Dove walked with Rex back to the pack. "You rest here" She said softly, letting him down.

"Thanks, Dove." Rex said quietly, slipping down onto the snow. The antidote was beginning to work. It was slow, but he could wait.

Each supporting their assigned wolf, the six came slowly back in, being sure to take it slowly for those who were still weak. As soon as everyone was at rest, Liseli spoke. Well ... a better end than I might have expected, friends. Much better. And the beginnings of peace settled in her heart for the first time in months. Perhaps... things would turn out.

Rex stood up to greet the wolves. He dipped his head in respect. "It is good to have such pleasant company."

Glider greeted Dove warmly, paying little attention to Rex. Though he did notice his kindness. How strange... He thought, cocking his head. He looked at the group of wolves. "Welcome back." He said.

Dove curled up next to Rex. "How do you stand this weather?" She sighed.

She was still feeling very sick to her stomach, and her muscles barely agreed to a trembling walk. Even then, she had trouble not tripping over her own paws. But thanks to her pack and their allies, Aminita was able to make it back to the lands. It would still be a few days until she and the rest were back to par, but at least the trip to full health would not be as drawn out now that they had an antidote to help them.

Imediately sinking to her haunches, the little hybrid lifted her eyes briefly, "Thank you, for all the help." For once, she was partially glad her pups were not here. With their small size, they would have certainly died if they had eaten the toxins.

With the help of Eytan and the others, Vestige was able to get back to the packland. Finally letting himself relax, the toxins had taken over. The antidote was slowly improving his condition, but he was still weak. Slipping down to sit beside Aminita, the alpha smiled at his allies and pack. I agree, Liseli. Thank goodness Eytan and the others were here to help. Thank you.

Liseli smiled and shook her head a little at Vestige's thanks, voice soft. If I cannot call in a few old debts to save lives, what is the point of collecting them? I use my friends carefully, and it gives me some reassurance to fall back on.

Eytan nodded, tail waving a bit. If you don't mind, we'll stick around a while until everyone is back to full strength. My mate and elder children are perfectly capable of running my packlands without me for a little while, and I would not leave all of you in so delicate a position with no emergency defense.

She stood slowly and came from the brush, a small smile in place as she sent in in Eytans general direction. You all do not listen. She sat upon her haunches, the ancient wolfs gentle smile in place. You hear, but you do not. You listen to their words, but not what their hearts and feet are speaking. You see them coming for you, you just leap and slash. You must think of it as....As a game. You close your eyes, open all your other senses. The blind female was tired, much to tired then she should be. You should all practice it with one another. Listen as a blind wolf would. Hear their foot steps, listen to see if others look in the brush. The snapping of a twig, the brush of leaves. You seek out the ones in the open, when you should not worry about them so much. She couldn't keep sitting up. The eldery fae lay down, her arthretic bones cracking as she did so. Old age, its was certainly catching up to her. She wouldn't die. Not yet. Not until she taught little Nok to speak once more. Then she could die peacefully. White tail curled around and she smiled faintly at them all. Do you understand? What was sad, is that it would be easiest for the blind pup Poison to understand. And he did.

You want us to fight like a blind wolf would. Through listening. Through touch. He murmered it softly, and sat down upon his own haunches and began to ponder this. Kaiya was gone. He had heard another grasp her, and take off. He'd get her back. He'd get both his 'siblings' back.

Blind's words worked a wonderous change in Eytan. For the first time in almost anyone's memory, he looked significantly cowed. He was not quite as old as Blind, but he was wise enough to know good advice when he heard it. He bowed to her a little, and spoke softly. Because vision is only one sense, and without the others we are as blind as if we had no eyes at all. Once we can fight and think without our eyes, our vision will serve us better. And he shook his head a little, smiling and letting the embarrassment of a student show in his voice. Did I get that right?

Dove nodded. "Excellent advice." She said, looking at Blind. She wasn't exactly sure how it would help, but the other female would be smarter than some young, inexperienced racing dog.

Glider yawned. "Right." He said, closing his eyes. "If I cancel out my sense of vision, I can hear better." He smiled. He was amused by these 'super senses.'

"Vision is overwhelming. And overrated..." Rex said, wagging his tail. He fell on his side with a thump and closed his eyes. The stress of all the unwanted events was making him drowsy.

His ebony tail thumped placidly against the ground as his listened to the mumur of enlightened voice around him. He knew how right the old female was, but he didn't close his eyes just yet. While some of the others tried her wisdom, Night sent his sharp yellow orbs to scan the nearby vegetation. But only movement from a subtle breeze met his vigiliance; which was much better than the shifty walk of an enemy. All seemed well right now.

