Tersek

Tersek paced the cold, hard stone of their temple domain, dull nails smacking against the unyielding surface in rhythmic pattern. His route carried him from the entrance to the spiral staircase, then back again as thoughts floated through his mind. Every now and then, the wolfdog's lip would raise back in a soundless snarl, hinting at the nature of the problems he was working over.

High above the aging Tersek, an even older falcon quietly observed. He'd been the one to inform the Co-Lead of his latest findings, and waited patiently for the hybrid to come to a concrete decision. And that wait wasn't a long one; less than five minutes into his pacing, Tersek slowed and drew to a stop, a look of finality on his weathered mug. "I'm calling a meeting. Go out, and find the others and let them know. We deal with this problem tonight."

Dally bobbed his head in a nod before leaping from the balcony and sweeping in a tight circle. A few rapid wingbeats and an impressive dive had him sailing through the small windows in an upper room. The room, and all those adjoined to it, were soon filled with the trembling howl of Tersek as he called all Haunters to his location.

Velvet, Oracle, Zanara, & Leomar

"What's this about?" Velvet purred curiously upon stalking into the cavernous Temple, long tail swaying lightly behind her. "Any news on the human?" She could tell by the stance alone that Tersek didn't have good news; his tail seemed stiff, his ears far from relaxed, and the howl itself had not carried any indication of good cheer. Had another Haunter fallen to the mysterious killer? Did the Makucha make a move on them that she hadn't heard about?

In one of the upper chambers, Leomar groaned under his breath and flattened his ears when the howl had rang out. 'So much for a nap. And why can't wolves roar properly?' The big lion forced groggy eyes to open and, after a moment of serious debate, decided to rise to his paws. He stood there for another moment longer, wondering if he could get away with not attending the meeting and just continue his nap. But the thought of missing out on a potential fight, and otherwise realizing that any of the canines could likely scent him in the area, eventually compelled the Coalition member to saunter out of his room and down the spiraling stone staircase.

Zanarah and Oracle entered some time after Velvet, the pair of felines walking side-by-side and speaking quietly under their breath until they'd reached Tersek and Velvet. Oracle gave her mother a friendly chin rub before sitting beside her, while Zanarah settled down nearby, attentively awaiting news from the elder wolfdog.

Tersek, Cavan, Lupanare, Blackmist

Lupanare brushed past her father as she entered the complex before taking a spot beside Zanarah and awaiting whatever news the Co-lead had to deliver. She pretended not to notice the look Tersek shot her way upon catching a telling scent from his daughter, and went on to chat with Zana. Tersek stared hard after Lupa, and if not for the pressing matter at had, he'd have questioned exactly who she'd been with to get pregnant. But alas, Blackfrost was passing by now with a friendly, submissive nuzzle to his cheek, distracting the old Haunter from his thoughts. He turned to watch Cavan limp in next, his splayed paws moving sluggishly and occasionally catching on the uneven stone floor.

Blackfrost picked a spot near Lupa and Zanarah, and quickly caught onto the scent that Tersek had noticed. A dark brow raised and she interjected into their quiet conversation with a sly grin, "Who did you run into?"

Lupa paused in mid sentence with Zanarah, a smile of her own drawing across her lean muzzle. "A handsome fellow from the north." She answered, her smile shifting into a grin, "Didn't catch his name, but he was a loner. Said he travels in and out of the Valley. You should have seen his eyes though - blue as the sky."

Senka

Senka had been growing wary, the makucha had been silent for quiet a while now leaving them alone. And usually in her eyes when a group such as theirs goes this quiet there is trouble brewing. She is already laying down in the temple near Terserk. She slowly sits up as the others file in.

the others follow suit including Momo and her now two year old pups.

Defiance - He sat down by his mother as he gazes towards his grandfather. Unsure of where he sat in his grandfathers eyes because he had figured out his grandfather had been angry and mad that his mother had even had them even though others had convinced him to let her have one litter. He didn't like the discrimination his mother took living here but he kept quiet. Quinn - Nearly also perfect in health except her one snaggle tooth but it did not effect her. Her eyes were as trikeing red orange as well.

