Ankh & Others

ShearWind, despite her notable maturity and ability to act far older than her young age, was currently displaying that she was still quite a young thing at heart. "C'mon, Dan." A single fang was flashed in the wolvish equivillant of a grin as she romped around in front of her brother, tail high and wagging, while her misty, slate-gray head was tilted ever so slightly to the side, "Don't be such a stick in the mud!"

Danken rolled his eyes, trying to ignore his sister's antics, no matter how tempting it might be to give in to puppy-like instincts and engage in a silly game of wrestling. "I've got more important things to do than wrestle in the muck, Sis. Go bother Night or Jais."

"More important things?" The single-fang grin turned into a questioning smirk, "And you didn't see Dad and Ma playing the other day? Come on, dander-brains, just one little game of wrestling!"

Cedarwood

One of the only members of his family to preform something close to a graceful landing, the eagle hybrid plopped down in the spongy grass with the heavy beat air as his brown wings, spanning an incredible nine feet across, slowed his descent. "What's this I hear, Danken?" After situating his wings beside him, the yellow-billed eagle waddled towards the playfully crouched Shear and her brother, "In no mood to play?" Cedarwood wasn't as well known for his mischeivous ways as Kraai was, but still being a relatively young adult, he was always up for a bit of 'horsing around'. That, and he was about as good a mediator as Jais, and had an uncanny ability to relieve tension settle nerves with his jovial ways.

ShearWind & Danken

The creamy-white brute resisted a heavy sigh of annoyance, mild as it may be, when the eagle intervened on his sister's behalf. "No, not really." Danken dropped his muzzle towards the ground, idly sniffing at the boggy moss and new shoots of grass that were just beginning to sprout in the warming weather. It was a poor attempt to try and distract himself from the other's intentions, and before he could even attempt to turn and shuffle away, a blur of soft grays and white barreled into his side. Following the giant 'OOOF' that escaped his pummeled chest, Danken growled and snapped back at his assailant.

ShearWind picked herself up, tail whipping behind her as she bounced away from her fallen brother. "Hey Cedar, what'd you say we play a game of... tag?"

Ears planed out to the sides, a now mud-smudged Danken picked himself up, glaring moodily between his sister and the bird, "Cut it out, you two! Now's no time to be messing around - we've got to keep an eye on our borders, and dad's going to organize a pack hunt soon..." Try as he might to worm his way out of the game, it was clear that his still-grinning sister wasn't hearing any of it.

Cedarwood

If his bill allowed for such things, there'd have been a grin stretched right across his pale yellow bill at watching Shear's unrelenting antics. As it was, the eagle's dark eyes glittered with mischief, promising no respite for the surly Danken as he hoped forward, "Dapplewing and Aminita are on patrol right now, and Ankh hasn't called for a hunt yet now... anymore excuses?" The heavy 'whooosh! whoooosh!' of massive wings sounded as Cedar bounced along the ground, flapping until he rose up into the sky, a few feet above the duo, "Your sis is right anyway; tag sounds fun."

Majikan

The tiger was angered that these trespassers were still on his land. "GET OUT OF MY TERRITORY!" Majikan snarled, thundering toward the little dog.

Lotus walked up to Ankh, glancing at the tiger and grumbling a bit. "Easy, Majikan. You know about the revolution with your allies." She then turned to her fellow Lurker. "Ankh! What are you doing stealing my friend's land! You know I claimed Ochotona Mountains for you! Get your butt over there before I tell my father what you're doing to my ally!" She snapped reprimandingly at the older canine's shoulder. "Unless, of course, you want me to give your territory to Majikan..." She smiled slyly.

With Risen gone and Greyfell in, Lotus knew there was a good chance the Haunters wouldn't be bothering the Lurkers anymore.

Ankh & Others

"This way!" Winging overhead, Dapplewing was bringing the bulk of Ankh's pack to where his offspring were playing, after she'd seen Majikan stalk across the land. By the time Ankh and his mate arrived and corralled with ShearWind and Danken, Lotus was also along arriving with the tiger.

"Ally? What the hell are you talking about, Lotus?" His ebony fur bristled like some giant mane around his neck and shoulders, and making his teeth flash furiously against the dark backdrop. His temper flared when the other dared to snap at him, and he snapped right back at her muzzle, snarling savagely and raising his tail high, "Don't you dare show disrespect to your superiors, girl. I don't know where you're getting off claiming this cat as our friend, but you're sorely mistaken."

Lotus

Lotus' fur bristled as well, making even the tiny hybrid appear rather large. "You are not my superior, Ankh. I am Lyckos' daughter, and that puts me in a high position. You will leave my ally's land or I will be forced to make you leave." She stated. "And don't treat me like a child, Ankh. I'm old enough to think for myself."

Majikan shook his head, glaring at Ankh. "She never said I was your friend." The tiger snarled.

"I'll handle this, Maj'." Lotus grumbled, glancing back at the blue cat. "Ankh, he has left the Shadow Haunters. In fact, he tells me Risen is gone and a young zebra leads the Haunters now. But that's not the point. He has struck up an alliance with me, and if you don't like it, you can tattle to my dad." The hybrid narrowed her eyes. "You really think Majikan is bad, do you? Am I bad? The Lurkers hated Tahti, yet they accepted me, her daughter, so you might as well get your head out of your ass and accept me and my friends too." She paused, a grin flickering on her face before disappearing. "Unless you would like me to leave the Lurkers... You'd like that, wouldn't you, Ankh? Dad would be so mad when he hears that you drove his daughter away..."

