Cavan, Ahote, Druid, Nauvi, Lion, & Erathi
A long, wavering howl silenced the peaceful serenades of nearby songbirds, put a temporary freeze on the rustling of squirrels and chimpunks foraging for winter-stored nuts, and spoiled any relaxation that the wolves of the Aspen Grove might be enjoying on this mild, sunny winter afternoon. Cavan's voice was well known to most here, and if it didn't usually put them on edge, it should now with the fierceness and aggression that it carried as it split the air.
Ten years of age didn't slow the scarred brute down by much. Cavan moved without much stiffness or any hobble to speak of, and carried himself as if he were the king of the Valley, instead of an aging brute who had little hearing left, only one good eye, and teeth worn down well past their prime. It wasn't just confidence in himself that gave Cavan strength now or the boldness to cross over the territory's border without waiting for permission. Behind him were four other wolfdogs, all more youthful in age, and most much larger than himself. Ahote, Druid, Lion, and Nauvi took up positions behind and to the sides of their Captain, while a falcon soared well ahead of them.
Kaina*Others
A gasp echoed the howl, soft and muffled, but still audible, and a dainty silver muzzle lifted itself from the sun-warmed stone. She'd been nearly asleep, having found a cozy spot in a rare shaft of sunlight this afternoon, but it didn't take super-keen hearing to pick up on the sound that had her heaving herself upward - surely, everyone in the packlands had heard it. What was rather incredible was how she turned that delicate-looking face into the wind and began to let out a quite string of words. "Party of six. One bird, five canine. All male, only two of any close relation. Approaching from the south." If she'd ever known Starscream's deceased mate, she might have been able to pinpoint Cavan as a relative, and from there have probably figured out what they wanted, judging by what little the male had told her about his mate. As it was though, she was turning her nose to other tasks, like confirming where the other pack members were in relation to the invading party. One thing immediately caught her attention. "Liseli's between us and them" Alarm worked it way whisper-softly into her voice, and before she'd finished, she was off at a fleet run; of everything she'd learned since coming here, she knew that Liseli wandered in her head, and her ability to defend herself was limited - especially after the attack that Namir had rescued from, which she wasn't fully recovered from yet. She wasn't a fighter herself, but it went against Kaina's most basic instincts to let the daft old wolf come to any more harm than she already had.
Starscream & Others
Seconds after Cavan's howl died away, the air was filled with the voice of another wolf. This defiant chorus came straight from the graying maw of Cortinarri, and was every bit as powerful despite her greater age and definite lack of strength and fighting ability. It was a rallying cry for the pack, and a stark message to Cavan that this was not his territory.
Starscream's piercing cry was swift to join his mother's, followed by Crow and In'Alak from somewhere deeper in the territory. Darling's lyrical tones were added on from somewhere near Liseli, until the forest rang with the unified howl of the pack, their undulating voices making it difficult for strangers to decipher exactly how many individuals were now converging on Cavan's location. There was one voice that hadn't been counted too; Namir could not howl, nor did he want to add his yowling cries to the rally, lest he give himself away and spoil whatever advantage he could offer the wolves by sneaking up on the interlopers. No, instead the cougar took note of where the canines were, and silently made his way through the wintery forests to rendezvous with Cortinarri.
As Kaina made her way for Liseli, Darling did as well. Her mind had been so burdened by the knowledge of her uncle that anxiety coursed through her body the second she heard his voice call out over their land. There was guilt for having not shared this with her siblings or family, and then there was fear for everyone's safety as she recognized the fury in his voice. She was running so swiftly that she almost ran straight into Kaina as she dodged through a stand of young juniper trees, and only managed to avoid a collision by springing sharply aside. "Kaina! I'm sorry, I didn't see you." Her ears went back immediately. "You haven't seen Liseli recently, have you?"
Kaina*Others
Cortinarri. Starscream... those two younger males, In-Alak, and- well him. And Darling. Vaguely, on one edge of her attention, Kaina noted the similarities between the voice of Cortinarri, and those of her descendants. Closer, between Starscream and Darling, but even Crow sounded fairly close. But her attention wasn't on that now, as she loosed a brief howl of her own to indicate that the pack had her support; indeed, she was also dodging aside when she nearly rammed into the younger female in her haste. Skidding to one side and sliding to a halt just short of slamming into a tree, she met eyes quickly with Darling. "She's not with you?!" Judging by how close their scents had been together, she had naturally assumed that she was being looked after by the alpha's daughter, as had nearly-constantly been the case since her injuries. She didn't waste much time pondering over that though - obviously, Liseli wasn't with Darling, or the female wouldn't be asking after her. Instead of following that pointless thought further, she turned her nose to the air again, and replied, "She's this way... come on, I'll take you to her. She oughtn't to be out alone, if there are intruders about." So saying, she waited only long enough to ensure that Darling would follow before taking off under the guide of her nose, her paws making little to no noise against the ground as she shifted fleetly through the trees, soon eating up the distance between she and the disabled beta. Strangely enough, Liseli was one who seemed not to have heard the challenging call from Cavan that had so shredded the peace of the terra; she was at current addressing a large rock with a stern voice. "Don't you take that tone with me; I might be old, but I can still put you in your place."
Starscream & Others
As Cortinarri's howl faded, Starscream's continued to pierce the air in all it's sharp, almost wailing quality. It had gone from a rallying cry to a direct warning to Cavan to back off his land. Towards the end, their was also a message to Kurok and his siblings - mind the pups.
While the pack continued to converge, Kaina and Darling were slightly stalled in their quest to ensure Liseli's safety. The daughter of Nachi and Starscream kept her ears pinned for several seconds before hesitantly lifting them, "Not in the last half-hour, no." She had been nearby in case the elder female needed trouble, but even the doting, attendant Darling needed to catch a quick nap here and there in solitude. Back the ears went, running flush against her soft brown-gray head. When Kaina bolted away, Darling followed closely on her tail, proving just as nimble and swift on foot as the other small fae. And when they finally came upon the beta, some of Darling's shy reservations were set aside as she slipped past the new female and approached the one addressing the boulder. "Liseli?" Darling did her best to put aside the anxiety riding in her, and spoke in a soft, warm voice, "Liseli, we need to meet with my father." The wolfess sounded patient, but she did shift an uncertain look to the silent rock, wondering how difficult this task might become.
In the forest around them, In'Alak's voice rose again, followed immediately by her cousin Crow's. A beat or two later, her grandmother's call joined for a brief rally before fading away. Much further in the distance, her half sister's could be heard faintly before it was silenced, either by Tay, or someone else trying to keep the pup quiet.
Kaina*Others
Everyone needed a small break, here and there, from the constant effort of trying to keep up with Liseli's constantly-shifting attention. As Starscream had told Kaina, the old beta was never violent and had yet to strike out at anyone even at her furthest gone, but it was hard to follow her train of thought much of the time, and especially for a gentle soul like Darling who did her best to talk Liseli out of some of her delusions to bring her back to reality, being with the erratic female was an exhausting effort. Fortunately, Kaina's voice never held any blame or slight to the younger female for her need of a little downtime away from Liseli; no, she was merely concerned with getting the two of them back together as quickly as possible, so that there would be someone to look after the ailing white wolfess during the tense situation that was quickly coming upon them. So she was fast in bringing Darling to the wandering wolf - who truly hadn't wandered far, not being in any physical shape to walk more than few yards by herself. The swath of missing fur and angry red skin across her neck still served as a keen reminder of how very close she'd come to death only a couple of days ago, and indeed she was lying down as she addressed the rock in question, which thankfully kept her in one place long enough for Kaina to guide Darling to her. Once they arrived though, she stood back, listening to the call of semi-familiar voices and keeping her senses alert; she was no fighter, by any means, but she would do her best to make sure that these two remained unharmed while Darling tried to talk the daft old beta around. Still, that might prove easier than first anticipated - Liseli immediately raised her silvering head and offered a warm thump of her tail. "Darling, there you are. I was just discussing you. This fellow here's confused - thought you were my child, can you imagine that?" Her muzzle indicated the rock as she spoke, but at least this seemed to be one of the more pleasant modes of Liseli's insanity - she wasn't bawling or snarling at anybody, and with a little persuasion, Darling might be able to distract her off on some tangent or another that might allow her to lead the aging female to a more protected place.
Starscream & Others
Every time a howl hit the air, Darling made a mental note of their new location in the territory. Starscream was moving the swiftest, and was closest to Cavan now; In'Alak and Crow were not far behind. Cortinarri was further behind them, and based on Sentalia's brief cry, she and the rest of the pups were back at the den, or somewhere nearby it. That left Liseli, Kaina, and herself somewhere in the middle, far enough away from immediate danger, but close enough that they could still reach the intruders in good time.
Darling's tail was animated by a small wag when Liseli recognized her correctly. One could never be sure where the beta's mind was at any given moment, though clearly it was not in a sound place right now, given the fact that Liseli was arguing with a rock. Still, being recognized promptly and correctly was a good sign, and to ease the elder wolfess into a new topic, she played right along with the illusion, "Did he?" For added affect, Darling glanced against at the 'other wolf', then back to her befuddled friend, "He's probably seen us together enough, it's an easy mistake. Speaking of parents..." Darling's soft ears swiveled, one moving forward, the other shifting back to keep track of Kaina, "Star has called the pack together, for an urgent meeting." Darling held off explaining what this 'meeting' was about, and truthfully, she did not want to bring Liseli into it... nor did she herself want to go. But if Cavan were here, and if what Liseli had said about him was true, the pack needed to show up in full force to defend itself. Even the presence of Cortinarri and Liseli, their two least able-bodied fighters, would add size and intimidation.
Kaina*Others
Thankfully enough, Darling's face was one that she could usually recognize with a fair amount of accuracy - perhaps because Darling had taken so keenly to looking after her. She knew the young female better than most of the other random members of the pack, for sure. For example, she didn't have any idea who that small female over there was... odd, she looked a little familiar, but Liseli couldn't place her. No matter though, she was pushing up onto her paws and limping slowly over to offer Darling a little nuzzle, a warm, affectionate thing that indicated that her thoughts were peaceful, for now. "Yes, I suppose that's a harmless-enough mistake. If I have to have someone mistaken for mine, at least it's you, love." She went on to offer the top of Darling's head and the side of one cheek a couple of little licks, something of a bit of motherly behavior coming out in her while the content mood lasted. Kaina was smart enough to remain silent though, letting the youngest of them deal with the afflicted elder - after all, Darling knew her best. She kept her mind occupied by keeping track of how close the party of invading males were in relation to them, and how quickly she thought she could navigate to intercept Starscream and the rest of the pack... but she put that thought aside after getting a good look at Liseli. She was doing better than she had been when Namir brought her in, but she was still not strong, and she was a little larger than Darling - she suspected the younger female might need a bit of help in steering Liseli in the right direction and keeping her upright. Kaina was smaller than either of them, but she was prepared to do her best to help. So as Liseli offered her friend a startled look for the information that Starscream was calling a meeting - as though she hadn't at all heard the chorus of howls - Kaina cleared her throat quietly and drew cautiously a little closer to the pair. "If I may... Darling's explained that you haven't been well recently, and asked me to help. You may lean on me, and together, will we go to this meeting. I'm Kaina." Judging by the state of the elder wolf's mind, she didn't really expect Liseli to remember that name later, but thankfully, it seemed to get some action out of her. "Well Darling, how thoughtful of you. Certainly, dear... I would appreciate the help. The old bones aren't what they used to be." And on no more ceremony than that, Liseli allowed small-bodied Kaina to move along her opposite side, and hopefully between them, the two smaller females could get the beta to this encounter in one piece.
Starscream & Others
Her tail swayed from side to side another few, lofty swishes, purely in blissful response to the nuzzles. They were affectionate touches that Darling craved, having never gotten them from Nachi, and she always enjoyed them even in urgent times like these where the pack's safety was on the line. But she only spared a few seconds, wherein she returned the greeting with a nuzzle of her own under Liseli's chin and neck. "You're too sweet, Liseli." A smile and a quick lick against Liseli's cheek marked the end of the greeting, unfortunately. Kaina made a timely approach at this point, paired with a convincing explanation that would help get the trio moving towards the rest of the gathering pack - where hopefully there would be safety in numbers. Darling shot a thankful look to the new female before taking a stand at Liseli's opposite side, to provide support, should the old beta stumble in that direction. "Do you think you can manage? Let us know if you get tired, and we can rest." Darling took a few testing steps, going slow at first, not just for Liseli's sake, but also to ensure that she and Kaina were in sync in their movements to provide the beta with stable support. Once they were moving, Darling would set about easing Liseli into the gravity of the meeting - without saying too much at first. After all, Darling wasn't sure what this confrontation was going to lead too - a verbal argument, or... something worse.
Kaina*Others
A light laugh and a small wave of the very end of Liseli's tail marked that she enjoyed the bit of contact too; she wasn't so starved for maternal affection as Darling had always been, due to her mother's strange hatred for other females, but she did have that slight oddity in her mind that made her difficult to understand and, in many cases, less than easy to get close to, if only because so much of her behavior was a little alarming and off-putting to others. So she didn't get much of the nuzzling or affection from many of the pack members, and perhaps that was one reason she enjoyed Darling's company so much - the young wolfess wasn't as disturbed by her odd behavior as others were, and was more open to becoming friendly and loving on her a little, when she needed it. "Just don't tell your father, dear... don't want him thinking I'm an old pushover, eh?" Thankfully, the way that Kaina moved alongside her, their fur tickling together as she braced her frame against Liseli to help steady her steps, helped to keep the beta's mind from moving too far down the path of what Starscream might think of her affectionate behavior - a truly odd topic to come up with, anyway - and kept her reasonably concentrated on the goal of getting to this 'meeting' they'd mentioned. As she began to take slow steps in the correct direction, guided chiefly by the two bodies on either side of hers, Liseli's ears perked, and she answered, "Now now, I'm old, not feeble, dear." That was the affectionate assurance that an elderly parent might have given one of their children that was trying a little too hard to look after them, but she put up with it well enough, seeming to enjoy Darling's closeness - even if that set of words made it sound like she didn't remember that she'd been gravely injured. Kaina replied carefully, "No, never feeble, stars be praised. My father always said that the wisdom gained with age is heavy, and wearies the bones. The achier one gets, the wiser." Liseli offered her a smile for that, either because she understood that this was a joke on the part of Kaina's father - or because she thought it a grand compliment. Either way, it marked a shift in the conversation, and had Liseli turning her eyes to Darling. "So what's this grand meeting, then? Any idea what your father has in mind?" Hearing the howls and random barks of communication between the various packmembers - and indeed wondering how Liseli did not hear them - Kaina chose to keep quiet this time, and let the younger fae answer.
Cavan, Ahote, Druid, Nauvi, Lion, & Erathi
Cavan and his group had gone silent for a number of minutes. It was not out of fear or intimidation however. The brutally scarred wolf did not even bother looking over his shoulder to see what other Haunters might have followed him as he stood his ground well within the bounds of the Aspen Grove, brazenly defying the warning of Starscream and Cortinarri. His followers spread out on either side of him now, forming a haphazard line of sorts as they waited for the landowners to arrive.
The only one in the group to display hesitancy was the youngest in the group, thought at the age of three, Ahote was certainly a capable fighter, "It sounds like they outnumber us." He looked to Cavan questioningly, then shot a look to Nauvi. The larger, mostly black-hued wolfdog kept a stern expression, "Maybe, but they are not Haunters." "He's right-" Lion's tempered voice added confidence to Nauvi's pointer, "This is not a pack well experienced in fighting, and our status in the Valley should be enough to put them in place."
Paying little attention to the prep talks going on around him, Cavan was more focused on the howls that grew closer and closer to their location. When there was a break in the chorus, he turned his muzzle up at a slant and belted out a powerful note to remind them who he was - he was a Haunter, and he would not be driven off their land until he had finished with business here.
Starscream & Others
Darling and In'Alak were two of the more tolerant canines when it came to their names being forgotten by Liseli, though it was Darling who went out of her way more than the others to spend time with the mentally fragile wolf. There were no side-glanced to Kaina or mental sighs given for finding the beta talking to a rock; she took the other's flaws in stride and treated her with all the respect that was deserved. Because above everything else, Liseli was a good wolf, kind and wise, and that is what mattered most to Darling. "We'll keep it a secret between us then." She flashed a smile to Liseli, and then listened as her old friend went on to defend her vitality and strength. Before Darling to respond to that, Kaina had stepped in with an effective bit of advice, and for that, Darling flashed her a thankful look. She hadn't had much time to get to know this new female her father had taken upon himself to invite into their ranks, but her willingness to help Liseli, and to do so without outwardly judging her, certainly put the fae in good standing as far as Darling was concerned.
Cavan's howl tore through the air again, before Darling had a chance to properly explain this 'meeting'. Fear struck through her eyes, but the sound of her father and brother rallying back emboldened the wolfess, until she added her voice briefly to their chorus, letting they and everyone else know she was on her way. Once her howl died away, Darling addressed her aging friend, starting off slowly as she did, and with her ears once again laid back, "...Uncle Cavan is in our lands, and my dad is not happy with it. I... I think it has to do with Mom." Slower and quieter yet, Darling brought Nachi up.
