Lazuli Bites Back

[Cael]

Place: Dense Undergrowth, Lazuli den site; Bubbling Stream
Involved: Miakoda, Storm, Nakiza, Bodhi, Mchawi, Felstride, Lilith, Narcissos, Rayen, Tamanous, Thorne
Summary: In which Felstride stakes out the farm, Mchawi and Bodhi leave the protection of the Lazuli, Nakiza frets for his pups, Miakoda tries to comfort others, Storm and Felstride lay down the rules, the Lazuli Alphas go in search of the Sangre, a fight ensues, and Thorne appears to lend a paw.

(OOC note: If someone wants to mail me the very beginning of this log with the RP that happened before I connected, please do, and I'll edit this log)

Miakoda continues to nuzzle against Storm, trying to compose herself. She's Beta female. She's supposed to be helping to comfort the pack. A pillar of strength and security and all of that. She takes in another deep breath before her glistening eyes open, bright with tears that she does her best to hold back. "Thank you, Storm," whispered as she lifts her head to look up at the Alpha, trying a smile, and succeeding weakly. Swallowing now, she turns her attention to Nakiza, and the new male is acknowledged with a nod. "Hello Nakiza," she offers before her ears lay back against her skull. "..Thank you. That's .. very appreciated," said before a pause to inhale a sniffling breath. "You shouldn't go off alone. I know you don't know many yet, but .. for the sake of your cubs, stay near, alright? It isn't ... it's too dangerous now to go anywhere alone."

Storm takes in a slight breath. "We have lost two in our pack to the group of wandering wolves... We do not know why, it just happened." She offers softly, voice holding no emotion what so ever. "I would not blame you for wanting to take your pups and leave, Nakiza." The way it’s going, she isn't to sure what else might happen. Mia’ is right, the leaders are supposed to be a pillar of strength but Storm doesn't feel like that… at all. She had to burry two of her friends to keep the scavengers away from them, and finding them like that basically did something to her.

Mchawi enters the area, looking around at those present before approaching a little more and then just settling down nearby. "Hello everyone. I did a quick check with the forest creatures about the new wolves, but I haven't been able to gather much." he says and then looks to Storm, not saying anything, but wondering if she was doing any better than when he found her yesterday. He isn't yet aware of what had been said, as he just arrived, but he keeps watching Storm to see if she's ready for him to go on with the little information he did get or if there was another conversation going on.

Nakiza nods solemnly at Mia's warning and slumps down where he stands with a sad attempt to return the smile that she had tried to give. He turns to watch the Alpha, intently listening, but freezes at the mentions of his pups. His honey eyes were searching the ground as he thought when Mchawi came, but it didn't take long for him to look up again. Nakiza gives a sheepish little grin to the other wolf, not sure whether to speak now after the message to Storm, but waits anyway.

Miakoda pushes herself up slowly to sit instead of stand at Storm's side, and she leans gently against the other female, seeking the comfort of closeness. She glances to the den as she mentions Nakiza leaving with his pups, and she exhales a small and quiet breath. She likes those pups. A lot. To see them go would be sad, but she does understand the situation and would understand the father's decision. "Spring has brought with it so much depression. I feel foolish for welcoming it when it finally came." She looks towards Mchawi now. She remembers him from a meeting or two, but .. doesn't know him very well. She tenses a little, but as he speaks to Storm, she looks over at her almost questioningly, gazing her reaction to see if it's alright that he is here.

Storm ears twitch as she hears Mchawi, whom she looks over at, watching a few moments. "Go on Mchawi." She nods to Mia showing that its alright. "I ask Mchawi to come here and stay if he would help us... We need all the help we can get right now," she murmurs softly.

Bodhi yawns widely as he starts to stir from his sleep, his frontal paws returning to their place on the ground as he lifts his head slowly to survey the den site with sad eyes, brows furrowing slightly as he gets to his paws and starts over toward his Alpha and Beta.

Mchawi gives a slow nod to Storm, "Word has it that there is a pure white wolf amongst them, which stands out. The rest carry darker colors, but with the white wolf in their group, they should be fairly easy to recognize, I'd imagine. Also, their scent is strong at the river and many birds also claim they've seen them near this place." he pauses, then gives a nod to Bodhi as he wakes up, before he looks back to Storm. "I'm afraid that is all I've managed to pick up, they're a fairly new presence here, after all."

Against his own rules, Felstride had left the den site late last night once Storm had fallen asleep, leaving her and the pups to their rest and taking on the worrisome burden by himself. He's not exactly sure what it was that sparked his paws into the woods, but they had brought him beyond the trees and into the meadows, closer and closer to the strange, eerie surroundings of the farm. Cautiously, very, very cautiously, the Alpha wandered the perimeter of the farm, noting a rabbit warren to the southwest and the signs of escaped livestock everywhere.. even roving dogs. Some scents were dead, but the wolf scents were fresh. These thoughts roll over his mind as he makes his way back to the dense forest, ears pricking forward to pick up the murmurs of his pack. The dark wolf stops at the tree line, easing himself to his haunches and waiting until all voices settle down; his news if perfect to add on to Mchawi's last sentiment. "There are seven of them. Four females, three males. One white. The farm is dead. The Man is dead. The animals.. escaped." Cue stoic silence.

