ROIC

Cackling, the agile wolf of four leaped from the slope she was walkin up onto a unsuspecting rabbit a few feet above her. Licking her drooling chops, she watched with bright and crazed eyes as the prey squirmed and screeamed that horrible sound only dying bunnies scream. It twisted beneath her paws, but as her wicked claws dug into its back, it gasped and went limp, and before it could even recover from it's excessive shock, ROIC killed it with a flick of her paw, snapping its spine.

Pleased, she picked up the rabbit in her mouth, nose crinkling from the irrative tickling of the fur. Looking around her, she saw that she was still alone, but had now crossed over into the packlands of the Haunters.

Every few steps she tossed her catch up above her then caught it effortlessly mid-jump. With her nonchalant demeanor so boldly flaunted, you'd assume she was a regular in these lands. She was not. She had come from many, many moons away in the search of some fickle pack, begging to be taken over. Instead, she had gotten news of a movement in some Valley close to where she was staying. Interested, she obtained as much information as she could, and finally decided to take leave of the small pack of five she had adopted (for her own asmusement), and started bee-lining for Sparkling Creek Valley.

Warm blood seeped into her mouth as she crunched down on the rabbit, thinking dreamilly of the Haunters, and what they could offer her. She was born to lead, with a very strick, iron paw.

Wading over a small creek, ROIC looked around, noting the different pathways out of the land. Some were very small and barely noticeable, others were BAM, in your face, looked to be made by large animals; deer, horses, even elephants. The fact that a mere wolf (that was NOT her) could reign supreme over so many types of animals slightly impressed her.

Finally, she reached the Ruins. They stood before her in all their ancient glory of parched stone. Vines and tendrils of different foliage were wrapped and covering the sides and cielings of the ruins. Inside, it seemed dark and dank.

"How perfect," she cooed slyly. ROIC felt no need to announce her arrival. If the Haunters were as big and bad as she had heard, then surely they'd have a lookout. If not, then she'd readilly start throwing her weight around.

[name] ROIC
[gender] FEMALE
[age] FOUR
[species] WOLF
[breed] ARTIC
[pack] -x-
[land] -x-
[lover] -x-
[children] -x-

Joey

Joey the elephant was making his rounds as a gaurd when he saw something being tossed in the air. His ears constantly flapping to cool him off. Then he saw the wolf and he let out a warning rumble that she was coming close to haunter lands and if she showed any threat he wouldn't hesitate to charge. His trunk rested on his tusks.

Orinoco

The massive yacare caiman was making rounds in the moat when she saw Roic. She rested the front half of her body on the shore and looked back at the elephant. "Easy there, Joey." She said smoothly, her eyes twinkling. She then addressed the stranger. "Hello. I am Orinoco. You are on Shadow Haunter land, dear. Forgive us, but we like to be extra careful when a visitor arrives, just for the safety of our pack. Could you tell us your name and what you're doing here?" She was smiling, showing that she meant no harm to this lovely wolfess.

ROIC

The winds had picked up and the scents revealed were heavy. There was definately a large number of animals here, and they all had that Haunter scent. Gnawing gently on the rabbit that she still held loosely in her mouth, she scanned over the place.

A large rumble, deep and familiar, caused her to look to the right. There, a bull elephant seemed to be watching her, and had just sounded the alarm that she was here. No matter, she thought. It's exactly what I wanted.

There was movement in the water next to her, and ROIC jumped back, eyes still dull with boredom. There was nothing in this land that could scare her. She had encountered much in her short life, and the only weakness she had would remain unknown forever.

The caiman's polite greeting didn't surprise ROIC as much as it disgusted her. I knew these 'Haunters' were a bunch of soft-foots. Puh. Ceasing her chewing on the dead bunny, she let it fall from her mouth and stared at the caiman, Orinoco. She assumed this kind, innocent facade was just the Haunter's ploy. Every bad guy has got their mask.

Looking from the creature in the water to the Ruins in front of her, ROIC snorted. "My name is ROIC. I am seeking out your pack so that I may join them." A bit nicer than her normal acidic words, but why spoil hospitality?

Joey

Joey moved closer but dipped his head to the caimens words. he listened to the creatures words and then let his trunk fall so it just hung there. So you wish to join us? What would you classify yourself as, Warrior? Strategist? Gaurd? Mother? Converter? or Healer?He spoke. If you didn't know his voice or weren't smart you wouldn't think he was speaking since his trunk was down and his mouth barely moved.

Breathless

Another in the water came forth. This one may very well surprise the wolf, especially since her type wasn't common, especially in the wild, in the United States. She was a zoo pet until she escaped, she would have eaten them too if she could.

Her large head, one almost the size of a wolf's head, moved out of the water. She was a python, a 40 foot 900 pound python that dwelled in the water. Her eyes were cold, unblinking, only staring into the soul of the one who stood in front of her. She was the one, the one who had killed the alpha's mother (and ate her). She didn't mind eating wolves, they were tasty, but it was better to work with them then against them in this place she now called home.