Kaina*Others
With as sweet-natured as Liseli tended to be, it was easy to overlook her more prominent oddities, most of the time. In fact, she'd almost gotten gentler still, after her mind had begun to go; perhaps this was because she could no longer focus long enough on anything to maintain anger against anyone, even if they had truly done her wrong in some way. So perhaps it was unsurprising that her thoughts were light and her face content as she limped along between the two smaller females. Soon she was breathing a little hard, and Kaina suppressed a small grunt as the beta's balance shifted a little suddenly, forcing her to brace up for a moment to keep them all from falling over. But soon enough, the white fae was steady on her paws again, and as they continued, she listened quietly to Darling. What got her attention to shift some from the easy to something a little less pleasant was the way that Darling herself howled after a moment, followed shortly and a little more softly by Kaina. The smallest of the three wasn't being shy in her support of the pack by any means, but after all she was still a newcomer, and recognized that. The most important thing though, was of course the fact that with the two on either side of her joining in the rallying cry of Aspen Grove, Liseli could no longer fail to notice it - she looked up at her young friend, and found her face troubled. That caused the beta's features to crease in growing uncertainty, and she murmured, "Darling, what's wrong?" All too soon of course, the explanation was forthcoming, and Liseli's brows furrowed further. "Cavan, Cavan... oh, yes... you and I were talking about him the other day, weren't we? Cavan and Jais, Cavan and- Cavan." Sudden intensity invaded her tones, making that last pronouncement a growl, followed with a throaty howl of her own that came out loud and bold, despite all the injured and aggravated tissues around her neck - the sound was so full and so sudden that Kaina flinched a bit. It had taken a moment... but Liseli remembered just who Cavan was.
Starscream & Others
Even with the threat of Cavan in their lands distracting Darling, she did not forget about Liseli's delicate condition. There was no time to stop now and clean her wounds again, but that didn't stop Darling from using her sense of smell to determine if the injuries had become infected or not. She also paid attention to the female's breathing, and when it became heavier and more labored, Darling slowed her pace slightly, then stalled it completely when Liseli fell against Kaina. Darling almost suggested they stop and take a break, but her friend was soon walking under her own balance again, and the young fae hesitantly decided to carry on. She was watching the beta more closely now, however.
The conversation regarding the meeting went on as well. It bothered Darling to see the look of worry come into her friend's expression, and she almost wished that Liseli would not remember exactly who Cavan was... or the memories of him that came before Darling, and even her father. Unfortunately, the old wolf's mind eventually connected the dots, and a ferocious howl summed up her feelings of the battered brute. "Don't worry Liseli, my father will deal with him. Between he and the others, Cavan won't be able to cause any trouble."
The howls had mostly died off by now, leaving Star's as the finally call that followed Liseli's. By now, they were getting closer to where the intruders had staged themselves, close enough that Kaina might be able to hear a deep snarl up ahead. The way it would roll and occasionally hit a sharp note marked this as coming from Starscream, and it was positively dripping with aggression. This was an alpha who was not happy with the company he was addressing.
Kaina*Others
The sudden realization of just who had invaded their territory lent strength and purpose to Liseli, whether or not that was a wise thing to exercise, in the shape she was in. It motivated her to move faster between her two companions, pushing aside a good bit of the pain she was in and the lingering post-injury weariness to move toward the sound of Starscream's tense, angry voice. Just hearing that snarl to the alpha's tones gave Kaina the impulse to leave aside her task and race ahead to meet with the rest of the pack; she'd been privileged to see a gentler, much less irritable side to Starscream that few aside from his own daughter had seen before, and hadn't quite seen this much anger in him before. It made her want to bolt ahead, to use some of her unusual talents to analyze the situation and figure out what was going on... but she couldn't very well leave Darling to try to steer the ailing beta on her own, now could she? So instead, she concentrated on the job at hand, getting a little jostled and taking a couple of rough bumps as Liseli's increased pace caused her to jar about a little more as she walked, forcing Kaina to shift here and there to accommodate her and keep her from falling. She would be bruised tomorrow, but that was the least of her worries, and indeed didn't seem to occur to Liseli at all as she pushed onward. "No offense to your father, Darling... but he wasn't even born yet. He doesn't know. In fact, the only ones living who do know are your grandmother and I. The rest are all dead or dispersed." That was a slight slip on her part, for Dove and Glider had been there, on the day Vestige had died, but Liseli's mind skipped over that for now, in the strength of her personal vendetta against Cavan. "...I'll kill the sick old whelp myself," she declared even though simply staying on her feet and moving toward the confrontation in question was tiring her rather quickly. "... everything he took from us... Cort and I will see to him."
Starscream & Others
"Not so quickly, Liseli." Darling cautioned in more of a suggestion than a command. The highly submissive side to her personality made it difficult for the wolf to give anyone orders, much less the beta of their pack. "Alak said you may get light-headed if you move about too much, you might faint." And you might tear open the wounds even more. She wasn't so sure Liseli would listen to her though, given how determined the elder had become upon finally recognizing the threat that was facing the pack. Like Kaina, Darling had little choice but to stick with her friend and provide the physical support that was needed to keep her upright and headed in the right direction. The wolf's emotional state soon became another source of trouble that Darling was forced to contend with, which she did as best she could, "Liseli, please... be careful. Cavan is part of a dangerous pack; lets let my father handle this." What Liseli might do upon reaching the rendezvous point really had Darling concerned. Oh, she knew she could keep the beta back if absolutely necessary, but she feared conflict all the same, and dreaded what old pain this reunion might reawaken in her friends and family.
Closer they came, pushed onward by Liseli's new found motivation. When they finally arrived on the scene, they would find Starscream already there with his brilliant coat fully bristled and his tail flagged high in the air. Fur was expanded like a mantle around his face and neck, and topped off by two erectly held ears, and keen white fangs bared menacingly at Cavan and his posse. "...you've got ten seconds to explain why you've invaded my land and ignored my warnings!"
In'Alak was at the scene as well, standing between his alpha and Crow. Their tails were not so high as Star's, but they were up, and both had their teeth exposed.
Kaina*Others
Darling's warning was cautious and wise, but as might have been expected, with the temper she was in, Liseli chose not to heed it. "Slow down? And miss... the showdown of the ages? Not... for all the years I've got left to me, dear." The smallest of the three darted the alpha's daughter a worried glance there - Liseli sounded a little like she meant to charge right up and confront Cavan herself, and though she'd never met the male, Kaina knew through rumor and through her parents that he had a rather extensive entourage of much more fit, agile wolves than himself. Getting to him would be nigh unto impossible for the injured beta, and even if she could get to Cavan, she'd die trying to kill him, from exertion alone. "A dangerous pack indeed... a pack that took my sister, my dearest friend, and my child from me. Sometimes I forget... often... so often I forget..." She slowed for a moment, and Kaina planted her paws firmly, thinking for a terrible second or two that Darling was right, and the eldest of them was about to faint; but it was just a brief wandering of the mind, and Liseli came back to them quickly. "Sometimes I forget that... but I know it. With... his sister dead, there's nothing to take from Cavan, to make him... understand what he's done. Nothing... but his life. And I will have that price from him." By this time, they'd managed to reach the edge of the small, cleared area where Starscream was addressing the invaders, and as they supported Liseli up beside the rest of the pack, Kaina's ears flicked back instinctively at Starscream's snarl. She wasn't a totally and completely submissive wolf, as he'd had opportunity to discover, but she heard a deadly rumble to his tones - he was very serious, and if things were not soon cleared up, there would be bloodshed, whether or not Liseli got involved. She remained off to the side with Darling and Liseli, not drawing attention to herself yet, other than to whisper, "We're here now... come, seat yourself and take a rest."
Cavan, Ahote, Druid, Nauvi, Lion, & Erathi
Cavan was a full 40 pounds lighter than the alpha that was staring him down with such aggression. He was in his prime, with all his senses at their peek, while the Caption of the Haunters was half blind, half deaf, and near his eleventh year of life in the Valley. And yet, the grizzled old veteran did not stand down in face of Starscream's wrath, and didn't so much as flinch at those threatening snarls. He stood with all the confidence of a bear towering before a hapless fawn and spoke with a powerful growl of his own, "I've come here to to confirm or dismiss rumors that my sister has been killed. For your sake, Starscream, you better hope these are little more than rumors." Compared to the bristle of fur and fangs that greeted them, Cavan's entourage was quiet and composed. Hackles were up, but no teeth save for Cavan's wered bared, and not a single snide remark came from any of them. Cavan had chosen his group wisely, and didn't need threats and a huge show of force to get his message across.
He looked over Crow and In'Alak briefly, then turned his golden-yellow eye and its milky-blue counterpart upon the three arriving females. Two were unfamiliar - though Darling was known by scent and name at least - but the third drew a scrutinizing scowl from the Captain. He knew her very well. "This is going to be easier than I imagined." He made no attempt to hide this quiet remark from any of the Aspen Grove who were keen eared enough to hear it.
Starscream & Others
Darling's mouth hung open slightly in mid gasp and preparation to say something to Liseli to get her to stop, if just for a few second to rest. She briefly exchanged looks with Kaina, silently sharing the smaller fae's alarm, but their fears were fortunately unfounded. The beta slowed on her own, and the faltering of her words proved to be more of an exhaustion of the mind than it was of the body. Darling didn't let out any sigh of relief so soon though, "Liseli..." The name came out as a whine, pleading and consoling all in one. She touched her muzzle gentle against the elder's neck, along a patch of soft fur that was not marred by a wound or aggravated skin. "...I know, I know. But you are in no shape to do anything to him, no matter how much you want to." Before long, they were moving again, and Darling was paying closer attention to her friend's steps and the sound of her breathing. "He's taken enough from you already; I don't want him taking your life as well."
Starscream was only alerted of the trio's arrival when he saw Cavan's mismatched eyes switch to them, and heard Kaina's voice whispering quietly behind him. His response was to rise himself a teensy bit more and stiffen his shoulders, "'For my sake'? And what do you plan to do, Cavan, attack me? Make one move, and you'll be feeding the ravens and worms tonight, along with your friends." Star gestured towards Ahote and the others with a rough motion of his muzzle. He couldn't evade the smaller brute's demand though. Uncomfortable as it was for him to address, Starscream took a second to compose his thoughts before he continued in an evener tone, "Your cat was right; Nachi was killed a few days ago, by a rogue wolf." The alpha's eyes didn't fall away from Cavan', but his voice did drop subtly, only to rise sharply and with accusation when he realized who Cavan had narrowed his gaze at, "Coincidentally, Liseli was attacked by a wolf in a separate incident around the same time. It was no rogue wolf, either."
Kaina*Others
Either she felt Darling's worry unfounded or, more likely, she failed to hear the whine at all over the flush of her own anger, because Liseli didn't respond to the little whine that her name became as the young female spoke in concern. What did reach her was the touch, which caused her to close her eyes in bliss for a beat or two, and that dampened the anger just enough for her to hear the latter part of Darling's warning. "And what value would an old life like mine be to him? I'm near as old as he is, I'd guess... if it's blood he wants, I've that to offer, but not even much of that, right now." That was slightly deluded thinking, likely brought on by the combined weakness of both mind and body, for Darling of course would know just why Cavan might want her dead. He had two powerful reasons - first, he'd tried to make an example of her, and thanks to Namir had failed... and second, she had spoken a secret that no one had been bold enough to say in the years since Vestige's death. She'd implicated Cavan, and upset his control over the Aspen Grove pack. Oh yes, the old brute had plenty of reason to want her dead... as his immediate gaze upon her proved when they finally reached the clearing. That and his comment were enough to get a low snarl out of her, and a flash of one fang, though she was prevented from moving forward by a deft muzzle that Kaina placed to her chest. This gave the tiny silver female enough time to circle and put her body mostly in front of Liseli to keep her back, though that in itself also emphasized her smallness - she could stand beneath Liseli's chin without having to duck her head at all. What she couldn't block were the words that quickly exited the beta. "What's the matter, Cavan? Haven't the guts to come kill the crazy old beta on your own? Losing your nerve, are you? Have to send your little pawns to handle me?"
Cavan, Ahote, Druid, Nauvi, Lion, & Erathi
When the fate of his sister was confirmed, a visible tremble ran through the wolf. His face contorted in such a look of pain that one would have thought he'd just been shot, and perhaps Liseli would find some vengeance in the fact that Cavan was left speechless for several seconds. The effect was so telling, in fact, that Lion dared to look away from their adversaries and turn his black muzzle towards the Captain, "Cavan, are you okay?" When the elder didn't respond, Lion exchanged a brief look between Ahote and Druid before settling his eyes back on the Aspen Grove, and remaining strong while Cavan grappled with the traumatic news.
A few heavy, audible breaths left Cavan. The pained look on his face gave way to malice again, and a certain, wide set to his eyes that made him all the more terrible to look at, "You..." The word escaped him in a breathy hiss, directed at Starscream, "..will pay for this." The pointed remark on Liseli's attempted assassination was completely ignored, but the beta herself came back under Cavan's terrifying gaze in the next instant. "I should have picked you off along with Vestige. I'll amend that today." Cavan's voice began to rise out of that horrible hiss and break into a curdling snarl, "Half of you will die today! That is the punishment for your negligence over Nachi. Starscream, Liseli, I give you the honors of going first!" He didn't rush forward, didn't lunge at either of them... he simply began to pace forward towards Liseli. The four males surrounding him followed seamlessly, matching Cavan's steps and ensuring that no one would get to him before going through them.
Starscream & Others
Darling dared not leave Liseli's side. Fear was running rampant through her now that they were so close to the enemy, especially now that she knew the truth behind her grandfather's death, and could see and smell his murderer standing but a few short yards away. She feared for her life, for her family's, and for the half-crazed old beta beside her. Above all her heightened trepidation though, Darling was a loyal canine and did not hesitate to press her shoulder firmly against Liseli when she attempted to move forward, "Don't!" If the beta tried to move past Kaina, Darling would bring herself around in front of the wolf's chest as well. But try as she might to calm her friend's passionate hatred, Liseli could not be stopped from speaking.
Starscream had to admit, passed all the flash and bravado, a tiny part of him was frightened of Cavan's transformation just now. He wasn't afraid of the wolf himself, no... he was afraid that Cavan would call down the wrath of the Haunters on them, and Star knew he could not defend his pack against all of them. Instead of letting that insecurity be seen, the alpha scoffed at Cavan's pain and lifted his head a mite to show his confidence and superiority over the other, "Pay for what? In case you forgot, she was my mate, Cavan. I lost something already!" And yet, he did not show near the level of despair that Cavan was showing, and most in the pack shouldn't be surprised at that, considering how foul and unloving the wolfess had been to him and everyone else in the pack.
His confidence took a hit after Cavan's remark to Liseli, and the implication that he was to blame for Vestige's death. Now it was Star's turn to look liked he'd been struck through with an arrow; only his shock was very quickly taken over by fury, and the second that Cavan took a step in the direction of the three females, he let loose a savage howl and lunged full on at Cavan. That was Alak and Crow's cue to launch forward as well. Crow stayed at his uncle's side, but targeted Lion to hopefully keep the large brute off Starscream, while In'Alak targeted Ahote.
Kaina*Others
A twisted grin and a hoarse laugh indicated the cruel pleasure that Liseli was taking in watching those harsh emotions work their way through Cavan; in her natural state, the beta was harmless and gentle in her insanity, sometimes tearful and sometimes merry, but she'd never proven cruel before - the others would get to see that in her now, driven by the years of pain that Cavan's actions had caused her. It was just, to have that turned upon him now, and she only grinned more broadly at the threat he offered to her. Her face creased down into something fearsome though, when he turned his threat to Starscream. And despite anything and everything that had ever passed between she and the alpha, with it understood that he feared her slight insanity, she took advantage of Kaina's movements to shift her body, crowding closer to Star. Moving with her, small-bodied Kaina was pressed closer to the alpha as well, forced to get closer to him, or fail in her support and restraint of the injured wolfess. She ended up sort of half in front of the alpha too, but lowered her ears to indicate to him that she wasn't deliberately blocking him - she was only trying to keep Liseli back. "You've already taken a father... from this land, Cavan," the beta spat meanwhile, snarls making her voice so guttural that it was hard to understand. "You will not... succeed in that a second time." A second later though, Kaina was shifting aside as she felt a frightening tension vibrate into Starscream, and that was fortunate, because a moment or two later, the alpha was charging forward, and with that Kaina shifted her weight again, now having to struggle hard to keep Liseli back. "Darling... help me!" That was her desperate request for help, because fury lent a lot of strength to the old beta, and at her small size, Kaina wasn't strong enough to hold the larger female back by herself.
Cavan, Ahote, Druid, Nauvi, Lion, & Erathi
Lion was the largest of the canines present, and a direct offspring of Vicious himself. The thick mantel of fur around his neck which lent to his namesake gave the wolfdog another advantageous edge in battle and helped to protect his neck as he met Crow's lunge head on. The only drawback to Lion's imposing features was that, unlike his brother Tersek, this black coated brute was more of a pacifist than a fighter, and preferred to his his brains over brawns. Still, he would give Crow all that he had, first aiming to meet his foe snap for snap, targeting his muzzle and head.
Ahote was far smaller, being only 85 pounds, and much younger than the rest of the group. Rather than plunging directly into In'Alak's attack, the hybrid skirted aside, then struck in a counter attack at the other's side, trying to tear open a wound against Alak's shoulder..
