Bane

Silence.............
And darkness........
And suddenly........

The sound of padding paws filled the terra, and a single silvery eye raised to the treetops, nares twitching as they sifted the scents. The deep gray crown rose to dominance, though the voice remained unraised. He had come here on a mission of stealth, not of torture. The mud that caked his person would keep his parents from scenting him, so now all that was left was to remain unseen until the perfect moment...

I am the daemon's whelp.
I am the devious one.
I will wreak havok upon this world 'til the day my wretched soul departs this life, and then I shall go and ravage all of the seven hells.
I am Bane.
I will cast the shadows on the Moon.

Jade, Tiamet, Kismet

The grown pups moved about their homeland without much problem, eyes keen to motionandnares not bothering to work overtime on their own home turf.

Jade, the largest of the females born to this litter, had taken as lightly dominate role to her smaller siblings. It was only Kalei, her snowy sister who had grown independent early on, thatpayed no attention to her. Jade knew of her sisters annoyance with her at times, but it was hard to not try and baby her blind sister. Never could she imagine living in this world without sight.

Kismet and Tiamet had spent much of growing up together. Although both spent times with the others, they had a bond since birth that kept them together, even when they were very far apart. Kismet followed behind Jade, standing at almost his full adult height, and trying to play a lookout role.

It was Tiamet, the smallest in the group at the moment which followed a slightly different trail. She was nottrying to be dominate or tough, but merely enjoying the cold winter hair that waved through her pelt. Her azure spheres fell to the pine trees which held their green hue all winter. "Ever wonder how Taipa's ear got that way?" Her tones were takenby the winder the moment they met the air, although they did reach the ears of her siblings who both turned to her. She turned to meet their gazes, although let herself fall silent.

Taipa was their older sister from a previous litter, one of which they knew nothing more about. They were unaware of Bane or Apollo, and even Artemis who had come to visittheir parents as pups had faded to the backs of their minds, almost to the point of non-existance. They had been too young, and though seeing her face might have sparked something, thinking alone on the subject would never bring such a thing to mind.

Jade was the first to speak up. "She must have gotten into a fight. Not much else that would do that to an ear"

"With another wolf?" Kismet found himself asking.

"Probably, what else could do that?" Came Tia's reply.

Together the three pondered, scentingfor a purpose now to try and pick up on their sister.

Bane*Taipa

Harks perked and swiveled at the arrival of others, carrying the scent of those two cowards who brought him into this world. A slow grin spread over his face as he heard these young things mention Taipa. Ah ha! So she HAD made it back! He smiled, but lay himself low, for it was not these young ones he had come after.

Soon the true target arrived, following the pups like a fond aunt, though she was truly their older sister. She had not been in time to hear the pups mention her, but she did smile and greet each one by name, unnoticing of the shadows in the brush waiting for her.

Jade, Kismet,Tiamet

Their eyes lifted to the arrival of their older sister. Tails swayed side to side, as they silently decided who would questions their sisters past.

"Taipa, what happened to your ears?" The voice was Jades, and though she started out confident and loud, it softed some by the end. Tiamet and Kismet only looked to Taipa, waiting her reply.

Bane*Taipa

Taipa smiled softly and a little sadly at her younger sibs, wondering exactly how much she ought to tell them about their older brother. After all, not even Ma and Da knew that it had been Bane who robbed her of her missing ear. Taipa hadn't had the heart to tell her poor parents that bit of information. Finally she smiled down at them, her tone soft and sweet, trying to soothe Jade's obvious embarrasment. Easy there, Jade, I'm not upset. I'd expected one of you to ask that question eventually. My ear was lost to me in a fight a few moons ago, just after all of you were born.

It was here that Bane leapt forward from the bushes, grasping his sister by the back of the neck before she could even begin to defend herself. He ground his teeth into her neck, wrenching a low cry from her, and turned his eyes to the pups, speaking around the mouthful of his sister's flesh. Perhaps I can add to this story. It was I. I, Bane! Her ear was a necessary price for the sin of betrayal. You will tell our parents that they will never again see Taipa.

And with that he began to back away, dragging his sister by force as they vanished through the trees.

