Zanarah

In the cover of darkness, in the very early hours of nightfall, Zanarah crossed the border into the Parnassian Meadows from the southeast. She'd purposefully taken a detour through Galar's Marsh so that she and her cohorts could conceal their scent with the mud and gunk of the wetlands, and then enter the territory from the opposite direction of the Ruins to further throw off anyone trying to follow them back to their home, or learn of their true affiliation.

Stalking quietly despite her nearly five-hundred pounds of weight, the maltese coated cat covered ground quickly, delving deep into the meadows before she finally came to a stop. She could smell pups on the breeze. "This is a good place to split up. Katara and I can find the den from here, if you can distract the rest of the pack, Azula."

Azula & katara

Azula paused and nodded but made to move in the opposite direction as she did not want katara or zanarah's scent getting to the others as she found agood place she sent out the call for Crucifix's pack. She knew he wouldn't come alone he knew what a large cat sounded like.

Crucifix had jst finished making sure his sister and nephew and nieces were okay when the call came. To the den with them Black, Blue stay with themhe said .the rest of you come with mehe said heading for Azula.

Katara followed and found the place but remained hidden as she watch Crucifix talk to the others before heading out. She would wait a few minutes to make sure they were far enough away.

Black heard the call and picking up Neferyt she nudged Rephaim and Naiche to the den.

Taiya & Others

The ebony she-wolf bristles as the wind carries Azula's call. She rises to her paws, flicking a glance over at Black and the pups as they herd themselves into the den. Chocolate eyes dance as she bounds a pace behind Crucifix, her blood coursing through her veins with adrenaline. It'd been a long while since Taiya was required to defend her territory. "Who the hell could it be?" Taiya pants, mostly wondering aloud to herself.

Not far behind, Whiteout paced at the heels of his alphas.

Blue sunk low in the grass near the mouth of the den where Black and the pups had vanished. The she-wolf's blue eyes study the growing quiet around her as the rest of the pack makes way across the territory to respond to Azula's call. She squints, an amount of uncertainty and fear pressuring through her system. Ears twitching, Blue draws in a deep breath and holds it. It was like the calm before the storm. A storm Blue wasn't ready for.

Zanarah, Krush, & Naiche

Zanarah stuck close to Katara, ready to play the second decoy at the den site and help shield her pridemate from attack. Her claws flexed, unsheathing and digging into the moist earth she was pressed down against. Ears were flat back against her head, and her blue eyes were wide and watchful in the darkness. Every muscle of her being was ready to spring into action, but the ligeress was incredibly poised and patient, and would not rush prematurely into the mission. Instead, she whispered to Katara in a nearly inaudible tone, "When you're ready, let me know."

-----

In the short time Krush had been accepted into the pack, he'd stuck mostly near Whiteout in order to give Blue and Blackened Song some space. He'd even declined to get near and meet the pups just yet, despite nearly dying of anticipation. Instead, the blue-eyed hybrid had thought long and hard about how to make up for his earlier transgressions, and had decided catching a plump wild rabbit, or perhaps an even plumper non-wild chicken for the ladies might help even things out.

His daydreams were interrupted quiet suddenly with the call of a wildcat, and immediately Krush's tail came up alongside his hackles. All of the brute's usual jovial and puppish optimism immediately vanished, and he gave a quick look of understanding to Crucifix before following after his alphas.

Naiche, meanwhile, didn't need to be told twice. Hearing and seeing the seriousness in the adults' language, the youngster allowed herself to be shepherded down into the den, where she curled up close to Rephaim.

Crucifix

Crucifix had no problems letting big cats joing their pack in fact he wanted them to. But he didnt know if that is what this one wanted. When she came into site his tail was rigid and up as he approached her keeping his distance.who are you and what is your business on my territory?He asks.

Azula watched as she was sure was the majority of the pack and her eyes then focus on crucifix. Well I wish to join, My pride was hunted down by the two leggers and I have no where to go I had to cover my scent just to get away they had dogsShe said.

Blackened song didn't like this. Something felt off as she moved to lay down in the tunnel to the den watching outside.

Katara waited a little even after she spoke.nowShe said but she herself waited, They had to at least get the one above ground gone, she could deal with the one in the den.