Cavan would have been annihilated by Starscream in very little time had not Druid and Nauvi both intervened on their Captain's behalf. The large canines barreled towards the alpha and attacked simultaneous to block his path to Cavan, with the larger Druid snapping at Star's face, and Nauvi aiming to take him by the neck or shoulder.
Grizzled old Cavan bypassed this explosion of snarls and flying fur without a falter in his slow, deliberate steps, other than to recover his balance when Druid bumped into him. His eye was all for Liseli, with such emotion and intensity it would seem as though it were making up for the lack of life in the other sightless orb. "If it wasn't for the trouble you caused in the last few days, none of this might have happened. You brought this on the pack Liseli, but rest assured... you'll be meeting Vestige soon." Closer he came, until a few scant feet stood between them, and there he stopped momentarily, and looked upon Darling, "Stand back, this isn't your fight."
Starscream & Others
Yelps mixed with the snarls that hit the air, first coming from In'Alak, and then from Starscream. "Stay back!" Between offering Druid a brutal snap and whirling back to leave Nauvi with a mouthful of fur, the alpha growled these orders at Kaina and the others. With his paws constantly in motion and his fangs slashing without stop between his two attackers, Star did his best to keep himself from being torn to shreds, and also to keep the pair focused on him, and away from the females. The tactic worked for now, but a pair of eyes high above the embattled canines were keeping tabs on the Captain.
The desire to flee from the fighting was met just as strong by the desire to leap into the fray and defend her family. Darling settled somewhere in the middle of that in staying with Liseli. In fact, the wolfess had joined Kaina by slipping her body in front of the beta's and pressing her shoulder back against the other's chest, "Liseli, no!" She tried forcing her friend backwards, and became all the more insistent about it the closer Cavan came to them, "..we can end this without fighting." When Cavan actually ordered her to step aside, the startled wolf had the guts to issue a nervous growl, "Only if you stand back first."
Kaina*Others
The weight and strength of both females was just enough to keep Liseli back, for now - and thankfully enough both Darling and Kaina were too occupied with that task for now to try to move forward into the fray, as Starscream feared. Unfortunately, despite being effectively restrained, the beta was not content to remain silent. "More fool you, Cavan, to not realize that few amongst the pack would listen to the crazy old beta. Until you came here, all save Darling and Cortinarri were ignorant of your precious secret... and even Darling found it difficult to believe. My mind wanders enough that I may not even remember that tomorrow... if you'd just bided your time and kept calm, the rumor would have faded out, because no one listens to crazy Liseli. But no... you ordered your attack. You brought doom upon yourself, filth." She nearly spat that at him, and the effort it cost her left her panting just a little; beneath the beta's white chin where she'd crouched, Kaina dared to show her fangs to Cavan, offering him what resistance her small frame was worth, but she remained wordless - there was history at work here that she knew nothing about. "It's... too late for that, Darling," Liseli went on, but without the complementary nudge to the young female that would have otherwise been offered for the sharing of these unhappy words; the old wolfess was not going to take her eyes off of Cavan. "This brute cost... you a grandfather, your father his sire, and me both my best friend and my child. It becomes... my necessity to kill him... before his need for power costs this pack any more. Move aside, Darling... I'll deal with him."
Cavan, Ahote, Druid, Nauvi, Lion, & Erathi
Cavan's standing ear did not swivel or pitch at the sound of the snarls, snaps, and cries that went on around him. It was deaf to the world, leaving its stub of a counterpart to make up for the loss. With it struggling to pick up all that Liseli and Darling were saying against the backdrop of fighting around him, it was no wonder that he failed to hear the sharp yelp of his son when Starscream struck a particularly vicious bite. "None of that matters now, Liseli. You and your pack made a grave mistake in not looking after my sister, and with her death, you've sealed your fate and that of half your family here." Cavan showed no fear of the three sets of fangs gleaming back at him, when in reality Kaina and Darling could double-team him and likely come out without too much damage, such was the Captain's advancing age and crippled senses. But against Liseli... even his worn teeth and general good health were likely enough to overcome what handicaps aged joints put on his fighting skills, and he didn't have an ounce of doubt that he could end her life in a matter of minutes.
Th Captain advanced another step, until he was close enough to the wash of Liseli's breath tickle past his whiskers. Darling was flashed a look again, "Stand down. Irregardless of what pack you're from, you are my niece and you will not be in this fight. But you-" Kaina was overlooked, being no more than a nameless casualty Cavan was willing to take down in his conquest. Liseli was again trapped in his murderous sights, "Come forward and face me one and one. Do that, and I'll spare your small friend there."
Kaina*Others
"Look after Nachi? Ha!" Perhaps unwisely, Liseli made that snide, dismissive comment, and looked Cavan dead in the eyes as she did so. "And what did Nachi ever do for this pack, aside from terrorize it, just as you have? More wolves here have needed protection from your precious Nachi than have been motivated to do anything to protect her." Where she'd come up with that data - half-complete and not quite entirely true as it was - was anybody's guess; though it was likely that some of the members of the pack who considered the beta very unstable had maybe let their mouths run a little too much in Liseli's presence. After all, once Nachi had started in with some of her more bizarre behaviors, all of them had begun discussing her quietly, behind her back where she wouldn't hear them. And most of them discounted Liseli, who couldn't remember her own name consistently from moment to moment. So she'd heard things... including rumors about some of the things Darling had endured, over the years. Beneath her chin, Kaina's ears lay flat at the venom in Liseli's tones, and flattened a little more at the barely-veiled threat that Cavan put against her; the little female wasn't going to run away, though who would have blamed her, with her being so knew to the pack? No, she was staying put right in front of Liseli as she'd promised to do... but that didn't mean that she wasn't appropriately intimidated by the threats of a male that was much larger than her. Still, she didn't falter in the quiet snarl she'd started up, but for her part, the beta answered him boldly. "Stand aside, Darling," she prompted again, and then without warning leaned over Kaina's head to offer a snap at Cavan's muzzle, now that he was very close. A cheap shot, and at this point Liseli didn't really care whether it landed or not - she wanted this stand-still confrontation over with... she wanted to feel his blood on her fangs.
Cavan, Ahote, Druid, Nauvi, Lion, & Erathi
That terrifying expression overtook Cavan's battered face once more and twisted his writing lips back further until his gums were bared. She'd hit that one spot in Cavan that could undermine his rational mind and tear down the walls of common sense, and she hit it hard. "You'll eat those words!" That same, hissing rumble decorated his words instead of a raging snarl, making it difficult for anyone but those nearby from hearing it. And yet the sheer intensity of emotions made it far more unnerving than any snarl the old wolf could have mustered. This was pure, unrefined rage and despair, and it came backed with a bite mere seconds later. The snap from Liseli was the final spark that ignited it and sent Cavan plunging forward with his jaws agape. They snapped shut against any part of the beta they could reach - her muzzle, her face - and if they made contact with flesh, the old wolf would bite down hard and do his best to rend it from her body.
A flutter of quick wingbeats above sent a small cascade of leaves down upon the embattled wolves. Erathi had left the branch she was perched on and flew high above the canopy of the birch forward, scouting for any sign of additional Haunter backup. If backup did not arrive soon, the peregrine falcon would have to join the fight herself, especially if additional Aspen Grove members arrived on the scene.
Breaking from his assault that had Ahote, Nauvi, and himself pitted against Starscream and Crow, Druid rushed to his Captain's side. Liseli looked easy enough for the small wolf to handle, but the addition of two able-bodied females made him uncomfortable, so Druid took it upon himself to level the playing field - by targeting Kaina. His rush towards her came with little warning, and only a brief flash of his curved canines before he aimed to take her by the side of the head or neck...
Starscream & Others
When Crow had been caught off guard by a lightning-quick strike by Ahote, Starscream had taken the younger wolf by the hind leg, tearing through muscle and tendon, and fracturing one leg bone in a powerful head thrash. The act had saved his nephew from a potentially debilitating wound himself, but had cost Star a savage counter by Nauvi that left puncture wounds at the side of his chest, just behind his front leg. As with his howl, Star's yelp was sharp and high, but this was quickly overtaken by an almost endless snarl that thrummed through his throat with every breath. He turned against Nauvi to fend him off, all the while anticipating another strike from Druid - but that strike didn't come. By the time the alpha could account for the other brute, Druid had switched targets and was now going after the three females. In a heartbeat, Starscream spun away from Nauvi, after first leaving the other with a new set of wounds across the muzzle, and tore after the second attacker. Seeing that he could not overtake Druid in time to keep him from attacking Kaina, Star snapped for the wolf's tail...
"Liseli... Star!" Cortinarri had finally arrived, for what worth the elder would be to the battle. Nevertheless, she began to run forward as quickly as her crippled hind limb would let her. Darling heard her grandmother, but had no time to turn and acknowledge the ex-alphess. She had first cowered back against Liseli as Cavan got closer, but when the two could not be kept back any longer, she attempted to ram her shoulder into her uncle and knock him back...
Kaina*Others
"Like to see you try to make me," was the gutsy whisper that Liseli answered Cavan with, and apparently that was enough - he was launching forward, and she not in good enough shape to dodge him in time; he caught hold of her muzzle easily, prompting her to snarl through the pain and shake her head dramatically to dislodge him. This led to a good bit of damage along her nose, which hadn't entirely healed up from her fight with Larsan to begin with. At the same time, Darling was shooting forward to try to drive the male back, while Kaina was a little bolder and dared to snap for his chest and the upper part of his legs, which were perfectly arranged at the proper height for her smaller body... but before she could get too far, Druid had switched targets and she yelped sharply as fangs flashed across one side of her face, scraping briefly over one eye and causing more pain than real damage. Her motion toward Cavan had saved her from an eye mauling, but Druid managed to find a grip on the square bones that made up her brow and the rest of the shape of her skull, and that offered her a good angle from which to control her much smaller body. Writhe and struggle as she liked, his hold was in an awkward enough place that she couldn't exactly snap at him in turn to make him let go. She was using her head though - or in this case, her legs, in planting them beneath Druid in an effort to stumble him, proving that she wasn't panicked, despite the pain she was in; she just wasn't a fighter, and so much smaller than everyone else that she was going to take a major thrashing, without some help. Unfortunately, so too would Liseli, who nevertheless snarled at Cavan, her voice a little muffled where her nose was clasped between his jaws. "Takes two of you to take on an injured old female and a small young one, then? What... a sad state the Haunters have come to."
Cavan, Ahote, Druid, Nauvi, Lion, & Erathi
Cavan's choice of warriors had been well made. Young Ahote aside, the rest of the fighters had been keeping an eye on their commander, and had not Druid intervened on Cavan's behalf, Nauvi or Lion would have sacrificed their fight to aid him. Now, the brown-coated wolf was clenching his jaws tightly against Kaina's head, to drive his fangs through the thin layer of skin and muscle and strike against bone. He was large enough that he held his balance against Kaina's kicking legs, and was just starting to thrash his head from side to side when a horrible pain jolted up his spine. Starscream had his tail. Druid released Kaina in favor of turning back against Star, while Nauvi went after the alpha from behind...
Meanwhile, Cavan did not release his hold on Liseli. With his jaws clamped firmly over her muzzle, he planned to suffocate the wolfess if he could keep his grip long enough. Her insults weren't graced with a reply from him even, unless his snarl could be counted as such, or perhaps the way his yellow eye and its milky counterpart stared back at her with such hatred and contempt. The old brute's determination was as ironclad as his bite, which held true even against the powerful shoulder-slam by Darling. In retaliation, the Captain of the Haunters struck back at her with his front paws...
Starscream & Others
When the shoulder-slam failed to dislodge Cavan, Darling had no choice but to turn to her fangs and employ them against her uncle. "Let go of her!" The wolfess cried and bit at the side of Cavan's face. It was a quick, deliberate snap, and it wasn't given with her full strength, but it was meant to pierce skin and draw blood, and above all else, hopefully divert his attention from the beta. If that failed, Darling would up the ante with another bite or two to his face and nape...
Starscream was far more deliberate and without mercy in his assault. Damaging the tail would not disable or come anywhere close to killing Druid, but then that wasn't his immediate goal right now. What Star needed first was to get his attention off of Kaina, and chomping down on that sensitive appendage had done the trick. As soon as the larger male had released her and spun around to face him, Star crowded forward and angled his body to be between Kaina and the enemy. Though he couldn't quite avoid a bite to the side of the neck from the brute, he did sink his fangs into Nauvi's cheek, and with a twist, tried to force the wolfdog to the ground - or take part of his face with him.
A few bounds away, Cortinarri was quickly closing in, and further away, Namir was flying through the sun-dappled trees to reach the battle. The Haunters would soon be outnumbers.
Kaina*Others
The yelp from Kaina came again, this time a little sharper as the cruel grip on her head tightened, causing pain to light through her forehead - a discomfort felt mildly through both her ears and teeth as well, due to the nerve that all three locations shared. A little wrenching motion back and forth sent the ache into her neck next, as Druid thrashed his head about; fortunately, before he could do any major damage to her neck or perhaps even break her spine with his powerful lunging - a distinct possibility, given their size differences - the fangs released their hold, and a large, grizzled-gray body imposed itself between her and Druid. It took a moment for the vision in her scraped eye to clear some, and for her to draw her mind away from the stunning pain; she was not a fighter, and not accustomed to having to think like one in intense situation. But finally, her brain caught up and she realized that Liseli was still in a very vulnerable position. Once that clicked home in her mind, she went back to the one thing that always served her well - understanding her own size compared to that of others, and how the mind worked. And as it was, Cavan currently had a face full of Liseli's nose, and Darling was raring up on his other side to take his attention... At the exact moment that the alpha's daughter moved, so did Kaina, not up, but down, until her chest nearly met the earth as she dove for a quick slash at Cavan's belly, a position which might have been awkward for a larger wolf to get at, but which Kaina, at her small stature, was uniquely suited to attack. It might not do much damage, and it might not make him release Liseli where she struggled in his grip... but it would cause his attention to shift quickly, and that in turn would hopefully offer other, more capable fighters a better shot at getting in some actual damage.
Cavan, Ahote, Druid, Nauvi, Lion, & Erathi
"More come!" Erathi called from above. The falcon's sharp, shrieking voice was easy for all to hear, and it had to be loud to reach Cavan's poor senses. Cortinarri may not be a threat, but Namir would be an overwhelming force against their small group, and the Captain would be dead of the big cat targeted him first. Her shadow cut across the dappled light around the fighters as she stooped down from her perch on a branch and struck her claws out at Darling's face. It was a quick, light attack, and even if she missed her target, the bird wheeled back and took an aim at Kaina next, trying to drive both females away from Cavan.
Cavan heard the falcon, but his mind was racing. Not yet, I almost have her! He bit down harder and resisted the urge to snap back at Darling for her assault. His only defense against her was to wince and snarl as another future scar was added to his battered face. When a sharp pain hit his stomach though... the Captain let loose a yelp, and his jaws loosened enough for Liseli to break free. He turned against the smaller she-wolf with a vicious counter-snap, and as he did that, his mind finally snapped back to the reality of the situation - they were being outnumbered now. Crazed with hatred as he was, Cavan was not going to let this be a suicide mission. Without the backup of the rest of the Haunters, they simply couldn't overwhelm the Aspen Grove right now, "Fall back!"
Nauvi twisted away from Starscream before the alpha could get a solid hold on him, leaving a few punctures and a nasty gash against the side of his head. Druid had aimed to take a chunk out of Star's shoulder, but whatever damage he may have done, the big brute followed Nauvi in taking a few steps back, bristling and baring fang as he did.
Lion and a badly crippled Ahote attempted to do the same by disengaging from their enemies and preparing to group back up with Cavan and flee the territory before Namir or the rest of the pack showed up.
Starscream & Others
The sharpness of Erathi's voice caused Star to briefly flatten his ears back, but not to be distracted from his fight. He felt with grim satisfaction the warmth and taste of Nauvi's blood, and the sight of the crimson blossoming across the enemy's face. It was one more strike against the enemy, and one move closer to protecting his pack. If he hadn't heard Cavan call for a retreat, Star would ahve really felt satisfied in his work at both Nauvi and Druid decided to draw back at this point. Even if it wasn't on account of his fighting skills, and more because Namir was on the way, Starscream couldn't help but be bolstered by the move. With his tail flagging high in the air and his lightly colored muzzle gruesomely stained in his opponents' blood, the alpha raised himself up tall... then suppressed a very un-alpha-like whimper when his shoulder buckled and seized with pain. Star's stance crumpled a little as he shifted his weight to his other front leg, "Coward! Come here and fight me, Cavan!" He would have charged at the older wolf, if not for Druid and Nauvi standing right there; they would get to him before he could get to the Captain.
Darling had ducked back when Erathi dove at her. For having little in the way of fighting skills, the female did have great reflexes, and managed to avoid those wicked talons by a hair's breath. The second Cavan started to back off, her thoughts went right back to Liseli, and she began to crowd up against the female's chest, trying to drive her back, closer to Starscream. "We need to stand together, Liseli."
Crow was panting heavily and sported a disheveled silver coat as Ahote backed off. The cool-headed wolf did not attempt to go after his smaller component though, not when there was a sudden break in the fighting. He watched him warily though, and looked briefly in In'Alak's direction to account for his packmate. His lean-bodied friend was in worse shape after tangling with Lion, but managed to stay standing as his opponent backed off.
