Artemis & Family, Taijya & Gang
The air was frigged but Artemis didn’t mind. She sat silently, staring out into the woods beyond the perimeter of the ranch. She had not really been there lately, in both mind and body. She was restless and constantly moved in and out of the woods that surrounded her home for the last few years. Her pups had to grow up fast, and she pitied them for never really enjoying puphood like one should. Faulin, Dianus, and Shora all sat near her, staring out, not saying a word.
In the shadows of the cold woods stalked Taijya, the most wanted wolf in the valley. She’d grown wiser, over the years, but within the last few months, she had also lost sight of her senses. She was not crazy in the sense that she sat there laughing for hours on end, but instead, she was crazy in that she could no longer control her one desire. For months she had fought herself, telling herself that she could not kill Timber, the last remaining mutt from the ranch. Where she had killed most of the others, she had somehow failed to kill this one. She would succeed today, even though it would inevitably mean she would need to kill his mate, one of her distant friend’s pups. But it did not matter now, she was growing old and she had to complete the task while she still had the strength to do it.
Some distance behind her followed the quad of wolves whom had followed her for as long as they had been in the valley. They had seemingly lived their whole lives in some service to this female, although none of them really thought anything of it. Taijya had shown herself to be the best, and Yin, Yang, Fajebin, and Whisper would willingly kill with the best. However, even they noticed her slowly growing insanity, and it worried them. Their leader was falling, and it would seem, they would follow her to their own doom.
Fajebin, the snowy male looked over to his sister, his worn face showing a bit of worry. His relationship with Whisper had always been rocky at best, and at times he had assumed she wished to kill him. They had lost a brother when they first came to the valley, Skittles, a male who was never quite on the same skill level as them, and yet they brought him along to the new land. For some reason, Fajebin thought of him now…
Whisper caught her brothers glance and for once she did not ignore him. Something about today was somber, and although they were about to embark on a battle to end the life of their most hated enemy, even she could not find the battle drum beating inside of her heart. Yin and Yang stood side by side, leaning on one another as if just touching the other could allow them to speak without being heard. They were the youngest of the bunch, but they were definitely not spring chickens. They watched Taijya stare intently out at Artemis, and today instead of feeling a fire burn in their souls, they felt as if a bucket of water had been thrown upon them. They would fight as always as it was their calling, but today would not end well. Lucky for Moon Phase and her children, the wind pushed the scent from the murderers towards her, sending her own scent somewhere they could never smell. She had decided to come and visit her daughter as she had never met Artemis’s pups, and had brought their aunts and uncles along for the meeting. But it seemed their meeting would not occur as planned, or even at all. The pale grey female looked over her children, to Tiamet and Kismet on the left, and Kalei and Jade to the right. They stood still, they would wait for her to make a move, and she would wait until they were out fo the woods. She did not want them to know she was here. She would destroy Taijya and any others who dared attack her daughter and grand children.
Kalei, the pure white wolf stared blankly. Sight had never been gifted to her, and so her other senses compensated. Where her siblings looked to their mother for confirmation, Kalei could smell it, hear it. Everything about today was ominous, and yet she stood knowing this. She could smell the evil scent from ahead. She could also smell Artemis and other being whose scents came close to hers. Today, death would overwhelm the world.
Dianus, Artemis’s daughter flicked her hear, feeling as if she was being watched but having not proof. She could not see anything, nor did the wind grant her the chance to smell anything either. Still she wanted to investigate. Slowly she stood up and trotted down from the porch, eyeing the woods where Taijya stood, yet never seeing the raven female. By the time she did, it was too late.
The foolish young female had given Taijya the signal she needed. Without skipping a beat the Raven hued lupe leapt out at the woods, grabbing Dianus by the neck and coming close to killing her on the spot. However, she wanted to see the look on Artemis’s face first, and she hoped Timber would come to join the show once he heard the ruckus.
Dianus yelped, thrashing to no avail as the fangs of the wolf ripped into her neck. “Mom!” She managed to choke out as she struggled to catch her breath. Although she had known war, she had not actively taken part in any, nor had her siblings, and so she was utterly helpless with no training, and being in the grip of the most dangerous wolf that had ever stalked the valley.
Artemis jumped up, staring in disbelief at what was taking place in front of her eyes. She let out a snarl so wild, anyone in the house would be sure to hear it. “Let her go!” She snarled, not attacking immediately only to try and spare her daughter's life.
Timber & Others
The past two years had been better on the black and white collie than any he could remember; save maybe for his early puphood, before the brutal, swift murderings of his family and friends took place. It had been six long years that he'd been at this Ranch, but the later end of it all had seen far less bloodshed, and he'd been able to start a family of his own with the love of his life, Artemis. Between them, they had their five beautiful offspring, all of which had survived their first two years with only minor skirmishes and fights now and then, but nothing severe enough to take any of their lives. Timber could never have anticipated that he'd have a family as he did now, but here he had it, and the lack of pressure from the valley's Legendaries had almost given him a false sense of security now. Sure, he had to keep his eyes peeled and his ears perked, but it seemed as though the blood-thirsty mongrels that had slain his family and taken Mark's life were but a memory. Ohhh... if only that were true. Little did Timber know that today his family's life would be turned upside down.
The border collie was resting peacefully enough on the edge of the porch, nose tucked into his tail to keep himself warm while winter still clung tenaciously to the land. The only thing that disturbed the dog's quiet nap was the restlessness he'd seen in his mate recently; it bothered him a lot, but he had always chalked it up to her wild blood being anxious around the two-leggers. Today however, her anxiety seemed to be greater than usual, and even he felt distinctly unsettled. Something... something just wasn't right, but he couldn't put his paw on it. Not until Dianus got up, and moved away from them. Timber watched his daughter, idly at first, because he felt secure enough in their own territory that he didn't think she was in any danger. In fact, Nak and Sage were currently seated at the edge of the steps, having a conversation about who was going to patrol which pasture next.
Before Timber rightly knew what was happening, old instinct and years of silently festering hatred rushed up within him when an all too familiar shape hurtled out of the woodline and into the yard. He'd hardly gotten to his paws and drew up a curdling snarl before Taijya had one of his daughter's by the neck. "Taijya!" Venom and animosity laced his voice when he growled at her name and sprang off the porch to join his mate. And like Artemis, he didn't rush forward just yet - Taijya had the advantage, and could kill Dianus before they ever reached her, "Put her down, or I swear... you'll regret the day you first stepped foot here!"
Having never seen Taijya before, Nak and Sage were initially dumbstruck by the speed at which the ebony wolfess lunged from cover and took their sister. Sage was the first one to snap back to common sense and join her parents, standing stiff-legged between them and bearing her fangs. Nak was only seconds behind her as he stalked forward with bristled fur, adding his sharp growling to the mix.
Artemis & Family, Taijya & Gang
Taijya stood holding the wiggling mutt in her jaws, feeling each struggle for breath. Once Dianus’s parents noticed, she let a visible grin slip its way onto her black face. Today it would all end. Without a second thought the female thrashed her head and crushed her jaws together, eliminating the first of Timbers litter and tossing her to the ground. “There… she’s down…” Her smile could only be described as pure evil as she felt no remorse for her act now, just as she had felt none in the past. And Dianus would not be the last. She was determined to have Timber suffer a final blow before she took his life once and for all.
As Taijya spoke her four comrades walked slowly up behind her, coming to her side right as her last word fell from her lips, Yin and Yang on the left, Whisper and Fajebin on the right. They all laughed low, although not as heartily as they once might have. The death of Timbers daughter was the start of a war which would end bloody, and not just for their benefit. The sky above even took on an ominous tinge as if it knew what was to come.
Artemis could not believe her ears as she could hear her daughter’s neck snapping and then her body being tosses aside like garbage. The last time she lost someone had been her brother Apollo but that was some time ago and she had healed. But losing her own child was something different, something no one should have to experience. Racked with grief, the grey female choked out her words. “You bitch...” And without a second thought, took off towards the wretched female who had broken her peace one too many times. “You bitch, I will kill you!” she snarled as she leapt at the female who stood smugly near her army. Artemis was not thinking, she couldn’t. If she had been, she would not have risked putting herself against five wolves all hell bent on killing her family.
Shora and Faulin stiffened as they saw the sight of their sister in the jaws of the black female, and they jumped up to snarl their protests. But when Taijya killed Dianus without a second thought, they didn’t know what hit them. Faulin’s ear flicked as he heard his mother’s choked words before she rushed off, and as much as he wanted to follow, he couldn’t. Not yet.
The five devious wolves stood, not one worried about Artemis’s attack. One against five had no chance of succeeding. As the silver female leapt for Taijya, Whisper and Fajebin both readied to rip her to shreds, but they never got the chance. Both of them were pushed to the ground with enough force to knock the wind out of them. They didn’t know what hit them.
When Taijya’s four followers moved forward, Moon Phase and her gang did the same, stopping out of sight but still without range for a quick attack if they needed. And they definitely needed it. Moon phase her to hold herself back as Dianus was thrown to the ground. As much as she wanted to attack then, she had to wait for the right moment. When Artemis ran after Taijya for retribution, Moon Phase knew that it was the right moment. She looked to Tiamet, motioning with her eyes to Kalei, the blind alabaster female. She then looked to Jade and with a brief nod, dashed in for the rescue. She leapt for Fajebin, coming at him slightly from the side and knocking him off balance. She hadn’t got for a bite, her first priority was to save her daughter.
Jade followed her mother’s silent order, running after her and going for Whisper, the other canine trying to kill her older sister. She followed her mother’s example, snarling low to show how fierce she was. She really had never been involved in any wars. She had never been here. This was her sister’s home, not hers. But she wanted to do her best to protect her sister, and the cousins she never met.
Tiamet spoke in a tone barely audible to canine ears, but perfectly acceptable for the keen sense of her blind sister. “Kalei you can’t come. It’s too dangerous out there. Stay here and DO. NOT. MOVE.” And with that Tiamet entered the battle with her brother Kismet trailing close behind. The twins stopped right behind Taijya, snarling low. They had fought in the pasture before, but for some reason sensed something about this female that made them more nervous to attack. Could they sensed how many canines she had slaughtered in her lifetime? Who knows. But they did know that their instincts told them that attacking her was not the best thing for their health.
Taijya only had a split second before realizing Whisper and Fajebin had been attacked, and feeling fangs rip the skin on her leg. Lucky for her, Artemis had tried to brace for the double attack and had stopped her attack for Taijya’s jugular. The raven female was about to back up to face the female head on when she heard the snarls from behind. She didn’t need to look thought. She could smell that they too were children of Moon Phase. Damn that worthless bitch. However she did not need to wait a second longer before Yin took the initiative to cause some trouble. The small lithe female darted for the porch, aiming for one of the younger, less experienced hybrids. Her keen eyes fell on Sage. Yang followed swiftly behind, ready to provide back up for his sister from whatever would try to impede her attack.
Artemis snarled low as she tasted blood but got no hold. She twisted around to face the bitch, body tense and ready to kill. If it had been physically possible, her body would have been engulfed in flames as to show her rage in an any more visible way.
Timber & Others
Horror coursed like a dose of venom through his veins, stealing his breath and making him feel numb in mind and body. He couldn't believe his eyes or ears... watching his daughter's life being taken away in front of his very sight shocked him for a second or to, no matter that he'd witnessed the murder of his family before. This was one of his offspring. Once the shock wore off, barely a few seconds later, Timber snapped back to reality and snarled in a such a throaty, vicious tone that it hardly fit his small, lithe little body. The collie charged forward with all intentions of joining his mate in battle and finishing off Taijya once and for all, but before he could go much further, or take in the surprise of Moon Phases' family rushing in to help, Yin and Yang sprang their attack.