Taiya & Blue

Internal intuition was a necessity to survive the likes of this Valley. While Taiya had grown up in a majorly canine-pack, she knew the odd mingling of species here. Cats and bears and wolves could live in harmony. In a wilderness such as this, it was almost necessary at times. A big cat would be a positive factor to the pack. But Taiya felt a weight in her gut as Azula speaks, her hair on the back of her neck standing on end. Taiya flicks a glance at Crucifix, dubious and cautious. She didn't seem sincere. And maybe this was just paranoia burrowing itself within Taiya's gut, but Taiya didn't like this.

Whiteout stood back beside Krush, flicking a glance at the wolfdog as he listens to his alphas address the wild cat. His ears twitch as he observe the huge creature. A wise wolf such as he avoided big cats -- the biggest feline Whiteout had ever encountered was a pissed-off mountain lioness and that was enough to keep Whiteout away from another other cat. In a soft whisper, Whiteout speaks so that only Krush could possibly hear him. "She doesn't have the face of somebody who's lost her family," Whiteout observes quietly.

Across the territory, Blue sinks her stomach closer to the cold ground, her shoulders and hindquarters flexed with caution. By the time the wind shifts and an unfamiliar scent hits the roof of Blue's mouth, Katara and Zanarah are already moving. Rising up, Blue pivots to face the approaching creatures with a deep, savage growl. Her blue eyes squint and the skin along her nose wrinkles. "Get back!" She warns, but a small part of Blue knows she's no match for these creatures. The she-wolf still valiantly cements herself as the barrier between these scavengers and Black and the pups.

Zanarah, Krush, & Naiche

Coming from a pack that could never possibly permit big cats or any such creatures within their ranks, Krush's experiences with the giant felines was more in line with Whiteout's. He knew they could be allies, but he had a healthy respect for the agile hunters, and his even his naivety couldn't stop his heart from racing and his muscles to tense with anticipation. Catching White's glance from the corner of his vision, the hybrid doesn't even break eye contact with Azula as he whispered back equally as quietly, "Yeah... she's pretty chill." His nose was working overtime, trying to glean any scents that he could from the big cat that might prove or disprove her claim. But alas, the thick mire that they'd bathed in muddled any would-be scent of humans... or other things.

At the den site, Zanarah needed only that quick command from her companion. Her eyes had now locked onto Blue, and she quickly ran through various scenarios in her mind. Killing the den guardian probably wouldn't have been difficult, the ligeress notes, but slaying any of these wolves was to be a last ditch option tonight. Her job in this moment was to occupy all but the mother, so that Katara could do her work.

Four-hundred and ninety pounds of muscle, claw, and fangs sprang suddenly into the air! Withholding a roar, Zanarah's leap was a silent one, but by no means a surprise attack as Blue already had them pegged. Covering several yards before her massive paws ever hit the ground, Zanarah put every fiber of her being into overdrive as she barreled straight for Blue, with the goal of slamming into, grabbing, and taking the wolfess for a wild tumble across the ground...

Crucifix

Crucifix wasn't sure he was ready to let a big cat in just yet. As much as he had no problem with it something didnt' feel right. Come back tomorrow and ill have an answer for you He said calmly.

Azula remained calm her ears twitching.tomorrow? I guess I can do thatShe said.

Katara waited for Zanarah to have the den guard preoccupied and then she rushed the den and yelped at the innitial bite but then went in with her mouth opened and dragged the mother out by her muzzle leaving it pretty bloody and she smacked her hard across the face with her paw claws slightly out. It was only enough to knock the mother uncouncious. She dove into the den and snatched the first pup she could and that was Neferyt and she took off. She needed to get a good distance away. She retraced their steps to the marsh and covered herself and the pup in it and then made false detours before hading back for the ruins.

Black had snapped at her but then she was draggedo ut by her snout. However; she ignored the pain and had lunged back at the cat only to be knocked uncouncious.

Taiya & Others

Blue holds fast in her position at the mouth of the den for as long as possible. Just as Zanarah bears down upon her, Blue manages to dodge out of the way with a yelping bark. She stumbles several steps away from the dangerous paws of the wildcat, heart pounding in her chest. Blue manages to throw her head into the air and give a brief, but panicked howl to her pack members. At that moment she squares off against Zanarah, unaware of what Katara has done. "I said back off," Blue snarls, her blue eyes glinting dangerously. Blue wouldn't win a battle against these cats, but she was going to raise hell in an effort to protect her family.

Across the territory, Taiya flattens her ears as she observes Azula and notes the tigress's cool demeanor despite Crucifix's near-rejection. A cry hits the air from back where they been lounging moments ago, Taiya's heart leaping against her rib cage. "The pups," She gasps, pivoting and taking off without even considering Azula. She brushes past Krush and Whiteout, the pregnant she-wolf trying to cover distance. Despite her hustle, Azula had far succeeded in luring the pack a safe distance away from the den for her to arrive to offer any help.

