Martha & Others

Needless to say, the group in the back of the trailer were thrilled not to have to go into the dreaded vet, so the ride into and out of the town was a nice little escape for the canines. Only when they reached the yard again did their moods drop substantially, where they could smell death many hours before the humans would be able to. When Martha parked the truck and came around to open the back hatch, they didn't swarm out in a mob of wagging tails and happy kisses like normal, but moved out in an almost hesitant, orderly fashion instead. Anxious, alert eyes and ears were darting all around before the group as a whole moved out towards the house, where Aidan and Tahirah were waiting near the porch.

Martha went back to the cab to pick up Rihanne, leaving Tah's job only to undo the leashes on Sage and Timber. "Once I have her inside, I'll try to give John another call." She didn't say it, but whether she could get ahold of her son or not, the very next thing she was going to do was start digging the four holes that would be the graves for Artemis, Dianus, Faulin, and Shora.

Tahmores*Others

Where the canines that had ridden to the vet had been given the brief reprieve from the constant feeling of grief and anxiety left after the attack - even if that had been in the form of a much-hated vet visit - Elder Brother and Karai had remained here during the entire bit, and it had taken its toll on their moods. The large wolf that padded his way over to Tahmores and pressed against his legs as the young man unlatched the two leashes in his hands was not the cheerful, wise canine that had originally prodded Timber about his affection for Artmia - he held onto his composure well, but his steps were heavy, and he stuck very close to Tahmores as he moved around the yard to assess the grim work that had to be done.

Karai had been at work, he could tell - most of the blood on the bodies had been cleaned away by a deft and considerate tongue, leaving the scene they'd come home to a less gruesome one than what they'd left behind, even if the stench of death had by now become strong enough for all the canines to pick up on.

After acknowledging each lost canine with a whine and a soft pat of each head, Tahmores settled himself on the ground in the middle of the yard, and Elder Brother's family flocked to him, with even Karai drawing up close to him despite her usual avoidance of touch in order to nuzzle him and both take and receive comfort. A whine brought Reiki and Ayxiel to her, now that the gore of the yard had been cleaned up... it didnt' take much time for the young man to be surrounded by warm, furry bodies that were just as desperate to give comfort as to get it from him in this grim time; only Joscelin, having escorted the pups here from the den and having no place in the yard with the grieving canines, remained in the treeline, watching carefully but not taking part.

Martha & Others

With the Ranch pack back together, there was a quiet, downplayed bustle of activity that was a mix of greeting those who were living, and the numbing task of inspecting those who had fallen, and paying their last respects. Timber quickly resumed his listless demeanor as he hoped down out of the cab and padded first towards his lost offspring, nuzzling each of them with the sort of tenderness he would if they had still be living. He spoke briefly to each of them, but whatever he said was so quiet and so constricted with pain that it was impossible to make heads or tails out of. Sage and Nak were too distraught by the lifeless bodies to go near them at first, though Sage eventually made her way to her mother, while Nak settled in with Tah.

Most of Aidan's gang joined the cluster around Tahmores, including the blue-eyed father himself who sat tall at the young man's side. Even Tahirah was drawn in after a few minutes, close enough to be a few short feet from Tah's reach. Akembi and Tunga were quite mortified by the sight of the carnage, though thankfully their mother had done a good job in cleaning up the broken bodies, so that the only truly gruesome sights were those unfortunate enemies who'd been ripped to shreds by the pack, but they at least held no emotional bond with any of the canines here.

Martha had retired inside long enough to grab Rihanne's doggie bed and place it outside on the deck, so that when she woke up, she would be within sight of her family and hopefully not try to get up and move around so suddenly. Once she was in place, the woman headed off with a shovel to excavate the plot sights for their fallen protectors. As for the enemies, there was a hefty sum of money to be collected when proof of their demise was turned in, money that was greatly needed with the upkeep of the ranch.

Tahmores*Others

During the time where Timber was working his way in a grim and hopeless circle around the yard to say goodbye to his slain mate and pups, Karai took the moment to explain quietly to her own children that Artemis and three of Timber's pups - who had sometimes been playmates to them in happier days - were dead, and just what that meant. She keep her voice especially low and quiet, not wanting to disturb the grieving of the remainder of the family with her words, but still taking this opportunity to explain the unhappy concept to her children, and to answer any questions they might have. And for a long time, that was the only activity in the area, aside from how Tahmores continued to accept any and every canine that wanted to come to him - even Tahirah, though he knew better than to reach to try to give her a pat as he had done with the others.

But the peace couldn't last too long - inevitably, there was a muffled moan from the porch, and the sound of someone mumbling insensibly to themselves... Rihanne was slowly coming out of the grip of the drugs, though she would continue to be loopy and occasionally nonsensical for several hours to come, if her usual reaction held true. Most days, the pups of the ranch thought her very funny in this state, and would spend a great deal of time watching her stumble about like a drunk and talk to things that weren't there, but not today... there was too much heaviness and death in the air.

