Husky hybrid crawled into the Ranch, his thin frame caked with mud and his coat matted. He let out a pitiful squeal, a high keening of hunger, pain, and fear, and let his legs give way, going to the ground as he waited for someone to notice.

Stalker snd the pack heard the squeal Stalker walked over and started to lick his face soon the whole pack was. Stalker then told the pack to back away. She stood over him and asked "Do you want to join our pack?"

Little husky-hybrid had shied at first when surrounded by wolves, but carefully retained himself. Seeing that the female meant no harm, he thought carefully on her words. This was not quite as he had intended, but he could not pass up such an advantage. Wording things carefully, for he was the son of a diplomat and well spoken for a youngster, he spoke quietly and evenly. I must... settle a debt with someone here. Perhaps you might tell me where you reside, and I might join you after my business here is finished? Deep blue eyes gazed forward trustingly, curious nose taking in all the smells of the many wolves around him. He was wary of them, but found them interesting. Still, he had a debt to repay, and would not be forsworn.

She looked at him we live in the Stardusted plains. She then licked him one last time and trotted home with the pack following her.

He eyed the retreating female, repressing a shudder. Other wolves made him nervous. There was only one he trusted, one who heard what he did. But he had a debt to repay. Shaking his head, he let out another squeal of fear and hunger, waiting for someone to notice him.

Runi

Medium adolecent pup trotted around the yard before she heard a squeal. Light blue oracs searching and finding the husky mix. Her instinct threw her emotions into sympathy. And without hesitation, she cantered over to him.

Large wolf head stared down at the hungry brute. Borzoi body thin and frail, stiff as she smelt him. "Are you alright?" Her tail wagged happily, trying to comfort him, though she didn't know the ranch well enough herself because she hadn't lived there very long.

=Luxis=

Dingo dalmation mix watched his 'sister' as she raced to the stranger. He was different and was quickly thrown into his cautious stage. He ran after her and growled to her. Then to the new comer on the ground. " What do you want. " His voice was protective of Runi, protective of himself and the land around him. Eyes staring up to Runi. " You need be more cautious. What if he were here to kill you. " He snapped at her. He was clearly around her age. And both were only a couple of months old.

Hybrid lifted his head at the sound of a cheerful voice above him. Though he was nine months old, he was no bigger than she was, having lived on the edge of starving all his life. Still playing the weak, hungry pup, he let wide blue eyes turn up to hers, and let a quiet smile fall on his face, tail wagging a little listlessly. Hello yourself. I'm just kind of hungry, that's all. His ear twitched back, listening for the one he was waiting for. But I am here because I was told to be. I owe someone a great debt which I must repay, and they asked me to wait here. Smiling and letting his tassel wave, he said brightly, I'm Azhlin!

Suddenly there was another pup, this one less friendly, but in a defensive way. Turning his curious gaze to the younger brute, he spoke quietly, his eyes still wide. Little? Hurt your friend here? I doubt I could, honestly. You yourself can see my ribs. I've not eaten in weeks. Do you really think I could hurt her?

Of course, that's not really true, but he needn't know that. He thought, though his face, the perfect diplomat, stayed completely serious and benevolent.

After confronting a hungry pack, who thankfully decided to retreat without inscident, Aidan now made his was around the other side of the Ranch house. His large, lanky wolf body moved with the ease of his wild brethren. But a splash of deep 'red' ringing his ruff and striking blue eyes hinted that his blood was mixed.

"Hey!" The hybrid's voice rang out, full of alarm and authority. His tail shot up as hackles raised, though his concern wasn't too much, for these three were obviously youngsters. Aidan sprinted towards them, holding himself high and allowing his thick ruff to expand and frame his face and long muzzle. "What business do you have here?" Aidan's voice relented a little as he saw how Azhlin's condition was.

Azhlin looked up to see a grown canine above him and squeaked, the perfect image of fright at seeing someone so huge. Letting a quiet stutter in his voice, he swallowed hard and spoke haltingly. I... I am Azhlin...I... owe a great.. great debt. I am come... come here to find... nourishment... And he trailed off, his voice fading out, wide blue eyes gazing up at the huge canine above him.

He gave in more, taking pity on the weakened youngster. Aidan remembered when he himself was new at the Ranch and quite terrified by all the hustle and bustle. The large hybrid offered a small smile "I can share some of my food with you, if you don't mind the taste of it." As he waited for Azhlin's response, the hybrid turned his striking orbs to the other two, also awaiting their explinations for being here.

By now the huntress had silently ade her way into the brush, down wind of the canines she viewed. Their scents loafted to her nares, but her own would be difficult to catch. Silver eyes lay locked on the dog, blinking rarely as to make sure he was clueless of her presence. Azhlin had pulled off an impressive show, and the dog was off guard due to the sad predicament of the pup. How unfortunate for him. As soon as his dial turned to view the others, he was now facing oposite of her. And without mercy her haunches lanched her out of the brush, a slight rustle from that echoing out before she sprinted for the dog. Without a second thought she leapt for his throat, jaws snapping viciously. She had not growled to try and keep presence hidden until the last minute.

As he stood towering over the pup, his attention was split between him and the other two, though his guard was down, as he thought they weren't much of a threat. The idea that this little one could be deceiving him didn't even dawn on Aidan, not even when a faint rustle was heard from the nearby brush. Instinctively, the hybrid drew his head down as a figure came hurtling his way. The canine wasn't quite swift enough in his defences however, and Whisper found her mark, more or less.

With a mixture of a yelp and a startled bark, Aidan felt fangs grip about his throat. A sharp, tearing pain struck at his flesh as he pulled back, trying to evade a deadly bite from the wolf. Now a snarl rose up and his eyes flashed with anger. Vaguely, he remembered Whisper, but not all that clearly.

