Risen

Glaring hatefully at her enemies as they left, Risen soon calmed herself and laid back where she first did. Panting in both anger and pain from her wounds, but she would not let the pack see how much pain she was in, for she knew theirs was just as much if not more. " Damn them, Damn them all to hell. We have to protect ourselves. A mote." She lifted her head and smiled. "We have to create a mote around the entire terrain of the Ruins."

She continued her thoughts, Then barked up to everyone of the Haunters. "When we are rested we are to build a mote. Six feet deep in the middle and twenty feet across in all areas. The start and ending point will be here at this temple's lake. There will be no dry land walk way, we will have to go through the water to leave or enter... And so will they." She growled, then turned to the water dwellers. "You are being preapproved to breed. We will need as many dwellers as we can in the mote." Without a second thought, the moccasins made their escape to be alone.

Now, for thanks in helping. Breathless, you consume that mangy mutt." She said in a bitter tone. The python nodded and went to her consumption. Risen stood, shaking a little, but she managed to make it into the water and across to the oryx. Tearing into the body she pulled out two chunks about the size of a large rat. "These two are for the venom snakes. The rest is for the gators and caiman." She bite the neck of the beast and hauled it further into the water.

Now she stood on the opposing shore barking at the group in the temple. "We did not lose, we postponed - call it that. They lost more lives than we did. Our comrades who have fallen are the not to have died in vain. Those who have fallen are Guntar, Misqueet, and Black claw. But do not weep for them, take your feelings and turn them into your power. Make them pay for what they have done with their lives. Revenge has a bad rap, but don't listen, for it is the most powerful motivator we have."

She paused, lowering her head and softening her tone. "As we have lost three, they have lost three times as many - if not more. At least nine of their side fell to our force. Remember this, This is our power, we did not need to lose anymore. We have young to protect and each other to protect. And this was how we fought outnumbered 2/3 on 1. " Again there was a moment of silence, before she spoke again. "Get some rest, when we regain our strength we will hunt in the names of those who fell." She said, dismissing them to both rest and the water creatures to eat.

Breathless went up to the wolf and began to consume the lifeless body. Easily letting it glide into her belly. Fallen would no longer be apart of the living world, her remains would be nothing but soil.

The two moccasins returned and consumed their portions of meat. Letting the bulges curve their bodies.

Tahti/Kane/Orinoco

Tahti was on the ground. She looked up at Risen and spoke quietly. "I'm sorry. I have broken many rules. Even now it is my fault. I am weak, and flawed." She mumbled.

Kane looked down at the coyote. "It is my fault as well." He admitted. "I was a coward and did not defend Tahti. Punish me how you wish."

Orinoco swam to the meat and ripped a chunk off, swallowed it, and took another large chunk.

Bloodlust

Bloodlust, lightly wounded, turned to Risen, lowering her tail and head to greet the alphess. "I, in fact, have returned. My offspring are dead, Damn the humans." Bloodlust informed.

Ard-Rai * Nymph

Nymph was watching everyone lazily, though her eyes were soft as she watched Tahti face Risen. She remembered Tahti from the days of her youth, and still tended to think of her as a pup, sometimes. But... Risen was the ruler, here, so Nymph did not interfere, only turning in upon herself to wash, which gave her something to do while still listening to all that was going on.

Ard-Rai pulled up halfway onto the platform, near Orinoco. With a smile and friendly nudge to the female, he also took a bite of carcass, chewing silently and completely ignoring the confrontation.

Cavan & Others

In the heat of summer, Dima’s hunger was in full swing. Gliding towards the carcass, the gator took a hefty bite out of the haunch before going into the typical death roll to severe the flesh from the rest of the body. In this fashion, he ate until his belly was bulging with good meat. Then he headed towards the staircase and lazily climbed up onto the bottom steps.

"Risen," The alligator called out, spreading what webbed paws he had left to bask in the sun, "I was hoping that some of the Haunters might find me a few females at the Marsh?"

