Incalia & Others

The time of the battle was approaching, and with the mothers moving to Dima's temple, Incalia began to feel the familiar rush of adreneline before a bloodbath. She was stood in the center of the temple, her dark eyes aflame with excitement at the coming of the fight.

"It seems as though I've come at the right time," came a deep voice behind her, and the gamma whipped round to face the other with her fangs in full view. It was then that she registered something that made her do a double take. It couldn't be...

Bandit stood like a soldier, tall and strong, fully grown and ready for anything. "You're looking well, mother."

Incalia's face fell, and she studied her son for a moment. Then a small smile crossed her mouth, "As are you, Bandit."

"What makes you think you can waltz in here, brother? You deserted us, why bother coming back now?" Onslaught made his presence known with a dark, rumbling voice. Soon after Onslaught, Ardeth and Malacath also joined their mother.

"I was finding my own path, Onslaught," was Bandit's less-than-nice reply, "but I was drawn back here. It wasn't the same without the Haunters. It's quite an army you've got here, I'm impressed."

"Don't be so cocky, son," Incalia reprimanded, "just because you're of Haunter blood doesn't mean we'll just welcome you back with open arms. Things have changed; a bigger army means stricter rules." A flash of fang was shown to Onslaught as he began to growl, but was quickly silence with the warning from Incalia. "Bandit, I need you to understand, things are different now. If you seek entry from Lady Risen, you will be offered a group, and become the same rank as all the others. Your brothers are both high ranking members, as am I, perhaps you may be able to join the coalition later on."

"Well then, I shall find Risen and ask her." Bandit concluded, lifting his head slightly.

"Drop your head and drop the attitude," Onslaught snapped, "and follow me."

Bandit reluctantly followed his brother, as Onslaught headed for the center of the temple. A low bark rang out, as Onslaught called out to Risen.

Risen

Gracefully she came down the steps, Risen's delicate, and yet brooding, head looked up to the one who had called her with a dark entity dwelling in her eyes. She seemed to be a little annoyed at being called while trying to get everything for war situated; but when she saw the figure of Bandit standing in the shadows of her temple she couldn't help but smirk.

Hackles rose high as the menacing grin turned her lips into a winding crook. Her lengthy limbs moved her foward, a walk so light and yet so deadly straight toward the returned Haunter. Her lips parted to reveal her ivory cage, "So Bandit, you have returned to the Haunters have you?" She said with a sparkle in her eye. One more deadly than the look she had given when she saw him first. "You are seeking something here, I presume. Acceptance maybe?" Her voice hollowed out, gruelish and discomforting. "How are we to know you haven't joined some other group and come here with your filthy paws to destroy our empire?" Her teeth clenched, tightening her facial muscles to look more constrained.

For a moment, just a short moment, she paused and let the words sink before her face relaxed and she spoke again. "You will have to prove yourself boy, once you were a Strategist, what are you trying to be accepted into now? I don't think you should even be informed of our plans for this round, if you are working for others, that will be the last place that I want you." She snorted before demanding. "If you want our approval, you will have to figth in this war. You must kill at least two of the others side - With witnesses - to be accepted back into this pack." Again, darkness, her tone grew deep. "Is That Understood?"

Bandit & Onslaught

With Risen's arrival, Onslaught stepped back, moving away from his brother to let the alphess speak to him. A warning glare was shot to Bandit, but he remained silent.

Bandit ignored Onslaught, his eyes fixed on Risen as she approached him. His head was lowered in respect of her, but his eyes never left hers, even when they flashed with a deadly sparkle. "Why would I want to destroy something that my bloodline runs through? You are my family, Risen, the Haunters are my family. I would never destroy my family."

"As for which group I wish to join, I think I'll figure that one out while I kill off the enemy. Nothing like blood to get you thinking straight. I understand completely, Risen, and I shall complete the task you have set for me. I will not fail." His tone was sincere, and disturbing, and his eyes hardened with the thought of the coming fight. "I appologise for disturbing you, you must be busy."

Risen

The gray female nodded her head at his last statement. "Quite" Was her simple short responce before giving him her finaln word. "No, you shall not fail. I want to trust you Bandit, and I wish that you can prove to me that I can." Her fearsom yellow eyes soon shot to Onslaught with a flickering glow. "Retrieve Quilikahm, tell her and the other healers to ready the poisons and the antidotes. We want to be ready for when they call us out. I have a feeling Kalaber will not want us to keep him waiting." She ordered before turning to Bandit and Incalia, and with a nod, she turned and left the group to do further business.

DEFCON

Outside, hooves could be heard hitting the rock and ice. the sound came closer and closer until the mighty zebra stood at the entrance to the Temple. He had his head slightly lowered to show that he acknowledged that he was not the boss, but not so much to suggest that he was fearful. "I was told that I could find a very diverse pack here where I will be accepted." Defcon said quietly. If these animals were to eat him, he wouldn't want to be so loud that they all knew he was here.

Incalia, Bandit & Onslaught

Bandit nodded his head, muttering his goodbyes as Risen left them.

With his orders, Onslaught padded away from his brother and mother to find Quilikahm.

Incalia slowly moved forward to stand before her son, fixing him with an approving stare. "That went better than I expected, but you best deliver what you have promised, or there will be punishment and banishment from the Haunters. Defection is not tolerated, Bandit."

It was then that the gamma female heard a voice, and instantly she became a fearsome sight. Eyes ablaze, Incalia's head shot round to spot the zebra, and with a terrifying snarl charged for the hooved creature. "That may be so, zebra," the hybrid growled, "but in these times of war we are not open for animals to just drop by. You could be a spy for all we know. What is your business here - for acceptance now would be difficult: our leader is busy, and we are on edge."

Behind Incalia, Bandit stood strong, larger than his ferocious mother, but by no means less deadly.

DEFCON

Defcon looked down at Incalia. As much as he wanted to put the arrogant hybrid in her place, he resisted. "I completely understand." He replied coolly. "I have come to seek acceptance, for I am rejected everywhere else. I will accept any test you give me to prove my alliance. I will gladly wait if I need to."

Incalia & Bandit

"Then wait you shall, for Risen is busy, and in times of war there is nothing we can do about new members. You shall have to wait here for a day or so." Incalia's eyes narrowed slightly, as she looked Defcon up and down. "We are too busy to test you. Stay here. You shall have to wait for our return for Lady Risen to see you."

With that, Incalia and Bandit left the Temple to respond to the call of Cavan.