Tersek, Cavan, Lupanare, Blackmist

Tersek's two-toned eyes swept the gathering faces of Haunters before him, pausing for a moment on Defiance. While initially aloof towards his two grandchildren, still in bitter disagreement about Mimi having pups, he'd slowly warmed up to the grandson that had shown no signs of deformity or impairment, despite his mother's condition. It was Quinn who still tended to catch her grandfather's cold shoulder. He was not outright mean towards her, but that benign snaggletooth, harmless as it was, shown like an ugly beacon to the Co-Lead. He looked past his granddaughter and stepped back beside Senka.

"Haunters!" His rough voice rose loudly in the stone chamber. Lupa and the others quickly halted their gossip to turn and give their attention to the old wolf. "You have been gathered for two reasons. The first is that Erathi has spotted Makucha activity near the human town, where they seem to have attacked the Shadow Lurkers. This means that they are getting bolder, and we must continue to travel in pairs if not larger groups while out exploring." Tersek paused before going on, "Our standing with the Lurkers remains uncertain, but I'm willing to send a diplomat to investigate any possible alliance with them."

Another pause was given before the topic shifted, "The second agenda involves Cloudbreaker. She has been located by Dally southeast of here, in an area known as Toklat Canyon. I want to assemble a strike force to confront her - her herd will either be in alliance with us, or she will be taken down. Haunters do not betray Haunters."

Senka

Senka listened to what terserk was saying calmly. "We must focus on the makucha, however we should send diplomats to both lurkers and cloud, . If cloud turnx down alliance, we will deal with her after the makutcha are dealt with." She said

Defiance always stood up for his mother and Quinn and always would.

Quinn just laid beside her brother her ears loose and her whole demeanor submissive and a bit depressed

Momo listened

Tersek, Cavan, Lupanare, Blackmist

Tersek frowned thoughtfully to Senka's suggestions, and had to agree that the Makutcha were the bigger threat right now. "You're right, they do need to be dealt with. But I worry about how to go about that. Our numbers have fallen, and this unknown threat still remains." The death of Duality still hung heavy on the wolf's mind, and loosing Narimbi in the same way was a harsh blow for the Haunters. For once, the hot-headed and stubborn co-lead was not eager to push a fight to the enemies' doorstep. At least not an enemy as powerful as the Makutcha.

"I can act as diplo-" Lupanare began, only be be swiftly cut off by her father.

"No." The harsh look Tersek gave her was enough to silence the pregnant she-wolf. "Quinn, you will go to the Shadow Lurkers." He said with a nod to his submissive granddaughter, then shifted his blue and gold eyes to another, "Zanarah, you will go to Cloudbreaker." The grizzled wolfdog sat back on his haunches then, addressing Senka's concern over the Makutcha. "As far as the Makutcha go, we need to gather more information on them, as well as allies that may help us in a future war with the ride. I am all ears to suggestions."

Zanarah, Oracle, Leope, Shadowstep

Zanarah gave Tersek a silent nod, having no qualms about traveling to speak with Cloudbreaker. The ligeress did feel a bit bad for Quinn though, suspecting that this was a test Tersek was giving his granddaughter. But there was little Zana could do about it - the big cat couldn't travel into the humans' territory without drawing unwanted attention.

Leomar grunted, "They've only got one bird, right? Why don't we send our avians to take out theirs? That'll blind them a little; Tracey and Cedarwood could easily tear that falcon of theirs apart."

Oracle listened quietly to the debates before opting to speak, "I agree with Senka that the Makutcha need to be dealt with first. Why don't we send our birds further afield, and start spying on them and their movements? Perhaps we can figure out any routines or weaknesses they have, and take advantage of them?"

Quinn

Quinn heard her grandfather. She wouldnt fight it, she was eager to proof herself but go alone? She didnt even know where to go. She looked to her mother.

Momo dodnt like how terserk was so quick to send quinn. She had very little training being only 2. Her ears go back. If quinn got attacked momo would never forgive her father.

Defiance ears also go back. He pressed to his sister to confort her. He whispered to her. " i wont let you go alone" he said.

Senka listened to everything.

