Peaceless }{ There's no peace for a liar.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

ALLANA
The worst lies are the lies we tell ourselves. We live in denial of what we do, what we think, even what we are. We do this because we're afraid. We fear we will not find love, and when we find it we fear we'll lose it. We fear that if we do not have love we will be unhappy.


"I'm not smart enough to lie."
"Nonsence. Everyone can lie."
"But, what if I slip up?"
"You won't."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Someone who can not lie would never live over a month."
"That's not what mama said. She told me a lie never lives to be old."
"Well, no disrespect to her, bless her soul, but that is a rather moronic statement. Now come on. From now on, you are Allana. You are a Folami."

A squeal rang through the night, birds shouting alarms to dance with the noise. It was a roar, one only a lion could make. My eyes opened to see a golden muzzle touching nose to nose with me. I scampered to my paws--and it was gone. Gasping at the vision, I dashed my eyes around the slumbering camp. It was odd--the Folami still slept. A lion's roar would not go unnoticed, and one could never sneak into camp. None, except me.

Grief stricken, I came to terms that both noise and vision had been a cruel trick of my mind. A dream to torment me. It always happened like that; I'd recall when Helsa found me and divised the plan to drop my identity. And then, when she declared I would deem myself a Folami, I'd think I had woken to the sound of my father's roar. Excited, I'd open my eyes to see, smell, and feel my mother upon me. But then it all go away. It was my heart scolding me for letting the world tell me who I was.

Allana--the one who isn't.

So engraved into my brain was Helsa's teachings and promises, I couldn't even remember my former name. It began with K--I hung onto the final piece of my former self. It was all I had to remember about who I was. I couldn't afford to let my old name come fully to my memory--it was African, like my parents. Remember would confirm the suspicions of those who laid their eyes on me.

Allana--the lioness who's forgotten.

Knowing I'd be unable to sleep, I stretched with a whispered yawn. Purple eyes casting a look towards Helsa, I came to terms that a shadow had befallen me. My mother was standing, emerald hues glue to my form. Not daring to utter a word near ever alert Folami ears, I wove my way towards the base exit. The mother moved to follow me, paws even more silent than me own. Her gaze was sharp--stern. Each muscle was defined to the T, strength enough to tear through steel. I looked even to the youngest of the Folami members, seeing their own unprocessed strength.

No, I wasn't a Folami.

_________________________________________________

Helsa
Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it.

There was no dream for my sleep. There never was. Or, not one my brain found worth remembering. So when I heard the muffled sound of paws hitting the ground, and the shuffle of someone standing, I wasn't bothered by being woken. Emerald eyes laid focused on the lioness--the Folami.

It was my daughter, Allana, the only one worthy of my trust. She burdened with a lie bigger than herself--a full alteration of existance. And yet, she never uttered a suspicious word. She spoke and acted like a shy Folami--not even showing her unease at the abuse to Abeni or the feline carcasses that often littered the camp. She was strong. Or maybe just stupid.

The young cat noticed my now risen being, and started towards the exterior of camp. It was rare we'd be here when the others went to sleep, or stayed long enough to see the first one rise. I blamed it on a gene malfunction when questioned by my pairs. My daughter was a failed experiement, thus solitary and only content with me around. They believed me--or at least didn't find it interesting enough to pursue. So this leaving early in the morning was not uncommon for us.

I was silent, but Allana's paws whispered tiny purrs with every step. It was enough to wake a Folami, and I glanced around to see who'd notice. Usually no one did, but that didn't stop me from being cautious. I wouldn't be snuck up on.

A surprised Allana could lead to a startled roar--a sound only a feline can make.

[I L Y I C H]

One little scent track never hurt no one. After all no one in this pack knew who the hell I was besides the little red girl I was stalking... Eh-hem looking for. Besides what did a night walker have to fear of a brown Folami crouched at his doorway? I was a folami after all so, there. Bagh, it would seem my little dancer was already asleep in all her innocent dreams. Which meant I had to sit out here and wait. No one else knew what I'd done, and would never know unless they happened upon a bloody carcass reeking of me, but I was always carefully about the smells I left behind.

Lies are only truth if they are absolutely perfect.

My huge brown form slunk in the shadows, the blackness of my front making me look to any outward viewer like some disturbed outlines devil. I made no sound as I moved, and so left no evidence. There was no point giving myself away. Ah but it would seem something was moving in the wood.

