Cloudbreaker

'I hope that cat didn't spoil things for me.' The thought had run through Cloud's mind several times as she lead King through the Valley and towards the Ruins. The zorse had been keen to get rid of the lion she'd been paired with, but worried what her leaders might think after she deviated from their set plans, and sent Kovu back home without her. Whatever their thoughts and reactions, Cloudbreaker was ready to face them, and continued to hold onto the hope that they'd approve of her idea.

Climbing higher into the mountains, the stripped equine moved with sure steps as strangely formed stones began to crop up amongst the trees and vegetation the further she went. A fallen pillar here, a moss-covered statue there, all reclaimed fragments of a long lost civilization that once laid claim to the area. Strange enough to catch one's eye, yet decayed enough to not immediately evoke thoughts of the humans that created them. Cloudbreaker passed them all without a second thought, until she reached the large channel around the large temple complex her group called home.

Already, the bottom of the moat had filled with water as some of the pack had been deployed to fix the dam. It wasn't much - half a foot deep at its deepest - but it was a start. Lifting her tail in a dainty fashion, as if somehow worried it might touch the shallow waters, Cloud crossed the moat and gave a loud whinny to call to her pack.

King

He followed her calmly across the moat. He was only doing this as a way to protect his herd from the predators.

Cloudbreaker, Cavan, & Bluescale

Looking so much like a log in the dappled shade, Bluescale watched from the bottom of the moat as the two equines crossed, coming within a few spare feet of his still form. The salt water crocodile wasn't particularly happy having to lay in such shallow water, waiting for the Haunters to fix the moat, but it was easier than quarreling with Dima right now. Recognizing Cloudbreaker as an ally, and too chilled to move anyway, the large reptile remained silent and unnoticed.

The zorse's whinny caught the attention of the Haunter's Captain, who'd been napping outside under a patch of sun. He rose stiffly, fur matted awkwardly against his face where he'd had it rested against the ground, and his one ear flopped lazily to the side. It took a long yawn and lengthy stretch of the legs before the old wolf began to pad in the pair's direction, meeting them halfway across the forum. "Mmm. Who's this with you, Cloud?"

Cloudbreaker was thankful that there weren't more Haunters lounging about, for King's sake. Bowing her head faintly to Cavan, Cloudbreaker explained, "King here is establishing a herd near the center of the Valley, in the Toklat Canyon territory. I thought it might be wise to make an alliance with him. It would add greatly to the Haunter's numbers, and provide more eyes and ears within the Valley." Without yet mentioning the part where she wanted to live with his herd, Cloudbreaker turned her gaze to the stallion, letting him speak if he wanted.

King

He followed her eyeing the moat but it was shallow enough to walk across so he moved across it. He eyed the canine that now approached them warily one ear back the other on the canine. He didn't let it out of its site. Greetingswas all he said.

Cloudbreaker, Cavan, & Bluescale

Cloud saw the anxiety that took King, and knew it had to be going against every instinct in his body to stand calmly here and not bolt at the sight of a wolf and the stench of so many predators. Admiring his bravery, and flashed him a faint, reassuring smile before flashing her eyes back to Cavan to await his answer.

"Interesting... a sound idea." Cavan responded at length, "Senka and Tersek will have to make the deciding vote on that one, but Senka is out on patrol right now and Tersek is hunting." Finding himself a little tired, Cavan rested back on his haunches and blinked his weary eyes, focusing the 'good' one on the stallion. "We'll have to send another Haunter out to further inspect the territory, but I don't see why our leaders would refuse such an alliance. Tell me King, how many horses do you have in your herd?"

King

King was very much having issues. His ears were back. why would you need to inspect my territory? I see no reason for that and enough members for myselfHe said with a snort. He pawed the ground.

Cloudbreaker, Cavan, & Bluescale

"If you're an ally of the Haunters-" Cavan began, pressing his only ear forward as if his small, withered frame could be seen as anything remotely threatening to a large stallion in his prime, "-there are certain stipulations you must agree to. We need to know the layout of your territory in case it gets invaded and you need reinforcements." The wolf narrowed his eyes a little at King's pawing of the ground, but he was thankfully too exhausted to stand up and bristle his fur, or get overly aggressive with the horse. Instead, he remained sitting where he was, scowling a little but otherwise looking little more than a grumpy old wolf, "I won't get into any details - that's for Senka and Tersek to decide, but we need to know about your land and who lives there."

Cloudbreaker was still thanking her lucky stars that the rest of the Haunters seemed to be away from the Temple at the moment, and they were only dealing with the age-crippled old Captain. Quietly, she turned her cream-hued muzzle to King and murmured to him, "They'll just want a quick look, is all. I can probably convince them to send a falcon or eagle to do the surveying. Just humor him." And despite how close she was to Cavan, the fact that he was deaf in one ear, and had the 'good' one shredded to a nub years ago meant that he picked up on none of the quiet words she put forth to her leader.

King

King snorted and pawed the ground more.then I get to survey your land but you do not need to know who lives with me they will all be horses and my herd will grow continusly and im not gonna update you on that either.He snorted.