Dally had tucked his head back and twisted violently to the side, wrenching himself free of the eagle's deadly embrace. It had caused him more damage than even Mesa had done, but he at least managed to free himself before the larger raptor could pick him to shreds. Tattered and torn, the peregrine fluttered back towards the balcony, where he lay on his stomach, wings partially stretched out to the sides. It would be a while before he could fly again.

Cavan paced around, looking over the different members. He was proud of the pack and what they had accomplished. As severely outnumbered as they were, they still managed to take out a significant number of the Lurkers and their allies, as well as a new pup.

Velvet waited a while before she padded over towards Risen, "Risen, after we have finished hunting and constructing the moat, I think it may be a good idea to discuss possible attack strategies. Different techniques for offense and defense. Maybe train the younger Haunters how to fight in different terrains, and against different opponents."

Risen .+. Villain

The alpha looked over the others to assess the damages done to the pack more and more. Relaxing now that the enemy had exited the land. She watched the others and began to realize that even as heartless as the pack tried to be, they had some sort of emotion toward each other. "There are only two true emotions, two basic labels everything can fall under: Pleasure and pain. It is a pleasure to fight with these warriors and to live and lead them. It is a pain that our enemies are not falling, heh, but it's a pleasure to play this petty game." Risen was talking to herself silently. Not letting other ears listen in. Something about leading a pack of warriors brought something out in her. And to watch them fall was something she wasn't going to let happen.

Ice yellow orbs turned to Velvet at her new approach and she smiled gleefully. "Terrain" She said with a hint of optimism in her vocal. Perfect.. Train them in forest, train them in meadows, train them in waters and marsh and on steep cliffs. It could add more to physic as well. For those who are smaller and weaker could be trained to run along the dangerous canyon side and cause their pursuers to slip to their deaths. "I like this idea, Thank you very much Velvet. When the warriors are rested up we will have the pups taken out and trained. Even at their young age they aren’t going to be battling, instead it will be more of… Play” She nodded to the lion and turned to face where the enemies had left. She wanted the pack to stay guarded by the gators for the night.

Again she was spoken to by Dima now, She nodded ”I will have a few of them search for females for the mote.” She looked up to the temple and yelled up to the pack. ”Anyone who was not hurt badly in the battle feel like making a special trip to the marshes to seek female alligators?”

Villain looked up at the opportunity to do something other than sit amongst those who had been torn apart by the fight. Making his way through the water he made landfall and walked up to the alpha. ”I’ll go…” He said with a shy tone. ”Anyone else?” Asked Risen to the group.

Orinoco/Tahti

"I'll go." Orinoco offered. "I would like to see what the marsh is like this time of year anyways. That is, if everyone is alright with a caiman slowing them down." She crawled onto the land and watched the alpha.

Tahti growled when she felt a pain in her abdomen. "Crap..." She snarled, walking back to the main Temple.

Bloodlust

Bloodlust raised her muzzle to Risen's request. "I will." Bloodlust volunteered, it would be the first thing she did to show her loyalty. Bloodlust's fur rippled as she looked at Orinoco. She hadn't known the Haunters had such a diverse species pack. Yeah, last time they had birds, cats and bears....but not a alligator. "I'm Bloodlust, you are?" Bloodlust directed towards Orinoco.

Cavan & Others

Cavan had settled down near the front of the staircase, resting quietly while looking towards his own offspring. He was never much of a father figure for his last litter, and was quite content with the way that Risen had the whole pup thing set up. Of course, he'd like to get to know them better later on, but right now... he was happy with watching from a distance. As the scarred father watched the pups, his sister's howl managed to reach his 'good' ear. Standing quickly, he gave a gruff bark, "Ynear, my sister is looking for you. Sounds like she found some more pups."

Velvet bowed her head, "I am glad I could be of help, Risen." Hearing praise from her leader was immensely gratifying to the young lioness.

"Thanks." Came Dima's reply, simple and rather flat. He was quite excited about the prospects of having a few females, but his emotions were rarely conveyed in the extremes. The gator glanced at Bloodlust, but said nothing to the Haunter. Instead, he headed for the end of the dammed section of the lake and crawled over it. He'd follow the tributary down to Galar's Marsh, to make the going quicker.