Ankh & Others

"I am an alpha, and older than you. I am superior!" Muscles were taunt and quivering with pent up energy and growing adrenaline. Yellow eyes flashed to the tiger, but it was the coy-canine that his attention was glued too. "Let's get one thing straight, kid-" Letting his easily sparked temper spice his words, despite the hasty look he got from Owl, Ankh took a brazen step closer to Lotus, "You were accepted into the pack as a whelp. You weren't involved in attacking and killing us, like he was." Another dirty glare was shot towards Majikan. "If you're inviting enemies willy-nilly into our ranks, then maybe you ought to be out of the pack."

"Ankh..." Snowy Owl whispered his name sharply, but the little hybrid was on a role.

"You forget how many of our family has been slaughtered by the Haunters! My niece has lost almost an entire litter to them, and my own son is in ruins!" His voice grew dark, showing that he didn't care that Lotus was the daughter of his own leader. Behind him, Shear and Danken were exchanging uncertain looks, but Ankh didn't stop yet, "So you go ahead, you and your 'friend' just try and force me to leave. We'll see how the others respond to that."

Lotus

Lotus snarled at Ankh. "What's past is past, you son of a bitch." She growled in a low tone. Her eyes widened when Ankh spoke again. "You're kicking me out of the Lurkers, huh? Well, if that's the case, you'd better go tell my father that you just exiled his daughter. We'll see who's superior then." She looked back at the big tiger. "Majikan, we don't have to worry about him anymore. I'm dirt to him, and he's dirt to me."

Majikan looked down at Lotus. "I'm not leaving my territory." He said gruffly.

Lotus nodded slowly. "Well, we can move to the--"

"I'm not leaving my territory." The tiger repeated.

Ankh & Others

"What's past is past, huh? Makjikan and his 'friends' killed our family, my little cousins, and it can be wiped from the records?!" The hybrid roared, his voice almost obnoxiously loud for his tiny size, and all that more threatening in tone. "Why don't you go ask Fyre and Scaria how they think about it."

Ankh took a deep, shivering breath, knowing he had to be a little cautious with this female, for angering Lyckos or Quaidah with his brash actions, as he'd been known to do in the past, was not a smart thing. Instead, he sneered at coywolf and tiger, "Exile you from the Lurkers? Please, like I'd risk pissing your dad off like that. Though when he finds out just who you've been tangling with, maybe he and the others will get a wake-up call." The ebony canine stood his ground as the tiger took up conversation again, flicking his tail a little and holding it with a slight curl high above his back, "If you're loyal to your family Lotus, you'll tell this cat to take a hike. This is Lurker turf now."

Lotus

"And what about you, Ankh? Are you perfect, then? Have you never done anything bad?" Lotus challenged, stepping up to Ankh. She grinned cockily. "It's too late, Ankh, you've already exiled me, remember? Who's going to give my father the news?"

There was the sound of paws thundering over the ground, and from the sound of it, whoever those paws belonged to was huge. A big lion of a dog snarled and barreled himself at Ankh. "Get avay from her!" The massive dog growled.

"Easy, Konstantin. I'm sure Majikan doesn't want blood on his grass." Lotus said calmly.

Ankh & Others

"Perfect? Answer me this - have I killed any of my family members? NO." He retorted in full confidence, "My reason still stands; he has the blood of our kin on his fangs; him and all his lowly alliances! How you can suddenly be chummy with him is beyond me, but it's sickening." Annoyance was bubbling into rage quicker by the second, and it was only common sense that kept him back, standing rigidly where he was. Even the approach of an unknown canine, easily many times bigger than himself, didn't seem to phase the hot-blooded Ankh. "I've exiled you, did I? Those are your words, not mine - I merely stated my preference."

Dapplewing alighted on Snowy's back, knowing it was not a good idea to mess with Ankh right now. "Lotus, it might be wise for you to talk your friend out of fighting." The falcon was tense, as her wide eyes and flattened feathers attested to. She'd watched helplessly as her canine kin had fallen to the Haunters, had listened to the horrible screams of the dying, and the almost nightly tears of a battle-weary Bullet. "If you have claimed free land, Majikan can reside there." She might have tried to persuade Ankh to move there, but if there was ever an egotistical hot-head, it was this feisty little hybrid. She'd have better luck arguing with a brick wall, for all the good it would do to try and make him back down right now. In the least, though she certainly didn't like the tiger, she would try her best to prevent a fight between the two.

Lotus; Konstantin; Majikan

Lotus snarled at Ankh, baring her fangs. "Majikan didn't kill anybody, you dumb pup. Even if he did, I'm merciful. Dad would want me to be forgiving." She retorted.

Lotus nodded to Dapplewing. "Konstantin, leave him alone. He used to be my friend, and my dad won't be happy if you killed him." She said coldly.

Konstantin looked at Lotus, a bit confused. "But vhy don't ve just chase him avay? Ve don't haf to hurt him." He asked, walking toward the tiny female.

Lotus sighed. "Just because, Kos. Listen to me." She said wearily. Her eyes then shot back to Dapplewing. "I claimed free land for Ankh, but he shoved it back in my face and tried to take Majikan's land!" The hybrid snapped. "I'm staying here, and Majikan is staying here!"

Ankh & Others

"Whether or not he killed anyone, which I find incredibly hard to believe, he is a part of the pack that has murdered us, Lotus. It's a disgrace upon the names of the fallen to invite these scums amongst us, just because you've had a change of heart." Ankh continued to stand his ground, waiting only for the arrival of the rest of his pack before he push things further, "Here's the ultimatum, so listen close. I'm not stupid enough to attack you Lotus, but this mongrel is not off limits. And neither is he-" Ankh spat out his words as he eyed up the tiger and shepherd, "You'd be wise to call them off, or at least stand back and not get involved, kid. Unless you'd really like for Daddy to find out you attacked one of your own family members in protection of your new Haunter friend. I'm sure that'd sit real peachy with Lyckos."