In the tension of this cease-fire, Cortinarri finally arrived at her granddaughter's side. Her baneful eyes followed after Cavan, who she wanted more than anything to tear to pieces. But like her son, she recognized the folly in that; if she rushed forward, the tentative calm would be shattered, and the fight would resume. "Go on, crawl back to your filthy empire, worm!"
Glider & Others
Perhaps Glider's family was fortunate - or perhaps Aspen Grove was unfortunate - that the small family of dogs wasn't around for the fight. Even with his old age, Glider was an excellent warrior. Mikomi could especially fight. She had that burning fire, that incredible capacity for pure hatred, that made her a formidable foe for her enemies.
Returning from a hunt, which was unsuccessful, Glider's eyes widened at the scene. Something happened while he was gone, and it didn't look good. "What's going on here?!" The saluki shouted, confused and trying to hide his fear for his family's sake.
"Haunters!" Mikomi rushed forward, heading towards the group, when thundering hooves and enraged growling quickly approached... and before she knew it, Mikomi was nearly trampled by Luna Moth. The canine had managed to get out of the way in time, but not completely, as she had sustained a blow to the head by the zorse's heavy hooves.
Nicholas followed close behind Luna Moth, speeding past her and Mikomi, and skidded to a halt next to Cavan. "Sorry we're late, Captain," he mumbled quietly, "but Greyfell has gone missing, and our search for him has turned up nothing. The humans are involved. But enough of that; we're here to help if you need us."
Meanwhile, Glider stalked forward, attempting to sneak up on Luna Moth...
Kaina*Others
Stupid- foul creature! Motherless cur! Where she lacked the ability to insult Cavan verbally now, with her nose in his mouth - and indeed, was beginning to lack breath altogether as he strategically suffocated her - Liseli was raining down foul words upon his head within the privacy of her mind, and for once, even that little voice between her ears agreed with her, chanting, Kill him! Kill him! so loudly that she could barely hear the fighting around her. Or perhaps that was the lack of oxygen getting to her brain? It was hard to tell, but soon enough it mattered little - Cavan was releasing her with a startled yelp, and Liseli staggered back, her still-unhealed frame having more difficulty compensating for the precious moments she'd been without air than would have otherwise been more normal. That made it much simpler for Darling to get between the aging female and her uncle, and perhaps to the credit of whatever remained of her survival skills, Liseli didn't try to charge forward to fight Cavan again. That didn't keep her words from coming out though, breathlessly. "If I weren't as old and crippled as I am, I'd have your liver!" she spat, but ultimately remained where she was, leaning a little on Darling's support.
With her head beneath Cavan's stomach, Kaina couldn't exactly dodge out of the way of Erathi's attack, and took a few painful slices across her spine and the upper part of one rear leg from the cruel talons. Her position did benefit her though, in that all of her vital areas were protected beneath the Captain's own bulk - the injury was painful, but not deadly or even very serious, even when she came back up and Cavan landed another blow on her already-smarting nose. There was a tense moment where she wondered if she ought to try going for his throat from her position, despite the fact that she knew he was a better fighter than her and would likely not fall for that... but before that thought could go completely through her head, Cavan had backed off, and the fight was at an uneasy standstill. She was still for several seconds, frozen almost in a kind of shock - and then Star shifted suddenly beside her, and she heard a muffled whine. Not pausing to think, she slunk carefully over and stood beside him, supporting that one injured foreleg and nudging her head up close to his chest, implying protection for the injured alpha, whatever her small frame was worth. Fighter, she might not be - but she had a heart of gold.
Cavan, Ahote, Druid, Nauvi, Lion, & Erathi
The sharp pain in his stomach, and the aching sting on his face were fresh incentives to keep Cavan's mind from slipping back into the realm of blind revenge. He had not become Captain of the Haunters, and indeed Risen's right-hand adviser for nothing, and he knew when to save face and admit to a temporary setback. Not defeat, no... it was only a setback, and this situation would be remedied as soon as he could gather better resources. "When I return Liseli, that's exactly what I'll do to you. You and your alpha." Slowly, Cavan was backing up, now very aware that he'd made a serious miscalculation in how strong this pack was. Lion, Druid, Nauvi, and Ahote crowded in around their Captain, creating a wall of fangs to further discourage the Aspen Grove from taking advantage of their greater numbers. "Remember what I said. Liseli, Starscream, and half of the pack will die for your neglect of my sister. If you can't decide who will be executed, then I will decide for you."
Cavan and his posse were continuing to ease back away from the Aspen Grove, and preparing to turn and take their leave of the land when Luna and Nicholas showed up. The addition of the zorse and wolf might have been a deal-changer in the start of the fight, but with Namir closing in, and the appearance of Glider and Mikomi, Cavan felt the odds were still against them, especially with his son badly wounded by Starscream and Crow. "Greyfell is missing...?" It was news to Cavan, and just one more reason to get back to the Ruins, "No, we're falling back now. The message has been delivered to these vermin, and we'll be visiting them again soon enough. Come." With Druid and Lion hanging back slightly to cover Cavan and Ahote from behind, the wolves kept a tight formation as the continued their tactical retreat.
Starscream & Others
The uneasy cease-fire saw a similar move for defense from the Aspen Grove. Crow stalked first towards In'Alak, helping his badly wounded packmate circle around the gathered Haunters to take a stand nearer to Starscream. Darling stood fast beside and slightly in front of Liseli, not far from her father, while Cortinarri was planted at her other side. The alpha of the pack growled low in frustration as he watched the Haunters form up in a group that would make it near impossible to attack without first getting tagged by their teeth; it was the same kind of maneuver used by oxen to defend their calves, and it was effective even at this smaller scale. "Funny thing to say, when you're the one retreating, Cavan. If you dare step foot inside my territory again, I will gladly reunite you with your sister." Kaina had now pressed herself deftly at his side, to the alpha's great surprise. He responded first by raising his head a smidgen higher, trying to promote himself as powerful and fully capable, and certainly not in need of anyone's support right now. His second respond was simply not trying to shrug the female away. Her placement beside him elicited a strong sense of devotion and stirred a sense of loyalty that any wolf craved from their pack.
Soft, powerful thumps against the ground marked the fall of Namir's padded feet as he closed in on the pack. The cougar slowed dramatically and came to a slinking stop beside and slightly behind Cortinarri, panting for a second or two before closing his jaws and eying up the retreating Haunters. The way his eyes fixed on Cavan, and the way his muscles tensed beneath his dusty-brown coat spoke of how powerfully he wanted to leap forward and take the Captain down. He might have too, with the backing of the pack, but a large zorse had suddenly thundered into the scene, along with another wolf that reeked of the Haunter's stench. Namir switched his tail and shifted his eyes to the horse next.
Star's eyes widened a bit as Mikomi was kicked by the horse, whose arrival made him uneasy; he associated these beasts strongly with the humans his mother told him about, and was very leery of their size and strength. "Glider, Mikomi, get back!" The alpha stayed where he was, unwilling to break the loose formation the pack had formed; but if one of the Haunters fell out of line, he would not hesitate to seize the opportunity to pick them off, now that they had the aid of additional fighters, and especially Namir.
Glider & Others
Mikomi lifted herself up off the ground, blood staining her cream-colored fur. Green eyes stared down the horse-zebra hybrid, who stopped near Cavan and Nicholas. Mikomi attempted to take a step, but the swelling in her head gave her a piercing headache, her knees buckled and she fell back down with a thud.
"Mik!" Dove rushed to her daughter's side, licking the blood away, while Silence and Numinex attempted to keep the fallen warrior warm and calm.
Kalina, a falcon messenger for the Haunters, wasn't far behind her allies. She circled, but didn't dare land, as there wasn't much a bird could do in this situation. But it was the next event that shocked her...
Glider looked down at Mikomi, whimpering softly, but the sorrowful tone was replaced with a growl when he raised his head to lock eyes with Luna Moth. "We can't let them leave alive." His voice was eerily unemotional, but behind it, the rage was building. In what seemed to be a flash, the saluki raced toward the equine, who in turn raced toward him. This would be a fight, but it turned out to be rather one-sided, as before Luna Moth could get a blow in, Glider ended it. Fangs ripped into Luna Moth's neck, tearing the soft flesh, causing the mare to stumble as she slowly suffocated and bled out. She eventually hit the ground, her short life over.
Glider stood there, seeming to be in shock himself. His gaze shifted over both the Haunters and his fellow Aspen Grove packmates. He uttered three simple words: "Don't follow me." The elder dog turned around and ran, pushing his speed to the limits.
Kaina*Others
Airy laughter left Liseli, but she didn't answer Cavan again, choosing not to dignify what she saw as a desperate insult with any sort of reply. Instead, she panted, still leaning heavily on Darling, but turning her muzzle toward the ex-alphess as she finally turned up at the scene, offering her old friend a brief nuzzle. Kaina was very still though, snuggling her head a little closer to the soft fur at the front of the male's chest but otherwise keeping her eyes locked on the party of wolves that had so quickly dealt so many injuries among the pack she'd just become a part of. She had no taunts to offer, no last threats to toss... she crouched where she was until they had backed off a good ways. She was confused by the random outburst that occurred shortly thereafter, but wasn't going to draw forward and interfere with Glider or his family, never having seen any of them before. Instead, she watched them leave... and then turned her eyes up to Starscream. She was quiet for a second or two, and then turned a little so she could begin to gently nudge and lick at the tear on his shoulder. "Hold still." The tension in his frame that said he was still keeping an eye on the retreating enemy, even as they drew out of sight, she chose to disregard for now. He'd taken a good beating, in protecting her... tending to him was about the only thing she knew to do, and helped to disguise some of the trembling that was going through her, due to adrenaline that had been aroused by the fight.
Starscream & Others
Cavan continued to move, eager to get back to the Ruins in order to organize a force the likes of which the Aspen Grove could not hope to outfight. He would show them... he would make them pay for Nachi's death! And they would again be a reminder of the Haunter's superior force, and an be an example to anyone else in the Valley who might try to cross the Haunters. But he could not make that happen if he were dead, and that's exactly what he would be if he stuck around and waited for more of the Aspen Grove pack to show up. Cavan gave one last, gruff bark to remind Nicholas and Luna Moth to follow him before he and his warriors disappeared into the forest and hastened their pace back towards the Ruins.
Unfortunately, this left Luna Moth alone and at the mercy of an enraged Glider. The old saluki broke rank and charged, and before their eyes brought down one of Greyfell's daughters. Namir flicked his eyes from the struggling zorse, watching her crumple to the ground. From their they went to the nearby trees where Cavan had last disappeared into, "Do you want me to trail them?" His whisper came on a voice as cool as a summer spring, and was directed to Starscream. One of the alpha's ears pitched towards the cat, and a second later he swung his muzzle away from the dying Luna and looked back at the mountain lion, "At a distance. We need you here if they try to double back." Namir didn't so much as nod his head to Star - he didn't exactly adhere to the laws of the pack after all, and didn't bow to any wolf. He simply ghosted into the forest, moving quickly and quietly, creating no more disturbance than a shadow would flitting between the trees and over the ground.
Glider's words reached Starscream next. He looked back to the aging dog, just in time to see him run off, "Wait! Glider-" But it was too late, the saluki was gone, leaving Star puzzled by his actions. There was too much else going on, and too much to tend to right now though for him to ponder on that; half his packmembers were wounded in some fashion or another, and they needed his leadership here and now. He briefly looked to the trees to make sure the Haunters were well and truly gone, then swept his amber eyes over Crow, Liseli, and everyone else present, trying to determine their status. Dove was tended to Mikomi, and Crow had convinced In'Alak to sit down before his trembling legs brought him down against his will. Cortinarri and Darling stood steadfast by Liseli, and Kaina...
"It's nothing." Starscream tried to play down the wound that had minutes earlier brought a whimper out of the bold alpha. Then again, he had a reputation to upkeep, and his need to impress was quite strong. Yet on the other hand... "You took a good hit on the side of your head." With the battle still fresh in his thoughts, and his own blood thundering in his ears, Starscream was in the rare mood where flirting was not on his mind -far from it-, but that didn't stop him from reaching his muzzle over and turning a cleaning tongue against the blood-stained fur around her wounds.
"We should retreat further into the territory, back to the dens. If the Haunters return within the next few hours, we will be vulnerable." This was Cortinarri, taking up command while her son was left a little bewildered and uncertain of what to do next, despite his imposing and confident posturing. She was standing very close to her granddaughter and friend now, having given both of them a nuzzle and quick look over.
Glider & Others
Mikomi, from her vulnerable place on the cold ground, could see the dead equine not far from her. Sadness overwhelmed her, a whimper escaping her throat. It was not meant for Luna Moth, no - the horse got what she deserved as far as Mikomi was concerned. She feared of what would become of their little pack. Her father, a lofty wolf who went by the fitting name of Canis Rex, had met an untimely demise, and she knew others in the pack had lost loved ones as well. Mikomi wished it would end.
Nicholas stood still, his legs stiff with a sense of dread. He had been charged with protecting Greyfell's daughter, and he failed. Nicholas and Luna Moth were good friends; partners in crime, so to speak. Now it was all gone. He gathered his strength and said in a venomous snarl, "You're dead." It was directed at Starscream, who he identified as the leader. "The Haunters will come for you. Don't blink. Don't sleep. That tingle down your spine when you're all alone? That's us. We don't forgive and we don't forget." He slowly stalked toward the alpha but still remained at a safe distance, his fangs bared in a devilish snarl. "Expect us." He backed up toward Luna, looked down at the fallen heiress, and back up at Starscream. "But first, Luna Moth's killer will feel the pain of justice. That dog shamed your pack when he mercilessly and dishonorably slaughtered Greyfell's daughter." He began striding after Glider, but offered the saluki's family some unsettling words as he passed them. "Too bad you didn't get a chance to say goodbye." When he felt that the Aspen Grove pack was sufficiently threatened, he picked up the pace and followed Glider's trail.
Kaina*Others
The direct threat to Starscream did what nothing else so far had done, even the attack itself and the pain she was in - it made Kaina snarl very softly and flash her pretty little fangs. She didn't move from where she'd planted herself beside the alpha, not about to go after any of the remaining enemies, knowing that she stood no chance against them. But she let that be a last note of protection before turning her attention to the male's injuries... and flinching slightly when he in turn lay his tongue to the stinging bite that crowned her browline and scored across the side of her head. She didn't whimper though, or try to draw away, instead bracing up for a moment before returning to her task in cleaning up his shoulder. "...wouldn't be the first time. Bane tried to get that eye before, when I was just a pup. He wasn't around much by then, but he'd sneak home every now and then. It was right after that, when Da finally drove him out of the lands for good." Her reply was even softer than her growl had been, as she ran her tongue over the length of the slice she was working on, and went on still more quietly, "I've you to thank this time, for keeping that eye where it belongs."
Her compliment had to be laid aside though, when Cortinarri made a very wise suggestion; it would be much easier to defend themselves, should the Haunters come back for a second strike, if they withdrew to a more central protected position in the packlands. Even Liseli saw the sense in that, and as she turned her nuzzles over Darling, the ordinarily-daffy beta replied, "At least... til we heal up, yes. But you just... wait til I get my paws back under me-" She rambled off into half-sensible murmuring at that point, leaving Cortinarri and her young friend to hopefully guide her along, as Kaina turned with the intent to persuade Star to walk with her, too. "Come on, we'd do better to get to a protected place, as your mother says. I'll need to have a better look at this, once I've got it cleared out. Going to have to keep that clean."
Starscream & Others
Starscream's bloody muzzle wrinkled back and his lips went up. Between the stains of red, the white of his fangs stood out, bared in warning to Nicholas. Kaina would feel him tense up again as he prepared to attack the solo wolf, who dared to approach him and the pack without any backup. Star would have rushed him, too, but all the tears and punctures and bruises from the fight were starting to light up with greater intensity as the rush of the fight began wearing off. The muscles in one forelimb quivered in protest, and ultimately, Starscream kept his big paws planted where he stood, "No, that beast over there is dead." He shot back hotly to Nicholas, "A feast for my pack tonight, courtesy of the Haunters." The fear in the back of his mind was very real, having heard just how large the Shadow Haunters were, but Starscream would not bow down to that anxiety. Not a stitch of apprehension shown on his face as he boldly shoved the other's threats aside and dished out his own, "We killed the mutt you sent after Liseli just as easily. Come for us again, and we'll do the same to each and every one of you." Nicholas turned and bolted away after that, veering in a different path than Cavan had followed. Starscream had to stop himself from tearing after him; having Kaina pressed at his side greatly helped with that, as did the wounds that threatened to impede his agility and speed. Unwilling to leave his pack alone, or run off into what could very well be an ambush, Starscream resorted to their trusted fallback that had already saved Liseli's life a few days back - the cougar.
Though he feared for Glider's life, Starscream had to make the difficult decision to keep the rest of the pack together in one group, to protect those that would be sitting ducks if the Haunters doubled back. He waited tensely for a few long moments, ears perked for the sound of fighting, or the wild yowl that meant Namir had launched an assault. There was silence though, and soon enough he was turning back down to Kaina, "I've got a bit of experience in defending my family." His words came out a little breathy, and not quite as smug as they might otherwise have, for his mind was still racing, and his senses were all on high alert, just waiting for another attack. "You did a fine job yourself, sticking out the battle and all." His nose quivered over her temple, but lifted away before he could administer another cleansing lick - a snap of brush nearby had his eyes and ears darting in a new direction. It was only a false alarm though; a squirrel.
