The Fate of the Pack (Open, Important!)

[reeddragon]

Thor was long gone, either driven off or killed.

Sira hadn't been seen in some time. Her puppies were also missing.

That left her in charge of the pack.

She did not want to be in charge of the pack.

But what could Safo do? She had searched for the alphas as much as she could. Her old injury bothered her constantly with all the walking she forced on it and her limp was an advertisement of weakness to all who looked upon her. She had continued searching through the winter for Thor, and for Sira since she had gone missing. Today, though...there was no scent trail, no scrap of fur, nothing. She had lost the trail, and she was forced to admit defeat. She had holed herself up in the cabin as soon as she returned from her latest failed search. No one was home, at the moment, but that was okay. The few wolves she still saw around were likely to return shortly, and she needed the time to herself to figure out what to do.

I can't lead! She reasoned as she gnawed on the remains of the branch she had pulled from a berry bush on her way back. I can't even hunt! I need to appoint someone... She frowned as she ran through her mental list of packmates. But...who? Who can I trust to lead the pack?

[iscourge]

A massive black wolf sat at the door of the cabin, his jaws parted in a yawn, the doorjam guarding his frame from the biting wind. "Safo." he said, greeting the female with the gentle bow of his head. "How are you?" He needed no answer to see she was stressed.

He rose, large flanks lifting off the ground, and backing away into the cabin to sit further inside. His crimson stripes seemed to almost glow in the dim light. "Don't panic." he murmured, in an attempt to be comforting, though he doubted it came across as such. "We made it through the winter without a leader... You can find someone, I'm sure. Maybe we could combine with another pack, as well. That might not be such a bad idea. Oh- but don't listen to me, I'm just speaking out of turn."

He bowed his head respectively, large ears pressed flat against his skull. "Please, forgive me, ma'am."

[Sandtiger]

Walking with light, treading steps into the cabin, the Liberator noticed Safo and his fellow packmate. His neon-green eyes flashed as he observed Safo, with her limp leg and her black fur, and it was obvious she was stressed. He knew she had been searching extensively during the harsh winter for the missing alphas and their pups. "Forgive my bluntness in speaking out Safo. I am not one to give compliments much, but you truly did your best to search for Thor and Sira. But we must move on...," - He spoke with uncharacteristic softness in his voice. Though still somewhat distant from his packmates, he did fell for her. But he himself knew well that comforting words were not always what some wanted to hear... ... Lyrics: N/A Notes: N/A OOC: N/A

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[Warg]

From out of the sky there fell a demon...no...a massive black wolf with fire like red markings throughout his pelt. He seemed to draw in all light around him, leaving the few inches around his fur to be like a black abyss. His eyes were embers, and when he smiled, it was always very evil looking with long black fangs. He might as well have been a demon. Landing heavily, Warg took a few steps forward and shook out his black pelt. The wolf glared as he looked around, reaching out with his senses. Somewhere to his right, he figured the cabin, there was a gathering underway. Good.

Warg had been off in other lands during the bleakest parts of the winter, to find food. It had seemed all of the wolves had dispersed for a while, and were starting to return to Yellowstone. It made him smile to think that he might have a pack again.

He had roamed the rest of the lands, sizing up what he could find the remnants of the packs and those that were slowly returning. The wolf wanted to find the biggest pack first, and it seemed the Eastern was the way to go, as it had been from the start. He had met Sira, liked her even. But he could not find her.

The wolf ducked into the forest, looking for some grub to eat. He chased down a doe, ate, then found her fawn, and took it. Taking to the air again, the Dire headed for the cabin.

Several minutes later, with a ground shaking thud, the wolf landed at the entrance of the Cabin, dropping the small deer he carried in his large jaws. Licking his bloody muzzle, the wolf snorted a puff of smoke from his nose. He stood a full head larger than any of the tallest natural wolves. As far as he knew, he was the only one of his kind. The massive Dire looked at each of the wolves in turn, in the eye, assessing each of them and asserting his dominance.