Kalei, Jade, Kismet, Tiamet

It was coincidental that at this time, Kalei was returning to the packlands after having left to explore the world outside. She wassmaller then the average female wolf, and blind to boot,but her other senses would put other wolves to shame. Her nares had caught onto Bane when the others had not, and though caked in mud, something about it brought suspicion to her mind. So she had begun her journey back to where the 'party' was assembled, and froze only at the cry of her sister. Pink eyes widened as a small growl left her and she followed her ears to the sounds of paws and struggles, cutting off Bane. Without sight she could not see the size differance she was facing, but smell told her she did not know this intruder to the pack. She stood in Banes way, hackles raises,teeth only slightly bared. She had never been an agressive wolf, so this was all new to her. But she kept her words to herself and her senses focused on the male.

The three remaining adolesents jumped back at the appearance of the unknown male. The attack on their sister did nothing to aid their nerves, and almost instantly with the snap of his voice did they run off for their parents. As they dashed together Kismet spoke up in a rushed voice. "Taipa will be ok. Mom and Dad will get her"

Bane*Taipa

He looked down from his great height to see a small, white fae, barely old enough to be fully out of puphood. A growl left his kissers as he drew himself fully up, voice cold and impersonal. Step aside, little one. My dispute is with the lady, here. No sense in involving yourself in something that will kill you.

Taipa was struggling as best she could, but her cursed brother outweighed her, and had fought in more wars than had his smaller sib. Her voice was soft and gasping, but sure, as she spoke desperately to Kalei. Kalei, dear, please. Ma and Da will fetch me. Just tell them he has taken me. All will be well. She said it desperately, but she recognized the set to Kalei's expressive body, and had little hope of it working.

Kalei

The males tones now closer, brought more anger to her small system. Her keen hearing picked up on more than just cold tones, although whatever it was, she couldn't discribe it. Maybe it was the word kill, which she had never heard used, although it was almost incripted into her system as to it's meaning. But despite this, she wasn't finished. She slowly backed down, moving off to the side, using nares to guide her around the male and Taipa. She was on the side in which Taipa was not, for with Banes jaws holding to Taipa, she could not be on both sides. So she made her way to the side, slow motions with her ears flattened slightly. She did not make eye contact, for she had no reason and instead let her nares keep her. Bane would move on, and with Taipa in jaw, his speed would not be greater then her own. It would then be time for her to make her move. She was well thought out for a fae of no battle expirience, and though she would have no idea how to take a fight, her wits would serve her.

Bane*Taipa

He grunted a little as Taipa continued to struggle, but watched Kalei move to one side and let a smile in his voice, for her movement fooled the overconfident swaggerer. There now, that was the wisest thing anyone has done here in a long time. Those fools may have finally produced some intelligent offspring. It was an insult within a compliment, but it also made him aware of his own statement. Intelligence, he had learned from experience with Taipa, could be a dangerous thing. And so he kept an eye on the blind little faery as he began to drag Taipa away, her struggles steadily growing weaker as she fought him.

Kalei

Kalei kept herself in her newly adapted submissive posture. However, her flattened harks worked the same as a normal wolfs would up, so when Taipa lessened her struggles, she knew it. Blind as she was, she could almost feel the preesures of banes sight locked on her, and so she played her part only a bit longer, keeping her small faery stride even and undoubting. If she changed too suddenly it would be something an expirienced fighter would catch. And though she was not a fighter of sorts, her mind pin pointed details which the true greats would watch in battle. So as Bane moved further from her, she preyed she was right. At some point, her blind eyes told her it wastime to make a move. If Bane was watching she would be easy to overcome, but with Taipa still to contend with, hopefully her retreat would have been convincing enough to take the attention from her.

With the same pace she turned, taking her stides longer only once fully around. Then with the stealth allowed by her small size, she bolted blindly, using her nose to give a general area as to wear an attack would work. She avoided Taipa, and so her attack was aimed to Banes hips/tail or depending on the leg position at that time, his lower leg. Her nose would guide her where to bite, but only then would she know what she had.

Bane*Taipa

Since their last battle, it had been a long road to recovery for Taipa, and so her strength was quickly being sapped by struggling with her larger brother. Soon it was all she could do to remain upright, much less hinder her brother's constant tugging. And so she began to trot beside him tamely, trying to marshall her strength again. Even if she could not escape now, perhaps she might be able to before he took her... wherever he meant to take her. Out of the corner of one eye, she saw Kalei attack, and barely restrained a cry. Surely, her small sister had gone mad. Was she trying to get herself killed?