"We need to move now, there are pups to look after." Cortinarri spoke in a near rumble. There was a nervous edge in her voice, as she was not comfortable leaving Glider to his fate either, but the rest of the pack had to be safeguarded. It was Cortinarri, with the aid of Darling, who first began to move, helping to lead Liseli towards the center of their land where two of their major dens were located. Darling was flat-eared and trembling, but quite clear of mind despite the horrifying ordeal, "Nevermind them, Liseli. I hope they never come back here."
Kaina helped in getting Star to move as well. Dignity and pride demanded that he walk without a limp, but the first few steps drew a grimace and a noticeable hobble that the alpha could not hide. Tomorrow, he knew, it would feel worse, along with every other little nick and bite he'd amassed, but at least he was alive, and his wounds were nothing life threatening. "I guess if you're going to help, I might as well return the favor. Can't very well clean that head of yours by yourself, can you?" His words still sounded a little distracted, and more than once he looked back to make sure that Crow was keeping In'Alak moving, and that Dove and the others could help Mikomi back to the den.
---
Away from the departing pack, Namir had not traveled very far yet. He'd been close enough to hear the snarling words of Nicholas and Starscream, and when his keen ears picked up the sound of the Haunter breaking away in a new direction through the forest, Namir doubled back. He went cautiously at first, stalking after the lone wolf and keeping himself silent and downwind, in just the same manner as he did before ambushing and killing Larsan...
Mikomi & Others
Kalina soared above the territory, the shock of seeing Luna Moth die making her wings feel weak. And the words exchanged between Starscream and Nicholas... Would they really eat Luna Moth? The thought made Kalina queasy, so with a mournful caw, she headed back toward the Ruins. Greyfell would be mad when he found out that his 'little princess' had been killed.
Mikomi shakily lifted herself off the ground, breathing heavily. She growled at Nicholas as he passed, then turned around to see the Haunter follow Glider's tracks. Mikomi was in no shape to go running after them, but she never let that stop her. She gestured for Dove and Silence to follow after the patriarch. The big hybrid then gently lifted Numinex up by the scruff. The coyote was small and rather underweight, so it wasn't much of a challenge for a strong canine like Mikomi.
Reaching Starscream after staggering toward the den, Mikomi dropped Numinex at the alpha's feet. "Starscream, I hope you understand that it is my duty to protect my family, even if it means chasing after a deranged mutt." She looked down at the little black and tan coyote, who looked back up at her with pleading eyes. "I promised Numinex that he would have protection in this pack. I won't break that promise, so if I die, I hope you and the rest of the pack can take care of the poor fellow." With a pained expression on her face, Mikomi's gaze met Starscream's eyes for what she felt may be the last time. She turned around and began to walk away, seeing that Dove and Silence had already left to chase after Nicholas and Glider.
Starscream & Others
Seeing Dove and Silence take off in the direction that Nicholas had, Cortinarri was the first to bark an order to them, "Dove!" Starscream whipped his head around in time to see what his mother had, and he added his own command in a sharp tone, "We have to stick together! Silence, Dove...!" He paused momentarily, again feeling the need to go after the errant members of the pack. A rumble vibrated through his chest and throat, but after a moment or two he released the rest of his breath in a heavy huff and swung his muzzle forward. He had to lead the rest of the pack to safer grounds, where the weak and wounded would be protected by the remaining able-bodied members.
During the trek to the dens, Starscream would frequently flick one ear back, or briefly stop and look behind him, half afraid that the Haunters would double back and attack them, and half anticipating the cry of Namir or the sounds of fighting from the other three. Crow, Darling, and Cortinarri mimicked these actions, and yet by the time they'd reached the old cedar tree where the main den was located, there had been no sight or sound of their enemies - or the friends. Starscream stopped in front of the entrance, not planning on going in himself, but to stand guard in front of it to protect the pups inside. As he as turning around, Mikomi approached and dropped the coyote at his paws, causing the alpha to draw his head back slightly and eye the creature warily, "Your family is here as well, Mikomi. Splitting our numbers now will leave us vulnerable if the Haunters return; Glider is a seasoned fighter, and he isn't injured; we need to stay here." Her pained look was met by a stern one from the wearied alpha, which only broke when he looked down at the smaller canine near him; his expression wasn't particularly fond, but then considering how he viewed Liseli and did his best to avoid the crazed female, it was understandable that he was leery of this strange coyote. By the time Star looked back up, Mikomi was taking off, "Mikomi! Stop!"
Darling and Cortinarri, meanwhile, assisted Liseli as best they could, guiding her towards the worn-smooth roots of the old cedar. "You should lie down." Darling insisted, giving the old beta a light caress across her wounded muzzle, and a gentle nudge against her side. Cortinarri didn't immediately sit down by either of them, but looked from Starscream to her grandson and In'Alak, then to Numinex. Next her attention shifted to the den, where Sentalia was just now peeking her head out from. Behind her, further hidden in the shadows of the tunnel, Starwhisper crouched and listened to the words being passed outside.
Kaina*Others
"I don't want to," was the old beta's irritable reply, which was completely discredited by the way her limbs folded beneath her, allowing her to lie amongst the huge roots as they'd indicated. She'd allowed them to guide her here, moving along quietly enough and not protesting, but it was clear from her words that she was still wound up - she just didn't possess the strength to be more willful. "What I want is to go after that-" A string of verbal filth would ordinarily have followed right after that, but Darling had chosen that moment to put a soft nuzzle to Liseli, and she melted a little, not continuing with the insults she might have proceeded to rain on Cavan's head. Instead, she let her eyes close in momentary bliss, and upon opening them, glanced to Cortinarri. "We almost had them. A moment or two more..." She sighed, and resisted the urge to shake her head. "Come, Darling... sit here with your grandmother and I." Of course, the youngest of the three already had intentions of remaining right there with them, but Liseli extended the invitation anyway, wanting her young friend near to her in these moments, as her old friend was.
Meanwhile, Kaina plodded alongside the alpha, adjusting her speed and paws deftly to accommodate the little catches that came into his steps every now and then; when he looked down at her, he might note that she wasn't watching the path ahead of them, but her ears were twitching actively, and she never faltered a single step - she was using the combined power of her keen hearing and her sensitive touch to stay in tune with the world around her, and also to account for the hitches in Starscream's gait. And though she was far smaller than he, and not really capable of supporting so much weight on her own, he had just enough strength remaining to him, and she just enough cleverness and awareness of how his muscles were moving beside her, that they made time along their walk to the den easily enough. She flicked the ear nearest to him down though, as he complimented her supposed bravery in not fleeing the battle - a brief expression of modesty. "A pack sticks together, whatever the rest of the world brings to them. We're not like the deer that flee in all directions and splinter their strength, when they are threatened... we think, and we realize our best strength is together, not separate." She let that calm reply fade into silence as they approached the old tree; if he looked down at her again, he'd see her nose twitching, and he could probably guess why - she could smell the pups from here, and knew who they belonged to. She kept back any thoughts that she might have though, and accompanied him over close to the den entrance, where she stopped with him, about to go back to tending the wounds on his being when that other female - to save her life, she couldn't remember the name of the saluki hybrid - came, bearing another canine in her jaws that Kaina had never seen before, due to the fact that she herself had only been here a short time. Because she didn't know them, the little female didn't comment, and waited, respectfully and quietly, until they were finished talking - and Mikomi had taken off - before she went back to speaking to Starscream. "They are Haunters," she finally ventured, beginning to reapply her tongue to that slice in his shoulder, and keeping her voice low to hopefully avoid letting the others around them hear her; she saw no point in stirring up the other injured, or even potentially the mother and her pups safe in the den. "Even if they did not have a personal vendetta to fulfill, they would not take a defeat so easily. They brought so few of their own because they thought we would be easier to deal with than what we were. When they come back... they will bring more."
Mikomi & Numinex
As much as it hurt the hybrid to leave the pack, she felt she had to protect her grandfather. "I'm sorry, Starscream." Her voice was soft, but loud enough to be heard as she walked away. She slightly turned her head, about to look back, but thought better of it. If this was to be the end, she didn't want to look back. It would be too painful. "Goodbye."
Numinex watched Mikomi skulk away, observing her sorrow. The coyote hadn't known the pack for long, but he saw Mikomi as a caretaker. He whimpered, but didn't follow her. Instead, he followed Starscream and the others into the den. "Do not worry, Alpha. It is her destiny." He seemed unusually calm when he entered the den, but his expression changed to a fearful one upon looking back toward the entrance. "Dinok saraan..." The utterance of some unknown language was eerily monotonous, without affect or emotion.
Starscream & Others
If Liseli's body hadn't defied her own determined words, Darling would have applied her muzzle with more force against the beta's chest, or more likely, turned to her grandmother for a more authoritive touch. Fortunately Liseli settled down in the dappled shade and Darling's frantic mind had one less thing to worry about for the time being. She settled herself down right along side her friend, patiently hearing her out on the less than repeatable names she was spouting in reference to Cavan. "The rest of the pack shares your sentiments on that one." Very quietly, Darling said the only thing she could to try and assure the elder wolf, without addressing her own powerful desire to crawl into the den and hide for the next several days to avoid whatever horror was bound to play out.
Cortinarri did not display the subtly widened eyes of her granddaughter, or carry so much active, wild fear in her mind and heart that seeped here and there into her words. The former alphess didn't fret any less than Darling, but she was far more experienced in life, and her grave concern was held in check by a hardened attitude towards life. From the corner of her watchful, amber eyes, the female saw the look from Liseli and responded grimly, "I doesn't matter now. He'll be back..." She moved a few steps away from Liseli and Darling and poked her grayed muzzle into the mouth of the den. Her ears briefly went back, and a low chorus of greeting whines came from Sentalia and Starwhisper. After confirming that her great-grandchildren were well, if rather shaken by the scent of blood and words of danger, Cortinarri padded back towards Liseli and sat down heavily. "If it comes down to it, we may have to run."
If there was to be any benefit to today's horrible encounter, it was that Starscream's mind was about as far from flirting as could be. Kaina's closeness was treated with no sly comment or even an inward thought about her finer qualities. Cavan's threats dominated his mind. It was a good thing that Kaina was so in tune with her surroundings, and quick to attune herself to his unstable gate, because the big male would have likely stepped on her paw more than a few times otherwise, or giving her an unintentional shove of the shoulder. He'd nodded deeply to her wise comment on sticking together, and upon reaching the den site and trying in vain to stop Mikomi from walking off, Star wondered how this very splintering would affect them in the coming hours and days. Were they running off to their deaths? Was this this last he would see of Mikomi and Glider? Only time would tell, and Star hoped that he could count on their support when the Haunters inevitably returned for vengeance. "Let them come. You heard what that other one said; their leader is missing, and Cavan is well past his prime. I think they're not as organized or powerful as what I've heard, and what they want us to think... we can take them. We'll bring the entire pack together, and fight them on our land." As ignorant and folly as his bravery was, he spoke it with full confidence, refusing to accept that there was any possibility of defeat. Yes, they pack would stay here... they would recoup, they would feast, and they would strength their bonds, and they would dig in and fight for their family whenever the time came. With that in mind, Starscream returned Kaina's thoughtful ministrations with those of his own, again taking a nose and tongue to the bleeding wounds on the side of her head.
After a few moments though, with his eyes following Numinex's movements, the alpha lifted his lip to show a single fang. It was a wordless warning for the coyote to stay away from the den's entrance, mainly because his six-month old offspring were in there, and he was already uncomfortable with Numinex and Liseli being so close to them. "What did you say?"
Kaina*Others
Once she had settled down on the ground, the earth beneath her soft where it was constantly and slowly tilled by the roots of the large tree - not loose and messy but very comfortable to lie upon - Liseli seemed to forget why she'd ever wanted to stand up to begin with. She wasn't quite as old as Cortinarri, and when she was well and quite herself, Liseli didn't get worn out quite this easily, but she'd nearly lost her life only yesterday, and had spent a good bit of strength putting up a fight against Cavan... she was pretty spent. Not too tired, though, to prevent her from noticing how nervous young Darling was, or from reaching over to place her muzzle to her friend's shoulder, nuzzling softly for a moment or two in reassurance. Her words though, were less pleasant than the comforting caress she was offering. "Of course... he can't afford to let us live, Cortinarri. Not now that his secret is out - even if there had never been a Nachi, this would have brought him out. It threatens the choke-hold he's had on the pack these years." Nevermind that Liseli had only been back in the pack a couple of months - perhaps this was her mind wandering and making things up again, or perhaps she was more perceptive than many gave the crazy old wolf credit for. She snarled breathily next, though. "Running will keep us alive, yes... but still slaves to him. This only ends one of two ways, Cortinarri. You knew that the moment Vestige died, and so did I."
Far enough away where she could pretend not to hear those words, Kaina flattened her ear again as the male's tongue caressed over the edge of her brow and the side of her head. A few days ago, she might have shrugged off his touch, and indeed she had already proved very resistant to his flirting and his charm... but he wasn't being charming now, or overtly flirty. In fact, he was only tending to her injury, which was only expected bonding between packmembers. And if, perhaps, she was snuggled a little closer to him than need be, it could be attributed to his injured leg that she felt the need to account for. Her voice was soft and deferential, but still wise as she replied, "They might not be as great in number as we have been led to believe, but we now have several injured, and Liseli and your mother are far from the peak of their young years. What about them, and your little pups there in the den? We may not have the time we need to get healed up to defend them." That was very careful, as she didn't want to sound as though she was challenging his authority - only meaning to direct his mind down another path. Thus she replied as she nosed his shoulder a couple of time more, applying a final lick before moving to the next place and beginning to clear the blood away. Her ear twitched then, listening to the sound of the pups within the den, and smiling very quietly through her lingering nervousness. She still trembled a little beneath his touch, but the innocence of the unharmed pups within hearing range did a little to soothe her, and perhaps his comfort did a bit more than that.
Numinex
Numinex had grown up in captivity, on a fur farm of all places. The farmers coveted the pup's unusual coloring - pitch black fur with a contrasting tan underside. He had been rescued by Shasta of the Atroe City Animal Rescue Association, but not before he got brain damage from being beaten at the fur farm. The young canine didn't even remember his own name. He just called himself 'Me.'
Upon bringing Kiku to the humans, Mikomi felt sorry for Numinex and managed to break him out of his kennel. A pet dog protested at first, but eventually let Mikomi take the coyote. The dog informed Mikomi of Numinex's condition and told both Numinex and Mikomi the coyote's name, which he promptly forgot but the motherly wolf hybrid remembered.
Numinex looked up at Starscream and recoiled at the sight of a bared fang. "I'm not gonna hurt anyone, I swear! Cross my heart and hope to die!" He averted his eyed and cowered down, but Starscream's question got a puzzled look from Numinex. "I... I... uh..." He stuttered and shut his eyes tightly, apparently suffering from a headache. "I don't know. It says. It just says." He grimaced at the throbbing pain and started panting, feeling a sudden, intense thirst.
Starscream & Others
In the spirit of closeness and need to be with family, Crow and In'Alak moved in closer to the den's entrance. The silver-furred, green-eyed cousin of Darling helped Alak to settle in a few feet from where the others had taken refuge beneath the old cedar tree, and once that was taken care of, he moved up to sniff noses with the beta and the other two females with her. A few touches of the muzzle and quiet whines were given, seeking and offering reassurance with his packmates. Cortinarri turned a few caresses against her grandson's cheek before he stepped down from amongst the roots and returned to Alak's side. The elder female rumbled quietly to Liseli a moment later, in an expression of frustration, "What would you have us do, Liseli?" She did not look to her friend this time, but her words were more tempered when she spoke next, "You know that he would be dead, if it were in my abilities. But it's not, not right now, and he's too smart to put himself in a vulnerable position." A life of wins and defeats had taught the aged wolfess the dangers of vengeance, and with her years catching up to her, Cortinarri's concern had turned less to herself and more towards the family that would carry on after her passing. She wouldn't deny the intense, burning hatred she had for Cavan, and the overwhelming desire to see him dead, yet she was forced to put that aside and think of the immediate survival of the Aspen Grove. Darling, meanwhile spent this time with her head rested down against her foreleg, and leaned lightly against Liseli's side. Quiet and full of troubling thoughts, the young female was too disturbed by the fight and implication of Cavan's threats to tend to Liseli as she had been at first.
The alpha had no problem keeping his head above the water, at least in his actions and demeanor. He was attentive to Kaina and frequently pausing to look around and observe his surroundings. He took tallies on the pack members, and waited anxiously for any sign or sound of those that had split away from the family to go after Glider. Then it was back to checking the female's wound, seeing if the bleeding had stopped, or whether further care was needed. In answering Kaina's cautionary words, Star's face wrinkled faintly and a touch of that defiance she heard back at the Lake sounded up in his voice, "My mom and Liseli will be ordered into the den. And Alak." A few passing looks confirmed that the leggy canine was too wounded to be of much help any time soon, "The rest of us will stand our ground, and this time we'll be grouped together. Keap should be back by then, we've got Kurok on his siblings, Namir - we will hold them off." The doubts were held firmly back in his mind, stamped down to the point that he refused to even acknowledge them, even in the logical, tactical manner that his mother was doing. To that end, Starscream remained sitting where he was in front of the den's entrance, quietly appreciating Kaina's attention and help, while returning the favor. His mildly irked expression turned a little darker when Numinex didn't move from the den however, and that single fang came back into play to warn the coyote to move before the alpha took more drastic measures, "I don't trust you around my children." He made no effort to hide his distrust of the small canine, or the growing unease he felt at the creature's bizarre phrases. "Get out of the den."