Nakiza forgets everything about responding to Storm's suggestion when Felstride added to the report, just gaping. He knew of a farm with a human and animals, but...the young adult casts his nervous yellow eyes across the group, starting to grow more unnerved. Too stunned to speak, he immediately slinks to the mouth of the den and huddles by it, halfway tempted to go down to make sure his pups were there, despite knowing nothing had happened to them.

Miakoda lightly inclines her head to Storm, reading her cue and turning her eyes back to Mchawi now as he speaks. She frowns a little at what he has to say, and a vague growl lifts from her throat at the mentioning of having seen them nearby. Ears press against her head with more force now, and her eyes flit to Bodhi as he moves towards she and Storm, though her attention is soon grabbed by Felstride as he arrives so quietly with his news. Unsure as to how to take the news of Man's death, she focuses more on the pack. "Seven? There are more of us than them. We .. have to stay to together. We're stronger together than we are alone.." Right? She glances to Storm, then over to Nakiza as he takes up a spot in front of the den. "It'll be .. ok.." she assures without sounding too sure of herself. "They're only wolves. They aren't Man. Together, we can overcome this and defeat them."

Storm blinks as she hears Mchawi. "Nearby.." She murmurs a bit while her gaze drifts over the area, then to Felstride frowning some as she sees where he came from.. by himself, mind you. Her ears lower and her maw twitches while she nods slowly. The Alpha's eyes close while she takes in a faint breath. "As long as we stick together we will get through this. I refuse to give over our home to them." At the moment anyway. If it came down to a fight and they lost, she would make everyone leave. "The pay back will be severe, though, on this pack of seven." No matter what happens she will make sure they pay for killing Rook and SilentPaws.

Mchawi nods to Felstride as he adds a bit to the information and then looks to those around. "I will head on a patrol, don't think I'll gain much more from information gathering unless I want to pull something risky. You could consider striking an alliance with the Viridian pack for a short while and join forces when dealing with this threat." Mchawi offers a mild shrug. "If they're interested in that, of course."

Bodhi furrows his brows slightly as he notes Felstride's arrival, alone, though stops up alongside Miakoda and offers bother her and Storm a nuzzle as he sits down and murrs softly. "I don't think any of us would be willing to give up our home to these murderous whelps," his head shaking slowly before looking somewhat thoughtful. "While we will do a lot better if we stick together, have we considered speaking to the other pack about a temporary alliance against these ones?" his gaze shifting toward the mountains.

He's probably going to be sent to bed without any supper, but at least he gleaned some valuable information to add to Thorne's and Mchawi’s to give them some kind of start as to a plan of action. Felstride doesn't say much else, though, his normally bright eyes are darkened and hardened as they rove about the little clearing to all those assembled. To Mchawi, the wolf flicks an ear and shakes his head, "You will go no where alone," he quips, his usually calm and collected self taking on a hint of authority to his name that he's never shown before. He's fed up with this pack and now it is time to act; he cannot be the wolf that he was born, he has to be stronger than that. "And I will not invite a second pack down from the mountains. Who knows how they might see our territory. No. We will not ally with the Viridian. I do not want to fight on two fronts. What we need is information, for not only is this pack running rampant through our territory, the Man's farm is in disarray and strange, unworldly happenings are making this forest uneasy.”

Nakiza straightens up at Miakoda's reassurance and gives her a grateful little smile, and just perks up even more at the others' words. Even the dark discussion was cheering him up, just because the exchanges were made with each other to help and were brave, even though heartbroken and that gave him the steadying feeling he never felt when he and the pups were in danger. The pack's as good as stuck with him. (Poor guys.)

Miakoda eyes both Mchawi and Bodhi as their proposition. The look on her face isn't one of total agreement, and as Felstride speaks she's glad for what he says. Allying with the other pack isn't anything she'd want to do, but it's not her choice. Her eyes roam the Alpha male, noting his less than familiar tone, but she says nothing to him. Golden eyes narrow a little as she rises onto her paws, and she exhales a slow breath as she regards them all. "Someone ought to check on the pups," she says with a glance to the den. She soon heads that way, volunteering herself for the job. A vague smile is offered to the guarding father Nakiza before she slips inside, able to listen from within while checking over all the pups that sleep.

Storm’s gaze turns after Mia’ before her attention goes back to Felstride, her ears twitching while she listens and nods, agreeing with what her mate says. "No, we must deal with this on our own. If we ask them for help and they help us, afterwards the might think us weak and try for the land themselves." She won't deal with one problem to then have another bite them again. "If you wish to stay here Mchawi, you may still. But no one travels by themselves anymore. I don't care who you are." A faint glance offered to Fel', though she is just as much to blame as well.

