Lyckos, Kalion, Camden, Quake

Camden and Quake were resting below the staircase; the exact place where they had lay when Hydras had first birthed them. The two were nearly adults now, and although they looked peaceful while they slept, they would each grow to be strong and carry the Lurker Banner with pride.

Lyckos watched his sons, eyes heavy as he waited for the return to the pack, who had since left to fight at Aspen Grove. His brother, Kalion, rested on the second floor. Lyckos watched as Camden rolled over, batting his brother sub-conciously on the head, but neither reacted as slumber kept its grip on them.

Hydras, Bullet, & Others

Argolis and Lerna had both returned with their other brothers, leaving Des and the rest at the Woodland Farm. Approaching their first year, they were large enough to handle themselves and not be constantly under supervision.

Bullet and Skeil had returned as well, after Hydras sent them back from the Aspen Grove. Bullet didn't feel quite right about the whole thing, but Skeil didn't question her leader.

Hydras had lingered around long enough to see that Vestige had fallen in the fight and that her neice hadn't been harmed. The good thing of it was that she didn't have to participate in the slaying. She would dispell any disquieting rumors that Risen might be tempted to spread about their treaty, and explain away her pack's absence during the fight. But only if those things came under question.

Sauntering back to the Den, Hydras headed right for her mate, whom she gave a fond lick on the head, "They are growing strong." The alphess whispered, gazing to their for slumbering offspring. "I thought it might do them some good if we sent them on a hunting expidtion." She wanted them to learn how to work together as a team, and strengthen their growing skills. Of course, she would have one of the falcons follow along as an escort to be sure they didn't run into trouble.

Lyckos

His eyes had almost closed, as sleep began to take hold of him too, but as soon as Hydras entered the den, his hazel eyes were wide open and followed her across the room as she approached him. He smiled brightly, his tail thumping against the ground as she licked him on the head. Pulling himself up to stand, he nuzzled her shoulder, before following her gaze to their offspring.

"Hunting?" he began, his voice low so as to not wake those who were sleeping, "Yes, I think that's a good idea. While the rest of the pack rests, they could go and entertain themselves, and bring back food for everyone else. A falcon will be going too to keep an eye on them, yes?"

It wasn't that he didn't trust his children, it was more that Lyckos didn't trust the inhabitants of the valley. He had yet to learn about Hydras' deal with Risen.

Suenga

Suenga was limping as he reached the Aegis Den, hind left leg slashed by a bear. "Don't worry about me." Suenga said as he came in. "Has there been any news on my mother? Or Arget? She's missing too."

Hydras, Bullet, & Others

Hydras dipped her muzzle in a nod, "I was thinking Black Feather would provide a good sentry." Brushing past her mate, the mother approached her snoozing offspring and began to forcefully nudge them with her nose, "Wake up, now."

"...mom!" Argolis groaned, rolling over onto his other side and stuffing his muzzle under his paw, "...let me sleep." But Hydras would have none of it, and gave her son a forcefull nip on the ear. With a hasty sigh, Argolis pushed himself up and blinked his groggy eyes, "Alright, alright! I'm up!"

With a lazy yawn, Lerna picked herself up without further hasseling from her mother. After a good stretch, she sat back on her haunches. But before Hydras could explain things to her offspring, Suenga had returned, "Unfortunately, we haven't heard anything new. I will send Pirqua to scout for her though."

Lyckos, Camden and Quake

Lyckos followed his mate towards their offspring, and silently observed as Hydras woke them.

Camden groaned, but somehow managed to pull himself up, yawning loudly. Fixing his parents with a tired, but interested stare, he sat beside his sister.

Quake, however, remained splayed out on the ground. The only reaction he had to his parents was the opening of his eyes. His tail began to wag, wiping the floor behind him as his ears perked to hear what his parents had to say.

Lyckos let Hydras tell the four adolesents their plans, simply muttering, "Your mother and I want to talk to you about something." He grinned at Hydras, then sat back in silence as he waited for her to elaborate.

Suenga

"She will return. Do not worry about her...she shall be fine." Suenga quickly said, trotting off to the old room where his family had once slept...together...when Silverfur and Feather were alive. As pups. Where was Arget? And Patch, where was that romancing bastard? Still with Equiss. You'll find someone you'll love...and you'll be just like him.

Hydras, Bullet, & Others

When the four were finally awake, Hydras looked them each over carefully before beginning to speak, "You four are going out on a hunt, in the wild lands. There, you'll have to work as a team, because I want you to catch enough food to feed us and our extended family."

At first, Argolis was grinning a cocky little grin, imagining himself bringing down a moose. Too easy... But then his mother mentioned the 'extended family'. That included the Lost Valley Lurkers, as well as Uncle Aidan and his family. "Mom, that's a lot of food!" He complained, and was quickly put in place by his sister.

"Are you saying you can't do it?" Lerna taunted in a sweet voice, earning her a heated look from her brother.

Hydras ignored the comments and continued on, "There is a large deer heard to the northeast you can try for. Black Feather will be going with you as a sentry."

