Lark & Others

Lark led her group to the cavern. "There it is." She said, hearing a faint echo. She and Dimitri jumped from their horses and tied them up. She pulled a few pieces of charcoal to mark the way from Zola's saddlebag. "Are you ready?" She asked Zack and Dimitri.

Kira, Nelli, Marina and Anzhelika followed.

Zack

He hopped down and tied Niko up.Yup ready as ever

Sota,Renji and Rukia all followed

Lark & Others

Lark took a deep breath and entered the cavern with Dimitri following. She turned on her flashlight. There was an echo of a growl in the distance. Lark gasped. "Did you hear that? She asked.

"I heard it." Dimitri said.

Zack

Zack nodded. He had his own gun. He placed a hand on it just in case

Sota growled himself his hairs ruffing up

Rukia coward behind lark

Renji growled.

Lark, Dakota & Others

Lark pulled out her pistol and aimed it into the darkness. Kira stood in front of the humans protectively.

Dakota emerged from the shade, along with Austin, Cassie, Klondike and the wolves. They remained calm and showed no threatening behavior. the was their strategy.

Liku and Riku circled around the humans and stood at the entrance to the cavern. They had no way out. Their message would be clear even to the humans: do what we say and nobody will get hurt.

Sota

Sota growled and moved in front of the whole group.His claws out and fangs bared.

Rukia remaind hidden frightened.

Renji growled.

Zack took his pistol out.He didn't trust wild animals

Lark, Dakota & Others

Dakota had learned a few tactics from past experiences. She nodded for the group to move in. "Go for the girl - they always want to protect the girl." She whispered for only Austin to hear.

Austin led his group out. Toby, the wolf who was in the shadows still, picked a rock up and tossed it just behind Lark, who instinctively turned around.

That gave Cassie the chance to take Kira down. She held the Amur leopard down just long enough to give Austin a chance to move in.

Austin leapt at Lark, who was just now turning around to see him. She went down with a scream. Austin held her throat and looked at Zack and Dimitri. It was a look that said "Do what we say or she dies."

Dakota went for Sota and Klondike went for Renji. They smelled Rukia, but had yet to see her.

Sota

Sota growled and lunged himself at Dakota.

Renji growled and also lunged.

Rukia who had been hiding behind a rock watched this all happen.She was scared.She wanted to help her humans but was scared.

Zack:he glared at Austin his gun trained on him. But he knew that he couldn't shoot.Not so close to lark.His eyes narrowed and he tossed his gun. He would just have to hope that they wouldn't kill them anyways.

Austin & Others

"Stop fighting or she dies!" Austin said through his teeth.

Dakota ducked under Sota. "He is right. The more you fight, the closer to death your human is." She said, not throwing another attack at Sota. "We do not hurt those who do not hurt us. We promise you all will be unharmed if you do not fight back." She was honest. She meant what she said.

Kira stood up, pinning her ears back in confusion. She looked at Sota, wondering what he was thinking.

Klondike stepped aside, watching Renji.

Zack

At times like these he wished he could understand animals and vice versa. He watched each creature.

Sota stoped and growled.his tail flicked.He didn't know what the hell to do. He didn't speak though to flustered to do so.

Renji growled and moved to stand beside his mother.

Rukia still hid. Her body low to the floor.She was coming into her first season.She unlike her siblings was scaredy cat you could say.

Austin & Others

Kira thought for a moment. She looked around at the others, then back at Austin. "Alright. We'll do what you say if you don't hurt us." She said, lowering her head in submission. They were outnumbered and these cats were obviously stronger.

Austin nodded and slowly let go of Lark, who simply laid on the ground, still in shock.

From a chamber emerged a human, Daniel Stone of 16 years old. "Austin wants you to come to the dungeon. Take the female too." He said, motioning for them to follow him to a large, dark chamber. He lit a fire in the center.

Zack

Zack watched the going ons and then heard the human and he just nodded.He bent down and lifted lark in his arms. He made to move to "the dungeon"

Sota growled but went where the humans went Renji followed

Rukia remained still. She might be able to get away maybe> Who knew.

Daniel Stone & Others

Dimitri followed.