Kaina*Others
The dark gray nose twitched a little, though it took a moment or two for Liseli to actually look up when Crow stepped over to ouch his nose to each of them. When she did though, it was to offer a couple licks to the underside of his chin, in a way that might have been more appropriate to a much younger fellow, perhaps from a member of his family, rather than the old beta. But perhaps, given the understanding of her slightly-unstable mind, the slightly-too-familiar greeting might be excused. At the least, she still had never proved violent toward anyone that hadn't harmed her, even if most of the rest of her behavior was peculiar. Once Crow had moved on, she rested her head down again, and snuggled it back up against Darling, even as she sighed. "I don't know, my old friend," she told Cortinarri after a moment, and wriggled some until she was more comfortable. "It just goes against every instinct I have... he should pay for what he did, and-" She shook her head. She knew just as well as the ex-alphess did that they were in no shape to go after Cavan. That didn't prevent her from feeling the frustration and the helplessness though.
The small silver female lowered her speckled face, offering Starscream access to the place just behind her ear where Druid's upper teeth had caught and gripped the back of her head. She ran her muzzle over a particular patch of grizzled fur that had been disturbed and dotted with crimson due to the nearby wound, and then turned her tongue to cleaning it, closing her eyes for a moment as he dealt with that area on her head. It had finally stopped bleeding, being a truly minor injury despite the pain that had erupted in her scratched eye - in fact, she'd received no serious injuries at all, thanks to his own interference and protection of her. Perhaps that was why she was so keen on tending to the bite marks over his hide, and she remained still beside him, even when he disagreed with her. She took a long breath, and replied, "If you're determined about that, then we ought to all stay here for the next several nights - if the Haunters are wise, they will gather some uninjured members and be back very soon. They dare not give us time to heal up. And- hold still." That was her soft warning as she moved to the slice that had been opened on the side of his neck, realizing that it was probably a bit more of a sensitive place than his shoulder. As she began to tend that, she went on, "... and it would be very easy for a small strike force to attempt to circumvent our fighters in order to target the injured and your pups."
Numinex & Others
Numinex's pleading eyes looked up at Starscream, a whimper leaving his throat. The coyote lowered himself further to the ground, trying to appear non-threatening. "But... it's cold out there! I'll die!" He figured begging wouldn't wolf, but he had to try.
Muddy and wet, Mikomi entered the den. She swooped down to pick up Numinex by the scruff, and without a word, she brought him past Starscream and further into the den.
Dove and Silence arrived next, both just as muddy and wet as Mikomi. All three of them were shivering, as the wind stung their soaked bodies. Dove offered Starscream a mournful look, much unlike her usually happy personality. "He's gone, Starscream," she whimpered softly. "The Haunter killed him." While Dove and Mikomi were mourning, a rage was silently building within Silence...
Starscream & Others
Crow had taken Liseli's affections with the patient mentality of one who understood her mind was not altogether there, and tolerated her behavior as if it were perfectly normal. It was a trait most likely attributed to his father, though one might also see where it came from his dam and grandmother. In fact, the elder female displayed that consideration now as she stayed beside the beta and conversed with her as easily as she would anyone else. "In a way, he has already payed a high price." Cortinarri finally settled down fully against Liseli's opposite side, and took up the task that so many of the others were doing right now - cleaning wounds and offering wordless assurance to frazzled packmates. Cortinarri started in on the wound around her friend's neck, seeing it as the worse injury still, "Nachi was the dearest person in his life, and she's gone now." The satisfaction the ex-alphess felt in saying that went beyond what anyone in the pack could understand, for Cortinarri had told no one that Nachi's death had been orchestrated by none other than herself. It had been done to save her own life at the time, but that didn't detract from the satisfaction of knowing her words had put a plan in motion that took Cavan's only sister from him, striking the same pain in him as he had in her when Vestige was killed.
Starscream had yet to gain the kind of wisdom his mother had, and this being the first major threat to the pack under his rule, the alpha was partially relying on her suggestions and temperament to guide him, in a subtle way. A wrinkle came to his muzzle when he heard the name of his late mate whispered by Cortinarri, but the confusing mess of emotions that brought up didn't last long in the wake of what was happening here and now around him. The scent of Kaina's blood filled his nostril and kept him after the wound with light touches of the tongue and frequent pauses and sniff at and assess the area, until he was satisfied that it had stopped bleeding, and any debris in her fur near it had been removed. When she made a suggestion on how the pack might defend itself, something that was running circles in his own mind, Star answered decisively, "We have the advantage of knowing this land better than any of them. In the time it takes them to gather their forces and return here, we'll have the entire pack together to meet them." A warning prepared Starscream for a touch against his neck, and helped to preserve his dignity by giving him time to brace against a flinch and the impulse to duck his head away. He held still, aside from a nod of his muzzle; straight after that, he was turning again to Numinex, but was startled by the sudden return of Mikomi and the others. Before he knew it, she was entering the den and taking the coyote deeper inside, and this brought Starscream to his feet in a heartbeat. In the winter, he might have relented a little and assigned a packmember to keep the canine warm, but in the heat of summer he would not take the creature's excuse, "Mikomi, bring him out immediately!" Star didn't enter the den himself, being that there was hardly enough room for a bunch of adults to squeeze in there amongst his half-grown offspring; and even if there was, he would not tolerate a deranged coyote he didn't know staying so close to his children. Dove got a shocked side-glance from her alpha, but he did not respond to that right away - he had to deal with Numinex first, and see to it that his youngsters were safe, and that his authority was respected in a time when it was needed most.
Kaina*Others
"Nachi's death did not hurt nearly as many people as Vestige's did," the beta replied, but quietly since Darling was right there, after all, and even though her mother had been abusive to her, there had to be some dredges of affection for her parent. So she prevented her voice from getting cruel or nasty in referring to the deceased female, and shook her head again. "And certainly, your mate caused less harm and pain in the world than either he or his sister. I do not consider this a proper vengeance." If she'd known that Cortinarri had engineered the plot to kill Nachi, she might have felt a bit more satisfaction, but that was a secret that the ex-alphess had to keep to herself; not only because at this point any of her family would overhear her words... but also because the beta was so erratic in her memories and her behavior. Even if only Liseli heard, and promised never to speak to anyone else of it, Cortinarri would be running the risk that she'd forget she ever made that promise, and would reveal it to Darling or Starscream at some point, with who-knew-what-kind of results.
Despite the urge to squirm under his touch, which was brought on more by the tenderness of the injury than any roughness on his part in cleaning the bite, Kaina forced herself to remain still until the last couple of licks had cleared all the blood away. At that point, Starscream's work was done, because he'd protected her so well that her face was the only wound she'd taken, but she still had his neck to deal with, and a number of other small bites to work over. "It makes me wish that my family was still alive... not only for my own sake, but because if I but asked them, my family would help us to protect the injured. And as I've told you, my family was quite large." She smiled there, a little sadly because she missed her family a great deal - but she flinched and flattened her ears a moment later, tongue disappearing back into her mouth as she lowered her head in response to the way that Star snapped at Mikomi for her complete disregard for his order to keep Numinex out of the den. She hunkered down a little, and kept her mouth shut - she wasn't going to challenge the alpha male in reinforcing the orders he'd issued, and at this moment she doubted he was in a mood to have his wound tended to.
Mikomi & Others
Mikomi, lacking any politeness she had before her grandfather's brutal murder, glared at Starscream. Her eyes, glassy and cold in expression, seemed to have the ability to invoke the fires of hell and bore a hole into the soul of even the strongest of creatures. It was the trait of her father - a noble warrior and loving father, but with a stern, cold look when his family was threatened.
"How long have you known me, Starscream?" Her voice was curt, laced with venom rather than the usual respect. "I have been here my entire life, a friend of your father before you were even born. I helped this pack through its troubles and this is what I get for those years of loyalty? I adopted Numinex as my child, and I find it unsettling that you do not trust your packmates and instead blatantly insult their children. An insult to Numinex is an insult to me, and I do not appreciate being unjustly insulted." She put one muddy paw over the pup, a sign of protection over the vulnerable animal. "Do you care to rephrase what you said, Starscream?"
Silence walked forward with slow, deliberate steps, stopped near Starscream and giving him an apologetic look. "She means no disrespect, Starscream." She was apparently still in shock, as her voice was low, quavering and weak. "She already lost her only brother, and long ago her own children, and losing our grandfather now has put her on edge. I can assure you the coyote will not harm your children, and his weak body and missing teeth prevent him from doing any real damage to even the youngest of pups." One glance at Mikomi, and Silence noticed that same maternal instinct she had seen in their mother through hard times. Mikomi wasn't about to pull her vulnerable son out of the safety of the den. The hybrid considered that a cruel and irresponsible thing to do.
Starscream & Others
Finding a few spots where blood had crusted into the fur, or where there was a stray blade of grass worked in near to the wound, Cortinarri would use her teeth to nibble the debris away. Such was her practice in doing this that her teeth, which once brought down the likes of many great beasts and ripped horrible wounds in her enemies, never came in contact with Liseli's skin. "Suffice it to say, it is hurting him every bit as much as his act has hurt us." She drew her muzzle back briefly as she said that, then flicked her tongue several times over her teeth, making a face as she tried to rid her mouth of the beta's fur. After a headshake and a sweep of a paw over her muzzle, she'd cleared the clump of hair away, and went back to nosing over the ugly wound. "He will be brought down eventually, somehow... but until that time, we have comfort in knowing that he will remain miserable in all the days he has left in this world." Morbid and grim as that may be, it did give Cortinarri comfort, as it would her son if he'd heard that part.
Given some time to calm down and really think about the pack's next moves, Starscream might make use of Kaina's remark. Not that she had her family to help them, but he did have a nephew just across their southern border. His mind did not get far into these thoughts right now however, nor did he have much time to do anything but open his mouth and start a reply before Mikomi's crude reply back force a growl from the brute's throat and set off his temper. "You will not show me disrespect, Mikomi! Twice today you've disobeyed my commands. Get out of the den before I drag you both out!" Everyone in the pack should be familiar with Star's hot temper when it came to insubordination, and considering the heap of stress he'd been under the last few weeks, and the last hour especially, not even Crow turned a surprised glance to his uncle when he snapped at Mikomi. A warning look was turned abruptly upon Silence, "I don't know this mongrel, and that's all that matters. He will not share the den with my children; it is for them and the mothers only." The alpha looked back into the darkness of the den, where Starwhisper and Sentalia had crowded back down into the chamber, silent and huddled against the farthest wall. "Out!"
Kaina*Others
Once the proud beta of this pack, and the wise adviser of Vestige - the 'Philosopher', as he'd affectionately called her - Liseli was reduced now to a liability, to someone who had to be looked after and protected nearly as much as the pups did. Indeed, it was the influence of Cortinarri that kept her in her position, as she was long past any ability to actually be of help to Starscream as a normal beta would have; her wisdom had long ago been swallowed up by the madness that had slowly grown in her after the simultaneous deaths of so many she loved, and also gone was her ability to sustain temper for any amount of time - her mind simply couldn't hold onto the thought of hatred for that long. So she sighed, as Cort sank down beside her and began to clean and sort out the soft white fur, and in turn reached over to lick at a stubborn patch of fur near the top of one of the older female's rear legs, where a cowlick guaranteed that the hair would never lay quite flat. As she did so, she replied softly, "One day, Cortinarri... we will have him, you and I. And when we do, we will make him regret he ever breathed in our direction." She took another deep breath and, after recovering some as the adrenaline left her, reached over and propped her head on Darling's shoulders in a gesture of comfort.
She seemed completely immune to the snarl that suddenly took the alpha's voice, unlike Kaina who hunched down even more, making her already-diminutive stature seem all the more delicate and small against the backdrop of the much larger and very angry Starscream. Oh, she wasn't surprised at his anger necessarily, and like Crow offered him no glances, simply letting the heated words wash through the air without reaction or objection... but her position and her flattened ears made it clear that she wasn't going to challenge his decision, especially since she wasn't in any position of influence to reasonably challenge him from - she'd only been with the pack a few days, and fully realized how very little authority she had. Perhaps some small amount of courage showed in her though, in the fact that she did not skitter away from Starscream, even as his voice turned ugly; no, she remained beside him, the smooth fur at the side of her head just barely brushing his leg as she kept it lowered in the face of his wrath. She wasn't going to try to tend to his wounds, in the temper he was in... but she wasn't going to let that anger drive her away, either.
Mikomi & Others
Numinex watched all that was going on from the safety of his adoptive mother's protective grasp. This was too much for the pup. He squirmed a bit, eventually getting himself free and running off toward the treeline. He stopped at a safe distance, watching as he shivered in the snow.
"Numinex!" Mikomi called after the coyote, who slowly began walking toward her. The hybrid had a bigger problem, though, which she felt she must deal with. She walked up to Starscream, getting close to his face. "I see what you're saying. My child doesn't matter. If he dies out in the snow, that's fine, it won't be on your conscience. If you hate him so much, why don't you just do to him what you did to Kiku?" Her voice was a growl, but the bared no fangs.
Dove was contemplating whether she should join in on the debate. She felt that all pups should be allowed to sleep in the den, but she wasn't about to go up against Starscream. Instead, she turned around and strode toward Numinex to pick him up and bring him closer to the pack.
Starscream & Others
Liseli was fortunate to have Cortinarri as a friend, and now Darling as a companion and keeper. If not for these two females and their great influence over Starscream, Liseli would not have retained her rank, and if indeed he'd even allowed her back into the pack, it would have been in a lowly position. Star was not an inherently cruel individual, yet he was not patient enough to deal with or understand those like Liseli. Fortunately for the old beta, Cortinarri stood unflinchingly by her friend's side through thick and thin, and did not waiver now. Even if Liseli's manners made Starscream uneasy and brought unfriendly remarks from Keap at her expense, Cortinarri's authority in the pack and loyalty to her friend ensured that Liseli would always have a place in the Aspen Grove, no matter what burden she placed upon them. Her reply to the wounded fae was spoken just as staunchly, "That's a promise." No part of this discussion was taken with welcoming ears by Darling however, who continued to lay quietly against Liseli, until the older female rested a heavy head over her shoulders. Darling's sole response was an airy whine.
Starscream, on the other paw, was far from being quiet right now. On top of everything that had happened recently, including the revelation of his father's murderer and Glider's death, he had absolutely no patience for putting up with disrespect and defiance of his orders. Mikomi's backlash had been the tinder that ignited all of the alpha's volatile emotions and tension, until it boiled over in the snarling tones and fang-baring expression he displayed now. He might have been compelled to calm down once Numinex had left the den at last, but Mikomi's decision to confront him earned her a gnash of teeth that came within an inch of tearing at the flesh of her muzzle, "I told him to get out of my childrens' den; it is for the pups and mothers only." His hackles bristled, and if the teeth that flashed in her face weren't enough to remind her of her place, Star's intense glare and furious tone should make the message very clear. "In'Alak and Liseli are in far worse shape than that coyote, Mikomi. That you show more concern over him than your own packmates that fought to protect your life is appalling! He will not receive special privileges here; Numinex will stay outside the den with the rest of us." Dove's decision not to interrupt the argument was a very wise one indeed; in fact, Starscream showed no irritation when Numinex was brought closer to the rest of the pack.
Kaina*Others
Most of the time, Liseli didn't realize how very lucky she was to have a loyal friend like Cortinarri, who made sure that she was well taken care of when otherwise the alpha, who was already somewhat averse to insane, erratic-behaving wolves, might have driven her out. Every now and then, it came into the forefront of her mind, and that was usually the time when she would try briefly to convince her strong-willed friend to select another beta who might be more appropriate for the job. But she'd never yet convinced Cortinarri to do so, and thankfully for the elder wolf, Liseli didn't have the capacity to hold onto thoughts like that for too long, and didn't debate such things at length. And even now, once Cavan was gone and the immediate threat ended, Liseli allowed herself to relax between her two friends, quietly reveling the warmth of the family that had taken her in, when her own was gone. Whatever else might be said of the poor old beta, she would always have Cortinarri and Darling... and that was a source of great contentment for her.
She seemed the only one so peaceful though - everyone around them could sense the palpable tension radiating in waves from Starscream, and as the growl sounded from Mikomi and the hybrid stalked up until her nose was inches from the alpha's, Kaina flattened her ears further until they were plastered to her skull, and shook a little harder. As the trembles worked through her, she crowded a little closer to Star, and buried the injured side of her face in the thicker fur around his chest. She wasn't a confident fighter, and with the intense situation that had just past, she was still reeling a little - so the nasty verbal standoff between Mikomi and the alpha frightened her.