Tersek, Cavan, Lupanare, Blackmist

Tersek shifted his attention to Leope, and then to Oracle when they brought up the idea of using the birds. He nodded thoughtfully, then looked to Senka, "That seems like a fair idea, what do you think? Tracey and Cedarwood should be large enough to take on their falcon easily, and should be safe as long as they don't fly low enough for the Makutcha to snag them."

Where Blackmist was seated, she overheard the whispers between Defiance and his sister. She too felt badly for her snaggle-toothed niece, and raised her voice to be heard, "Tersek, Senka, if I may - I've been to the human town before. I wouldn't mind going with Quinn, to show her the dangers." When she saw immediate disapproval in her father's eyes, Blackmist lowered her head but added on hastily, "I would go only as a guide, and not interfere with her duties."

The grizzled old wolf frowned, the fur on his muzzle wrinkling. "I will leave that up to Senka. Does anyone else have any suggestions or information they'd like to add?"

Quinn

Quinn didnt know whether to hate her grandfather or pity him. She let her aunt speak. As a guide right, she had no clue how to be a diplomat. They had only just finished thier fight training. They were suppose to start learning the diploacy now.

Senka listened. "Yes send those two" she said then looked to quinn and black. "You may go not just as her guide but her mentor. They have yet to start thier diploacy training. She may have a good instinct for it. It may come naturally but you will guide her to saying the right things, to read the others body language as she speaks so she can learn to change what she saying in an unnoticable blink" she said

Tersek, Cavan, Lupanare, Blackmist

Blackmist turned between Tersek and Senka, auds perked and attentive to each of their words, especially the liger's. Black and gray tail beat against the ground once, in subtle gratitude for being allowed to accompany Quinn. "Of course, I will do my best." She offered a bow before shuffling across the floor towards Quinn and sitting down beside her, ready to take part in the mission as soon as they got the go-ahead.

Tersek, meanwhile, offered no fuss to Senka's decision. He was a little leery of Blackmist coddling Quinn, but if it resulted in her becoming a good Diplomat in the end, he couldn't argue with that. Turning his attention upward, he searched for their two largest raptors, and quickly spotted Cedarwood perched on a stony platform above. "Cedar, I trust you and Tracey know what to do."

The chocolate-hued eagle bobbed his head, "Falcon hunting. And we know where their lair is, so it should be fairly simple." With a spread of his massive wings, Cedar dove from his perch and sailed towards the door. There he landed, claws scraping loudly along the hard ground. The eagle bobbed his head and looked back, making sure Tracey was with him before he'd spring out the door, and head for the prairie.

"Unless there is anything else to add," Tersek spoke, eying the collection of Haunters gathered together, "-the meeting will be closed, and Backmist and Quinn can begin their mission."

Momo

Momo was not happy with her father and how he treated Quinn but there was little She felt she could do he just come up with some excuse that he wasn't looking down at her that he wasn't disguested with her, let alone if she always was the one to stand up to her father for Quinn, Quinn would never get out of her shell. She left with Defiance the moment they were dismissed not looking at her father what so ever.. Momo frowned at her sons question. Trying to figure out what to say to him.He doesn't hate her....Was her first words.But he is not supportive of us with disabilities even though hers does nothing to hinder her in any way This was what bothered Momo the most. Quinns snaggletooth did nothing to hinder her, she could fight, she could eat and she could hunt everything a haunter could do yet Terserk still was disapproving.

Defiance nuzzled his sister before following his mother. Mom why does grandfather hate QuinnHe asked.

Senka left but heard Defiance question and fell into step beside Momo and himYour mother is right he doesn't hate her. Its just he is old and sometimes the older of us can't seem to accept things the way they are. Your grandfather is strong and wise but he does hinder in the department of adaptationShe said softly. Do not let that tarnish anything with your grandfather young one. Deep down he loves you all even if he has a hard time showing itShe said before leaving their side.

Quinn watched her brother and mother walk off before standing. Her tail tucked and ears back as they were dismissed. But as she had no clue where to go she would just follow Blackmist. ONly once they were far enough away did she speak.Why does he hate me? Its like he doesn't care if anything happens to meShe said lowly as she walked with her tail tucked.

