Nightcrawler

It took an awfully long time, but Night had finally made his way back to the Central Lands. By this point, he could have gone no further if he wanted too, and collapsed on the ground without bothering to try and stand again. However, having come this far with a goal in mind, the ebony wolf eased his blood-soaked muzzle to the sky and howled as loudly as he could manage, calling to the pack to warn them of danger. Human danger. As he waited, Night took the time to check over his wounds, since there wasn't much else he could do anyway.

A broken front limb for sure, but he had dealt with that twice in the past before. Ironically, both times he had been trying to help someone; first a strange collie, and then his friend Jais when Legosa attacked them. At least this time his efforts might have been more rewarding, for he knew Jessie at least had gotten away. Still, he cringed to think what was happening with Keilo and Kanan at the moment.

Wincing, Nightcrawler began to clean his mangled haunch, where the first hound had gotten ahold of him and shaken him like he was as light as a feather. He was surprised the limb carried him as far as it did. His shoulders, muzzle, chest, and stomach all bore the wounds of King Hound fangs, but it was his front leg and hind leg that got hit the worst.

Feeling light-headed, Night gave up his attempts at cleaning the wounds, and resided instead to lay down. However tired his body was, his mind was racing a mile a minute. Were Kanan and Keilo alright? And what about the rest of his pack; Eytan, Karai, Kali? He closed his eyes tight, not wanting to think about that.

Poison Blade

Blade dartted up to Night seeing him appearing into the centeral lands. Blade was confused and just heard of what happened to Miakoda. Maybe Night could possibly help. "Night," he scuffed heavily padding up to rhe brute.

Nightcrawler

He lifted his head, then eased laborously into a sitting position. "What is it?" The wolf questioned, tall ears perked forward. He was glad that someone had come, yet he sences that there was more amiss than the humans here.

Blade

"Kali.... Miakoda....death....blood....Eytan....fight....," he muttered with a pale look of death. He took in a deep breath as the pup's tail twitched nervously. "kali's gone mad! Miakoda told me she killed Yanis and I saw Miakoda's dead body. She killed Miakoda too, she's gone mad! She's trying to kill my father and everyone else too! Even you and me!" he cried worriedly.

Nightcrawler

His bright eyes grew wide and hazed with fright, "Kali...?" The name was hardly a hushed whisper as it fell from his bloodied muzzle. "..Eytan... what caused this? This can't be true..." He rambled, his thoughts desperate as he tried to digest what Blade had just told him. Nightcrawler stood, his hind limb quivering violently before it gave way and he fell with a hushed yelp on his side. He knew his body was too weakened and torn up to get him anywhere at the moment, yet he had to find out more, "Where is she? And Eytan... how can we stop this?" He questioned, his orbs frought with despair and sadness. He felt utterly helpless right now.

Jessie

The wolfess came back as quick as she could after hearing Night's howls. She was surprised and releived that he had somehow managed to survive the murderous fangs of the King Hounds, yet she was very hesitant about approaching him. Not only fearful of what condition he was in, but also the fact that she left him for dead because she was too afraid to face the hounds and their humans.

"Night?" She asked tentively, stepping closer to the two, then pulling back when she saw all the wounds. "I... I'm sorry I ran..." She admitted, hanging her head. "How did you escape?"

Nightcrawler

He shook his head, pulling himself up to a sitting position once more, "Don't worry, Jessie. Kanan and Keilo distracted them." This brought a frown to Night's face and he growled quietly in frustration, "They need help; Kali and Eytan need help. We all do." His voice once more held a desperate ring to it, not sure what could be done right now.

Exhaustion and pain swept over the black wolf and strength failed in his good front leg. Once more, he was laying on his side, panting shallowly. "The humans will be back unless they are killed... and Kali..." Nightcrawler's eyes turned to Blade again, as if looking for confirmation on the subject, "...she wants to kill us all." He still couldn't beleive that Kali would desire such things, but he had seen the darkness brooding in her from the first time they met. She was only a pup then, and he had foolishly thought he could bring about the good in her, for he felt everyone had a good side. "You two should run, and tell the others to hide. If Blade is right... than we not only have humans and their hunters to worry about." The thought of Kali slaughtering the pack rent his soul with unimaginable grief, and he knew that he didn't have it in him to bring harm to her again.