Lotus

"And what about me, Ankh? I was part of a family that murdered you. If you shun my friends, you have to shun me too. Otherwise, you'd be a hypocrite." She hissed. "Before you kick me out of my own pack, how about you talk to your alpha first? 'Hey Lyckos, is it alright if I exile your daughter and kill all her friends?' Think about it, Ankh. If you kill my friends, you turn my world upside down. If you try to kill Majikan or Konstantin, you know I'm going to protect them, so you might as well kill me. What will Dad think then? Who will be exiled then?"

Majikan looked at Ankh out of the corner of his eye. "She's not calling us off, kid, 'cause nobody's fighting. The only creatures I see here who are fighting are you and Lotus. How about you leave Lotus alone and go live in the territory she claimed as a gift for you."

Ankh & Others

"You were a whelp at the time, innocent. You had nothing to do with what your previous 'family' was doing." He snapped darkly, unable to resist a twitch of muscles that shuddered down his back as his nerves seemed to crackle with fire, "He, on the other paw, was a willing participant - and an adult - in the battles against us. Call me a hypocrite if you want, but at least I'm not the one making friends with murders and their friends, so stop splitting hairs." By this point, Snowy Owl had gone entirely silent, letting her mate do all the speaking, "Lets get one thing straight, as I've already told you, I'm no in position to exile anyone. Secondly, do you think Lyckos would care that I kill those who are friends of the ones that killed his mate and son? Who killed my own relatives? What's more, what will he think of you for even daring to call them friends and protect them over me. Disgusting!"

"Nobody's fighting? Think again, big boy. Unless you leave before the others arrive, we're having cat for dinner. I never got word of this other 'land' that's been claimed, and as it is, I don't want it." His words turned ugly. This was more than a fight for a land; the ego-brained male was in this for pride.

Lotus

Lotus snapped at Ankh's face. "How dare you speak to me like that! How dare you speak about my father like that! My father wouldn't ever kill me! He should punish you just for saying that!" The hybrid raged.

"Lotus, maybe we could just take the territory you claimed for him..." Majikan suggested calmly. "I don't want any fights." He didn't want to hurt his friend's pack. Especially since Ankh already hated him. He feared that Ankh would end up killing Lotus.

Lotus shook her head. "No, Majikan, I claimed that territory for Ankh. My father knows that, and Ankh knows too. He will take that territory, or he will kill me while I defend this one."

Konstantin's fur bristled at Ankh's last words. "You disrespectful son of bitch, I vill kill you!" He snarled viciously, about to lunge at Ankh when Majikan stopped him. "No bloodshed, Kos." The tiger said coolly, placing a massive paw in front of the dog.

Ankh & Others

The hybrid drew his lithe muzzle back, gnashing his fangs at Lotus' muzzle when she tried to snap at his face, "Speak of him how?! I never said he'd kill you, you ignorant pup!" Temper beyond frayed, the little hybrid didn't care that his words were getting harsher, as it was his only outlet aside from physical aggression at the moment - and that he was saving for when the rest of his pack showed up. He was a tad on a brash side, but he wasn't foolish enough to go up against a tiger and a massive shepherd without more backup than he had at the moment. "Like hell I knew that! Uncle Bullet and you were put in charge of land to the northeast, not me. Now this is your last warning-" Shifting his blazing eyes to the cat once more, Ankh only bristled more when Kon almost made a rush at him, "If you're truly a 'friend' of Lotus', you'll hand over this land to me. Think of it as... a compensation gift, for the lives you and your Haunter buddies have taken from us." His words were laced in bitter sarcasm as he spoke, still clearly not about to accept this tiger as anything close to a friend.

With things getting as sketchy as they were, Dapplewing whispered quietly and urgently to Snowy's ear, and following a slight nod from the alphess, the falcon took to the sky. Something had to be done before fangs and claws came into play.

Lyckos, Camden, Iphito and Lyriani

Dapplewing had made a good decision. Now, the heavyweight card had been played, and towards Hidden Oasis came the main pack of the Shadow Lurkers. Admittedly, Lyckos had not brought the whole pack, for this was not supposed to end in bloodshed, but he had prepared himself so that if it did, the Lurkers would outnumber their enemy. So, he brought a portion of the main pack with him, and wasted no time in crossing the borders, his anger plain to see on his face. Behind the alpha was Camden, closely followed by Iphito, who padded beside Lyckos' niece, Lyriani.

It was just as Lotus made her lunge at Ankh that the group spotted the two sparring parties. Lyriani and Iphito both slowed their pace, thinking the Lurkers would stop to make a triangle-shaped faceoff, but Lyckos and Camden did not stop. Lyckos moved between Lotus and Ankh, his fur bristled, his ears back, and his voice was sharp and authorative, "Both of you will take two steps back. Lotus you will close your jaws, and Ankh, you will hold your tongue!" he demanded. Camden had moved to size up the tiger, and didn't turn away from him when he confirmed what Lyckos already knew, "Yep, It's him."

Lyckos then circled back to Iphito and Lyriani, before turning his blazing eyes to the two opposing sides. "Now, would one of you like to kindly inform me as to why I have such disobedience from within my ranks! First I hear that one of the branch alphas has gotten into a fight with Lotus, and then I hear that she has gone and befriended an enemy! Now, choose your words carefully; I'm really not in the mood for this."

Lotus

Lotus stepped away from Ankh, looking at her father. "He's not an enemy anymore, Dad. He left when Risen befriended - what's that one wolf? - oh yeah, Kalaber. Now he's been spying on the Haunters for me. And don't worry - he's not a double-agent; I'm with him all the time." She informed calmly. "We found out that Risen is gone and the new leader wants no more wars with us and will accept an alliance with us if you wish, but that he understands if you don't want an alliance."

Majikan lowered his head submissively in the presence of the Lurker alpha. Konstantin, however, remained wary and somewhat aggressive. He didn't trust Lyckos.