As the alligator hunting party set out, Dulsca made her way towards Risen, moving on three good limbs. "I hate to pester you at such a time." The lioness began, knowing that Risen had a lot to deal with at the moment, "My cubs are half a year old now, and I am ready for a second litter. With your permission, of course."

Quilikahm stood off to the side of the balcony, a bit overwhelmed by the mass of wounded members. "If- if anyone needs help..." She began, her voice pitifully quite and squeaky, despite her best efforts to be louder, "...I can treat the wounded."

Nymph

Nymph moved toward the trembling Quilikahm, voice soft as she spoke for her ears alone. First lesson in being a healer, dearheart. Develop confidence. You know what you are doing, you are skilled at healing, I have heard. Take command, dear. Give directions to those who can help you as though they ought to obey, and they will. You must learn to believe that you can do this.

Ard-Rai gave a glance to everyone, but followed Orinoco wordlessly. She... had to be protected.

Mahala/Others

Night Eyes approached Quilikahm and bowed. "Mahala is wounded, and I would be very grateful if you could help her." He said with a sense of urgency. The human girl had been mauled by the enemies. The skin on her arms had been torn and a small pool of blood was on the floor around her.

Bloodlust

Bloodlust shrugged, she'd just follow without another word.

Tahti

Tahti led the new wolf into the temple and through the water. "She's up there." She said, nodding to Risen. "But she'll have your head if you treat her as you treat me."

W i n d s o n g

W i n d s o n g

For the w i n d is my s o n g

Windsong simply nodded. "Okay." Windsong lowered his tail, fur laid upon his flesh peacefully, clearing his voice as he trotted toward, head lowered to show he meant no harm. "Hello." Windsong said cooly, friendly, to the alphess.

Quilikahm

The muntjac gave a meek but sincere smile, baring the peculiar little tusks that protruded from her mouth, "You are a kind one, Nymph. I will take your advice to heart." No sooner did she say this than Night Eyes approached her. Taking in a deep breath, Quil brought her head up, and, despite a frantically racing heart, made her way to the human.

Nymph's words did have an impact on the little deer, who was so sensitive to emotions and flurished on positive feedback. Despite the throng of activity around her, she quickly found herself paying more attention to the task ahead, rather than her own trepidations.

After assessing the wounds, Quil heading for the stache of herbs she had piled near the center of the balcony while the others were away fighting. By the sheer numbers going out, she had prepared for the worst.

From the pile, Quilikahm sorted out the bark of Hamamelis and leaves of Hedera Helix. To this, she mixed in the roots and leaves of Echinaceas, Urtica dioica, and the important Hypericum frondosum. It was a mixture that would help staunch the bleeding, fight infection, promote healing, and relax the nerves somewhat.

Once the mass of vegetation was crushed into a pulp, Quil carefully began to apply the concotion over Mahala's wounds.

Risen .+. Ynear

The alpha looked to the approved group as the headed to the marsh and then to Dulsca as she spoke of another litter. Silence fell over her while she thought for a moment then she gave an approving nod. "Yes, you may." She spoke out with strength, even though she knew the cats were a much bigger asset to the pack than canines. She didn't want that to show.

Hearing the 'hello' behind her cause Risen's hackles to shoot up. Turning her piercing eyes into the brutes she growled out a little. "Yes?" But seeing Tahti moving away she understood this brute was here to speak with her. Hopefully no funny stuff would be pulled. Slowly the hackles came to rest again as she bowed in greeting. "My apologies. We are a little on edge. My name is Risen, alpha of the Shadow Haunters, Daughter of Vicious and Fallen, please tell me; What is your name?" She said, her voice holding strong but trying to stay lenient and open to the new comer.

Ynear was keeping watch on the children when she heard a low howl. But dismissed it due to her occupation with the 'useless' pup. Finally hearing the Beta's voice caused her to lift herself up and grab the nap of Anathema and bring her toward Nymph. Placing the handicap pup in her care. "She doesn't speak." Was the only thing she told the cat. She wasn't about to inform her of the deaf and blindness.

