Honthale, Mesa, Coriscan, Nevven, & Jasper

After Mesa had spotted Coriscan outside of the Haunter's realm, she had been quick to notify Hydras. And while the alphess led her pack on another mission, it was Honthale who got the task to find out what was up with his cousin.

The large brute sauntered across the border, keeping his head level with his shoulders, and his tail floating loosely behind him. After coming a few yards into the territory, he stopped and gave a quick howl to alert the pack of his presence.

Mesa dropped into a nearby tree, perching on a high branch. She had counted three adults and four pups in this pack. If worse came to worse, though she hoped it didn't, Honthale should be able to run for it.

Coriscan's ears perked up at the call. "Is that... a Lurker?" The hybrid stood slowly while Nevven and Jasper huddled in close to him. He had been efficiently converted by Nachi and the others, and didn't realize that he was of Lurker blood. "Shiro?" He woofed out, looking around for his mate and other two pups. He had been taught to hate and dispise the Lurkers, and was now fearful for his family's safety.

Kuro/Shiro/Zuno/Ralla

Kuro lifted his head when he heard the howl. He stalked to where the stranger stood. "I am Kuro, alpha male of this pack and owner of the land you are standing on." He said regally and dominantly. "Who are you and what brings you here?"

Shiro exited the den when she heard her mate's call. She stood next to him and called the other two pups. "What's wrong?" She asked confusedly. Zuno and Ralla leapt out of the den after their mother.

Honthale, Mesa, Coriscan, Nevven, & Jasper

Honthale grudgingly let his head lower, keeping his voice even, "I was sent by my aunt Hydras, alpha of the Shadow Lurkers." He began, giving out the name to show he wasn't one to be messed with, though not everyone knew who his aunt was. "One of your packmembers, Coriscan, is..." Hon stopped a moment, wondering how he'd explain this one, "...well, he's my cousin, apparently. Taken by the Shadow Haunters. And I was sent to inform him of who his real family is, in case he forgot."

Coriscan stood near Shiro defensively, "I heard a Shadow Lurker. They are a dangerous group... they're killers, and they..." He looked fearfully to the pups now, but decided not to say it. "Shiro, you must stay quite and hide the pups in the den with you."

Nevven and Jasper exchanged worried looks before hudding between their parents.

Kuro/Shiro/Zuno/Ralla

Kuro nodded and kept his eyes on Honthale. He had heard of the Shadow Haunters from the Aspen Grove. He had no reason to hate them, but no reason to love them either. And he knew of the Shadow Haunters very well. A horrible group, he believed. "Stay here." He said, turning around and trotting to Coriscan. "Your cousin in the Shadow Lurkers is here to see you."

Shiro looked nervously at her mate. "I heard...I heard that they were good. They're against the Shadow Haunters like us..." She replied, but still moved the pups into the den. Zuno and Ralla went willingly with their mother. Zuno looked at his brothers. "What do you think they're going to do to us?" He whispered.

Honthale, Mesa, Coriscan, Nevven, & Jasper

Honthale nodded, watching silently as Kuro departed. He hated running errands for Hydras, and was quite upset about the apparent disappearance of Larka. As soon as he found a mate, he'd be out on his own... sort of. There was no 'getting out' of the mafia-like Lurker family.

Coriscan looked confused at first, his eyes gowing wide while his ears went back, "My cousin? No, my mother is Nachi... I'm not a Lurker." The 'brainwashing' had worked like a charm on Coriscan. All those lies and tales that Nachi and the others had told him at such a young age were deeply embedded in his thoughts. And even though he had left the Haunters, he was not completely detached from their 'beliefs'. "They killl..." Coriscan looked fleetingly to his offspring before lowering his voice further so they hopefully wouldn't hear, "...pups. Steal them, and drink their blood. They are evil, Shiro. We have to be on our guard."

Jasper trembled a little, "I-I don't know... it sounds bad though!" Nevven huddled down amongst his siblings, obviously very frightened as well.

Kuro/Shiro

Kuro narrowed his eyes. "The Lurkers are a good pack, Coriscan. I don't know what they told you back at the demon academy. The Lurkers have helped our allies very well." He growled. Shiro shook her head. "I'm sorry to disagree with you, Coriscan, but the Lurkers are on our side." She sighed.

Honthale, Mesa, Coriscan, Nevven, & Jasper

Coriscan felt more than a little nervous now, as two things began to collide in his mind. First and foremost, he loved Shiro, and respected Kuro as his leader. He wanted to believe them, and to trust in them. But at the same time... all his life, he had been told of how evil and dangerous the Lurkers were. He remebered watching as Ireshk died, and how horribly the poor creature suffered before he finally passed. He shivered at the stories of Palitina and Outcast, of how they were 'slaughtered' by the Lurkers. "Have you ever... met them, face to face?" Coriscan posed next, still having major doubts about them, "I have seen horrible things..."

Kuro/Shiro

Kuro seemed to roll his eyes as the beta male spoke. Shiro shook her head again. "I've never met them, but I've heard good things about them." She replied softly. "There are some things I just know for sure. The Lurkers will not harm us. Don't argue with me there."

Honthale, Mesa, Coriscan, Nevven, & Jasper

His mind was screaming at him, sending up red flags every time the Lurker name was mentioned, "...I... but, how can you be certain?" He hated to argue, but he feared that this would prove to be a fatal mistake, and he'd loose his mate and offspring to the 'evil ones'.

Honthale sighed heavily as he sat back on his haunches.

Shiro

Shiro lowered her head. "I just have to have faith. I know the Haunters are bad. I've seen what they've done. The Aspen Grove has suffered greatly because of them. Kuro and I stayed there for a while to help out. A dog was forcebred by Vicious and the whole pack was poisoned." She thought of her old friend Dove, the young mother, who had so many reasons to hate the Haunters, but held no hate in her heart.

Honthale, Mesa, Coriscan, Nevven, & Jasper

There was still much doubt in his mind, even if his heart was telling him to have full trust in Shiro. But it was hard to earase a year's worth of poisoned thoughts in just a few minutes of talking. Uncertaintly didn't diminish in his eyes, and he was compelled to keep his family safe no matter what, "I don't think we should have contacts with either group. Whether you are right, or I am... or..." Coriscan almost shivered at the thought, "We may both be wrong." As far as he knew, both sides could be bad, or both good. For him, it wasn't worth the risk to his family. He had to remain hidden from the Haunters, or feared they would kill him and take Shiro and the pups hostage.

Shiro

Shiro nodded and smiled gently. "We will remain neutral. That is what Kuro wants, anyways." She replied, nuzzling Coriscan.

Honthale, Mesa, Coriscan, Nevven, & Jasper

Coriscan felt a little bit of his previous dread melt away, but he couldn't completely shake his fears. He was between a rock and a hard place right now, and felt horrible for having placed his new family in the middle of it as well. Still, he returned the nuzzle, "We will live as we were meant to. As a pack, and a family, relying on ourselves."

Jasper relaxed as well, but Nevven was quite upset over the brief argument his parents had. Ears back, he rested his head on his paws.

Honthale continued to wait, though his patience was wearing thin. To top it off, Mesa still hadn't returned. With an aggitated huff, the ebony hybrid stalked out of the lands.