As soon as Whisper hurtled toward the dog, Azhlin threw off his weak act and attacked as well. He was thin, but a few recent meals had restored his strength and speed. With the deadly precision of a pup raised through wars, he dove underneath Aidan at the exact second Whisper leapt for his throat, flipping over onto his back and scratching and biting at the vital organs above him.

The huntress held her ground well, a skilled fighter and known for killing humans and their pets. She was far less known then Taijya, but she was known to some degree. She was never one to give mercy to any, and this kill was so close she could taste the aroma of death already emmiting from his body. her jaws tightened, almost grinding to try and cut off the airway. Her dial shook viciously, barly even noticing the pup. But once she took notice of his attack she spoke though clentched jaws. "Let the blood flow young one. Train thy voices." Her tones were softed, probibly incomprehensible due to her grip. But she spoke them, and if Azhlin were to hear them, it may just trigger a more frenzier atack. Or so the fae thought. She hadn't known the whelp long, so she was working with suspicions rather then facts.

Feeling a new pain at his gut, Aidan snarled all the more sharply and began to kick at the tormentor beneath him, "What a sick mind!" Aidan choked out, suddenly realizing that the pup had been used to set him up. He fought still, snapping at what he could and pulling back all the time. His flesh was ripping and blood was spilling on the ground and stealing steadily into his coat. His airway became constricted now, but he still had fight in him.

A new figure emerged from the woods, where Whisper had originally been stationed before her attack. He had been curious to see this pup she spoke of. But now he was torn when he saw their victim. It wasn't that he cared a whole lot for his brother, but his pack would turn on him if they knew what was happening. At the same time however, he wasn't going to betray Whipser. Instead, he plotted something else in his mind.

Stepping from the shadows, the small hybrid minced over to his struggling brother, "I see your plan has worked..." Ankh grinned, looking from Whisper to Azhlin.

Aidan started at the familiar voice and rolled his pained eyes to the form his black-pelted brother, "Ankh!"

But before the larger brute could continued, Ankh went on, "I've got a plan of my own, Whisper. Don't kill him quite yet. Or the Lurkers will be after us both... and their numbers are swelling." Ankh paused, looking heartlessly at his kin, while speaking to the murderous fae, "Weaken him, and then we shall drag him away from here. When the other pets catch his trail, we can pick them off in the safety of the wilderness, without having to worry about the human's guns. And then I will contend with my brother."

The huntress snarled low, shakign her dial viciously. And it was only when the words Ankh spoke reached her harks did her growls lower. She also stopped shakign, but her jaws held at the same pressure there were, refusing to released. He listened to his plan, contimplating it, jaws tighting around the wind pipe slightly. She could feel it pulsatign not, gasping for air. "Interesting..." her words were muffled by her closed jaws. "Fine."

This time her jaws released the slightest bit, enabling her a better gripnon the flesh around the dog. She would knock him out, for holding the wind pipe would make him unconcious, it would be far too easy to kill him off that way. With her new hold in place she fracticly threw herself at the ground, trying to force Aidan's skull down. If impact was made, it would hopefully knock him out. Even if his skull cracked slightly, it would not kill him instantly.

Azhlin caught a small graze on his side as the large brute above him kicked. Seeing an unknown male approach Whisper, he leapt out from under Aidan, but before he had a chance to attack, he realized that the male was friendly with Whisper, and instantly subsided. If Whisper trusted the new male, it was her business. He listened carefully, and nodded. He had no particular issue with Aidan. He was just repaying a debt. Looking up to Whisper, he waited. If she still wanted him, he would follow. If not, he would leave. His eyes showed that it made him no difference.

Aidan hit the ground with a thud, lack of oxygen making him less responsive. Then all at once, his body went limp as he head thumped against the ground.

Ankh smirked a bit, but his eyes didn't rest on his stilled brother. "Now we need to drag him somewhere... the Ashen Domes? My pack rarely goes there." Ankh suggested, glancing around suspiciously for humans and their pets. The small but fierly hybrid turned to leave, but before doing so, he looked to Azhlin, "Who might you be? The decoy?" His tones were sarcastic, just curious.

Azhlin looked up at the much taller Ankh, though without the false amazement that had so fooled Aidan. Speaking quietly and evenly, his tone merely one of replying, and not rude, he said, He who asks questions shall never discover the answer. Who I am is my business, and why I involve myself is my business. And he closed his eyes for a moment, listenting to the voices. I ask not why you harm a brother, nor why you tolerate a brother who helps those who hate us. It is safest when no one asks questions. He wondered if Ankh might be startled by the fact that Azhlin knew that Ankh and Aidan were brothers, but that was another question that would never be answered. It was not for Ankh to know about the voices.

The huntress spoke not a word or victory, nor even a sound. Her jaws just stayed locked, refusing to release. Harks twisted in the direction of Ankh and Azhlin's conversation, a smile lightly dotting her features as she held the brute. With a slow pace she dragged the male towards them, looking right to Azhlin. "Be not fooled by how trained they seem. Blood soothes them, feed them often." To ankh her talk would seem like babbling, words of sheen insane origin. But she spoke of the voices, those whih it seemed had left her, and which the young one had atleast trained for now.

Without another words her muscular bodice carried Aidan by the nape, to the Ashen Domes where Ankh had suggested. Her pisons took long strides, full of power, seemingly gained from the fight.

Azhlin only nodded, not really expecting the male to understand. And, turning on his heels, he followed after Whisper.

The two pups stared at the dogs and shook their heads in confusion " We live here" Luxis growled loudly. "Bonnie adopted us." He threw his head and walked back to the pourch of the house. Runi looked up to Aiden and followed her 'brother'.