Blade

"She's in the Prarie," he blurted out then taking the time to see what horrid condition he was in. "Are you alright?" he asked only becoming more worried. He looked over his shoulder to Jesse who just appeared. "What happened?" he asked her his tail flickering nervously.

Jessie

Jessie dropped her eyes for a moment, "This huge dogs attacked me... there were humans too." She shuddered at the thought as she looked up to Blade, "Night distracted them and I ran." She felt more guilty than ever now, and skipped purposefully over the part where he got mauled, "Kanan and his father, I think distracted them." Her mind was racing fast now, not only worried about Kanan and Keilo, but also about this whole deal with Kali. "What is wrong with Kali? I thought she left here? Why would she want to kill any of us..?"

Jessie's voice grew plantive and worried, "We have to stay here though, Night can't travel in his condition." She added, looking down at the beraggled black wolf, not understanding that he would accept death if Kali meant it. "I've got family; I can call on them for help. They will protect us from the humans, and from Kali." Now her words grew more defiant, and again she looked to Blade.

Astra*Gavan*Joscelin

Astra and Gavan struggled in, dragging Miakoda's body with them. Gavan ran up to Blade, forgetting the small difference between them. Father! Kali killed Miakoda and he's trying to kill father!

Astra was shivering now. The dead bothered her, and Miakoda's death had finally hit her, bringing her down from the stars. Coming up on Blade's other side, she whined. He said to find mother and tell her. He said he'd be home soon, but... And she couldn't finish.

Joscelin appeared, speaking softly. No, it's worse than that, my friends. She wants to kill mother. Anyone who knew of Karai knew that if anyone loved Kali, it was that silver fae. And the voice that had always been so strong, the voice that had got his family through worse than death for two years, broke. And believe me... Mama won't stop her...

Poison Blade*Nita

Blade listened to Jesse with worry for Night, then heard the others come running and speaking with fear. He could feel it. Blade knew how Kali felt being cuaght between dark and light, for he felt the same way, but Blade was not insane.

Nita padded taking in deep breaths. She was trying to help Ageni and Akecheta, but things were difficult and Akceheta returned back to those blood thirsty wolves and Ageni needed some time alone. "What's going on here?" she asked worriedly.

Nightcralwer

Night listened to the voices, feeling his heart sink at news of the death, "My friend, Jais, he can help." The black wolf spoke, lifting his head from the ground so that his voice could be heard better, "He has friendship with snow leopards; quite a few of them." He sighed shallowly, mentally cursing that there was nothing he himself could do for his alpha, for Kali, or any of his pack members really. But maybe, if he couldn't physically help, he could find someone who could. Nighcrawler laid his head wearly to the ground again, feeling progressively weaker. His dim eyes flashed fleetingly towards Miakoda's body before they closed tight, not liking to see death in the form of a pack member; a member murdered by the one who he had tried so hard show the light too. Voices grew faded now, and Night kept his eyes closed, trying to preserve energy as he listened to the talk that went on around him. Focusing on the matter at hand was all he could do to push aside the waves of pain that washed over his body. Yet he knew that it was Eytan who needed help right now. If Eytan were to fall, heaven forbid, who would be next?

Eytan*Astra

Slowly the streaked grey form of the alpha stumbled in, exhausted and bleeding profusely from a slit shoulder and back of neck. His eyes were dark with almost none of his usually friendly nature in them. Finally he came up to Nightcrawler's side, though barely on his own feet, and nudged him gently on a speck of unwounded flesh. Are you alright, friend? Do you need aid?

After listening carefully for his answer, he turned to the gathering, trembling now. Kali has determined to clear the lands of myself, my mate, and my offspring, along with a few select others, including our own mother Karai. This does not, as of yet, involve the rest of you. I will not lie to any of you. This pack is about to come into a dangerous time of living, when lives will be void and souls a form of currency. It is because of this that I release every member of this pack. Many of you have those they love, those they would care to protect. I release all of you to do as you wish, because I know that my family and I have a price on our heads. I love all of you too well to watch you die for us. You will always be welcome to Ochtona Mountains, and you are now welcome to leave to protect yourselves. And then he turned to Astra. See to our friend, Nightcrawler. And his limbs gave underneath him as he flopped into a heap in the snow, panting.

