Nhosh, Huyen, & Mortar

He may not be as strong and powerful as he had once been, but Nhosh was a fighter to the very end, and he still held his switch antlers proudly as he limped across the land. Scars littered his legs and body from the near-fatal attack he'd endured two years ago by the Shadow Haunters, and he was still struggling to pull his herd together. But at last, with the help of his son and one of his greater allies, the aging red stag had secured a large swath of land... and now all he needed to to was to gain more allies and unite the cervids around him.

Walking at one side of the crippled stag was Mortar, the piebald son of Avalanche - a hulking four year old bull moose. He was almost entirely white except for his nose, dark brown eyes, and splashes of brown on his lower legs, giving the look that he had just trekked through a mud puddle. On Nhosh's other side was Huyen, the white-tail brother who served as his leader's body guard and scout. Together, the three made their way to the edge of the Oak Prairie territory, where Nhosh stepped away from his escorts and bellowed loudly to call to attention the leaders of the land.

Sasha; Rosco; Tyree; Kazbek

Sasha, though aging somewhat, was still fit to be the leader of her herd. Sometimes, though, she wished she could step down. But they needed her. She insisted that Rosco take the lead, but her dear son wanted to leave the glory to his mother. He helped when he could, but the herd was left to Sasha.

The mule doe saw a familiar face in the distance when she lifted her head. Could it be...? It was Nhosh! She hadn't seen him in the long time. She quickly made her way over to the red deer and bowed. "Greetings, Nhosh. Is there something I may assist with?" The little deer asked, dwarfed by the giant stag.

Rosco, son of Sasha and Wardell, stood beside his mother and dipped his head lightly to Nhosh. Tyree and Kazbek, daughters of Sasha and Everest, followed their mother's actions and bowed as well. For now, the offspring wouldn't speak until they were spoken to.

Nhosh, Huyen, Mortar, & Others

The eleven year-old stag bowed his tineless antlers to Sasha, and flashed an acknowledging glance to the younger deer that stood near her, "Greetings, Sasha." Nhosh lifted his head again, "It's been four years that I've lived in this Valley, and I had come with the intention of leading a strong herd that could do what no one has done before - defend ourselves against the humans and eliminate them. I still hold onto that ideal, but I've come to face another threat that is just as potent as the two-leggers. The predators of this Valley are growing too many and too strong, and I believe that if we band together in a united front, we can work to one day rid ourselves of our enemies."

Trotting quietly up, Cassia and her half-sister Black Squall stood near Rosco. Squall was fascinated by the idea of what Nhosh said, but Cassia was a bit uncertain about the notion - deer were best at running and fleeing their enemies, not standing and fighting... right?

Nhosh went on after he'd explained this portion of his reasons here, "I come here today to ask an alliance from your herd, and an invitation to you and all of your members to freely cross over our terrain as you wish. I also wish to extend to your herd our protection, if you ever come to need it."

Devil May Cry

Devil kept his pace at a calm jog all the way to the border line of the territory. Wrinkling his nose at the scents of other lupines, he pinned his ears back slightly before remembering his motivation. He had just won over a territory through stealth and now he needed allies or risk losing it just as quick. Though not much of a friendly guy, Devil figured he could at least be civil. Holding his tail in a neutral position and making sure he didn't have any hair raised to make the alpha mistake him as an intruding challenger, he sat down right before crossing the imaginary line marked in the alpha male's urine and lifted his muzzle, letting a chilling howl pierce the atmosphere, calling for the alpha to approach.

Sasha

Sasha nodded to Nhosh, respecting her old ally greatly. Nhosh was seen as the king of cervids in the Valley, at least by the Oak Prairie Herd. "We have faced the same dangers." She stated calmly. "The predators are growing stronger and thicker, and we are no match for them." Sasha paused, listening to Nhosh's proposition. This was good. Leave it up to Nhosh to think up the best ideas. "Yes, Nhosh. That sounds like a good plan. We are allies now, and if your herd needs extra help with anything, just ask me. From now on, we are family." The little doe smiled, but it wasn't long before she sensed somebody else. She glanced at Nhosh, hoping he would come with.