Ankh & Others

Ankh wasn't quite so calm, and though he did begrudgingly step back when Lyckos ordered him to, it took an additional rumble from Ninaki to get the hybrid to lower his tail somewhat. "With him all the time? That sound suspicious to m-" He muttered this derisively under his breath, only to get a nip on the shoulder by his own mate.

"You're anger is folly right now, honey." Snowy Owl reminded softly, yet sternly. "Take a deep breath, and explain things in a level voice." Forever the support that helped her egotistical companion in line, Owl offered him a brief smile of encouragement.

ShearWind dropped back, along with her brother, to take a place near Argolis and Bullet. Lerna stood up closer to Ninaki, willing to let her own sense of rational thinking and fair mood squelch any heated arguments that might start up. However, she would hold back her words unless explicitly given permission by her father.

Huffing irritably under his breath, Ankh adopted a slightly less volatile tone as he responded, "I came in here to claim this land, and she shows up along with that brute-" Rough nods were thrown to Lotus, and then Majikan, "-and defends him! Lyckos, I don't trust him. And I sure as hell don't think it's wise that she's cavorting around with the likes of those Haunter scum. He suddenly turned a new leaf? Pah, it's another psychological game of theirs!"

Lyckos, Camden, Iphito and Lyriani

Lyckos held back as both Lotus and Ankh spoke, but he couldn't help but laugh bitterly at Lotus' arguments for the tiger. "Firstly, Ankh, your venom towards Lotus will be stopped now. She is your packmate, and the same to you too, Lotus." Before he spoke to the two in question, the alpha turned to face the Lurkers whom had followed him, "You are free to speak your minds. Your input is allowed." and a pointed look was given to Ninaki, Lerna and Iphito. Though Lyckos listened to all his pack fairly, he did not want their words to cause a scuffle, so was more willing for the more level-headed parties to speak.

Lyckos turned first to Lotus, for it was her he was most concerned with. However, his eye was caught by Konstantin, who had refused to submit in his presence, and was giving the alpha an unfavourable look. Lyckos growled, tail raised as he stalked forward brazenly, then aimed a chastising bite to the others face. "If you are under Lotus' rule, then you should well know you answer to me. Show some respect, pup!" After dealing with that, he moved towards his daughter, with a less-than-pleased look on his face. "He is no friend of ours, Lotus, and the very fact you call him so sickens me. It was he who stood by Tainted after she killed Hydras and Quake, who raided the alleys the very evening after the battle to threaten me, the Lurkers and the Guardians, and who has spilled our blood in the name of the Haunters! Why are you siding with our enemy, over Ankh, your fellow Lurker? You have no business here, the land you claimed and that I assigned you to rule is far north from here."

Lotus

"I am an adult, and I can make my own choices, Father." Lotus grumbled. "And he's not our enemy anymore. It is Majikan who helped me get the news that...well...Maj said we should wait until you were sitting down, but...Hydras isn't dead." She stated, stepping back a bit. "In fact, the new alpha told Majikan that he was going to send Hydras back to you once he gets her from Risen's stupid son."

"It's true, sir." Majikan said submissively. "Your mate has been taken by Tumult of the Shadow Haunters, and Greyfell and Lotus and I were just going to confront him and bring Hydras back to you where she belongs. I deeply regret that I took part in the war against you, and I will accept any punishment you care to give me."

"Majikan, no. You don't have to do that." Lotus said to her friend.

Ninaki & Others

For his part, Ankh dipped his muzzle a little as the chastisement he got from the Lurker King. "Yes, sir." Despite how demeaning and sarcastic the little hybrid was, his response to Lyckos, though spoken almost under-breath, was meant in the sincerest respect to his authority.

Hearing his sister's name, Bullet shifted uncomfortably, and turned a look from Ninaki to Lyckos. Lotus's words stirred more hurt in his gut than surprise though; he simply couldn't believe that Hydras had survived the attacks upon her, much less the following fire that consumed the area. It was Ninaki, rather than Bullet, that spoke up to counter Lotus' claim, "We've dealt with this before, and I stand by Lyckos' decision. Someone who helped to bring down our own members should not be tolerated in our ranks. Why did he suddenly have a change of heart and take to our side? And if he is truly sincere about this so-called alliance with us, what's to stop him from changing his mind?" Somewhat of a veteran in the wars of the Valley, Ninaki had witnessed this scenario all too often. That aside, he couldn't stomach calling Majikan and his ilk friends of theirs; not after what the cat had done.

With permission granted, Lerna took the floor to confront Lotus' claims head on. As much as it stung to hear her mother's name, and how much her heart twisted with pain and a spark of hope, the soft-brown hybrid forced herself to believe that the words were lies. There just wasn't any way that Hydras had survived that blaze, let alone all those injuries... Firmly putting aside the idea, the female spoke, "Lotus does raise one valid issue. We do not know what the current status of the Haunters is. Kraai reported a lot of activity over there lately, and so far no one has seen Risen in quite some time. Perhaps it would be wise to seek council with the Guardians when we have sorted out things here, and see what can be figured out of our enemies."

Lyckos, Iphito, Lyriani and Camden

Lyckos frowned, taking a much more alpha-like approach with his daughter, "Well if you are an adult, then you will know you listen to your alpha, and your superiors. You can make your choices, yes, but when I choose something for you, you do not object." Next he turned his attention to the claims that the cat was a friend. “No, Lotus. If he wishes to bring peace between our packs he can do so by leaving us alone. We do not want an alliance with he whom has killed so many of us, but I will not object to having no relation at all; neither friend, nor foe.”