Mikomi
Mikomi's attempt of intimidating Starscream to convince him to treat her child equally had failed poorly, and only got a reprimand. Her body was shaking with rage. To her, there was only one way this could end and leave everybody content. "If that is how you feel, Starscream, this is not where I belong. I've come to realize, through my exploring, that this world is not for me. You get your way, alpha. It's been a good ride while it lasted, but I have fate to answer to." She tried to calm herself with a deep sigh. She tried to prepare herself. She began walking away, but looked at Starscream for what could be the last time, and spoke quietly enough that the alpha could hear it, but it would not reach her family's ears. "Once there were six: Dove, Canis Rex, Glider, Kiku, Silence and me. Then there were three, a mother and her daughters. Now you have two." She gestured to Dove and Silence before continuing. "I hope they live up to your expectations." Mikomi thought better than to bring her family into this - she didn't even look at them, but instead walked away, heading toward the cliff that she often slept under as a pup. It was bitter irony that its shade would now provide her the welcoming, eternal sleep to help her escape her troubles.
Starscream & Others
The quaking body beside his own stirred those deep-rooted protective instincts in Starscream, in the same way they had the night he first met Kaina. The fact that his snarling and aggression were causing her to tremble only made him more upset and frustrated with the predicament that he'd gotten into. Not trusting his voice to be calm, Star shuffled one leg stiffly in front of the small female, the gesture meant to show protection - from himself, of all things - and express that he wanted her to stay back. "If you cannot follow my simple orders and show due respect to your superiors, then so be it. All I demanded was that Numinex leave the den; I have not denied him of food, protection, or shelter. If you feel that is asking too much, I can't help you." Starscream was far too worked up to handle this in any gentle manner, and did not have the time or patience to deal with insolence when the lives of the rest of his pack were at stake. As he'd allowed Rainu, Magadan, and Kaiser to leave the pack in peace when they disagreed with his ways, so too would he watch Mikomi leave if that was her choice. "Just remember that I stood and fought to protect you and your family, and you are the one turning your back on us in our time of need." Seeing her turn tail and begin to walk off, Star felt the sting of betrayal in his heart, but said nothing to stop her. He looked abruptly away, refusing to meet the eyes of anyone else in the pack, even those of his mother when she eventually turned a questioning look to him.
Kaina*Others
She shivered some more, and closed her eyes for just a moment. When he shifted one leg partly in front of her, Star would feel the tightly-wound muscles in her smaller frame, but at the very least, he might note that she didn't try to pull away from him, despite her fear. In fact, she only snuggled in a little more, blinking her eyes back open as she relaxed just a smidgen; his protection indicated powerfully to Kaina that it was not her that he was angry with, and that helped her to feel better. Slowly, some of the shaking began to fade, but her ears still didn't come forward yet. In fact, she braced herself suddenly, when a soft, floaty voice made itself known. "You know, no one is forcing you to stay here. You were always free to leave, if the pack terms are not agreeable." Casually, Liseli licked the top of Darling's head. Curiously, she wasn't looking at Mikomi at all, and the vague tone of her voice made it hard to tell whether she even knew what she was talking about. But she spoke easily, as though she were merely discussing the weather, and Kaina stiffened against Starscream. Never before had she heard Liseli say something quite so personal as that.
Mikomi & Others
Starscream's last words fell on deaf ears. Mikomi's eyes stung with tears, but she didn't question what she was about to do. Within a minute of leaving sight, there was a thud, a quick yelp, then silence. It seemed to be a quick death.
Lurking in the forest, out of sight, Nicholas stalked forward and pulled Mikomi away. He had kept a close eye on the pack from the sidelines, and now he had his prisoner. If the pack went to the cliff and looked down, all they would see was a trail of blood leading toward the Ruins.
Dove's ears perked at the sound of the fall. Her daughter's yelp was met with yelps of her own as she raced toward the cliff.
Numinex, understandably confused, leaned into Silence for protection and comfort. Silence, unsure of what to think or do, simply stared off into the distance. Numinex uttered a phrase, slightly different than his previous one: "Dinok los het..."
Starscream & Others
Starscream was at the breaking point in his mind, frustrated by Mikomi's defection and distraught at the death of Glider. He had tried his best to keep the pack together, yet in the end, there was only so much a lone alpha could do when his own pack splintered against his orders. After the sounds of Mikomi's footsteps had faded, Starscream sank down onto his belly, beginning to feel the exhaustion of the fight creep up on him, along with the mental fatigue of having to put up with so much in so short of time. Not that he let it show strongly on the outside. No, Star kept his head up and retained a vigilant posture, but his eyes closed for many seconds while he tried to calm his thumping heart and chase away the doubts that were haunting his mind. When at last he spoke, it was at length, and to the small fae that had remained at his side, even through his frightening rage and the even more terrifying assault by the Haunters. "I'm sorry you got dragged into this. ..it was never like this before." The alpha didn't dare allow any strain to taint his voice, and certainly didn't let anything close to a whine be uttered, no matter how greatly he wanted to to break down and howl his frustration to the world right now. A distant thump and a yelp brought his eyes snapping open next, and he knew what had happened before his ears even had the chance to fully turn in that direction. Mikomi had jumped from the cliff... but why? Grimly, Starscream summed it up as the same streak of insanity that Kiku had, and quietly mourned the tragic loss of a packmember, whose life was cut short over a trivial disagreement. There was little time to grieve for her and Glider now though; "Dove, stay back here!"
Cortinarri had not chastised her friend for her remark against Mikomi. She could not fault her friend for speaking her mind, when the ex-alphess herself was starting to feel the strain and having to keep her jaws firmly clamped to keep from saying anything. The pack needed to rest and recoup their strength, not fight and quarrel amongst themselves. Darling had been one of the few, along with Crow, to watch Mikomi leave the pack, and when the sound of her yelp came a minute later, the wolfess buried her face against Liseli's chest and closed her eyes tightly. Crow dipped his head downward, sighing quietly.
Kaina*Others
She'd remained pressed tightly against him, not moving... until the thump and the yelp sounded, at which point she flinched at the sharp note of the cry. She had no particular attachment to Mikomi, having never met the female before, but she sound startled her, and she was already pretty frightened. So she crowded a bit closer still... and then as the alpha lay down, expressing the kind of complete exhaustion that could be expected after such a day as he'd had, she adjusted her position, until she was more curved along his one side. Briefly, one soft silver ear twitched, to the sound of fur sliding over fur as Liseli shifted her position to cradle Darling against her, when the young female sought her out for comfort. On the edge of her attention, Kaina noted how the beta took up a series of low, comforting phrases, and on a certain level, she felt guilty, keeping Starscream's attention when perhaps his daughter might prefer her father's company right now - but Liseli seemed to have the situation well in hand, and besides, the alpha himself seemed to be in need of some comfort himself, as subtle as his signs of stress were. "It's..." She started a sentence, and her voice wavered a little; determined not to appear frail since so many of them were disturbed, she cut her words off before they could falter more, and distracted herself by offering a nuzzle to his chest. When she spoke again, she was calmer. "Most of these I've seen today... I don't even know their names. I admit I... barely know what it going on. What little I've heard... well, Liseli spoke of Cavan, in fragments, as Darling as I brought her here. I... got the impression she had no fond feelings for him." She finished that out, and shook her head, beginning to sniff over the wound on his neck again. "Hold still," she repeated, and then went back to her task, but with a light touch that almost implied that she was frightened to do so - as though she expected someone to snap at her. Not Starscream necessarily... but she was clearly still tense.
Dove & Others
Dove couldn't believe it. Two family members lost in one day. It was bad enough that her father was murdered before her very eyes, and now Mikomi was gone. Upon reaching the cliffside and peering down, though, she didn't see Mikomi, but rather signs that she had been dragged away. The way the streaks in the ground left by her paws seemed odd; it was as if her legs were moving. She shuddered and whimpered, as all the evidence suggested that something had dragged the nearly-dead wolfdog away from the cliff. Dove dreaded the possibilities. A Haunter? A starving wild animal? Or perhaps something worse...
She spun around and returned to the pack. "She's... she's still alive, Starscream. Something took her. The prints looked like dog prints, or maybe wolf or coyote. Whatever it is, it was being careful. Stopping to let her rest. There was a trail leading away. Lots of blood."
Numinex slowly stood up. "It... it makes sense now. I remember." The coyote kept his body low and submissive, backing further away from the den. "My mother used to say it to us. 'Dinok saraan': 'death awaits.' She said... let me think." He looked at the ground and pondered quietly. "She said that we will all die, and when somebody was dying or believed death was coming, she repeated it. I don't know what language it is. Something she made up, maybe." His mother had exhibited almost ritualistic behavior, even to the point of believing that if she gave the humans her two sons, they would leave the pack alone. That landed the two brothers at a fur farm, from which Numinex was rescued, but not before he sustained damage that caused intermittent memory loss. He remembered vague things; the strange words, for example, and the subject of death jogged his memory on what they meant. It also jogged his memory on a graver, more recent memory... "There's something else I remembered..." He sniffled a bit, his voice quavering. "I'm sorry." He looked up at Dove, then at Starscream. "Mother... I mean, Mikomi, she said that it was time for her to go to sleep, that she was tired, and when she got to know me, she said that I should help take care of her family. I'm really sorry. I forgot. I would have told you if I remembered." He cringed, prepared for a beating should and of the pack members decide to do so. "But I can make it up to you. I promise. I'll find Mother and bring her home. She said that if the pack ever needs help, we can call upon Kiku's friends. I'll take them, and if you wish it, I won't come back. I can go back to the farm. It's not so bad when you remember the sweet sound of dinok saraan." That part he neglected to mention, however, was the meaning of dinok los het. It held some significance in the current events.
Silence, true to her name, remained quiet while the pup explained himself. Finally, when he had finished, she pleaded with Starscream. "It's a good deal, Alpha, but it's your choice. But I won't let Numinex go back to the farm - the humans beat him there. I have some friends he can stay with if you don't want him here. And if you wish, I could go search for allies. Or perhaps, if you allow it, Kiku's allies may be able to recruit some of their acquaintances to aid against the Haunters. I'd say that they hate the Haunters even more than I do." That said a lot, since Silence was the force-bred daughter of Dove and Vicious, which led her to loathe her biological father and the rest of the Haunters to the point of pure rage against them.
Starscream & Others
The wolf turned his head upward, squinting dark eyes against what sunlight filtered in through the canopy of dancing leaves above. He knew instinctively that it was around midday, giving the pack around seven hours before darkness would close in; Star wasn't sure whether the difference in light would affect the Shadow Haunter's march against them or not, and at this point, figured it didn't matter much anyway. The only choice they had now was to hunker down, stick together, and face the threat whenever it came; and hope that they did not lose any more of their family before then. "You and I both got an earful today." Star responded grimly upon lowering his muzzle back down and blinking to readjust his focus. "If I had known Cavan was responsible for my father's death..." Just what he'd have done was indicated by the raising of his lips and the silent snarl that played out so expressively over his wrinkled muzzle. Just thinking about the scar faced brute burned at Star's very heart. "Enough has happened in the last few weeks to give us a lifetime's worth of headache and turmoil, and you're arrival comes right in the middle of it all. I don't know what compelled Mikomi to... do what she did, or why Glider ran off. But that you stayed with us through all that, and are still here-" She put her muzzle to his chest then, not as another actions to clean a wound, but purely to show comfort and solace. The simple gesture stirred something deep within the alpha, for he'd never gotten so much as a caress of the tongue from his own mate, and was often to preoccupied with this matter than that to really slow down and properly socialize with the rest of his pack. For once, he resisted the urge to give the female a nuzzle in return, and instead accepted it gratefully and silently, taking what comfort it was meant to impart. And the alpha held still when Kaina tentatively went back to cleaning his wounds, giving no flinch or growl to further her concerns about a possible snap from him; though it was understandable she was worried, considering all the raw emotions she'd just seen him display.
Starscream's attention was eventually taken by Dove, and he was surprised to hear that Mikomi had possibly survived the fall. What worried him was how close the interloper was to the pack, and that they'd managed to circumvent Namir's keen ears as the cougar was patrolling the area to ensure no Haunters doubled back to attack the pack. Knowing he was in no shape to go running off by himself to track down Mikomi, and not wanting to splinter the pack any more than they already were - especially with pups and injured members to protect, Starscream opted for a more cautious measure, "Call for Namir; he can track them. If she is still alive..." Doubt lingered heavily in his words, "...he will be strong enough to overpower a single canine and bring her back." When Numinex spoke, Starscream was not particularly keen on listening to the coyote or accepting any advice from him, after the fiasco that he had just caused. Though Star didn't snarl or turn an ugly voice to Numinex, his reply was not a warm one, "No, no one else is splitting away from the pack here, not when we are so few in numbers and have so many that are vulnerable. Glider lost his life because he left the protection of the group, and now Mikomi has as well. We will all stay here until Namir has secured the borders; then we will travel in groups to the horse to eat our fill, and bring back all we can carry to feed the pups and those unable to travel. Once we have rested, we'll call for assistance - Keap, Kurok and his siblings, and my nephews will aid us. As for Kiku's friends, I don't know them and I don't want them in the packlands; they can patrol the borders if they wish, but they are not to enter the territory."
Kaina*Others
She didn't flinch this time, when a snarl came to his voice, accompanying the way his features creased into disdain and utter hatred at the thought of Cavan. From what she'd heard in the last few minutes, the battle-scarred, one-eared old male had done much to hurt Starscream and his family... and apparently, the alpha male had known nothing about it up until a few moments ago. That... must have had a very harsh impact. It was something that Kaina couldn't entirely relate to or understand; she'd lost her own father, yes, and as far as she knew, he'd met a violent end... but she'd known and loved him, where Cavan had taken away Star's basic right to meet and love his father, to learn about his likes and dislikes, to hear all the stories about when he himself had been a pup. All of that... had been taken away from Starscream. So she kept her ears lowered, but nudged him once more, this time over a patch of fur close to the place she was currently cleaning on the side of his neck. As she went back to her task, she closed her eyes for a moment or two - the equivalent of a modest blush, in a species that had no ability to darken through the cheeks; this was her response to his compliment. She was quiet for a couple of moments, and then ventured softly, "And what else was I going to do? Run? Leave Darling there alone to defend Liseli, who could barely stand as it was?" She made that a light comment, to help lift some of the solemnity and seriousness... and yet she was sincere as well. "How far could I have gotten on my own? And where would I have found another place where my small talents are appreciated?" She hesitated there, and almost continued, but then turned back to the wound again, going over it one more time. "... and besides... I didn't really do much. That male would have had the rest of my face if you hadn't grabbed him when you did." That was even quieter, as she noticed Dove coming closer to them - she still wasn't entirely comfortable with Dove and her family.
Dove & Others
Silence gave a slow nod, her eyes wide and ears perked forward. She offered Numinex a sorrowful look, who returned it with a whimper. "I understand. I will call for Kiku's friends and Namir. But I worry for Hulia, as well as her and Glider's pups. I haven't seen them, and I don't feel comfortable scouting the territory alone." She moved closer, but still kept a respectful distance from Starscream and the rest of the pack. "I must ask of you one favor. I ask that you please attempt to hide your doubt about Mikomi's fate around my mother. She wants to remain hopeful, and I don't think we should steal that comfort from her. If Mikomi has passed away, my mother will want to find what's left and say some parting words for her. As a loving father, I'm sure you can understand why I am asking you to handle the subject lightly when Mother is nearby."
Shaking accompanied Dove's whimpering as the saluki repeatedly looked back toward the cliff. Her whimpering turned to sobbing and she staggered toward Starscream, attempting to reach him, but ended up falling at his feet and looking up at him with glossy eyes. "I want everything to be okay, Starscream. I know my family has been much less than perfect, but I want it to be okay. There has been so much turmoil, so much bloodshed, but I want it to go away."
Numinex kept his distance, stiff with fear and weak with grief. Feeling he had a duty to save his mother, he, rather than Silence, Dove or the others, howled out a loud call for aid. "Namir! Starscream says for you to come here!" He had no idea to whom he was calling, but it was Starscream's order, and the pup wanted to prove himself worthy of the pack. All he wanted was acceptance and safety, and he got neither.
Starscream & Others
"I mean it." Starscream asserted, "If not for you, Liseli or Darling could have been injured much worse." Or have lost their lives. But he didn't say the last part, not wanting to acknowledge that his daughter could have died today, just as easily as Glider had. "If you had run off, that big brute would have hit one of them instead; and I saw your strike against Cavan. You've more than earned your place in the pack today, and I want you to join me on the first trip back to the horse." It was quiet the high compliment coming from Starscream, and a hefty promotion for a wolfess so new to the pack. There might be a bit of underlying motive at play, in regards to how attracted he was to Kaina and her dainty frame, but it was a subconscious notion at best right now. He meant what he said, and was grateful for her loyalty and bravery in face of so much danger. "As soon as Namir returns and gives us the all-clear, we'll head back there, along with a few others." There were no further winces from the alpha during the cleaning of his wounds, and in fact, he seemed to be relaxing ever so subtly under Kaina's care. It was mostly due to being so exhausted and drained from the thrashing he'd both received and doled out of course, but to some degree, grooming of any sort was one sure-fire way to calm a wolf's nerves.
Star lifted his head in Silence's direction next, and nodded faintly to her request. His eyes were hard on her though, "I'll mind what I say to Dove, but I need both of you to step up and start listening to orders. Not only have they lost their lives for disregarding my commands, but the pack was put in greater danger by all of you splitting up like that, and that's exactly the kind of thing that the Haunters will exploit. If we have any chance of standing against our enemies, we have to work together as a group." The saluki was approaching him now, returning from the cliff where Mikomi had plummeted from. He quieted in respect to Silence's request, "You should rest with the others, Dove. Join my mother, over there beneath the tree. We'll be getting food soon." Numinex's howl was registered next, with a twitch of Starscream's ear. He wasn't sure where the cougar was now, but figured it would only be a few minutes before he rendezvoused with them back here, at the den site.