Mchawi eyes both Felstride and Storm. "I came here to offer you my help, which is more than could be expected of any rogue, who has no obligation to this term. This, of course, means that while I have to respect the rules of your land, it's also a bit on my terms that my help is offered." Mchawi then pauses. "I do my patrols alone for reasons of my own. If you no longer wish my help, I suppose our ways shall depart here and I shall be on my way again. If you expect me to lay down my life for anyone in this pack, I will do a few things my way."

Bodhi simply nods his head at their words, though seems to disagree slightly to the finality in their tone and just settles down properly mumbling something under his breath as he looks over toward Mchawi for a moment and offers him a dip of his head.

"Then go, as you wish," Felstride replies, his eyes still on the darkness of the den where Miakoda disappeared to and his ears flicking back slightly at the look that he receives from Storm. During this strange and unhappy time, someone has to begin laying down the law.. and after what he saw Storm go through the other day, it's not going to be her. The Alpha male stands without even a glance to Mchawi, but he does give an ear flick to Bodhi. An agitated chuff slips from his muzzle, and Felstride eventually makes his way to the den's entrance and settles himself on his stomach next to his mate, dark and brooding face trained to the north, to the farm. He says nothing else, though, both unsure what to say and annoyed at the present goings on. Other wolves.. do as they wish; Lazuli wolves do as Lazuli Alphas wish. At least... if they want to save their skins.

"Then it is time for you to leave Mchawi... I will have no more death on my lands." Storm offers and looks to Felstride watching him closely, and calmly. She leans against her mate’s side and stays sitting. "If you can't follow a simple thing like take someone with you on patrol then I don't know what else we have to offer you. If you feel like changing your mind then you can return." Not like she is asking him to change his whole life around here. Her attention back on Fel’ she looks towards the farm as well before lowering her head to press into the other's neck fur while her eyes close.

Mchawi nods to Felstride and Storm. "Very well, I wish you luck in the times to come and hope you have a turn of events. Farewell." he offers and then changes his direction slightly, instead heading out of the territory than heading towards the place he had started his last few patrols

Bodhi shakes his head at both Storm and Felstride as he gets to his paws and pads to the area furthest away from the entrance to the den to settle down, his voice audible and clear as he moves. "Tossing away allies when we need them the most is not what I would call a wise decision. I am all for Lazuli pride and duty but do not let it blind you to other options."

Felstride can only offer the departing wolf an annoyed ear flick, feeling the beginnings of a growl rising up in his chest but swallowing it back down before it gets anywhere. He can feel Storm pressing against his neck, and tilts the corner of his muzzle towards her in recognition before his attention returns to the distance where he knows the farm, and the wolves, lay. He would like nothing better than to deal with them now, but suicide is not on his agenda however much he'd like to put on the hurt. Instead, Felstride issues a low, irritated chuff before letting his eyes drift closed and he rests his cheek against his mate. "Let him go," the wolf murmurs into her fur, ears slicking back along his skull, "With all the wolves here, we need to know who is family and who is not." To Bodhi, Felstride lifts his head and stares at the dark wolf, feeling the growl rise up again in his chest, his words pushed as calmly through his gritted teeth as he can, "Pride is one thing. Saving the lives of your family is quite another. If he ends up dead I will not be sorry; he disregarded our concern for his safety and as such, disregards our compassion. We are a peaceful pack, Bodhi, and yet peace does not allow us foresight. We cannot continue on our path or there will be none left. Someone needs to take control, and a stranger should not be the one to do it." Muzzletwitch. The Alpha shakes his head, visibly angry and upset, and thumps his chin onto his forepaws. Pissed. Off.

"I know." Storm offers softly, what more can she say to that? Mchawi was given a choice and he picked what he wanted. They must do what they must to try and survive. Her ears lower as she hears Bodhi and then Felstride. He’s right, someone here needed to take charge and it wasn't her; it was Felstride. At least it was the other Alpha. "Bodhi.. he did not want to follow the rules. I don't want anyone here who can not follow them. I only asked that he had someone else when he patrolled our lands. That is not a big request now, is it?" She eyes Bodhi faintly, proving she is still pissed with him about how he dealt with Lotus. "As for who makes the decisions here, I'm rather sure you are not one of them." Her tone still holds no emotion in it, eyes only watching Bodhi without a hint of anger or anything else, for that matter. Basically, don't push this one right now... She could just as soon lie down and cry or rip someone's throat out if given the chance.

Bodhi gives a slight roll of his eyes "Mchawi is a rogue. Mchawi is a close friend to one pack member and normal friend to more. Mchawi offered his help, closed to the only condition being that he wanted to patrol alone." He shakes his head. "No, if anything we are more guilty of pushing away his offer of help than he is disregarding your wishes, as he did not ask for much for his help." Head cocking slightly, "His life is his choice, not ours as he is not a pack mate. That does not mean his help should be unwelcome, nor that he was taking any command." Slowly getting to his paws and starting to pace seeming rather restless.

