Skylit, War Dance, Cael, Houndrik, Equiss

Five canines jaunted along what use to be a gravel roadway leading to the derelict station, with Skylit in the front. The smallest in the bunch, the collie mix had enough energy and spunk to run circles around half her pack, and she was the reason for today's outing. It hadn't taken much coaxing to get her sister or friends to follow, but old Equiss had taken a bit more work to join the fray.

"Have you really never been out here?" Cael questioned the elder Lurker, cocking his head and looking back at the other.

Equiss chuckled at the ebony hybrid and shook her head, "Never had reason to come out this way. My father told me troublesome humans use to hang out here, and it wasn't safe. But that was years ago."

Houndrik had was following from the rear, nose to the air and ears perked - save for the right one, which had a habit of flopping over. The quieter brother of Cael held caution in his voice as he shifted the conversation, "I don't smell humans, but... do you smell that? Other canines."

War Dance was just a few paces behind her sister Skylit, and didn't bother looking back at this news. The brindle hybrid did give the wind a test though, and her waving tail gained a certain amount of stiffness to it. "Maybe, but the scent isn't strong."

Rosy & Marko

Rosy and Marko the two two year old rats of the Delvers were scampering around. They came to a halt when they saw canines. Marko sent rosy off to alert the others.

Marko climbed up onto a can and watched them.

Blackfrost, Vhaerau, Kennik, & Night Star

In the depths of the sewers, a pair of golden-speckled eyes followed Rosy as she scampered back down into the darkness to alert her pack. The caiman barely shifted a muscle and simply observed the rat passing by; she was too cold to move much, for even with the geothermal heat radiating up from below, it was still cold enough in the sewers for frost to cling to some of the walls.

More at home in this kind of weather, Blackfrost was curled up in a patch of sunlight that drifted in through a grate above. Kennik and Vhaerau were curled up near their mother, snoozing the day away without any knowledge of the approaching interlopers.

Skylit, War Dance, Cael, Houndrik, Equiss

Skylit's curious gaze roved up the sides of the building that they were drawing nearer too. In the depths of winter, the mass of vines sprawling across its sides were brown and dry without their cover of leaves, and yet the exposed building still looked infinitely more wild than the Aegis Den where she lived. Branches peeked out through a broken window, from some ambitious young tree that managed to set seed within, and tufts of tan grass stood waiving from one sunken edge of the roof. In the coming month, as green would being to paint the land once more, Skylit was eager to see the transformation of this particular building.

"You gonna stare at it all day?" Cael chuckled as he shoulder-bumped his friend and loped past her. "Come on, lets go take a peek inside!"

Skylit huffed and gave the other a friendly nip as he passed, "Just admiring it for a moment. I wish our Den had vines and trees and stuff."

"The Aegis has vines, on that one side." Houndrik pointed out, as he too was trotting past Skylit and moving towards the treatment center to further investigate the scent of other canines. "And that one berry bush that keeps growing in the side alley."

"Easy, now." Came Equiss's voice of caution as the young ones plundered forward. "We have to make sure this isn't someone else's territory."

War Dance was already on this, having split a little from the party to sniff about at the ground on the outskirts of the building. "There are a few scents... at least three different canines, maybe more."

Tuini, Autumn Sun, Spotlight, Rufflan, Little Tuft, & Khala

Khala watched the procession from her perch atop a telephone pole, smiling inwardly at this unexpected opportunity that presented itself. With a flash of alabaster wings, the falcon dove from her wooden tower and coasted out of sight.

It was only minutes later that Rufflan came bounding across the wastes, emerging from the nearby forest. The lynx zig-zagged about, ears and whiskers pressed forward as he pounced here and there, as if chasing a mouse or some small creature. His antics brought him within a few dozen yards of the canines before he stopped short and froze, bright eyes turning to the lupine mixes in a look of surprise...

Skylit, War Dance, Cael, Houndrik, Equiss

Equiss gave a bark of alarm when she first saw the spotted feline emerge from the cover of the woods. Her tail went up, along with the black and brown hairs that lined her back. The elder Lurker went as far to bare a single fang, silently warning the feline that he'd stumbled into the wrong place, and needed to back off.