The male came back to the packlands, his head down and tail loose. Massive in comparison to many, he saw the others here and tensed. His eyes fell upon Blind, then Nightcrawler and Eytan. We playing a game? He asked.

Before the male even arrived, Blind said Another comes near. Then Camarin was there, just as she said. You learn the difference between friends and foe. Friends, they walk casually. Foes walk with tense footsteps, tense and alert. Learn the difference.

Finally, the alphen closed his eyes, listening to the sounds of others around him, and building a picture of them. Of to his right, about... oh, four feet or so, was Liseli. Blind was on his left, very near indeed, only a spare foot or so away. Camarin's steps stopped at a significant distance, obviously tense and a little afraid of rejection.

His eyes remained closed, but a kind smile was sent in the vague direction of Camarin. He knew what had happened, of course. There was little that went on in the valley that he did not know, but unlike some... he understood, to a degree. Camarin had acted out of desperation, of trying to protect the pack and home he had just discovered. Perhaps not the brightest thing ever done... but understandable, if one could remove oneself from the emotions around it.

His eyes fluttered open for a moment, turning to Liseli. The force of his head turning made her turn to face him, and their eyes met for a long time. It was uncertain what passed between them, but finally, Liseli nodded, and turned. She trotted over to Camarin, a little shyly, but smiling. She, at least, was willing to forgive.

Meanwhile, Eytan closed his eyes again, and spoke softly to Blind. If I may... might I feel you... to see what you look like without eyes?

Her smile was faint, but genuine. Yes. Another thing you will notice, touch. Its another key to the puzzle. By touch, you learn things. Trees, things that have happened to them. Ferns, the way they are disturbed. You'll come to enjoy touch more and more with the passing of days. Her smile was given to Eytan, but he had closed his eyes once more. Softly, she said to them all Through touch, you learn to love so much more.

Receiving her permission, Eytan began nose around her, using the sensitive skin of his nose and left forepaw. He nosed very shyly at first, for, with his eyes closed, he was unfamiliar with his own strength, but as he got a feel for it he was a little more confident, though his touch was still gentle.

With his eyes closed, he had noticed instantly how much more acute his hearing was, but it soon became apparent that his touch was also enhanced. As he gently prodded around Blind, he began to notice things that he could not see with his eyes: the hollow in the bone where the hip met the leg, which was normally disguised by fur, was quite visible to his probing nose. The scars left over from Storm Warning's attack were also there, hidden by the fur but exposed to his wandering paw. As he completed his circuit, he put all the new factors together and added them to the picture he already had in his mind of Blind, and the picture was so much more complete. Smiling, he opened his eyes, voice soft. You are right. There are many things our minds can see that our eyes cannot.

Moonpaw arrived shortly after Camarin, with the pups. A forced smile was upon her face, but she refused to let it fade in front of the others. "Hello everyone," she bent down to Lunarmoon,"Take your siblings out to play. Be careful though and don't stray." Lunarmoon nodded. He gently pushed Quicksilver, starting a game of tag. They all ran off, having a jolly good time. Moonpaw sighed, still not letting her smile slip. She joined her mate, leaning heavily on him.

The satin brute came sauntering up. Shaking the sleep from his body. He had been resting since the attack and soon joined the group. Staring at the little pups with a smile then turning to both Camarin and Moonpaw. "They are beautiful." He, didn't really want pups, not yet. He was still to immature for a child of his own.

Instead he moved closer to the pack and laid down. Wagging his tail although he had yet to read their body language. He knew the world, and luck, was not the best on their side. There was only hope that would keep this wolf from plunging into darkness once again.

Dove looked at the pups. "Yes, they are. They are very beautiful." She said softly. She then stood up and walked to the den without another word.

"Aww...What cute puppies!" Said Rex, before following Dove.

Glider had too much on his mind to notice Dove, even though she was his daughter.

As his mate came forth, the black males eyes turned from their dead hollowness, to a spark of life and hope. Lightly he nuzzled her, then Liseli came forth. Seeing her, he turned his head to the side as if expecting a sharp reprimand from her, but then she spoke and he nodded. He smiled at his children, all of them. They were so beautiful.

Moonopaw smiled a bit at Camarin's nuzzle, then looked at her pups. They seemed to be play-fighting now. Her eyes brightened and she trotted over to them. She lay down, allowing the pups to climb up and over her. This was as happy as she was going to get.