Whiteout flinches as his sister's howl reaches his ears. He tenses, blinking as Taiya rushes past before glancing back at Crucifix. He waited a hesitating moment for the alpha male to move, Whiteout still slightly concerned with Azula's presence.

Zanarah, Krush, & Naiche

The sheer momentum of her lunge nearly sent Zanarah herself tumbling even without her quarry. She stumbled several feet before coming to a stop and whirling around with the speed of lightning, her tail whipping about so fast behind her that it lashed several leaves off a shrubby little plant that had been in its wake. And yet, fast as she was, Zanarah could not stop Blue's howl from being broadcast, and with that cover blown, the ligeress split the air with a screaming snarl, "You're a brave one, wolf!". Just as Katara was emerging from the den and bolting with a cub, Zanarah was lunging forward again, with another attempt to tackle the wolf and pin her to the ground, knowing she couldn't dally here to much longer, but had to hold the guardian off just long enough to allow her pridemate the chance for a glean get away.

The howl from the den site hits Krush like a bolt of lightning. Taiya's gasp about the pups adds further panic to his mind, leaving the wolfdog briefly torn on what to do. Rush alongside his alphess to protect the young ones, or stay with his alpha and make sure this big cat didn't hurt him? It took only a second more before the blue-eyed brute turned tail and charged after Taiya, making a mad dash for the densite...

Within the darkness of the den chamber, Naiche was trembling like a leaf at the sounds of the brief fight, and the sudden and overwhelming stench of bog that invaded their safe haven. She burrowed back against Rephaim when Katara finally made it down into the den and began to yelp in sheer panic when the monstrous jaws closed around her sister. In a flash, the cat was gone again, but Naiche continued to yelp and cry out, terrified and seeking help.

Blackened song

Black was uncouncious only inches from the den her face bleeding, her jaw possibly even broken or fractured.

Katara hated hurting the mother wolf but she had a job to do and she took off once she had Neferyt. Despite her size she carried the pup gently and thankfully they were still young enough that carrying this way caused them to go limp due to endorphins. She paid no heed to the others as she took off.

Azula heard the howl her own ears going back. i have nothing to do with it. But believe what you wishShe hissed and then she made to leave knowing the other two should e on their way home by then.

Crucifix ears went back at the howl ndhe glared at the female.your distracting ushe snarled and glared after her before turning and rushing towards the dens.

Rephaim whined.

Taiya & Others

Blue gives a snarl in response to Zanarah's back-handed compliment. She attempts to whirl away from the wildcat once more as Zanarah aims another pounce, but the massive weight comes crashing down into Blue's side and knocks her off her paws. The she-wolf lands upon the cool earth with a deafening thud, all of the air within her lungs escaping her. Blue sputters a gasp, trying desperately to twist away from Zanarah's blunt weight pinning her to the ground. She, alone, was no match for even the yielded power of the tigress.

~~

Lungs burn as Taiya skitters into the den clearing. She's the first to arrive, her sides heaving as she bounds over to Black with her ears slicked back. "Black?" The she-wolf whines, nudging the mother's shoulder. She sees the shutter of Black's side, knowing that at least she's alive. Her gut twists as the sound of the whining pups pulls Taiya away from Black. The ebony coywolf dips into the mouth of the den. "Pups," She utters softly. "It's Taiya. Everything is alright." Taiya is unaware of the glaring absence of one of the young pups. She slinks a bit further, waiting for the pups to recognize they were safe.

Whiteout is last in tow to the den sight. The brute scans the area, his nose twitching with the pungent scent left by the wildcats. His heart hammers in his chest as he desperately searches for his sister, finally finding her struggling to her paws. He jogs up to her, a heavy sigh of relief releasing itself from his chest as he recognizes Blue's disposition. She's fine -- save a few scrapes from the ground and the dirt caked into her fur. Whiteout nudges her, his breath edgy. "Thank the stars, you're okay..." Whiteout whispers.

Zanarah, Krush, & Naiche

Zanarah flexed her claws out, using her sharp talons to help pin the struggling wolf in place, as if her immense weight would not be enough to do the job. Looming above her prey, Zanarah suddenly turned her head in the direction of the incoming pack and her eyes narrowed. A new snarl played across her lips and she turned her massive head down to Blue, "..I can find easier prey elsewhere to fill my belly." With this red herring hissed out, the ligeress feigned annoyance as she pinned her ears back and pushed away from Blue, abruptly ending her 'hunt' and turning tail. She stole away in the darkness just before the others arrived on the scene, making her getaway nearly a quarter mile behind Katara.