"Woah." Cael expressed a startled woof, also stopping as he watched the feline's antics. His fur bristled, but curiosity rose higher than caution in the hybrid, who was larger than this lone cat. "What'cha doing out there, kitty?"

Houndrik and War Dance circled back around to Equiss, followed in short by Skylit who wormed her way forward until she was standing just in front of them and peering curiously at the leggy feline. "Are you a bobcat?"

"That's a lynx." Equiss corrected, a note of warning thick in her voice. "Stay away from him, he's not like the alley cats you see back home." Of the gathered Lurkers, only Equiss was wise enough to know the power of a lynx. The cat posed little threat to them as a group, but he could still cause some damage if he got feisty.

Tuini, Autumn Sun, Spotlight, Rufflan, Little Tuft, & Khala

"I was hunting...." At length Rufflan spoke, turning his gaze from dog to dog as he slowly began to stalk across the field, away from the copse where his friends were hiding so that he might draw their gaze away from the impending ambush. "But I see this area's already spoken for, so I'll just move on." His movements were stiff and slow, but like the naive Cael, it wasn't truly fear that stalled his speed. He was eager, and giddily awaiting the moment the rest of his pride revealed themselves.

Within the dense branches and evergreen foliage that spotted the copse, the big cats were neatly concealed from view. Tuini and Spotlight were shoulder to shoulder when the smaller of the two whispered a brisk "Now!" and sprung into action. The African lion flew from cover, bringing bits of cedar leaves and displaced snow with him as he tore from cover. Like a blur, he shot over the field and rushed straight for Equiss, jaws and claws ready to seize the elder Lurker...

Spotlight and Little Tuft teamed up, with the larger and more able-bodied liger taking the lead and charging for Houndrik. He lunged across the snow turf in powerful bounds, with the final one aimed to tackle the hybrid to the ground and hold him there with his paws, while he bit for the back of the neck. Little Tuft lagged behind the other with his limp, but circled in to cut off any escape the dog might try to make.

Autumn Sun sprinted from the trees with a little less energy than the males, only because she was waiting and watching how the pack responded to the attack. Strong, powerful legs carried the feline closer to the fight.

Rufflan's act was up the second his pridemates launched their assault. His bobbed tail wiggled and he sprang forward with ambitious leaps, ready for his first true battle along side the Makucha. Skylit was his target, who he sprang at with a wild yowl. The little feline tried for her back, where he could bite down into the top of her neck, and wrap his claws against her sides...

Skylit, War Dance, Cael, Houndrik, Equiss

It all happened so fast, Equiss hardly had time to react when several massive forms tore from the nearby trees and descended upon her family. "Run!" The yelp of a command was uttered, despite the the elder Lurker's lack of movement herself. Instead of fleeing, she followed her urgent cry with a defiant snarl and threw herself at Tuini, snapping for his face and neck in an attempt to give the others time to flee. Of course, the lion's teeth were far larger than her own, and his sheer strength knocked her back upon impact. She managed to scramble to her feet and avoid the grasp of his seeking claws, but couldn't evade the teeth that sunk into her upper shoulder.

The rest of the present Lurkers had little to no experience fighting, and Houndrik was no exception. The hybrid couldn't compel himself to turn and run while Equiss was throwing herself at the enemy, so after a moment of fateful indecision, he made a go for the liger baring down on him. Spotlight threw him to the ground with ease, knocking the air out of Hound's lungs and sending his world spinning. He kicked and scrambled to get up and wiggle out of Spotlight's grasp, even as fangs and claws tore into his hide. He tried to yelp, but his lungs refused to cooperate just yet, and offered only a few wheezing squeaks for his effort.

Skylit also refused to bolt. The smallest of the bunch, she had a fighter's tenacity to her, and wasn't going to abandon her pack to the likes of these feline mongrels. "That was a dirty trick, cat!" She spat, eyes locked on Rufflan as he rushed her way. She sprang too, jaws opened wide as they tried to catch any part of his spotted hide she could and rend it from his being.