At first glance I thought it was that odd little pet the alphas seemed so happy to keep, but no. Abeni was larger, this lion was a cub. A tiny tawny cub. Unholy blue eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. Had Bidziil taken another prisoner?

But no, there behind the cub was a woman. A white pelted woman. My eyes sparked. I couldn't help but wonder what that beautiful mess of snow would look like drenched with red. But the only dog I'd ever met to hold such beautiful perfection was my little bird,and this emerald eyed number was definitely not she. My ears curled forward, the thick fur about them shifting in the light wind. Now what did we have here? A game or a big fat thorn stuck right into the already throbbing paw of the dear old Folami pack?

My eyes curved around them. They would see or hear me son, standing where I had stopped. They would see the huge dual-hued monster watching them in silent almost murderous interest. Ah but I didn't kill woman. Besides they'd just taste of gristle, it was too early in the season to go harvesting. You got to wait for them to plump up right before winter.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

It wasn't that I didn't trust Allana, I just didn't trust this Dio-Forsaken world. It was with this reasoning that I shoved past her, taking the lead in a forceful manner. I always did, and yet I always felt I had to be rude about it, like she'd deny me my place in front of her. She took my demands with grace, slowing her pace to walk a step behind.

Fortunately I did so just in time. So focused on passing my daughter, I'd become distracted for a second. A male had appeared from the shadows of the night--a familiar scent without a name. I couldn't quite place it, so I stared at the brute dumbly as I considered. "Ah ha, you're the bloke Ayita's been smelling of!" I concluded it with a smug smile. Normally I'd jump to defend Allana from strangers, but I knew Ayita; this boy couldn't be bad to have Ayita at his paws.

Seeing the male was an outsider, I decided I needed to make something clear. "Ayita does a fine job covering your scent off her. Only I'd have the opportunity to grasp it. I'm not usually in camp so I see her outside the lands most often, before she can wipe away your stench." I looked over my shoulder at Allana, who hid quietly behind my back legs. Turning to the mysterious bloke in the darkness, I gave a dangerous smile. There wasn't a Folami I liked, so I cared not what expression they took from me. "You, sir, are on forbidden lands. The little lady will find you elsewhere. Now shew." I waved my bulky head at the male, trying to direct him off my homebase. It wasn't loyalty to the Folami that had me trying to get this male to go.

Who knew how good this dog was? Who knew if he could see through Allana's disguise?

[I L Y I C H]

I lifted my brow at the odd woman's speech. Frankly I was ignoring the rest of what she said in favor of thinking of Ayita smelling of me. It was a very happy thought. My ears twitched towards the white woman as she went rambling again, I was sure I looked extremely interested. No scratch that I think my eyes said your gonna kill me with your words crazy lady. AH but who am I to think anyone was crazy.

Rolling my eyes, I strode out of the shadows where they could see me properly. My black face rolled about as I turned my head in several directions to look at the white coated Folami that had so cunningly shoved her pet behind her. Geez. Was I to be named stupid now? I felt like sticking my tongue out at her. I was the monster here, she had no ability to silence of 'shew' me. I could kill her and her little play thing and be gone before anything happened. OKay maybe that was just arrogance, but it still pricked at my pride.

Grimacing at her I sat down with a quiet thud. Sure it was enough to wake up my own kind but what did I care of my own kind? They would smell me and know me as the scent upon Ayita's fur. I would be of no danger and they would most likely drag me into their home. This ivory pelted lady apparently was not one for 'social interaction' or she would have thought that first. I tipped my head again, watching her.

"Shew me, will you?" I puffed, barley loud enough to hear. I smirked, trying to push away the childish look of amusement. Tonight may not just be me staring at that damn entrance all night after all. "Im not causing any harm to you, or your pretty little pet" I eyed the cub hunkered down behind the Folami. I had no idea why she had that lion, I didn't really care. Frankly I was as uninterested in them as I was the ants on the ground. I was looking for Ayita, not them and their annoying 'I shall appear where im least wanted'....ness.

So I switched to a frown, and looked at the green eyed woman intently. "You smell funny"

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

I shuffled as he mumbled under his breath and sat. My position altered, trying my best to shield Allana from his stares. It wasn't until he called Allana my pet, did I make a clear reaction. "She is not my fucking pet." My snarl erupted, emerald gaze not caring about his scent remark. "The girl is my daughter. Show some god-damn respect. Don't forget who's lands you're on. One howl and my pack will come running. Ayita will only be able to watch as they shred you--or jump in and get shredded, too." I approached and placed my tensed body closer to him, eyes filled with bloody hate. "One more smartass remark from you, and I will release the hounds. Allana and I don't need your shit."

