Tumult

From the black of the smoke and the heat of the roaring flames, Tumult snuck his way past the rest of the warriors. The heavy body of Hydras grasped tightly in his jaws and he found his way to the mote. Crossing it ever so calmly, he snuck into a large ruined house.

It was fairly small, but he had been investigating it for some time. Where the floor was all tile, there was a corner where the ground had reclaimed and pushed tiles away, just big enough for him to dig a hole.. Amd a hole he did dig. Almost seven feet below the ground, Tumult had created a "lair". four feet wide, four feet long, and three foot tall.

The male took Hydras into this den and layed her in the corner. For now, he could see anything, it was pitch black. Ten times darker than the smokey night outside. He could only feel his way before leaving Hydras' body and then moving out to seek Quilikahm, for he had to get to her before the poisons in Hydras' really did completely kill her. Only Quilikahm would be allowed to know about the Lurker Queen's where abouts.

Quilikham & Others

Ointments, salves, and poultices had all been prepared in advance for the war, and now the preparations were paying off as the little muntjac began to scurry about and seek out the most dire of patients. "Keep pressure on the bleeding wounds! Those who are able, sort out the more needy patients!" Quil scampered about, dodging between the legs of the larger creatures as she continued to sort out just who needed what, and which Warriors were on the verge of death. "Please, bring the critical patients over this way, into the back room!" She had just finished applying a hasty conconction of paste and poultices over Little Tuft, and had ordered Ginger and Leopeson to monitor his condition. Now she was hustling back out to find her next needy member.

With his wound not being life-threatening, Dandelion remained where he was after the infinitely smaller healer-deer made a quick assessment of him. Clustered near him, Warfell, Tersek, Bergamot, and Donte were of the lesser injured members.

Tumult

The brute staggered in, his body pitch black due to the soot that stained his body. "Quil, I have a wounded soldier who cannot make it to the temple, he requests you come to his aid." His eyes burned with desire, something in him that told her that only she should follow, and no other.

Quilikham & Others

As adamantly as she was barking out orders, Quil was not one to disobey a command of any kind from any Haunter. The muntjac bobbed her head in understanding, halting in her work to look upon the debris-covered canine, "I will be just a moment." In the next instant, she was dashing for her own quarters, where she kept bundles of various herbs clumped into rolls of burrdock leaves. Taking one of these primitive 'kits' in her delicate mouth, the creature scurried back outside and stood before Tumult once more. She had caught the look in his eyes, and instead of requesting for help, she passed on some suggestions to Fawn and the other healers, letting them know where all the aloe plants were for the burn wounds.

Tumutl

The male nodded to the doe before turning and trotting at a slow enough pace for her to keep up. Moving from one of the most populated areas of the Ruins to a more dark and isolated area. One where the scent of the Haunters almost faded away. It still being night time, and the large cloud of smoke hovering over them made the land a dreadful graveyard. Or at least, felt like one.

Turning his haunting eyes to the deer he whispered. "Quil, You will be the only one who will see this, and you may not tell another soul. Please... I have ... No... you must see... Promise me Quil; Quilikham. That you will not speak of what you are about to see, never to anyone, no one else, until the day that I gain rule... No one is to see, what you are about to see. Do you promise?"

He was now standing at the doorway to the house. Blocking the little deer from entering. Looking down at her with intent eyes, though he was but a small outline. There was little light, he would have to bring Hydras outside for the muntjac to do anything.

Quilikham

Shuffling her tiny front hooves in a half-anxious manner, Quilikham devoted her full attention to the Queen's son. Her heart was racing like a jackhammer as they filtered away from the populated area and delved deeper into the smokey shadows of the Ruin's lesser visited regions. Being a thing of little stature and minimal defenses, the muntjac much prefered to stay in the heart of their territory, where there were plenty of Haunters around to protect her. However, her trepidation was not once voiced as she went on to reply to Tumult in her squeaky voice, "You have my word, Tumult. I will tell no one." And indeed, her words were sincere. This was Risen's son, and she would not go against his wishes, no matter what surprise he had in store for her. As far as pack politics went, she stayed out of them as best she could.

Tumult

Nodding his pale white head, his matched yellow eyes holding her still before turning and moving into the den he dug. A few moments passed as he ended up back at the top of the hole with a creature in his mouth; A large creature. A wolf.

Pulling the limp body out from within the ground, Tumult moved the ash covered body toward the door so that the deer could have some light. Placing the would-be corpse in front of the deer and then whispering in such a low tone, he could barely hear himself. "This, Quilikham, is Hydras..." He licked the female's dial clean of ash, letting the fallen Lurker-Queens face show to the healer deer.

His stance turned to that of power, but with some remorse. "I want to know if there is any way to save her. She has taken in a lot of poison. Plus her wounds are very severe." There was a moments pause, the wanna-be leader anxious to know if Hydras could be kept alive... and ultimately: converted to work for, and more overly; Help lead the Haunters.

Quilikahm & Others

She had only witnessed the alphess on one occassion, and briefly at that, but the sight of her was unmistakable, and the little deer drew back just a smidgen when the face was finally revealed to her. Stiffling what wanted to be trepidation and alarm, Quil moved forward again, tusked face hovining over the hybrid's head and lingering there a moment until she felt the vaguest wash of hot breath. The dethroned queen was alive, but barely.

",B>I cannot guarantee anything, but I will do my best." The muntjac vowed after a moment, looking over the wounds with a critical eye. She opened her mouth to speak again, but seemed to think better of it as she turned abruptly to the cluster of herbs she had brought with her. Nosing about through the various components of plant parts, she began to single out what she needed and proceed with the arduous task of treating the downed Lurker.

Tumult

The son of Risen watched as the deer worked on his little secret. Rather, his large secret. "Just make sure no one finds her. No one is to know about her, Quil. I do not want her to pass on. Not with how talented-a-leader she is. Besides, having her on our side will inevitably break the Lurkers in half. Temptation has been issued to tear them from the inside. To make them weak, and having Hydras on our side will be like a boulder against a hallow shell... They will stand no chance."

His eyes turned toward the Ruins. Taking in a deep breath as the fire and smoke began to clear away. "I know my mother has told me I cannot claim this pack due to blood. I do not mean to sound possessive, jealous, or even greedy... But I feel it is my rightful place to take the thrown after my mother has fallen... So much competition... so many family members, friends... And how to get them all to see that... leading the pack is all I really want..." Tumult began to drift into his own world. Thinking, daydreaming....

____________

He was there, on stage in the temple. The cheers of the other Haunters praising him... And he quiets them. With a smile he calls out. "The Haunters will live forever... in peace in the valley. In Shadow Valley... this is why.. I bring to you an ex-enemy, she is no longer our foe... but our ally, our pack mate. A leader... she will help us defeat the lurkers.. to rid them as an opposing force. Be it by converting them to our side... or destroying them. Temptation has done a wonderful job thus far... Breaking every hope they have.... and now for the final blow...."

The air calms around him and his pack... and he turns. "Come out my dear..." He said in a low and calm whisper, and from the shadows walks the fallen Lurker-queen... Voices gasp across those of the elder members, and those who had fought in the battle... Hydras... The name seemed to become part of the wind as every member who recognized her let the fallen enemy's name escape with a gasp from their lips. While elder members were in shock, the younger generation looked at the wolf. Their interests peak for they had been told about this mighty foe... and to have her here... standing in front of them...

"Hydras is no longer a lurker..." He said... and Hydras stepped up next to the male; with a new power, a new air encasing her very being. "Now I am the Haunter Queen." She said with a strong voice. Looking at the others... As each of them bowed their heads to the new king and queen of the Haunters....