Sage and Nak faltered, not sure what to do at first when the wolves rushed for them. They were stunned enough by Dianus' death, and now faced with possibly the same fate, a terrified Nak yelped and darted under the porch. Sage however showed a bit more gumption than her brother, and although she was not an experienced fighter by any means, she put up a fierce growl and plunged forward to meet Yin fang to fang.
Timber barreled across the ground like a streak of black and white blur, trying to build up his speed and momentum before he aimed and leaped, attempting to tackle Yang broadside and send he and the brother tumbling across the ground.
A short, deep howl erupted from somewhere in the backyard, the voice belonging to the blue-eyed hybrid known as Aidan. A baying bark backed up the hybrid's warcall, this deeper sound coming from his pitbull mate, Tahirah. Timber and Artemis may have had some reprieve recently from the fighting, but thanks to Aidan's connection with the Lurkers, he had plenty of exercise in warfare, and was now leading his small family towards the front yard where the sounds of skirmishes could be heard. With him came a few of the offspring that still dwelled at the ranch; Spark, Stardust, Sundile, and Pippy.
Timber & Others
Graceful little paws quickly gathered him up after he and Yang went for a short tumble, and had him back on his wiry legs in a heartbeat. His head was low and his feathery tail as stiff as a board, "Never will I become as heartless as you murderers!!" His snarl back at yang was primal, choked by rage and pain both for the loss of Dianus. Yet he didn't have time to mourn her right now, or let her death fully sink into his heart; he had a job to do, and that was to make sure that no one else died today, unless it was Taijya and her ilk. Like a little firecracker, the collie was full of energy, and as the fight had only gotten underway, he had all the energy in the world - with a nimble spring, he swung his backend around, pulling his leg from Yang's lunging fangs and getting a bloody gash over the limb. At the same time as that, his own muzzle was darting forward, teeth craving for a hold on the side of the wolf's neck. If he got his mark, Timber would bite hard and thrash, wanting to severe the jugular there.
Sage's first contact with Yin left her with a bloodied nose and lips, but at least that was better than a ripped-out throat. The pain brought moisture to her eyes, but the spunky hybrid apparently had more vigor and intelligence in her than her cowering brother; or maybe her urge to fight had something to do with her hanging out with Aidan and his family too much. Either way, these fresh injuries only fueled her to keep fighting, and to leap for Yin again even as the other fae had now grabbed her sister by the throat. "Shora!!!" Unfortunately, where Timber was experienced and went for the throat on his foe, Sage hadn't exactly mastered the art of 'killing', and her fangs aimed for Yin's shoulder rather than her vital neck.
There was a moment of confusion for Aidan, not sure who who he should go after - help Timber? Artemis? What about the other wolves...? His indecision only lasted a second or two, after which he yipped to his youngest offspring, Pippy and Sky Gazer, "Under the porch, both of you! Stay with Nak." Then he was thundering forward with jaws parted and lips wrinkled back, b-lining for Yin. Between Sage and Shora, he had no clear access to the fae's throat, so instead he aimed for her haunches, prepared to use his strength to thrash her about.
Tahirah struck right along side of her mate, using her lower stance to target the wolf's underbelly. Her blunt, powerful pitbull jaws went right for the tender flesh, and if she got a hold, she wasn't going to be letting go any time soon.
It was not a good day to be Yin right now, because the other three offspring of Aidan and Tahirah targeted the same enemy their parents did. Sundile, Stardust, and Spark, all having a good deal of training under the Lurker banner, fought with a pack mentality and dove in to get a hold on whatever bit of free flesh they could on Yin. Just as Fresca had once been publicly executed at the Alleys, the group planned on literally ripping Yin to shreds rather than going for a quick and merciful throat-kill. That is, if they managed to catch Yin first.
Artemis & Family, Taijya & Gang
Shora fell limp in the jaws of Yin, not having much of a chance against one so experienced. She would join Dianus in the great forest.
Yin did not have time to rejoice over her victory because before she knew it, she found herself attacked by multiple canines. The first was Sage who Yin assumed she could shake off, but that was before she felt fangs rip at her haunches, and then before she could even think of a plan, yet another attacked her underbelly. By this point she couldn't even think about the other three. The lithe female thrashed about, trying to get free. She snapped at Sage, the closest target, but she was bleeding perfusely now. Aidans thrashing through her off balance, leaving her wide open for more attacks and without anyone to back her up, she was a sitting duck. The female snarled, snapping at who she could reach yet never knowing when she made any contact. She wanted to scream out to her brother, but she had to be strong! But strength of mind would not save the female as she was far too outnumbered. After only a few minutes, but what felt like hours, the female fell limp, dieing from blood loss which left her body looking less like a wolf than one would think possible.
Yang on the other hand was luckier, he did not have a pack out to rip him to shreds. Still his situation was dire. Timber hit his mark, and although Yang struggled, the border collie's jaws were set to kill. As blood dripped from his throat the male struggled to breathe and before he knew it his breath stopped and he too joined the growing number of canines that had died on these grounds.
Taijya looked down at the injured, and obviously stunned Tiamet. Oh, this was too easy. "Looks like your sister doesn't care about your life." Her evil smile remained. As if it was the simplest thing in the world the raven huntress leapt on the small female, pinning her limbs down with her paws and ripping into her throat, snapping shut and pulling forward.
Tiamet did not stand a chance, even before she could feel the pain of her broken leg being held down, she was dead, her head falling to the side with her throat wide open to the world.
The death of his sister right before his eyes sent Kismet to attack Taijya. he could not long wait. In fact, he shouldn't have waited at all! What was he thinking? It was the shark feeling of fangs that reminded him.
Taijya had turned around and caught the male in the belly, pushing him back and ripping out a good bit of flesh from her victim. As Kismet fell to the ground, Taijya licked her bloodied lips, lowering her head and laughing loudly. "Fool! You cannot kill me! I am the most fearsome wolf this valley has ever seen! What makes you think a pup with no skill could even lay a scratch on me?!" She did not give the male an attempt to answer, without mercy she went for his throat, killing him in the same terrible fashion she had just killed his sister.
Jade didn't have the chance to struggle long before she too fell limp in the jaws of the enemy.
Fajebin dropped the dead body of Jade and set off at top speed, leaping over the shredding session going on with Yins lifeless body. But he was not here for retribution. He was here to continue where she had left off. The while male aimed for the one one who was not trying to rip Yin apart, poor Faulin. He was atop the little male before he knew knew what hit him, going for his throat before the pack had the chance to kill him like they did Yin.
Faulin was easily knocked to the ground, his eyes growing wise as the breath was knocked from his lungs and he saw stars. Shora. Dianus. They were both gone! Gone! The little male shook, doing a poor job of actually saving himself. The jaws of death quickly found themselves around his throat, ending his life in an instant.
Artemis had joined the fray but upsettingly, had not noticed Fajebins attack on another of her children until it was too late. She jumped out of the mess, running right for Fajebin who still had his jaws around her sons neck. "DIE FOUL BEAST!" she snarled, running at him with all her strength jaws snapping for the neck of her enemy.
Whisper leaped back from Moon Phase's attack, launching her own in style. She circled for female like a shark taunting her mercilessly. "You should have stayed away princess. You claimed your family meant so much to you but look around you. Dieing one by one. It's just you and little Artemis now. But soon she'll be gone too. And then you will be alone!" Feeling her words had the emotional effect she desired Whisper attacked, aiming to kill with a throat hold. She succeeded in her hold, but she wasn't expecting what came next.
Little Kalie had slinked her way up the hill, using her heightened sense of smell and hearing to guide her through the unfamiliar territory, albeit snapping a few twigs in the process. Although they had gone unheard with the mass murdering going on. It had been the blood of her siblings that brought her, but it was Whisper's words and her mother's scent that told her her target. She could hear her mothers strained breathing, smell the blood seeping from her neck. Blind Kalei could not see but she knew where she had to go. She couldn't do much. Her sighted siblings had all died, she didn't see how she could succeed. But she had to try. For her mother she had to try. She ran in for an attack, not snarling, not saying a word as she went to attack Whisper. She aimed for her spine. She might not be able to see, but she knew breaking the backbone would at least hinder the bitch enough for Moon phase to get away. She leapt on the female, biting down with all her strength, raking her teeth over the bone, hoping to rip the cord that gave her back legs purpose. If she were sighted, she might have seen that her mother would not be saved.
Timber & Others
Even outnumber as the famed Legendary group was, their prowess in the art of killing quickly leveled the playing field. Of course, it didn't help that the other team had so many on their side that weren't use to combat, and they were the sorry victims that fell first It didn't take long before Moon Phase's entire brood was all but eradicated, with only the blind Kalie struggling to the end, and trying to make a difference in the hopeless battle. Nak was still huddled under the porch, wide eyed and mortified, watching with a look of stupor as a third sibling of his fell dead to the earth. And still, he couldn't command his trembling limbs to get up and help them - fear had him pinned in place, with two of Aidan's younger offspring taking shelter next to him.
If Sage were experienced, she might have let go of Yin's shoulder and met the other wolf fang to fang as she had initially, or jumped clear of the attack altoghether. But as this was her first major fight, she clung tenaciously to the enemy's shoulder and kept thrashing wildly, up until Yin's fangs gorged across her face, opening up a patch of skin and cutting her to the bone across her forehead and upper snout. The wound might not be a deadly one, but it bled profusely, and hurt enough that she yelped shrilly and scrambled backwards.
"Nooo!" An anguished howl came from Timber, who'd stepped back grimly from the brother of Yin, having slain his foe. He had only time to look across the bloodied yard to select his next target when he saw Faulin taken up by the brute Fajebin, and despite the collie throwing himself forward in a desperate attempt to reach his son before it was too late, Timber could not possibly reached his son in time before he was cast to the ground, just as dead as the other two. This time, he joined his mate in attacking the male, him going for the side of Fajebin's neck as he had with Yang, and leaving Artemis to take the other side.
Aidan released his hold on the mutilated Yin after he was certain of her death; although, just looking at the bloodied carcass, it was easy to tell that the wolfess was dead without needed to watch for a breath or to feel a pulse. The ruddy hues in the big male's coat were now being complimented by the dark red stains of his enemy, and next to him, his alabastor mate was looking even more grizzly than himself. "Whisper!" A deep, bone-rattling bark was issued by Aidan, who'd found his next target. The wolfess who had, with the help of Aidan's own brother, slaughtered four of Timber's nieces and nephews. Her name was all that was needed before he surged forward, running right for her. Tahirah, Sundile, Stardust, and Spark were right behind him, again attacking with a pack mentality that spelled trouble for Whisper.
Like a group of hounds on a fox, the little family swarmed towards the wolfess. Aidan's goal was to reach her before she might kill Kalie, but he could only run so fast, and there was so much distance between them and the timberline where Whisper was close to. Still, he and the others tried. Aidan used his great weight as he lunged for Whisper's upper neck; not going for a kill so much as he was trying to get a secure hold and knock her over, and keep her from biting at him or the rest of his family. Whether or not he got this, if indeed Whisper had been paralyzed by Kalie or not, Tahirah and her offspring soon closed in anyway, each going for their own hold where they could get it. If they caught Whisper, she would die the same gruesome death as her friend Yin.
Darkeyes*Others
There was another wolf whose presence had never been exactly welcome here, despite the fact that he had long since stopped traveling in this direction, out of respect for his daughter's newfound family here. Certainly, his life had been a chaotic one, from his days as an alpha with one half-crazed son that had effectively torn his family apart to the long, long months wherein most of his family had disappeared. He'd discover discovered what had become of them - but even in his aging days, where his days held more darkness and dimness of mind than any sane or complete thought, Darkeyes still had his eyes and ears in the valley; not much could pass without his notice. So when he'd heard rumors of Taijya amassing a battle force, even his wandering mind knew where she had to be going.