"I took his offer of help, allowed him to hunt freely on our lands, and he denies a simple request for his own safety, and now I am supposed to feel guilt for letting a rogue stay a rogue?" Felstride snorts, his ears plastered against his head as he watches Bodhi with a building sense of annoyance. The normally calm, cool, collected Alpha is tired of the happenings of the forest, and the very wolves that he is trying to save from being killed are disregarding both he and Storm. Not a peachy combination. The wolf shakes his head, shaking away building anger and the beginnings of a growl. "His life is his choice, and he chose to leave. I will not feel sorry for him when those wolves tear him to shreds."

Storm twitches as she watches Bodhi, keeping quiet as he just paces back and forth. Her eyes turn to slits as he goes on about how they should feel guilty about pushing Mchawi away. As Bodhi's back turns to her once more the Alpha shifts to her paws and without a growl she moves forward, hackles raised while she lashes out towards Bodhi's haunch with a snap. "I will have no more blood spilled on this land Bodhi!" She snaps, a raging snarl escaping her maw. Seems the Alpha finally snapped. "If we are so guilty about not taking his help maybe you should go with him, if you want it so badly. I gave him a simple choice, I will not have anyone here who will not follow what I lay down." She started this pack, and she'll be damned if its about to just start falling apart because someone isn't happy that she isn't taking help from someone who won't follows rules. Or that her pack feels the needs to not listen to the rules that she puts down.

Bodhi stops up and simply stares at Storm as the lash actually hits, then down at some of blood landing on the ground "Yet you just spilled the blood of a pack mate in your very den site." He shakes his head and simply turns away and starts into the underbrush, "It seems I have some serious thinking to do about my future."

Felstride does nothing to interfere. He knows that Storm has had the same strange cloud of unease settle over her, even more so, since she was the one who found their pack mates dead, and so he knew that one of two possibilities were coming; breakdown or lashing out. The Alpha doesn't even move his chin from his paws, or move his eyes away from the darkness of the forest around them, but his ears do slick back against her skull as he listens. As Bodhi leaves he says nothing to him, only lifts his head and shakes it once from side to side as a sad whine mixed with an angry chuff slips from him. "Our family is diminishing in more ways than one. We... need to do something. Soon."

Storm wasn't expecting to actually hit Bodhi, she merely watches him go without another word escaping her. Her head lowers and a sigh escapes her while she shifts to the side and settles down under a bush. She presses her head into the ground and just eyes the forest before her. An ear twitches as she hears Felstride but she offers no answer. She plans on doing something about it, but it won't be pretty. The she-wolf knows they will have to face this foe and stop it one on one. A fight to the end it seems, it just matters when and where, now. Her eyes close but she doesn't sleep, her mind drifting.

(time passes)

[Cael]

He'd had enough of the cold, hard, almost ungrateful words of his fellow pack mates, and from his station at the front of the den site simply stood, chuffing loudly to Storm; his 'patrol partner.' Leaving Miakoda in charge of the den and the pups, the Alpha's took off at a brisk pace up the stream. Felstride's normally bright gaze has darkened, ears slicked back as he scents the air and the ground for the sickening smell of these ghost-like, murderous wolves. There. There. When he catches the whiff, he issues a deep, warning rumble to Storm, his paw steps slowing as he creeps up the side of the river bank. They've been this way recently.. they're moving further south of the farm and closer to their den and puppies…

Storm merely follows along at Felstride's side, her mind muttering over her earlier actions but she didn't see a way around it. Bodhi stepped out of line one too many times and she had to do something about it. Not like she gave him very much to be in pain about. There is only so much negative-ness she can take in one week. Her ears twitch as her gaze slowly slides over the land, taking in anything that might be different while she sniffs at the passing breeze. Her gaze turns to the side as she hears Fel’ and a faint rumble escapes her as well. She slows her movements and is careful where she steps as she slowly follows after the scent. As she sees where the scent is leading her hackle stiffen and she has to fight back a thick growl that is bubbling in her chest.

Having brought down a stubborn sheep who had refused to leave the deserted pasture out of either fear or pure stupidity, Lilith is fattened on the ewe's meat, dozing in the pasture next to the torn-apart body. Waking from her nap as the sun begins to set, the peppered Alpha slowly rises from the grasses, trotting south to where the spring begins, much preferring to drink water directly from the source rather than the stagnant pond found in the fields.

Too soon, the scent of blood trickles from upstream, and Felstride nearly halts his forward progress... wondering if someone else from their pack has fallen victim... but eventually the blood of prey is distinguished; fat prey, not lean wolf. Slowly, the male creeps through the undergrowth, his ears flattening against his skull and his lips curling up over his muzzle, trying to stifle an imperceptible growl. As they draw nearer, his muscles tight in fear and anticipation, he notices the fat she-wolf and her lazy kin, reeling in their sick, killer scent.