Martha & Others

Without their mother, and with their father too distracted right now, Nak and Sage - who couldn't bare to stay near Artemis for too long - were listening to all the Karai had to say. Being two years old, they already knew most of what she was saying, though this was their first time dealing with a personal death. Either way, there was a need to be near the wolfess right now, because although Tahirah was very motherly herself, Karai was a gentler spirit; and more than that, the simple fact that she was a wolf like their mother was a sort of comfort to them to be around.

At first, Aidan had stood up with the intentions of seeing to Rihanne, but was surprised by seeing Timber finally turn away from where he'd been laying next to his mate. The big hybrid sat down again to leave the collie to navigate up the steps and sit down next to the dog bed, listening to his friend's nonsense words as she slowly woke up from the drugs.

Rihanne*Others

Ever the quiet, tender mother that she was, Karai wordlessly welcomed Sage and Nak to sit with her and listen to her words, even if they weren't exactly meant for two-year-old adults. She wouldn't mention, for now, the thing that she'd always been aware of; with Darkeyes being the father of Artemis, and thus the grandfather of Timber's children, Karai was, by extension, their great-aunt. She'd kept it to herself for a long time now, for reasons of her own since no one here had known of her relation to the white father, and with that secret uncovered now, she could have taken up that position with them... but with them still quite a bit in shock over the days events and grieving their lost mother and siblings, she wasn't going to add any more pressure onto them until they'd all had a little time to recover. So she remained silent on that subject, for now.

Brother also had briefly had the idea of moving to the porch to ensure that Rihanne was doing alright, and shared Aidan's surprise in seeing the stricken father turn away from his fallen mate in order to tend to his old friend. Still, he remained beside Tahmores and allowed Timber to approach the cocker-mix alone, giving the two of them a little quiet time in which to discuss things, if she was mentally capable of that right now. It took a few minutes, during which Ri stared at a space of porch floor that was somewhere between the collie's front paws and murmured all manner of nonsense things... but finally, she seemed to come around for a few seconds, because she spoke softly to him. "You were my first friend, Timber... the first canine that looked at me and didn't immediately want to tear my throat out. All this time, you have been my friend... and she has been the enemy. " The coppery fae didn't define 'she', but with Taijya's bloodied corpse still laying in the yard with the rest, she didn't need to specify. "She's dead... but I don't know how to stop fighting her." This was sort of a random topic for her to take up right now, but then the drugs left her in a spastic, random sort of mood.

Timber & Others

The pair had no clue that this was their relative that they were currently seeking comfort from, but perhaps a very subconscious part of them could relate to a subtly familiarity with this wolfess, even a blood connection with Karai never crossed their minds. For now, she was the closest looking thing to their late mother, and with her gentle tones and soft demeanor, it was Karai that they stuck by. Of course, Tunga and Akembi were even less aware that these were their distant cousins they were sharing space with, but perhaps in time, knowing this would help to fill in some of the emptiness that came with the loss of so much family.

Prior to finding love with Artemis, Timber had been a quiet, brooding dog that was haunted by an unfortunate past, and now that the past had essentially repeated itself, he reverted back to that creature that had few words to say and who kept most of his thoughts to himself. The border collie was silent during the first few minutes while his friend babbled, not because he didn't care - the worried way his eyes were bunched up, and his closeness to her spoke volumes on his concern - he just knew it was pointless. When she finally did manage something that he knew was a little more solid in meaning, he turned his head her way, "Me neither, Rih. Me neither." With his black and tan muzzle resting over his forepaws and his eyes on Rihanne, he didn't look out across the yard where the enemies still lay, but the fae's image was burned in his mind still, and there was no ease for his restless mind even in the knowledge that she was dead. He hadn't had time to sleep yet, but he was sure that when that time came, Taijya would be back to fight him and his family all over again.

We'll carry on,
we'll carry on
And though you're dead and gone, believe me
Your memory will carry on, you'll carry on
And though you're broken and defeated
Your weary widow marches on

Rihanne*Others

It took a few seconds for Timber's soft words to sink past the drugs and make it home into the female's mind - seconds that were marked by her silence and by the slightly concentrated expression that graced her mug to declare that she was trying her best to make sense of the conversation. Finally, it seemed to get through to her, because she sighed heavily and lay her head back down on her paws. "We're a holy mess, you and I. Two old battle-axes with nothing left to fight." There was another long pause there, and a few more minutes of indistinguishable mumbling as she slipped back into the drugs for a while, but she eventually came to again, and that with a soft whine as she wriggled helplessly in her place, trying to draw a little closer to Timber despite the fact that she had no control over her own mobility right now, thanks to the combination of sedatives and the fact that one of her legs was completely numb. "I'm sorry, Timber..." she whispered, not mentioning any names or saying just what she was sorry for, but all of that was rather implied, anyway. If she'd been more with it, she might have stayed more composed and avoided this kind of breakdown, but then she was known for her strange behaviors and mood swings after the vet visits... though certainly, they would be far more difficult for the others to endure, in this circumstance.

It well may be
that we will never meet again
in this lifetime; so let me say,
before we part -
So much of me is made
of what I learned from you.
You'll be with me,
like a handprint on my heart.
So, now whatever way our stories end,
You know you have rewritten mine
by being my friend...

