Velvet & Others

Shortly after entering the Temple, Velvet had transfered Forest over to Sunburst, the little gray wolfdog that had joined the party as they passed from the central rooms and out towards the lake that surrounded Dima's Temple. The orange-eyed, tiny-framed hybrid was nearly dwarfed by the lions and the well-muscled Bandit, but he made up for his small stature with an endless well of energy and a drive to follow the Coalition. Sunburst wasn't quite cut out to be in the powerhouse group, but he was handy fellow to keep close at paw, in any case.

With her mouth free to speak, Velvet took just a moment to glance around and be sure that there were no extra ears around to hear her words that she now whispered to Bandit, "The Lurkers can not become allianced with us." She pretty well knew already that Bandit didn't favor the Alley-dwelling group, so she didn't fear speaking her mind and risking him narking on her to Greyfell or the others who were in favor of befriending the Shadow Lurkers. "While Greyfell is busy seeking out their leader, I have a bit of a surprise planned. Something that will ensure that our packs remain enemies, as they should." Velvet stopped there with her words, first waiting to see if Bandit was following along with her track of thinking before she would reveal just what she'd devised.

Bandit

As the group made their way to Dima's Temple, Bandit took up a place at the front, flanked by Velvet and Martimoor. He had greeted Sunburst quietly when the wolfdog had come to take Forest, but had otherwise remained silent throughout the journey. Bandit held respect for those who had the drive and determination to go places, to strive for something better. Anyone who wanted to be in the Coalition, who really wanted it, was worthy in his eyes of some respect. Bandit was very much a supporter of hierarchy, but he did know that respect was due where it was deserved, and that didn't always have to be to leaders.

Plus, leaders often weren't worthy of their titles.

Once in a secluded area where nobody could listen into their conversation without being spotted or sensed, Velvet spoke. Their words were hushed, so only the group of lions and Bandit would be able to hear. Velvet's first statement received exactly the reaction she was hoping for, as Bandit's eyes glimmered with a disgust for the opposing Shadow pack, and an agreement with her words, accompanied by a small nod of his head. The next thing she said suprised him, though. It seems he had not been the only one planning something. "A plan? That's very interesting. It seems we've both been thinking similar things, as I too have had some thoughts about the future."

"You first, Velvet."

Velvet & Others

"I didn't do anything! C'mon, man!" The bird had started panicking all over again, and didn't at all like the way that his precious flight feathers were getting so mussed up, and his downy slowly invaded by the foul saliva. Not to mention the way the punctures were starting to sting like mad, which Sunburst's not so careful jaws were only aggravating further. "I wasn't anywhe- gah! Okay, okay!"

Sunburst grinned wickedly, lifting his smoke-gray lips whilst pressing his jaws together enough to make the raptor squirm and end his protesting. The hybrid's tail was wagging jovially all the while, simply delighted that he got to tag along with the Coalition, and even more joyful over the appreciation he was shown by Bandit. It wasn't so much that he was picked on and kicked to the curb by most others, but his small stature led him to idolizing those who had physical strength, and did everything he could to be in their good favor.

Another glance was cast over her shoulder, and this act mirrored by Martimoor who also took his time to make sure no one was near enough to be listening in on them. Velvet slowed and stopped a few feet from the water, coming to a halt on a stretch of stone ground that offered no convenient hiding places for others to eavesdrop on what was being said. "Ahh, so you've been doing some thinking as well?" Velvet almost purred out in a tone that was as soft as her namesake. This was music to her ears! Suppressing the eagerness that she felt at getting the ball rolling, the lioness hunkered down a little, and carefully spelled out the plot that she'd been hatching, while making a note to leave room for altering it, in case Bandit's own ideas might work with or around it. "Catching a 'spy' is one thing..." The way she said that made it abundantly clear that Forest was, in fact, not the spy that she and Khala had claimed. But what Haunter was going to take the word of the enemy over that of two of their own members? Velvet smiled deviously as she continued, "What we need is a direct threat against us to encourage the rest of our Family to go end this so-called truce with the Lurkers. If someone, say... one of the nonbelievers..." A subtle reference to Icestar, "...were to be killed by Lurkers, that would be a definite end to the ceasefire." It was a daring proposition to take out one of their own, but a risk that Velvet felt was necessary for the health of the pack. "Here's what I have figured. Icestar is found murdered by one of us. Naturally, in our rage, we go out to track down his 'killer' - any lone Lurker caught on their own will suffice, so long as no witnesses are left behind."

