Tainted

Tainted led her pack to the home of their allies. They nearly had to swim because of the rising water. "I bear a message for the Shadow Haunters!" She yelled through the rain and thunder.

Risen

Moving slowly, with poise and a seductive strut. Risen rounded her lands one last time before the cold voice of Tainted fell upon her ears. Harks perked forth as the female erected her stance. Holding stiff as she listened to the female, trying to locate where the call was coming from.

When her senses came and she gained her direction, the small alpha trotted toward her loyal ally. With her head up, and then lowering in a bow, she asked in a cool, yet subtle tone. "What is the message that you have brought to us..." Her eyes bore into the middle of Tainted's forehead. Not wanting to challenge, but more the fact that the weather was making her uneasy and slightly on edge. Water dripped from her fur, making her seem more like an infected beast rather than a tiny wolf.

Tainted

Tainted bowed to Risen. "My mother, Tahti, who was a former member of the Shadow Haunters if I am correct, has been killed by Black Plaque, Kalaber's mate." She informed. "She gave my sister a message, who in turn gave it to me to give to a child of Tahti who still lives here. Iota is her name." She paused, trying to remember the message. "My mother says that if you approve, Iota may rule her neutral pack, the Refugees, beside Windsong, and possibly Aurinka." She was about to finish when she remembered something else. "Oh, and I believe Kalaber's pack is weak at the moment. They are currently at the mountains." It was a not-so-subtle hint that they could easily take Kalaber and his pack out.

Risen

Her eyes narrowed further at the news of Tahti's death, and then even more so when she heard she would be loosing one of her prized warriors to a neutral pack. "Must the pack remain neutral?" Her lips lifted in one corner before lowering again. She was fighting herself to stay calm.

After moments of unconscious trembles, the female lifted her head and shot a glance. "If the pack pledges alliance with us, we will not ask them to fight, and Iota will rule them. But when battle goes underway, Iota is to come back and fight for her mother pack. Windsong is an ally with the Shadow Haunters, and Iota is a Haunter... And Aurinka.... was suppose to be dead...." At the memory her eyes flashed, and then she bit her lip. "But she may stay in the pack as well.... And as for Kalaber's pack, we are to strengthen our own forces first, and then we will go after them. It was his foolish choice to attack us before we decided to attack them." Her sharp yellow eyes looked into the distance, the sun becoming ever more smothered by the pooring rain.

There was a flash across the sky, lighting the female's body before she spoke again. "This is my offer Tainted, I hope you understand. She is just as dear to me as all the Haunters are, and I don't want there to be a chance that the pack chooses the wrong alliance."

Tainted; Blue Moon

Tainted was about to speak, she even opened her mouth, when Blue Moon came running up.

The young tiger bowed respectfully to Risen before he spoke to Tainted. "Windsong is going to attack Kalaber." He said, panting. "He says he doesn't need help, but I think we should help him anyway."

Tainted nodded to the messenger, then looked at Risen and smiled. "It looks like the Refugees are no longer neutral." She stated with a crooked grin. "Your proposal sounds good to me, and I'm sure Windsong will agree." However, she wondered if Aurinka would ever be back with the Refugees, as it was unlikely that her Shadow Lurker mate would want to join. But Tainted remained hopeful. If needed, she would even brainwash Desmon if it meant they would both join the Refugees.

Risen .+. Iota

Risen bowed gently back to the young tiger as he showed his respect to her. Her coat was soaking wet by now, but as she heard that the Refugees were no longer a neutral pack, and most definitely attacking an enemy of the Haunters, Risen threw up her head and called for Iota.

From within the temple, Iota could hear her alpha's call. Standing, the coy-wolf moved out into the storm and down to the side of the moat. Staring across to her half sister. "You are to rule over a pack as heritage." Risen started. "You're sister can tell you more details." With a bow to tainted, Risen moved off for the dryness of her temple. The water was beginning to make her chill.

Iota came out, her head up as high as it should be. She was a Haunter, and very well proud of it. With a bow to the other two, she questioned her sister in a soft and almost voiceless tone. "What has happened?" She had the gut feeling that something was not right.

Tainted

Tainted looked at her half-sister, sorrow in her eyes. A long sigh escaped her as she averted her gaze. "Our mother was murdered by Kalaber's mate." She informed, looking back at Iota again. "She invited you and Aurinka to rule the pack, but I don't know if Aurinka will remain true to her family, because she has a mate in the Ancient Guardians. It may be just you and Windsong." Of course, they wouldn't have to be mates, unless they wanted to.

Iota

There seemed to be a small pit of discomfort and emptiness inside of the hybrid as she heard the news that her mother had been murdered, and by all creatures: Kalaber's mate. Her head lowered slowly, eyes dropping to the ground, she listened to the rest of what Tainted had to say.

"I see..." she spoke in a near whisper, one more empty than what she had started with. Aurinka.... betrayer of her family.... betrayer of her trust... and yet she wanted to love her sister with all of her heart. And then Windsong.... ally to the Haunters, father of so many that fought beside her. The male now lead the group and was going to lead it by her side... But would he openly accept her as a new alpha... and who would be above who if neither of them really got along.

Tainted

Tainted paused for a moment, letting this sink in. After a while, she spoke again. "Once the flooding goes down, we will go to the packlands." She said in a low, soft tone.