Auri & Kobalt

"We're almost there - hang on." Auri's voice was soft and sympathetic, a stark contrast to Kobalt's indifferent grunt. The small rodent held gently in Kobalt's mouth writhed and squealed, clearly in agony.

Upon reaching the Aegis Den, Kobalt lowered his head and carefully released the hamster. The tiny creature's pelt was punctured by the talons of a bird of prey, and judging by the blood and feathers around Auri's mouth, she had defended him.

The pair had been gone for years, locked in a roadside zoo unfit for animals. If the hamster - whose name they did not manage to catch before a falcon grabbed him - hadn't come along and chewed the aging lock in exchange for some kibble, they'd still be in there, wasting away. There was no time for pleasantries or a reintroduction. Kobalt lifted his head and howled for his packmates. Auri seemed uneasy. She worried that Desmon would think she abandoned him, or he found a new mate in her absence. As eager as she was to see her beloved, anxiety filled her shifty eyes.

Zeus

It had only been two days since the hunt. Zeus was still in pain any time he moved. Broken ribs would do that and his left front paw was swollen from the fracture in it. His ears twitched at the howl and he barked back but did not move to go in the other room. He was laying by the stairs. Teh Shepherd curious to what the commotion was. But being too injured himself he didn't get up.

Coyota & Desmon

True to her dedication, Coyota had stayed near Zeus for most of the past two days, leaving only to stretch her legs or fetch food for her injured packmate. She had been napping when the howl rolled through the building, and was up on her feet in an instant. The coywolf barked as well, but kept herself planted next to Zeus, "I don't recognize the voice - they must be strangers." She murmured to Zeus, not realizing that Auri was a distant grandmother, and Kobalt an equally distant uncle. She didn't know that she carried and displayed the coyote's lineage so well, despite how diluted those genes had become through so many generations from their first introduction with Tahti.

Desmon did recognize the call though, despite the years that had passed since he last heard Kobalt's voice. Having been napping upstairs, the hybrid came thundering down the rickety steps with a short replying howl that nearly pitched into a whine at the end, so surprised and eager he was to reunite with a missing packmate. Thirteen years of age may have begun to slow the old wolfdog down, but in this instance he'd cast aside the protest of achy joints and sore muscles to push himself through the front door in record time.

The hybrid stopped abruptly, half in and half out of the door when his bright blue eyes fell on Auri. For a moment his grayed muzzle hung open, and then his ears went back and he came flooding forward, tail whipping side to side and tongue flashing out to lick the cheek of his long lost mate, regardless of the feathers and blood that clung there. "Auri!" He managed to choke out through his surprise, "I thought..." In his surprise, he hadn't even noticed the hamster yet.

Where Desmon had overstepped the wounded rodent, Darkwing's eyes had been locked onto the tiny mammal. She hadn't been able to reach the Den in time to warn the pack of the approaching 'strangers', but now that she had caught up with them and could see that Desmon at least seemed to recognize them as friendlies, the falcon's attention shifted to the little creature. Fortunately for the rodent, he was surrounded too tightly by the canines for Darkwing to have a go at him. But she was watching intently, and began to circle lower, not realizing the importance this diminutive creature had to Auri and Kobalt...

Auri & Kobalt

Kobalt's ears perked at the barks of Zeus and Coyota. They were both unfamiliar to him, and a glance at Auri's expression revealed the same confusion. This place was their home, but it felt so different. Had they been away so long that the Lurkers had dissolved or moved on? Auri shuddered to think that she might not have a home after all.

Auri spun around when Desmon's call echoed through the building. She yipped back at him, eyes darting around until they landed on him. She stood still, her breath catching in her throat. She wanted to run to him, but her legs wouldn't obey. "Desmon..." she gasped, welcoming his greeting with a nuzzle. "We were captured. I would have come home, but - the humans, they had us in a cage. This squirrel saved-" A shadow crossing over divided her attention, and she snapped in warning at the descending falcon. "I already ate one falcon today and I'll eat you too if you lay a claw on him!" She stood over the hamster, or 'squirrel,' as she thought, to protect him from being Darkwing's food.

Kobalt gave Auri some space to greet Desmon. As much as he enjoyed finally seeing a familiar face, this was Auri's moment. He was taken by surprise when Auri scolded Darkwing, who had gone unnoticed by him until now. The coywolf closed in between Auri and Darkwing in an attempt to prevent this situation from escalating. "We need help with this squirrel, Desmon. He helped us escape, but he's hurt." He gave a nod towards the injured hamster, who was beginning to stir and look around, but was too weak to get up.

Zeus

Zeus listened to them but did not get up. A Squirrel? He winced as he got up and limped into the other room and glanced at her squrriel.That is a hamster. Probably whats best is to keep his wounds clean. He is probably in shock right now or coming out of it. If you have someone who good with herbs you could get some herbs that would helphe said laying down even the short distance had been alot for the injured shepherd.