Cloudbreaker, Cavan, & Bluescale

"As a respected ally, you would have the permission of touring our land, but we haven't gotten that far yet." Cavan countered, finding King's brusque attitude vexing, and knowing that Tersek wouldn't tolerate such disrespect. "You don't have the privilege of making demands right now, only the privilege of gaining the support and power of the Shadow Haunters if you can accept our terms." The old wolf's eye narrowed, and his tones carried in a deeper rumble in an attempt to impart just how serious he was, "If we are to be allies, we must know who all is in your herd. Is that something you can agree to, or should I consider you prey?"

Cloudbreaker's ears went back, seeing this hopeful merger spiral out of control. She glanced anxiously between King and Cavan, quietly hoping that a deal could be met, or at the very least, that Cavan didn't attempt an attack if things went completely sour.

King

King stomped a hoof.Nor can you make demands of me he said with another stomp of a hoof. If you want to know who all is in my herd then i first must know who all is in your packHe said however then he spoke of prey.You nor your pack will ever take me down flea bag, we aren't mindless animals like humans animals areHe said.

Cloudbreaker, Cavan, & Bluescale

"You came here seeking an alliance." Cavan reminded him with a heightened rumble, "Does a lone wolf approach an alpha and demand to join their pack, gaining their protection and support just like that? No, they show respect and accept the terms of life in that pack, and in return for that partnership they get protection and fellowship." The old wolf shot Cloudbreaker a harsh glare when the mare made an attempt to speak. All fired up, Cavan bared his heavily worn, fetid yellow teeth, "The Shadow Haunters are at the top of the hierarchy in this Valley, the strongest of the strong. If you want to be an ally with us, you have to accept our terms, and then you will gain our protection and support. That includes knowing who is in your herd and what the layout of your land is, should the need for backup arise." His fur was up at this point, and that rumble in his throat had grown into a deep snarl, "I will give you one chance to apologize to me and agree to these simple terms, or you and your herd will be considered our prey."

Cloudbreaker was holding her breath now. She wasn't in the least bit frightened by Cavan - either one of them could take out the old wolf with ease - but the rest of the pack would tear them to shreds. She'd seen it first hand on that fateful day, and when her eyes finally did open, they lingered on the site of Mikia and Frostlit's death. Desperately pushing those thoughts and sounds from her mind, the zorse was left torn on what to do now.

King

Now he was agitated.alliances go two way and im not requesting to join your pack its two different things. If I am not allowed to know who is in your pack or the lay of your land then you may not know minehe said arching his neck.You want to be enemies fine be my enemy my herd can and will take as many of you down with us if you come onto our turf and attack. We won't die without taking your pack with usHe reared up then and lashed a hoof at him but mostly at air. His eyes turn to cloudbreaker.You call these your friends? They are not friends they are predators and thats all they can see is that they are predators nothing more they keep you around in case other prey gets scarceHe said. My herd will always be your herd cloudbreaker you and any equine friend of yours is welcomed but these predators are notHe said.

Cloudbreaker, Cavan, & Bluescale

"You would have been more than permitted to know who's all in our pack, as well as our land - it would have been land that your herd could have shared in, hadn't your attitude and haughty demands gotten in the way first." By now the alliance was irrevocably broken, with Cavan not about to stand for such behavior towards his Haunters. The Captain's face scrunched into a more vivid snarl when King boasted his herd's strength, and the wolf spat, "Apparently Cloudbreaker didn't tell you we are a clan of wolves and lions. Deer, Horses, River Monsters-"

At the rise of the old wolf's voice, Bluescale took a single, slughish step forward, pushing his great mass across the ground rather than rise up on his short little legs. Fall had gripped the Valley, and it was cold despite the thermals below ground - the saltwater crocodile didn't have the energy to try and rush the horse, even if Cavan ordered it. But he was following the situation, and opened his long, deadly jaws now to back up Cavan's claim of River Monsters.

"-we're more than capable to squashing a simple herd of horses that threatens us." His eye flashed to Cloudbreaker following King's words to her, and before he could say anything, the zorse was taking a step back. She hadn't seen Bluescale, and the sudden gaping of those big jaws and further reminded her of the day of slaughter that had killed so many Haunters. "I can't stay here anymore... King, I'm sorry I dragged you into this." She took another step back and nudged him, "We need to run."

King

He snorted at the wolf.You could have a dinosaur with you and I wouldn't be scared. Your haughty demands are what killed it wolfhe glanced to the reptile and shook his head.And I can give you quiet the concussion if I wanted tohe said then his ear flicked to Cloud. He dipped his head and turned and left his tail up. At least he gained a new member fro mthis ordeal.

Cloudbreaker & Others

Cavan was caught off guard by Cloudbreaker's decision, and for a moment was speechless as the striped mare turned tail and trotted swiftly after her new stallion. He wasn't so bothered by King's refusal, for the horse was an outsider anyway, and wasn't a threat in the old wolf's eyes. But Cloudbreaker had been a Haunter since her birth, living all of her nine years of life with the group, sticking with them even during their fracture and the tumultuous times that followed. Very quickly, his face twisted into disgust and anger, and he turned his heavily grayed muzzle towards the ruins, announcing to all that Cloudbreaker was now a defector and an enemy of the Haunters.