"We are the Shadow Haunters, Risen is Currently Busy... What makes you think we can trust you?" Her tongue lashed the air. Her large body coiling under the water, making the liquid dance around her.

ROIC

The strong front of summer didn't seem to reach this place. The thick canopies overhead and the large amounts of water everywhere kept this place cool and fresh. This climate attracted ROIC because although she could bare most extreme climates, the cooler the better for her since she was an Artic Wolf.

Placing a paw on the rabbit to the ground, she looked from the caiman back to the large elephant. She had encountered these creatures before, and they were mildly interesting. Where does this idiot get off....? His words fell on deaf ears. She was in no mood to take on suboordinates. She wanted the leader, the coal of the wildfire. Why had she not approached her? Damn it all. ROIC figured the Haunters leader was one of those that hid behind the masses of her army. How quaint.

The more and more she waited, the more irritable she grew. She was about to just push past the elephant and walk on to the Ruin structure, but something slithered up on her plans. Ears twitching, tail flicked and highly erect over her back, ROIC watched as the python came from the water, skin glistening and colorful. ROIC smiled, more to herself than to anyone else, and took in the serpent's size. She had always admired snakes. For although they are limb-less, their power and their strength was unlike any other animal's.

Looking down into the snake's warmth-less eyes, she listened, but the snake's words were just as helpful as the elephant's.

Frustration began to make the wolf hot and impulsive. Where the hell was their leader? ROIC didn't care if she was busy. Only a novice leader would be 'too busy' to show an interest in a stranger on her lands, especially a powerful one.

",B>I don't want the trust of the body! I want the alliance of the head. Where is this 'Risen'? I will speak to no one else but her. Away from me." Growling now in her anger at being so unappropriately approached, ROIC took the rabbit back into her mouth and bounded up the slippery incline onto the Ruins. Slipping her limp prey from her mouth she threw up her head and howled a deep, demanding note saying, 'I am a defiant intruder. The Alpha must deal with me.'

Shadow Haunter or no, Risen was a wolf, and no sane wolf could ignore that melody of howl.

Joey

The elphant glared at the wolf as she spoke and his eyes narrowed. He let a deep and intimidating rumble sound.The haunters are as one, you insolent being, We work as one , Risen is busy and you will either wait or leave. If we do not trust you or like you then our leader will not like you either, You must trust us and be allied with us to be allied with herHe spoke his trunk now lifted up and he was now much closer then before.This wolf could not take him, and definitly couldn't take on the caimen or even the snake for that matter.

Risen

Risen had just gotten done speaking with the Warriors about setting up territory and breeding to create the next generation of the Shadow Haunters. Her eyes were level as she moved around the land, for tomorrow was the day Lyckos was to confront her and the Shadow Haunters about finishing off her enemy: Tainted. With a deep heave of air she tried to calm her nerves about working beside her Lurker enemies. The pack she once called her own that had become enemies after she betrayed them to start the Shadow Haunters. Since Lyckos wasn't around in that time frame, he seemed not so betrayed by Risen as most of the other lurkers probably did.

With a scoff under her tone she shook away the memories of being a Lurker, keeping her eyes clear now as another ruckus at the borders of her land took place. When the wolf howled Risen paused. Snorting slightly, I need to teach them how to greet guests accordingly She thought to herself. There were few of the Haunters, as much a kind face as they put up, that could greet newcomers in a way that the newcomer would respect them. They were the Shadow Haunters for Cerberus sake; a force that was most certainly reckoned with. Greetings to newbies should reflect their strength in battle. The Haunters had many Warriors, but the lower beings were catching up because of the weak facade the pack presented. There was no need for them to lie about their strength with friendly hellos. At least a traditional greeting would suffice.

Moving closer to this new wolf, Risen paused and stared the stranger in the eye. Being one of the smallest wolves in the valley, Risen help her power in strength in her gaze. A relentless glare that could make even the ground below her tremble. The furs along her shoulders began to raise as she lifted her head and gave a silent demand of silence to the other Haunters. Her tail high, dial at peak, ears erect and very much at attention. Lifting her head she howled and gave her ancestral greeting, "My name is Risen, Daughter of Vicious and Fallen, Alpha of the Shadow Haunters. What is your reason for calling me?" Lowering her head, and expecting a reply from the other. Breathless gave a bow of her head, "She wishes to join the Shadow Haunters..." Risen shot a sharp glance at the snake, causing the reptilian creature to retreat back under the water. Her towering head now only a small lump above the water. Unblinking eyes stared at the new wolf, ready to strike with all her force if the creature did anything to harm her master. Around her now swam hundreds water moccasins. The water that was once dead became alive with ribbon like creatures.

Risen eyed their movements, but only for a second before returning her gaze to the female. She knew the snakes were inviting her into the water, they wanted to protect her in every way they could. She did not comply to their inviting request. Instead she stayed on land, just inches from the shore. Awaiting this wolf to explain herself.

ROIC

The tension in the animals heightened all around ROIC, and she relished in it. It reassured her that the oncoming body was a powerful one, and power is what ROIC craved.

