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Post by Askuwheteau on Sept 15, 2011 23:54:15 GMT -5
One of the stragglers now arrives, Askuwheteau has been following the group at a distance, despite his fury which is clearly etched on his features. The young male finds a battle in himself waging even as he joins the fray. His gimlet eyes ablaze with pure hatred as he looks the situation over, the Wolverine is being braced by Skahla while ambushed from behind by another wolf as he pins Ikuna, a possible hostage situation. Wachiwa has the smell of blood about her and he can tell the eagle she fights has already wounded her savagely. He moves to help her first, he begins to lope toward her battle with the bird, she may have already finished it he observes as she deftly dodges and retaliates in almost the same motion.
Still if she doesn't manage to injure it he will be there to back her up, and he makes his own running lunge for the airborne combatant. Asku is a touch more experienced as far as combat goes and he focuses on one single target...the eagle's left wing. He means to destroy the bird's ability to fly in one swift surprise attack. Then retribution can be had, Asku does not mean for these wicked animals to die quickly, Oh no...Asku has been dreaming of this day for a long time now, and he has many creative ways of hurting them all plotted out and prepared.
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Post by Curiosity on Sept 16, 2011 9:10:05 GMT -5
Pauwau hisses with ears flattened against her skull, looking more snake-like than feline as she stares down the larger canines threatening to ruin all they've worked so hard to attain. When Skahla snaps his jaws nearby, she swings a clawed paw out to try and smack his protruding muzzle in retaliation. Her slitted silver eyes spy a flash of something in their periphery, and now it's her turn to cry out in alarm as she spots a sneaky lupine attempting to flank the wolverine from behind: "Onatah!"
Onatah may look like a brawny brute, but she's no fool. She knows she stands no chance against so many wolves, no matter how hard she and the others try fighting back. Maybe one or two, but not half a dozen angry ones, some of them no doubt relatives of the kidnapped pups out for blood. She also knows she has the upper paw because of what's trapped underneath it -- and with her life on the line, she's not afraid to use it.
"Stop!" the wolverine snarls out with teeth bared to the approaching pack of wolves, wheeling around to arch her hunched back and better display the helplessly pinned pup beneath her. "You want your sweet little pup...alive, don't you? she growls viciously, digging her thick claws a little deeper into Ikuna's flesh as she delivers her lethal (if deceitful) threat. "Back. Off."
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Post by Pavane on Sept 16, 2011 16:08:29 GMT -5
They're here! His family, his pack are finally, finally here! Ikuna still can't see them clearly, but he can hear their voices, even in cries of pain and challenge. His tail starts to wiggle, to thump against the ground, and then…
"Yipe!"
The pup yelps as Onatah's claws dig into him, pricking hard against his skin. He lets out a whine. It hurts. Bad thing. Bad smelly thing.
And it's saying mean things to his family. It's trying to stop them. Ikuna's whine turns to a growl, and he tries to twist himself up, to bite as hard as he possibly can at the wolverine's paw. If he can just get the right angle… it won't be much. But it might be a distraction.
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Post by Tala on Sept 16, 2011 19:30:57 GMT -5
Kachina catches very little if any of what is going on out there. Her gaze snaps about from Ikuna and the wolverine, a faint grrrr escaping her a few times wishing she could do /something/.. Yet being trapped in the hole leaves her with very little of anything to do but watch.
For a few moments she was hoping that perhaps her mother was with the group.. Though she hears no growl, nor cougar sounds at all. An hearing the wolverine speak of Ikuna she can only guess there are only wolves out there. She frowns, ears lowering, wondering what will happen to her now.. If the wolves get Ikuna free..
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Cay
Juvenile
Posts: 12
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Post by Cay on Sept 18, 2011 10:31:16 GMT -5
Lexus skids to a stop as Onatah threatens Ikuna. With surprise he had hoped to help end things before a hostage was taken advantage of, now though...He hesitates, snarling at the wolverine.