Liseli had the grace to look a little ashamed of herself, and her voice was almost quavering as she spoke to Camarin, as if afraid of rejection. I... I believe I... said some... unkind things to you recently, Camarin. I... I see now that... that you were trying to help us, the only way you knew how. I... apologize... for my words. They were said in the heat of the moment.

And her eyes lowered, very ashamed. She, of all wolves, ought to know that desperate wolves made desperate mistakes. Had she not done the same thing with Aloysious? But, never mind... She turned her eyes back up to him, voice still softer. Whatever the others think... I forgive you, and I hope... that you can find it... that you'll be able to forgive me.

The alpha male had been trying out Blind's idea's, using his ears and nose to guide him instead of his eyes. He was gradually getting the hang of it, and he heard someone coming into the land. Pure instinct made his eyes shoot open, landing on Camarin. He nodded to the wolf, but didn't say a word. With cold, sad eyes, Vestige turned and padded across to the edge of the forest. He eased himself to the ground, placing his head over his paws and closed his eyes, His ears catching all the sounds of Aspen Grove.

Seeing her alphen head away into the trees, Liseli let out a soft bark that brought Kimama to her, leaning down to whisper something unintelligable into her daughter's ear. Kimama nodded, and turned to head after Vestige.

Coming upon him, she waved her tail and spoke softly, eyes closed and brow furrowing a bit as she repeated her mother's message word for word. My mother says to you... Have you so quickly forgotten my words? Desperation causes foolish choices to be made, like the one you almost made on the Canyon-top. She says... Camarin made a foolish choice, one that none of us agree with, but he was trying to protect the pack, as you would yourself. Perhaps a kind of... of... And she closed her eyes tighter, trying to remember the long word her mother had used. Perhaps a kind of... betrayal, but love was at the heart of it. Remember also that, in a sense, they have lost the same number of children you have. Damaged is dead, Krypt has left you, but they have had to give up two of their own pups as well. The choice was not a wise one, and it has caused you pain, but remember that, in this case, the foolish choice became a two-edged sword. You may not be ready to forgive, and I understand... but remember that if we allow this choice to tear our pack apart, then Risen has won, and all our efforts are in vain. If we turn brother against brother, her task has been accomplished.

And the pup opened her eyes finally, tail waving a little sadly at Vestige as she came forward to offer him a little lick on his nose. She had never known her father, and Vestige had always been so kind and loving that she considered him to be her father, though she knew of course that he was not. Her soft voice came, all the wisdom of her pupness in it. It's gonna be okay, sir. We'll make it work. You'll see.

The alpha's ears caught onto Kimama's approach long before she spoke. It seemed Blind's words were true. He turned his head in the direction of her foot-falls, and as she neared him, he opened his eyes. He smiled softly to the pup, but his smile faded as she began to recite Liseli's words. His head dipped, gaze falling to the ground. I'm such a fool. The wolf's blue eyes closed, as each true word imprinted his mind. It was the lick on his nose that made them open again. He looked up at Kimama, and smiled. Thank you Kimama, I believe...we can make it work. Vestige stood up, nuzzling the pup on the top of the head. Go tell your mother I said thank you, I think I owe an appology to Camarin. A quick smile was shot to Liseli, along with a nod that said, Your right, Thank you. Taking in a deep breath, the wolf turned and began to pad back to Camarin. Camarin, I'd like to talk to you. Vestige led the brute away from the main crowd, trying to figure out what to say. Finally deciding they were out of the others earshot, the wolf turned back round to face Camarin. I...I'm sorry. I know what you did was done for the good of the pack. I understand now that you gave up a lot for those you cared for, and I'm...I feel...You did the right thing. I was a fool to believe you did it selfishly, and I know you would not be able to save my life, even if you wished it, for I am Risen's enemy and always will be. Camarin, I too have lost two sons to the Haunters. If you would prefer it, I shall go to Risen and trade my life for the lives of your two children and the safety of this pack, if you so wish it. I am forever in your debt for protecting the lives of my pack. Thank you. You did what I should have done, and my behaviour has not helped matters. Vestige smiled, his head dropping a little. If Risen wishes to split us apart, she's going to have to try a lot harder...Do you accept my apology?

Kimama smiled and hopped to go deliver the returned message. Liseli leant her head down, and as Kimama whispered in her ear, she nodded. Sometimes her alphen just needed reminding of his own ideas. As Vestige came back to the group, she gave him a smile that said, I would only remind you of that which you know so well. And as Vestige led Camarin away, she offered Moonpaw a comforting smile, voice soft. All will be well now, my friend. He only needed reminding of certain things to understand. Things will turn aright. You'll see.

Kimama leaned against her mother, glad she had been able to help make everything better.