-----

Krush races into the den site at a mile a minute, darting first to Blue to make sure Whiteout's sister was okay. He was still anxious enough that he kept a cool foot or so of space between him and her, but his ears were briefly pasted back while his nose and eyes worked over the wolfess to make sure she was okay, "Oh wow Blue, I think you're hurt? But you're standing, that's good. What about..." His assessment was a hasty but somewhat accurate one if the scrapes could be counted, leaving the hybrid to trail off in thought as his gaze swept the area for Blackened Song and the pups.

Spotting the mother laying on the ground, his ears perk up and he darts to her side next, daring to get closer if only because she seemed unconscious. "Song? Song?" He gave her a nudge as well, seeing as Taiya did that the mother was at least breathing. And as the alphess emerges from the den, Krush's ears sink back towards his skull, "Are the little ones okay?"

Crucifix

he was furious with.. . himself, he shouldnt of pulled all of them with him he should of left more. He moved to his sister his ears back and tail stiff.

Blackened song remained uncouncious for a good fifteen minutes before coming to . He jaw was swollen and hurt, her face bled still from the claws.She opened her eyes n whined but couldn't speak.

Rephaim slowly followed Taiya out.Cat stole Neferyt...he whined. why cat take sister? he whined.

Taiya & Others

Taiya nudges the little, stunned pups to the surface of the ground. She hovers over them, eyes still darting around in some paranoia that the cats would return. She flicks a glance at Krush, her tail twitching as she turns her eyes back to the two pups at her feet. "They took one," Taiya breaks the news, brow furrowing with a swell of rage. The alphess draws in a deep breath, suspending it within her lungs for a moment to quell her emotions before nuzzling the two pups. "Shhh," she soothes, ushering them towards their mother. "Your mom is hurt. She'll be okay, but she'll need you two to be strong, okay?"

Off to the side, Blue tries to gather her bearings. She shamefully looks away from her packmates, a storm of guilt in her mind. Could there had been more she could've done? One wolf was little match for two giant-sized wildcats...but Blue can't deny the nagging feeling that she had done enough.

"Blue," Whiteout whispers gently to his sister, nuzzling her neck. "Nobody is blaming you."

The she-wolf scowls, huffing and leaning away from her brother's touch.

Krush & Naiche

Naiche allows herself to be herded out of the den by Taiya, still whimpering her distress to the world. Upon seeing her mother laying outside of the den, and smelling the blood in the air, the pup whined anew and scampered to Blackened's side to nudge her mother's neck and head, "Momma? Momma, what's wrong?" The distinct lack of her sister was also noted by Naiche, who was only just now beginning to connect her absence with what the adults were saying.

At a loss for what to do, Krush grits his teeth to stop himself from uttering a forlorn howl into the night sky to lament the loss of a puppy tonight. He paces briefly at the perimeter of the den site, with one ear direct out towards the darkness, and the other pitched back to listen to his packmates. When Whiteout's attempts at consolation catch his attention, the wolfdog turns a look back over his shoulder, then turns about completely to approach Blue again. "Hey, yeah. You're brother's right, you know." His voice was as carefully quiet as his head was low, "I mean, I'm just as much to blame for not staying at the den to help with the little ones. We all know you tried your hardest, Blue."

Crucifix

Crucifix paced now . who could of done this? The haunters? Were they still around? If it was them he now had a renewed hatred of them and would no longer care to try to even befriend them and call a truce to that old war. If it is anyones fault it is mine. I left the two of you and brought the rest wit hme it is no ones but mine faultHe snarled not at them but at himself.

Black was just coming around when her daughter and son came out. Her eyes were bleary as she tried to find Neferyt. She didn't find her and nor could she speak. She whined as she tried to sit up.

Rephaim laid down by his struggling mother.

Taiya & Others

The alphess remains close to Black as the mother regains her consciousness and struggles to sit up. Taiya dips down, gently shaking her head underneath Black's shoulder and pushing the female up, slipping so that her shoulder is then wedged side-by-side with Black's. "Shhh," she hushes the agonizing fae. "We might need human help...Black's wounds look like something we can't hand over to time." Brown eyes scrutinize the irregularity of Black's jaw, squinting with a waver of sympathy. Given the deformity and the blood, Taiya assumes the osseous trauma is something they wouldn't want to allow to heal on it's own. She'd seen wolves that had left their injuries to time and the gross deformities that they bore the rest of their life. While Taiya wasn't keen on seeking humans, she wanted Black to be okay.