Gavina

Gavina had been instructed to keep an eye on Velvet and Bandit. Greyfell never trusted those two, and it appeared that his 'I'm going to talk to Lyckos' bluff worked. The ashen-colored falcon had been here, hiding silently in the shadows, waiting for the two. She was an expert spy - she knew how to hide and snoop.

She had been instructed to not make herself known whatsoever, but what the scheming pair said could have very well made her jaw drop. She flew down from her perch and fluttered around by where the group planned. "You liars! You dirty liars! Greyfell will hear about this!" Greyfell himself had told a lie - he was sure something was up with Velvet, but he needed to wait until he could be sure. And by this time, he would be. Gavina soared out to Greyfell, who had been of course waiting rather suspiciously for Gavina's word.

It was a matter of seconds before the zebra stormed into the temple. "Velvet. Bandit. Come down here. Now." His words were like a viper's venom, calm, but quite dangerous. If there's anything Velvet and Bandit should have learned before they started scheming, it was that Greyfell had ears everywhere. It was hard for something to get past his many spies.

Bandit

Velvet's plan made Bandit grin wickedly. Oh, this was too good to be true! Clearly fate had wanted this to happen, putting him and Velvet together to take the Haunters back to their rightful ways. Risen's disappearance had meant a sudden end to the war with the Lurkers, something he was very angry about, but now he had a chance to change it.

Velvet's plan was divine, and when she had finished telling him, his eyes lit up and he couldn't help but let a laugh rumble from his chest. This plan was perfect. "An excellent plan, one I cannot fault. This will get the ball rolling for my plan; a takeover. My ultimate goal was to take the Haunters for myself and bring us back to our previous greatness. Now, you have shown me the way to start such a scheme, and so I offer you the chance to lead with me when we finally decide the time is right. We will restore the Haunters to their rightful place at the top of the valley, and this time the dream of the Shadow Valley will be realised!"

Bandit was bubbling with mirth. Velvet, himself and the Coalition would have no trouble with this plan. "So, we must now decide when to carry out this 'murder'. Icestar-"

Then Gavina revealed her hiding place and disappeared, no doubt reporting to the Haunter Leader. In this small gap when they were truly alone, Bandit sighed boredly, his eyes still full of that glimmer as he spoke to the gathered lions around him, "It seems we have been caught."

Greyfell's entrance prompted Bandit to meet his gaze fearlessly, but otherwise expressionless. As instructed, Bandit walked calmly towards the Haunter leader, but made sure to put a good few feet between them, a distance far enough so that the zebra could not attack him outright, and it would give him plenty of time to dodge. He did not say a word. Instead, he made sure to gather with the lions around him, a close unit. He was not stupid enough to attack, so stood neither aggressively nor defensively. He simply stood, fixing those feral yellow eyes on the zebra before him.

Perhaps that black cape pattern over his tan back was more that of a supervillian, than a superhero.

Greyfell

Greyfell knew what needed to be done. If the enemies were thrown out, they'd just cause more trouble for everybody. No, they needed to be killed, and that is just what would happen. "Bandit, you and all involved have earned a death sentence. Resistance is futile. Perhaps your successors will think twice before they make a move like you have."

Orinoco, from her place in the water, took this as her cue. She, along with her grown children, swam forward and surrounded the defectors, once Velvet and the others arrived. Peril, a yellow-bellied sea snake, and Danger, a coral snake, circled around them. Beside Greyfell stood Nicholas and the others loyal to the zebra. Today, the scum would be put to death.