The next piece of news however...it threw Lyckos. The alpha's previously angry facade became more confused, and his eyes narrowed slightly as he looked from Lotus to the tiger. That couldn't be true. Hydras had been bitten by Tainted's snakes, and he had seen her fall after her valiant fight, and had seen the flames that had swept over the ground towards her body. No, no matter how much his heart ached for those words to be true, they couldn't possibly be so. Lyckos' eyes flickered with hurt, they did not soften, but they did fill with a sadness, a longing that was so raw and unbound, it was clear to see Lotus had touched upon a subject Lyckos had fought desperately to forget; he hated remembering that fight, and the moment he had lost his mate, "That...that is not possible, Lotus. She is dead; we all saw her fall, and even if the venom did not kill her, then the fire will have. No, she could not be alive, and I forbid you to ever say such things to me. Hydras was my mate, my one true love, do not put false hopes into my heart, or into those of the pack."

Lyckos put the issue firmly aside like Lerna, and moved onto something which would take his mind off that spark of hope that had been ignited to Lotus, then extinguished by the realisation that it could not possibly be true. “Yes, I was thinking that myself. Once this is sorted, we shall visit Quaidah and the Guardians for a report – if what you say is true, Lotus, and the leadership of the Haunters has changed, then that brings about a whole new set of decisions, but first we must sort out this dispute. Lotus, if you feel so strongly about this, then why don’t you let Majikan live with you at your land. That way, Ankh has a land for his pack, Majikan has a land, and there will be no need for this discussion.”

Iphito was next to step forward to stand beside Lerna, her dark eyes fixed on Majikan. “Lyckos, if Majikan is so eager to repent for his crimes against you, then why don’t you have an agreement. Majikan lives with Lotus, not as part of the Shadow Lurkers, but his pride can be called upon by you to aid you in any battles you may have. That way, you are neither friend nor foe, and the debt he owes you can be repaid with his services to you? The same could go for any of the other packs or groups who wish to become neutral with you.” Lyckos said nothing to this, but his eyes travelled to the tiger, watching for some kind of reaction to Iphito’s proposal.

Lotus

"Not your ranks, Ninaki." Lotus sneered. "He's in my ranks. This is my home too, you know. My home that Ankh stole from me."

Lotus was angered that her father was denying her. Calling her a liar when she and Majikan and Rowan - and even Tainted - had seen Hydras. "Don't deny me, Father! Don't call me a liar! I saw her there! I saw her when Risen's son brought her on stage! I saw her when the Shadow Haunters were angered that the son of Risen was hiding her down there! I'm not a liar! I'm not lying! She survived! She's still alive!" By this time, there were tears in her eyes. She was tired of being doubted.

Lyckos' suggestion really angered the little hybrid. "NO! This is Majikan's land, and this is my land, and Ankh stole it from him! I claimed a land for Ankh to lead and he shoved it back in my face, and instead took this land, which I reside at with Majikan! He took Majikan's home, and he took my home! I demand that he gets out of my home and takes the home that I gave to him as a gift!" Lotus was so small and thin, and the Ochotona Mountains were so high up and cold, and Lotus would probably get hypothermia and die if she stayed in the mountains for too long.

Ninaki & Others

"Watch your tones with me, Lotus." Ninaki warned in a low rumble, ears pointed starkly forward at the smaller fae. "The Ochotonas is your home; the one that your father had originally sent you too, and where Bullet had helped you maintain." Keeping his own tones level and without the malice that wanted to rise in response to the tiger being here, Ninaki did his best to aid Lyckos in settling the matter peacefully.

Lerna spoke up again, siding with her father and Iphito and voicing her approval to hopefully sway the less-pleased members; namely Ankh and Argolis. Part of her heart seemed to crumble at the look that crossed her father's face, and she shuddered inwardly to hear Lotus continue to proclaim their mother's existence. "That's a fine idea. The last thing we want to do is create more enemies when we have the potential for gaining aid." She was careful to use 'aid' in the place of 'allies', but even this earned a displeased snort from her brother Argolis, and an equally disdainful sneer from Ankh. Unfortunately, what little stability was starting to be built up was quickly shaken when Ankh took the reigns of talking again, his voice rising back into a snarl, though at least he stood where he was, rather than stalk forward and risk more chastisement from Lyckos.

"You were in the Ruins?! Mingling with the Haunters?" Disbelief was a new highlight on his dark facade, and he didn't hesitate the share this expression with the others, before twisting his lean muzzle into a grimace of disgust, "That's... I don't even know what to say to that. Hmmph, and talk about lies! You never claimed that land for 'me'. It's a bunch of crap, and you know it."

Lyckos & Others

Lotus’ outburst brought about a sudden change in Lyckos. His face contorted in anger, and his body became rigid with authority and aggression. “Firstly, Lotus, you will respect Ninaki, as he is your superior. Secondly, why the hell were you in the Ruins with the Haunters? And finally, this is not your land, for I sent you to lead the land you claimed in the Mountains with Bullet, after your set up your own pack there. This is not up for discussion as far as you owning this land are concerned; you will leave this to me, or be punished for insubordination. Just because you are my daughter, doesn’t mean you have the right to disobey me! If you do not want to live in the Ochotona Mountains, then you come and live in the Alleys with the rest of the pack, and someone else can have the land.”

Then Lyckos turned to Majikan, ignoring Ankh’s outburst, but neither did he punish him, “Now, what do you think of Iphito’s offer of promising your aid to us. It will mean your debt is repaid to us, and you can repent for your actions, that way we both get what we want.” After he had discussed this with the tiger, he would move onto sorting out the problem over the ownership of the land.

Lotus

"He's not my superior, Father, nor are you." Lotus said grimly, baring her teeth in a snarl. "I have my own pack outside of the Lurkers. You know very well that I started my own branch long ago and that this is the land I chose to reside at. You know very well that I asked you to assign somebody else to that land because I could not lead a pack in a cold, mountainous range."

"She vas in the Ruins, Lyckos," Konstantin began curtly, "because she vas spying on the Shadow Haunters vith us. You should be grateful that ve found out your mate is still alive."