Timber & Others

There would be many minutes yet, Timber knew, that no real conversation could be carried on in any depth. His soft ears perked a little when she finally did reply, and rather than return words himself, the collie's eyes sank towards the wooden planks of the porch, and then to the trees as he shifted his head in a new direction. Timber remained like that until a whine caught his ears and got them to rotate again in Rihanne's direction, and upon seeing her helpless struggles, the aging dog scooted closer to his old friend, inching himself partly onto the doggie bed so that he could lean against her, and lay his muzzle over the lower part of her numbed leg, "There's nothing to be sorry for Rih." The response was meant to be gentle, though it came it a bit gruffer than he was really aware of; none of it meant for the cocker-mix, of course.

Rihanne*Others

The whining, at least, ceased when the collie drew close enough to be in touching range, which caused her to lean toward him and lay her head briefly against one of his shoulders, taking a moment or two to be silent and attempt to regain some of her calm, as she was apparently aware that she was behaving rather strangely. At last, when again she spoke, her voice held more of its usual even tenure. "You have always been kind to me, Timber... too much so, in this case. It is not a dishonor to say that a thing is what it is. The only dishonor is in denying that the thing exists, and pretending that life will go unaltered because of it; I may not have actions to apologize for today... but there is much to regret, nevertheless."

Timber & Others

The expression of concern didn't leave his face as the minutes continued to go by. Not even when Rihanne started to relax a little and cease her struggling; there was still too much else that was fighting for attention in his mind, from how he'd spent the lazy, quiet morning with his family, to this point and time, a few dismal hours later. The sorrow could have been suffocating in its potency, but as he was resting against Rihanne in mutual comfort, he was also brought to realize that he hadn't lost everything; even if it felt like it. "You're one of my oldest friends, there is no such thing as 'too kind' for that." Pain laced some of his words, a pain that he tried to drown out with that gruffness and lack of emotion. And then he sighed heavily, giving a great heave of his ebony sides, "There will always be regrets and what-ifs. Those things never go away."

Rihanne*Others

"Particularly if you don't allow them to," the mix answered pointedly, shuffling her rear legs distractedly against her bed until she was more comfortable. "You forget, my friend... I knew you before ever she came to us; I know how unhappy you were, then. I do not wish to watch you recede into that, again." Again, she chose to use the pronoun, instead of speaking his mate's name aloud, which even her compromised reason judged might be too painful for him to hear, with the death so fresh just now. Still, she had a very powerful point - it had been the regrets and the 'what-ifs' that the collie had allowed to consume him, by the time that she had arrived here as a mere youngling herself. He'd been a ghost of a dog at that time, and she dreaded having to watch him fade away like that again, as she feared he would with his beloved mate gone. Shortly after that, she went foggy-eyed again, indicating that her mind was traversing some path that was beyond his reach, and she was silent for the longest stretch yet - but it was broken very suddenly by a rumbling snarl.

And where that might have been against something in her imaginary-world, the chocolatey eyes were fixed on a white figure that had appeared in the yard, which was inching toward Artemis... Darkeyes had returned, and was anxiously looking around himself as he slunk toward his daughter. A face that Timber would not know was watching him with an expression of mixed fear and despair on her face - Ziarre had been left at the den to watch him, and after being apparently unsuccessful in convincing him to stay, had dutifully followed after him to try to contain what might be about to happen. It was this that Rihanne was snarling about, and that faint sound drew Karai's attention, causing her to shift the pups toward Tahmores in an indication for them to stay put as she moved to try to intercept the male before something could erupt.

Timber & Others

He couldn't hold his eyes up to meet hers. They were looking sightlessly at the edge of the downy, circular doggie bed while his mind was elsewhere. "That's something easier said than done." Even Timber hated to admit such a thing, but he was being brutally truthful in the uncertainty of whether he could ignore the regret and what-ifs, because experience had told him how difficult a road it was to travel down after losing so much in life. There was little more to be said about it when Rihanne faded again, and for better or worse, there was more than enough of a distraction to snap them both out of dark thoughts. Timber was up on his feet in a heartbeat, brown eyes quickly honing in on what had caused his friend to snarl.

Whether he understood Darkeyes was no threat or not, it didn't matter - there was an unknown female with him... and he was moving towards Artemis, who had yet to be taken by Martha, who was still away a short distance in the woods, with a small cluster of Aidan's children milling around her. "Get away from her!" Paying no mind to the stitching along his side that might be disturbed by his burst of movement, the collie torpedoed off the porch like a black and white rocket, rushing straight for the other father, who was just as stricken as him. Unless Karai or someone managed to intercept him, Timber's rage would drive him straight for Darkeyes with all intentions of giving him a set of nasty bites.

Aidan and Tahirah sprang into action next, passing brief words as they bolted for the confrontation. With it already known by the pair that Darkeyes was not the enemy, Aidan targeted those two, trying to put his large, thickly furred body between the two - for one, trying to keep Timber back, and secondly, to hopefully stop Darkeyes from getting any closer to Artemis until Timber could be contained. And where he had the larger build and denser fur to absorb more bites if they fell on him, Tahirah went straight for Ziarre, who she was not familiar with. "Stand down!" And if the wolfess didn't comply before Tahirah reached her, the compact dog would attempt to barrel into her and pin her down. No chances were being taken at a time like this.