Daniel looked at Zack. "My leader, Queen Dakota, means no harm. She only wishes to create a diverse pack capable of creating peace and order in the Valley. She cannot do that without humans, for they are the only ones who can reason with other humans." He explained, sitting back against the wall.

Lark sat up dizzily and leaned against Zack. "So...she's going to keep hostages? That doesn't sound like peace to me." She said, her voice slightly distant, still shaken up after the attack.

Daniel shook his head. "Your beauty far surpasses your intelligence, miss. But I do not blame you. There are some things humans, including myself, are not meant to understand." He looked around at them. "Can I expect you to obey your new leader?"

Zack

He snorted and without really thinking his arms wrapped around lark.leader? I have a leader already and i ain't betraying him. I won't go against this cat but i'm not belonging hereHe spoke.

Sota moved to kira.Where's Rukia?He whispered

Renji he heard sota and immediatly looked around. Oh no!

Rukia still hid behind the rock. She peered out to see if it was clear.

Daniel Stone & Others

Daniel nodded. "If that's the way you wish it to be, I will not change it. All I ask is that you do not go against Lady Dakota." He left the room.

Kira looked at Sota. Her eyes widened. "Rukia?" She called out.

Klondike came up to Rukia. Nobody was watching. "Everything is fine, dear. Nobody is going to hurt you." He said, trying to hide his true intentions.

Sota

HE growled angerly but dared not try to go find her.

Rukia when she heard someone she jumped. The 180 lb cougar Amur mix backed away from him.She was scared and now sh was away from her mother and out of sight.She heard her mother.MAMA!She whimpered out.

Klondike & Others

Klondike had an advantage. He knew the cavern like the back of his paw. He knew all the hiding places. "Follow me." He said, reaching out to grab the cat by the scruff. He then navigated through the tunnels, backtracking and circling several times to keep the others from following.

Kira ran toward the sound of her daughter's voice, but she couldn't find her.

Dimitri pulled a rope out of his pack, picked up his flashlight and his cane, tied the rope to a pillar and tied the other end around his waist, then walked away. "I'm gonna find our cats." He said as he left.

Lark sighed, watching her cousin go, then looked back at Zack. "We're probably gonna die here." She said sorrowfully.

Zack

He held her.We won't not if i have a say in that

Rukia yelped when he grabbed her scruff.she tried to get away but was unsuccesfull.MAMMMAA!!!!She cried out.

Sota and renji stayed with Zack and Lark to protect them.

Lark & Others

Lark managed to smile. "The world needs more people like you." She moved over to where the rope was tied and put a hand on it. If anything happened to Dimitri, she would know.

Eleanor bit the rope in half and followed Dimitri.

Lark's eyes widened. A shiver shot down her spine. "Something cut the rope." She gasped.

Klondike tried to grab Rukia's mouth in his jaws to keep her from talking.

Rukia

Rukia was about to scream out again when she felt something over her mouth.She growled and struggled.

Zack:he moved to the rope and pulled it back.He growled.

Sota knew some what what lark said and ran off following Dimitri's scent.

Renji stayed with the humans.

Lark

Lark watched as Sota ran off. She stepped back, her heart racing. "They're hostile. They have a dark side and I think we're about to see it." She said, staring into the darkness. The fire was beginning to die out.

Klondike tried to hold Rukia down.

Zack

Zack pulled lark to him and moved into a corner and sat down holding her.Don't worry everything will be all right

Sota continued to follow dimitri's scent

Rukia was successfully held down.What was he going to do nd why!

Lark

Lark stared into the darkening tunnels, listening to the sounds of the growling cats. Her mind went blank. "I love you." It just slipped out. She knew she'd regret saying it later, especially if Dimitri found out.

Dimitri was standing at a dead end when Sota arrived. He could vaguely tell who it was. "Find Rukia!" He said, ready to follow the cat.

Sota

Sota rubbed up against Dimitri and then moved off. Though made sure he didn't stray a foot away from him.

Rukia lay still letting the male do as he pleased.

Zack he listened and was a bit shocked to hear her say that. They just met earlier this day and she was saying she love him?He sighed and kissed her cheek.Don't worry we'll get out of this alive

Lark

Lark sighed. "I hope you're right." She said, watching as the fire flickered and burned out.