Majikan stepped back, not wanting to get involved in this. "Yes, sir, but if it's not too much to ask, I'd like my land back." He didn't mention how Ankh and his family marched onto the territory, completely ignored Majikan, and proclaimed it as their home even as he ordered them to leave.

"Don't worry about it, Majikan." Lotus said, a bit calmer now. "You can have your land back." She turned to Ankh and narrowed her eyes. "Isn't that right, Ankh?"

Ninaki & Others

A fire rose in the beta's eyes when Lotus spoke down on their leader, and her own father. Raised in strict loyalty and obedience, her attitude was striking a particular nerve in his mind and he didn't hesitate to speak up his mind. "This is new information to us. You had not made any remark to me or any of the others, as far as I have heard, that you had troubles living in the Ochotonas." Ninaki lifted his tail part way, signifying his own authority now, just below that of Lyckos, "Your attitude is not befitting of your Lurker raising, Lotus. You may be an alpha of your own land, but you will respect your superiors, first and foremost your own father."

Contrasting sharply with his father's gruff but otherwise calmly spoken words, Ankh was baring his fangs in a snarl just as Lotus was, letting his words bubble with fury, "No, it's not right! It's bad enough you've admitted to hanging around in the Ruins with your tiger chum, and how you did that without getting attacked is beyond me, but I'll be dead before I let that piece of Haunter trash make me back down!"

Lotus

Lotus rolled her eyes. "I didn't have to, Ninaki. I'm half coyote, and look at me! I'm suited for warm places, not cold mountains!" Besides that, her bones were weak, a trait she inherited from her mother. She had a hard time on rough terrain.

"He is not my superior, and he's not my father either. My father would love me. He would support me." It hurt her a bit to say this, but it felt so good to finally be free. "I am a daughter of Tahti and Luke. A sister of Tainted. Lyckos hates my parents and he hates my sister, so he might as well hate me too." She sat down, not about to budge. "Goodbye, Ankh. Goodbye, Lyckos. Good bye, all you Shadow Lurkers. I'm in The Nova Pack and this is my land. Get off before I force you off."

Lyckos, Camden, Lyriani and Iphito

Lyckos sighed heavily, frustration evident on his face while he wrestled to keep from shouting, "Starting your own branch means that although you are an alpha of your own pack, you still remain part of the main pack, and answer to me and the superiors of the main pack, Ninaki and Skeil. You did not inform me you were living here, for you agreed to let Bullet lead Ochotona until you were an adult and old enough to lead it yourself."

Camden found himself growl audibly when Konstantin took a tone that he did not find suitable with Lyckos. Stalking forward, Camden flattened his ears against his head, a low, guttural growl rumbling in the back of his throat, "Watch your tongue, sunshine, or I'll tear it out." Lyckos whipped his head round to snarl sharply at Camden in reaction to his words, and although Camden lowered his head and stopped growling, his ears stayed splayed out, and his eyes flashed with the promise behind his words.

Ignoring Konstantin, Lyckos then turned to Majikan. So the tiger would be willing to offer his pack as aid in return for this land? It didn't seem too big a price to pay, and although he had no doubt he could remove Ankh from here if he wished, Lyckos was hesitant at doing so. Mainly because he felt like his daughter was ignoring his authority in this situation, and was demanding things left right and centre. However, he had to remain impartial, for it was duty as a leader to try and resolve this without bloodshed, so when Ankh once more spoke out in a tone that displeased him, Lyckos rounded on Ankh just as he had with Camden. A flourish of fangs, and a sharp snarl would have been enough to ensure Ankh knew he was getting close to the boundary and to be careful how much further he pushed.

Lotus's next words cut him deeply. Sure, he wasn't her true father, but that didn't mean he wasn't in spirit. Lyckos had raised Lotus and her siblings since they were pups, abandoned at the alleys and rescued by Snowy Owl and some of the other females in the Lurker pack. So when she said he must hate her as he did her parents and sister, Lyckos' angry face fell once more into sadness and confusion, and the hurt echoed in his eyes. Iphito's eyes hardened, Lyriani growled bitterly, but Camden...Camden almost roared in fury. He lunged forward, teeth bared in a horrific snarl, eyes wide in complete rage, "YOU UNGREATFUL LITTLE BITCH! he fumed, his voice countering the stone-cold silence of Lyckos, who simply watched Lotus in a mix of confusion and pain, "He took you in as his own when he could have killed you! He raised you as his children, split his time between his real children, and you so that you would have a good life, and you repay him by defecting from the Lurkers and throwing it all back in his face after he's been nothing but good and kind to you?! YOU DISGUST ME."

Lyckos' eyes had slipped to the ground, but when Camden finally fell silent, shaking violently with the anger he felt, Lyckos gently touched his muzzle to Camden's back, and his son moved out of the way. Lyckos then fixed Lotus with a look that was so blank and so cold, it was worse than any outburst he could ever have had. "If that is your choice then I have no option but this. Lotus, you have betrayed the Shadow Lurkers by defecting from our ranks, insulting your supiriors and challenging one of our pack members. As such, your calls for this land to be returned to you are void. It will go to a vote as to whether we will support Ankh in his decision to take over this land."

"Lerna, Ninaki, Snowy Owl!" Lyckos called, turning back to walk to his daughter, his beta, and his fellow alpha, "You shall each vote as to whether we shall support Ankh to take this land, or shall move on and find somewhere else." He had chosen Snowy Owl because he already knew what hot-headed Ankh wished to happen, and he couldn't help but lean towards his fellow alpha's idea. The only thing that was holding him back was not Lotus, for he now felt nothing for the coyote-mix, who now reminded him so of Tainted, but Majikan. The tiger would not offer aid if they took his land, and he would if they left him alone. Aside from that, a small part of him was secretly hoping to show Lotus just how stupid she was for defecting for the Lurkers.