Rihanne*Others

Left behind on the porch, Rihanne hadn't ceased her snarling - a tense situation like this was enough to roll back the clouds of medication from her mind for a while, in order to let her focus on the possible threat at hand. She couldn't begin to stand up or walk at this point, but after a few struggles, she did manage to prop herself upright on her good leg, so that she was at least able to face the source of the tension, and give him a threatening flash of fangs. It was a reaction that set very oddly against those of Karai, who stepped in front of Darkeyes and lowered her head, in the same move protecting him from whatever attack Timber might have attempted to give, and yet also submitting to him with flattened ears in an act that would hopefully send the message that she was not trying to defy him, but only trying to keep either male from being hurt.

Ziarre's reaction was more marked, however - she was quick-witted and intelligent, and had no qualms about flattening her body to the ground and plastering her ears down to let Tahirah know that she meant no harm. "I am Ziarre, daughter of Karai... I am here only because my mother charged me to watch my uncle." Those were the whispered words she used to try to keep Tahirah from attacking her, though certainly she was not timid or lacking in courage - she simply knew that the pit bull was only protecting her family and territory, and wasn't about to give the other female the least reason to attack her.

Darkeyes didn't seem all that inclined to react to anything, either by how Timber charged toward him or by the way that Karai stepped in front of him to block his large body with her smaller, silver-hued one. Timber's words reached him though, and he turned a heavy, emotionless gaze to the collie. "Your world and mine have always been different things, Timber... and if my suspicions run true, they always will be different things. Artemis bridged that gap for both of us... and I feel it a very poor method of remembrance to cast that aside upon the hour of her death. Think what you want of me, but I have always loved my family; will you not at least allow me a moment with my child?" He said that very quietly, so that only Aidan, Timber, and Karai would be able to hear - at the least, he was with it enough now to know not to let Nak or Sage hear that he was their grandfather, since their parents had always seen fit to keep it from them. But the father in him needed the same privilege that Timber had taken only a few moments ago - a moment to say goodbye to his daughter. And that was what had prompted him to return here, with the full knowledge of what might await him.

Timber & Others

What could have been an unnecessary and bloody fight was tenuously halted, first by Karai's quick actions, and then by Aidan's. The pain of loss and a life of fighting against wolves might have made him drive for Darkeyes in a uncharacteristically rash assault, but he was never so blinded by emotions that he would mistakenly attack one of his friends. The collie was forced to slow down to avoid running into her, and before he could circle around and try for Darkeyes again, Aidan slipped in to put his tall frame in the father's path once more. "Timber, open your ears for a minute..." The hybrid insisted with as much authority as he dared bring up, "Hear him out, friend." The collie, for a brief second of time, looked almost mortified and in disbelief that these two had stopped him, but a second later, his intelligence started to fade back, in time to hear out what Darkeyes was saying. "Don't tell me what is proper and what isn't at this time! This is my turf you're invading, wolf!" Normally, he wouldn't use that word in the slur that he did just now, not when Karai was right there to hear him say it. However, the ugliness of his words right had everything to do with the anguish of his family's death, and Darkeyes was the unfortunately perfect individual at this moment for him to vent that at, and very little to do with anything else. "Timber..." Aidan was more hesitant to prompt his friend's name, but it seemed to work, and the collie glowered at Darkeyes again, "...fine. Say your goodbyes."

The safety of family and friends in mind, Tahirah did not give up her her aggressive posturing that saw her fangs bared for all to see, and her fur running like a ridge along her back as it stood up as an added intimidation factor. However, that's as far as her ferocity went, thanks to Ziarre's hasty reaction and the mentioning of Karai's name. Instead of going for the wolf's throat, Tahirah stood stiff-legged a few inches from the daughter, a clear warning for her not to move from her spot against the ground, "A daughter of Karai...? Very well, but you'll stay right here until she can confirm that. Are there any others with you?"

Darkeyes*Others

"I know well that you have reason to put your hatred into that word," Darkeyes answered mildly, taking the insult that Timber had made of 'wolf' and turning it aside gently, even as Karai flinched a little and flicked an ear toward Elder Brother, who'd remained with the pups, to indicate that his aid was not needed, for now. "For the record, my sins against this place number three sheep, one lamb, and a pawful of snarls at the one called John for the threat I believed he presented to my offspring. I will arrange to have the sheep returned to you... I still have that much power, in my world. All else I have done, I have done in defense of my family, and I defy anyone to tell me that protecting them was not my right and duty as a father." He shifted his weight, and Karai moved just a little until he could lean some against her - his wounds remained untreated, and he was quite tired now, but he did not let it deter him from speaking to the collie. "I am an old wolf now, Timber - I wander sometimes in my mind. My mate and my children are all dead, and judging by your intent hatred of me, I will never have the opportunity to know my grandchildren; I do not begrudge you that, for it is your right as their father to make that decision. Know that I will respect your wishes in that. I ask only for a moment to recall my errors, and mourn for what is lost." He paused there, and when Aidan convinced Timber to let him bid farewell to Artemis, the male began to take careful steps toward her, looking occasionally back as if expecting Timber to change his mind suddenly, and try to attack again.

