Nightshade

The ebony-coated buck moved with caution as he followed Aizen into the dank bowels of the Scar. The chill of autumn left the air cold this night, causing plumes of mist to rise like thick blankets from the warm, sodden ground they were now crossing over. It made it difficult for either deer or wolf to see very far through the dense fog, but it also helped to mask their movements, especially in the darkness.

"Why do we need Quil?" The buck asked after a while, glancing down to the three-legged wolf. "I was only a yearling when she left... but I've got trail of her here and there in my patrols." The sound of rustling in the distance caused the buck to freeze, ears up and eyes wide. He stopped and looked about, but could see nothing by the silhouettes of trees surrounding them.

Aizen

The three legged wolf sniffed around .My sister, she is sick and starving. We are hoping that Quil can help herHe said as he paused and growled at the rustling.

Nightshade & *Noise*

"Oh, which sister is this?" Nightshade feigned interest, while his mind whirled as tried to come up with names. There had been so many canines, he didn't have a solid handle on exactly who was related to who. That list of names faded rather abruptly from his interest when that rustling sounded again, a little closer than last time. The buck threw his tail up, revealing the bright white underside of it, the only patch of alabaster on his otherwise charcoal-black coat.

-S-sick and s-starving?- The voice that whispered from the mist sent a chill down Night's spine. His dark eyes went wide, while his radar-like ears swiveled to try and pinpoint the source of the words. The tone was raspy and the words drawn out and slowl. -Look at this-s. A wolf and a deer... working together.- A silhouette formed within the fog, low to the ground, and about five short yards from the pair. Aizen's growl hadn't seemed to deter this creature from moving closer to them.

Aizen

Aizen tilts his head.ursa, we haven't found momo yetHe said calmly and then his tail goes ridig and his head low teeth bared and he growled.who goes there show yourselfHe snarled out. He saw the silhoutte but could not make it out.

Nightshade & *Noise*

Nightshade commits those names to memory as Aizen's sisters, but there is no verbal response from the buck. He'd turned to face the approaching silhouette, his nostrils flared wide and his heart pounding in his ears.

The shape in the mist begins to solidify as it moves closer, encroaching now within four yards of the duo. The body was dark and low, looking almost crocodilian. But the legs that swung out at either side of the creature's frame were much larger and longer than a crocodile's, with oversized claws that curved out like a bear's and dug into the ground with every slow, deliberate step. The neck, too, was long and muscular, and held upon it a lengthy head and muzzle.

"It's a river monster." Nightshade suddenly recognized the form, having seen these before in the Ruins. He'd never spoken to Sekou or the komodos - he generally tried to stay away from the predators - but the crocodile monitor and her larger brethren had left a keen impression on his young mind. "Be careful, Aizen..."

The lizard stopped at three yards shy of the wolf and his cervid companion, long blue tongue flicking from her mouth. A water monitor, she was broadly build and set with a formidable array of weapons. She eased down on her wide belly though, head perked up on her long neck as she analyzed the pair before her, -Looking for a lossst companion?- Her words crept from a mouth where no giant teeth were prominently visible, but that didn't calm Nightshade any. -How rude of me... I'm Ederelus. And you are...?-

Aizen

Aizen whole body was ridgid as the thing finaly showed what it was. His ears were back slightly.Yes we are looking for QuilikhamHe said and eyed the other.I am Aizen from the shadow hauntershe said calmly there wass no harm in telling his name was there?

Nightshade & Ederelus

"Nightshade." The buck offered quickly, following Aizen's lead. He was trying to remember just how quick these predators were on land, and already had his muscles tense to either wheel around and run, or dive forward with his antlers to defend Aizen.

Aloof to the anxiety she was causing, the hefty monitor let her belly rest on the ground while her long neck was arched up and forward, and more at Aizen's level, -Ahhhhhh, Haunterssss. And you're looking for the little deer?- Her head tilted ever so slowly, and that forked blue tongue whipped out again, flicking in the canine's direction. -I can help you, if you will do sssomething for me, Aizzzen. Bring me a sssatissfying meal -sssomething with feathersss- , and I will ssshow you where the deer livesss.-

Aizen

Aizen was careful and he kept his eyes on the monitor. I could do that He said.

Nightshade & Ederelus

Nightshade grimaced at the thought of hunting down a bird, but at least this big reptile was willing to negotiate instead of outright attacking them. The buck looked to Aizen, letting the wolf make the decision.