Tersek & Others

Just a few days shy of his fourteenth birthday, the grizzled wolfdog certainly was getting old, and fighting every second of it. The natural gray of his muzzle had softened in hue, and spread deeper across his mug. His large, powerful paws had started to flatten and splay, and his energy simply wasn't where it use to be. That helpless feeling of growing weaker, and becoming the very thing he frowned upon in others, was taking a mental toll on the co-lead. It sat heavy on his mind as he watched Momo and his grandson pad away, with Senka stalking by their side. And it sparked a notion of guilt when he overheard a snippet of the trio's conversation. A certain part of Tersek wanted to approach Quinn and talk to his granddaughter, but the stubborn canine could only stand there and watch as Blackmist escorted her away.

Blackmist didn't notice her grandfather's brooding stare, and if she had, it never would have crossed her mind that he was feeling some regret for his actions. Her mind was focused on Quinn, and she kept her tones positive as she answered her younger kin, "He doesn't hate you Quinn, he..." Wolfess searched for the right words to use, "...grew up in a different time than us, and expresses his feelings a bit different, I guess. He shows his care by keeping the pack safe. If something did happen to you, he'd rally the whole pack to rescue you, like he did for your mom and uncle." She gave Quinn a little shoulder bump and an encouraging smile, "How about we show him how good a Diplomat you can be? If we can get the Lurkers allied with us, the whole pack will be singing your praise."

Quinn

Quinn did not look to her grandfather as they began moving away from home. It was her first time moving away from home and she was scared. She listened to Black but it was hard to believe her words. If he doesn't hate me why would he try to send me on my own to unknown canines I do not know into land I have no clue where it is. I have no training I know nothing about being a diplomat and I doubt that will look good even to these lurkers. To the lurkers I'll be nothing but weak in their eyes because I am submissive and show it. He sends me on a mission I would of surely failed if I was going along let alone i'd probably be killed if I was going aloneShe said.

Momo knew not how to comfort either of her pups when it came to her father their grandfather because she herself did not have the best of feelings for him as is. Her sister Urse who was much worse off then her was jealous of her but chose not to have pups not because of their father but because she feared she wouldn't be able to care for them. URsa could barely see as is. Aizen on the other hand was well he was being a gentlemen to the female he brought home and had no intentions of rushing into having pups.

Defiance was quiet now.

Blackmist & Others

"Well..." These were a harder line of questions to answer, and even Blackmist found herself struggling some to tackle them. But she tried, for the sake of Quinn's feelings rather than to defend her grandfather. "I don't think he thinks much of the Lurkers these days, and figures you'd be safe traveling in their territory. You've got a quiet, calm personality too - it's inoffensive, and unlikely to stir up hostility in others. Perfect for starting diplomacy." Rather than seeing Quinn as weak and incapable, as Tersek feared she was, Blackmist pointed these aspects out as positive things. Of the Lurkers themselves, Blackmist add, "Don't concern yourself with what the Lurkers think of you, because I know you're not weak. You've got a good heart, and you're intelligent, and I think that's far better than being big and scary and aggressive. Leave all that stuff for the Coalition. C'mon now, you ready to show grandpa what you're capable of?"

Quinn

Quinn was walking normal now but her tail remained underneath her as she walked. As much as she wanted to believe blackmists words it was hard to and she doubted her grandfather would praise her or anything. i guessShe said. Not like she knew the words to say as is.

Blackmist

She could see that her words hadn't truly reached Quinn, and it didn't surprise her. Her younger kin had been looked down upon before she was even born, and any skills or promising traits she might have were overshadowed by the idea that she'd come from a less than perfect mother. Blackmist found her own ears drawn back for a moment as she considered these sad facts, but for Quinn's sake, she forced a smile and nudged her muzzle against the other's cheek, "You know what? After this whole diplomacy thing, how about we go do something for fun? I know a few cool things around the human town I can show you." Blackmist made sure to keep her voice low when she suggested this, for she doubted Tersek or Senka would approve of such an outing, especially when they were so worried about Ethan's possible connection to Duality and Narimbi's deaths.