John, Timber, & Nivi

John skirted around the fencing and headed into the brush that made up the timberline. From this point, the woods spread for miles, unbroken by house or road. "We ought to find plenty out here; I think the weather's been good for them this year." He pointed out to Tahmores, although he didn't stop to think that the boy would probably know more than him on such matters. "So you say you had a cook? That sounds pretty cool. Did she make any interesting meals?" John questioned, trying to start up conversation as he began to scan the ground for the delectible fungus.

Timber moved off to the side of John, focusing more on the surroundings than the mushrooms. He would be sure that neither John or Tahmores were ambushed by anything.

"Hey, wait up!" Came a cry in the form of a yowling cat voice. A moment later, a little tan-striped tabby came bounding through the undergrowth, ears perked and tail poofed out. "Didn't think you were going to loose me that easy, did you?"

"Nivi... this is going to be a long walk, you know." Timber said flatly. "Besides, you'll just get in John's way and trip him."

Nivi rubbed up against Timber's leg, "Ah, you know you like me, Timber. And John doesn't mind me following him." He said in an innocent sort of voice.

Timber shook his head, but relented with a small laugh, "What ever you say, cat. Just don't trip him this time." The collie returned his attention to the surroundings. Nivi seemed more like a dog somethings, wanting to trail after John all the time and beg for affection.

Vicious

A gray demon approached the group, following behind just enough to where he could see them with his single eye. At first he wanted to attack the humans, but spotted the dog. That wouldn't be a good idea to attack out of no where. Then he saw.. the cat.

A smirk tugged at his lips and he began a low growl to the cat. Trying to keep it down so that the talking humans couldn't here him. "Here kitty-kitty-kitty-kitty. I Have a little treat for you. I have a nice juicy squirrel over here for you." He lied between his teeth, then waited to see how that cat would respond, hopefully the dog didn't hear him, but he wasn't too sure.

merequi

jealous much?

The lithe wench had been on her way to make a meal of some unsuspecting calf when the scent of ranch inhabitants and an unknown caught her attention; she steered off course to investigate. The minx did little to hide herself, but she dropped her tail and put on an air of harmless relaxation. She spotted the brute and suddenly dropped low to the ground in a stalking stature. Her footfalls were nearly audible and she froze when she heard the male taunting the cat. My, what have we here? "Can't get any easier than a domestic cat, bud. You just lazy? Hah." She mocked the captain in a singsong whimsical voice and she immediately straightened back up into her seemingly harmless state. The gray wolfess had a spiteful smirk plastered across her mug as her slender limbs ceased their progressive beat.

you can't beat perfection

Artemis

The stardusted fae followed gayly after the group, her attention focused on John. She was glad he had returned with minimal injury. A smile remained plastered on her features until John seemed to have found a perfect place to look. Just as Timber, her attention was sent to the surroundings, keeping a close eye out for anything wiling to tear the family part further. Although she appeared rather relaxed, her pools seemed as jumpy as anything. Images of the fight that broke out at the barn appeared randomly in her dreamcap, and she would do anything to keep the same thing from oocuring once again.

Pistons moved the priestess slowly in a half circle, near the back end of the group. Her attention fell from her earch only as the wails of a small cat echoed out, and with a lifted eyebrow she watched the feline. She wasn't friend of foe of the cats, fo she hadn't gotten to know any of them. She found them a bit on the annoying side for the most part. After a few minutes, she was content that the cat was of no use to notice, and she went back to patrol slowly. Yet it seemed she would not be lucky enough to have a calm day. The scent hit her like a bullet, and her orbs shot wide open as her bodice stiffened. "Timber!" Her tones were low and in a stiff hiss. A low growl slipped past her lips as her instincts sent her to Johns side, rubbing the side of his leg as she brushed past him. She knew the scent, she had fought the origin of that scent.

Tahmores*Elder Brother*Rihanne

Tahmores came up close behind John, only nodding as the teen gave instructions. He knew how to hunt mushrooms, but did not figure it was worth commenting on. He continued to nod as he headed around searching, keeping his back to John out of habit. That way, no one could sneak behind either of them. It was something he'd done all his life, and it was natural as breathing. He hadn't yet spotted the trouble, but no sense taking chances after recent events.

Brother trotted in after him, for the two were almost never separated. He swished his tail, happy to see everyone together, but he was always on the alert, exchanging glances with Timber now and again. He heard a rustle in the bush and paused... but then nothing else moved and he settled again, still vigilant.

Rihanne, too, had come. Aidan and Artemis were with Martha, and they were in the house, where they could close the door and be safe. John and Tahmores were in the open, and so she had given the woman a last nuzzle and headed off with the young men. She sat down carefully, not actively guarding as were the males, but keeping an eye out, ready to lend assistance if needed.