I looked over my should to see my daughter staring at me wide-eyed. It never occured to me her stance on foul language. When Abeni had joined, she'd never let a cuss slide past her without some sort of unfortunate remark. Were all lions this pure and pathetic? With an exagerate sigh, I smiled at the cub. "Sorry, dear. Don't mind your mother's language." I gave a quick glance to the stranger, scowl as I did so. "And don't mind his rudeness. You are nobody's pet. Sometimes the humans forget to add a soul to their creatures, so they have no thoughts of to what they are speaking about may actually have feelings."

Refocusing on the dog, I stepped backwards to stand hovering over my child. This would be the best stance to protect her. "Ayita is sleeping. Get off our land and I will send her after you by morning." I knew he wouldn't leave, but I felt obligated to Allana to try. The lioness below me watched with guarded interest now, having been satisfyed by my apology. To my horror, the bundle stepped forward, intent on the Folami. In her quiet little voice, she uttered with a tone of bewilderment.

"You aren't falling for any of this, are you? You know I'm not a Folami. Guess they aren't all as idiotic as Helsa says."

I could only sit and watch, waiting for the dog to strike out and kill the child I had worked so hard on. And after her, I was next.

[I L Y I C H]

I watched her with an expression of pure boredom. Here came the threats, how much fun. I was rather interested now, but best not let them see that. They might leave and then I'd have to go find someone else to play with. I didn't really want to use my fangs right now, I needed to save those for the final sacrifice. That's right there was only one left. My mind hooked onto that, eyes flickering. "Hey, not to sound completely uncaring about your rantings- not that I do care- but do you know anyone by the name Hamond?" My eyes wandered back to the woman, their blue depths curious, but not for anything she though only for the information I sought.

But then that little lion cub had to go and make me laugh.


And I laughed. Loud hard and long. My entire body shook with it, I could barley keep my eyes open. Slitted and watering I finally managed to bring them open again. Slowly my laughter faded away into a deep chuckle low in my chest. "You are a very interesting child" Flicking my eyes to the mother before looking to the adopted child, I smirked. "No little girl, most of us are stupid and instinctual driven beasts, its why I eat them" I stuck my tongue out at her.

Since when did lions have purple eyes anyway?

I rocked back on my heels, grinning like a fool. "Not girls though, and only if their on my list...." I turned my eyes back to the adult, mouth slightly slack and ears tilted questioningly. Hamond? Turning my eyes back on the little girl I cracked a larger grin. "My name is Cain. May I ask yours?" I had absolutely no interest in mommy dearest, all she needed to do was answer my question and sit back on her pretty little bum.

Her little girl n the other hand was a wealth of interesting conversation. My eyes cut back to her mother for half a second, suddenly remembering something she had said. "By the way my soul is in fact kind of there thank you very much."

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

OOC//: The last lines of your posts always make me lol XD

Allana
I had disobeyed my mother's wishes--but she had disobeyed mine.

All I asked from her was for some peace. And in exchange, I kept her precious little secret. She feared dying more than I did. Well, she didn't fear it--she just didn't want to die before she could fill her master's desires. The weight of the world lay on my shoulders with that secret of hers, but I would sit silently, taking on a strange identity. But I'd rather be dead. It'd be easier--and I would see my real mother again.

But without provoktion, the woman had blown up on this, somewhat, harmless canine. He just expressed he wouldn't hurt a woman, which we both were. A blind newborn could of sensed he wasn't about to hurt us. But Helsa had freaked out, throwing down words I'd never repeat. She says it must be the lion in me, because Folami use profanity all the time, "What ya get for growing up with sinful creatures like humans," she always says. And I usually accepted that for her safety. But here, with a dog as interested with us as I was with the soil, I felt it only my right to go against the fae for now.

"No, Cain, I don't know Hamond. There's no Hamond in our pack."

[/b]

Helsa grumbled the reply and, strangely, I smirked. She wouldn't see the smirk with my back to it, but it was there. I'd never gone against her before--but she wasn't my real mother. It wasn't her life in danger here, just her pride. She needed to be knocked down a step or two.