He flicks a look to Tariro as his alpha before passing his eyes over the other wolves and within a fraction of a second they're back to the wolverine and his snarling subsides as he hesitantly begins to mutter to the wolverine, trying not to let his own pack hear "If you want someone to kill I invite it to be me" on an average day that would probably be a challenge to fight, today it sounds more like an offer and a genuine one at that.
Naturally Lex doesn't have a death wish, he'd be more than happy if it proved a sufficient distraction and a large part of him hopes it will be so the other wolves can do something but he is the eldest of the Cerulean wolves there and he imagines he's pushing quite a bit past the Ute wolves gathered too whether he is or not. The pup, even one of another pack is more important. So he offers, if only to do so before someone younger and more important can think of doing something so foolish.
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Post by Therdde on Sept 18, 2011 16:23:08 GMT -5
Skahla lets out a snarl as the tender skin on his nose is laid open by the bobcat, the smell of his own blood quickly filling the predator's nose. It is hardly the worst injury he has ever received, though, and it scarcely makes the young alpha back up. No, what does that is the threat from the wolverine, lest he provoke her into killing his younger brother.
His hesitation lasts but a moment, though, ended the moment one of the Cerulean wolves offers his life for Ikuna's. That, if the Ute alpha has anything to say about it, will not be happening, for reasons he could not possibly dwell on with much more important things happening here. Taking a very deliberate, if small, step towards the one addressed as Onatah, he says, "And we're to trust you?" His snarling remains as he speaks, the blood from his nose staining the white fur of his muzzle.
"No. But here is something you can trust. You've got about three blinks of my eyes to let him go if you expect to walk away from here alive." Getting Ikuna safe is Skahla's priority, and he could care less why any of the other wolves are here. The ones who took his brother can go free, so long as his brother is safe. Besides that, there is nothing stopping them from tracking down these pup-nappers later. They've found them once already, with much less to go on than a distinct trail. Should those wolverine's claws go any further into Ikuna, though, it will be a risk they'll have to kill Onatah before she can kill the pup.
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The captors have just been offered an outs, of sorts, but one of them will not be joining the others. Not if the eagle's scream is any indication as the female wolf's teeth find his wing and snap the light bones contained therein. Falling, immediately, to the ground, Angard responds by rolling to his feet and attempting to gouge desperately at the female's good eye with his sharp beak. Never mind that the move causes him the most severe pain he has ever felt and that, with the state of his broken wing, a long-term survival is unlikely. He is not about to lie around just because one measly little wolf got one measly little bite in on him. Not this eagle, no sir.
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Post by Azoto on Sept 18, 2011 18:10:04 GMT -5
Wachiwa growls, ears laying back even while the very notion makes her head swim in pain. Stupid bird. The sound of Skahla's words to the wolverine and cat seem so far away; right now she is focused on this here and now and before her, even with Askuwheteau coming to her aid. When the bird is grounded, and on it's back, and arching up for her face, she's jerking her head back, slapping a forepaw for the face of the bird and it's snapping beak. That cruel curved thing snaps at her paws and her wrists, but she ignores the sharp pinching pain.
She has no words of anger, even with it boiling in her chest and brain at this beast who dared to disturb the sanctity of her pack's life so soon after their other troubles. Instead she says, coldly, distant, unfeeling: "May flights of crows wing you to your final rest, and the spirits judge your heart for the heavy thing it is." Before she attempts to snap her strong jaws for the bird's chest; to try and crach and crunch through ribcage and belly even when wings, beak, and talons are flailing for her face. She will not let this thing, this dark presence continue.
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Post by Curiosity on Sept 20, 2011 5:28:37 GMT -5
The bobcat hisses in a tauntingly victorious manner when her claws make contact with the white wolf's muzzle, marring the snowy fur found there with several droplets of crimson blood. When Skahla backs away a moment later, Pauwau quickly scans her surroundings for a sign of where to go next -- and though she quickly spots the fallen fowl, with an obviously broken wing and a pair of wolves flanking him, the cat knows better than to try and win a losing battle. Instead, she begins to slowly back away herself, retreating towards the wolverine while keeping a careful eye on the trio of other wolves gathered around them, ready to strike back at a moment's notice.