John, Timber, & Nivi

"Ah, there's one!" John exclaimed, spotting a small gray. Crouching carefully, for the brace hindered his flexibility in that ankle, the teen plucked the little fungi from the ground and stuck it in his bag. "Now, he oughtn't be alone..." John said at length, searching the ground in a tedious fasion with his eye, knowing there should be more about.

Nivi halted and turned to look in the direction of the wolf's voice. "Squirrel? I haven't had one of them before... but..." Even as he replied, he could feel the fur along his back and tail begin to stand in alarm, for this wasn't a canine he knew. And that could mean danger. Just before he began to approach Vicious, his keen ears swiveled to catch the sound of a second one approaching. And, despite her whispers, Nivi could hear the words. "WOLVES!" He yowled, then hissed and took a flying leap backwards.

Timber whirled around to hear the yowl, knowing this was one of danger, not calling. "Wolves!" He barked out, repeating Nivi's cry as his own hackles bristled up. "Show yourselves!"

At this point, Nivi shot past him and lunged for the nearest tree. Like his siblings and cousins of the Ranch, he was quite adepts at scaling them, and now made his way to the safety of a high branch.

John heard the bark as well and stood up quickly, forgetting about the patch of morels he just found. "Timber, what is it? Tahmores, you hear anything?"

Tahmores*Elder Brother*Rihanne

Brother swung around at Artemis' snarl, putting himself immediately between John and the wolves. He sent a low bark followed by a series of high and low whines in Tahmores' direction, who let out a low growl of his own and drew his dagger Torgny, dropping into a fighting stance. Wolves. Possibly some of the same ones that cost us Mark. He left it at that, eyes on the trees.

Rihanne came in front of John as well, bristling.

Vicious

He growled as the she wolf snuck up behind him. Gray hairs bristling on his back. He replied in a soft tone, to where only the fea could hear him. " It's called a distraction, you lead the protection away, and then go in for the kill." Single yellow eye glared Merequi in her own orbs, giving her a slight challenge. He had been here first and the kill would have been his...

The the sound of other dogs thumped into his ears, he turned his gaze to the pack of canines and the cat now. The alarm was set and the humans now knew something was up. He growled in bitter anger. " God Damn it, Look what you did." He snarled, and wheeled around to face his exit. " I know when I'm out matched." Eye again turned to the group. " A group of 5 or more dogs plus humans out number us a great deal, especially if the human has a weapon. I'll fight humans in a group, but not humans with a pack of dogs." He grunted and began walking off. " God i'm getting to old for this." He sighed and trotted to the sheep pasture now. Trying to find some way to get some points on his head up.

Tahmores*Elder Brother*Rihanne

Tahmores sent out a low, threatening growl as the male retreated, eyes never leaving the female as he stood carefully, making his way catlike back toward John. Searching under his shirt, he withdrew a knife. It wasn't quite as long as was his own Torgny, but could still be fatal. Tossing it over to John while never looking away from the female, he spoke quietly, a bit of that growl still in his voice. Never let that knife leave your person. Guns are well enough, but they run out of bullets, and are little use at close quarters. Take that. I will teach you to use it, if you do not know how. Let it never be more than an arm's length from your grasp. It is called Clabehnet, the creeping death. Eyes continued to sight the femme, waiting for her to either attack or retreat.

John, Timber, & Nivi

John flashed out his hands, scrambling to catch the weapon as Tahmores tossed it to him, but it bounced off the edge of his fingers and slipped to the groud. If not for the fear and anger that flooded him, he would have felt embarrassed for his clumsiness in comparison to Tahmores' agile ways. Cursing under his breath, he snatched up the weapon, "Thanks." The teen said, the mumbled in a half-joking way, "I'll need the practice..." Crouching down slightly, he focused on the female, ready for what ever would happen.

Timber stood his ground with the others, his scarred hide bristling.

Nivi watched wide-eyed from his perch, looking much larger than before because of his expanded fur, "My land! This never ends!"

Tahmores*Elder Brother*Rihanne

Tahmores nodded silently, noting his clumsiness but honestly not surprised. This was new to the teen, obviously, and it was no shame to not know what to do. Still, the glance was no more than a moment, for he turned hard eyes back to the female, that growl sounding again, threatening, warning her back.

Elder Brother left John now that Timber and Rihanne had taken up his defense, and came up to stand beside his boy, calling to the female as he too bristled. If you are wise you will leave now and do these no more harm. Make up your mind quickly before I decide to make it up for you. It was curt, it was direct, it was rude. But he didn't care. He'd lost patience with some of his wilder brethren, attacking those who had done them no harm.

Rihanne was still curled protectively in front of John, snarling.