Sylar

As much as Sylar hated to admit it, she knew her mother was no longer able to lead the Aspen Grove pack. The young adult weaved through the trees, her amber eyes bright as she sought out her mother and the rest of the pack. It was time for Cortinarri to hand down her crown.

It would have been strange to see Sylar leave the forest; a spitting image of her father. However, unlike Vestige, no scars littered her pure white body, and she had both eyes intact and they were sparkling with defiance, much like Cortinarri's.

While she walked over the open hills of Aspen Grove, Sylar tried to think of the best way to, well, challenge her mother for her title. She knew Cortinarri wouldn't fight her for it, because it was the right time for her to pass it on, but she couldn't help but feel that she would be challenged by her siblings too. While Sylar, Starscream and Isias had bonded well together, Valian had become a solo renegade, distancing himself from his siblings. It was him that Sylar placed as her biggest threat, simply because she didn't know what he would do. Scream was a close second, but Sylar didn't think Isias would fight her for the crown. However, she could have been wrong. She stopped, deciding she couldn't put it off any longer. From a distance, it would have looked like Vestige was back...

Sylar tipped back her head, her soft voice filling the air. It was a call to the pack, and to the alphess. It was a challenge for Cortinarri's rank, and a challenge between the alphess' children for the title of Alpha of Aspen Grove.

Cortinarri, Isias, & Starscream

She had known that this day would soon come, and as ready as she was to pass on her authority, there was that old, gnawing hunger for power that had driven her her entire life. She had been dethrowned too many times to count, and had always clawed her way back from death and humiliation to reclaim her rightful leadership. But this time... this time it was different. There would be no bloodshed on her part, no stubborn posturing and threats; this was her daughter, and the time had come.

The old alpha was first to arrive on the scene, her head held high at first as she looked to Sylar with intense amber eyes. Deep instinct and a strong personality for dominance made one last bid for her to quell her daughter's challenge, yet her aching bones and the growing limp in her crippled hind limb held back these urges. Though her keen eyes remained as lively and vibrant as they had in her earlier years, Cortinarri slowly dipped her head down, letting it rest at a level below Sylar's level.

Isias arrived just in time to catch the wordless acts of her sister and mother, watching as the elder wolfess surrendered with only a brief mental fight with herself. Quietly, the smaller wolf padded forward and perched herself on the ground a few feet away from the duo. Her head was held lower than either of them, signalling that she didn't wish to bid for leadership against her sibling.

It took a while longer before Starscream showed up, having been out hunting rabbits along an old gooseberry patch. The white and grizzled brother halted a few yards from the three gathered family members, face creased in thought and contemplation as he worked over the scene. It was obvious to him that neither Isias or his mother were going to challenge his sister. But... why shouldn't he be the ruler? Why should Sylar get that recognition, instead of him? With an ego that was a strong as they came, Starscream stalked stiff-leggedly forward, brazenly lifting his head and tail as he stared down Sylar, "It's about time for a new leadership, eh? Backdown, sis; I don't want to have to fight you."

Sylar, Valian, Draven and Soleil

Sylar had sat down while she waited for a responce to her call. It wasn't long before her mother came forward, head high, and as defiant as ever. Sylar stood up, lifting her head, her amber eyes locking with her mother's as she silently waited for Cortinarri's decision. When Cortinarri's head sank, Sylar's dipped ever so slightly in a bob towards her mother, and a small smile crossed her face. As much as she disliked taking the status her mother had fought for many a time, she couldn't help but feel a wave of happiness wash over her, and a wave of affection for Cortinarri.

The smile faded with the approach of Isias, as Sylar fixed her sister with a quizzical stare. Would she submit or not? She need not have worried, as Isias simply sat down and lowered her head, causing Sylar's to inch higher as the bright smile crossed her face once more.

Just after Isias, Draven appeared, taking a seat beside Isias, and they were soon joined by Soleil. It became obvious what was happening, so neither pack member spoke, as they watched Cortinarri surrender to her daughter.

It became apparent to the white wolf that her brother was a contender, as he stalked towards her. Sylar's smile faded once more, her eyes hardened, as she lifted her head to match Starscream's, and raised her tail. Her eyes locked with his, as she flashed a fang at his challenge. "Looks like you're going to have to fight me, Scream. I'm not going anywhere." While she loved her brother dearly, Sylar desperately wanted to make something of herself, and being the alphess of the pack she had grown up in and her parents had led would mean the world.

It was at this point that Valian decided to show up. His haunting yellow eyes swept over the scene before him: the stand-off between brother and sister, the de-throned Cortinarri. He frowned, ears forward, as he circled round the group. He ended up behind his mother, his eyes glued to the sparring siblings of his. He brushed against his mother, settling beside her, but made no movement towards the duo before them. He wasn't going to challenge for the alpha title.

