Isabel

Isabel ran from her territory and made it to the Alleys, panting. Her own father had fallen in love with Aphrodite, a former Avenger. And Aph told her something she shouldn't have: Kalaber was now allied to the Haunters. And, just to get back at Windsong's new love, Isabel was going to tell that information to the Lurkers.

"I need to speak to the Shadow Lurkers! It's urgent!" She came alone. Nobody was with her. She meant no harm to this pack.

Vale

Vale was worried about Isabel, and she had noticed her sister had slipped from the territory. Vale followed stealthily, nearly a quarter of a mile behind her sister. As Isabel made her way to main alleys, Vale hindered behind a few miscellanious objects. Her blood ran cold, and Vale debated on whether she should talk to Isabel right now. Think, Vale! You don't like the Avengers, so why are you backing dad up with Aphrodite? Vale thought, thinking of her mother and Black Plaque. Enemies? Vale stood up, walking behind Isabel.

"The only reason I changed my mind is because of mom," Vale whispered softly, looking at the large building of the Aegis Den. "I won't forgive Black Plaque..."

Isabel

Isabel looked back at her sister. "I'm glad you made this decision, Vale. After all, Aphrodite's pack hated our mother and hated us." She then turned her attention back to the Lurkers, wherever they were.

Vale

"Do you think we'll see Aurinka's family?" Vale asked softly, leaning slightly against her sister and waiting for the Lurkers. Vale had been know to switch decisions easily, especially when everything dawned on her. Black Plaque killed Tahti, Aphrodite carried Black's blood.

Lyckos, Kalion and Camden

Kalion had been patrolling the borders of the alleys when the scent of two canines came to him. He was quick to respond, bounding through the streets like a bull as he picked out their location using smell. He skidded to a halt at the end of the alleyway, his dark eyes fixed on Vale and Isabel. He began to approach them, his body held in a defensive manner, but it became apparent that these two were not here to cause trouble. He was about to confront them when -

"You are in the terratory of the Shadow Lurkers. Who are you and what is your business here?"

A deep voice reverberated through the alleyway, and it came from a large hybrid that was walking up behind Kalion. Lyckos looked a fearsome sight: his posture was one of assertive dominance, his eyes were hard and it was clear from his aura that this was the alpha of this pack. Behind him was his son Camden, and Kalion flanked his brother as the trio advanced on the two sisters. They were not aggressive, and stopped a respectful distance from the duo, but they demanded respect in their own land, as would be expected.

Isabel

Isabel looked at Kalion, then at the Lurker King. "You must be Lyckos, sir." She bowed to him. "I am Isabel, daughter of Tahti and Windsong, and this is my sister Vale. We come as friends and we mean no harm to you or your pack." The small coywolf said, humbled at the sight of the massive hybrid. "We have gotten word from one of Kalaber's children that Kalaber has joined the Shadow Haunters. And not to mention my niece - she's Kalaber's mate and the daughter of Tainted. Tainted saw Tazi - my niece - and Kalaber at the Ruins. It is confirmed that he has joined Risen." She explained. "We thought you might like to know since we heard that he was an ally of yours."

Vale

Vale stod beside Isabel and nodded briefly at Lyckos, her eyes fell wide when she saw the large male. He was about the size of Windsong, maybe shorter. Of course, Windsong was a huge brute in the first place. "Yes, and Kalaber's family is trying to get ahold of neutral packs such as our pack," Vale spoke up shortly after Isabel, trying to hold a grudge against Aphrodite. It all seemed like a plan of Aphrodite, get Windsong's pack...then she'd have one of the toughest males in the valley on her side. Vale added a sarcastic remark, "Kalaber must think he's sly.

Lyckos, Kalion and Camden

Lyckos acknowledged both acts of respect from Isabel and Vale with a small dip of his own head. With Isabel's assurance they were not here to cause trouble, Kalion and Camden both relaxed slightly, but Lyckos remained just as imposing as ever.

Then, the news he would never have expected. Kalaber had joined the Shadow Haunters? For a moment, time seemed to freeze, and Lyckos looked as if someone had clapped sharply in his face. He was completely shocked. However, that did not last long. The rest of Isabel's words were lost to Lyckos, who's calm demenour was suddenly shattered as a snarl of rage sliced through the air. "That traitor will pay! We've risked everything for his ridiculous fights over and over again! I've lost everything for him! HYDRAS AND QUAKE ARE DEAD BECAUSE HE CALLED US OUT TO FIGHT THE HAUNTERS AND NOW HE'S GONE AND JOINED THEM!"

Lyckos was shouting at nobody and everybody at the same time, his head lifted to the sky just as a flash of lightning lit the night, and a burst of heavy rain began to hammer down on the alleys.