Ziarre was wise enough to remain exactly where she was as this confrontation went on, not about to defy Tahirah's will and rise to her paws. And her words were well-mannered and respectful as she answered, "I have no intention of drawing into your lands. My pack and I remain outside, out of respect for my mother's residence here, and those of my little siblings, and their father. No harm will come to anyone here by our paws. Only Joscelin is within your territory now, and he at Mother's den, for now, getting a rest - he had a long night, this past."

Timber & Others

Diplomacy was never a skill that Timber used, unless that counted insults and the use of his fangs. And right now, after the events of the morning, his ability to handle anything remotely pleasant with any wolf besides the ones already in his family was simply non-existent. "We don't need your help, or any sheep that you could offer us. What you can do is say your good-byes and leave." The collie looked like he was still holding himself back on the urge to attack Darkeyes, and his tones were non-too friendly, but he didn't try to stop the other father now as he moved towards his fallen daughter. Aidan stayed quiet during the rest of the exchange, and turned an apologetic look to Karai for Timber's harsh words with her brother... words that he may or may not recount later, after he'd had time to adjust a little more to the deaths, and realize that Darkeyes was Karai's brother. When Timber couldn't handle standing there and watching Darkeyes move in so close to Artemis, he stalked abruptly away from Karai and Aidan, turning back to the porch, where he stood tensely next to Rihanne once again.

Tahirah's snarling began to quiet down until it faded into silence, further satisfied that Ziarre was not going to be a problem to her or the others. The pit took a step back and nodded roughly at the wolf, "Move back into the treeline now, and wait there until Kain has returned." She had a bit more sense than the bereaved Timber, enough that she was going to be civil with a daugher of Karai, if not incredibly wary and watchful of her. "Because it is Karai, I will trust her judgment to allow family here, but I don't want the humans seeing you and getting upset."

Karai*Others

"Nevertheless, for my own conscience, I will send them. Do what you will with them. It-" "Alright, Kain... that's enough." Those soft words, perhaps unsurprisingly to some, belonged to Karai, who spoke up quietly even as she shook her head slightly to Aidan, indicating that she understood that she would not hold the bereaved father's words and actions against him, in this case. Rather, she spoke to silence her brother, whom she was also fairly aware was not quite in his usual state of mind, at the moment. "He's given you your leave... do what you came to do and then return to the den with Ziarre." At least Karai seemed to have some persuasion with her brother, because he spoke no more after that, instead moving over to Artemis and curling his legs beneath him, turning his back to the others and beginning to speak in indistinguishable words to her. The female darted an apologetic look in Timber's direction, which he probably wouldn't see with his back already turned as he headed for the porch. Rihanne was still rumbling when he arrived, and it thickened her voice. "What's he doing here?"

"We are not directed to remain in this area," Ziarre assured the pit, shaking her head a little but not moving otherwise. "We came here only because Joscelin was to bring me to mother... we've not seen her in nearly two years, and she thought us dead. We've established a new pack with a dozen or so red wolves, and we intend to settle in the general area to stay close to Mother. For tonight, she has asked the pack to stick around close to your lands, but not in them, in order to keep out any more who might try to continue the battle that took place here earlier. The strength of the pack is sufficient enough to provide everyone here a night of sleep without need for guarding, which Mother has suggested all of you need. I believe she was intending to speak to someone called Aidan about it, when the time was right." She paused there, and listened quietly to all that Tahirah had to say... and finally got to her paws, slowly so that it would be clear that she was cooperating with the dog's demands. "I assume that Mother will walk him back to the den, in any case... or send Brother to do so. Either way... I will head back there. Tell Mother for me, would you?"

Timber & Others

The collie didn't look at all appreciative about Darkeye's offer to reconcile, when Aidan or just about anyone else would have at least considered the gesture and view it for what it was meant to be. No, the collie looked like he was going to snap back at the other father and give him another piece of his mind, until Karai cut in and fortunately stopped the disagreement. Without hearing any further words, or seeing the look that was meant for him from Karai, he continued on to the porch, and planted himself next to Rihanne. "He won't be here long." Oddly, he found it too difficult to explain that Darkeyes was here to pay respects to his daughter, because that meant that he had to re-acknowledge his mate's death, and accept that Darkeyes was grieving just as much as he with a lost family. Words were considerably less growly coming from Aidan, who was speaking quietly to Karai once both of the fathers had departed, "They're both hurting more than anyone else; there's nothing pretty that either of them are going to say when they're forced to speak to one another." He'd seen it already in Karai's eyes that she understood this much, but he felt compelled to say it anyway.