With the helpless pup in her care, Ynear moved off to the main temple to find her mother and what she hoped were more pups.

Anathema sat silently in the lap of Nymph. That was, until, she smelt the difference and Ynear walking away. She opened her mouth to squeak in fear but nothing came forth. Stumbling she tried to follow after the fading scent. She wobbled, deaf to everything.

Nymph

Nymph smiled at the pup Ynear placed in circle of her body, and as the tiny pup began to head away, she gently placed her nose in Anathema's path, giving a gentle caress combined with a purr to tell her everything was alright. Of course, Anathema would not hear the purr, but she might feel the vibrations, and in time it would soothe her. There, little one. Never fear, dear. I'll see to you.

Mahala

Mahala gritted her teeth as Quil applied the mix of herbs to her wounds. She reached out her hand to stroke the deer's back, speaking softly the whole time.

Windsong

Windsong nodded. "So I've heard." Windsong sighed. "I'm Windsong, wanderer. Son of Three Paw and Queen." Windsong looked at the alpha with soft orbs. Then he drew a swift breath, readily to give the fae his plot. "You probably know half of why I'm here. I wish to join, or more of ally, myself to this pack, the Shadow Haunters. But let me not forget I love torture enemies, any one I can pick on." Windsong's orbs sparkled. "I have one word: forcebreed. Faes can't fight while pregnant, she'd risk her unborn pups in the womb. Let alone she can't go to battle outside her camp areas, or some animal could steal her pups or they'd starve." Windsong paused, looking over at the felines, but turned to Risen again. "Long story short, I'm the torturing type for females. I'm willing to forcebreed to the females of your enemies, your battles would be easier with the females of on the sidelines defending their pups, born or unborn."

Nymph

Nymph did not trust herself... she curled in a corner as far from the human as possible, tail twitching as she curled protectively around Anathema. Two-legs... her ragged bit of tail twitched, and if one looked closely they might notice it was at least six-inches too short to be normal. Two-legs robbed her of her tail... but Risen had said to heal this one, so Nymph stayed away, not trusting herself to go any closer.

Anathema .+. Violence

She gave a rumbled mute growl as the cat moved in front of her. Sounding more like a gurgle than anything. Anathema wasn't wanting to stay with this unknown creature, and the sensation of purring almost scared her. She froze, empty orbs staring blankly at the sky above them. She could feel the cats warmth, and the purring. But it almost scared her, this rumbling. Was it an earthquake, was this creature growling. It was softer than a growl though. - Her mouth opened, then stretched into a yawn, and she curled up near Nymph. To helpless to escape.

Violence moved around. His black and brown speckled body almost twice the size of his birth state. Continuing his path, he ended up near the human and deer. Looking at them through amber orbs, Then sniffing the two legged- human.

Nymph

She kept on purring, nuzzling Anathema gently to emphasize that this new sound was a good thing, not something scary. She was used to wolf pups being a little afraid at first of her purr, but eventually they became accustomed to it and it became a soothing sound, as it was meant to be. Anathema just needed time. Every once in a while, she gave the pup a soft nuzzle, reaffirming that she was safe here.

Risen

Bright yellow eyes narrowed at his plot, although there were many ups to this story, there were also many faults. "I understand where you are coming at and your love for torture. But as much as my torture was for pleasure before, now it is just a weapon. Discipline is torture..." She smiled darkly, lips curling up like a dieing snake. Oh if one betrayed her, true punishment and torture they would receive. "But as much as you wish to torture by force breeding, I must inform you of one fault. As you force breed, true the females will be out of the battle. But for ever wolf that falls from their side; six more will rise to take their place. Unless you have a plan on how to steal the majority of pups caused by your actions. Leaves the mums with one or two, just to scare them a little. Could you give such intensive training?" Her words were coy, soft and and yet sharp as she plotted. She had to take the new idea from all angles. And when she found a flaw she would dig it up and turn it inside-out to see what other possibilities could corrode. "Unless, of course, you have some mutant gene that will disable the children."