Onatah's ears prick forward at the nearest wolf's mumbled words, and she lets loose a peal of belittling laughter in response. "Your life for his? Hah! You're hardly a few seasons away from old age, mutt...your life's not worth nearly as much to the spirits as this young pup's." Her dark eyes swivel towards the bloody-mawed wolf as he speaks up as well, and then her broad snout spreads into a maliciously toothy grin. "And we're to trust you?" she retorts, sending Skahla's own words right back to him with a vicious sneer. "Here is something you can trust as well, wolf. We did not come this far just to give up now." Feeling backed into a corner with all other options running out, Onatah's heavy paw lifts once more, preparing to deliver an ultimately fatal blow.
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Post by Pavane on Sept 20, 2011 10:32:53 GMT -5
This is confusing and terrifying, all at once. Ikuna can finally get a pretty decent view on the other wolves, and while he recognizes some of them, he has no idea at all about the others. Not even the one that offers to sacrifice himself so Ikuna can be okay!
His big brother Skahla puts a stop to that, though. Grumpy-fierce Skahla, who's come all this way because taking care of family and pack is so very important. Even when they're stupid like Ikuna was, and get into all kinds of trouble. Even then, his pack came for him.
That's an encouraging thought, for the brief moment before Onatah's fierce claw lifts again. His pack came for him, but will it be too late? That would be very very bad of him, if they came all this way and he couldn't even be rescued. He tries again to squirm and tug - but it's no good. He can't get away.
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Post by Tala on Sept 20, 2011 20:36:05 GMT -5
Kachina frowns as she watches from the hole, her gaze linger on Ikuna and there is nothing so can do to help the pup. A faint rowl escapes her, muffled by the logs as she watches Onatah's paw lift again.. She wishes someone would do something to stop the mean thing, but so far it looks like its a stalemate and this has her worried..
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Cay
Juvenile
Posts: 12
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Post by Cay on Sept 23, 2011 14:52:43 GMT -5
Lexus practically ignores Onatah's response, the laugh was all he needed to know she'd rejected and without enough time for action. Still, the bird was down and the cat retreating towards them. One down, two to go. If they could just get the pup away things would be simple.
His line of thought while the wolverine is talking to Skahla is cut short though as Onatah's paw lifts again and he snaps into a snarl as he crouches ready to spring and get in the way, a flick of the eyes going to Skahla before they're back to the wolverine "If you harm the pup we will rip your rotten soul to pieces before you can plead to your gods, his safety is the only thing keeping you and your cat alive, run and live or choose to die" he growls out sharply at the beast. He believes it's fairly pointless words but Lex is an ambusher and runner, he fancies Skahla's odds in a straight fight better and hopes to give him the distraction to attack. The fact that it's not Lex's pack to prove he can look after does make it into his mind but that said if the wolverine's paw moves in for the final blow he won't be hesitating to get in the way.
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Post by Therdde on Sept 23, 2011 20:12:29 GMT -5
Any hope of being able to talk his brother into safety is gone. Now is not a time for things like talking. If, in fact, Skahla ever actually believes there's a time for talking, although it seemed the safer avenue, at first. Now is a time for action, and action without regard to his own safety. He can only hope that Lexus' attempt to distract the wolverine, even if only for a second or two, works, as he refuses to give up any more valuable seconds that may, should he prove to be too slow, be the last seconds of young Ikuna's life.
There is no growl or shout. Skahla merely leaps, as strongly as he can, at the wolverine, aiming to bowl her over off the young pup and, secondary to that goal, sink his teeth into whatever flesh he can find. A wolverine is a formidable opponent at the best of times, and though there are others here to reduce some of that risk, getting Ikuna finally to safety is far more important than checking to make sure he has someone to back him up.
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And so ends the life of Angard, with no more to announce it than the sudden and sickening cracking of the bones that protect his most vital organs.