After all, she was lucky. Betrayal in the Shadow Lurkers was punished by execution. Lyckos had done his 'daughter' his final act of parenting, but saving her life.

Ninaki & Others

In the back of all the commotion, the lowly omega-sister of Ankh, and only remaining daughter of Ninaki, provided a very clear picture of what happened to defectors. Her life had been spared by the simple fact that she had only been a pup when she left the pack, baring no ill-will towards her blood family, and had never made any moves against them. Still, even her young age couldn't earn her immunity to punishment. When she'd returned to her true family, Hydras had immediately ousted her again, forever exiled from the main body of the Lurkers, and always to carry the shame of her early decisions. Anxious and distressed, the hybrid gave a low, plaintive whine as she listened to the voices raising around her, and seeing a repeat of what had happened to her. Lotus was luckily in that she was the daughter of the alpha, earning something of a safeguard against execution; something that the defector Zira hadn't been so lucky to have.

So wound up by Lotus, Konstantine, and Majikan, Ankh had again over-stepped his bounds and let his wrathful temper get the better of him. This time, when Lyckos reprimanded him, Ankh folded his ears back briefly, placing them submissively back against his skull as he side-stepped away from the towering King. It probably wouldn't be the last time Lyckos would need to step in and put the feisty little hybrid in place, but for today, it was a good enough reminder to keep him in line.

Following Lotus's outburst, and during Camden's verbal retaliation, Ninaki slipped up beside his alpha, fur bristling high along his shoulder blades and nape. He had felt the sting of betrayal when - right in front of him and Narsia - Aminita had stepped into the ranks of the Alley Pack. Even if he'd never been in that position, the manner in which Lyckos seemed to lose himself for a few moments impressed his immense hurt on all who saw it. Not taking his duty lightly, Ninaki felt it was his job to take a stance shoulder to shoulder with his King, as a silent sign of trust and solidity. Whatever Lyckos chose to do, Ninaki was going to support him.

Argolis had stalked forward and mixed some words in as he started a heated volley of curses in Lotus's direction, only to be hushed by Lerna and scooted aside. Hurt as Lerna felt at her sister's defection, she let it shine only faintly in her soft eyes before she stepped forward along with Snowy Owl, "I still stand by the idea that it would do us better to gain support where we can. Particularly in a situation as delicate as this one has become. My vote is to leave this place, with the understanding that Majikan will come to our aid when need be, and otherwise remain neutral."

"I vote to take the land back." Contrasting Lerna's views, Ninaki stuck just as rigidly to his ideals, and went on to define them once more, "It bothers me that Majikan turned so readily on the Haunters. Lotus's betrayal aside, I think it stands to reason that he could easily turn back against us. There is no trusting a Haunter."

Feeling the weight fall uncomfortably on her shoulders, Snowy Owl took a deep, stilling breath before she ever said anything. Avoiding her mate's pointed glare, Snowy Owl juggled the options in her mind, choosing carefully before she opened her jaws, "I agree with both of you - there are obvious pros and cons. What it all boils down to is whether or not Majikan will hold to his world. So it's you that I ask-" The alabastor alphess looked squarely and unblinkingly into the tiger's eyes, "How can we be sure that your words are to be trusted, when you've already turned against the Haunters?"

Lotus

Lotus rolled her eyes at Lyckos, the beast who 'cared' enough to feed her lies that he was her father. He should have told her the truth. Then there would be no confusion. It would have been easy for her to understand "Your mother is dead and your father is a Shadow Haunter" than hearing "I'm your father even though you look nothing like me," just to find out that he wasn't really her father and that it was all a big lie. Parents who loved their children didn't lie to them.

It was Camden's words that made her snap. "Yeah? How do you think it feels to find out that my father has been lying to me? That the life I was forced to live was all a lie? Everybody would have been better off if he just let me starve. I'm sure you agree, Camden, because you're the one who yelled in our faces that we're the spawn of Haunter scum." She snarled viciously. "Do you really think love is forcing your children to be something you want them to be? That's not love. That's torture."

After a short pause and a sigh, the distressed hybrid walked toward a cliff. It wasn't a very tall cliff, but with Lotus' fragile bones, it wouldn't be hard to break something. She turned around and looked at Lyckos. "If you loved me, you would have stopped this before it started. You would have spared me the torment. You wouldn't have fed me lies. You didn't have to pretend to love me. That only made things worse." She looked painfully at Majikan and Konstantin. "Don't let them take this land from you." With a deep breath, she turned around, closed her eyes, and jumped. A thud was heard, along with a crack, and Lotus lay there, limp and lifeless in a pool of blood.

"Lotus! No!" Majikan yelled, running toward the canine before she jumped, but it was too late. He jumped down next to Lotus and nudged her, but it was no use. She was gone.

Konstantin just stared. He wanted to run after his friend, but he couldn't move. "Lotus..." He whispered.

Majikan didn't answer Snowy Owl. Lotus was dead, forced to suicide when her own 'father' turned on her. There would be no more alliance. Not when Majikan felt that the Lurkers killed his only friend.

Lyckos, Camden, Lyriani & Iphito

And just like that, Lotus had committed suicide. Lyckos did not flinch when he heard her bones break, did not move when Majikan and Konstantin rushed to her side. He simply watched the space she had vacated with the same detachment he had taken up when she had turned her back on him. She had told him she no longer thought of him as her father, had disowned him, and thus he had done the same to her. It was not his daughter Lotus that had jumped off the cliff; it was Lotus, the daughter of Tahti and Luke, sister of Tainted, and, as she had so clearly defined with her words and actions, his enemy.