The she-wolf moves quietly forward, head lowered and ears back as she slips onward through the bushes and trees heading towards the thick scent of wolves, and then blood. Storm's expression changes some at the thick scent of blood. Her maw twitches, lips curling back while her teeth are bare a moment before she figures out that it’s prey's blood… about time they killed something they’re supposed to. She pauses in the trees as she catches sight of movement up ahead and tilts her head while the over-feed she-wolf goes towards the water.

Pattering along the shallower end of the spring, Rayen enters the scene with no fanfare. That is, at least, to anybody but the brown hued wolf. For all intents and purposes, the outside world is closed to her. But while her mind is away, her body remains cautious; ears on alert, nose drawing in even the tiniest scent. In spite of the effort, however, Rayen is momentarily ignorant to the approaching Alphas.

Fresh blood smears the snowy white fur of the Alpha's muzzle and paws, betraying what might, to an ignorant creature, appear to be a wolf clothed in the color of the innocent. This black-speckled white is the color of a wolf in sheep's clothing, however. Lapping at the water, Lilith's right ear suddenly swivels back at the sound of approach, though she doesn't move any faster into a defensive position than she would if the strangers were nothing but harmless chipmunks. Turning to face the pair of wolves, Lilith particularly considers the female of the two; she cocks her head slightly at a light breeze, as if the wind had whispered some bit of wisdom to her. And in fact, when Lilith speaks, her words without question to them, it's as if she somehow determined intuitively that this is in fact the wolf the feral dogs had mentioned: "Storm."

Bothered by the impudence of the cat, Tamanous hadn't returned to the pack's usual stomping grounds. He'd spent the night sulking-- something of a bad habit of his-- but now, cheerful again, the black wolf is following the stream back to the farm. His pack mates, he'd been expecting-- strangers, not so much. He halts, one ear cocked out-- more surprised than anything.

He doesn't know how this wolf knows Storm, and frankly he doesn't care. He really, really doesn't care. These are the wolves that have killed Rook and SilentPaws; there is no mistaking that scent. Felstride, in an uncharacteristic show of aggression, issues a strong, warning growl from behind bared teeth and quivering lips. The wolf's hackles raise, his whole body shaking with a pent up rage combined with an intense sadness for his lost family. "Get out of these lands," he churls once finding his voice again, snapping his teeth angrily at Lilith, "You are not welcome here. Leave, before murderers become the murdered."

Storm’s ears flick to the sounds of more movement around them, so the white one isn't on her own. This will just make it more fun. Fel’ and Storm are no young wolves, they’re big adults and will take more than a pair of younglings might. She pushes forward free of the trees and stands tall while glaring back at Lilith with all the hatred she's been building over the past week. She blinks at the fact that the other knows her name and it does stun her for a few moments. Could she know this wolf and that is why this happening? Could it be something from her past coming back to haunt them, is this why her mother came to warn them? "I suggest you and yours leave... Now... Or else." There is no emotion in her tone, not growls or snarl, rage is seen in her normally calm gaze. Her fur stands on end and form tense ready to lash out at the ones that killed her friends, and threatens to harm the rest of the family she so painstakingly put together from nothing.

Rayen comes to a sudden stop, turning around sharply. Her eyes snap to the water, staring past the surface to her handiwork of paw prints left at the bottom. Paw prints that soon dissolve with the current. She frowns sadly, before remembering something. Oh yes, there are others here. She glances at the Lazuli Alphas, her head at a slight angle. "Get out of these lands." She repeats in mocking of the male, tail wagging irreverently.

"Leave? Already? But we've only just arrived," Lilith protests, a facade of sadness washing over her muzzle. "That's not very hospitable of you, tossing out the pack who's planning on moving in to your territory," she continues, the mock-upset face slowly transforming into a wicked smirk. "If the rest of your pack is made up of fighters as pitiful as those two runts were, then I have little to fear when we come in to take over," Lilith taunts, her pink tongue lolling out in a gesture just as sacrilegious as Rayen's wagging tail.

"Or else?" Tamanous echoes. Unlike the other two, he's not amused-- merely curious. From the way his ears are pricked forward, and the slight bounce to his step as he ambles to get closer to his pack mates, he's excited, though. "You ought to keep an eye on your younglings, too," he advises. "They're really not terribly bright at -all-."

"Those little runts were part of my family, bitch," Felstride replies, drawing on all his energy, all his anger, all his fear from these past weeks and funneling it towards these wolves in his home. His steel gray eyes flit to those around them, though he ignores the obvious mocks and disregards their nonchalant postures. He will have blood, he will have revenge. "Younglings or not, their deaths will be yours, and I will make quite sure of that. Your arrogance sickens me; that you call yourselves wolves sickens me even more."

Narcissos, his muzzle stained red from the blood of Lilith's kill, lifts his head from dozy paws, blinking slowly as the sounds of threatening voices wakes him. The adolescent rises fluidly, stretches until he hears a satisfying crick, and ambles in a kind of creepily seductive fashion, his eyes on Storm. "Mm-hmm, pretty lil' things, yes?" he hisses, a giddy laughter bubbling up from him as he roves his eyes over both strange Alphas, then to his pack members. "So tasty, those younglings. So fresh, so new. Too bad they weren't much of a fight. Not like an Alpha would be, oh yes."