It had taken him longer than he'd anticipated to get here; he was getting old, and there were days where he couldn't remember just what he was heading to the ranch for... but the intensity of his quest drove him on. Unfortunately, by the time he arrived, he was almost certainly too late to do much. Nevertheless, the aging father barrelled out of the trees, ignoring former allies and former foes alike, with his fangs having only one target; Whisper. Unfortunately, there was another who had followed him, and he was not intent on saving his family; he never had been. With a cruelty that had ever marked his walking upon this earth, Bane, faster and more agile than his father had ever been, cemented his many sins by prempting his father's attempt to save his mate and daughter by reaching for blind, helpless Kalei, preying as ever he had on the weak.
While all the chaos had been going on outside, there had been a maddening amount of barking and snarling from inside the house; locked in the building while everyone had gone to town, since she had long since been effectively decommissioned as a fighter, Rihanne was going near-mad not being able to join in the battling. She'd spent a good deal of useless time throwing herself at the door, and another few minutes looking for a way out; and finally, with a crash of broken glass and a scream of her crippled shoulder, the canine did find her way out a window, barely coming to a land in the yard before she was rushing forward with a speed that she hadn't used in over a year, turning her jaws for Taijya, a long time foe. A snap was delivered toward the fae's side to attract attention, but it was the hindquarters that were her true target, trying to limit how much the lithe and wily killer could move about.
Artemis, Kalei, Taijya, Whisper, Fajebin
Whisper snarled low as fangs ripped into her back. She dropped the now lifeless Moon Phase, lashing out at the rose eyed wolfess who had attacked her. But right when she was about to turn around she realized that she could not move her back legs. Her eyes widened, fear finally creeping into her. Movement was key, if she could move, she couldn't fight. And if she couldn't fight... she would die. No sooner had this realization hit that she heard her name with a voice very familiar. She turned to see Aidan and his family running in her general direction and she snarled low, prepared to lash out to inflict as many wounds as possible. She would die, she could not fight that fact, but she would leave a last impression. She snapped at Aidan, but realized too late that without the full control of her body, she could not protect her neck. Aidan had hold of her easily and she snarled and thresh her forepaws as violently as possible. She would not go down without a fight! Or so she wanted to believe. What the murdering wolf put up was less fight that a scrap between pups with her back end unable to moved and her neck held firmly by Aidan. She was easily ripped to shreds, her body meeting the same fate as Yins.
Kalei knew she'd gotten hold of the wolfs back and, luckily, had jumped out of the way just in time. She went to her mothers side as fast as she could, nudging her. She knew she was bleeding heavily, and on the inside, she knew that she was dead. She no longer breathed and her heart ad beat for the last time. But still she nudged, silent tears flowing down her now bloodied face. "Mama..." She was so intent on Moon Phase that she did not hear Bane coming. Or at least she did not act like she heard him. She didn't want to live in a world where everything she knew and loved was dieing around her, and though her faster still lived on, she hadn't seen him in some time. When Kalei was attacked by Bane she was flung like a rag doll, falling some distance away from her mother. She knew the scent the moment she was attacked. It was the brother whom she despised, the one she had tried to attack many years ago but as a pup could do nothing to prevent him from taking her other older sister. She lifted herself back off the ground, facing Banes direction. She glared as best she could, putting on her fighter face, trying to hid her tears. She however would not attack. She didn't have the heart to. She was broken from the inside now.
Fajebin snarled as he heard Artemis's words, turning to meet her head on but failing to notice Timber coming in for the kill. Timber caught him on the neck, and that took his attention away from Artemis so that she too could rip into the flesh around his neck. Her snapped at Artemis, tearing her ear but not reaching anything vital that might turn the tide in his favor.
Artemis held on, smelling her mate although not truly seeing him. Her eyes were all on Fajebin, all on taking revenge for her family. She had lost so much over the years, this this took the cake. Her mother, sisters, brother. Three of her beautiful children. All gone in an instant. To her the world was painted red with blood, taunting her. She could not handle this. She wanted the male to feel the same pain she felt, and so she would not let his die quickly. She released her hold, confident her mate was intent enough to hang onto his neck. She then attacked Fajebins underbelly, ripping into the flesh and tearing away at his body like he was some sort of deer. Her wolf instincts showed as she ripped through the skin and muscle that protected the organs and ripped at those too. She would make this painful, she would make him wish he were dead. She worked quickly, breaking ribs and finally in all literal senses of the phrase, ripped his heart out. She was enraged, and her now crimson colored pelt proved it. Even when she knew Fajebin was dead she snarled at what would seem like the air. It would seem she had snapped somewhere between trying to make him suffer and ripping his beating heart out. How had Timber been so strong? Why could she not be like him?
Taijya laughed as the pounding of the ranch door caught her attention. However when the glass broke, she could only lift a wolfish eyebrow as Rhianna raced towards her. The dog had always been a nuisance, she was surprised she hadn't been killed yet. The snap she made at Taijya brought her to snap at the little dog, obviously missing as she had forgotten the speed of the mutt. The dog did get hold of her hind limb, but she ripped it out and turned to face the little dog, her limb sporting only a few drops of blood. The wound was nothing she wouldn't survive. However, her nares told her that she was now the last of her group and this worried her. She had to destroy Timber. But first... Artemis. Killing the female would torture the dog, maybe more so then the death of his own children. Turning quickly she raced towards Artemis who stood as if she did not hear or smell her coming. The look in the human lovers eyes was unlike anything she had ever seen, and the sight of Fajebin's inners laying on the grass were disturbing as well. But this did not stop her from going straight for the females jugular, pushing her to the ground with her jaws around the grey females throat.
Artemis choked, completely caught off guard thanks to her episode of insanity by the murdering demoness, Taijya. "Just because you kill me, doesn't mean you can kill Timber. Look around, you are the last..." Her vision went in and out and the lack of oxygen would eventually kill her. Taijya did not snap her neck or rip through her jugular. She was sufficating her.
Timber & Others
Clinging to his enemy normally went against Timber's usual method of attack, but cling he did, like a magnet to Fajebin's neck. If he let go, he would be surrendering the enemy's fangs to potentially rip at his mate, and that was not something he could afford to do. Fed by enough anguish and hatred at watching three of his offspring die before his eyes, the little collie channeled every ounce of his raging emotions into his fight, almost making up for the lack of strength and power he usually had against his larger foes. And, it seemed to work, because in little time at all, Artemis had exacted revenge on the brute in one of the most vicious ways possible- she made sure he didn't have the swift death that Shora, Faulin, and Dianus did. "Artemis..." Slowly relaxing his jaws and releasing his second victim of today, Timber was panting when he worriedly called his mate's name. She was in a daze of emotional pain, a state he might have been in as well if not for a history filled with the sort of trauma that was unfolding all over again today; for him, the agony would all strike later, after the adrenaline faded and he could take in the full scope of devastation... devastation that was about to get even worse.
Timber gave an urgent whine, trying to snap his mate back to her senses before he would plunge back into the fray and finish off the last of the attackers. To his great horror, it was Taijya that got to Artemis first, and not in the way he wanted... he'd seen a blur of brown when Rihanne went by, but for once his unshakable vigilance failed him, and he didn't realize Taijya was thundering their way until it was far too late. He thought he had felt the great sting of panic and despair just minutes before when his offspring were downed, but now he was feeling it all over again and with enough potency to make his heart all but thump right out of his chest, so powerfully was it drumming. There was no time to snarl any words out, he had to act now to save his mate, and act he did, throwing all of his meager weight full force at Taijya. His keen fangs dug for her neck, but didn't seek the iron-jawed hold he'd used against Yang and Fajebin. He snapped and thrashed, then snapped again, shifting his bite so that if he met flesh, he might rip out chunks and go in for a new hold.
Aidan's family made quick, grim work of Whisper, which may very well put further strain on his relationship with Ankh... but he didn't care about that anymore. Whisper and her group had just killed three of his friends' children, and he would not allow that to go unpunished. "Good riddence." The mongrel rumbled under his breath when he released the slain wolfess. He scarcely felt the sting on his muzzle, where her fangs had cut two grooves into his flesh and left a nasty gash right across the top of his nose. His next move was to rush to Artemis and Timber's aid, but between him and them were three other canines that he wasn't fully familiar with. He knew enough to understand they were Artemis' father and two siblings, but their association with her was not entirely known - clearly, they weren't all on the same side, if two of the siblings were fighting, and that was reason enough for Aidan to rally his family and circle around them.
Darkeyes*Others
But my eyes are blinded
And now I can't see -
Are you out there in the darkness,
or is that just me?
The agony of watching his mate go down - in a wash of bloodied fur and a snap of bones - hit Darkeyes as though Whisper had leapt up and dealt him a physical blow. It froze his mind for a moment or two, keeping him from understanding what was going on to his fullest capacity... which really wasn't much, these days. It brought him clear to a stop, partially because he'd never been the intent sort of fighter that Timber had been forced to be - he couldn't keep battling in the face of all that. Not with that sigh before his eyes... mentally, he was kicking himself and trying to force his body back into gear, telling himself that he had two daughters who still needed his protection, but he couldn't force himself to move a muscle.
Unfortunately, his momentary shock gave Bane the opportunity he needed. For a blind wolf, Kalei had always proved very dexterous and adaptable, but in fighting, she simply wasn't a match against a sighting wolf - and now, she wasn't even trying. "You're weak," he hissed, staring her down and beginning to circle toward her in slow, fluid steps, as though he had all the time in the world to kill her. "Weak like Taipa. It's her fault and yours that this family is dead. And now, I'll see to it that you pay for that." That was the only announcement she got before he drove his lithe body forward, reaching down from his height to grasp the back of her neck and atttempt to give it a sharp twist, not necessarily looking for a one shot kill, but definitely trying to cause pain.
With Darkeyes still stopped in his place, he didn't acknowledge Aidan and his kin as they went by - but now his eyes were twitching back and forth between his two remaining daughters... all that was left of his family. Who to help, who to save? On the one paw, a voice was screaming to him to save Kalei, who had very little means of defending herself under her own power, thanks to her handicap... but privately, Darkeyes still felt the guilt of Artemis' early life... guilt that he'd never really been much of a father to her. It was something he blamed as much on himself as he did on Bane. And it was this private pain that drove him to move to save Artemis... two values that he couldn't separate in his mind. Eventually though, his body made up his mind for him - Moon Phase's blood was on the ground, and their demon-son was right under his nose, attacking the most vulnerable member of their family. In desperation, Darkeyes did something he'd sworn to himself once he'd never do - he dove forward, his fangs aimed for Bane's flesh, determined to kill his son and end his curse on the valley.
Kalei, Artemis, Taijya
As Bane spoke, poor little Kalei shook, not out of fear, but out of an overflow of emotion. She was distraught, her family having died without her being able to help any of them. She was also growing angry as Bane was the one who damned their family to a lifetime of misery. As he blamed herself and Taipa for the crime, it was like her candle relighted and she had a reason to fight again. As he an at her she ran forward, lowering herself at the last minute and trying to slide under his body. When she was beneath the male she would snap, trying to bite his underbelly. However her lack of sight made it so every move she had made was guesswork. With a hold or not she spit out her words in tones really not suited for words of war, "Taipa is stronger than you could ever hope to be! You are the weak one, running from your family and attacking the defenseless."
Artemis soon faded completely in the jaws of Taijya, her air supply cut off and never given a chance to allow her life again.
Taijya held tightly as the Timber attack. She wanted to be sure little Artemis would never protect the ranch again. By the time she had no doubts, Timber had made three bloody marks on her neck. The raven huntress dropped her latest kill and leapt for the collie, snapping her jaws at his face. "Foolish Timber. You should have killed me when you had the chance. Now I'm not leaving this land until one of us is dead." She ran at the canine, looking to run her body into him and rip at his side. She had to weaken him fast before Aidans gang came to kill her.