"My name is Allana--now anyway. I can not recall my former name in my pride. My ma's name is Helsa." I looked over my shoulder and met the woman's deadly gaze--a humbled expression of anger and hurt. I'd get it when we were alone, but she'd hang low for now. It was obvious she was unsure of this canine still, so she wouldn't make any threatening movements. Looking back to Cain, I smiled.

"You said you eat Folami? I'd say that's gross--but I suppose it isn't any different than eating any other creature..." I tapered off for a moment, smile gone and stare unclear. Was it wrong to eat those who understood you? When you hunted an elk, their language was far too different from our own. Their calls for help were only bleats to are carnivorous ears. But when a Folami hunts one of his own, or a feline, they can hear the pain as they beg for mercy. We call to the same gods--or we used to. Word has it that Dio no longer has to run the Folami pack--He has Skoll to help him now.

"Say, sir, you don't plan to tell Ayita that I am not a Folami, do you? I know she suspects it, but there's been nothing to confirm. You keep our secret, and I'll keep yours." I look at Helsa with challenging eyes. "So will she."

Another lie to pile on. Another shovel from my grave.[/blockquote]



OOC//: I just realized--I always make my cubs smarter and more mature than any of my adults![/size]

[I L Y I C H]

ooc:// there better like that xD

Ah, and I thought Id get information from this green eyed lump of uslessness. Sighing in an attempt to force the pout from my face I turned blue eyes on her. "I never said that little bas- rat" I repaired, shooting a look at the lion cub "- was a member of the pack.... But thank you anyway, Ma'am" I flicked my ears. Well that is good news I supose, it means I don't have to root Hamond from a strong pack. I bit my tongue, thinking. If he wasn't here then he had to be...

Ah but I had a conversation going on, I dind't need to get caught up in my mind.

My tail slowly swished behind me, catching the dust and moss and scattering it. "Allana and Helsa. Its good to meet you" And cue poliet dip of my head... Standing up again I streached one hind leg in a stiff arching point before sitting back down again. Some old scars hurting again. It was the heat gripping and cramping at my beat up body.

Looking at Helsa now I could see the threat of retrabution on her face, unsurprising. Mothers only like good little children. Perfect little children. My eyes narrowed dangerously.

Forwning slightly as I watched the little animal interact with both me and her 'mother', I flickered slightly. "Yeah I guess so." I wasn't in it for the feed. I was in it for their damn green hearts. I felt that crazy thing slip into me for a second before it realized there was no one to chew on here. Gritting my teeth I cast a look up at the stars before looking back to Helsa. There was intense anxiety in my eyes. Hamond I had to find Hamond.

"Its not really like that, little girl. I make no attempts to hide my... cleaning up. But don't fret. I wont reveal you, Allana Im not a puppet dog" I smiled at her, shaking off my fretful worries. "I don't give away the lives of inoccent little children... or woman" My eyes slit up towards Helsa. "Only the ones on my list... And only I can kill them" I smiled coldly.

"I... will not tell Ayita. But I can not lead her from the truth, Allana" I went on, seriouse eyes locked on the cub. "I wont't deceive her. Or is the word can't?"[/b

]

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

I listened with interest as the large dog put up with Helsa's crude attitude. My eyes rolled as I glanced over my shoulder again and saw her pouting like a pummled puppy. With a sigh, I turned my attention back to Cain and smiled as his promise. It was cute, the way he said he couldn't decieve Ayita. It pleased me, knowing there were some loyalties in Folami outside human dictatorship.

Looking to Helsa, I toyed with the idea of sending her to get Ayita for this man. But good sense spoke against it. I was pushing Helsa but suddenly having confidence--though I had a reason. Finally someone besides Helsa knew my real identity for sure, so I didn't have that weight on my shoulders. Helsa would give me a lecture later, so I wouldn't push my luck--if she lunged in fury at me, Cain may take it as an attack on him and hurt her. His size and strength was much more than her own.

"Cain," I looked back at him, purple eyes interested, "Ayita is such a good girl. If you can't lie to her, she must know you eat bad Folami. I don't see that settling well with her. How did you get to be her friend?"

OOC//: Blah, I am brain dead from Universal xD

[I L Y I C H]

The mother had decided to play pupp it would seem. I couldn't stand childish adults. Ayita could be childish but never over baringly so. But why was I comparing that white hunk of lard to my little bird. There was no resemblince really. I was shocked out of my annoyed thoughts by Allana's next words.

