Blackmist

The black and gray hybrid had run at full speed, scrambling over rock and frozen soil as she climbed the steep slopes of the mountain and left the human town far behind. She was panting harshly by the time the Ruins came into view, and her dark golden eyes were squinted partially from the throbbing headache that wracked her, but Blackmist had no time to waste. Stumbling a little, she splashed through the moat and swam across, and didn't bother shaking off after climbing the opposite bank.

"Haunters, I need heplp!" She howled out, "Aizen has been taken, and I've found Momo!" She had no idea how Tersek would react to the news of humans, and with Senka gone for nearly three months now, the leadership of the Haunters was rocky. But that wouldn't stop her from trying to recruit the help she needed to deal with the vile man that had taken her friends.

Azula

Azula had been lounging on a rock when Blackmist came charging in. She yawned roaring as she did so. taken? by who? Momo she still alive?She said standing up and stretching.

Blackmist, Tersek, & Velvet

"She's still alive." Blackmist panted, but their was worry creasing her eyes rather than joy at such news. "The humans have her though, and he captured Aizen... he'd have gotten me too, if I hadn't run." Blackmist had felt like a coward for doing so, and her tucked tail said as much. Pushing aside the headache, her eyes darted to a second feline heading towards her, who was soon eclipsed by Tersek.

With three now in audience, Blackmist went on, "It was that same human who had Darkia, I think." She'd never gotten a great look at Ethan back at his home, but that dead stare of his was unmistakable. "We have to go get them!"

"That's not wise." Velvet quickly cut in, stepping up beside Azula with her own slanted eyes narrowed in thought, "You were lucky in attacking those humans to save Darkia, but the Haunters cannot risk leading humans to our base. We can't afford to get them on our trail."

A growl rattled through Tersek's throat, "We don't abandon our packmates, either." He gave the lioness a harsh look, to which she casually turned her gaze away from. "We will get them both back. Where did the humans take them?"

Blackmist lowered her head slightly, "The human's town." She almost winced at the surprise in Tersek's eyes, and dropped her head further when he flashed his worn, yellowed fangs. "But I'm sure it's the same human from before..."

Tersek turned sharply and paced away from Blackmist, his head lost in thought. Without Senka, he was leery of sending out any strike force, in fear that the Makutcha might take advantage as the Nuova Alba had those years ago. On the other paw, he couldn't just stand around while his members were being lost left and right. With a growl still carrying beneath his breath, Tersek paced back to the trio, "We can't assault their village, Velvet is at least right in that. But we can beseech the Lurkers for help."

Azula

Azula listened and slightly glared at Velvet.So your saying too bad we leave them there? She growled.My mother and aunt would not stand for that.She said and watched Terserk. What if a bird goes and keeps an eye on them and see's if he moves them from the town as well? If its the same guy perhaps he just visiting someone? He bound to move them when he goes homeShe said. then either when their moving them or when they get back to his place we could goShe said.

Blackmist, Tersek, & Velvet

"We can't risk going into human territory." Velvet returned with a pointed glare of her own, though her posture was calm and her tail still. "The more we tangle with the two-leggers, the higher the chance they'll come sniffing us out."

Tersek knew Velvet had a point about the humans, but he disagreed on leaving Aizen and Momo behind. Still mulling the idea of seeking the Lurkers for assistance, his concentration shifted when Azula came up with a possible solution. Tersek's ears perked and he nodded slowly, "That may work, good thinking. We'd best send Dally to investigate; I'm afraid the eagles will be too visible to the humans."

Blackmist didn't wait for directions before turning her muzzle upward and giving voice to a howl, calling for the falcon. As she waited for him to respond, she looked anxiously between the three gathered, "I'd like to join in the rescue."

Again, the grizzled wolf nodded, "You'll be joining us. Azula, too. But if we catch him while he's traveling, we'll have to figure out someway to stop and kill his thunderbug. He'll surely be riding in one of those, like he was at his den."

Azula

Azula slightly glared.Well im not abandoning them. Also we cannot tell Ursa this she may get worse when she just starting to get betterShe said.

Ursa had gained some weight and couldn't stay down stairs any longer.tell me what?She asks moving her head side to side it seemed to help her see a bit.

Blackmist, Tersek, & Velvet

"We can agree on that. Velvet murmured, but just as those words were leaving her mouth, a rounded ear twitched and she looked back to see Ursa hauling herself across the forum. The lioness flicked her tail and sighed, "Zanarah was suppose to be guarding her. Must have fallen asleep on the job." The Oracle was mildly irritated at this, but it was too late to take their words back now.

Blackmist wagged her tail at the sight of Ursa up and moving on all fours, even if her friend was still weak and recovering from her long ordeal. A sympathetic look played across Black's grayed muzzle and she pinned her ears back, "There's been a slight incident with the humans, but we're working on it now."

