-that's not true-
-well, I would get tired, that's why I go riding. But don't tell Sirius, otherwise he'll hold it against me for life-
she giggled a little, then looked away and relaxed her face:
-do you and uncle have to go that far?
-it's a special kind of seaweed, you don't find it everywhere - seeing her quietly, he continued: -it'll be fun, like a camping trip.
-doesn't sound like fun- she said in a knowing tone: -mom has been crying a lot since I got this infection, and I'm not that naive- Nori remained silent, watching her carefully: -wolves don't get sick that easily and when they do... they're generally in danger of dying-
Nori took her hand, squeezing it gently:
-you are not in danger, Arya. When I return with the antidote it will all be over: you just have to wait a little. If you do, I'll give you a present-
- I don't want a plant- Nori laughed a little:
-much better. So, will you wait for me?- Arya smiled faintly and shook her head, and Nori stroked her hair:
-Good pest- At that moment Filip had also entered to greet his granddaughter, for a moment surprised that Nori was also there:
-am I interrupting a lesson?
-uncle, Nori promised to give me a present when he gets back-
-I haven't promised yet- Filip looked curiously at the beta, then approached the two:
-how are you feeling, little wolf?-his voice sounded more mellifluous to Nori's surprise:
-good, but I'm envious that you two are leaving without me: when for the first time you do something together I can't be there.- she was visibly disappointed, for which there followed a short silence on the part of the two men caught a little off guard, until Filip said:
- it's only for your sake- he bent down to give her an affectionate kiss on the forehead, for which Nori softened at the scene:
-we'll be back soon, pest-

Once they were on their steeds they set off westwards, leaving Pania's pack behind, which had become a dot on the horizon, while the landscape around them gradually changed, along with the sunrise.

-Nori, I can consider you a warrior now- Sandor rode beside him with an affable face:
-oh no...I am not at all at your level-.
-I think you could take Tormund's place; I think he must retire by now.
-shut up. You can give breath to that big mouth even at this hour?
Meanwhile Connell's horse cut him off, the latter in obvious difficulty in handling his animal:
-what the heck! You look like you're riding for the first time-
-it's not me! It's my horse that doesn't obey me, I have no idea what's wrong with him-
Sandor gave Nori a look of agreement:
- as you see, we can nominate new members- he finally turned to the alpha, who had remained silent since their departure:
-isn't that right, Filip?
- listen to your brother, Sandor- He did not look at them, simply glanced at the road ahead, not revealing any of his emotional state. Nori was curious for a moment and then got caught up in the chatter with the warriors, who were outgoing and friendly, although very different from each other.
-How are we going to retrieve the seaweed? -Tormund finally asked Nori
-well...the seaweed grows in cold water and has a solid stalk that makes it anchored to the ground, that's why I have with me the tools necessary to cut it off without ruining it-
-great- Connell added: -so it will be a piece of cake to retrieve it.
-put your optimism down, there are rogues still to deal with. Nori, how are you doing in combat?
Nori pondered for a moment, then said:
-Well...in my wolf form I should be able to manage-
-mmm, must be put to the test- Sandor smiled with relish: -and have you ever seen a rogue?
-no-