Sylar ignored Valian, instead devoting her attention to the brother before her. "Looks like it's just you and me then, brother." Then her face contorted as her gums were pulled back, her pretty face now morphed into an aggressive mask. Her body tensed, hackles rose, and ruff puffed out. "Come on then, Scream," she taunted, slipping into her role as a challenger with surprising ease, "Fight me, or step down. Either way, I'm the next alpha."

Dove; Kiku; Mikomi; Silence; War Dog; Josie; Promise

With Glider at the Woodland Farm, Dove was feeling lonely. The young mother had been raised solely by her father and feared that he would be gone before she knew it. With red, teary eyes, she took her place near the aging alpha.

Kiku and Mikomi followed their mother, Mikomi leading her young pups, War Dog, Josie and Promise.

Silence sat next to Dove, trying to comfort her mother. It seemed that there was nothing she could do at this point.

Cortinarri, Isias, & Starscream

"I don't wanna have to hurt you, Sis." He began with a high-sounding growl that matched well with his obnoxiously scratchy, sharp voice. Determined eyes sized up his adversary, but the fact that she was indeed his sister kept what would have otherwise been a more sinister light dwell there. If it came right down to it, he knew that there probably would be little bloodshed between the two of them, if any at all in this fight.

Starscream moved forward, stiff-legged and raised-tail, until he was within striking range. His gaze stuck fast to hers, staring down Sylar in one last ditch attempt to intimidate her and force her to submit without any physical contact. But if this failed... all bets were off, and he was going to play the hard way.

Both Cortinarri and Isias spared Valian a quick, acknowledging look before resuming their vigil on the battle.

Manov

It had been years since the once alpha male had been to these lands. He had left with his family when Ghost had gotten terribly sick. There had been a group of hunters that attacked there small pack, Ghost had been caught in a net, and shot numerious times. The rest of the pack had talked about comeing back to where himself, Mitya; his sister, and his distant family had grown up. Times had changed his figure, there was a large scare across his muzzle from a knife, and his side was sunk in where he had been almost torned to shreds by a bear. Thoughts had gone through of his mind about his once mate Cortinarri, but he never had the courage to return to face her after leaving with no notice or promise to return. But now it was different, he was getting older and longed for what he had before. As he came to the top of the large Valley, he noticed many things that were different, more humans along with many other creatures. He entered Aspen Grove slowly, he could smell the scent of her, the one he was looking for. But there was something different, something in the air made him sence that something was wrong. When the howl came up to call Cortinarri, he began to run deeper into the territory, he stopped as he came to a fallen tree. Manov perched himself atop it and let out a longing howl for his once mate. He waited a moment then continued his trek towards her, he seen that she was surrenduring to another fem, but it was without a fight. That wasn't the Cortinarri he had once known, and still loved. A thought crossed through his mind to charge in but he stopped when a younger strong male appeared to challenge for the alpha poistion. He changed his mind, for now he would wait for Cortinarri to notice him.

Sylar and Valian

Sylar's growl only intensified as Starscream approached her, her head once again lifting and tail following suit. Her eyes flashed, and a snarl now marred her face as she faked a snap at her brother.

"There's no too ways about it, Scream," she retorted, her voice low and vicious, a complete contrast to his, "You back off now, or we-"

She was interrupted by a howl form someone she didn't know, someone who was calling Cortinarri. Her snarling stopped, her gaze shifting to her mother, but her posture didn't change from the aggressive challenge that she continued to display. Then she saw him, the one who had called for Cortinarri, and her eyes narrowed dangerously. A look was cast to Starscream, asking him to leave this challenge until this stranger had been dealt with. Then she would fight him for the title of alpha.

Striding forward, with Scream no doubt at her side, Sylar halted before Manov, her amber eyes fixed on the wolf before her. "Who are you, stranger, and what do you want with Cortinarri?" She refered to her mother by name, simply because it was more appropriate. Not many in the valley knew of Cortinarri's second brood, but it would soon become apparent that four of the wolves here were her children. Sylar was very much like her father, with a glistening white coat and powerful build, but her eyes were defiant just like Cortinarri's.

Valian, however, looked like neither parent, with his coat of black, and although wasn't the social butterfly that all his other siblings seemed to be, he still stayed by his mother's side, and would escort her if she approached Manov.

Manov

Manov bared his teeth at Sylar, there was somethin in her eyes, something familier about her. "That is no business of yours whelp." He snarled at her. Not really wanting to get in a fight but he didnt like being confronted.

Sylar

With Manov's slightly aggressive response, Sylar's body became more dominant, and her own fangs were flashed.

"It is my business, for Cortinarri is my mother," the young hybrid replied, "My name is Sylar, daughter of Cortinarri and Vestige, and I demand to know why you are here."