Timber & Others
He'd tried to inflict enough fiery pain on the she-wolf to make her let go, since he knew he possessed only a fraction of Taijya's strength and couldn't being to force her hold off of Artemis. It hadn't been enough though; the enemy was a veteran in battle, and pain was as familiar to her as it was to Timber. In only a pitifully short few minutes, the life of his mate had expired, and he was as alone as Darkeyes was right now, and filled with every bit as much rage. Maybe a bit too much rage, in fact, because it all but blinded his sights until all he could see, smell, and think about was Taijya. The cruel fae's scent burned like acid in his nose, and her words thrummed in his ears as unwelcome as claws across a chalkboard. Timber didn't try to dodge aside as he should have, he met her attack head on. Being the lesser weight, he was knocked over, and left with a sizable gash across his side, but the blow didn't seem to phase him much at all, because as he went down, he struck upwards with the tenacity of a striking viper for the underside of Taijya's throat.
Aidan and his family remained hesitant of Bane and Kalei, unsure whether to help them or not; they were Artemis' relatives, but... which one were they suppose to attack, and which one to save? Aidan spent a few moments too long stalking in an aggitated circle around the group, and realized this only when he heard Taijya's words to Timber. Mind made up, he plunged away from the fighting siblings and their father, and bolted for the collie and wolf, again with his family rushing after him.
Darkeyes*Others
After being thrown back by Taijya's shove, the cocker-mix had taken a moment to recover; after all, it had been taxing on her bad shoulder just to haul her frame out of the window, and the blow that she took had her staggering back. It was a second too late for her to help Timber save his mate - a fact which would sink into her later - but she wouldn't be disregarded simply because of her size. She wasn't quite so small as she'd once been, nearly of a height with Timber now, and though when Artemis has arrived Rihanne had been unfriendly and suspicious... well, she had brought life into Timber that Rihanne had never seen in him until that time. And with him counted as the best friend that she had, his pain was her pain too. So as soon as her feet were sturdy again, she was launching her frame upward with the aim of planting her weight on Taijya's back and her jaws to the rear of the she-wolf's neck, doing all that she could to see to it that Timber got a clean shot at his vital target.
Surprised that Kalei suddenly had gathered the gumption to fight, when only moments ago she'd been waiting for death, Bane was caught off guard by her attack. A larger-sized wolf like his father, it was easy for the small-bodied Kalei to slide under him, and she won a yelp from him as her fangs grasped across the bottom part of his chest and into the first part of his gut, but he rolled free quickly and used his superior weight to shake himself forcefully in hopes of freeing his frame from her jaws by whatever means. He felt his flesh tear, but that didn't faze him much. However as he bent over his younger sister to reach for her throat, taking advantage of her lower position, a large, furry force hit him broadside and sent him flying. Without knowing whether Bane's fangs had hit their mark on Kalei, Darkeyes tackled him away and set his teeth to Bane, mauling the younger male's nose and gouging one eye with a deftly-swung paw; the eye that Taipa herself had ruined only a couple of years back. But Bane tore himself free from that as well, striking and tearing a huge bloody gash into his father's scruff. With his mind so occupied with Bane and trying to save Kalei, he hadn't yet noticed Timber's fury - or the reason for it.
Taijya, Kalei
Kalei felt the jaws of her brother on her throat and she thought she was done for. But for some reason, luck seemed to be on her side. She heard the collision above her and felt the scent of Bane and her father move a distance away. She jumped to her paws and faced the direction of her father. The scents were intertwined and she could not quite tell who was where. That was until Bane jumped back, enough for Kalei to tell the two apart. She ran for the beast who had ripped her family apart, blindly leaping and going for his throat. She could smell her fathers blood, and knew she had to do what she could to save him. She had her weaknesses, but she had a strong heart.
Taijya snarled, feeling the fangs of Rhianna on the back of her neck. She had put so much focus on her target, Timber, that she had made a fatal error in not noticing the other canine. Timber too got his mark, although he did not kill her. His hold was not quite right, not quite strong enough, but it wouldn't take much to adjust it. Taijya would be dead soon and it would be obvious to anyone with eyes. Anyone but her. She was feeling invinsable. She had come so far and her slipping mind would not let it end here. It couldn't. Timber had to die. That was the end of the story. It played over and over in her mind. This was just a set back, a mild set back. And Taijya ranted with her confidence. "Foolish Timber. You can't kill me. None can kill me! I am Taijya! Greatest wolf to ever roam this valley!"
Timber & Others
He didn't realize at first that his hold was not quite a true one, and that could have been a life-ending error on his part if not for Rihanne's backup. If the little mix-breed was not their to help manage the wolf, he would have been open for dangerous counter assault before he figured out that his mark wasn't right. The collie dug his teeth in further before relinquishing that hold and shifting it to the side by a few notches and clamping down again like a furry vice. Planting his hind paws in the ground, he tugged back with all his strength, adding to the pressure that he was putting on Taijya's neck, "You'll die here, just like the rest of your friends! You're nothing but a scourge here, and today is the last that you'll murder another soul!" Well, good luck to anyone who could actually hear what he was saying through his clenched teeth, but that is what he snarling, muffled words were suppose to say. His heart was twisting with pain every bit as much as it was burning with hatred at this point, but unlike his mate's moment of shock and bloodlost, the collie was fairing a little better in keeping his wits about him.
"Woah! Nass, hey! NASS!" Aidan was almost upon Taijya when the small stallion came galloping from the side of the yard; Aidan couldn't only guess how the chestnut horse had gotten out of his pasture, though the scent of blood permeating the area could have very well driven him antsy enough to make him leap out of the enclosure. It also did a lot to blind the big creature with fear, as his wide, rolling eyes and flaring nares showed. "Stop!" Aidan barreled past the fighting canines and sprang up with a sharp bark at Nass, who was on a collision course for the fighters. Tahirah bolted around the other side to nip at the stallion's flank. The horse reared up and tossed his head violently, "What's going on here!?"
Darkeyes*Others
Luck... that had always been kalei's saving grace in her dealings with Bane; when she'd been a pup, the approach of the rest of her family had kept him from killing her when he'd hauled Taipa off, and now Darkeye's sudden effort to protect her had saved her throat for a moment or two. But luck could only carry one so far in a world of skill and blood, and in the life he'd led, Bane had definitely had his fill of both of those. It took him only a moment, as their father drew back and began to marshal another attack, to shift his entire attention to Kalei. Before the aging father could quite begin to understand what had happened, Bane whirled into her attack and reared up on his hind legs, giving her a brief grip on his forepaws before he used them to strike out against her chest and knock her back, which would hopefully give him enough time to dive in for the kill before Darkeyes could catch up with him. For the father himself, this was playing out in slow-motion, in the strange way that all such tragic events occur and remain in the memories of those whose lives are destroyed.
Though she had always been smaller and less powerful than everyone else here, and now was even moreso thanks to the wound that had put a stop to her days as a defender, Rihanne was ferocious in all of her diminuitive size; she hadn't seen nearly the bloodshed and suffering that Timber had in this place, but she'd seen enough to half-madden her with the swath of death around them, and it leant her the power to hang onto her grip on Taijya in order to give Timber time to adjust his hold. "Those days are over, demon! You are the last, and with all that you have cost us, you know that we will not let you live!"
Kalei and Taijya
Kalei couldn't see what was happening so she didn't realize she should be veering off from her attack. The force Bane exerted on the little females chest sent her flying back. She landed on the hard earth, losing her breath. As she tried to regain it, bloody fangs found her throat, ending her struggle and staining her alabaster pelt. The albino female died with a gasp, her pink eyes open and staring to the heavens. Maybe in death she would gain the sight she never had in life...
The raven huntress continued to snarl, her limbs thrashing for as long as she could keep it up. If she had been sane she might have come to some conclusion that death would meet her today, but as the fae had displayed, this was not the case. Her golden eyes were wide and enraged, bloodthirsty for the mutt she had tried most of her life to destroy. It had been many years since her first seige on the ranch, and she had forgotten her initial reason for her hatred. But her reason that had continued to push her was sport and the greatness that came with it. She had accomplished greatness. To finish off a family she only had Timber left. She'd come so close once, many years ago. But as any could see with the collie standing before her, close did not leave his body to rot.
She female spoke almost as if possessed. "I will never be the last! Wolves will come with an ambition to be like me! They will finish my work! You will not live to see another twelve moons! You'll see! You'll all see!" Her rant would have continued had Timber not torn the vital lines he had sought to destroy. She gasped, blood draining at an alarming rate from her neck before she fell limp. A goddess of death among wolves, she and her bloodthirsty comrades would no longer terrorize the ranch. But none who had experienced her skill and destruction would be able to forget her. She had made a name for herself, one which would haunt the ranch for years to come.
Timber & Others
I know you didn't want to leave
Your heart yearned to stay
But the strength I always loved in you
Finally gave way
Timber did not let go of the wolfess, not while she was thrashing, and still not when her wild throes had dimmed and ceased all together. Her words buzzed through his head as loudly as his own pulse thrummed through his very ears, and his rage was so great that he didn't register what she was saying. all that matter to him was that he continue to bite down and not let go; he finally had the monster between his death, and he would die before he let go... one way or another, only one of them would remain standing after this battle.
He didn't care that the ground trembled when Nass came so close to running him and Taijya both over, or that Aidan had jumped into the fray just in time to divert the horse's path and harry the frightened steed away. The only thing on Timber's mind was feeling the lifepulse of his enemy die down and wither away completely, and even then he continued holding onto her ravaged neck, snarling and bristling, and giving the corpse a few more thrashes before he finally released his grip and let his aching jaws relax. Then the real pain came, a pain that had nothing to do with the gash across his side that was Taijya's final farewell gift... it was the ache in his heart that hurt so bad that the collie thought he might just drop then and there. He stumbled forward and lay down next to his mate, nose quivering as he touched it against her own. Tiredly, he rested his head over her battered neck, as if to give comfort to his beloved mate, even though she was past the realm of physical help now.
Watching from under the porch still, Nak was shocked into a stupor, unable to command his legs to pick him up or crawl out from his hiding spot. The corpses that littered the ground were enough to make his head spin. Sage was not faring much better either, with a wound that blazed across her face and left her looking far worse off than she was, with all the crimson that stained her pretty coat. In a sense of shock herself, the female found herself at Shora's side, nudging her sister.
How I needed you
How I bleed now you're gone
In my dreams I can see you
But I awake so alone
Rihanne*Others
"Who's the weak one now?" Stepping back from his charge forward, Bane opened his jaws and dropped his blind sister's body on the ground like so many pounds of trash, whispering that to her even though she was beyond ever hearing it, now. There was a smug, lascivious grin on his blood-stained muzzle - but that smirk was wiped away in a moment as a large weight hit him from the side, staggering the black male and forcing him to scramble to regain his footing. Enraged and struck by the intense guilt of watching Kalei die - and then turning to find Artemis dead also - Darkeyes had crossed that barrier between defensive father and manic for blood, and had put all of his strength into driving forward to strike Bane down. Bane, who had early on destroyed the peace of their family by challenging Apollo and taunting Artemis; Bane, who had forced pups on his own sister. Bane - who had been born out of love, and had cost him so much. There weren't any words to the snarls as father and son tore around the yard, each leaping forward alternately to draw blood from the other, and both seeming oblivious to the fact that they were the only two left fighting.
Upon Taijya's collapse, Rihanne had been tossed a couple of feet to the ground, and had given a sharp yelp when she'd hit a little harder than was comfortable. Nevertheless, she was up an instant later, unharmed save for a bloodied muzzle, and staring around in sheer horror at the yard - so familiar and always so welcoming, now become a ground of death again. Timber was offered several precious minutes of silence - broken as it was by the sounds of Darkeyes and Bane still battling their private war across the way - as the copper mix tried to take in the carnage around them... but finally, she drew close, not speaking any words but placing herself beside him in the grass and beginning to run her tongue over the wound on his side.