"Is anyone hungry?" The Dire would grin fangedly, stepping towards the entrance. "I have been looking around the other lands, and I find the pickings slim. I was listening before I came in. I was looking to join your little pack before the winter set in and everyone wandered off. Sira is gone. She disappeared soon before the onset of winter. Her pups are gone as well." He did not know any of this for sure. If she came back suddenly, he might be in for some trouble. But for now, it would suffice to make his claiming complete. He would leave them no other options. "My name is Warg, but you may call me Alpha...I would be...happy to lend my services to your aid..." The wolf's grin was many fanged. He did not entirely seem like the nice type, but unless all of them wanted to attack him at once, they did not have much of a choice. He looked at the two males in the room. "Do either of you wish to challenge my claim?" He would eye them, small fires dancing in his dark eyes. He would be lenient and let them live if they did, but he was not about to be chased off easily either. He seemed to completely have dismissed the one female. He never bothered with the females, they were just his bitches. This one might make a good mate, or she would make a good snack. He'd had a little respect for Sira, but this one looked hurt, a possible old injury. He might help her later with it, if he felt like it.

[reeddragon]

A voice sounded from the door. She jumped, her neck fur standing on it, but relaxed somewhat when she saw who it was. "Oh, good. I was half afraid Moonrunner had returned." She stood and stretched, kicking the splintered wood of the branch back into the far corner of the cabin. When he asked how she was, she shook her head. "In pain, but there are more important matters at hand than an old injury acting up."

He entered the cabin and attempted to reassure her. She appreciated the effort, but she wouldn't be entirely happy until the pack had a proper leader again. Someone strong, experienced, and able and not the young, crippled runt she was. She listened as he talked, shaking her head again when he asked for forgiveness. "There is no speaking out of turn among equals. Once all this is settled, I'm stepping down from my rank. Life was easier and happier as a normal wolf in the pack." She sighed. "Perhaps we could merge with another pack, if they let us, but I'm sure Moonrunner has the others on edge and wary of strangers, at the moment. She's the one that made Thor disappear, I just know it!" She growled. "I just can't prove it..."

A play of shadows as a lupine form entered caught her attention, and she nodded to Lysander. "Thank you. Both of you. I wish I had been successful, but our situation right now is the way it is and we can't change it by keeping on as normal. We either risk everything to merge with another pack or we pick a new alpha or two and start over." She looked between the two. "Now that I think about it, you two are all I've seen lately. Is it just us three, now?"

A loud thud answered her, and she looked up at the massive wolf who had just appeared. She had never talked to him that she could remember, but she had seen him in Sira's company, so she assumed he had joined. Great, that made four members that were still hanging around. Things looked a little better.

When he asked if anyone was hungry, Safo shook her head. "Thank you, but no. I ate recently." Berries and leaves weren't filling for most wolves, but she had developed a taste for them and other plant materials in the previous seasons. It was likely what kept her alive and in the pack under Thor's rule. She could eat plants and leave all the meat for the wolves who required it.

The new wolf continued to speak, stating things that were already present on Safo's mind and then claiming the role of alpha for himself. Safo stared at the wolf as he spoke. He did not seem like the trustworthy, loyal wolf she felt the pack needed. In fact, he didn't seem much like a wolf at all. He reminded her of a demon, and that make her distrust him further. Still...she waited patiently as he regarded the other males and asked if they wished to challenge him. For some reason - be it because she was female or due to her weak leg - he had passed her over. She should be offended, but she was amused.

The challenge - at least the first challenge - wouldn't come from either of them.

Safo took a step toward the large male, tail and ears erect. "I am the one in charge here, and I will not hand the pack over to a wolf I don't trust." Her previous talk of equals was forced out of her mind. She couldn't sit back and let this wolf take over, even if it cost her her life.

[iscourge]

Hephaestus glared at the wolf, crimson eyes narrowing in dislike and distrust. He thought /HE/ was the largest in the area, and how this... Behemoth stood sent chills up his spine. Not for fear of himself, no, he was a strong, hardy wolf. He was sure Brock would take him. Even Moonrunner, perhaps. But what about Safo? She was hurt, and this male looked like he could rip her apart with a single chomp.