Desmon, Coyota, & Darkwing

Desmon had drawn his muzzle back long enough to search his mate's face, making sure it truly was her before he stepped closer, pressing the side of his face fully into her cheek and ruff, and breathing in her familiar scent. "I thought you were lost forever." He remained there a moment before Auri's voice changed abruptly, causing the fur along his spine to rise and his body to tense at whatever had threatened his partner. Following her gaze upward, Desmon released a hearty sigh, "Darkwing, hold off! This squirrel is not food." He looked to Auri again, his blue eyes slightly misted with emotion still, "Don't worry, Darkwing wont cause any problems - she's the youngest daughter of Pirqua."

Coyota followed after her charge, keeping quick pace with Zeus, "Easy, easy!" She chastised, but didn't try to stop him. She too was curious about these newcomers, and when she broached the rusted metal doors and came face to face with Kobalt and Auri, she was surprise by how close Desmon was to the female. So this must be Auri? Instead of asking questions, the coydog shifted her focus back to Zeus and sat down beside him, "We can keep him warm inside the den, and I can clean his wounds. As for herbs... I'm not as familiar with those, but I can try." Large ears perked and her eyes fixed on the rodent that began to stir.

Auri & Kobalt

Auri's hackles still bristled at the bird, her teeth bared in preparation to strike. Desmon's voice calmed her, though, and assured that Darkwing wouldn't attack, she ceased her threats. "Pirqua? I remember that old bird," she chuckled, turning her attention back to her mate. She closed her eyes, comforted by the warmth of his fur. "I thought I was lost too, Desmon. I tried every day to come back home. Every escape was foiled by the humans." Her voice was a quiet whimper, fading out to a sigh. "It's funny - after so many years trying to escape that prison, it was a little squirrel that set us free. He's seen better days - his tail was already gone by the time we saw him."

Where Auri was too preoccupied with the reunion to hear Zeus, Kobalt tilted his head at the shepherd. "A hamster...?" He had never heard of this creature before, and wondered if it was some mutated variety of squirrel. He didn't challenge Zeus on this, though, seeing that the stranger was in bad shape. But at Zeus and Coyota's suggestions, he gingerly picked up the rodent in his mouth and carried him to a sunbeam. He set him down in the warm light, then laid next to him to keep him warm. "The humans have herb gardens. I've seen them. Maybe the ferals who lurk there would know something about which herbs to use." He recalled a pack of feral dogs mingling in the gardens at night, and there were cats who seemed intensely interested in a single plant to the point that the rest of the world disappeared. They rolled around in the plants, and Kobalt thought they just made fools of themselves. "If two of us stay here with the injured shepherd and this little ratster," he began, already forgetting the word 'hamster,' "the other two can get some herbs."

Auri glanced between Kobalt and Desmon. She quite liked the idea of staying here with her beloved while Kobalt and Coyota fetched the herbs, but Coyota seemed occupied with keeping Zeus safe.

Zeus

ZEus smiled a little at coyota. He hadn't had female attention like this before even if it was innocent and he quiet enjoyed it as he spoke. He soon laid down.My name is ZeusHe said calmly.

Desmon, Coyota, & Darkwing

Desmon cocked an ear in Darkwing's direction, hearing some sort of mumbled retort from the falcon who was denied lunch. He chuckled at the young raptor but paid her no further mind as he answered his mate, "She's out scouting now, I believe. Ehh..." His demeanor sobered a little and he whispered the next part, "..Black Feather died this past winter, and the rest of their children have moved on to new territories, aside from Darkwing." It was something not entirely unexpected, given how old the falcon couple was, but Desmon wanted to catch his mate up on such news to avoid any faux pas down the road. His attention turned then to the tiny rodent, watching now as Kobalt gingerly scooped the wounded creature into his mouth and entered the Den. Desmon nudged his mate, giving her another caress with his tongue before following back into the old building, "The humans wont get a second chance to take you from us again, I'll make sure of that. I'm just sorry I could never find you..." He hung his grayed muzzle down, feeling guilt at now knowing his mate had been alive all these years, trapped and unable to escape. "I thought..." His voice had choked slightly, forcing the old wolfdog to pause and collect his composure, "-I thought one of the thunderbugs got you, or the humans. I visited the pound several times even."

The hybrid stopped halfway into the den, sticking very close to Auri's side while again watching Kobalt as he settled into a warm beam of sun. He mentally shook the dark thoughts from his mind and lifted his dial, focusing his energy on the tiny savior now, and the fact that Auri was alive and well, and at his side again. "This ratster will be a fellow Lurker for what he's done to save you both. But Kobalt is right, we need to get him treated."

Coyota dotingly trailed after Zeus, happy that he'd decided to lay down again. She plopped herself down next to him, resting her dense tail against his side for that extra touch of warmth. "And I'm Coyota; you must be... Auri?" The lean-muzzled hybrid woofed, offering a brief introduction, following her friend's actions. Bright green eyes flitted to Kobalt next, awaiting his name. "I agree that two's a good number, especially if we're going to encounter ferals. Des, why don't you and Auri go? Or we could send Darkwing to rally another Lurker - Windcaller shouldn't be too far off."