Windsong

Windsong's lips made a smile. "You are very wise, Risen. I missed out on some details." Windsong was nervous, yes...he'd never thought of joining a pack. "I have a plan, yes, to steal several pups when they are too young to know his mother's pack from his father's. Someone creates a diversion, while I go into the den and steal most of the pups. Not all, like you said, just to scare her and the pack." Then he dawned upon the other question. Training? Damn. He had forgotten. "Training...I lived threw hell back at my old home, I trained myself to hunt, fight and survive, I can teach pups all I know, yes I could use a bit of help time to time, but I can pull threw. You can't under estimate me..." Windsong sighed bitterly, his ears quivered. "Do you agree? I am not a god, so this might be more complicated then I think it is. But I have a old female wolf, she awaits me to arrive. She agreed to nurse any of the pups and help train. Her name is Abyss. She is willing to assist me." Windsong sighed softly, his insides churned. "Does this sound not too successful as I think?"

Risen

She growled low in her throat, the vibrations causing the fur on her chest to shimmer a bit. "We can give it a try, and if we are unsuccessful with catching and stealing the pups and promising the mother their safety, we can kill them to get the point across." She made sure to share that part for only Windsong's ears to hear. "We have only had to destroy two pups so far. I'm not a fan of slaughtering potential warriors, Windsong. If we have to, however, and the mothers will not let us carry them off alive, they must be left dead or we will have them after our own tails one day. Do not worry about the training. We will take care of that, though I must fine more wolves who can steal pups with ease. Nachi and Sacrifice do a good job with persuasion, but your plan will require much more than just the two of them. " Her voice rose up at the compliment to both Nachi and Sacrifice, though neither were near to hear, maybe Cavan might catch the compliment and retell it to his sister. Sacrifice was as loyal as they came. She knew her job was well done. She didn't need much flattery.

"Abyss, you say, would she join us as well to influence the pups. To let them know -we- are not the bad ones." To this her smile somewhat crooked. "The lurkers will pay for their weakness, as will the rest of the valley."

Majikan/Enshalla

Enshalla approached Risen and bowed her head. "We are going to return to our home now. If you need us, please send for us." She said before turning and leaving. Majikan nodded respectfully to Risen before following the tigress.

Windsong

Windsong nodded nimbly. "Heh. Correct, I dislike the fact of slaughtering the innocent." Windsong told the fae. "I trust that those two will assist me. I trust your pack." Windsong's eyes glanced at Enshalla and Majikan, he gave a respectfully bow of his head to the cats, to show his submission. "I won't fail." Though he could only wish that it was 100% true, but he'd throw his life to supply the Shadow Haunters with youthful, strong warriors. "Anyone you wish for me to strike first?"

Risen

Tiara lowered in a respectful yet still powerful nod. She did not show submission but full respect for the two. They were allies, not leaders over her, and her not over them. Then she turned back to the task at hand and continued planning with Windsong.

"Yes, they will, when the pups are born from them they will catch up and steal them away and return them here." And then a pleasing question. "Vestiges pack. He lives in the Aspen Grove. After them you can head over to the Lurkers. We'll start with those two and see where things end up." With a nod she dismissed him to do what he had offered. Anymore questions would be answered, but this seemed to be a play by experience kind of thing.

Windsong

Windsong nodded shortly. "I shall be back later. Then I'll have to wait until the pups are born." Windsong sighed. "Abyss will be with me, I'll bring her here when I come back." Windsong stood up, nodding briefly to Risen. He turned around and began to exit the temple, his body felt numb. But he left the ruins, his snout pointing towards the sky. To Aspen Grove.

Tahti

Tahti approached Risen, head and tail lowered respectfully. "The tigers found the one who murdered Liekki. She is being held at their territory." She said quickly. "I wanted to tell you before I did anything."

Risen

Risen paused as Windsong moved off. Finally a bit of rest; wrong. Her head shot up and she growled at the news, then lowered her tone to a dull speech. "And do they have any plans for her, If not I would like to give her a fair fight with our venom snakes." She turned and began a small trek to the tigers homeland. "Stay here Tahti, don't go anywhere. And tell Cavan I shall return soon." She growled before disappearing from the Ruins.