Carefully, he stepped behind her, tail fanned out, ears perked. Still, he kept a calm face, though a rage boiled below his flesh. There was already a wolf no one in the land could stand, and he flat-out refused to bow to this male. He would leave and become a loaner before that happened. "Safo, be careful." he warned, gaze locked upon the male before him. He knew Lysander well enough, and though this opponent was a massive beast, he was sure the three of them together could lock him down.

Deep in his heart, as much as he adored Safo, she was not the leading type. He himself had been through that already, and found the same was true for him. Lysander? Lysander might be able to, but it'd take muscle behind him to make the others listen. Gently, his jaws found her tail, tugging her back. "Pack meeting?" he suggested quietly, gaze resting on Lysander's emerald eyes, muzzle tilting and guesturing towards the empty corner, filled with darkness where they could at least speak in some form of privacy.

[-sira-]

-♦-"Broken hearted, but still I must show them I more than that."
Sira.-♦-

The moon hung high in the cool spring air. Night birds chirped with nest preparation for their young that were soon to some. Some sounded flustered as they were most likely being interrupted by unwanted nocturnal predators. As quickly as the angry chirping had begun and some subtle growling, it all ended. The air was silent once again. A slight breeze tickled the sensitive hairs in her ears. She laid them flat against her head. The silver wolf was fixated at the ground. For what reason, she was still unsure what to think about it all. Regardless of the time she had spent away from the pack. The last she had been there was in the middle of winter. Her beta was capable of caring for the pack in her absence, but she was unsure of the new comer she had introduced, warg. She wondered how things had changed since her departure. But this time when she comes back, it will be the last time she will ever leave. 

Powder blue eyes finally opened up as she tilted her head to the sky. The meaning behind blue... What does it really mean? Happiness? Sadness? It all depends on how one feels the first time their eye color changes as a whelp. For her mother it was excitement, other wolves felt love and happiness. But the more typical wolves felt content or sadness. In this case, she was the typical wolf with gala eyes. Enough time has passed, and her return was well over due. She hoped they wouldn't turn their backs on her. Especially after she explains her reason for being gone more than she had promised. She howled every night to let them know she was okay and still alive. But they had never searched for her. Maybe because her calls weren't distressed? In a way, she was glad they never did. This was news she wasn't ready to share with the pack quite yet. But now the time has come. Although, she would most likely be the only one completely torn about it. With alphess on the line, she had no more time to mourn it was time to get back. With this final thought to herself she raised her head vertical to the stars and let out a long howl of her return.

Her trek back was anything but pleasureful and exciting. It was time for her to return back to her duties as if nothing ever happen. A while ago the loss of Thor had her heart nailed to the ground. But now this? Being an alphess never gave you a chance to recoup from anything. She was already nearing pack territory, was the walk that short? Or had her mind taken over all of the journey back. A familiar scent had brushed past her whiskers. More and more had begun to show themselves. The members of her pack. All of them. The strongest being warg. She wondered how the pack and him managed with her being absent. He is what she was afraid of. They had briefly met, but she cut the introductions short due to her kin becoming sick. And now, she mad the journey back as a single wolf. Her eyes glistened with sorrow with the hole in her heart missing. She was not fit for mother hood, she should have known. But it's the way of life. She was obviously not ready for it all yet. But the loss of them all; her pups and Thor, she would have to push aside to remain her title as alphess. 

She stood at the end of the  forest the moon gone now. She had wandered from one side of the territory to the other. The winter resting place was still full of scent from her pack. Her ears flicked back, it seems her absences had forced some of her pack to wander off. She cursed to herself, she knew this would happen. But she couldn't blame safo. Her ears picked up again,  she felt some distress in the air. She was only able to pick out a few scents. There was Safo, but something was wrong with her. And three males, heph and lsyander. And then warg. His scent was the strongest. Her yes narrowed, it wasn't the good sort of scent either. It had a hostile hint to it. It was different from when she met him. 