Dimitri followed Sota, almost straying several times.

Klondike forcebred Rukia and raced away. If his mother found out about this, he'd be dead.

Rukia

She began to call out in a cub voice. Calling for her mother scared. She knew what the male did. She now needed reassurence from her humans and mother.

Sota every time he strayed quickly moved back to get him back. Soon sota heard the chirping like sound of a cub and knew who it was. He moved that way and soon located the female.He sniffed her over and licked her.He tried to encourage her to stand but she was scared and reamind lying down.

zack now just held her.

Kira

Kira followed Dimitri and Sota. Dimitri looked down at Rukia and lifted her up. "Find Lark!" He then said to the cats.

Sota

He ran off following his own scent back to the room.He sniffed around to the two and he nudged them.He pulled on larks clothing.

Rukia went limp as she could trying to make it less of a strain on Dimitri. She knew she was heavy but she was scared and din't understand what really just happened.She knew what happened just not why

zack felt sota.

Lark

Lark crawled to where Rukia was. "What happened to her?" She asked. Dimitri shrugged. "I don't know, but I don't have a good feeling about it." He replied.

Lark lifted Rukia's front end up onto her lap. "She's been attacked." She thought she could feel blood on the big cat.

Dimitri turned around. "I'm finding that wild kid. I'll ask him what's up." With that, he walked out.

Lark looked at Zack. "We need to get out of here." She said quietly. "Just wait until they aren't watching."

Zack

He nodded.Yahhe said sitting down by the cats.

Rukia let her head rest on Lark.She was so scared she felt like she was a cub again.

Sota growled lightly in anger.

Renji came close and nuzzled his sister. His sister though flinched . Alittle scared of renji

Lark

Lark stroked the cat, looking down at her with soft, sympathetic eyes.

Dimitri came back with Daniel. "Tell me what happened to her! What did you do?" He flamed, shoving the boy into the chamber.

Daniel lit the fire and looked at Rukia. "It looks to me like she was attacked by one of the cougars or snow leopards. I'm guessing a male." He looked up at Lark. "Don't worry - whoever did this to your friend will face severe consequences. It is a major crime to attack a guest."

" Da, esli by ia mog videt' ia, chto ubivat' zhivotnikh priamo seichas. Yeah, if I could see I'd kill that animal right now." Dimitri said angrily.

Rukia

She stayed close to lark scared.She just wanted to go home where it was safe.

Zack.He snorted.Well aparently someone can't control their own memebers!He growled.He knew rukia was now fearful of men so he did not approach her.

Lark

Lark looked at Daniel. "Can we leave now?" She asked. Daniel shook his head. "I'm afraid you have to stay here." He began to leave. "Oh, and by the way, you wouldn't know from here, but it's almost midnight." He waved to them and left the chamber.

Lark said something under her breath. She looked at Zack. "The moment they aren't looking, we're getting out of here." She said quietly.

Zack

He grunted.This isn't our home we have a home and a family and these creatures would really deprive us of that? How would they feel if we did that to them!He growled and then listened to lark.

Rukia layed her head down. She wanted to sleep but couldn't close her eyes.

Kiki & Others

The quiet sound of a small, lithe creature walking through the puddles could be heard a short distance away. Before long, shining green eyes peered through the entrance to the cavern. It was Kiki the cat. She meowed, but showed no threat. She walked a short distance away and looked back as if she was waiting for the humans to follow.

"She wants to take us out of her." Kira said, picking Rukia up by the scruff and gently dragging her across the floor after Kiki.

Lark looked at Zack. "I think we should follow the cat." She said, standing up and running after Kiki. Dimitri followed, along with Nelli, Marina and Anzhelika.

Rukia

She went to allow herm other to drag her.

Sota followed last after zack and renji as well

Kiki & Others

Kiki stopped at an exit to the cave after a long time. It was in the Croal Mountains. She stepped out gingerly and looked back at the others, giving them the all-clear. "Take your humans home. Do not come back." She said to the big cats.

Kira nodded, exiting to the Croal Mountains. The others followed.

Rukia and others

went