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Post by Azoto on Sept 24, 2011 16:28:52 GMT -5
Wachiwa leaves what is left of the bird where it lays; she had not come wanting to kill it, but knowing now there was no choice, she decides that she will ask for forgiveness later. For now, there is more at hand to take care of.
Shaking her head to try and clear the blood from her eyes, the she-wolf growls softly, and turns, trotting toward the sound of Skahla and the Wolverine; but there are other things to worry about. Getting Ikuna away while Skahla attacks, lest he be injured in the fray... and that unnamed cougar cub that was spoken of; she can hear faint noises coming from the guarded lump of wooden logs. That must be the dark place... And that cub must be there. Despite her sight being hindered by the painful cut, she takes careful appraisal of the situation.
Where's the cat? She ignores this; others likely have it handled. The wolverine is taken care of between Skahla and the Cerulean wolf; but the cub, and those logs... She turns, and starts for the logs and the hole, calling out softly, "Hello? Little cat..?" to try and attract the attention of this cub; to see if she truely is alive, to try and get some situational knowledge. She paws at the logs.
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Post by Curiosity on Sept 24, 2011 18:39:33 GMT -5
The elder wolf's words go unnoticed as Onatah falls back into a semi-trance, eyes glazed over even as they continue to stare mercilessly down at the struggling pup trapped beneath her weight, preparing to sacrifice him to the malignant spirit who promised them longevity in exchange for the lives of children. Time almost seems to slow as the wolverine's paw descends, thick claws unsheathed and heading straight for the pup's throat as they cut through the chilled air -- only to crash back to a swift reality once again as Skahla rams head-on into Onatah, sending her tumbling off the flat rock with the force of his momentum. Snarling viciously as she's attacked, the bulky beast launches into an enraged flurry of teeth and claws, snapping and slashing at the white wolf as her wicked plans are foiled.
Pauwau uncertainly shifts her weight from paw to paw as events unfold, knowing better than to try and get involved in the sudden brawl that's erupted nearby; it may be a somewhat selfish action, but at least it's not a foolish one. Her quicksilver eyes flit about as she considers the situation at paw, from the fallen eagle to the battling pair to the abandoned pup. She begins to trot towards Ikuna to try and keep him from escaping, but then her attention is caught by Wachiwa's calls - which no doubt catches the attention of a different cat than the canine might have hoped. "Hey! Get away from there!" Her hesitation no doubt costs her precious seconds in keeping Ikuna from fleeing towards safety, but she attempts to catch him nonetheless, leaping after the pup as though he were but a morsel of prey.
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Post by Pavane on Sept 25, 2011 3:43:56 GMT -5
Ikuna struggles against the wolverine's paw pinning him. It doesn't do him much good; not until Skahla charges forward and slams into Onatah, knocking her aside enough to give him his chance. He's away! He's free! He's... not out of danger yet, for there's Pauwau running toward him. She may not be as big as the wolverine, but he knows well just just sharp her claws are.
So he runs. He barely has time to think where; he acts by instinct and his nature instead of through careful planning.
That's why he doesn't run away, not exactly.
He runs toward; toward Wachiwa, toward the hole where Kachina is still trapped. The pup dives for Wachiwa with a wordless whine-bark, diving between her legs and running up between them. His back rubs against her belly; he's grown, in the time he's been missing, and now he's almost too big to fit.
"She's coming!" he tells Wachiwa anxiously, and he starts trying to dig at the logs himself, knocking aside some of the smaller ones. It's easier from this side. And he can't very well just leave Kachina in there! She's stuck, and even if she doesn't understand the idea of a pack, he does. You don't leave packmates behind. Ever. Even if it's not a proper pack, 'cause she's a cat, and she's going to go back to her family and he's going to go back to his. They helped each other; so they're a pack, until this is over.
If he can just help get the little cougar out... then they can fight. Or run away. Or something. He's not sure what, but surely smart, brave Wachiwa will know exactly what to do. All he knows is that her presence near him is the best safety he's felt in a long time. Her, and Asku, and Skahla...
He's starting to believe again that everything really will be okay.
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