Once her nose caught the new scent, ROIC immediately picked the rabbit back up and waited, her whole body anticipating the moment the leader of the Shadow Haunters came.

And when it did, ROIC was very excited. Rise stepped towards her with the whole world--her world--atop her back, but her crest stayed high as well as her tail, and her eyes were ruthless. ROIC quivered in her skin. She'd never admit that she allowed Risen to give her a slight blanket of chills. ROIC lowered her tail appropriately and her ears turned slightly backwards. She wacthed closely as the great snake took refuge in the water under her master's reprimanded stare. This is exactly what she had heard.

Taking a single step forward, bright and youthful eyes never leaving Risen's, she dropped the rabbit at her feet, a pathetic attempt at a present, but it symbolized so much more. She had taken it upon herself to hunt on the Shadow Haunters lands and kill what may have been an ally--or not--but she had stalked and killed it, and now she lay it at the Alpha's feet. 'There is nothing I wouldn't do,' it said.

Keeping a most formal and respectable stance, ROIC looked at Risen, eyes glistening wih hunger. Hunger of a higher prey. "Risen, I am Roic, daughter of Qor and Emilina, traveler from the North, and I have come onto your lands looking to join you in your effortless strife. I ask to aid you in anyway possible, but only to standards of my own. I will not be placed with the lowlier ranks. Understand that I am of more value than that."

Joey

He listened to risen and then the other and the bull elephant glared.No Haunter is of technical low rank here, WE are all equals.He spoke. It may be out of turn but what she said about lowlier ranks infuriated him. Plus the fact that he was in Musk which showed from the wetness around his face.You best watch your choice of words FemHe spoke.

Risen

Closely, the female listened to the words that spilled from the other. Glancing at the symbolic kill a few times before giving a quizzical look to the femme. A mighty tail thrashed behind her as she kept her mind in thought and check. When the bull elephant spoke out of turn she shot back a menacing growl. "Watch your tongue, Joey. I did not ask you to speak!" The female lifted her lips, revealing a cage of ivory fangs. Hollow growls escaped, demanding the elephant take his part of silence as the others around her had. Obedience; Risen was the Alpha.

Turning her burning yellow orb back to Roic, Risen corrected as Joey had so rudely done. "The elephant is correct in saying there is no lower rank. Every Haunter has a purpose. What would be the point of a lower rank in a powerful pack? If you are wanting to be faced with power, to fight and prove your strength, then you are a Warrior. As a Warrior you will be the headline of the forces of the Haunter. If you feel that you'd rather plan tactics and battle strategies and lead a group rather than be the brute force of it, then you are a Strategist. When you say lower rank, I assume you are commenting about our Mothers, or Healers. Which, mind you, we would never call weak. The Healers are what will aid you when you are wounded. The Mother's will raise and care for your pups. That is, of course, if you choose to be a Warrior. Only Warriors and Guards are allowed to breed. Guards are the only ones who may take care of their own children. Warriors must leave their pups with the Mothers as soon as they are old enough to be weaned off of milk."

Risen gave a pause as she shot Joey a daring look. Whether this female joined or not was not up to him. Risen would make the final call and so far, Roic was pleasing her just by pissing Joey off.

"Canines and Felines are not allowed to be Guards. What a wolf may be placed as is a Warrior, a Strategist, a Converter (or a Spy), a Mother (Females Only), or a Healer. All Haunters hold value... It is your interaction with the others that will gain you respect. Know this Roic, This is not a normal wolf pack, we do not run as the rest of the Valley runs. When the Haunters stand next to each other to fight: Everyone will have their head up; their tail up; their eyes on each other; and then soley on the enemy. The Haunters fight as one unit, as one being, and that is what makes us as strong as we are. You will see. I invite you to take part in our next fight, if you so wish to join us. We will be fighting along a temporary ally to destroy a wolf named Tainted. A devilish female who flexibly switches allies whenever she wishes. She has betrayed the Shadow Haunters, as well as the Shadow Lurkers. As much as the Haunters and Lurkers are enemies, this Traitor is a bigger issue at the moment. We have agreed to go after her." She looked at the surrounding creatures, Breathless flicked her tongue out, this would mean they would have to protect the children again.

Risen, frozen for a moment, eyes deeply piercing those of this new might-be member, whispered. "Would you like to join us?"

ROIC

It wasn't easy to take it all in, but she did. ROIC watched Risen as she spoke of her Haunters, like the master of his creation. Slowly it all seeped into her mind, settling and forming. This would all suit her just fine.

So there were no lower ranks, just positions. That didn't hinder ROIC's opinion. There had to be scouts, no doubt. Guards, of course. Mothers, well, they needed an army.

Warrior seemed to be the best thing to do; for now.

"Perfect. You have a fine power behind you. I will join." Her eyes blazed with that ancient vehemence that had haunted her for many moons. SHe would wreak havoc, and it would happen right under everybody's noses.

Joey

Joey saw risens glance but just stood there.Sorry lady risen, it is hard to check my temper being in muskHe spoke quietly. His trunk now rested on his tuck as he watched the stranger.