War Dance and Cael were left momentarily unscathed by the assault, as two larger cats began to circle the battlefield. The yelps and snarls of his packmates, and the stench of big cat, the suddenness of it all... fear clutched at Cael's mind, and he turned to run, heading for the nearby building as fast as his legs could carry him. War Dance nearly followed, but the sound of Houndrik's weezing cry stopped her. She glanced back, hesitated, then charged full on for Spotlight, going for his exposed backside. The base of his tail was her target, where she knew she could inflict a lot of pain, and hopefully distract him enough for Hound to break free...

Blackfrost, Vhaerau, Kennik, & Night Star

'What's going on now?' A groggy Blackfrost thought as her eyes fluttered open to the comforting blanket of darkness around her, as her mind tried to make sense of the noises she'd heard upon waking. 'Had that been a yelp?' She blinked and stretched, pushing her front paws forward and flexing her digits. A yawn broke out, her tongue curling lazily as she brushed off the sounds as her offspring playing.

"Mom?" Blackfrost turned sharply upon hearing her son's voice. Kennik stood out in the inky darkness around him, his alabaster coat catching in the filmy rays of light that scattered through the grates above. The young hybrid was looking upwards with his tail cricked in anxiety, "It sounds like there's fighting."

Across the room, Vhaerau was already sprinting down a tunnel that would lead to a small open grate. Her ebony tail was flagged high and her ruff expanded in a way that would have surely earned her reprimand from the alphas.

"Come, and stay close." Blackfrost yipped to Kennik, and sprinted after her daughter. She caught up to the larger canine just as Vhaerau was ascending a steep incline that ended in a twist of metal that use to cover the exit. The touch of time and a handful of vandals had created an opening wide enough for the average canine to shuffle through, though Vhae stopped just before venturing out. From here, she could see the big cats and the dogs caught among them.

Blackfrost was at her side, peeking through the bent rebar, a look of horror on her face. But it was Kennik who spotted the mad dash of Cael headed their way, and hastily nudged his sister out grate's opening. "Hurry, this way! In here!"

Tuini, Autumn Sun, Spotlight, Rufflan, Little Tuft, & Khala

The feisty old Lurker had more fight in her than he'd anticipated, and was almost surprised to feel pain lighting up the side of his jaw. She'd actually managed to bite him! A growl rolled through the African cat, quickly rising in volume to become a roar as he went after her again. He went for her own muzzle, while trying to use one giant paw to sweep down and rake her back.

Spotlight had an easier time with his quarry, but then it helped being so many times larger than the little hybrid he'd targeted. He'd gotten the taste of blood and wetted his claws without taking any injury himself, and when Houndrik managed to wiggle free of his grasp, the big cat murmured darkly, "Not getting away that easily." He took a swipe at the dog, trying to trip him up before pouncing and grasping for the neck. He hadn't even noticed War Dance's reversal, nor did he see the dog zipping his way until her fangs sank into his haunch, eliciting a shrill yowl from the large cat.

Little Tuft was a second too late in spotting War as well, and didn't have the muscle or strength to leap at him like his comrades did, thanks to his hobble and old age. But the big cat still had his weapons, and rushed to great War Dance with a flying paw, claws unsheathed and swinging for her legs. His fangs went for the side of her head...

Autumn Sun chose Cael, unable to resist a fleeing target, and unwilling to allow any survivors to return to the Alleys. She plunged over the ground at speeds that seemed to defy her large stature, trying to catch up with the fleeing Cael, and swipe at his hind legs to send him tumbling to the ground...

A pitch screech came from Rufflan after he too felt the sting of canine fangs. His pointed ears laced back, flush with his spotted head as he yanked his forearm back from her craving jaws. "It was a good trick, thank you! Partly my idea, even." The lynx managed to spit this out as he dropped onto his side to free up all four paws, so that he could rip at his adversary, and hopefully snag a bite at her throat...