Lyckos, Camden and Quake

The words 'hunt' and 'wild lands' bought a grin to Camden's face, his eyes leaving his mother to glance at his siblings. Finally! A chance to show what they could really do! This joy was short lived, when he realised the huge task before them.

"Shouldn't be too much of a problem," Quake mused, his eyes looking from Hydras to Lyckos, "as long as we work together."

Camden sighed, but knew his brother was right. He stood up, his head held high and a flash of pride in his eyes. Quake laughed at his larger brother, rolling his eyes. "Cam, you look really stupid. Come on, lets go."

Camden growled, but obliged, looking back at Lerna and Argolis. "Where to...?"

Bloodlust

The dog walked into the Aegis Den, looking worried and submissive. "Miss Hydras, I helped Desmon and Aurinka escape from the Ruins. I wish to return now." Bloodlust reported. "If that is okay. If they question you or I, I beg that you say you took me as prisoner to get stolen pups back." The pit bull gave a worried glance at the pups.

Hydras, Bullet, & Others

As soon as the question was raised, Black Feather dropped down amongst the adolescents, "Ah, leave that to me..." The falcon whispered, his eyes showing with a grinning look.

Catching on, Argolis gave the young raptor a quick wink to show he understood, then decided to make up for his previous lack of faith in the task. "Come on, lets get to it!" He barked, trying to take the role of leadership.

Despite Black Feather's attempt to keep his words hushed, he underestimated how well the Lurker Queen could hear. She also saw the obvious wink her son gave in reply, but didn't say anything about it. Using the falcon to locate prey was part of working as a team. Leaving the offspring to start their mission, Hydras focused on the new subject.

Hardly before Bloodlust spoke her first words, Bullet and Skeil had scrambled to attention and stood on either side of her. From above, Pirqua had her keen eyes on the ex-Haunter. "Desmon!" She barked out to her nephew, who hastily scampered forward, bowing his head submissively. "Is it true what she says?"

"It is, aunt Hydras. She helped Aurinka and I to escape." Desmon responding, flashing a brief look to the pit bull. Rather than an appriciative look, his eyes portrayed a hint of fear and uncertainty. Much like his uncle Bullet, Desmon was a 'softy' compared to Hydras, and hated to see other creatures punished. And he was sure that Hydras would not just let Blood go, despite what she had done to help them.

And he was right. "You would willingly return to those hethens?" She rumbled, her ruff expanding in all its glory as she took a few stiff steps closer to the dog, "There is no question that I am thankful for what you have done, but I will not allow you to return to their ranks."

While Hydras and the others began their talks, Lerna, Argolis, and Black Feather headed out towards the Oak Prairie.

Lyckos, Kalion, Camden & Quake

Camden and Quake nodded farewell's to their parents, before disappearing towards Oak Prairie.

Scrambling to his paws, Kalion quickly came to stand beside his brother, as Lyckos approached Bloodlust. Eyes narrowed, the alpha fixed the ex-haunter with a scorning glare. "You help us, yet you hold the banner of the Haunters. You betray them, you betray us, and you think that by letting one of our own escape from your leader's, we will forgive you? You are foolish..."

Kalion lowered his head, the ends of his fangs just visable, as a low growl began to rumble forth from the large hybrid.

Lyckos' looked upon Bloodlust as though she was some sort of filthy vermin, "Coming back here was a big mistake." At almost three times the size of Risen, Lyckos would certainly be an intimidating figure, and with Hydras by his side, it was safe to say the Lurkers were not to be messed with.

Aurinka; Kahvi; Susi

The steel gray coywolf listened in on the conversation. It made her sad to think that Bloodlust would want to return to the Haunters. She raised herself up and faced the dog. "Why do you want to return to the Haunters? They say they're cleansing the Valley, but really they're slaughtering random inhabitants. They're killing off God's creatures. They are possessed by the Devil himself. If you join in on their massacres, you will be just as bad. You will be one of Risen's mindless zombie slaves, ready to kill anyone she doesn't agree with." She said sternly, fire in her eyes. "Have you no fear of God? Have you no love? I thought you were my friend. Now you are asking my alpha to lie for you. That's not what friends do."

Kahvi watched his mother curiously. He didn't understand most of what she said, but it boggled his mind. He wondered about this God she spoke of. "What do you think she's talking about?" He whispered to his sisters. Susi shook her head. "I don't know. But whatever it is, it must be important. Did you see her eyes?!" The female replied.