Astra had been watching her father in horror, but she knew better than to object to his wishes. As he watched her, she clambered to the edge of the trees and came up with a purplish herb. Grabbing it up, she made her way over to Nighty, dropping the herb at his feet and speaking softly. Eat that one. It tastes awful, so brace yourself, but it will take the edge off of the pain and help you to sleep. And no protests. she said, seeing an objection in his eyes. You are no use to anyone this way. A good sleep and a meal following will restore your strength. And she hovered, waiting for him to eat it, knowing her father would not have her tend him until he was sure Nighty would be alright.

Nightcralwer

He let his eyes open and saw, with great relief, that Eytan was alive. The sight of blood on the alpha reminded Night just how real the situation was, "I'm fine." The wolf rplied quietly, determined not to let his condition be a distraction to more important matters. Now his eyes remained open as he listened to what was said.

"I won't abandoned my alphas. Whatever hardships are to come, I will carry the burden with you." Nightcrawler wasn't one to go against his superiors, and he certainly didn't like conflict with anyone. Yet he was loyal, and wouldn't run off to hide with the knowledge that his leaders, his family, were to be killed.

Nightcrawler gave a small smile to Astra, in thanks to her help, although his nose wrinkled at the thought of eating some strange plant. Not wanting to be rude, the ebony wolf took up the herb with a ginger bite, as if the plant were made of thorns and spikes. And then, chewing briefly on the purplish plant before swallowing it, Night made an interesting face of utter disgust and contempt for the unpleasant taste. Forcing a half-smile, he looked to Astra, "You weren't kidding." With that, Night laid his head down again, his yellow orbs glancing towards Eytan with worry. As he thought over all that happened today, he slowly slipped into sleep.

Nita*Poison Blade

Nita rushed to Eytan with great worry and nudged him gently. "I don't know what to do about Kali. We must do something for she is in pain and lost. We can never give up on her," Nita said worriedly.

Blade heard what Night said about Yanis and felt his heart pound in the back of his throat. He looked to night slipping away to sleep. "Night!" he shouted with great fear to wake him. "About Yanis," he began with shivering words. "Kali teamed up with Sequioa. Yanis was with Cherry at White Noise's pack. Miakoda told me everything when she was watching them. Sequioa killed Cherry, and Kali killed Yanis," Blade said with a low growl and his tail flickering nervously.

Eytan*Astra

Eytan smiled gently up at his mate, wincing a little as he remembered his wound. Sighing, he spoke quietly. In my heart, Nita... I know you are right. Kali needs us to help her. But my dear, I... I don't know what else to do. If she would kill Karai... And he shuddered, for never had he been so unsure before.

Astra came to her father's side after ensuring that Nightcrawler ate the herb. Whining, she nosed him over and shook her head, wandering off to find a second herb, this one a dull greenish-brown. This one she popped into her own mouth, grimacing as she chewed it. She came back to Eytan, smearing the mush over the worst of the blood, trying not to watch her father's face fill with pain. When she had finished, she spoke, her voice barely audible. Let that stay til it dries and flakes off. Then wash the wound in clean running water. I don't know if it will be enough... And she stopped speaking.

Nita*Poison Blade

Nita smiled to Eytan her ears flickering. "I think I know how," she began with a gentle sigh. "Someone must talk her out of it. Not just anyone, but someone but maybe, Aaka. It's worth a try and maybe she needs another dark wolf who has lost everything as her to speak to her," Nita explained.

Eytan

Eytan sighed again, a small smile thanking Astra as she turned away. His voice was soft, so as not to carry to the others. That is worth a try, my love. Perhaps between the two of them... And he looked up at her, his voice a murmur that even she, close as she was, would have to struggle to hear. Karai and Aaka have much in common, though I'm sure at least Aaka would deny that vehemently. I don't know all about Aaka, but I have learned some from Karai and some from simply watching. And he sighed again, turning his face to her. I hope you are right, my love. I do hope you are right...

Nita

"So do I," Nita replied worriedly. She wasn't completely sure, but they had no other lead on what to do and both Aaka and Kali had the dark minds and maybe she could get into Kali's mind better then any of them.

Eytan

Eytan gave Astra a kiss for her efforts, smiling softly to reassure her that things would be alright. As the little fae trotted to a respectable distance, he spoke softly to Nita. Ah my, love. It has been a long day, and I am weary beyond words. And he sighed, laying his head down. I only wish that I could have stopped this...

Nita

"You need to do something before it's too late. Find Aaka and have her talk to Kali. Trust me, it should do the trick," Nita smiled nudging him gently before trotting off.