While she's propping up Black, Taiya flashes a gaze towards her mate. If she wasn't tied up tending to Black, the she-wolf would've maneuvered over to comfort Crucifix. Instead, she calmly says, "We can't play the blame game right now," her eyes sweep over to the distressed Blue, and then Krush and Whiteout, "Any of us. We can count our grievances later, right now we need to get Black taken care of."

Blue remains quiet, her ears twitching a bit as Krush talks to her. A frown forms across her facade as she shakes her head, huffing. "You were following orders," Blue argues weakly, words stony. "I failed at maintaining mine...." She remains distant, gazing off as if afraid to meet the eyes of her packmates.

Naiche & Krush

"Momma..." Naiche's whimper waivers and fades into silence. She'd never heard such distress from her mother before, and Blackened's weakness and fumbling movements frightened the little pup even more, adding to the lair of anxiety that had already draped itself over her. Dropping her head, Naiche drops back back her brother, pressing close to him and the soft by disheveled fur of their mother.

Krush nodded faintly to Blue's assertion, giving a weak and sympathetic smile to his packmate. The talkative wolfdog let that expression speak above his words in this moment, as it quickly dawned on him that no amount of consoling would sooth the female's mind right now. If in her position, Krush knew he'd feel the same way, with no amount of reassurance to chase away the terrible guilt of failing to protect a pup, even if the odds of doing so had been hopelessly impossible. Only time would mend those wounds.

His auds perked at the mention of humans, and his blue eyes lit up, "I know of a few places that can help." Krush turned his glance between his two alphas, tilting his head to the side ever so slightly, "The Woodland Farm is one place, and there's another where my great uncle use to live. But the first place is... it's a little safer, I guess."

Crucifix

At the mention of humans he growled. You do know its humans that took her and caused her to have these pups correct? He said. He knew though that it was the truth. Fine we will go to the woodland farm, But we all go pups included I do not trust humans what so ever but I can't leave just one or two with the pups eitherHe snarled.

Blackened fear in her eyes at the mention of humans was evident as she laid there. She wanted to comfort her pups but she couldn't.

Rephaim curled into his sister.

Taiya & Others

The black she-wolf leans her shoulder into the frightened Blackened Song, tilting her head to gently touch her muzzle to the mother's scruff. She knew -- they all knew -- and while Taiya wouldn't opt immediately for that resource, there was little option. She squares her shoulders, gazing levelly at Crucifix. "We have little option," She argues with a snide tone, catching her tongue and drawing in another composed breath. Her head shakes and she blinks, eyes downcast. Tensions were high, and the alphess prickles with the thought of furthering the issue with haughty words. She's just trying to hold them all together after this incident. "For Black's sake, Crucifix, we don't have much of an option. Not all humans are bad..." Brown eyes turn to Black, the alphess softening. "I promise, we won't let anything happen to you," she vows diligently, muscles tensing under her pelt. "Krush, would you be able to lead the way?"

Recognizing the pups, it's Blue who weaves forward and sits beside them. She leans down, nuzzling Reph and Naiche gently. "Hush, my darlings, everything will be alright," the blue-eyed she-wolf comforts. She tries to zone out of the conversation between the two alphas, only catching bits of the plan being laid out.

Krush & Naiche

At the sound of a growl rising in Crucifix's throat, Krush dips his head and turns his ears back against his skull, but does not let his piercing blue eyes fall away from the alpha. "...I didn't know that." Came his quiet, almost apologetic remark about Blackened Song, though he had been quietly curious where her 'mate' had gone to. With that bit of knowledge now in his mind, the hybrid went quiet until the two leaders had their discussion and ultimately made the decision to seek help from the two-leggers. At this point his ears perked up again and he gave a swift nod, "I can. And you have my word that these are good two-leggers, who wont hurt anyone in the pack."

With a task to preform, Krush takes only a moment to orient himself before facing his muzzle south, and heading off at a steady lope towards the Woodland Farm. Naiche is too shook up to really pay attention to the conversation at hand, and like Blue, had only caught snippets of it. Unaware that they were about to embark on a short journey, the youngster curls into her brother and leans into Blue's comforting touch.