Skylit, War Dance, Cael, Houndrik, Equiss

Equiss was aware of a new voice amidst the throng of noises, but didn't have the time to see where it came from, or know that the resident Delvers were trying to help them. Pain was lighting across her back now as Tuini's claws slapped down on it, forcing her to focus on the feline first and foremost. Her muzzle would have been hit next if she hadn't twisted out of the way quickly enough, and just as she pulled off that maneuver, Equiss was snapping for her foe's face in return. She wanted a mouthful of whiskers, and any other piece of cat she could fit between her jaws...

Houndrik managed a yelp this time, loud and shrill when Spotlight struck his legs and sent him sprawling across the ground, crimson spreading across the snow in his wake. He scrambled to get back up, finding his limbs shaky but still able to hold his weight. The hybrid had it in mind to run again, but upon seeing War Dance rush in to help, only to be struck by Little Tuft, his plans changed. "War, RUN!" He cried, and lunged for the elderly lion that had sunk his fangs into his friend...

War Dance was relieved to see Houndrik break free, and had no intentions herself of sticking around to continue a spat with these cats. They were far too large, and even young War knew this battle was folly. She'd snarled at the blood Little Tuft drew, and twisted away from the lion with counter-snap at the side of his neck. "You too, Hound - follow Cael!" The daughter of Gwen and Honz spun away from the lion then and began to tear across the snowy ground after Cael.

Cael zeroed in on the three canines that emerged from the shadowy opening of the grate, and quickly changed course when the alabaster hybrid beckoned him in. He felt something behind him, sensing the heavy thump of paws on the ground growing rapidly closer as Autumn Sun chased him down, but somehow the young Lurker kept himself just out of her reach. Ears back and legs pumping, Cael put on a frantic burst of speed and dove past the trio of Delvers to make it through the grate, not caring that he left behind a tuft of fur against one of the bars as he barrelled past.

"Ooof!" Skylit went down under Rufflan's weight when he dropped suddenly, dragging his claws through her fur and flesh as he went. She shoved her paws for his throat and face, pushing his gaping jaws aside to keep him from reaching her throat. "You're nothing but a coward!" She snarled back at him, fire in her eyes. She kicked hard for his gut and bit for his face...

Blackfrost, Vhaerau, Kennik, & Night Star

The three canines scrambled back from the grate as Cael came crashing through it and into the damp tunnel where it led. "Keep an eye on the entrance." Vhae rumbled, turning her good eye from the chaos outside, to the panicked Lurker now among them. Her fur was still bristled, and still Blackfrost had not said anything. "Who are you, and what the hell is going on out there?" She wasn't entirely thrilled that Kennik had given away their location and openly invited a stranger in, but now that he was here, there was no going back.

Kennik switched his attention between Cael and the tussle outside, and briefly passed a queried look to his mother. "Can they get in here, those cats?" Ultimately his focus honed in on a second form now running across the grass and snow, a brindle hound with an imposing face and sharp, wolven ears. Oh, he knew they weren't suppose to be inviting strangers into their domain, and knew his father would be furious, but he couldn't just let them get torn to shreds out there! "Hurry, come this way!" He bayed to the second stranger, while watching the frightening form of Autumn Sun hurtling towards the grate as well.

Blackfrost rumbled, anxiety rising in the face of such sudden chaos and uninvited guests. Sharp eyes were hard upon Autumn rather than War Dance, and her rumble grew to a low growl, "That cat won't get in here, not through that grate anyway." The ebony hybrid took a step back, receding further into the shadows where she felt safer, until she was beyond the reach of the sunlight. "Kennik, get back from the grate."

Tuini, Autumn Sun, Spotlight, Rufflan, Little Tuft, & Khala

Tuini's eyes went wide when Equiss caught the side of his face and chomped down. He turned his claws against her shoulders, using them in an attempt to wrake her back while he yanked his own maw from her grasp. The lion grimaced as he felt skin tear, and wasn't sure if he'd lost one precious whisker or five. Fury took him at the thought of the scar that would surely be left behind, and with a mouthful of his own blood that streamed from the fresh wound, he once more lunged for the Lurker. He wanted her throat this time, determined to put an end to this fight.