Her previous speech as Camden received nothing from Lyckos, he simply watched with that cold, aloof visage, never trying to correct her. After all, she was right. He had lied to her (although it was in attempt to protect her), and as far as he had ever been concerned, she had loved being his daughter, for as soon as she had learned to talk she had called him dad, and proclaimed herself his daughter with pride. Alas, all things come to an end, and Lotus died with whatever warped sense of the truth she had. His conscience was clear; it was not his actions that had driven her to her death, but her own.

Camden, of course, did agree with Lotus. He didn't like her, and never had. He'd always been jealous and doubted his father's decision to take on Lotus and her siblings, but had never spoken his mind about it for fear he would be punished. When she jumped, he couldn't help but smile to himself. Finally, the weight had been lifted. There was no more lies, no more Lotus strutting around and proclaiming herself magnificent because she was Lyckos' daughter. No, she knew what she truly was, and one less relative of Tainted's in the world had to be a better place, in his opinion.

As his last act of parenthood, Lyckos had protected Lotus from execution, but it seemed that fate had a funny way of dealing with this turn of events. She had killed herself, effectively doing what Lyckos ought to have done by the rules of the Lurkers. A moment passed, and he sighed heavily, with a brief flashback to Bloodlust's suicide from the top of the Aegis Den. He was now well aware Majikan would not keep his promise of aid, and so, this next decision came easily to the solo alpha.

Glancing to Camden, Lyckos turned back to the Lurkers, and with Majikan and Konstantin out of earshot, he approached his pack and said quietly, "It seems Lotus was converted to an enemy while she has been apart from the main pack. Her death only confirms what we already know, that the Haunters and their allies are not to be trusted. Shadow Lurkers, engaged Majikan and Konstantin; we are to take this land for Ankh."

Camden, whom had caught the signal from his father, had taken the moment while Lyckos spoke to approach Dapplewing. There he whispered to the raptor, "Lyckos says that if anything should happen the turns the odds against us, you should fly to the den, and to the mountains for reinforcements."

With his orders said, Lyckos turned. Iphito joined him, her eyes blazing, and the two massive dane-hybrids bounded for the cliff edge. Unlike Lotus, Lyckos was very strong and weighty, so did not hesitate to jump off. He aimed to land his jump on Majikan, and shatter his leg bones with the impact, or if he landed it right, break his spine half way down to paralyse his back end. Taking advantage of her brother's distraction attack, Iphito jumped down further along, and quietly stalked towards the tiger while he faced Lotus' body. Coming from downwind, Iphito aimed to time her attack so that when Lyckos jumped and Majikan was focused on him, Iphito would bound round his side, and seize his throat.

Camden and Lyriani were the first to double-team Konstantin. With his shocked stillness, the pair bounded forward in a united front. Camden aimed to bowl his over and send him to the ground, then seize hold of anything he could and shake violently. Lyriani, using her smaller size, would try for the underbelly to spill his organs and kill him.

Ninaki & Others

There was next to nill for despair to be seen in Ankh's eyes. 'Surprise', there was some of that - but absolutely no pity in the dark yellow spheres, glittering in stunned response to watching the little coy-mix propel herself from the shallow cliff. More than anything, he saw her quick actions as the final obstacle removed from his path to claiming this land, and contrary what a few of the others might think and feel, a wave of excitement ran through him.

Lerna exhaled a soft breath, turning her ears back in place of a wince when she heard the muffled snap of bones upon Lotus' landing. It was almost as bitter a sound as her sister's railing words against their father. She made no move to speak or talk until Lyckos rounded back on them, putting into motion in what would hopefully be the final act in this squabble. No sooner had her father's words been spoken than was Lerna sprinting forward with her ears perked once more and a new sort of silent fire burning behind her eyes; she couldn't do anything more for Lotus, but perhaps by driving back these Haunters who had tainted her, they could spare any more family members from being swayed by their treacherous ways.

"I'll do that." Dapplewing bobbed her head in acknowledgment of Cam's words, and taken to the skies in the next moment. Leaving the heftier Cedarwood to help in fighting, Dapple rose high and began to circle around the fighting group. If more Haunters arrived, the falcon would be able to warn her pack of their advance, before she herself flew off for reinforcements.

Ankh was zipping forward, flashing past the sturdier Argolis and Lerna until he reached the edge of the cliff. The wily alpha lingered only long enough to find a slight trench in the small outcropping of stone, where he could scale down without risking any damage by otherwise jumping like the larger members were doing. As soon as he down there, Ankh bolted across the cold ground, and launched his dark frame for the besieged Majikan, sending his keen teeth for the opposite side of the tiger's upper neck, avoiding the area where Iphito was targeting.

Danken and ShearWind joined in with their father on assaulting Majikan. Only, instead of seeking out a hold on the tiger, the two younger hybrids bounded around and snapped here and there at him, trying to draw blood wherever they could and keep his attention distracted.

Snowy Owl's attack was hindered by a few seconds, when she stopped to howl to Nightcrawler and the others, inviting them forward for the attack. The group had remained respectfully back for the time, leaving the family matters between Lotus and Lyckos - but now that there was a fight, their presence was certainly requested.

Majikan

Majikan looked up at the Shadow Lurkers. He wasn't to be trusted, when they were the ones turning against him when he had surrendered? He simply climbed up into a tree, staring down at them in their feeble attempts to attack. "It was Lotus' dying wish that I keep this land." The tiger stated simply. "I'm not moving."

Grey, Halo, Vertigo and Apocalypse, four siblings of Lotus, watched from the outside of the territory, having arrived just around the time Lotus jumped. They were shocked, sad, and scared. Their sister was driven to suicide. Grey ran toward the fight. "Dad! Please, no more fighting. Enough blood has been shed today." She found it strange that her father turned on the creature who submitted to him. Was Lyckos really trying to drive the rest of his children away? Did he want them to have the same fate as little Lotus? The young hybrid had tears in her eyes, trying not to look at the mangled body of her sister.