She swiftly broke into a sprint down the side of the mountain. her fur beginning to stand on end. During her time away she had heightened her powers and abilities. She wouldn't let herself remain weak for her return in case something would happen. And it turns her suggestion to train herself was a good idea. Warg wasn't the average sized wolf, and he was the type of wolf to mess with. He was larger than most wolves, his spirit was tainted with black. She had faith in her pack, but with the heart ache she had suffered over the last couple seasons, she needed something like this to release her anger. She hoped she wasn't too late with the pack take over. If she was, she would earn her spot back. Regardless of her being gone, the eastern pack was still hers. She promised Thor when she appointed her as his alphess.

She halted at the edge of the cabin door, her suspicions appeared to be right.  Safo was injured and her two faithful males were standing up to the black wall before her, Warg. Her eyes shifted from the powder blue of mourning to the easily recognizable blood lust red, he went behind her back and had decided to try and claim the pack for his own. Her hackles stood on end with revenge. After today, she would never leave her pack. A deep rumble came from her throat, "you lay a single body part on my pack members, and I will not hold back" her ears were flat and her teeth bared. Within seconds of speaking a thick row of needles shot out from her body. The started on the back of her neck. The amount of needles ad tripled since her disappearance. They ran down covering her back like a porcupine. Then they ended at the end of her tail. 

"I wouldn't make a single move on them if you cherish your basic senses. Your sight... Your hearing... Your scent... The second you do... I will force every quil onto every square inch of your face..." she felt her quills tingle at the thought of release. The first release in a long time, she knew it would be powerful. She could feel the power throbbing with anticipation. "You have two choices, Warg... Back down now and remained unharmed until you screw up, or leave with blood running down your muzzle and cheeks... Your choice... Choose wisely" she could already feel the power return to her. It was a marvelous feeling, and she would use its ambitions to win this battle. There was no way she would let Thor down. Not to a wolf like Warg.

[Warg]

I would have it all, I would be the best, they would see me and know true fear!

If he was surprised at the boldness of the bitch he had overlooked, he did not show it. Instead, his grin deepened, became all the more sinister as he turned his red and orange gaze upon the lupine femme as she stepped before him with impeccable tenacity. He loved a good challenge. Rather, like the bully he was, he loved a good challenge he knew he could easily win. He had always been a bully. A controlling, manipulative beast who loved the sound of whimpers and the smell of fear; who was not above killing anything that stood against him, even pups. His father had been hard on the pack, kept a good order, even had some respect, but somehow, Warg had turned into this. At what point had an innocent pup become something so vile and evil as he? Was there still an ounce of that innocent pup left in him before his powers had manifested? What had happened to the loving father and adoring mother that they should have allowed such a thing to exist? Warg did not seem eager to reveal the full nature of his past. Somehow he had become what he was, but wherever the hatred had stemmed from, it was not his parent’s fault that was obvious. No self-respecting wolf who had ever been a good leader could have permitted the existence of this.

If the thrashing he had received barely a year ago from his old pack had left any mark on him, it was that he was clearly being too soft right now. These were not his wolves, that was for certain. The pack he had come from and those he had taken over in the past had been shallow. They were easily cowed and led like sheep to the slaughter…until he had met similar wolves as these who had turned his whole army against him. This subtle reminder made his grin turn sour on his face. The memories still haunted his sleep, and here he was, doing it again, as if it would have to happen again to sink in. All he wanted was to be hated and feared. He wanted pawns, he wanted offerings at his feet, he wanted to hear whimpers and smell fear! But a ruler can have none of these without subjects to be ruled over. And all that time alone, Warg had hated every minute of it. Being alone was the worse position in the world for one who craved attention, starved for domination, and pined for dominion. He wanted a pack, and the only way he had ever known was through suppression and subjugation. Here, he had a chance to start over, and he was ruining it by being his same old self.

Scowling now, all trace of his previous amusement gone, Warg only glared at these wolves who dared to raise their hackles and bare their fangs against him. He would snort again, the puff of smoke issuing forth dark and black, acrid in its scent of barely suppressed gasses. All it would take was a single spark…He could have them all cowering at his feet then. Burning fur had been a favorite smell in the past, and it was the surest and quickest way to get an instant reaction and the purest cries of pain. He would start with the female. "So be it. Know your place..." A deep breath preluded the stream to come, a snarl bubbling in the back of his throat. Jaws parting, a small red dancing ball of flame was forming in the back of his throat, on the verge of release when just behind him...