War Dance was already running before Spotlight had the chance to turn and give her a good swipe, and rather than try and chase her down, he let the young Lurker run straight for Autumn Sun while he focused on his own prey. "Keep him pinned." He growled low to Little Tuft, and crossed the few short steps to meet Houndrik. With the viciousness of a striking crocodile, the liger lunged again at Hound, claws unsheathed and fangs bared. He wanted any piece of the enemy he could reach...

Houndrik's brave attempts at distracting the pair of lions worked better than perhaps the Lurker might have hoped, for Tuft took the pain of Hound's claws and dished it straight back, only he went for the dog's side, while clutching at his head and face with his claws.

Sleet and slivers of half-dormant blades of grass flew into the air from under Autumn's skidding paws. She had to pump the brakes as she realized there was no way she was fitting through that twisted grate as easily as Cael did, and she certainly didn't want to get pinned down in some cramp quarters with Imre knows how many canines. The big cat hissed her frustration and took a warning swipe at Kennik. "Hide while you can, little rats." She then turned away from them, in time to see War Dance streaking for the same grate. Autumn waited until she was closer before pouncing, trying to catch and pin down the fleeing Lurker with her claws...

"Coward?" Rufflan spat back, his growling words hitched by a yowl after an eyetooth found itself cutting a course dangerously close to his eye. "You mean-" The lynx grunted as he twisted his head, "-expert planners, and..." Breaking free of her grasp, the cat tucked his head and went for her paw, while hind claws raked for her underbelly, "...exceptional hunters!"

Skylit, War Dance, Cael, Houndrik, Equiss

Equiss had too much experience in fighting to let her throat be taken so easily. It was difficult to maneuver while being clutched so tightly by feline claws, but she endured the pain that came from twisting away from his clutches, wincing as she did so, to tuck away from his reaching fangs. She heard them snap less than an inch from her throat, felt the hot breath from his lungs, and the pull of her own fur that he'd gotten a mouthful of. With her powerful muzzle held low, she swept downward and towards the big cat, going directly for his chest, where a well-placed bite could send an eyetooth between the protection of the ribs...

Somewhere between the chaotic shift of bodies, Houndrik caught a glimpse of War Dance bolting for a dark spot near the building, and a flash of dark gold as Autumn sprang for his fleeing friend. 'Nooo!' The panicked thought flashed through his mind. And just before a pair of heavy claws seized his head and obscured his view, he saw War reemerge, scrambling up and away from the big cat before she could secure a deadly grasp. In a flash, she disappeared into the darkness of the grate, and that was the final thing Houndrik was aware of before Little Tuft's teeth came crashing down over his skull.

For Skylight, Rufflan was the only thing in her sights. They were both on the ground at this point, which ended up saving the young Lurker from her foe's latest attack; at least somewhat. When he tried to rake her underside, Sky managed to counter his dangerous claws with a few lucky kicks. She couldn't save her front paw from being snatched however, and yelped as ivories sunk in. Whatever curt insult she might have had was now lost as she snapped back at him in a wild fury, going for the back of the lynx's exposed neck and head...

Away from the fighting and back in the tunnel, War Dance nearly collapsed upon stumbling through the gate, blood trailing from where Autumn Sun had snagged her hindquarters on the way by. She stood there, panting and wide-eyed, until Cael bumped his muzzle against her shoulder. He too was wide-eyed, but had had a moment to catch his breath and belatedly respond to Vhaerau, "I have no idea, we were just out exploring when they ambushed us. Don't even know who they are."

War turned and looked through the grate, and her heart sank upon seeing two massive cats crouched over where she'd last seen Houndrik. Her muscles quivered and she felt compelled to run back out and help him, to help Equiss and Skylit, but self preservation kept her locked in place.

Blackfrost, Vhaerau, Kennik, & Night Star

Vhaerau hissed under her breath, unhappy with the answer she got back, but believing the frightened young hound nonetheless. "We'll figure that out later then. Who are you?" Coal-coated huntress turned a new query to Cael, while a single ear swiveled for the tunnel that stretched behind them, listening for the sound of any fellow packmates. She wanted to make sure none of her fellow Delvers accidentally stumbled into this unexpected fray at their doorstep.