Not one to mince his words, Tersek didn't hold back, "Your brother was captured by humans, possibly the same one that had taken Darkia." He turned and looked upon Ursa now, impressed that she was up and moving, but not pleased that she'd left the basement where she was suppose to be resting. "Your sister was also found though, and as Blackmist said, we're devising a plan to rescue both. You need to return to the Basement though, Ursa. Where's Quilikahm?"

Ursa

Ursa couldn't live in the dark her whole life, okay well it wasn't her whole life but it felt like it. Her ears go slightly back but not all the way because of finding momo. Humans, they were such a nusance.what do they want with them? She slightly whined. She looked back to the basement.i need fresh air and sunlightShe said sitting down and then tilted her head.out foraging I thinkShe said.

Azula sighed but Ursa proofed her at least so far wrong about her mental state, perhaps it was because they found momo.

Blackmist, Tersek, & Velvet

"He wants to make them pets, I think." Blackmist answered back, not understanding the full extend of Ethan's cruelty. She didn't dare tell Ursa about Momo's reaction to them, not wanting the sickly canine to worry any more than she already was.

Tersek was frowning at Ursa's stubbornness, but rather than try and force her back, the elderly Leader gave a grunt of acknowledgement and made a note to ask Quilikahm about Ursa's progress later. "What we need to know now is how to stop those thunderbugs. He's far from his territory, so he almost certainly is going to use one to get back there with Momo and Aizen."

Velvet rumbled quietly beneath her breath, "We can't attack it head on, it's too powerful. But I do agree we should stop it before he gets back to his den, where he has more hounds to aid him." Though she had not been present during the fight with Ethan, the sly lioness had gleaned all the details from those who had been there, and used the knowledge know to help formulate their plan of attack. "If he's after canines, why not use Blackmist or Duality as bait? Perhaps he'll stop the thunderbug to try and catch her."

Azula

She paced thinking. we could do that or we could find the road he is likely to take, they usually stay on those road thingys with them. If we can trace where his territory is to where he at perhaps we can lay the bait or trap there? I would gladly play pretend road kill, i've seen those thunderbugs stop for large things in the road, I could make it obvious im still alive he might get out to investigate.She said.

Ursa sat down to listen. Her ears back.

Blackmist, Tersek, & Velvet

The look on Velvet's face said she clearly did not like this idea, but the Oracle remained quiet this time around, realizing there was too much opposition to her opinion on the humans. Tersek, on the other paw, was nodding again to Azula's suggestion, "That could work, so long as you aren't directly on the road." The aging Co-Lead raised his maw and issued a short, resonating howl to call for Dally and the rest of the avian members of the Shadow Haunters. "Erathi will be our lookout in the human town, while Dally can guide the other birds to Ethan's territory, and between them, they can scout out the best roads."

Blackmist padded over to Ursa, giving her a soft nudge on the neck before standing beside her in support. "Don't worry, we'll get both of them back."

Ursa

Azula smirked.I have to be close enough for him to see me, humans don't always have the best eyesite so I need to be out in the open clear view and we should do it when the sun is up but not too far upShe said.

Tracey was sleeping near by even when she heard the call. The Harpy slowly woke up and shook her body out as she flew down to a lower branch.

Ursa nudged her back.please doShe said and finally got up and headed back down stairs.

Blackmist, Tersek, & Velvet

"Hopefully the human waits until tomorrow to leave, then." Tersek answered back, while casting a glance up at the star speckled night sky above. "Leomar, you'll be coming with, along with Duality." An ear flicked and he turned his head to the sound of fluttering wings, just in time to see Tracey coasting in to a lower branch nearby. Like a belated shadow, Cedarwood was behind her, his giant chocolate wings guiding him to a second branch nearby his mate. Dally and his daughter Erathi were gliding in just as soon.

"If you've not heard the discussion, Aizen has been captured by humans, and Momo was found to be with them. It's the same human that took Darkia." The grizzled old wolfdog watched as Leomar now padded over with slow, lazy steps. "Blacmist, you'll give Dally a description of the den Momo and Aizen are being kept at, along with it's location for Erathi. Dally, you'll lead Stacey and Cedarwood to the roads between here and the human's personal den. Find the most likely route he's to take, and return to us so we Azula and the rest of us can set up an ambush."

Dally dipped his hooded head, "Should be simple enough. I'm familiar with their rounds near the base of the mountains." The falcon looked sharply to his larger comrades, "Follow me." As he took off to lead the eagles south of the Ruins, Blackmist was similarly leading Erathi aside to explain the location of description of where Erathi would stake out Ethan's movements.

As that was being done, Tersek looked back to Azula, "We'll wait for the raptors to return with their report, then we'll head out and set up the ambush. Unless anyone has any further ideas to ad?"

Tracey

She took flight and followed Dally without a word for now.

Azula dipped her head.Sounds good to meShe said.