Timber & Others
"What happened?!" Blood had always been something that spooked Nass, and was one of a small list of things that could turn the intelligent creature into a wild-eyed, skittish beast driven a little too strongly on the 'flight' response. "Where's the wolves?!" While he reared up and dashed his hoofs against the ground anxiously, scarcely looking to see whether or not there was a canine underfoot, Aidan and his family wisely backed off once they'd gotten Nass far enough away from what remained of their canine friends. "Tahirah, take the others and see what's going on with those other two. I'll handle Nass." So doing, the pitbull led their three older offspring back across the yard, leaving Aidan to try and calm Nass. Once again, Darkeyes and Bane had a small audience around them, consisting of Tahirah, Sundile, Stardust, and Spark. After a few tense moments of watching the father and son fight, Tahirah's low, growling voice called out to them... though she wasn't sure if either would hear her past their raging battle, "You'll both stand down and take your fight elsewhere, or we'll have to intervene." It was a complex issue, and she didn't feel entirely comfortable saying it; after all, scent told her that Darkeyes was the father of Artemis, and several of the wolves slain here belonged to him. But at the same time, she would not risk any more harm coming to her domestic pack.
Timber didn't stir at all when Rihanne sat down next to him, when any other time she would have been met by a thumping tail at the very least. It had been years since he'd been hit by such trauma, and despite how hardened he was to battle and loss, it felt as if he were experiencing it all again for the first time. Nak was the one who actively sought out an adult right now, after he'd finally compelled his jelly-like likes to lift him up. Squeezing out from under the porch where Pippy and Sky Gazer had stayed with him, he slunk across the yard and hunched down next to Rihanne, wordlessly seeking out comfort.
Rihanne*Others
The battle between father and son was quickly getting more ugly; Bane had one eye dripping blood and gore and half of the skin torn away from the upper part of his snout, bearing the meat to the air, and while that was the most grisly-looking of his wounds, it was not the only one - he sported mauled forepaws and a slash over his back that was bleeding freely into the dark fur. And Darkeyes was faring no better, having one hind limb that had clearly been wrenched from the socket that was dragging behind him as he struggled to maneuver and snatch the loose skin at the back out his neck out of his son's jaws. There was no intelligence to be seen in the older male's eyes - but Bane flashed a cruel glance to Tahirah, his voice coming out muffled around his mouthful of his father's ruff. "Become involved, and you become a victim, dog! Try it, if you dare!"
Rihanne wasn't really expecting any kind of response out of her old friend, and she hadn't gone to him to receive anything from him; she'd gone to lay beside him because it was the only thing left to do, in this situation, and because she could have done nothing else. There wasn't much she could do to make up for the loss of his mate - but as his friend, it was the only thing she could have done; she could have never left him laying there, looking so lost and far away. So she continued cleaning up the wound as the silent minutes passed, pausing in that task only for a moment when Nak crept over and tucked in beside her. She took a moment to turn her tongue to the yearling, washing his face in a way that was almost motherly and making room for him beside her, and then went back to her task of cleaning the blood out of Timber's fur, all wordless.
Timber & Others
Had Tahirah known which side to help, she would have certainly plowed into the fight now to help the greater good. Unfortunately, she had been too preoccupied in taking down the clear-cut enemies to see that Bane had attacked and killed his own sister. Unnerved and on edge, the alabastor female paced around the entangled duo until stopping at a point where she was between them and the Ranch, acting as a solid line of defense should one break off and have a go at her friends or family. "Those are daring words to use on our turf, wolf!" Every bit as ready to fight as their mother was, the three siblings watched keenly as the fight progressed, trying to gauge who might come out a winner, and by fault, be the one that they'd have to deal with next. By the looks of the combatants, neither of them were fairing very well at this point.
For several more minutes, there was no sound from Timber, or any movement to suggest he even knew Rihanne was next to him. Being the father that he was though, he bolted to his feet in a surprising bout of animation when Sage suddenly gave cry to a wavering howl when it finally dawned on her that her siblings and mother were dead. Shaken by the howl, Timber bristled momentarily until the haze cleared in his mind and he snapped back into his senses, and finally appeared to acknowledge his best friend by his side. "Rihanne..." His breathy word was a hard one to hear, though his voice strengthened when he went on, "...were you hurt? Sage, come over here." Just like that, he was drawing out of the catatonic state and picking up where he left off, numbly trying to figure out who was left and how they were fairing.
Rihanne*Others
"One never needs to be daring, when one is right!" Bane challenged, a hint of insanity in his gaze as he flicked his eyes very briefly to Tahirah, heedless of the bloody scene around them that seemed to have so impacted everyone else. Before he could say anything else, though, he gave a grunt of discomfort as Darkeyes tackled him away from Tahirah and her children, not necessarily trying to protect them, but simply trying to prevent more bloodshed, whomever it might be. It left him an opportunity to tear open the side of Bane's neck, just barely missing his mark of the vital vein and granting the black wolf his life, for now, but only a moment later, he was driven back by pain in his affected limb, giving Bane the momentary upper hand to slash his fangs at Darkeyes' belly. Darkeyes still hadn't spoken to Tahirah - but in the next moment, none of that would matter, because he drove himself forward and, with a clean, quick snap of bones, broke Bane's neck, dropping him in a suddenly-limp heap to the ground. Strangely enough, Bane was still alive and breathing - but he wouldn't be for long, and just as soon as that was done, Darkeyes dropped too, not from wounds, but simply from the same kind of pain that was overwhelming Timber right now. Plopping down into the bloodied grass between his fallen mate and his dead child, and completely regardless of how Tahirah and her offspring could easily leap upon him and kill him, Darkeyes closed his eyes and fell silent, listening to the ragged, harsh breathing of his dying son.
"Hush... I'm fine." When finally Timber drew out of his stupor enough to form words, Rihanne answered him gently and softly, while sitting up to continue washing out the wound. Of course, 'fine' wasn't quite it, with her bad shoulder screaming because she'd fought on it and her muzzle streaming blood, but nothing on her was lifethreatening, and she was far more concerned with comforting the collie and his children who suddenly found themselves bereft of mate and mother.
Timber & Others
Bane was fast becoming the one that Tahirah was ready to lunge for, his remarks earning him a bloody-fanged snarl from the dog and most of her attention, since Darkeyes had not said anything to them, aggressive or otherwise. And yet, the mother held back, still unwilling to get involved in a fight that may have nothing to do with her domestic pack at all, and soon enough, her involvement was no longer necessary. Darkeyes had gotten the opportunity to make his fatal blow, snapping his son's neck in a blur of sound and motion that made Sundile grimace and scuttle back a little. Not as familiar with such bloodshed as their mother, the two-year olds were not nearly as collected as level headed as their mother was right now, and all but Stardust were now staring at the dying body of Bane. Tahirah grimly looked away from it, and to the sole survivor of the wild family, tenuously moving forward after she'd commanded her offspring to stay back, "I need to know where you stand with the humans and dogs of this Ranch." She tried to be strictly professional in how she spoke, but even Tahirah relented a little at the pitiful sight of the father, so that her words were toned somewhat, and not demanding.
He at first looked to be staring straight through Sage when she padded towards him and sank down onto her haunches. Rihanne's words clicked in his mind a few seconds after she'd delivered them, at which time he had begun to sniff over his daughter's face. "We have to wait for the Masters now." He spoke in a disconnected manner, as if having lost the will to get up and secure the area of any further dangers, or see to helping out in any other way. What he did do, however, was try to clean his daughter's face, but when she yelped and drew away sharply, finding the touch too painful, his expression creased with pained emotion at last.
Rihanne*Others
The harsh, gurgling sound of Bane's breathing went on for several agonizing moments, the wet quality of his breaths revealing the trouble within and plenty enough to make some of the less battle-hardened among them a little queasy. And perhaps because of this, Darkeyes seemed deaf to Tahirah's words; he neither opened his eyes nor answered her, despite the fact that she had every reason to suspect that he might be a threat here, and might see fit to be more forceful if he did not offer her a reply. "It's alright, Tahirah," came a low alto voice instead, quiet and whispering in tone, but still carrying in the stillness of the yard. Returned abruptly from their trip, and having left the pups at the den with her strictest orders to stay there, Karai was padding ever-so-slowly into the clearing, and making her way toward the other half-feral mother. "This is my brother, and I will speak for him... and assume full responsibility for whatever he has done." She drew carefully forward and nudged the bloodied male, and though he didn't open his eyes to her either, he sighed, and leaned against her for a moment.
As she began to speak softly to him, trying to get him to answer her, Rihanne ran her head comfortingly across the length of Timber's side. "Martha will cry, John will get the gun and take Nass out, and Tahmores will go quiet in the way that he does... I thought those days were over, Timber," she whispered, referring to the long couple of years she and he had spent in the blood-strewn days of the ranch, wherein they'd both learned just how each of the masters would respond to a tragedy like this one. She paused to acknowledge a soft nudge from Elder Brother, who drew close and planted himself at Timber's other side. He didn't say anything, and there wasn't much to be seen on his face, but Rihanne had known the wolf long enough now to read the expression of guilt and sorrow on his face; sorrow for the dead, and guilt because a leisure trip had taken them away from the ranch in a time when they were needed. Perhaps, had he and Karai been here, the others could have been spared... and whether or not it was true, Brother blamed himself for it.
Timber & Others
Along her back, her short, white fur was standing up like a long mohawk from the base of her neck down to the start of her tail. It wasn't as impressive as the fully-expanded ruff and raised hackles of an angry wolf, but it got the point across just as well, and let anyone who tossed her a glance know that that she was not in a cheery mood right now. "I'll ask you one more ti-" The pitbull forced away any sympathetic thoughts that she was feeling for the battered and beaten father and questioned him a second time when he failed to respond, making it a top priority to ensure that there was no one left here that meant the rest of her family harm. She would have been hard-pressed to attack Darkeyes even if he hadn't answered this second question, but she would have had to do something; thankfully, Karai saved them both from that unpleasant scenario by arriving in time to speak up for the speechless wolf. Tahirah's raised fur didn't settle, but she did drop her head an inch or two and relax the stern expression that had been on her face, "He's done nothing against us. I just needed to be sure which side he was on." For Karai, Tahirah carried a voice that was much more personal and lacking the 'business' tone of her previous words.
Timber was far from blaming anyone for the deaths, other than those murders that had met their end already today; yet he didn't quite have the presence of mind to notice the look Brother was carrying, or to ease the wolf's unnecessary guilt right now. "So did I." was all he responded with, already envisioning just what Rihanne had predicted of their masters.
"They... they're all dead?" Wide eyes and flared nostrils spoke of great anxiety in the small stallion, who'd been 'calmed' down enough by Aidan that he could approach the scene again with enough sense not to step on any of his smaller canine friends. Nass minced towards the shredded body of Yin, torn so asunder that it was hard to imagine what the wolfess had once looked like.
Rihanne*Others
"I came here to defend my mate and my children, and the grandchildren I have never had the opportunity to know, out of respect for my daughter's wishes. Now lacking them, what other cause have I to harm anyone?" Strangely enough, it was when Tahirah stopped pressing him for an answer and lowered her head that Darkeyes finally offered her a reply for her efforts, in a tone carrying-enough that Rihanne flinched a little beside Timber. Where she'd settled next to him, Karai reached to wash out the wounds on his mauled face, and whispered, "Hush, Kain... this isn't the time," mindful where he was too disturbed to be of how much his statements might impact Timber himself. Thankfully enough, the male fell silent after that - or at least didn't say anything loud enough that the others would be able to hear him. A moment or two later, a familiar howl made the silver fae perk her ears up, and she spoke softly to her mate. "Brother... go meet Joscelin, please. Take him back to the den, and tell him I will meet him there later. We will need to discuss this matter at that time."