"Stay here." Kennik was softer in his words as he tried to reach out to a shell-shocked War Dance. Alabaster brute took a step closer to the other, nose quivering at the scent of fresh blood that now began to mingle with the damp floor at War's paws. He could see her muscles quiver, and saw the look in her eyes. "We can't get past her now, there's too many of them out here. But you're safe with us."

White ivories glistened against the pitch black of Blackfrost's lean muzzle. Her ears were forward but held slightly at the sides, and her thick ruff was bristled like an ebony mane about her neck. Letting her children deal with the two refugees, Blackfrost was staring down Autumn Sun. "You have no business here, cat. You're taking quite the risk being this close to the humans' territory."

Tuini, Autumn Sun, Spotlight, Rufflan, Little Tuft, & Khala

He felt his prey shift suddenly beneath his grasp. Now was his turn to twist and pull back, to stop Equiss from getting a decisive hit on him. He swiped a paw at her face while uttering a chest-quaking roar at the canine, and plunged down with tremendous force for the exposed back of her neck...

Little Tuft held Houndrik's head for a moment between his jaws, his lips pulled back in a silent snarl as his sides rose and fell in rapid order to regain his breath. He gave the lifeless dog a fierce shake before finally dropping him and honing in on his next target - the elder Lurker that Tuini was battling. Head low and shoulders pumping, the old lion rushed across the ground without a second thought. With the front part of Equiss encompassed by his leader, Tuft went for the back half and tried to pounce on her, claws unsheathed and yellowed fangs aiming for her side...

The crunch of bones signaled the end of Houndrik. Spotlight drew back from the wolfdog as his uncle clung to it a few moments longer, panting a little himself and taking a second or two to size up the battlefield. Two of the dogs were gone, and Autumn was pacing in front of a nearby grate. Had her prey gotten away? Spotlight smirked to himself. 'She's not going to hear the end of this.' He thought about sauntering her way, but there were still two more canines on the battlefield, and Rufflan looked like he could use a bit of help.

"Stop playing with your food, furball." The liger teased as he plodded over. That casual banter lay in stark contrast to the sudden, explosive movement of the paw he lashed out, swiping with deadly aim for Skylit's hind limb. He'd try to keep her distracted long enough for Rufflan to finish the job.

A low yowl greeted Spotlight. The entangled Rufflan wasn't pleased to have his backup or commentary, but he didn't offer any more protest than that. "I'm handli- oww!" Skylit had missed her opportunity to grab any of his flesh, but she did get a chunk of soft fur, and it hurt coming out. The lynx's yowl became a fierce screech, and he dug at her again with his claws, and buried his face against the side of her neck, clutch and grasping at whatever bit of his prey he could reach...

Autumn lashed her tail behind her, eying the grate that concealed the wolfdogs. "Our business here is..." She turned her golden head, pausing her words before looking back at Blackfrost, "..just wrapping up. We'll be out before the two-leggers even catch scent of us." She took a few steps closer to the grate, first walking one way, then turning and pacing back the other, sizing up their hiding hole. Her heavy tail lashed again, like an angry serpent striking at some unseen prey. If she couldn't get her paws on one of these dogs, she could at least make sure they didn't sneak out and disrupt the others on their hunt.

War Dance & Cael

War Dance didn't seem to hear Kennik, or if she did, the young Lurker didn't reply. One moment, Little Tuft and Spotlight were hovering over Houndrik, and the next... they had dispersed to other targets, leaving his still form laying in the trampled snow and grass. Her muscles quivered again, and she nearly bolted from the tunnel to rush to his side, but a shadow fell suddenly over the hybrid. Autumn Sun's pacing had brought her directly in front of the grate, blocking the sunlight and snapping War from her trance as she was forced to look upon the giant cat and hear her cruel words.

Rage bubbled suddenly in wolfdog, and her words came out like venom from a spitting cobra, "The humans won't get the chance! You will fall by my fangs, mark my words!" Brindle fur bristled, stand up in little wet clumps that looked akin to the quills of an irritated porcupine.

