Tersek & Dally

Tersek was roused from a light nap by the sound of rustling wings, and looked up in time to see Dally popping through one of the high windows of the Temple. The old wolf dragged himself up with a grunt of effort, one hind leg quivering as it almost refused to bear his weight. Holding in another grunt, Tersek shifted himself stiffly, turning to face the raptor that was now hopping across the ground to approach him.

"Co-Lead Tersek-" The hooded falcon began, bobbing his head, "Tracey discovered Aizen and Silver Fyre both in pens near the house. The snow was too thick to get a clear view of much else. I didn't see the human or his hounds."

The thought of his son back under the reigns of that human made Tersek's blood boil, and brought an ugly rumble to his vocals. It rose quickly into a deep howl, as he called all of the Haunters to his location. As that rallying cry ended, his blue and gold eyes honed in on Dally, "I want you to escort us back, once Senka and I have hashed out a proper plan."

Senka

She came into the room. "We must kill the human that needs to be our second goal this time. As for silver for your son's sake we leave her unless she attacks us. She won't be coming back with us of course." She said. "We need every big cat and large animal to go. We have to readjust how we attack he may know our old strategy"

Tersek & Others

"Do you have anything in mind?" Tersek questioned when she brought up strategy. He was mulling over ideas himself, but the old wolf had very little interaction with humans, and no solid concept of what Ethan was truly capable of. "My concern is for the boomsticks. A single wound from them killed Nahimana, and she wasn't even close to that two-legger." The thunderbugs were another concern, but he didn't bother with that worry just yet. Above all else, he didn't want to lose another Haunter to that man.

Senka

She paced back and forth. "We need to lure his mangy curs away from the house. He will follow. We lead them to the woods this time making it harder for the boom bugs. Then when they are lured away half of us sneak in and get aizen out. If there is a chance to take the two legger out we do it. But we avoid fighting them all together if we can" she said

Tersek & Others

"Split up his forces." Tersek nodded in agreement, seeing the merits of Senka's idea. "We'll need someone fast on their paws; they'll have to outpace the human and his hounds both." He looked about the cavernous room, inspecting what Haunters were currently gathered, and mulling over whether a cat or canine would be better suited for the task.

The other problem was a bit trickier, and to that Tersek frowned, "The cage itself could be an issue, I don't know how to handle those human contraptions. We don't have the chital either... hmmph, we need to send someone to the Golden Rose Canyon to see if he's still there." He hadn't bothered to catch or remember Axis' name, and wasn't even sure if he'd survived the round-up last winter, but it was worth a shot. "Darkia can help as well; if all else fails, her hooves might be able to break the cage."

Senka

She paced listening. the cheetahs and cougars could do the luring.She said.

Kito a male cheetah was grooming Sera the female when heh eard the word Cheetah. He stopped and sat up. Sera yawned.

Beta the female Cougard was resting on a perch a little above the floor.

Deno was right below her

Tersek & Others

Again Tersek nodded, and when Kito sat up the movement caught the old wolf's eyes. "Kito, Sera! Come here. Beta and Deno, you two as well. Nightshade, I want you to travel to our deer, and see if you can find the chital. Lacking that, another of the spotted folk will do - those deer have some history with human confinement, find one that can help us."

The white-tail buck clacked a soft hoof to the ground, "Right away." In a flash that bellied his own advanced age, Nightshade darted from the Temple and made his way to the Golden Rose Canyon.

To Senka he spoke again, "Have you seen Darkia? I'll pair her with Quilikahm to take on the cage, in case the deer fall through."

Senka

Senka nodded then when the four cats came over she spoke. "We will need the four of u to lure the human and or his flea bags to the woods. You'll need to be quick and on your toes." She said. "She is just outside enclosed areas are still too much for her. So I told her if we need her we'll go out there"

Kito "we can do that"

Tersek & Others

"Blackmist!" The sharp bark from Tersek had his granddaughter perking up and sprinting his way in little time. While Senka was explaining to the cats what their mission entailed, he addressed the gray wolfdog. "Find Darkia, and inform her she'll be needed to help break Aizen free. We'll need her hooves." And then to Senka and the gathered cats, he added, "Tonight will be our best time to strike. I don't know how long this snow storm will last, but it could aid us - it will slow the human, and so will the darkness."

Blackmist wasted no time. After getting instructions from her grandfather, she sprinted from the Temple and made her way out past the moat. As thick as the snow had now fallen, it was impossible to follow scents or tracks, so she relied on a short howl to call for her equine friend.

Darkia

Darkia even though loyal to the haunters was feeling quiet lonely as the only horse now in the pack. She felt rather outnumbered and she was becoming a bit skittish around particularly the big cats. Let alone enclosed spaces spooked her because of her time in captivity. Her ear twitched as she heard the howl and moved toward her. Snow covered her backside.BlackmistShe said softly.

Senka nodded in agreement.

Blackmist

Her tail wagged at the sight of Darkia. Ever cognizant of the emotions and sensitivities of her fellow packmates, Blackmist was well aware of the mare's growing unease and claustrophobia, and approached with gentle steps and passively lowered ears. "Hey, how's it going?" She greeted first, and stopped a few feet from the equine, rather crowding into her space. "Tersek sent me to find you; you probably heard the howling earlier? Aizen has been captured, by the same two-legger that had you. They want you to join us in rescuing him. In particular, using her strength to help break down his cage."

Darkia

Feeling lonely was not a fun feeling and slowly she was beginning to debate on finding a herd of her own. Not cause she wanted to leave the haunters but because its what her instincts her body wanted. Or maybe that because she was in season.

im alrightShe responds calmly.When do we leave?

Blackmist

"Soon, I think." Blackmist replied, blinking as a few large flakes of snow pelted her face. Her keen nose had already picked up that Darkia was in heat, and it left the wolfess a little concerned about taking her to the human's land where that foul-tempered stallion lived. But... could it also work as a distraction? Blackmist wasn't sure, but she knew one thing - Tersek wanted Darkia on the mission, and in season or not, she would be going.

"I'm guessing we'll wait until nightfall, but I'll come get you before we head out." She offered a faint smile there, trying to show the mare some kindness when she knew the equine was not in a happy place. At the very least, she let her friend stay outside of the Temple rather than milling in close quarters with everyone else until Senka and Tersek ordered them out on their mission.