Unlike Timber's general view of 'wild wolves' as the enemy, Tahirah and her siblings had been saved from ill-minded humans by a wolf, and adopted into their pack. Having lived most of her life out there, it was much easier for her to trust what Ziarre had to say; though a large part of that did have to do with Karai's name being involved in it all. "I don't know how Timber will take it, and I'll warn you again to keep clear of the humans, but I trust your mother. We could use the help." It was her version of saying 'thanks', without getting too chummy with an unknown wolf. "Aidan... he will agree with it, if Karai does." She could say that with near certainty, knowing her mate inside and out. As for the last few words, Tahirah nodded her pumpkin head at the wolf, "I'll tell her." The snarl had vanished, though anyone looking on at the two from a distance would see that the pitbull was still standing in an aggressive posture, unwilling and unable to drop her guard right now, even after things had been smoothed over with this wolf.

Rihanne*Others

Fortunately for Timber's difficulty in addressing just why Darkeyes had come back, Rihanne wasn't really interested in the wolf's reasoning - she was only interested in the collie's assurance that he would be leaving very soon. She didn't cease her snarling, but at least she softened the volume until only Timber could hear her, where he had seated himself beside her again, and that left Darkeyes to bid his daughter farewell in relative silence - if one could discount the soft conversation Aidan was having with the male's sister. "It is a shame that the two of them were not on the same side of the human issue, for the pair of them are much alike. He and I are the lone survivors of our parents' family, after a madness took our father and caused him to slay the rest, and now both of them have lost their families again... it is an unhappy coincidence." She shook her head some, indicating that she blamed neither Timber nor her brother for the argument that had just taken place. "I'm just glad they didn't start up the battle all over again. Thanks for your help."

"I'll keep that keenly in mind," Ziarre promised, committing that to memory and mentally going over the map in her mind of just where the borders of the ranch were, so she could advise the pack not to stray within its borders while they guarded the place tonight. And with that clearly set in her mind, she gave Tahirah a deep nod and a polite word of thanks, and turned away to head back to the den as promised, leaving only Darkeyes to upset the quiet, post-battle scene. "Best see himself out of here soon, or I'll give him a few things to think about," the cocker-mix muttered bitterly, stubbornly speaking her defiance in a whisper to Timber even though she couldn't begin to pick herself up and go after the white male right now. "Give him a piece of my mind... and my fangs, too."

Timber & Others

"He may come around, in time, to see that." Aidan suggested, without sounding particularly hopeful of it actually happening. If there was a chance of Timber turning around on his views and being alright with Darkeyes, it would be because of the wolf's connection with Karai. In the very least, he would be sorry for the harsh words used against the brute that was hurting just as much as he was. "He has the capacity to trust the wild ones; not only with you and Elder Brother, but there was a female once who'd befriended him. Tri-Tundra, I think her name was." He almost smiled at the thought of the collie actually befriending a wild canine, but wasn't sure if the aging dog held that ability any longer, after all that had happened. "And thanks for yours."

"Karai." After seeing Zairre away, Tahirah upheld her promise by crossing over the lawn and moving in towards her mate and the wolfess. "I've advised your daughter to stay out of the area. She's told me about the rest of the pack, and the general idea for tonight." Like a solider reporting back with information, Tahirah kept her tones uniform and neutral, letting it be known that she was alright with the idea either way. Timber wasn't so collected though, and hunched shoulders and low rumbles more than made that clear, "He knows he isn't welcome. He'll be gone before long, or I'll see to it."

Karai*Others

"The dearest person in his life was born wild," Karai agreed quietly, turning her gaze very briefly to the fallen Artemis, and indirectly laying her gaze upon her brother as she did so. "If nothing else could have reached him, that has... it is simply that her death has caused such a disturbance, and Kain had the unfortunate luck to be here at the time. And there is also the matter that, aside from myself, Sage and Nak now have no other family aside from Kain, though they've never met him. It will be a test of both Timber's and my brother's abilities to heal to see if ever they will come to a sort of peace.." That in itself admitted to something that she hadn't said aloud - Darkeyes, too, was apparently finding it difficult to trust Timber, after all these years; he'd stayed away from the ranch to honor the fact that Artemis had lived here, and he hadn't wanted to harm anyone she'd grown to care for, but he still did not trust his daughter's mate, for all that she had loved him. It suggested that, perhaps, Timber hadn't been the only one at fault in the confrontation that had just taken place - Darkeyes had been provoking the collie ever-so-subtly, but he had definitely instigated part of the problem, and Karai knew it. However, she quickly turned her attention to Tahirah, and nodded quietly. "I was hoping that it might be acceptable for them to mind the borders, for tonight only, with the clear understanding that they are not to set paw upon the property itself. I thought perhaps that all of us could use an uninterrupted sleep, tonight."

It was as she carried on this conversation with the pair that Darkeyes finally completed whatever he was saying to Artemis, and got slowly to his paws, bowing over her to offer a tender, lingering nuzzle in a last symbol of affection before he took a moment to gather himself, and began to head for the trees again. A look from Karai sent Elder Brother dutifully after him to be sure that he came to the den without harming himself or anyone else, and it was only after his scent had receded completely that Rihanne's lip dropped, concealing her fangs once more. "Lot of nerve he's got, coming back here, just as though he had a right to be here."