Far quieter, Cael had his ears back and his head lowered, and his attention split between Vhaerau and what sounds he could hear beyond the grate. With his brow pinched upward in a look of pure anxiety, the ebony hybrid sputtered a reply, "I'm Cael, and that's War Dance. We're Shadow Lurkers, from the Alleys. We were just out exploring..." Up until this point, Cael hadn't been in the frame of mind to inspect his surroundings, but now he realized it - the scent of the Delvers was very strong here in the tunnel. This was their territory. His fluffy tail slung lower, creeping between his legs. "...We didn't realize this was your land."

Even as this realization dawned on the Lurker, he was acutely aware of the silent that had fallen outside, past the safety of the grate. The din of fighting had settled, and he could no longer hear the fierce, defiant snarls of Equiss, or the spitting shrieks of Rufflan whenever Skylit tagged the little cat.

Blackfrost, Vhaerau, Kennik, & Night Star

Vhae sighed heavily, her anger and anxiety over this whole situation tempered some by the naivety of this young trespasser. Her words reflected that shift, coming out a little softer than before, though they weren't exactly comforting or nice. "Given the circumstances, it's fine. I know of the Lurkers, a little. My mom was an Ankhian Lurker before joining my dad."

An aud turned deftly at the sudden snarl of words from War Dance, and she turned to peer at the grate. Another sigh, a quieter one this time, escaped through tense jaws. "We should retreat further into the sewers, and away from them. By the sounds of it, the fighting is done, and there's nothing more we can do here." Vhaerau took a few steps down into the tunnel, moving close enough to Cael to flick a tail against his side as a human might put a brushing hand against another's shoulder. "The two of you can come with us, and we'll figure this mess out."

Though Vhae didn't see it, she was getting a pointed look from her mother. The young Delver was taking things into her own paws, offering orders and inviting strangers deeper into their den. Blackfrost had half a mind to say something, but held back. With a giant liger just outside their door, and a handful of similar beasts lurking just beyond, now was no time to squabble over hierarchy. "She's right, it'll do us no good lingering here." Ignoring Autumn Sun at this point, Blackfrost offered War Dance a sympathetic look before sliding back into the shadows and following Vhaerau into the depths of their home.

That left Kennik standing beside a now defiant War Dance. His pale auds were back, and unlike his sister, his tones remained gentle, "Come with us, please. It's... not safe up here, right now." He pressed a muzzle against her shoulder, a soft attempt at guiding her away from the grate, and towards the beckoning darkness that would offer them greater safety and protection.

Tuini, Autumn Sun, Spotlight, Rufflan, Little Tuft, & Khala

Rufflan clung to Skylit, his chest reverberating with a continued growl. He'd driven his fangs in deep, and held on until she had struggled her last, and finally went still. With a grunt of effort, the lynx released his quarry and pried himself loose, stepping aside her now quiet form. His chin jutted up and he gave Spotlight a scowl, "Furball yourself, Spots, I had that under control!"

The giant liger grinned and raised the paw he'd planted against Equiss' hind leg. "I don't know, that was a lot of yowling I heard." His grin broadened when Rufflan's scowl deepened, until the little cat's eyes were slit-like in their anger. "Ahh, you did good Rufflan. Come on, we'd better see how Autumn's doing." He began to saunter her way, and with a snort of indignation, Rufflan bounced along after.

Little Tuft and Tuini were already heading that way, but before they ever reached the ligeress, she was moving away from the grate. The threats from the dogs' themselves didn't bother her, but the idea of humans was another story. "We'd better get out of here, guys." Autumn called over her shoulder, already moving back towards the cover of the trees. "We are close to human territory, and I don't like being out in the open here."

"She's right. We're heading back home - good work, everyone." Tuini added on, after dropping the lifeless Equiss and plodding towards the welcoming shadows of the thicket. He made one stop on his way though, pausing to stare at the grate where War Dance lingered. "Remember our name little mongrel; the Shadow Haunters defeated you today. And we will be back to finish the job." The lion's gaze settled on her for a long, threatening moment before he too turned away and disappeared into the forests.

High above the battlefield, the shriek of a falcon's voice rang out. Khala dove ahead, keep vigilance over the pride and ensuring their safe journey back to the grasslands.