'good girl'.

I for one am proud of myself. I didn't laugh as hard as I could have. Coughing to force away the fit of laughter, I smiled down at the little female. "Yes, Ayita knows what I do." I flicked my ears as I nodded to enphisize my point. Ah but did she accept it? I was almost positive she did, though not for any reasons that where good for her. She was preciouse really, trying to understand my point of view, and somehow seeing through it for a little wile. My smile grew softer, a bit more genuin, though It couldn't really be considered a real smile.

I was no good at playing 'happy'.

"How I met her...?" My body twitched, mind going off once again into the world of the past... And maybe after out last meeting a few off course fantasies. "I ran into her in the woods and she told me to bathe 'cause I was sticky" I stared down at the child, blinking my wide blue eys. It was what had happened, I supose. It was the fastest I could fling it into open air. "Oh.. blood. I was sticky with blood" I smiled around the words, remembering happy memories for once.

"And how I made her my friend." was that what my little angel was? A friend? I highly doubted that. We had something else, some odd connection that I hadn't felt in years, and I was sure had never latched into her. My eyes crickled with the force of my smile. There where no jokes there, no anger or morbid bitterness, nor was there a single tiny ounce of perverse meaning.

It was just a smile, a big stupid happy grin.

"She helped me when I was hurting badly, and she is still helping me. Ayita is helping to guid me, and I need my little walking stck very badly." That didn't fully sum up our relaionship, but it sumed up the part that ment the most to me. A pack dog, coming back to the dusty edges of humanity to pick me up and clean me off. She'd held out a piece of my soul that day, and I'd taken it.

But I didn't know how to explan 'she's the most wonderful person and im madly in love with her' to a lion cub. Ayita was my friend and confident. I would dig up the rest soon enough. Weither she held me as close as I did her. That needed to be spoken. Over the last few days of absence from her preasence I had almost eaten myself out of anxiety. How could someone as beautifully sun lit as she love something like... me? And how would I cope if that sun was reoved from my equaztion.

I was a strategist, watchng from the shadows. I knew every possible outcome, every possible injury. And here I sat, worrying like a child left home during war time. I had no idea hat to expect from this simple addition problem.

I was just waiting for it to blow up in my ash blackened shell of a body.

occ:// -smacks pari- bad perv not around the chilren! But I supose I should hug him too, poor brute.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

Cute.

I held my tongue. Something about the aura of this canine told me he wouldn't talk pleasure with the term cute being latched onto him in any fashion--even if it was towards the relationship with Ayita. Besides, how could that meeting really be cute? He had been covered in blood, and my guess was it was Folami blood. Ayita had done a dear disloyalty to the pack by protecting him and guiding him. But I could not judge--I was a lion cub tricking the whole lot, and Helsa was keeping a secret larger than her. It seemed everyone had lives outside the dog family.

Bidziil had Carska, and vice versa. They had theirown family, and something told me the pack was not as high a priority to them as it once was.
Jeremiah was once a spiritual leader, one who'd never kill. That had changed now, but it used to be true. And his son, Logan, now took that place. That, and the black fellow had a relationship with the captive: Evangeline. The two had a secret, and I only knew because I was open to it. Their friendly smiles held meaning to those who believed it could. I didn't have the Folami "funnel vision", where you only see what you want to see.
Of course there was Daiade, the ultimate kitten hugger. Oh how I wished to confine in the male that Abeni held so close. But he had her, and the poor mentally challenged girl needed someone to call her own.
Helsa and I had our obvious secrets--well, obvious to those without the funnel vision...or without a mental issue, as is such in Abeni's case.
And now I knew of Ayita's secrets.

Could anyone just be honest in this world?

My happy demeanor solemned as I listened and considered. I looked down at my paws, standing but then sitting again. "Seems we must all keep secrets just to survive. Ma or I breath a word, and we both die. Ayita breaths a word, and she dies while your hunted down. It's so unfortunate that our lives are lead on the course of dishonesty." I looked up and gave Cain a sideways glance. "Well, I don't like it, anyway. Ma doesn't seem to mind. Maybe not everyone is bothered by it." I shrugged indifferently, though my stomach clenched inside. Was this dog another like Helsa?

Could someone really not care they had to hide who they were?