Timber & Others

That was a better point yet, and he could only hope that Timber would come around and recognize the same thing. "For Sage and Nak's benefit, it may be enough to get to him, eventually. I'm not so certain that he'll ever be 'friends' with Kain, but in the least, he may be able to accept that his children still have living relatives... something he doesn't have." It was a grim way to look at it, but then it might just work out in Kain's benefit. Timber wouldn't want his children growing up with the complete loss of family as he did, even if that meant getting to know someone that their father didn't like. "On the flip side, it may be enough for Kain to come around too." Where Timber had two of his children left, Kain had none, so reconnecting with what he had left of grandchildren could be a very strong persuasion for him. Only time would tell, and now certainly wasn't the time to be looking for any progress between the two. Letting those ideas linger in the back of his mind, Aidan moved on to more direct issues, "I see no problem in that. I would ask my own relatives but.." Most of the Lurkers were well-minded and very human-smart, but there a few that he worried about, and he knew that Ankh would spoil things if he showed up... no, his family was a last-resort to call up for protection. "..perhaps yours are better suited for the task."

Timber lay down completely against the wooden planks after Darkeyes had traveled out of sight, unable to relax his tense posture until the wolf was gone. "That'll be the last time he ever steps foot here." The collie grumbled, agreeing without a second thought that Darkeyes had no right to be here. He wasn't in the mood or mindset to consider Dark's offer for a truce, or worry over the fact that he was Artemis' father; he was just an enemy in the collie's eyes, as he'd always been.

Karai*Others

"I am almost certain that Kain will never be a 'human friendly' wolf, either," the female answered quietly. "Both he and Timber are growing older, and set in their ways in such a manner that such a drastic and complete change is nigh unto impossible, particularly when they already mistrust each other. But I still hope for a time when Sage and Nak, at least, will have time to know their grandfather - until such time, I will be only a friend to them, and mention no family ties. I have always kept that silence here, because it is not my place to inform them of the blood relationships if their father chooses not to." She shook her head a little more, and turned her gaze in the direction of the trees that Brother and the other male had disappeared into. "There was an unhappy rift between Artemis and her parents when she was a young creature, and it never fully healed, though I know that Kain always wished for that. I only hope that Timber will realize that the ability to reconcile these families lays completely in his own grasp now, because I must remain silent until that time comes."

There was a short howl from nearby, and one silver ear flicked toward it, confirming that Brother had escorted Darkeyes back to the den and was going to remain there until Karai returned to look after him. She nodded briefly to herself, and went on, "Joscelin is a very wise wolf, a quality which I often wish I had with more consistency - I am simply too kind for wisdom, sometimes. But he is well respected by the alphas, enough that they have given him the beta position - they will listen to him in matters of guarding the ranch overnight. We will all be safe enough, and in the morning, the pack will go and settle somewhere nearby. If ever we have need of extra sets of paws around here, I am sure that my children will be glad to aid us. Ziarre, particularly, is fond of humans."

But where the conversation Karai was carrying on with Timber was a constructive one, Rihanne had finally reliquished her semi-upright position, but still didn't look happy. "And good riddance to him. He's done enough damage here." That was sheerly wolf-bias coming out in the pit-mix, since Darkeyes had never done physical harm to any of the ranch's canine defenders or the humans... well, and maybe it was a bit of the drug talking too, because right after that, she sank into incoherent mumbles again, and lay her head on her paws with her nose stretched toward the collie. "S'not right."

Timber & Others

"They're old enough now that they might start asking questions, especially now that they've gotten to see him and learn about his scent. Even if Timber sticks to his ways and tries to keep it from them, they're both smart..." The big hybrid was looking across the yard at the two who were packed in with Karai's children next to Tahmores. They'd watched Darkeyes near their mother just moments ago, and they'd seen the way he and Karai had interacted. It might stir some questions in the minds at the moment, but fortunately for Timber and everyone else, there was far too much else to occupy their thoughts than this, so no questions were raised just yet. "For both parties, I hope that some resolution can be reached. It's a sad thing to split a family like that." With his only surviving sister to relate to, having been exiled from the blood pack years ago, Aidan could appreciate the gravity of this situation.

Joscelin was a known and respected name, since Aidan's nephew and her children had lived with him for some time, and indeed Tah himself was acquainted with the now splintered pack. "If he's a part of this new group, then I have little worry. I only hope that he can convince them not to take any of the livestock." It was with a touch of shame that Aidan couldn't say as much for his own pack, though things had changed a bit since Lyckos was left with sole leadership. Back on the porch, Timber settled his muzzle onto his paws once again, blinking tiredly out through the rungs of the wooden fencing that went around the porch. "This should be the last of it. I let him have a piece of my mind already."