Storm glares daggers at Lilith. "No one is taking away from me what is mine while I still breath air." If they want the pack and the land then they will have to kill her for it, just that simple. A glance is offered to Tamanous and she snorts at him. "Come closer and I'll give you something to keep an eye on, brat." A new voice catches her attention and her gaze drifts towards Narcissos, watching him a few moments. "It just proves how utterly weak you and your pack are. To gang up on a pair of younglings to make yourself feel so high and mighty." A deep growl escapes her as the young wolf goes on about her friends.

"We're more wolfen than you are, I dare say," Lilith replies with a haughty sneer. "You know the law of nature just as well as any of us - kill or be killed. Survival of the fittest. We're actually following those laws, unlike your pathetic pack, who allows such worthless, weak excuses for wolves that wouldn't be fit to rut with even a dog to live," the peppered she wolf snarls, her fur bristling like white fire. "Now I'd suggest you roll over in submission and turn tail before you end up like your followers."

"We are high and mighty." Rayen confirms. Her wet paws mark the grass as she leaves the spring and moves around toward Storm's flank, maintaining a fair distance for now. As difficult as it is, she waits for Lilith to make the first move. But a show of her ivory fangs, and a growing thread of saliva indicate this is not something she does happily.

High and mighty? "Um, I was just hungry, actually." Now there is a thread of amusement in his voice. He has no illusions as to how his eating practices come across to certain others of his species. Tamanous' eyes are sulfur-yellow slits in his foxy face. "They were being bothersome, and they didn't run away quickly enough. It's really a personal failing I suppose-- you weren't to know." Consoling. He glances at Lilith, then at Rayen, when she moves. Ahah! Brilliant idea. He eases over to the side a little, himself, mirroring the other. She seems smart enough where it matters.

"Wolves know honor. You know nothing of the sort," is all Felstride can manage to spit out before his growl over takes his words, and he gnashes his teeth at the final comments of the younger wolves. The Alpha male, teeth bared in the kind of fury known only once in a life time, makes a sudden and frenzied dash for the other pack's Alpha female, Lilith.

Narcissos only gets off an un-amused chuckle before the sudden launch on his mother causes him to yelp wildly in warning, baring his already bloodied fangs in an attempt to drive Felstride away from his mother and maybe put his aggression on someone else. Like Tamanous. He's a beefy fruitcake!

Storm’s ears slick back as she hears Lilith. "You seem to know nothing about life..." She hears Rayen moving around behind her and keeps some of her attention on him. Once Felstride lunges forward with an attack she turns and darts towards Tamanous with a savage snarl ripping from her maw. She will rip into someone tonight one way or another, and as Tamanous made the comment about eating her friends, she'll be after him.

Lilith isn't as heavyset as most other wolves, both her fur and her frame light in volume. As such, what she lacks in pure brawny strength, she makes up for in nimble quickness. Leaping to the side as Felstride lunges towards her, the white Alpha narrowly escapes a brutal snap of jaws from the male, and she retaliates with a bite of her own, attempting to snag his flesh as he flies by.

And such is the failure for poor judgment, and Felstride pays for it with a nice gnawing on his shoulder, although his head snaps to one side as he still attempts to go for a slightly more beefy part of Lilith; say her back end? Gnar. Right now, the Alpha doesn't care. He doesn't care if he goes down, but he will go down fighting and drag someone with him. Felstride fights furiously, snarling and snapping in a blind rage.

A loud and angry snarl rips across Narcissos' muzzle as the two strange wolves, weak wolves, begin to attack his pack, his mother. The young, dark wolf, lunges towards Felstride, taking a nice hold of his shoulder and clamping down, trying to drag him away from Lilith and down to his death.

And, suddenly, the strange wolves move. One for Lilith, but Tamanous, although he starts, makes no move to help. Goodness knows the Alpha's boy will. Good-looking lad, but-- his head snaps around when Storm lunges at him, and he leaps up, trying to meet her halfway, jaws agape and snapping.

Rayen looks from Storm to Tamanous, then back again as the former takes off. Then her gaze snap to Lilith and her attacker. Who to go after? This is a very delicate decision. Golden eyes move back and forth, before finally locating the chosen target. Rayen breaks into a sprint, maw parting and head turning to the side, teeth aiming to latch down onto Storm's hind leg.

Storm sees the other's jaws coming for her and only tilts her head to keep her throat protected while her jaws lash out to bite down against Tamanous's form, somewhere about the shoulder or neck area if able. She hears the fight behind her with Felstride, if he dies she will so kill him again. The Alpha wasn't fully sure just where Rayen was when she lunged for Tam’, but the feeling of teeth sinking into her haunch gets her attention and she pulls her rear to the side to get herself away before Rayen can bite down fully.