Bloodlust & Avara

"My problem is that son of a bitch Windsong. I've seen him around here. If he see's me too fuzzy with you guys, he'll tell Risen in a heart beat." Bloodlust replied with a snarl. She feared him, she feared Risen. "I admit I am afraid." Bloodlust didn't want to let the Haunters see her happy with the Lurkers, they'd call her traitor and kill her if she was seen. Bloodlust turned to Aurinka. "I'm fucking afraid of my life! Windsong saw me yesterday! His eyes said something that scared me. He seemed to say that I wouldn't live much longer! I'm afraid! I don't want to look like a traitor, as much as I am! " Bloodlust eyes narrowed as all of the Lurkers turned upon her. She snarled, lips curled. Bloodlust raced up the stairs to the rooftop, looking over the edge before jumping. Life was over, she was tired of this traitor crap. She loved Aurinka, but feared too much. "I love you, Aurinka." She whispered softly as she fell. Finally she hit the alleys with a crack, dying at the Aegis Den door. She died quickly.

Avara swatted Kahvi with her paw, looking at Bloodlust. "Aunt Bloodlust!" Avara cried as she saw Bloodlust throw herself over the edge. Avara rushed to her side, nuzzling Bloodlust's crippled body. "Momma...Auntie Bloodlust is so cold...is she dead?"

Aurinka; Kahvi; Susi

Aurinka stepped back from Bloodlust, her eyes widened with fear and shock. The fur on her back rose before eventually falling after the canine was dead. "Another Haunter has destroyed herself. It will not be long before her pack follows." She said gravely, almost in a trance.

Kahvi and Susi looked from their confused mother to the deceased Bloodlust. "What happened?" Susi cried out, bewildered.

Aurinka shook her head and sighed. "Yes, Bloodlust is dead. Risen has driven her to suicide." She said to her pups.

Hydras, Bullet, & Others

Bullet and Skeil had mostly been blocking the exit, and didn't expect Bloodlust to run the complete opposite way and make for the stairs. Without having to be told, the duo rushed after her. Behind them trailed Hydras, after first sending Honthale to guard the door. "Bloodlust!" She barked sharply in an authoritive tone, but it was already too late. By the time she made it to the roof, she found Bullet peering solemnly over the edge. Skeil shook her head as she looked to Hydras.

The alphess stepped up beside her brother and looked down at the grizzly scene. Oh, how this brought back memories! For Bullet, he could invision the suicidal femme by the name of Dream. The one-time enemy of the Lurkers, who he had actually tried to save when his sister pushed her from the roof.

Honthale nearly jumped out of his skin was Bloodlust landed near him. Fur bristled out, he spun around in alarm, eyes wide in disbelief at the prone body before him. With an uneasy snarl, he backed up.

Desmon lowered his head sorrowfully, ears pinned back. I'm sorry it had to come to this, Bloodlust. The hybrid mourned silently, feeling an ache in his heart for the one who risked her wellbeing to rescue him and Aurinka.

Hydras returned back down the steps, "We have one less enemy to worry about." She declared without a touch of sympathy. "I want everyone on their highest alert - this will no doubt be seen as an act of execution on our parts, if the Haunters find out about it."

Aurinka

Aurinka pulled her lips back in a snarl. She was scared and confused right now and didn't know what to think. "We should get the body out of here before the Haunters find out. Let's bring her to a human land." She said half-consciously. She knew that she didn't like humans. She was just like her parents, whether she liked it or not.

Avara

"So all this time, she was pretending?" Avara whispered, holding back tears. She nuzzled Bloodlust before looking at her siblings. "May we help, momma?"

Hydras & Others

Deftly taking in the varied reactions of the others, Hydras turned to her trusted second in command, "Dispose of the body. We don't need any more attention drawn our way." After giving Ninaki the order, the alpha turned her eyes upwards, looking quickly about before spotting her target, "Dapple, go with him."

With a bob of her head, the young peregrine falcon leapt from her railing perch and glided outside.

No sooner had she gone than Pirqua alighted in front of Hydras. "Suenga has returned with a visitor. She does not seem hostile, but she is not a familiar face either." The alphess gave a quiet sigh as the news was relayed. It seemed that hers was a never-ending job. Leaving the others, she and Pirqua headed across the building to assess the new situation.

With the beta in charge of taking care of Bloodlust, Desmon put his feelings aside to comfort an obviously shaken Aurinka and Avara, "I'm sorry that you had to see that." He began quietly as he moved to nudge Avara gently away from the body of the deceased, so as Ninaki could drag her away. "Why don't we head to the dump, and see if we can't find any snacks?" If anything, food generally seemed a good option. Truthfully, he was not in any mood to eat right now, but he was desperate for a change in subject matter.

Aurinka; Kahvi; Susi

The coywolf nodded vaguely. She thought she could smell her mother here. She knew that she smelled something that was at least part coyote. "I..." She began confusedly. "Yeah. Let's go to the dump." She replied, approaching Desmon.

Kahvi and Susi looked at each other and at Avara. "I've never been to the dump before." Kahvi said to his sisters.

Ninaki

Soundlessly following orders, the beta traversed the length of the Den to make his way to the door. During the confrontation, he had kept a close eye on the pups and falcons, ready to spring into action should they fall under any sort of threat from the Haunter. Thankfully, the only life taken was that of the dog in question.

Taking Bloodlust's lifeless scruff between his jaws, the lithe hybrid arched his neck and began to haul her away from the Aegis Den.