"You lay a single body part on my pack members, and I will not hold back.”

It was as if water had been doused on his head, the affects would not have been any less. Mouth snapping shut, he choked on the orb of fire that now had nowhere to go but back into him. His throat burned with agony as the black beast turned its head slowly around. Of course, it would be Sira. He had thought her gone, truly. To see her again, he was torn between both pleased and mortified. Here was the one wolf who had earned any ounce of his respect, poised to strike him down. His eyes roved her as they had done before. Her spikes something he had not known about were a new surprise.

“I wouldn't make a single move on them if you cherish your basic senses. Your sight... Your hearing... Your scent... The second you do... I will force every quill onto every square inch of your face. You have two choices, Warg... Back down now and remained unharmed until you screw up, or leave with blood running down your muzzle and cheeks... Your choice... Choose wisely"

Meeting her gaze, done between one challenging another, Warg growled deeply, a rumbling, tremulous expression of all of his frustrations. His form turned more fully towards her, staring her down. Calculations were made in his head within seconds, and the realization that he could most likely only manage to burn a quarter of those spikes before the rest reached him was a revelation he was not pleased to note. Those quills would not only hit him in the face, they would likely hit all exposed parts of him. Sure he could heal, but there would be no chance of him getting those quills out on his own, and if they struck through his chest, he would be dead before he could whimper. The growl died in his throat.

Ears laying back, Warg actually averted his eyes for the first time in his life. Dropping his gaze, his head was soon to follow. His form lowered until his head was beneath hers, which put his belly on the floor. It was a demeaning posture, submission. He enjoyed it when it was done in honor of his superiority, but not when it was himself. And to a female as well! Warg cursed, long and loudly, but only in his head. He hated himself, his posture, everything this female was bringing out in him. All hope he had of being in a pack again, at least not here, seemed to die with his growl. She would never let him in after this. He would be lucky if she did not release those quills at him anyway. He surely deserved it. Truly, a bully is a coward once you stand up to them.

He had nothing to say to defend himself either. His usual smooth talking ways had left him. He was already on his belly, he would not demean himself further by opening his mouth. He just lay there, staring away from all of the wolves, towards the wall. Way to go Warg, you’ve really done it now… he told himself with an exhaled sigh of resignation.

And to think...I had it all planned out...

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[Sandtiger]

quote]

Lysander turned around, prickly, reddish coat standing on end as he watched the ghoulish sight enter the cabin. He had smelt the scent of this wolf a few times in the territory before, and the scent was information enough, but seeing the wolf in person, was truly an imposing sight. This wolf, black and streaked with crimson, was obviously not of the usual type of wolf of the area, this was clear even to him, a foreigner from Africa. Next to Hephaestus, a rather large wolf already, Lysander looked almost like a year old pup, but compared to the other wolf, truly, he was tiny, being only an Ethiopian Wolf. He regrettably had to admit that his species was not exactly large. This wolf... truly seems like a monster. Looking back to Hephaestus as he met the other wolf's crimson gaze with bright neon green ones, he cautiously considered the wolf as he spoke. His expression was blank, as Lysander was the among the composed wolves you'd find. He narrowed his eyes tightly however as the wolf, now known to him as Warg, announced his 'dominance'. His left ear flicked as he could hear the rising hum in the air, the anticipation of his body, ready to cackle with electricity. He did not like this newcomer, not in the least. Suddenly Safo stepped forward, and boldly announced she wouldn't give the pack to him. But practical Lysander had to admit, him being very small, Safo having the limp in her leg, it was not the best of ideas. But what choice did they have? He tensed and electricity began arcing about his body as Warg was about to shoot a burst of what appeared to be flam- Sira?! Was not she and her family missing...? Green eyes flashed and the electrical dance of yellow and blue around the male's body stopped as he took in the words of Sira at the moment. While the huge wolf before he, Safo and Hephaestus blocked most of his view, the wolf could hear her tone of voice, and she was not joking around. Than he heard the wall of needle-sharp quills stand up from her back, and he could tell they were poised and aimed. He would've felt bad for the wolf, had he not just threatened the pack. He watched as the dragon of a wolf finally ceased his threatening posture and lowered himself, giving up for now, to Sira. Gratitude and flexibility flooded over his previously rigid and tense body and admittedly, relief, as well. Now able to clearly see his alphess, he aimed his green gaze at her and thanked her silently. The skeptical wolf normally did not believe in miracles, but for now, he did, you could say. The dragon, named Warg, has now been subdued, for now. Lyrics: N/A Notes: N/A OOC: N/A