Kaina*Others
She squinted her eyes shut again, another show of modesty, but didn't try to shrug off his compliment this time. Instead, she accepted it quietly. "One thing I have learned is that many opponents tend to write me off quickly because I am so small... it does offer me the rare advantage, now and then. Still, I could not have held Liseli back without your daughter's help. She is influential with her." This time, she deflected some of the praise off onto young Darling, and as she continued cleansing blood, dirt, and a few random leaves from his fur, she listened. She was surprised when he declared to her that he wanted her to come with him later... after all, she was so newcome to this pack, but apparently despite her unimpressive fighting ability, she'd earned some sort of admiration from him - and since this was over her loyalty and bravery rather than her pretty features, she was prepared to take this compliment from him. She nodded her head as he finished, and replied quietly, "If that is what you wish, I will follow you. Whatever of my strengths the pack can use, I will give."
Starscream & Others
Starscream was as fond of his daughter as he was protective of her. It mattered not that she had been too frightened to really jump into the fray and fight. What mattered to him was that she stuck with the pack, right along side Kaina, both doing what they could do help. And in the end, their efforts had made a difference and helped to preserve Liseli's life, and reinforce their dedication to their family. "Smallness is no handicap, if you know how to fight with what you've got. And you can do that. I only wish I could have tasted him today." Grimly he spoke about the wish for vengeance, without going so far as saying he looked forward to another round with the old wolf, as Liseli and his mother did. Star was brave, but he was also a highly defensive creature who would much prefer the Shadow Haunters gave up their hunt and never came back. He wanted Cavan dead just as much as the others, but not at the risk of further injury to himself or his pack.
From somewhere deeper within the territory, Kurok's howl suddenly rang out, and Starscream received the message with a great feeling of relief. Kurok, the rest of the pups, and the mothers were safe. Star raised his head from where he was laying on the ground and called back in his uniquely soprano cry. It was a direct order for Kurok to move everyone here, where the rest of the pups could crowd into the den and be protected. Once his howl had died away and his message had delivered, Starscream addressed Kaina again, without moving his neck too much to disrupt her cleaning, "I'd like for you to help bring food back for my mother. Darling will go with us to bring food for Liseli, and I'll bring some back for the pups."
Kurok
Kurok had receieved the response and felt relieved as he now moved his family towards the den. He stopped outside and glanced at his brother who nodded and went in first just to make sure it was really safe to enter. When Kurok heard no aggression he allowed his sister and the pups as well as Keap to enter before entering himself. Is everyone alright?He spoke he could tell some where injured. But it was clear that he was concerned.
Torek had willingly entered the den first knowing that it may be a trap but was glad to see it was not. His tail wagged and he sat down.
Tayzeka led her six month old pups into the den and sat down. She had worried but now was some what relieved.
Megatron son to Starscream eyed his father and then snorted and moved to investigate the other pack members. The little six month old male hated to of had to sit back he knew he was a pup but he was sooo full of himself.
the others pup sat with Tayzeka.
Hulia kept her four month old pups close to he.
Kaina*Others
"Oh, I wouldn't be so worried about that if I were you," Kaina answered calmly, shifting a little beside him to offer her a better position from which to reach the very end of the slice she was cleaning. It brought the main part of her body away from him a little bit and made her hold her neck at an odd angle, but it avoided standing up. She was rather enjoying the bit of lounging they were getting to do, now that the worst of the fight was over with. "That old brute tastes dreadful... like a ten year old rabbit in a lean winter." She made a mildly disgusted face, lightening the conversation with a small joke, while avoiding getting too boisterous with it, in the tension of what had just happened. Indeed, she sobered only a moment later, the grim humor leaving her, and her ears perked to Kurok's call; apparently, the pups were safe, and that made all of them feel better. She paused for a moment as the pups began scampering by in a parade of fumbly paws and stubby tails; her own fluffy appendage patted in a very subdued fashion as they went by. When they had been led safely into the den, there to be tended to by their mothers, she went back to her discussion with Starscream. "Of course... I will be glad to bring meat for your mother. She has been kind to me."
Starscream & Others
Keap was following on the heels of Kurok and the small family group. His steady pace kept him off to the side a bit, closer to Hulia and the younger pups, where he could help keep an eye on them and make sure none strayed away during the trek towards the main den site. As the beta male and his brother moved in to inspect the den and make sure it was safe, Keap went for his sister. Bullying nature aside, the dark-pelted male still loved his siblings, and had to make sure she was okay. Black whiskers along the front of his brown muzzle swept faintly across her half-buried head, and caused one of Darling's ears to twitch when it was touched. "Geeze... I go border-marking for a few hours and miss all the fun." Darling had no laughter to give her brother for his attempt at breaking through the grim mood he sensed around him, but she did lift her muzzle to briefly touch it against his. Taking some small assurance from this, he by-passed Liseli and approached Cortinarri next.
A huff of air puffed out Star's cheeks in reply to Kaina's comment, coming in place of a laugh for her description of Cavan. Starscream added onto it with a remark of his own, not just taking a cheap shot at the Captain, but insulting his advancing age and handicaps,"If he tastes as foul as his breath smells, I believe you. Full of decay and rottenness in there." Another huff escaped him, and then the very smallest of grimaces - Kaina's tender care had hit upon a particularly sore spot. To cover up this little slip, Starscream feigned a sneeze, then hastily turned his eyes and ears to Kurok and the incoming parade of pups and mothers, "No." The alpha could not continue to lay down while addressing his beta, so he rose stifly to his paws, but didn't yet move away from Kaina's side or signal for her to back off. His voice was hushed and grim, "Glider and Mikomi were both lost. They split off from the pack and were ambushed. In'Alak is wounded badly..." Poor Liseli did not get a mention from her alpha, but that was only because the pack was already aware of her wounded state after the attack by Larsan at the Ridges. "I tagged one of the Haunters good before they retreated, and Glider brought down one of their horses." Starscream himself was not in great shape, but he was at least standing under his own strength, and was well enough to fight should the Haunters return. "I want you to stay here with the mothers, pups, and the wounded while Torek and a few other able-bodied members accompany me back to the scene of the fight. We're going to feast on the horse, and drag back enough of the remains to feed everyone else here."
Kurok
Kurok was silent and he glanced at Hulia and the young pups. He sighed. THen his attention fully returned to his alpha. Of courseHe said calmly. He glanced at the ones that were wounded. He forced his mind to shut up he had done his job at protecting the mothers and young pups that was a very important task but he still couldn't help feel a bit taken a back by the losses.
Hulia listened and then just went and laid down with her four month old pups. She didn't know exactly what she would tell them when they were older but sighed and yawned.
Tayzeka was just glad star was alright and she sighed.
Torek listened and nodded. The horse would provide a good feast no doubt.
Kaina*Others
Actual laughter hardly seemed appropriate in this situation, so she acknowledged his returned joke with a soft snort, and pretended not to notice the flinch he gave when she encountered a particularly-tender spot... though she gentled her ministrations further, indicating that she understood what the grimace was for. She paused briefly to glance over as Keap went to express his concern for his sister and grandmother; if Liseli noticed that he'd failed to greet her, nothing in her demeanor indicated it - she did not look inordinately bothered or crestfallen by Keap's choice not to visit with her. Watching, the small female's eyes softened a little as Darling greeted her sibling only briefly before burying her head back against the crazy beta once more; of all that she was, Liseli was consistently a very gentle, if erratic soul, and always seemed to enjoy snuggling with her young friend.
Kaina's thoughts were distracted from that line by the shadow that fell partly over her as Kurok came forward to address the alpha. She didn't get to her paws as Starscream did, not wanting to imply that he needed her beside him, and indeed lowered her ears a little to indicate respect toward the beta, as the newest member of the pack. She kept quiet while they spoke too, remaining exactly where she was lying, not moving away from Starscream as he hadn't indicated that he wanted a private talk with his beta, but not interfering either. It wasn't until they were finished that she finally gathered her paws beneath her, expecting that with Kurok and his brother to look after everyone, they would be making their trip to get food for everyone fairly soon.
Starscream & Others
Either Starscream saw something in the beta's expression, or was simply intuitive enough to read more subtle signs in Kurok that hinted at his regret. "Don't be harsh on yourself, Kurok. You kept the pups and mothers safe; things could have ended up much worse if they were present at the fight." The fact that the male was quick-thinking and self reliant enough to escort the vulnerable group to a safe spot during the confrontation was all that Star cared about, and was exactly what he expected from the pack's second-in-command. "While we're gone, I want no one in the den but the mothers and pups. If for any reason you feel that there is danger, my mother, In'Alak, and Liseli can be permitted inside as well; none of them are in any shape to fight."
The alpha raised his head and turned himself to face the pack, projecting his voice to have everyone's attention, "Namir should be on his way now. Torek, Kaina, Keap, Darling, and myself are going to return to the horse and eat our fill. Meat will be brought back for the mothers, pups, and wounded. When we return, Kurok, Crow, Namir, and Hulia will visit the kill and eat their fill, and return back with all the meat they can carry. If there is anything left of the horse by then, my group will return to fetch the rest." Announcement made, Starscream waited for the first group of wolves to gather with him before he would set off.
Keap took leave of his grandmother and sauntered up to stand beside Kaina. Tail held lightly aloft, he quirked a look down at the small female, but any off-hand remark he might have made about the pack's newest member being so close to his widowed father was kept in check by the grim atmosphere that hung over the group. He minded his manners for once, and instead of trying to insert some joke or another, he gave a soft bark to Darling, when he saw his sister had not responded to their father's orders. She was still beside Liseli, head tucked down, and for all appearances unaware that she was suppose to be participating in this first group.
Down in the den, Starwhisper had retreated back and tried to snuggle up beside her brother Megatron. She was badly frightened, and often looked up to him because of his stronger personality and boldness. Sentalia, meanwhile, was creeping up the tunnel towards the exit, wanting to see what was going on with all the adults outside. She did not like to be left behind when big things were going on, and in this case, she underestimated the seriousness of the situation.
Kurok
Kurok nodded. He knew Starscream was right but it was still a little hard to accept. He knew he did his job though. He then looked at their group and then sat himself down to watch right outside the den. He heard someone coming up and glanced and sighed. Sentalia back to your mother now, When it is safe we ill let you guys knowHe said to the little pup.
Megatron glanced at his sister and let her placing his head over her back.
Torek stretched and only moved to follow Starscream when he began to move.
Kaina*Others
Now, standing between Keap and his even larger father, Kaina truly looked dwarfed - it was difficult to imagine that she was older than the young male, as she looked like she might be a younger sibling, sheerly by their size; her mother had been a small-bodied fae, and she'd certainly taken after her in more than simply the silver coat that changed from dark to light with the seasons. And as heavy as the atmosphere was right now, she wasn't exactly going to strike up a conversation with Keap, especially since she had never yet spoken to him before. Instead, her nose twitched as she accounted for all the scents around her - just in case anyone else came back - and that kept her busy until Starscream had finished giving out orders. Once he had completed his statement, she took one more moment to nudge a disordered bunch of his fur into place, and then stopped her grooming efforts; now was the time for business, for fetching food for the young, the old, and the wounded. So she kept her tongue to herself as she prepared to follow the rest of the pack.
Starscream & Others
Starscream waited for a few moments, giving Darling time to get up and mingle with the group and prepare to follow after them. When the wolfess didn't so much as move her head away from from Liseli however, he had to reconsidering bringing her along with the first group. As to be expected to some degree, Star's daughter had a certain level of immunity against his temper. And besides, he didn't have the heart to separate her from Liseli or Cortinarri right now, so he gave no further commands Darling before he turned tail and lead the group back towards the kill.
A jarring limp slowed the alpha down, but at least his coat wasn't quite so rugged and unkempt, thanks to Kaina's fastidious attention to it and his wounds. In continuing to show the new female his support, and broadcast to the rest of the pack that she should be respected every bit as much as anyone else, Starscream didn't attempt to walk in head of her, or shoo her away if she walked close to him. Keap, on the other hand, got the faintest of rumbled when he attempted to skirt in head of his father, with his tail up just little too high for Star's liking. That tiny rumble was enough to get the message across, and Keap fell back behind not only the alpha, but Torek as well.
When eventually they reached the still-warm body of Luna Moth, Starscream sniffed over the equine's face, then moved around to the fatty haunch, where some of the beast meat would be. "Lets be quick about this. Eat all you can." Star set into the horse after that, tearing through the hide and into muscle. Keap approached at the belly and wasted no time splitting the Haunter open, where he could reach the innards.
Back at the den site, Sentalia had pasted her ears back at Korek's orders, but ultimately obeyed him and slunk a little further back into the den. "I'm tired of being in here."
Kurok
Kurok laid down just outside the den watching the pack that was left here and outside as well as keeping alert.
Torek followed Starscream adjusting his gate to be a little slower then usual. He nodded and went to the stomach area and dug into it.
Hulia and Tayzeka glance at her and it was Tay who spoke.Once the others are sure that it is safe we will be allowed out but right now it is safer in here.She said softly.
Kaina*Others
Though it probably would have been helpful, Liseli did nothing to help rouse the young female that was tucked against her; it was hard to tell whether this was because she didn't want Darling to leave her, or because she hadn't heard Starscream prompt his daughter to join him. As it was, he didn't try to enforce that request when she didn't respond to him, and they were quickly left behind as the group turned away to venture toward the food. Kaina kept close to the alpha as they walked, keeping a deferential step or two behind his pace, not wanting to appear to challenge him, and yet still managing to travel at his side in a supportive fashion. Now that he'd taken up his mantle as their leader, she didn't try to bear any of his weight though, merely filling a place as a walking companion, keeping her tail held respectfully a good bit lower than his. Thus she kept close to him until they arrived at their destination, at which point she kept back until everyone else had selected their preferred cut of the meat, and then crept forward to carve herself out a small portion a bit higher on the side, where she wouldn't be encroaching on Starscream's meal, or crowding in where Keap and Torek had tucked in. And even at that, she was very cautious, keeping a kind of guarded eye on the three males - after all, she knew neither the alpha's son nor the beta's brother, and she was brand new here. Even though Starscream had been giving her somewhat-preferential treatment, she was still aware of her position here; if any of them turned a snarl or fang at her, she was prepared to move aside to offer them room, or to scoot back altogether and wait for them to finish.
Starscream & Others
If the entire pack had been at the kill, Starscream would have been snarling and growling as he feasted, a typical reminder for everyone to respect his feeding place at the carcass. Whether he would have permitted Kaina to feed next to him or not was uncertain, but Keap almost certainly would have put up an aggressive display and challenged anyone except for his father and Kurok. With only four of them and 700 pounds of flesh and bone at their disposal however, there was more than enough to go around, and plenty to feed everyone else waiting back at the den site as well. The once beautiful black and white striped coat of the zorse was rapidly rendered with gaping holes and splashes of red, and the ground below littered with short tufts of hair and gore. It would not be a pretty scene for the Haunters when the inevitably arrived, but to the Aspen Grove, this horse was a life-saver and a great gift when they could scarcely afford to split up and go hunting.
In the usual manner of the wolf, Starscream's belly was soon bulging with food. Keap's midsection was just as rounded, if not moreso, so that both looked as though they might be expecting. The alpha stood back from the carcass and turned a tongue to the side of his muzzle, fruitlessly attempting to clean away the was of blood that covered it and extended up towards his forehead, and partway down his throat. Another flick of the tongue did little to clean himself, not that Star was terribly concerned with it at the moment. He was soon back at the remains, only this time he was working to gnaw off the biggest section of Luna's hind leg that he could manage. Keap eventually followed suit, and the splinter of bone could be heard between his powerful teeth as he crunched down through the front leg of the horse; these may not be the best sections to bring back, but they'd be perfect to give the pups, offering them meat, bones to play with, and nutritious marrow.
Torek
Torek too finished with a very rounded belly. He tilted his head as he debated where to tear off some meat. Well he had already worked on the stomach so it shouldn't be too hard to rip off a huge chunk of just meat so he began to tear at the stomach to pull off a large slab of meat from the side of the stomach. Hulia and Tayzeka could most certianly share from this slab unless Starscream sent the two mothers to the carcass either way the slab he got could work for either two adults or four puppies.
Kaina*Others
The petite female was a little more delicate with her eating, but with the kill so fresh one couldn't entirely avoid little blood stains here and there. Her bright silver face, rimmed with dark black lips that spoke of some kind of mixed descent in her background, was soon dotted around her jowls and the end of her nose with crimson spatters, and she joined Starscream in drawing her tongue up and over those areas to try to cleanse the stink of blood from her nose. And when she was done, she moved down a little from where she'd been eating to try to tear off a large portion of some of the softer meat around the belly, close to the hindquarters; she had in mind both Liseli and the alpha's aging mother, and thought to herself that while this wasn't the finest cut of the meat available, it might be a little easier on their worn teeth than trying to work through some of the tougher stuff. It took a bit of effort on her part, and a half-muffled whine that sounded when she accidentally brushed the slice across her muzzle against the kill as she was trying to work the meat free, but she soon had it hefted well enough. Still keeping her silence, she slunk back to her place close to Starscream, mostly looking for the reassurance of his familiar presence as they turned to go back to the den.