Sasha walked toward Devil and eyed him nervously. He was a predator. He was a wolf who would eat the deer. But Sasha remained calm. "May I help you?" She asked, straight and to the point.

Devil May Cry

Acoustics of night pricked toward the doe as she approached, golden orbs taking her in without surprise or aggression. Devil was a disciplined wolf, and he had no intentions of making the doe feel threatened. To show her this, he bowed his head respectfully upon her approach, taking inthe other who came with her without consequence, though his handsome dark head bowed again in greeting as the other deserved.

Plume swishing silently behind form, his gaze went back to the doe alpha as deep vocals went out to her of his goal.

Greetings, miss. I come asking your alliance with Parnassian Meadows.

He watched for her response, hoping his straight to the point question would gain the hoped for response.

Sasha; Lune

Sasha never accepted an alliance with a creature she did not know, especially if he was a predator. Why didn't Devil even introduce himself or at least make an attempt to get to know Sasha? It was obviously a trap. Either that or a sloppy, poorly-laid plan. Sasha was suspicious, and her suspicion arose when an owl, the messenger of the Valkama Pack, the Shadow Haunters, and Toklat Canyon arrived, nearly jumping out of his skin when he saw Devil. Lune landed on a nearby tree and beckoned the mule deer doe over. Sasha, sensing the urgency, motioned to her guards. Rosco and Everest stood guard around Devil, ready to gore him if he made one wrong move.

"What is it, Lune?" Sasha asked, her eyes wide with nervousness. Something was very wrong. "Don't listen to that wolf; he has been causing trouble for our allies...and your allies." The owl paused briefly before continuing, "Yes, Toklat Canyon and Calypte Ranges. Isabel has called war on him already; the Shadow Haunters, the Valkama Pack, the Rebels, the Toklat Canyon, and, if you agree, your herd will be battling him for his actions." They both spoke in low tones, trying not to be heard.

Devil was new, so Lune normally would have given the poor, ignorant wolf a chance. That is, until he started a feud with Nightshade's grieving family. In Sparkling Creek Valley, one of the worst crimes was pestering a pack grieving over the loss of their family. That was a crime punishable by death. Any experienced pack member - and of course a pack leader - would know that.

Sasha turned around, pure rage in her eyes. "Get away from my territory before you are shredded like birch bark." Rosco, the first son of Sasha, bellowed deeply, waving his antlers at Devil. "Go on, you heard her! Leave!"

Nhosh & Others

Nhosh returned the smile to Sasha, and was just dipping his tineless antlers down in a gesture that showed his appreciation when a sharp bark from Huyen caught his attention.

Huyen turned towards Devil with his head lowered and angled at the wolf, so that his antlers were directed at the canine and ready to be put to use. Mortar did the same, after stepping quickly to put himself near Sasha, so that he could defend the doe if she needed it. The two guards of Nhosh's would have attacked Devil by now, but they patiently allowed Sasha to talk to him first, since it was her land they were on, and they were respectful of her own laws regarding how to deal with predators.

"Be gone, predator! Or I'll slay you myself and rid the Earth of one more flesh-eater!" Nhosh was not the spry, powerful stag he once was, and it was a question as to whether he could hold his own even against a single wolf still, but he had a healthy pride and enough courage to make him a dangerous adversary nonetheless. The red deer stomped a hoof to the ground and shook his shaggy neck, threatening the canine.

Devil May Cry

Devil watched as the doe listened to the bird and he could tell it was not good news. As she turned to him with the threat, he backed up a step and watched the bird fly off with mild interest before looking back at the doe. He bowed his head.

As you wish, miss.

Throwing a bored glance at the stag with his "oh so frightening antlers pointed Devil's way, our boy just kept walking, right into the shadows and out of sight.