[I L Y I C H]

-Paradox-

My eyes followed her transition, from happiness to solemn worry. It was depressing how quickly the transitioned. I bit my lip to keep form commenting on it, twisting my ears to hear her words clearly. Secrets. Yes, we we're all lairs weren't we? My lips pulled back form my teeth for a fraction of a second before hiding again. "Cain isn't really my name, by the way" the words spilled easily. Apparently I didn't just want Ayita to know. I wanted this child to know as well. "Its Paradox, quiet appropriate for this little tirade I think" I tilted my head slightly, watching Allana.

Her words hit me hard. In a very gruesome spot of memory.

"Kill?" the word practicably sputtered out my mouth. It hadn't occurred to me that the mere fact that she was seeing a loner would get her killed. No, no that's not what Allana meant. "If they found out about the murderer in their midst they'd have to fight past him to get to her" Any kindness in my tone was gone. Any joy in my face was replaced by vicious hatred.

Let them try. Let those bastards try.

My claws dug into the dirt, curling the substance around my brown paws. They don't know what the murderer looks like, they only know I exist. They would have to find me standing over a body or slick with blood to guess. But it would be a possibility. A horrible possibility. If Ayita ever sniffed at my scent in the presence of another...

My teeth snapped together with the finality of a bear trap.

There was one way to be sure, perfectly sure. I knew many of the pack's inner runnings, but I did not know them all. There was one way to make sure I never found her body flung into the forest. One way to be sure they'd never get their fangs in her.

I'd fling myself headlong into their midst.

Harsh blue eyes dug furiously into Allana's face cooled. I relaxed slowly as a plan began to formulate. The last one... I had one kill left until I would never commit the dead again. One kill left and unless they found me ripping apart Hamond then everything would be all right. Everything would be all right.

"Take me to Bidziil. Or take him out here. Tell him there is a loner seeking admission into the pack. Tell him I can prove myself if necessary." my eyes slid across Helsa, demanding she did as I asked. I turned returned t staring daggers into Allana. There was a new extenet I would go to protect that odd scarlet bird. I would do anything to protect hat little bird. My teeth ground together. "Tell him Coal from the northern dispersed pack wishes acceptance."

"Coal?"




-Babylon-

When one wakes in the night to go pick at last nights dinner one does not expect to find a woman her malfunctioned child and an old pack mate hunkered in the wood. My white ears arched towards him, the black fronted man. My brother and I had tormented him in horrible ways at a young age. He was a monster, daring to take away the woman that should have been mine. Daring to live when his mother the omega should have produced still borns and nothing but still borns. I bared my teeth.

He wasn't so small anymore.

The man was larger then I, though thinner and more ragged looking. I heard his precious Mate had died. I'd heard it from my brother, Hamond. My magenta eyes narrowed. "Why are you here, little boy?" I sneered. The brown hued folami turned ice cold blue eyes on me, my body froze. That was not a look I expected either. That was a look of absolute hatred. A thing that the sniveling pup I had tormented no longer existed. Ths man had become a folami.

Perhaps he wasn't so pathetic after all.

"Coal! Id heard about Devoid, im so sorry, I'm sure my brother wasn't saddened to hear of it as well. You remember Hamond right?" The brute's body relaxed if only slightly,as if my brother's name had meant more then Id thought. But that couldn't be right. "Of course." His tone was short clipped and emotionless. It was rather creepy. My ears twitched, he'd totally ignored my condolences as well.

I really hadn't meant anything by it. I'd thought maybe now that he was big and strong, like a real man we could be friends. Or at least hunting partners. Id like to have such a cunning brute (Id learned that from the horrid pranks he pulled in response to his torment) on my side in a fight. "Didn't mean any hardness" I puffed cross that Id been taken so coldly. "Of course not, I'm sorry I've been a wee preoccupied as of late, old friend"

"Ah, I see" My tail waved once in appreciation. Preoccupation was good, it meant you were doing something useful. But the way Coal was looking at me was rather disturbing. In fact I think Id rather like to be the one to go get the black alpha. "Ah, do you still want Bidziil, Coal?" I through a look at Helsa, the solitary pack member. What was she making of this old pack member of mine?