The Alpha male of Lazuli manages to secure a bite on Lilith's left haunch; not enough to cause a limp, but certainly enough to leave her in pain for at least a couple of days afterwards. As her son - who apparently inherited her personality genes versus his less-aggressive father's, a good thing - comes to help fight her attacker, the Alpha joins him in biting and tearing and ripping at whatever she can get her teeth sunken into.

Felstride issues a satisfying grunt as he feels flesh underneath his jaws and teeth, though the pleasure of the bite doesn't last long before pain seers through his shoulder. Ah, that'll leave a mark, yiss. Reluctantly, Felstride releases his hold on Lilith as he turns to swipe viciously at the younger Narcissos, feeling the heavy, solid thwap of his paw on the dark wolf's face. He can only spit and snarl, taking chunks of fur and skin as he goes.

Narcissos yelps and backs off from the fight a moment, dazed to the hit on his face and struggling to keep his attention on the fight. He returns Felstride's snarl, stealing a brief glance at the second skirmish before launching back into the fray.

Dull pain at his shoulder, the thick muscle connecting it and his neck-- but muffled, a little, by the fur. Tamanous doesn't try to pull back just yet, only closes his eyes and tries to twist, to gouge into Storm's neck with the canines closest it. He raises one forepaw, clawing at her face-- trying to get at her eyes. When he feels the other female shift, trying to get away from Rayen, he takes this moment to toss his head, try to pull away-- hoping that she's got enough fur and skin to leave her with that so he can back up.

Rayen pulls her head back, drooling out fur as Storm slips out of her grasp. But she's not discouraged, by a long shot. She simply jumps toward the female Alpha again, this time Storm's shoulder is the target, even if she has to clamber over the back to get at it.

A mere hiss escapes Storm as the canines are shoved into her neck, the claws scratch down her cheek while her eyes close to protect them. Only problem is she can't see for the moment while trying to protect her eyes. With her movement to avoid Rayen's first attack and then Tamanous's sudden turn and twisting, she loses her grip on the male and comes away with a clump of fur in her maw. It’s spit to the ground and her eyes snap open an she is about to go for Tamanous again before the sudden weight is on her shoulders and Rayen's jaws dig into her shoulder. With gritted teeth and pain striking through her body she lashes out trying to bite into Rayen's side.

Lilith continues to lunge at the Alpha male, dipping her head in an attempt to get at something more vulnerable, something less protected by his thickly padded fur. Her favorite area, the throat, is a prime target in her fierce lashings.

She does connect, her teeth grazing the side of his neck and ripping a good chunk of flesh and skin away, but by no means is it fatal. With Narcissos momentarily distracted, Felstride lunges again for Lilith, this time going for her neck.

It takes Lilith's son a few tries to connect, missing Felstride's flesh in his jaw because of the nice head-thwomping he received. What he does manage to do is only graze the Alpha's fur; frankly, the boy isn't a good fighter.. good talker, yeah, fighter.. notsomuch.

[Cael]

Tamanous' shoulder doesn't hurt, for the moment-- it will shortly. Rayen is on top of Storm, and while her weight might not be at quite the right angle to drag the foreign wolf down, it gives Tam' a few moments to break, sides heaving, his tongue lolling out, before he lunges in again, darting in low for Storm's other side, her belly.

Don't go anywhere alone; that was the rule, spoken or unspoken. But Thorne isn't good at following rules. Probably just as well. There is an edge in the air, a distinct hush of wildlife - it makes the sounds of fight all that much more intense. Wary, Thorne trots towards the scuffle, growing more worried as he catches familiar scents. As he breaks upon the scene, he doesn't hesitate in the least bit, bounding forward to join the fray. The closest is Storm, with her attackers and he leaps, throwing himself towards Rayen with the simple intent to use his body weight to throw her from Storm's back and possibly collide with Tamanous in the process.

Rayen's jaw hangs on like a vice, even as Storm's own teeth find her side. And she utters not a sound, other than a low, steady growl. Thorne, however, does the trick. She's shoved from the Alpha's shoulders, although Rayen does attempt to drag along as much flesh as possible. And then her eyes turn on Thorne, as he body meets the ground. "Uninvited." She snaps, one hind leg lashing out to strike at the pale wolf.

Storm shakes her head about hard, which only sends her teeth in more to Rayen's side until something slams into her and sharp burning pain is felt across her shoulders as fur and some skin is ripped free. A half yelp escapes her, this at least makes her drop one side to the ground that Tamanous was going for as she staggered a few moments. Her belly is left free while fangs drag against her side. She comes face to face with Thorne, very glad to see him before she pushes herself back up to face Rayen and Tamanous once more.

Dropping to the ground as if all four legs simultaneously gave out on her, her new position like a dog ready to play, Lilith quickly evades the heavier Alpha's attack. From her lowered crouch, she uses all the force in her hind legs to launch her forward, her jaws wide, head tilted to just the right angle to latch onto Felstride's throat.