Pepper

The fea finally entered Dima's Temple. Her paws made muted thud sounds so not to be detected right away. However upon going inside she heard a voice within, that was pretty loud. Greyfell was sentencing Velvet and the others. A smile placed upon her maw. So she had been right all along, they were traitors from the start. Now she hurried to where the others were gathered, not caring about being heard now. She came to stand among the others with Greyfell ready to help stop Velvet and the others. Her fur was puffed out making her look twice her size. Her fangs were fully bared as she stared at Velvet and Bandit. What had they been planning she wondered. Well they weren't going to hurt anybody now.

Velvet & Others

With her plans divulged, Velvet was in turn enlightened to Bandit's own goals for the direction of the Haunters, and she couldn't deny feeling a surge of eagerness run through her. They had come so far since she'd joined the multi-species pack, and after suffering between setbacks in battle and idleness in their own home, now it seemed that they were back on track to their rise to power, and the fulfillment of Risen's dream. A Shadow Valley. And what could be better than that? She would assist in ruling it, along side Bandit. "I like how you think." The purring laugh that she joined him in was bolstered by an agreeing rumble from Martimoor. "This pack will see its glory days yet." Deeply invested in furthering their plot, the lioness focused her ears forward to catch all that Bandit was saying, up until...

Well, maybe they weren't as close to achieving their Shadow Valley as they thought. Velvet's face turned frosty, and her tail lashed like an infuriated snake behind her. She joined Bandit in moving forward, and like him, she did not dare attack the zebra, even if he was momentarily outnumbered - Velvet had several on her side, but she knew that Greyfell had the majority still, and to attack him was suicide.

Sunburst was wide-eyed, and looking so much like a kid with their hand in the cookie jar. His mouth was still full of bird, so he couldn't speak, but his loyalty to the Coalition held out as he squeezed up between Bandit and Velvet. Standing ominously behind them was Martimoor, while Khala remained perched on Bandit's back.

"Greyfell." Out in the front of the temple, Leopeson had been there when Gavina relayed the message of the other's plots, and knew that his sister and Coalition brothers were in serious trouble. A knowing look had been passed to Little Tuft and Callholm, with the black leopard slinking off into the shadows, and Tuft following along with his brother. Now the lion stood several yards back from the zebra, and speaking in a level, heavy tone, "It is none of my business to tell you what should be done, but I think it is in everyone's best interest to let the defectors leave without harm." Across the distance between them, Martimoor shared a pointed look with his brother, trying to figure out what Leopeson was up to. Calmly, the lighter-maned feline went on, "To kill them is to invite civil unrest amongst our pack, and that will do us no good in a time when we are seeking peace."

Bandit

Flanked by his friends and comrades, Bandit stood before Greyfell without an inch of fear. Greyfell's decision to have them killed was expected, so as soon as those words left the zebra's lips, the wolfdog moved like lightning. Before they could be struck, Bandit plunged between the few that had come to back up the leader on such short notice, and made his escape. He did not stop running until he crossed the borders of the Ruins, and he hoped Velvet, Martimoor and Sunburst would follow him. As he crossed the borders, a low howl rang out. Bandit was calling to the Haunters, for those loyal to him, the Coalition and Risen's ideals to follow him and Velvet. He was headed to the Soloughvien Downs; he had a plan.

Velvet & Others

If Leopeson's suggest to Greyfell had been rejected, the lion was fully prepared to assault the zebra and buy the others time to flee before he too made an escape. As it turned out, his words served a purpose anyway; as he began to speak, hopefully catching Greyfell's immediate attention, or at least distracting him to some degree, it gave Bandit and the others a slight advantage as they made for their escape.

Velvet and Martimoor plunged after Bandit, their powerful limbs carrying them away from the reptiles and zipping past Greyfell as they dashed for safety. Leopeson and Little Tuft whirled around and followed the retreat. Along with Bandit's call, Callholm was spreading the message among those he knew loyal to the Coalition, before he too vacated the area.