Blackfrost, Vhaerau, Kennik, Night Star

The soft thump of pads striking cement announced Blackfrost's return to the main chamber, with a second pair of steps trailing not far behind in the form of her lean-muzzled daughter. Kennik raised himself up quickly at his mothers approach and gave her a brief nuzzle in greeting. "Time to journey out?"

Blackfrost nodded, "I've scouted a few locations, and the southeast crevice tunnel will be the safest. It'll bypass the field and get you into the city, just be mindful of your footing." A light of understanding shown in Kennik's eyes as his mother named the chosen route; a tunnel that intersected a small fault in the earth, and wasn't properly fortified. Part of the tunnel wall had collapsed years ago, and the scent of spoiled eggs permeated the area. But following it would eventually lead to an opening that spilled into a large drainage pipe beneath a road, which was sometimes accessible as long as there were no recent rains to flood the area.

"Got it." Alabaster wolfdog looked to Cael and War Dance, "How about it, are you guys ready to head back home?"

War Dance & Cael

War Dance had not fallen asleep in the hour or so they had rested in the quiet darkness of the man-made cavern. Laying still for so long left her sore, and she winced upon trying to stand, keenly feeling each of her fresh wounds as they protested her movements. But she raised herself, and lifted her brindle muzzle to listen to Blackfrost and Kennik speak. She had no idea what 'tunnel' they spoke of, but trusted that this younger male knew the way, so she nodded to him. "We're ready."

Cael had no injuries to speak of from their encounter, a fact that his body was thankful for, but his mind was grappling with. He'd just ran away from the fight, without trying to help anyone. Seeing War Dance struggle to stand drove that guilt in deeper, and for a brief moment wondered if he ought to just turn tail and not return to the Alleys. But War Dance, seeing anxiety and tension in her friend's eyes, gave him a reassuring nuzzle, "Come on Cael, we're going home."

Blackfrost, Vhaerau, Kennik, Night Star

Kennik winced internally at War's struggle to stand, recalling the brief but brutal tangle she'd had with those big cats. Vhaerau similarly empathized with the young Lurker, for she had gone up top and scouted the field in the past hour to learn what she could of these new enemies. The bodies of her friends and family still lay scattered up there, making Vhae thankful that they were avoiding that scene altogether. She may not trust these new canines yet, but no one needed to endure what they had.

The darker of the two siblings drifted past in the background, with an acknowledging nod to Kennik before she slipped into a nearby tunnel and disappeared from sight. Kennik had returned the nod before looking to War and Cael, a soft smile showing in his orange eyes, "Keep close to me then. Some of these tunnels get a little dark, so we'll move slowly." He stepped past them and towards the tunnel his sister had vanished into. The soft-coated brute moved at a slow, steady pace to account for War's stiffness, and paused when needed to to allow the pair to keep up with him.

Cael & War Dance

The nudge from War Dance sparked a forced smile from Cael and a twitch of movement from his tail. No words would form in his throat though. His gaze followed Vhaerau into the shadows, then instinctively darted about the engulfing darkness for the silent reptile that had been there an hour ago.

"Come on." War again prompted her friend with a gentle lick to the side of his face. She brushed past him as she followed after Kennik, and without a moment's hesitation, Cael trotted closely after.