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[reeddragon]

((Sorry about the length and quality. I have no focus. x.x))

Her ears flicked as Hep cautioned her to be careful. This wasn't a matter of care, though. There was only one choice to make. She tried to push back an annoyed grunt when her tail was pulled and the male suggested a meeting. What was there to discuss? But then, he was much older and wiser than she. Perhaps he thought of something she hadn't? She thought she could hear the larger male's voice, though she didn't catch the words, her attention on the smaller two wolves at that moment.

Before she could follow him, she heard a voice she never thought she'd hear again. Looking around the other wolf as much as possible, she thought she could spy a familiar shape.

Sira?

She opened her mouth to protest the alphess's appearance. If it really was her, she was better off somewhere safe. Didn't she have pups to look after? But the massive wolf submitted. It was a sight to behold, and would become a pleasant memory for the remaining days of her life.

"S-Sira!" Safo bowed to the alphess. "Welcome home."

[-sira-]

-♦-"To feel such power coarse through my veins. I'm never leaving again"-♦-
Sira.

[/i]

From the time of her departure with her kin, she had gone through depression and anger. She remembered telling them they would be okay, nothing would happen. She kicked herself everyday for the lies she had told them. Her heart twisted in an agonizing pain. She wished she would have had more time to regain herself. But what she had going on in front of her, right now, was enough power to push everything aside. Her title as alphess was back up top, but she still didn't trust the dire. Her mind told her to relax, but her quills shook with anticipation. With the different emotions coating through her, she didn't know what to do. But for now, continuing on standing her ground was her only choice of maintaining a little sanity.

His next moves threw her off slightly. From how he approached her pack and with how he carried himself, he didn't not seem like the submissive type. Her quills still stood on end, being ready for any sudden movements. He slowly lowered his body a little closer to the ground. With him being the larger wolf, it too a little more than bowing his head to show submission. She could tell he didn't want to do this, but it a way he had to do it.  She wondered if it was to show something of himself. Her ear flickered to safos shocked response but focus is what she needed to do. Regardless of the changes he had made to back down, she still wouldn't let him go easy. 

Her eyes remained red with anger. At herself? At Warg? In a way, she couldn't completely blame him for trying. Her pack was weak, and her being gone was the reason why. A multitude of things had gone wrong for today to happen. But she would make sure it wouldn't come to this again. Her pack will no longer live in jeopardy of falling apart.  But what would be the best move for the dire in front of her? She swallowed her emotions further, alphess rule was in order. She knew what she had to do. Her nerves twitched her quills at the thought.

She held her gaze upon the dire wolf. Then she softly glanced at her small pack waiting for her decision. If this was Thor, he would take immediate action to rid the dire competitor.  He was a great leader, one she should follow. Her next choices were based off of that mindset. "Warg... I met you some time ago... I allowed you into my pack..." her voice was stern and steady, "when I disappeared you tried to take advantage of my packs' hospitality..." a deep rumble started to come from her. She felt the anger returning, it was the feeling of being lied to, "and for that... I have no choice as alphess to try and further think over this decision...", they quivered more and more at her thoughts.

She felt them strengthen and stand up taller as the seconds neared. Her growl persisted to rumbled from her throat. Her strong gave was fixed on him, "Warg... Get out of my territory!" her voice got stronger and louder until she finished speaking. She kneeled her head down, revealing the row of spikes. She hoped her pack mates knew to watch for this movement. Within a millisecond of bowling her head down, the quills from the top of her neck to the bottom of her shoulder blades had shot out towards his direction. She hoped it would affect the places they were meant for. 