Thankful to have something to do aside from sit there and say nothing, since he could think of no words that would make the situation less somber, Brother nodded quietly to her words and excused himself, moving into the trees toward the sound of the howl without a sound. After first tensing at a wolven sound in the face of such a bloody attack, Rihanne slowly began to relax when it appeared that Karai knew the howling party, and was unafraid of them. It was enough that, after a few seconds, she went back to her task of cleaning up the collie's wounds, her ears pulled back flat against her square skull as much for the emotional impact of the day as to keep them out of the way. She didn't answer Nass... but then with the destruction around them, and the general lack of gaiety in any of the canine guardians, the question didn't really need any answer.
Timber & Others
Tahirah swallowed quietly and refrained from replying right away. Now that she knew this male was not a potential threat, she could let her empathetic side emerge to some extent, and acknowledge that Darkeyes was as much a victim as Timber was right now. Both had lost their mates and their children, all in one fell, vicious swoop that struck out of left field. "Not everyone perished today." Blunt as those words were, she used them softly in reference to the remaining two grandchildren that Darkeyes had, even though he'd never met them before. "Karai..." The mother looked around the yard, then perked her floppy ears towards the lane. Hearing no vehicles yet, but knowing that their masters could arrive at any time, she spoke in warning to the wolfess, "You should get your brother out of here, at least out of the yard. Tah and Martha may understand, but I fear John my not be so lenient... at least if he is out of John's sight, he will be safe enough."
Timber reacted to Darkeye's outburst as well, darting his head towards the grounded wolf and, for a moment, seeing little but red in his vision. Only when he realized Karai was there did the fleeting moment of aggression drain from him again, and see him to his feet, "Rihanne, can you watch them for me?" He still sounded incredibly defeated as he asked his best friend to watch what remained of his children, "I'm going to patrol... make sure there's no one else out there."
Rihanne*Others
The bloodied male didn't have anything to say to Tahirah, either because he was too depressed and wandering in his mind, or because Karai had enough influence over him to keep him quiet. But apparently, it hadn't occurred to him to examine the scents of Nak and Sage, or else he would have known that not all of his grandchildren had died... still, his surprise showed only marginally in how the blue eyes flicked open for a moment to focus wearily on the pitbull. It was the female who finally spoke up and answered, "I believe he can make it as far as my den. He will be safe enough there until his wounds begin to heal. Come on, Kain." It took a moment of struggling on his part, and in the end, much of his weight was leaned against his much-smaller sister, but in the end, Darkeyes - whom Karai consistently called 'Kain', for reasons she kept to herself - was upright, and with the wisdom of Tahirah's words firmly in her mind, the silver mother began to escort him toward the northwest of the house, where her den was.
"Sage, come here, dear," the cocker-mix whispered, calling the younger female a little closer where she would feel safer about her. It was the only response she had the heart to give to Timber's request; there was so much else she could have said, but it was all just words, and would have done nothing but rub salt in a wound. So instead, she moved to ensure that both Nak and Sage would be safe until their father returned, and gave the collie himself a careful nudge of affection and concern. "Be careful... and remember that Brother and I both are within barking distance. Mind to yourself - because if you don't, I'll have words for you when you get back."
Timber & Others
'Kain' had caught her attention, because now that she had a better understanding of who this male was, she could almost certainly label him as 'Darkeyes', a name she had picked up from Timber and Artemis some time ago. The dog wasn't going to get into such a discussion now though, and quietly nodded her broad head to Karai and watched as she guided her weakened and heart-broken brother away from the danger of the yard. With that task underway, she moved somberly through the bloodied lawn to stand near Rihanne and the others.
Trembling something fierce and just as shocked by the deaths as she was the searing pain throbbing over her face, Sage stumbled back towards Rihanne after she'd initially scrambled back to avoid her father's touch. She didn't get too close to Rihanne or anyone else though, making it clear that she didn't want anyone getting near her torn forehead. Nak was actually recovering a little better now, partly because he'd escaped the entire ordeal without so much as a scratch, "Rihanne... I th-think I want to stay inside with you tonight." Drifting away from the small group even as they spoke, Timber had no words to give back to Rihanne, either because he didn't hear all that she had said, or because he couldn't muster a reply. Either way, Aidan gave the cocker-mix a meaningful look, letting her know that he was going to ghost after the collie and make sure nothing happened to him.
Rihanne*Others
"Oh... Tahirah." Almost out of sight by now, Karai turned back and muttered something briefly to Darkeyes, who wavered and then sat down in his place to allow Karai to come back toward the pitbull and address her privately. "If you could... the silver female over there, and all of his children who do not belong to the ranch... could you manage to get them out of the yard? It will be less shocking to the masters when they return... and it may help to steady my brother as he stays in this area with me in the next fews days. The masters would only clean up the bodies, and that could very well break his fragile hold on his mind. Leave Taijya, Whisper and the rest where they lay... but please bring the rest into the treeline."
Watching Timber go - and truly having wanted to follow him herself, as much to comfort him as for his safety - Rihanne nevertheless understood that patrol was an excuse to get out of the yard and the immediate vision of every one to grieve a little and to get a better hold on himself. So she gave Aidan a grateful look to indicate that she'd understood him, and then gently turned her attentions to Timber's offspring. Getting the unspoken message that Sage didn't want her mauled forehead messed with, Rihanne instead ran her head along the younger female's shoulder, while twitching her tongue a bit to clean half-dried blood off of the front part of her own nose, which was covered in crimson thanks to the wealth of veins in the sensitive area around her eyes and the base of her nose where Taijya's teeth had done damage. She hadn't begun to feel her wounds yet - including a small slice across her side that she'd taken when she jumped through the window and grazed some of the splintered glass - but she would very much, later; though she was able to ignore it now in the face of so much horror and grief for the pups she'd watched grow up - Artemis included - her shoulder would make it's displeasure heard very loudly later. Still, she spoke kindly to Nak. "Of course, little one," she whispered, adopting the term she so rarely used with them these days, now that they were considered adults. "There is space for you on my bed... you may stay with me." That in itself was quite an honor, considering - Rihanne had never been territorial about the bed that Martha had given her, in her first days at the ranch, but it was just an understood thing that the bed belonged to the cocker, and most everyone else respected that, and didn't try to make use of it. It was something of a privilege to be allowed to sleep there with her, and she extended it now because she was, in her own way, feeling very protective over both of them right now.
Timber & Others
"Of course." Tahirah had turned to acknowledge Karai, speaking lightly still as if to make up for the fact that she'd been so blunt with Darkeyes just minutes before. Sticking to her word, the white canine proceeded through the fallen ranks of wolves, using her nose to tell her who was foe and who belonged to Darkeyes. One by one, she hauled the bloodied bodies out of the yard, dragging them into the nearby woods where the newly budding plants of the forest were just starting to wake up.
The group had a good hour to wait before Martha's truck and trailer was heard rumbling along the gravel lane towards the house. Nak immediately perked his ears up, but didn't move away from Rihanne an inch. Lacking his mother now, and for the time being, his own distraught father, the young adult was acting very puppy-like in his need to be near and protected by someone. Sage had drifted from Rihanne, to the porch, and was now back by the cocker mix when the truck came crusing into view, to park in its usual spot near the house. Eyes and ears turned to the woman as she stepped out of the truck and started for the house... only to stop a few feet from the vehicle and gape in shock at the sight that waited for her. Her hand went to her mouth, and the canines might here a few breathy words before she came forward in a rush, heading first to Rihanne and the two that were near her, with her immediate concern being over their state of health.
Rihanne*Others
In the next hour, during which everyone kind of clung together because there was nothing else to do in the face of such an attack, there was very little said and less done. Tahirah and Aidan seemed the only ones sensible enough to do anything at all, and even then, their tasks were solemn, unhappy ones. For her part, Rihanne had remained motionless beside Nak, moving only to turn her head when Sage clambered up onto the porch, and then only long enough to be sure of where the younger female was going. She didn't follow after Sage, instead keeping her place next to Nak, and standing a guard over what remained of Timber's children, and the happiness he'd found with Artemis. For the whole hour, she remained on her feet, not even seating herself, which was unusual for her, given her bad shoulder. It was perhaps not the most clever thing she'd ever done, but with her senses in high alert and the blood-strewn yard around them to remind her repeatedly of just what might happen if she let her guard falter, Rihanne was still standing upright in the same place, by the time the familiar rumble of Martha's truck broke the silence of the yard. She waited silently as the woman got out of the vehicle and surveyed the shocking carnage around her, not so much as whining to try to get her attention. And even when finally the woman seemed to recover and ran toward her to see what might be done about their obvious injuries, she didn't make a sound, instead turning her muzzle up and pushing her ears under Martha's hand, while awkwardly adjusting her position and sinking into a sitting position. Martha was back, and she had the gun to scare off anyone who might try to pick off what was left of the guardians, and so the copper female could finally relax her tense position.
So close to her, Nak and Sage might hear the hot, interrupted passage of air that indicated the pain had finally set into her shoulder, but other than that she made no sound, and indeed was more worried about Sage's face, which seemed to be much more painful to her than any of Rihanne's own wounds were. Perhaps this was because the pit-mix had been doing this and fighting her for much longer, but either way, it was the younger female who most had her concern, even though the blood had since mostly dried in her coat and left quite a mess.
It was a few minutes more before a howl rang through the air, a signal that all of them should know by now - Tahmores was on his way in, and had passed Brother and Karai's den, causing the male to join him and sound off to let everyone know that the wolfboy was returning. He'd been traveling the valley quite a bit recently during the day, and he'd planned tomorrow to go and speak to Nadeem, whom he'd heard of by reputation and thought he might be able to lend some assistance to - but that would have to wait, as would be obvious by the time he got to the house. Only a few moments after the howl Brother gave, they might hear Tahmores' steps crashing through the trees - apparently, the wolf had been able to communicate to him that something was wrong, and it had spiked an urgency in him. It took him very little time to reach the house, and when he had, he let out a whine to all the canines around him, clearly confused and wanting to know what had happened. It took him only a moment, however, to recognize Taijya, and a few other infamous characters, and then his face solemned, and he drew close to Martha. "The one day we were all in town... they knew when to strike us."
Timber & Others
Even Aidan's children clustered near the front of the house, none of them venturing any further than the yard in the next hour that passed by with such uncomfortable silence and sorrow. The stench of blood and death permeated the area, making even Tahirah uneasy as she circled about the perimeter of the house, driven as much as Rihanne was to make sure that all was well, since they were the only two capable adults in the area at the moment. When Martha did arrive, the stocky dog drifted off towards the edge of the porch and sat down there, watching from a distance as the human began to look over her wounded companions. Tahirah had only a minor bite to the side of one cheek, and wouldn't permit it to be looked over without some serious struggling on the two-leggers part.
A soft hand stroked down the length of Rihanne's head and neck, comforting the dog and at the same time comforting herself with the fact that her loyal house companion was still alive after such a brutal massacre. "I thought this was all behind us. We haven't had any troubles for so long." She whispered back, almost too stunned by the shocking loss to feel guilty yet, even if there was no way they could have known about the impending attack. After she'd given Rihanne a good petting, Martha gently ran her hands along the canine, looking and feeling for any injuries, and thankfully finding little than the minor cut. However, having owned Rihanne as long as she did, Martha could safely guess that her shoulder would be hurting if she were involved in the fight, "We need to get the to the vet. I'm running low on supplies here, and - oh Sage, come here, girl." The young hybrid took a few mincing steps forward, her low, wagging tail expression that she did want to be near them, but her nervous eyes and pinned ears also expressed that she was just too anxious and hurting too much. With a drawn out whine, she backed away from Martha just as soon as she'd slunk up to her. The womans' heart sank more as she looked around, not only at seeing Artemis and her slain children, but noticing the frightening absence of Timber, Karai, Aidan, and the rest of Brother's offspring.