Ederelus smiled, -Perrrfect. I will wait here then.- The monitor stretched her legs out at either side of her, her long, curved claws resting against the moss and dead leaves that littered the ground.

Aizen

He sighed. He didn't understand why this lizard couldn't hunt the bird itself but that was that. He turned and headed out of the scar and began to stalk a turkey, it was a bird after all.

Nightshade & Ederelus

Nightshade was right on Aizen's heels, happy to put that lizard behind him. She may be smaller than any of the big cats at the Ruins, but the scaly folk made his skin crawl, knowing that many of them were venomous, and it took but a single bite to kill. He wasn't sure if Ederelus was or not, but the buck figured it was safer to keep her happy, and so he too kept his eyes and ears out for any bird that might appease her.

The fog was still thick, but upon leaving the scar, it began to ease up and make the pair's job a little easier. Aizen would eventually stumble across a patch of sumac trees, their long leaves sporting the brilliant red hue of autumn. It was there that the flock of turkey were resting, currently unaware that they were being stalked...

Aizen

He smells them as soon as they leave the scar and he crouchs down and begins to stalk them. He picked out a nice female that seemed to have a bad leg. When close he lunged chasing it a little then snagging it by its neck. Once it was dead he dragged it back to the monitor.

Nightshade & Ederelus

Nightshade didn't take part in the brief hunt, leaving the predator to do the killing. His only action was to fold his ears back at the explosion of flapping wings and shrill cries of the startled flock as it broke through the meager canopy of the sumac grove, unaware that one of their own would not be following them tonight. Silently, the buck turned and followed Aizen back into the Scar, keeping particularly close to the three-legged wolf.

Crawling back through the thick fog, the pair would eventually encounter Ederelus, exactly where they had left her a short while ago. A smile tugged at her dark eyes after her tongue had flickered in front of her to catch the scent of blood in the air. -My gratitude, friendssss.- She moved forward then, her long neck reaching towards the bird that Aizen carried. In one swift strike, she took the turkey from his hold and pinned it by the wing with one large paw to the ground. Nightshade grimaced as he watched the reptile tear the still-warm creature into several smaller chunks with relative ease, and toss those chunks down her gullet without ever chewing a single bite.

After her belly bulged at either side, and only a few scattered feathers remained, Ederelus finally addressed Aizen and his cervid companion, -A deal isss a deal. Follow me.- Scarcely slowed down by her meal, the crocodile monitor proceeded to waddle her way through the dense mist, leading the pair on a nearly forty-minute journey to small grove, where numerous plants thrived against the backdrop of decay around them. -Quilly, we have visssitorsss. They want to ssspeak with you.-

From beneath the hanging branches of a currant bush, a dark-furred little muntjac arose, her tail flicking behind her, and her large eyes gazing up at the wolf and his white-tail companion.

Aizen

Aizen had no choice but to catch the bird he would not go back with out the muntjac help. He followed the monitor.Hello, I am aizen of the shadow haunters. I come because I need your help. We found my sister nearly dead from starvation and we need your help to keep her alivehe said the pleading in his voice.

Nightshade, Ederelus, & Quilikahm

"I remember you." The little deer responded quietly and without missing a beat when Aizen gave his name, "And you, Nightshade." Her large, dark eyes flashed to Nightshade, then back to the tri-legged wolf. "I didn't realize the Haunters were functional again.... or that they'd request my services." Her tail flicked again behind her, and she flashed her tongue out to wet the front of her tiny nose. Scarcely reaching a foot and a half at the shoulder, the miniature cervid looked as if she could be a newborn fawn of the Buck's, and was a small fraction of Aizen's bulk. Nonetheless, Quilikahm showed no fear as she spoke with the Family she had not seen in nearly ten years. "I suppose I have no choice in the matter, so lead the way, Aizen."

Ederelus watched this all play out with a look of curiosity. Settled on her belly once more, with her legs splayed out at either side, the monitor looked as content as a bear with a belly full of salmon.

Aizen

Aizen would begg the little deer if he had to. He was scared for his sister.Thank you!He said and turn to head back to the ruins.

Nightshade, Ederelus, & Quilikahm

Quilikahm gave a parting look to Ederelus before springing after Aizen.

Nightshade also looked back at the monitor, making sure he knew exactly where she was while in his presence. Resisting the urge to flag his tail, the buck hastily followed after the other two.