This was more than just a warning to him. It was also to let him know that she would not mess around any longer. She was not the foolish alphess she once was when they had met. With her time away, she was an emotional mess. But now, with all this? She felt her power like she had never felt it before. It was a new reign for the eastern territory. And she would never replace this feeling.

[Warg]

Warg lay, still as stone, as the moments drew out while the Alphess thought over what to do with him. She was mad. Oooo was she ever mad. He could smell the anger from her. He could feel the power radiating from her. His ears caught the nearly imperceptible brushing of quills against each other as they flexed and he felt half certain that her 'back down and remain unharmed' comment wasn't to be trusted. He almost whimpered, almost. Maybe he should have. But then again, he should have done a lot of things. One was that he certainly should not have done this in this way that was for certain. But had he really done anything wrong? They had been here discussing who would take Alpha in the first place weren’t they? He’d merely stepped up to volunteer right? Right? Clearly there was more to this. What had her so upset?

As she began to speak, his ears lifted and turned to her, though he kept his eyes and face turned down and away. He felt an overwhelming sense of sadness he hadn’t thought he had been capable of. He wanted to get up and leave, run, now, before she finished passing judgment. But he stayed, respecting her authority and her right. He hoped somewhere that his backing down and staying would mean something to her. When she said his name and seemed to wait, he looked up at her, ears pressed back against his head. His eyes had softened somewhat, back to their soft red and golden hues, the small black pupil in the middle a window to his soul, to his deepest parts. Could she see how sad he was just by looking in those eyes? He hadn’t really intended on hurting her like this, hadn’t thought she would ever have known. She wasn’t supposed to have come back already.

And there it was, her final sentence echoed in his head. He flinched, not only at the power of her statement, but all of the implications it came with. Alone again. Packless. He did finally find his voice, whispering a single, simple word. ”Alphess…” It wouldn’t be enough to change anything. He saw her head dipping, and he did then give a small whimper, he had time for nothing else except to shut his eyes and tense as about thirty, 9 inch quills flew at his face.

His screeching yelp would echo far and wide as the quills embedded themselves across his face. His ears were pinned down by several quills. Two struck his nose square on, that was probably the largest of his pain. And one in particular was dangerously close to his eye but had barely missed. A couple had grazed his cheeks leaving furrows and found marks on his shoulders just beside his head from his crouched position. The rest were scattered across his muzzle, forehead, top of his head, the top row from her shoulders had gone across his own shoulders.

Leaping to his feet, a steady stream of cries emitting from him, he ran for the door. His eyes stayed close, he did not want to see the quills right now. His movements were clumsy and as he came to steps, he seemed to have forgotten about them, and went tumbling down, barely keeping his head up. He just lay there for a few minutes, trying to catch his breath. He had to breathe through his mouth because of the way the quills had hit his nose. Finally getting up, he shook his head, a paw rising to try and catch one against the ground to get it out but he couldn’t even touch them right now. He let up several sharp yelps, turning in a circle as if trying to decide which way to go before he took off running as fast as he ever had, his tail curled up under him like the coward he was.

I'm sorry...

[iscourge]

Hephaestus felt his ears press flat against his head and his own muzzle bow subconsciously at the mammoth's pain. Unease filled his heart- he knew his Alphess had seen something... Something terrible. Quickly, his crimson eyes wandered around her body, searching for familiar marks known as 'bullet holes.' There was nothing. Maybe she hadn't seen a small colony of humans after all.

He wanted to go to her, to lick her muzzle like old times, to tell her, Safo and Lysander it would all be just fine. They were a small pack now, with merely four members, but they would grow strong again. They were once the most feared pack in the entire land, he knew. Now, that award would have to go to the airy Southern pack. He doubted Warg would head there, he doubted anyone but Moonrunner would take him.

Moonrunner had never done anything to anger the Eastern pack- her beef was with the South, and maybe the west, but now? If Warg scampered off that way and melded in with her group, if she took in a traitor? Carefully, gently, his claws clicked against old wood, his form raising, muzzle lowered. He moved to Sira, watching the smaller wolf with a heavy heart.