She was desperate to include something about her being the alphess, but as she was not yet, and the title hung between herself and Starscream, she didn't wish to anger her brother more than was necessary. Her eyes hardened, and were firmly set on Manov, but she remained alert for her mother, in case Cortinarri felt the need to step in.

Manov

When he heard that this was Cortinarri's offspring he was startled a bit, but never showed it. "She knows why i am here, and it is NO business of yours!" He snapped at her. His eyes peared over at Cortinarri, wondering if this male, vestige, was still around.

Liseli

Needless to say, all the chaos attracted the longest-standing member, and currently the most aggressively inclined one, of the pack. The beta had known about the battle for leadership, but had chosen to stay away, as this was mostly a family-related issue anyway. But when her nose bore tale to her of an intruder on the lands and the sounds of snarls altered from competitive to defensive, the white female made her way toward the sounds.

Liseli pulled up protectively beside Cortinarri, letting a low, deadly growl slice through the still air as a warning before cutting it off long enough to say, "Anything that you have to say can be said here, unless my alphess deems it otherwise. May I politely provide guidance that you are running a very perilous path at the moment, and suggest that you rethink your tactics." Despite her words, there was nothing at all either polite or tactful about Liseli's tone of voice or her body posture. Both of these said that the only thing that was keeping her from slicing into Manov right now was that Cortinarri hadn't spoken permission for it yet.

Kiku

Kiku slid up beside Sylar, growling only very faintly. "That's no way to talk to Cortinarri's daughter. Sylar has every right to know what a flea-infested mongrel is doing on her mother's territory." The saluki/wolf hybrid snarled, an oh so deadly look in his eyes.

Cortinarri, Isias, & Starscream

Isias was soon standing up and eyeing the stranger in a most unfavorable way. There was no snarl rumbling in her throat, but the hair along her ruff and back began to slowl perk up as the tension grew around her.

Peeved that the fight for leadership had been interupted, Starscream wasted no time in telling the stranger off, "Scram, you mongrel stray!" Lifting his head higher and flashing his pearly fangs, Star took the opportunity to flaunt his and show everyone just why he should be the next alpha, "Either you go right now, or I'll-"

"Quiet, everyone." Cortinarri was standing now as well, briefly lifting her head high, even though her tail remained low and loose, as a signal for the others that not only was she not broadcasting herself as the alphess still, but that she held no fear or anger towards this stranger. Yet, the rest of her body, her stance, and the firm tones of her voice embodied everything that a leader's should as she demanded the obedience of her packmates. In total contrast to the hostility of the others, the old leader's muzzle sprouted a soft smile as she took a few steps closer to her old mate, closing the gap between them until she was but a muzzle's length from the male, "I didn't expect... I didn't think I'd ever see you again." Her voice dropped a little, in a quiet way that would make the others hard pressed to hear it, "I missed you, Manov. So much has happened..."

Liseli

Liseli didn't look happy that Cortinarri had decided to approach the aggressive stranger, but she was still sane enough to obey, and though the tone was gentle, the words Cortinarri spoke were definitely an order. And it was because of this that she remained where she was, forcibly silencing her snarls but still fixing Manov with a glare that clearly said, You make one wrong move, and I swear... your throat is mine.

And sadly enough, she was more often than not this aggressive these days. The sweet, supportive fae that Vestige had come to know had almost vanished with his death, as if somehow some piece of her had been torn away with his passing. She'd already been teetering on the edge after Sauda was killed, but watching a wolf who'd been like a brother to her die before her own eyes seemed to have ripped her gentle personality from her. It could still be seen every now and again, in the ghost of a smile she'd offer one of her children or, on a rare occasion, to Cortinarri herself, but other than that, she'd become a vicious, brooding creature.

Manov

He raised his hackles as they all approched him, calling him out as if he was worthless. When Cortinarri approched him, his snarls silenced and gave the others a look to back off. He wasn't afraid to be attacked, he wasn't afraid to die ever since everything had been takin from him. For a moment he just stood faceing her, she was once his whole life. "I know I'm sorry. I have missed you too." When he spoke, he spoke only to her, it was not for anyone else. He took one step closer so their noses' slightly touched, then another and nuzzled her neck.

Sylar and Valian

Valian had followed his mother towards Manov, his haunting yellow eyes fixed on the stranger. Stopping beside the aggressive Beta, Valian watched as Cortinarri greeted Manov.

Sylar had reluctantly ceased her growling at her mother's command, taking a step back to allow Cortinarri to address this new wolf. However it was these next moves that neither of the children liked at all.

Manov nuzzled Cortinarri. Their mother.

Sylar's eyes widened in disbelief, her expression was one of shock, as if someone had clapped sharply in front of her face. Shooting a confused look at Starscream, the wolfess seemed to struggle in comprehending what had just happened.