"He'll pay..." he hissed, the anger disappearing almost instantly for malicious, cold whispering, "I'll make him pay...I'll kill him myself, whatever it takes...For you Hydras, I'll do it all for you..."

The Lurker alpha glanced up at Isabel and Vale, his eyes filled with such intense rage it was frightening, "Thank you very much for telling me this. I guess you are choosing not to side with Kalaber, since you have come to tell me this? I would like to discuss an alliance with you myself, if you should wish it to be so."

Kalion nudged Camden, and both of them headed to the den. It was time to tell the Lurkers the news, and there would be hell to pay. The one thing the Shadow Lurkers would not tolerate - that Hydras would never tolerate - was betrayal.

Isabel

Isabel watched Lyckos in his rage. "I'm sorry it went this way. I had never expected Kalaber to join the Haunters, but I wouldn't have put it past him." She dropped her eyes to the ground, sighing. It was a moment before she met his gaze again. "Yes, I would very much like to form an alliance with you and your pack." She smiled slightly. "And I'd like to inform you that Tainted is now an enemy of the Shadow Haunters because of Kalaber's new alliance. She's on our side now, but she says that if it is your wish, she will leave you and your pack alone. She knows she's hurt you, but she says she doesn't want to hurt you anymore. There is a time, she says, that enemies must put aside their differences and push back the darkness. But we completely understand if you do not wish to have ties with her."

Lyckos

Lyckos nodded simply when she accepted his offer, a small smile gracing his face before fading again, "Thank you, Isabel. You are wise." However, when the name Tainted was mentioned, Lyckos instantly tensed up and his face contorted in ferocious anger. His hackles rose, and the tips of his fangs were visable, but as much as he hated to admit it, he was secretly pleased with this news. This would mean the Haunters has lost an ally, and he would have extra support when the next battle came.

"I will never forgive Tainted for what she has done to me. It is her fault that Hydras and my son are dead, amongst many others of Lurker blood, and our extended family and allies. However...I accept her as a party against the Haunters. I do not want to see her here, I do not want her mentioned in front of me, and I want her to steer clear of me for I regret I could not control myself if she was before me. We are not allies, me and Tainted have too much bad blood between us to ever be allies, but as she says, sometimes enemies must join together to battle against a greater evil..."

He paused, sighing heavily. "Nothing's ever simple is it?"

"So let it be known that Kalaber and the Shadow Haunters are now a common enemy between us, and the ties between us and our packs are strong. You shall have the Lurkers at your side whenever you need us. I shall let my allies know of your pack, and Tainted's decision. Now, is there anything else we should discuss?"

Vale

"Izzy, we are destroying our Packs reputation...don't you think we should still be neutral?" Vale implored, her tail held down as they continued to talk about Kalaber. Vale then had a sudden idea, her face twisted. "You know, Asylum is still my number one priority on my hit list, why don't we kill her off first, Isabel?" Vale was still upset that Vulpin had been killed by Asylum. As Lyckos mentioned Tainted, her face fell slightly as she remembered her siblings. Now, all of Tahti's children where against each other. "Lyckos, I want to avenge my mother's death more then anything on this earth! Promise me that Kalaber will lie dead soon!"

Lyckos

Lyckos had been watching Isabel, when Vale suddenly cried out for his help. The Lurker alpha turned to look at the femme, who's whole family had been pulled apart by this war, and his mind wandered breifly to his own offspring. Camden, Argolis, Lerna and the late Quake had all been born into blood and violence, just as Vale and Isabel had. Lyckos suddenly felt his paternal instinct come over him, and he seemed to grow even more - if that was possible - as his head nodded in consent.

"You have my word that Kalaber will die soon. I don't care how, or who kills him, but he will die. I'll make sure of it. He's taken too much from he. He's just as bad as Tainted. If he hadn't called us out to fight against the Haunters, Hydras may still be standing beside me, and our family, friends and allies may still be living. He will die, Vale, I promise he will die; the sooner the better."

The alpha then looked between the sister, before stepped back. "Would you care to meet the Shadow Lurkers? If they are to fight for me beside you, it would be good for you all to meet, wouldn't you say?"

Isabel

Izzy turned back to look at her sister. "Vale, the Shadow Haunters are now our enemies, because Kalaber is one of them. He and his pack. Face it, neutral packs never succeed." She stated in a matter-of-factly way. She once again looked at Lyckos. "Yes, I'd like to meet the Shadow Lurkers." She said with a smile.

Vale

Vale growled at Izzy, knowing her sister's know-it-all tone. "I want Asylum dead, too," Vale snarled, her fur rufled. "They'll support Kalaber, even if they claim themselves 'neutral'." Vale nodded, knowing she'd get to see Aurinka again, a female she adored at her mother's first child.