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

Helsa
My dear girl listened to this brute who I hated. There was more reason to hate this man than any of the other Folami: Allana trusted him. If the dog spilled even a slight word, my master and I would fail at our plans. Only I could know who Allana was, and it enraged me to think that now another did. But neither my daughter nor I could respond to a single word that Cain-Paradox-Coal said. No movement to find BIdziil could be made--Allana and I would have both reacted differently. My girl would have convinced our softening alpha to take in this Folami. I would have advised against it. But it didn't turn out that way. Such an easy task was injested, but just as quickly vomited back up.

A packmember, Babylon, appeared. A simple click of my tongue sent my lion cub shuffling to stand in submission at my back feet. This canine would never be in on our secret for he held loyalties to the pack. With uncertain anxiety, I watched the two interact. On my face lay a mask of indifference, which was the emotion I was known for. At my back paws, I felt Allana tense and give an almost silent feline snarl. It pained me to hear it, even though I knew it was much too quiet for the others to hear. It meant the lioness held enough compassion for Coal to dislike Babylon simply because it was clear the new friend of hers was not fond. I, on the other hand, took an almost pleasantness of heart at the loners discomfort. Surely Babylon, even knowing this mutt, would not try and allow him into our pack.

Because then another in our little family would know my deepest secret.

My heart sank as Babylon was eager to let the dog within. Bidziil would never listen to me over Babylon-- Coal was going to be part of our pack.

Ayita will sure be happy.

My eyes lightened at this realization. Coal wouldn't utter a word about Allana, because his dear girl's life hung in the balance of it all. Maybe this wouldn't be so awful after all. If the two are both part of the pack, they wouldn't need to sneak off anymore so the forests would, once again, be mine and Allana's. This dog that I hated so passionatly would be no burden--if he stole my most precious gift from me, I would do the same for him.

"Bidziil is always open to new members, as long as they aren't some fucking kitten hugger." A cold smirk crossed my maw, and I saw my Folami daughter do the same.

[I L Y I C H]

-Babylon-
Baby your just a two timed angel in the streets of the damned

I flinched, eyes flicking over Helsa, she seemed just as dangerous as usual. It was worrisome how she always seemed on the verge of preparing to fight. My maroon eyes narrowed slightly, ears twitching. Helsa was... very harsh looking. My lips pulled back in a small snarl. I was a pack animal, instinctively driven to hate nonsocial monsters. Grimacing hard at the woman he turned sharply, giving Coal a long look before hurrying back towards camp. The soft grass under paw crunched slightly, announcing himself to the pack.

Moving carefully he twitched more and more as he drew closer to the den, Carska's massive body loomed in front of the black tunnel. The Princes and Princesses of the pack where too young to sleep in the open just yet. I hesitated, the gray pelted woman had been in a state of constant anger for the past month or so, only showing kind eyes to her children and the black rock laying beside her. My claws made soft clicking noises as I side stepped, trying to move towards Bidziil.

I froze when those icy tawny eyes locked on me. "..Milady... Ive come for the Alpha" I nodded towards him, ears flicking back against my skull in a show of submission. Carska's lip lifted from her white fangs before dropping again. Chin resting on her huge white paws the gray pelted Folami glared at me through slitted eyes. The fact that she hadn't tried to kill me was a signal to go forward. "Sir? There is a loner... from my old pack. The son of the alpha, his name is Coal. He says he can prove himself if you wish." One of my eyes stayed locked on the glowering Alphess. How that woman detested those who interrupted her sleep, or maybe it was the pups sleep. I could hear a few muted grumblings in the earth behind her.

Backing up I dipped my head in respect before slinking back towards the entrance. My tail waved slowly in difference. I was a middle ranking hunter, no where high enough in rank to show any amount of dominance when in the presence of an alpha let alone both of them. My red-violet eyes locked on the foliage ahead of me. Maybe I'd get a promotion for finding this new member for my pack.



-Paradox-
Forged in war, born of death, saved by love - Jackson Rathbone

I stared coldly down at Babylon. When had I grown taller then this old tormentor? When had he decided we could have been friends? Maybe its because I was obviously more dominant then him. The white man's maroon eyes would not meet mine. It wasn't shame there it was reluctant respect. 'You are bigger and I relent'. My face contorted with a cold cruel smile. So this was how it was, hm? Time to show the girls your other half. My claws trenched into the ground, flecking the soil everywhere in anxiousness. Would my little bird come out here? Had that stupid brute woken her as well as Bidziil? There was nothing despised more then stupidity.