Valian, however, was the quicker of the two to respond. His eerie eyes were lit with a spark, and his emotionless face contorted, showing just how skeptical he was of Manov, and how sinister he really was inside. Though he made no sound, the anger that was carved into every portion of his face could be seen clearly. "Who is this?" Valian demanded, his tone relatively calm compared to the rage he felt. This wolf comes waltzing in, acts aggressively towards his family, then nuzzles his mother? No, Cortinarri was Vestige's mate. Vestige, who ran this pack, was best friends with Liseli, who was Risen's number one target, and who was dead at the jaws of Cavan.

Even though Valian, Sylar, Isias and Starscream had never met their father, they knew enough about him from Cortinarri to feel as if they had known him. It was enough for both Valian and Sylar to be completely outraged by Manov's actions.

Liseli

Liseli did not add her protests to Valian's demand, though she had plenty she could have voiced. The only thing she allowed herself was to shift closer to the young brute, as if extending her protection there as well, as she had often done with all of them when they were pups. All the affection and wise care she'd once given to Vestige as his beta, she now devoted to his remaining mate and offspring. She knew well enough that part of Valian's temper was, as always, fed by his uncertainty with the situation, by not knowing the history behind whatever it was that made Manov nuzzle his mother. But she knew also, from long practice with watching others, that this wolf held a special place in Cortinarri's heart as well.

Trapped between the support of the opinions of two wolves she cared about, she made the only decision she could. When the personal realm couldn't serve her, she chose the ranking realm, and though it may not stand for long, Cortinarri was still the alphess, and it was to her that loyalty was owed first. So despite her misgivings about this strange male who came into the lands and started upsetting her friends, the beta remained silent, watching, though she could not make her face friendly.

Cortinarri, Isias, & Starscream

Starscream's feelings bordered right along with those of his siblings, and he shared the stunned, puzzled look of Sylar when this threatening stranger actually made contact with their mother. For all of his words and actions against his sister a moment ago, the wolf now stepped up amonst his siblings, dropping his egotistical stance in place for a defensive one. "Who the hell does he think he is?!" Star hissed increduously to Sylar, while his piercing eyes remained fixed on Manov.

Joining the others in their anxious grouping, Isias bore a far calmer aura, though a glance at her face would show a wealth of emotions raging just below the surface. "Whoever he is -" She began, speaking carefully and loudly, projecting a voice that was untainted with anger or predjudice, "-mother trusts him. She would not allow a dangerous wolf in our presence without first warning us." And, even though her words were more or less even and soft, there was a hint of pointedness in them, and this is what got Cortinarri to turn back to her family.

"Everyone, this is Manov." She had offered the male a brief nuzzle in return, but her affections were brief and withheld, finding quickly that her pack was not at all happy with her old mate, and to show him so much devotion and love at the moment would certainly not sit well with them. The alphess took a deep breath, facing her offspring and loyal beta, "In years past, we were mates. I know this is rather unexpected..." Cortinarri trailed off, conflicted with the strangeness of feeling undying love for Vestige, and still having those same feelings reawakened for Manov, whom she had feared was lost to her as well, "...but he is to be trusted."

Cortinarry, Starscream, & Isias

When it had been established that Manov was not a threat, Starscream dismissed the male and his mother from his thoughts, letting them talk as he re-engaged his sister. "Enough distractions, Sis." The young wolf bore his hackles high and let his banner flag high in the air as he stalked towards Sylar once more, "Lets get to this." The sharp, high voice of the young male was laced with a dominant snarl, and backed by his flashing fangs as he began to circle the other once more.

Isias politely withdrew her attention from her mother and the other male, and joined her brother in moving away from the two. The grizzled sister kept her opinions to herself, though as much as she loved her brother, she sincerely hoped that he would lose this match. As far as their personalities went, there was no question in her mind that her sister would be a far better and fairer ruler than Starscream.

Sylar & Valian

Manov's actions had only fueld Sylar's temper, making her even more likely to engage her brother in their fight for dominance. She loved her brother dearly, but this was an oppertunity that she would not let family get in the way of. She became disinterested in her mother and Manov, instead preoccupying herself with Starscream, and his challenge. Smirking to herself, Sylar strutted towards her brother, but as she came towards him her cocky smirk was replaced by a malicious snarl. She didn't bother to reply to him, instead she let her eyes do the talking for her. The bright amber was flashing with something that had previously been dormant within the female; a desire for power, and the strength to satisfy it. His dominant snarl was countered with a firey, aggressive one of her own, and after a few minutes of circling, she suddenly lunged for his face, snapping for his muzzle. It was bite that was make him bleed, much like that of an alpha who was chastising an unruly member of the pack. She didn't want to resort to fighting dirty with him, so tried to attack in a way that would show she meant business, without perminantly damaging him.

Valian quitely withdrew himself from his mother and Manov, his face still contorted in pure rage. He didn't say anything, just sat down beside Isias moodily, watching his siblings through haunting yellow eyes.