Pain erupted at the base of his tail as Kalei met her mark on his hindquarters. He permitted himself a growl of pain and surprise, but at least had enough presence of mind to keep his jaws closed around his sister's flesh. Thinking quickly, he threw his and Taipa's weight to the side, which would hopefully cause the blind sister to trip. He considered for the moment that he might lose his balance, but he reasoned that if this happened, he would land on top of Taipa, and his own weight would injure her badly enough to keep her from running, leaving him with only one enfuriating female to contend with.

Kalei

The small fae, could taste the blood, and feel the motion of the male which she had hold of. This was all new, and she was easily tossed to the side. However she had maken note of one thing. She remained without injury, which means Taipa was still being held. The brute would not want to release her, and so she had one advantage.

Kalei kept her pink eyes in the general area as the brutes scent came. She was creating a mental image from scents, and though blurey, she knew shapes from fellow wolves and could make out what she wished to go for. Her attack was for the brutes underbelly, where intestines and vital organs lied.It was alarger area, andshe knew her chancesof grabbing it were large. From what she knew of the brutes size, which was much larger then herself, she could most likly slip in for a bite if she worked at it.

So with her plan fully prepared she set herself to making an attack for the brutes underbelly from her position behind him. He went for the side opposite of Taipa's scent, knowing this was about the area where the underbelly would be. being blind, her attacks were far from precise, but she was confident and snapped her jaws once Bane's scent grew strong enough.

Bane * Taipa

As his weight took hold, he flopped onto his side on top of Taipa, knocking out her wind and sending the sickening snap of ribs into the air. Now he released her, knowing that in this shape she would not be able to leave under her own power for a few moments. But his momentary distraction had cost him, and he let out a growl as teeth dug into his belly. He pulled back, ripping his flesh but also removing such a sensitive area from her range. Snarling his fury, he tucked his throat and leapt forward to grab at her face. Eyes, ears, nose... anything to make the fae hesitate and leave so that he could accomplish his mission.

Kalei

The fae held her jawstight, thatv was, until she heard the sickening sound of Taipa's ribs snaping. She didnt know exactly what it was, but she knew it didn't sound good. Slightly distracted with her thoughts, jaws loosen, allowing Bane to get out of her grasp without too much of a fight. The confusion left her sencestangles, and though she could smell the brutes breathe so near to her face, she couldn't move fast enough without getting a few scratchs across her mug. Even with such a minor wound she found herself a bit stunned. Crimson stains lightly touched her snowy snout, and she pawed at her face, smearing it more. She didn't go for another attack, her body language showing her confusion better then if she had stated it herself. However, due to her lack of expirience, she did not completly back down either.

Bane*Taipa

Taking advantage of Kalei's momentary hesitation, he followed up on his move. Putting a twisting motion into his aim, he headed for her right fore, crown swiveling as he came. If she couldn't draw back in time, this would effectively slice her open from hock to shoulder. It was a technique he had picked up through long association with wolves as evil as he, and it never failed to bemuse and frighten his opponent, even when it did not land correctly.

Taipa was completely unable to rise from her place on the ground. Her entire world had narrowed down to the rhythm of her breathing, and the sound of her heart as it throbbed. She could not seem to get oxygen fast enough, and the great gasps she was taking to make up for it were causing searing pain to lance along her side. Bane and Kalei were slowly fading around the edges, becoming blurry and fuzzy as the combination of pain and lack of air began to invade her brain. She would not be concious long.

Kalei, Moon Phase

The snowy fae had just returned her limb to the ground the moment Bane went for anouther attack. She could smell hiscoming towards her, but not seeing what he aimed for, her jumpback left her right legin place to long, resulting in the tear he had hoped for. She yelped in pain, although all ofherfocus was no on her pain. Onceher yelp sdubsided her harks fell to the lack of noisein taipa's direction, and her breathing's slowing sound.

She pulled her pained limb from Banes jaws, attempting to stand on it, fidning it alot worse off then she could visiualize herself. However, she held her limb up high to her check, unsteadily stepping backwards before turning to Taipa. "Taipa..."

In the distance a ruccus could be heard, voices more then familiar to all three of the lupes here at the moment.

Bane*Taipa

Seeing that Kalei could no longer follow them, he grasped Taipa's scruff once more and hauled her upright, proceeding to drag her now limp form away. They soon vanished from the area.