Rihanne*Others

"You and I both know that," the mother replied, because though she was not a Lurker herself, Karai had connections in their world due to her longtime friendship with Moon Spirit, and was familiar on a certain level with some of Aidan's family problems, though she was always diplomatic in not bringing them up. "Let us hope at least that Sage and Nak can be spared from that knowledge," she whispered with a sad smile, and then turned her eyes back to the treeline again. "I'm going to head back and see if I can talk my brother into his senses... you know where to find me if you need me." She made a low sound to call her children to her then, and Ayxiel, ever perceptive of her mother's moods, came with ears pinned back and the tip of her tail waving in pacification; Karai might look calm, but she was unsettled by all that had happened today, and her daughter knew it. Reiki was slower to come into line, because he'd tucked himself up under Sage's belly in lack of his mother to hide under and was loathe to leave the quiet, gentle hybrid for the unhappy Karai, but a second, more firm sound brought him darting toward her in an effort to keep from a scolding. Rihanne's brown eyes followed the pup as he traversed the distance and slunk under the wolfess, and muttered, "You realize this isn't necessarily the end of this, Timber... I've heard rumors that several of these dead ones have produced young, who have undoubtedly been raised to hate us. And I know for a fact that the black male over there has produced several litters on various females." The black male was, of course, Bane, who had thankfully grown still and silent by now, having given up his last, gurgling breath. "There is a quiet rumor going around that one of the females he forced himself upon was his own sister."

Timber & Others

"And I'll see what I can do with Timber." Speaking to the collie right now was not in the agenda, but given a few hours, Aidan felt it would be enough time to approach the grieving father and see how far he could get with his old friend. Judging by Timber's actions just minutes earlier, the progress probably wouldn't be great. Aidan took his leave from Karai after that, and with Tahirah falling in place at his side, the pair padded quietly over to Tah again, where Tunga and Akembi were just responding to their mother's call. Neither of them delayed too long before bounding her way, and though Sage was regretful that they left, she tucked herself closer to Tah. And up on the porch, Timber's soft eyes were gaining a dangerous glint to them, "Just when I'd fooled myself that we'd seen the last of them, I realize there really is no end to it, is there?" He lifted his two-toned head, staring banefully at the ebony wolf that Rihanne had made reference to, "Let them come; I'll see them all dead."

Rihanne*Others

"May we both see fortune in our efforts, for the sake of those we love," the mother whispered and then, gathering her children to her and stepping over to offer Sage and Nak a motherly nuzzle, headed away to the den again, with a definite mind of speaking to her brother. Meanwhile, Tahmores had taken up the wolfess' duties of trying to be a steady, certain comfort to the shocked young wolves, particularly to Sage, who seemed so needing of the closeness of a friend right now. It had been so clear to him that he'd made a space especially for her beside him, where usually Brother sat - and once or twice, Timber had cuddled against him there, as well. While he was being a silent assuring presence and running his fingers through several different colors of soft fur on all the canines that sought out his affection, Rihanne's gaze came out of the medicinal fog for a few moments. "Not without me, you won't. I'm not getting stuck in the house again - at least if I've got a way out, my teeth still work. We've been a team all these years, Timber... I'm not going to let that go now." Half-drugged, she might be, but Rihanne was definitely determined, as she had been when she'd leapt through the glass earlier to help defend her friends - her disability would not keep her from preventing another occurrence like this.

Timber & Others

The only pair now left at the ranch, Aidan settled down on the other side of Tahmores, while Tahirah was inclined to rest next to her mate, and thus putting herself in the rare position where she was knowingly reachable by a human's touch and still alright with it. On the opposite of the young man, Sage was craving human fingers more than usual, and couldn't be drawn away from Tahmores for for the world at this time. Shock subsiding and physical pain deadened, the wolf-mix was left to think over all that had happened today with a much clearer mind. Nak, too, was watching the scenes play over and over in his mind, having seen it all from his petrified hiding spot underneath the porch. A spot that he hadn't been able to budge from, even when half of his mind was screaming at him to run out and save his family. "You and me then." Timber somberly rectified the statement, knowing he couldn't talk Rihanne out of it if he wanted to, and couldn't hold her back either. "It's us verse them... and we can't let them win. We won't - Taijya will eat her words, along with the worms she'll be sleeping with tonight."

Rihanne*Others

Aware of how Tahirah had settled close enough to be touched, Tahmores still nevertheless knew not to push that boundary with her until she made it clear she was comfortable with it - he allowed his fingers to trail through Aidan's coat occasionally, but did not directly reach for the pit bull, instead allowing her to feel comfortable in being this close to him, and content to let her make the first move, if she decided that was what she wanted. Without ever behaving as though he though her nearness to him was the least bit strange, he devoted the greater part of his attention to cuddling Sage and trying to make her feel as safe and secure as possible, though his eyes were on the trees, indicating that he was very much thinking about what had passed between Timber and Darkeyes, which he'd watched keenly even though he hadn't interfered since he could see that Karai and Aidan had it under control. Rihanne's eyes were flicking over this scene, thinking as deeply as her medicine-compromised mind could about all that had happened since she'd come here as a pup so long ago - how she'd grown so close to these dogs, who were family and kindness to one who'd never known it, until then. This most recent loss only strengthened her resolve to protect these canines with her life, bum leg or no. "I'll hold her, and you shove the words down her throat," she snarled, and let that be her last comment on the topic - it spoke well enough her defiance, which didn't falter even as the drugs climbed up for her again.