Tahmores*Others
The chocolatey eyes closed in the coppery face, for several moments sheerly treasuring the affection she was getting and trying to block out the pain, both emotional and physical. Only partially successful in that venture, thanks to the severity of what she'd put her limited mobility through today and the agony of so many others around her, she finally let out with a soft whine, her stump of tail wriggling just a bit, but her ears pinned back as she turned her gaze between Sage and Nak, and then back to Martha again. Strangely enough, it seemed that those who had survived the attack had made it away with only minor - if painful - wounds, which made it even more painfully clear just who the targets had been. "I passed Karai and their brood on the way here," Tahmores told Martha, knowing all too well just what she was looking for as she darted her eyes around the yard. "All seemed safe and sound enough, and I saw no injuries. And unless I'm mistaken... Timber took off in that direction-" He paused, tilting his head to indicate the direction of the collie's exit. "-followed closely by Aidan. Injured, but not too seriously. Still... I imagine he will need to see the vet as well." With a sigh, he too reached to pet Nak and Rihanne, diplomatically choosing not to make the attempt with Sage, and went on, "Brother knows where they went... I'd better go see if I can convince him to come back with me. Can you get Rihanne and the rest in the truck on your own?" While he was speaking, a silver face had poked out of the trees, indicating that news spread fast, around here - Karai moved quietly to join Brother beside Tahmores, even if she, like Tahirah, avoided human contact, and didn't seek affection from either of the humans.
Timber & Others
Martha tried to coax Sage to her a few more times, but though the hybrid wagged her tail fiercely and whined again in an eagerness to be near the humans and canines alike, she couldn't be enticed to get within touching range of anyone. "They're well?" A great sigh left the woman, leaving her and taking a powerful weight off her chest all in the same moment. With the likes of Taijya's body in the yard, Martha had feared the worst for their canines, understandably, and was gratefully surprised to hear that not all was lost. When she took the time to look around the yard again, she could get a clearer picture of just what might have happened; here and there, the three older offspring of Aidan and Tahirah had a cut or a gash on their being, painting a picture of one massive fight that surely would have been frightening to witness. "I can manage them, if you can find Timber and Aidan. Be careful out there, Tahmores. And-" Martha wasn't terribly surprised to see Nass wondering around the side of the house, considerably calmer now, but still stepping high as he walked, as if he were trudging through muck and water, "Could you see Nass to his stall?" Following that, she wasted no time wrapping her arms around Rihanne, one around the front of her chest, and the other scooped underneath her, to try haul her up off the ground. She may only have a few visible injuries from the glass and fangs alike, but the shoulder was still hot on Martha's mind, and she knew the dog would be more comfortable if carried.
Nak now gave a low, plaintive whine; he knew what 'vet' meant, and he didn't like it. However, left with the option of staying in the yard by himself, or potentially enduring needles but having his friends near at hand, he choose to slink after Martha and Rihanne. "Come along now, lets go for a ride." Martha called out, keeping her eyes either on the dogs, or on the truck, and doing her best not to take too much time glancing over the sad bodies still littering the yard. Like a mini parade, Sundile, Pippy, and the other three offspring of Aidan filed after her, leaving Tahirah sitting where she was by the porch, and Sage standing with a tucked tail and cowered down body. She didn't like the 'vet' word either.
Rihanne*Others
Giving a whine as Martha lifting her, not because she did not appreciate being carried but because she also knew and detested the 'vet' word, Rihanne wriggled for a moment, almost as though trying to get the woman to let her go. But after freezing up quite suddenly when she discovered that struggling made her shoulder grab uncomfortably, she plastered her ears to her skull and held still. If things held true to her usual behavior, she'd likely have to be drugged a little bit when they got to the vet - after so long living at the Pits before she came here, and being giving shots of steroid and such to make her fighting better, and being around so many men that did her harm, she simply did not do well when anyone pointed a needle or any other object in her direction. She could tolerate it from Martha, and indeed had never protested on the occasions when the woman had patched up her many injuries, but she had no fondness for them, and had been known to get defensive and snap at the vet techs, if they tried anything of the sort. It made trips to the vet - and the few hours afterwards as the drugs wore off and allowed her to escape her world of loopy behavior - quite an unpleasant affair. Still after at first squirming in the woman's hold, Rihanne did not further protest as Martha carried her toward the truck.
As Tahmores moved forward to take hold of a section of Nass' mane in the idea of corralling the wily stallion on the way, Karai gave her mate a nuzzle in parting and then padded up quietly beside Sage, not getting within that protective bubble that the female had established around herself due to the pain of her injuries, but still close enough to be gentle and mothering in nature, as was her custom. "Sage, dear... much as you may not like it - and mind you, I don't blame you - your face needs to be looked at, and even were that not so, Timber's side needs to be treated. And you know perfectly well that he is going to be difficult enough to persuade at this moment... if you try to remain behind, he will have greater reason to protest. With both you and Nak heading for town with Martha, all of us will have a much easier time of getting him to see to his own injuries." This was a kind but slightly sneaky way of going about this - but then, even if Sage was fearful of having her own injuries gone over, Karai was betting that, with the sudden death of her mother, she would be even more fearful of losing her father now, and that much more urgent in wanting his wounds treated so that he would heal properly. Of course, it still was yet to be seen whether or not Timber could be persuaded to join them at all... but it would be much easier on everyone if the whole that remained of his family came also.
Meanwhile, after doing his best to see Nass back to his stall - or the corral, if he would not go inside - Tahmores and Brother had set off in the direction of Timber and Aidan, soft-footed and near-silent to avoid being heard by the stricken father as they crept about. It wasn't that they didn't want Timber to know that they were there... but they didn't want the collie to realize that Aidan had followed him, understandably. So the two of them quietly and blindly began to follow the path set out for them, guided only by their ears and Brother's nose to help steer them in the right direction as they sought out Timber, neither certain of what they might find.
Timber & Others
It was hard to really pet Rihanne with her arms bound around the dog like they were, but she did manage to stroke a thumb along the dog's coppery fur in a consoling motion, "Easy girl, you're fine." Martha held firm to the dog too, even after she stopped struggling about. Unsure of how bad Sage's injury was, what condition the others were in, she felt the urge to get them seen as soon as possible. Even if none of them were suffering life-threatening injuries, she knew at the very least that they were in pain, and that was reason enough to spur her into quick action. "Be a good girl, Rihanne. There you are; no, no- Pippy out!" It was a struggle to sort of hunch down and grasp at the passenger door with two fingers, all the while trying to hold Rihanne, and once she'd gotten the door open and eased the cocker mix down on the front seat, the horde of canines around her tried to pile in all at once. "Pippy, out!" The yearling had to be taken by the scruff and forcefully guided out of the cab, leaving only Rihanne in there for the moment, who was soon going to be joined by Sage and Timber, if the two could be caught. It was quite the struggle to get the door closed, hopefully with Rihanne still in the cab, while the rest of the dogs were on the outside, "This way, come on- there you are, in you go." 'Vet' might be a great turn off, but the the use of the word 'ride' was almost too much to ignore, and it was fairly simple for Martha to open up the trailer and watch the younger dogs flood in.
On any given day, Sage was a very energetic hybrid, outgoing and brave, and one of the easiest canines for Martha to work with and train. What minor injuries she had gotten in previous times were no problem for Martha to patch up, with little to no protest from Sage. She was gentle as she was intelligent, but none of that was showing through right now as she cowered with an arched back and partially tucked tail that still wagged whenever she heard Martha's voice. "...I don't want to see the vet, I just want to stay here." Her eyes turned fleetingly to her mother's body, the only one of Darkeye's offspring that Tahirah left behind, because she knew that the Masters would treat it much differently than the corpses of the unknown wolves. The more Karai said though, the more Sage looked down to the ground, thinking more sensibly now than she had in the past hour. She didn't say anything else in response to the mother, but when Martha started her way, it became clear that Karai had said just the right thing to gain Sage's compliance. The young hybrid whined again and trembled so violently that one would almost think she must be freezing cold, but she didn't run - she stayed where she was even as Martha gently hoisted her up off the ground. She didn't go quite so calmly as Rihanne however, issuing a series of yelps so harrowing and forceful that it sounded like she was being murdered; it was more out of terror than it was physical pain, since Martha wasn't touching her bloodied face at all, and the horrible sounds stopped after a few merciful seconds anyway, once Sage regained some sense.
The stallion did some protesting, but he was generally a well-behaved creature if his escaping antics could be forgotten, and was soon back in the safety of his stall. Off a short distance in the woods, the pair would first come across Aidan, where the big hybrid had stopped and was sitting down in the middle of a well-used deer trail. "He's not far ahead." Keeping his voice quiet, Aidan whispered this to Brother, while his pointing muzzle and knowing eyes were signs enough for Tahmores to let him know in which direction the collie was. And Aidan was right; a short venture onward would find Timber resting over a slightly bare stretch of ground in the woods that had a series of stones and makeshift crosses erected. This was the site where the rest of Timber's family lay, from his parents Abigail and Rollin, to all of his siblings.
Tahmores*Others
Set gently in the seat, Rihanne certainly did make the attempt to get to her paws and make a last bid for freedom to try to avoid the vet. But even before Martha had moved to close the door, the copper dog had judged the distance to the ground from the truck with careful accuracy, and as much as she hated the vet, she shied from making the jump down, right now. Her shoulder already ached fiercely, and she was not going to ask it to take that jolt when she went down. With a sigh, she sank onto the seat and allowed the woman to shut the door without protest. That wasn't to say she didn't put up a lot of whining and unhappy noises inside the cab - but at least by the time Sage joined her, she seemed to have recovered her composure somewhat, enough that she didn't wriggle around in the seat, for fear of accidentally brushing the wounds on the younger fae's face. Thinking to herself that this was going to be a longer day even than it had started out to be, Rihanne gave one last whine and then gave up the fight, resting as comfortably as she could in the seat. That would change the second they approached the hated brick building with the vet inside, but for now, she was relatively complacent and wordless.
"I smell him," Brother confirmed quietly, sweeping his gaze to Aidan briefly and twitching his tail against Tahmores to let him know that they were close, now. And with very little ceremony, the young man plopped himself on the ground beside Aidan, setting one hand to petting through the wolf's ruff and apparently prepared to wait for a moment and let Brother go forward alone. Perhaps this was an odd way of going about things - but Tahmores was very aware that most of the canines here thought of him as a young creature to be protected and looked after, even as they viewed him as a master to be minded. Better to let the collie's long-time friend try to bring him out of his silent, still state. Brother took a moment to gather his nerves and to seek a brief comforting touch from Tahmores before he set his steps out of the trees, slowly coming close to the collie. He stopped a respectful distance away, silent for several seconds before he finally found something to say. "Timber..."
Timber & Others
After initially spazzing out, then calming down in Martha's hold, Sage again wiggled and yelped bloody murder when she was toted close to the vehicle. The degree of panic from Sage was rather unexpected by Martha, but she worked her magic and had the young hybrid calmed down for the second time with encouraging words and a few careful pats, and shortly thereafter, had them both secured away in the cab. Where Rihanne eventually calmed down, Sage couldn't help but pace across the seat, and alternate looking out one window to the other, panting heavily and getting nose prints and drool droplets all over the glass and interior of the vehicle. Her good car manners were missing along with the rest of her usually obedient nature, and she was going to make the drive a very unpleasant one indeed. Leaving the two in the truck, Martha walked briskly to reach the house, where upon entering to collected the necessary leashes and a muzzle for Rihanne, she noticed the broken window. She didn't have to stop and think about why the glass was busted out before she connected the dots; Rihanne had been inside before Martha left on her errands, and the cuts on her could easily be correlated back to the shattered window.