Felstride almost stumbles and falls on top of Lilith as she drops down, though thankfully her possible victory over him with a good strong bite to the throat is thwarted by her own son. As Narcissos leaps towards Felstride again, the adolescent knocks the Alpha off balance and sends him stumbling to one side, sliding to regain his composure long enough for him to notice the arrival of the ghost wolf before flitting his attention back to Lilith. As Narcissos stumbles and loses his balance, tumbling ungracefully to the ground, Felstride, with a harsh, grating growl, jumps on Lilith in her prone position going, this time, for her neck and her softer, exposed undersides.

Narcissos, more daze than ever with the heavy blow to his face and now to his head as he tumbles, shakes himself in an attempt to steady his mind and body before renewing an attack. It takes him longer, though, and the inexperienced adolescent manages to grab on to Felstride's flanks weakly, though not enough to deter the Alpha from his attack. The appearance of Thorne goes unnoticed by him.

With Thorne's entrance, Tamanous makes a last frenzied attempt at ripping open Storm's stomach before jerking back, glancing at Rayen before lunging once more for Storm, her stomach again, trying to bite into it.

Grunting as he connects, flashing Storm a brief look, Thorne follows Rayen to the ground. The kick digs in roughly, eliciting a contrasting bright line of red against his white hide. He rolls back to his paws, baring his teeth at the female wolf in a vicious grin, "Maybe. I've a habit of that." Again, Thorne lunges, driving for Rayen, teeth gaping and willing to simply barrel into her, grabbing for any flesh and fur that he can. He doesn't mind close contact combat; here is a fevered aggression very few - and none of his pack mates - have seen.

Storm shifts on her paws as she sees Tamanous coming for her again, she's ready this time. Her side is a bit chewed on from him trying to get at her stomach, but he missed, at least. She lunges forward and tries to grab hold of Tamanous's ear this time, she wanted his neck but wasn't able to set up the move in time to do so.

Rayen rights herself at the first chance she gets. In the frenzy of the moment, she denies the pain in her flank. Thorne's assault doesn't catch her off guard, rather, she allows herself to be knocked down. Even if it means plenty more bite marks finding their way over her flesh. On the ground, she tries to move herself into position to latch onto the male's front leg.

As the Alpha male jumps on top of her back, Lilith bucks against him, her body thrashing against his heavy underbelly. "Get off of me, you brute! What, your little bitch of a mate not enough for you?" she snarls viciously, taking a lewd jab at the pair of Alphas. Butting at his legs until she manages to squeeze her way out from beneath him, his hot saliva and equally hot blood matting her fur from where he managed to nip her. Taking a quick survey of her pack - the dazed heir, the fallen female - Lilith decides it might be a good time to retreat so they can live to fight another day. "Fall back!" she orders in a husky growl of a voice, waiting half a beat after her command before darting off into the woods, away from their attackers.

Lilith's comment only gets an angry snarl from him, one last heavy bite on the she-wolf's chest before she manages to scramble out from underneath him and scurry her lewd self and family away. Felstride would follow, but something manages to hold him back and he only chases after her a few long strides, blood, sweat, tears, spit -- dripping, oozing, frothing from.. yeah. [/endpossiblebadconversationtofollow]. With Lilith and Narcissos turning tail, Felstride whirls around to make sure that the others follow suit, routing them away from their lands and back to the farm, although probably not far enough; they'll at least stay away for a short while, but it won't be long before there is conflict again. The Alpha is more angry at the fact that they're still alive, that he didn't kill one of them; that'll change.. it had better.

Teeth in his ear and he yanks back hard, heedless of the fact that he's likely leaving Storm with a good chuck of it. Ears are not as important as hurting back. Guttural snarl, and his shoulder is hurting now, a maddening dull pain-- not bad yet, but it's going to get worse. He's only managed to yank away when he hears Lilith's words. A final snap at Storm and Tamanous limps off.

Thorne assaults Rayen with snapping jaws, aiming for a maximum amount of coverage and damage through simply biting. He is heedless of Rayen's position, of the fact that she is able to bite down upon his foreleg until it actually happens. Still, Thorne is relentless in his attack, savage growls mixed with heavy grunts, spittle flying from his lips. At the command from Lilith to retreat, he makes a last-ditch attempt to inflict damage, snapping at whatever he grab of her and digging his teeth in if successful. If not, he doesn't chase should she retreat.

Storm spits out what bit of ear or fur that she might happen to have, and snarls after Tamanous and the others of his fleeing pack. Her jaws snap while she paces forward a few steps before glancing to Thorne and Felstride. They made them retreat, sure she would have loved to take one of them for the two they lost but they’re fleeing. The Alpha lifts her head and lets a deep howl escape her to show off a bit, it seems.

Even as patches of her fur grow slick with her own blood, Rayen doesn't seem overly eager to give this up. But every once in a while, she actually does listen to what is being told of her. Rayen yanks pulls to free herself from Thorne, such an effort removing a little more of her skin. "Sleep lightly." She rasps, a hush chuckle rolling from her throat as she takes off after Lilith.