My jaws almost cracked at Helsa's words. "I hold no pity for them" or any of you two faced rat tailed bastards. My teeth shined past the black inky locks of my jaw. The ivory glowed like bleached obsidian. MY pale blue eyes formed ice chips in my skull as I watched Babylon vanish. So easy. I could jump him, slit his spine and drag the moron around until he died. My jaws parted saliva pulling in lines between my fangs.

But that would be unwise.

Licking away the syrup trying to give 'way my inner most thoughts I gave the Babylon's trail one last long almost emotionless look. Later, puppet boy. Later. I slapped the ground hard with one huge paw. Turning the blank look of malice on Helsa I flicked it back towards camp before masking it. Murder drained from my eyes as I truly went expressionless. Like a soldier readying for war, a deep frown brought out a line of creasing under my eyes and along my jaw. Life was hard. I bucked my head in an attempt to chase it away revealing a scar that had obviously been aiming to slit me throat.

He missed. He went to far forward.
His head went lolling cross the dirt that day.

Turning tired eyes back on the white female and her little secret I sat slowly, grimacing. "Words I thought never to leave my mouth after that old place" I stamped again. "Father would be pleased" harsh mocking contempt edged my tone.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

xAyitax
Being young and in love raises stupidity.

There was too much noise, too many feet. As is typical, I'd woken when Helsa and her young child shuffled out the camp entrance. The poor little girl had woken with a start, just as she does most mornings. My instincts usually screamed to comfort her tormented soul, but another instinct said it was larger than I. So I always left it for the mother--she'd know what's right. I hope.

The morning started with that, but never did I open my soft lined eyes to take in the breaking of day. Exhausten from anxiety made me sullen and crestfallen, desiring sleep above even the approval of my pairs. Babylon left, but I paid him no mind, my head not even lifting to bid the brute farewell. Only one thing could bring me to my feet, and there wasn't a chance it'd reach me here.

But it did.

The tempter came drifting in on the breeze and panic drove me to my paws. Had my Paradox gone mad? Coming so close to camp was pure suicide. With a loud sigh of frustration, doing my best to mask the fear, I prepared to run and meet the beast to shoo him away. But not he entered camp--Babylon did. And as that male came closer, the hypnotizing scent grew stronger. Why did Babylon smell so strongly of Paradox?

Now standing tall with curiousity, I perked my ears to listen as the male approached the den where the royal family slept. Soft grumbles emerged from the pups, followed by the shuffling of large, but light paws--Carska. Waking the new mother was not a wise move. But no words were spoken by the annoyed female, thus allowing Babylon to speak to Bidziil. Fear was still largely at hand in my heart--had Babylon injured Paradox and now he would bring the alpha to commit the final act of slaughter? But no. The words that rose shook me with an ice cold grip, yet the edges were remarkably warm.

Paradox wished to join our pack? But why? What did this bundle of arrogant dogs have that my dear wanted? In the back of my mind, I prayed he wished acceptance so as to be near me without risk of persecution. But what chance did I have with one so dark and powerful as he? A smile began to curled across my maw. The alpha didn't say a word, but I heard a yawn from the inky blackness of the den. Then the brute emerged and stood firmly beside Babylon, eyes holding his typical 'I'm better than you so don't even try to fight me' expression. The alpha turned and faced the inside of the den for a moment, reaching in and giving his female a lick. "I will bring this trespasser here and surrond him with guards. This way you can help in assessing him without leaving our beloveds. He won't get a chance to lay a paw without twenty feet of the children, or his throat will be slit. I promise."

As the black dog took off at top speed, following Babylon's scent trail, I followed without care as to who saw. My age gave me permission to wander as I pleased, but it also gave me the right for childish curiousity. If anyone questioned, I could give that answer--plain, simple, and believable. It wasn't long before my Paradox's image came to view. And who was that with him? Helsa and Allana? Allana was shooting my massive dog an almost fond look, but Helsa held her typical indifference. So, Paradox had earned the admiration of one of our cubs, had he? How cute. A smirk played my face, eyes playfully setting on the large 'fire in the twilight' colored dog. But I was quick to mask over it and forced unease in it's place. Distance was kept so as to not raise suspicion. Bidziil stared him down and it pained me to see the distrust on his face. "You, Coal, come with me. Do you object?" The alpha used a tone that told him the question had only one answer. Either agree, or be killed for wasting his time. Even as he used the name Coal, I didn't flinch. My dog was full of mysteries and lies.

And that was one of the many things I loved about him.