Calm and ever enduring, Aidan waited patiently with Tahmores while Brother trooped on ahead. This was definitely a scenario more appropriate for Brother right now, who seemed to have better luck in getting through to Timber when Aidan couldn't. The collie was on his belly, laying still over the ground with his head rested forlornly over his black and white paws. As opposed to his lethargic attitude earlier, one of the collie's ears swiveled back the moment Brother called his name, and a moment later, he turned his had back and sat up, "How are the others doing? I heard Martha's vehicle." Knowing that she was here was the only reason had hadn't bolted back to the front yard upon hearing Sage's screams only moments earlier. If any one of the Masters was with her, they would see her healed better than he could manage.
Tahmores*Others
"As well as can be expected," Brother answered the forlorn and eerily-calm collie, his tones careful but not sugar-coating the words for Timber. There was very little point in trying to pretend that this situation was anything less than what it was, and trying to make his words less than the truth that they had always been in speaking to his friend would only make the conversation harder for both of them. So instead, he moved forward and seated himself beside Timber, falling silent for a couple of seconds before he spoke back up again. "Rihanne and Sage are fussing about going to the vet. Not sure about Ri, but Sage's face at least definitely needs some looking at. Wouldn't do you any harm, either." That was the first jab, not trying to keep it secret just where Martha was taking the collie's child and his best friend, and indeed hinting rather clearly that Timber was expected to put in an appearance, as well. "Sage is worried." Jab two - the young female was worried about her father, and Brother wanted his friend to know that, because it would help convince him that he ought to head back to be with her.
Timber & Others
Going back to the yard was not what Timber wanted to do, because there he would be forced to see the silenced bodies of his children again, and his mate who had died literally in front of his own eyes, so close that he could have reached over and touched muzzles with her if only his fangs had been embedded in Taijya's flesh, and her own gasping for breath while the vile wolfess choked her life away. And yet, here he was at a graveyard, finding absolutely no comfort in the fact that it would soon be expanded to accommodate more family. "The vet?" He could have assumed as much would happen, and normally was almost as bad as Rihanne when it came to that place; only he didn't have the excuse that she did, since he was raised in a lovely family home and had never once been mistreated by humans. The father looked down, mirroring the same gesture that his daughter did when he was thinking about something in great depth, "Rihanne will keep her calm enough. Someone needs to stay back and guard our home." He didn't sound completely resolute, but he was resisting just a little.
Tahmores*Others
Despite the fact that he wished for the decency of being able to leave Timber to wallow in his misery for a while - which was of course the collie's right, after having just lost most of his family yet again - Brother was not afforded that opportunity. Above all else, Timber needed to go have his side looked after, and that was a priority, even above the dog's grief. "You know perfectly well that Rihanne has a few other things on her mind, when she goes to the vet," the wolf answered quietly, still keeping his tones gentle and low, but with that element of determination and intelligence in them that had always marked his talks with Timber. "Two seconds in, and they'll give her the crazy-shot so she won't get after anyone - that bite across her nose is going to need washing out, at least, and they can't do that with the muzzle on. And after that, she's not going to be keeping anyone calm for a few hours... you know how those things make her." He made that point carefully, refuting the point his friend had tried to make, even as he sighed a little more and settled his position some. "And Karai and I will be here to keep an eye over the ranch... not to mention that her son Joscelin is at the den now, watching the pups, and will be well within barking range. He will do all that his mother asks of him, and will help us protect those who remain here well. In any case, you know that Ri will be very angry with you when she gets back, if you stay here and don't accompany them. Once she comes out of that stuff, she'll lay into you over that, and you know how fierce she can be."
Timber & Others
He remembered the last scheduled visit to the dreaded place, and had it painted pretty clear in his mind how well Rihanne had reacted to it all... which was to say, not well at all. An agonizingly sore shoulder was not going to make her any more compliant either, and Martha was already going to have her hands full if she were bringing the rest of the brood along with them. Down went the collie's dark eyes, looking past the leaf litter strewn about under his paws, "It doesn't feel right leaving." Before Brother could respond to that odd statement, the collie huffed abruptly and raised his head, looking distantly in the direction of the front yard, and appearing none too eager to start heading that way, "I'll go... but Brother, watch this place close. And watch your family." Finally he stood, lifting his haunches off the ground and letting his tail hang limp behind him.
Martha was back at the truck, standing on the driver's side but not yet getting in yet as she waited for Tahomres to return. In one hand, she had a length of leashes and one muzzle, that latter of which would be used temporarily on Rihanne until she'd been calmed by the sedatives; she didn't want to risk any of the vets getting bit out of Rihanne's fear.
Tahmores*Others
"You know I will." The wolf's tones were quiet, and he didn't even attempt to respond to Timber's statement about leaving, but for protection of the ranch and the remaining canines here, he could be intently counted upon. "I failed my family and my friends this morning, in my neglect to be here when my protection was needed... and the cost has been high, and has hurt everyone the more for that. I won't make that mistake again." Solemn and nearly as disturbed as Timber himself - for after all, had it not been he who had prodded the collie into pursuing Artemis in the first place, in an effort to bring joy back into his life? - the wolf rose and twitched his tail against the dog in half-expressed, stoic male comfort. "Martha asked the boy and I to come after you... he's waiting just there." The lean muzzle pointed toward the trees, and then turned to face the collie again. "He's to bring you back." It took only a quiet whine from Brother to make Tahmores offer Aidan a last pat and get to his feet, moving with a silent grace that would have passed the inferior hearing of any human, and yet was still barely-hearable to canine ears. Still, the young man that strode into the small clearing was not 'Master', as sometimes he could be, particularly if the various canines were doing farm work and he required something of them. No, Tahmores came as friend this time, and the small whine he gave to Timber was an attempt at comfort, even in his non-canid voice. "Come, Timber," he murmured, in the canine tongue rather than the human one, and the tones so impossibly gentle that it could never be perceived as an order... only a request. "Martha waits."
Timber & Others
The collie stopped for a moment, listening to Brother's response, and on a subconscious level, feeling some comfort from his wolven friend. Where he had failed to acknowledge Elder Brother's misplaced guilt earlier, Timber responded to the outspoken words this time, "For all we know, they could have waited until you and the Masters went before they struck." The way he spoke was almost drab in its lack of emotion, as if these events had simply drained him of life and feeling; and in a way, they had, and it would take time to rebuild himself. Onward the black and white dog went, covering a few feet of ground to meet Tahmores as the young man emerged into the small clearing. With a low whine, Timber brushed his muzzle briefly against Tah's leg, ready to follow him.
Tahmores*Others
Elder Brother gave the collie a wry, unhappy smile that was meant to acknowledge the words, even if he wasn't quite prepared to believe them yet. Part of him wanted to spout back, 'Nevertheless... had we been here, your mate and children would still be alive,' but the greater part of him knew that speaking of Artemis and the pups right now would only serve to make Timber's resolve to visit the vet to keep Sage calm waver and fade. It was already in the wolf's mind to go back to the den after the dogs had returned from the vet in order to very carefully explain to his children that there were several of their usual friend and acquaintances that would be missing from now on... and most importantly, that they weren't to discuss it with Timber. When the dog moved to join Tahmores, the young man leaned over and ran his hand through the thick black coat, caressing the ears and drawing his fingers through the dense ruff in a gesture that was both affection and comfort. As he watched Brother turn tail and head back toward the house, Tah took a few moments to silently express his own gentle care for Timber and his wish to make the canine feel better... and then made a soft whine to draw the dog with him as he headed back for the truck.
Timber & Others
Aidan had moved forward with Tahmores, only to hang back a spare foot or two while the man reached out to comfort the collie. Timber gave no whine or whimper to express his feelings, and gave no indication over how he felt about the generous scrubbing, other than the fact that he stood there patiently until Tah gave a whistle and urged them onward towards the yard once more. Timber numbly trailed after, staying at heel while Aidan sauntered quietly behind them both.
"Tah, did you want to come along?" She'd never said a word on it, but the woman had been worried not only for the missing Timber and Aidan, but for Tahmores as well when he ventured into the brush. By the looks of it, a lot of wolves had attacked, and she wasn't sure whether there were any more lurking in the trees to make a second assault. Seeing the three of them appear dismissed that fear that she'd been so careful to hide in the first place.
Tahmores*Others
Not having really expected anything verbal out of Timber, Tahmores contented himself with the knowledge that, if he hadn't wanted the affection, the collie would have drawn away. He was silent and still for several moments there, just giving the grieving dog a bit of comfort, before he finally tracked back toward the building, aware even though he hadn't turned his head to see that Aidan was following them. When he drew close to the house with Timber in tow, there was a whine from within the vehicle - Rihanne had propped herself up on her legs again to peer out the window in hopes of seeing Sage's father return to them in order to have his side treated, and was making this anxious noise to reveal that she was glad he'd come - and at the same time, very unhappy about the trip they were about to make. It took very little time for Tahmores to come up to Martha and lay a hand on her shoulder, which was every bit as much as comfort as was the petting he'd given Timber - but it took him longer to consider his answer to her question. "If they come back... I don't want the rest of them left here with no chance of any of us being able to help protect the place," he murmured, sounding hesitant. But before he could go on, a goshawk soared into view and settled herself into her usual place on the roof, preening her feathers, and a familiar figure stepped into view. "Go, Tahmores," said Ravenwing, looking up at the taller indian and squaring his shoulders, reaching to unsling his bow from his shoulder. "Help Martha. I protect house." Well, his English still wasn't excellent, but he could make himself understood now, and Tahmores offered the older man a grim smile. "Thanks, Raven," he murmured, and turned to face Martha again. "I daresay you'll need someone to help keep everyone else in line, while you deal with Rihanne... I will come."
Martha & Others
Moving across the lawn was more difficult for Timber than the short trek through and out of the woods. He faltered a few times, stopping and turning his black and white muzzle towards the lawn where four of his family members still lay, and almost abandoned the idea of the vet all together so that he could return to Artemis' side. Rihanne's whine was the key to diverting his attention back to her and Sage, and to the beckoning leg-patting of Martha that was his cue to trot her way. "That's a boy." The woman spoke encouragingly when Timber stopped at her feet, where he remained placidly as she picked him up. At the same time, she was listening to Tahmores' response and, as much as she wanted him to come with, he did have a good point - most of the canines were going to the vet, leaving the few here more vulnerable. But before she could say anything to that, Raven made an appearance and solved that problem for them, "Thank you, Raven. Be safe." After turning a smile to the man, and returning a touch to Tahmore's shoulder, Martha stepped up into the truck, carefully managing Timber as she did so, so that he was still in her lap.
Tahmores*Others
Timber was by far the calmest of the dogs that had been piled into the cab, but perhaps that was because he was still very much stunned and not really himself, right now. It was something that made Rihanne reach over and brush her head along his uninjured side in sympathy, understanding all too well that she would not be able to offer him that assurance later when they got to the vet. After that, she had to scoot herself a little bit so that Tah could clamber in the other side of the vehicle, doing a little maneuvering just to be sure that none of the enclosed canines tried to scramble out, and once the young man had settled himself, he gathered Rihanne gently into his lap so that there would be room for all of them to ride without being too cramped. "We should be back before dark," he told Raven, falling into their native tongue in order to address him with more ease, and after receiving the nod that indicated his message had been understood, Tah settled in for the ride - and for the task ahead.
Martha & Others
It was quite the squeeze to get everyone in, and Sage ended up piled on the ground, half against Tahmore's legs, and half in the center of the floorspace where the gearshift was. Timber remained almost ignorant to all that was going on, or at least appeared that way from the outside with his lack of panic or anxious whining. Martha wasted no time once everyone was packed in; after turning the truck back on, she backed it out of the drive, and rolled on down the lane, with their destination being the local vet.