He was the elder of the pack, older than all of them put together probably, though no grey shone on his face, no muscles ached, and no bones creaked below his flesh. "Sira..." he murmured, though it was hard to look smaller than a wolf when you were twice her size. "Sira, are you alright?" His tongue ran over her muzzle, his own act of submission flashing across his face. She was NOT alright, he could tell that much about her posture, her threats, her actions.

Never before had he witnessed such an attack, from such a normally kind Alphess. Honestly, he didn't think much of Warg either, and was pulling Safo away to tell her he was leaving if such a beast took command. Where would he go? Probably to the West, or to the South maybe. It took a certain kind of wolf to lead others, and Warg lacked these certain qualities, he felt. He was overbearing, did not care about the well being of others, and honestly? He felt guilty for whatever pack took him in next. But he was marked- and marked wolves didn't usually fit in well after their scars had healed...

[Sandtiger]

He watched silently, next to Hephaestus, as Sira dealt with Warg in a fierce way he had see only with Thor when he had been around. Something shone in Sira's red eyes that bothered Lysander immensely and he had made sure to take a step back as she lowered her head to pierce Warg's face and shoulders with her sharp quills. He watched with a blank, somewhat grim face as Warg left, whimpering in pain form the spikes lodged in his nose, snout and shoulders. As the cries of behemoth wolf filtered away into the distance, Lysander carefully looked at his alphess. She was not the same alphess who had first taken charge as the mate of Thor. Having not seen Thor with her, and not sensing the smells of pups around her anytime recently, he submersed, as he hated to admit it, that they were indeed gone. The loss of a pack was something the African native was familiar with, but it must have hit so much closer to home when it was your own mate and children. Sira is not all well, that is quite obvious... Originally optimistic of he return and grateful, and he still was, the Liberator felt Sira was very emotionally damaged. He bit his tongue to keep from speaking, and his green eyes flashed as he watched Hephaestus walk up to her, Sira looking small like almost all wolves did against Hephaestus. He looked back to Safo, to see if she was alright. He saw no quill and assumed she was alright. While it was indeed a good thing Sira was back, he personally felt deep down, that she, as good a leader as she was, perhaps she should take a break, to recuperate. But then he realized she'd been gone the whole winter, and even if she did want to rest, who else would lead? Safo was Beta, but it was evident she wished for someone else. So while Lysander remained confident Sira would be fine physically, the red-coated wolf couldn't help but feel concerned for his superior's mental state. For it could put the pack at danger... Lyrics: N/A Notes: N/A OOC: Don't take it the wrong way Xane, this is just how he thinks, he's concerned for her mental health, that's all. =3

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[reeddragon]

Safo watched as Sira passed judgment. Her focus was primarily on the large wolf. She didn't trust him to obey. After all, he was fully prepared to take on the pack in order to take it over. She knew Sira was strong in her own way, but could she really completely deter a takeover? She wouldn't put it past the dire wolf to resort to trickery where brute strength and sheer size failed. But then, the alphess's quills were still in position. As long as she was alert, she could potentially kill any wolf in an instant. Perhaps the takeover really had been thwarted.

At least, she could hope.

Sira told the male to get off the territory, and Safo noticed the movement of the alphess just in time to jump back from the barrage of quills. Her tail wagged, though she was almost ashamed. It wasn't like her to take pleasure in the pain of others, but...well...Warg did deserve it. The male was evil and she hoped she'd never have to see him again.

He ran off like the confronted bully he was, and Safo tenses, wondering if she should go after him and make sure he had gone. She glanced at her alphess. What would Sira want her to do? And what had changed her so much? She would have expected her action from Thor, but not from her. Did losing Thor damage her emotionally? Well...Safo had never been in love. Not really. Crushes didn't count and they tended to come in go. Without the xperience, she had no way of helping a wolf that lost someone special.

She turned her gaze in the direction Warg had gone. Perhaps she should go make sure he was off their territory anyway, and leave this situation to the others. They'd do a better job than she at comforting the alphess. Yes, that would be best. She sprinted off, checking the territory for the dire wolf.

You'd better be gone, traitor!