Brick By Boring Brick [Claim]

[I L Y I C H]

Go get your shovel! And we'll make a depot
to bury the castle bury the castle!

This would be far too easy. My body stood stiff and tall as I stalked into their ravaged camp. I was their savior, and they all looked at the shock of red on my spine with confusion. I would save them from this. This would never happen again to them. One rose slowly, a white bloke with maroon eyes who looked half uncertain as to what I was doing. "Seat yourself, boy!" he was obviously my senior, but the order in my voice was not to be ignored by a confused hurt man. He sat, and I smiled coldly. Another rose to meet me, but this was a far greater trouble.

Carska stared me down with both interest in annoyance. "Who are you to speak to my senior hunters in such a way?" I looked her level in the eye, shining with arrogance.

"You have no alpha, sadly I know. I saw the humans, and we all know he ain't coming back" The older woman twitched, something haunting tearing through her eyes. Her lips curled back, showing her fangs,and I returned the gesture. "Im here to claim that title for myself, and no little girl can stop me." Her head snapped up, eyes flaring, and snarl tearing from her throat.

"Who the fuck do you think you are, little boy!" I suppose it was appropriate for her to be aggravated, after all she'd lost her disgusting little baby daddy... and women could get a wee bit sentimental. Ah speaking of women. Hatti was around somewhere, most likely waiting for a prime chance to appear. So she could avoid the brunt of any retaliation, that damn coward.

"Your new king" I sung, tail lifting in dominance. She responded with her own furious step of alpha claim. "You are a woman Alphess! You can't lead." I rolled my ocher eyes, incredulous. Her anger grew ten fold. "Do you really want to lead without your precious commander?"

A new voice added itself to mine, a soft fool hardy voice. My body stiffened and my eyes rolled with hate this time. "Better yet can you lead? Look at your pack, its in shambles." My white pelted sister came forth, her storm eyes icy with malice towards the other woman. Carska took her mentioned to heart far more then mine,and it angered me. The alphess paused, eyes narrowed.

"I wont let you harm them" I sighed, letting the apprehensive watchers see the fatherly amusement on my face.

"I wont harm them anymore than you already have" There! That hit a nerve! My tail was slightly higher then hers. Carska' paused in her anger, to give me a swift look of apprehension, then like the weakling she was turned to look at her pack members. I thought she did it to assess their opinions of her but no! She had a question for them.

"Would you want him more then I?" I let out a gruff laugh.

"Thats no way to run a pack! Come now! We are Folami and we must be ruled not led!" She looked at me hatefully.

"If not for my children I would castrate you here and now. My pack chooses, so shut your dirty little mouth, kid" I quaffed in surprise. I had no expected such retaliation from the woman. I was here to help her! She couldn't hope to keep this pack hard and strong, she was only a memory of their good powerful Bidziil. I gave them all a long hard look, arrogantly sure of their choice.


ooc:// wow Lucy your so forward xD

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

Abeni
Since the day the humans had come, I had not brought myself to carry over to the fearless innocence I had once had. Daiade was laying elsewhere, but I watched from the shadows. I did not want to be in the open if the humans returned to give us back our master. I couldn't let them catch a live lioness in the camp twice. They would murder us all.

The choice was given and I still remained in the shadows. I was sure the pack would choose Carska. My eyes scanned for Nimrod, knowing he would be one of the first to speak in her defence. The male hated me, but was loyal beyond comprehension to our leaders. I knew I could count on him. But, of course, the male was not present for now. Off hunting, like the good little pack member he was. Damn him.

"Mother, until I can rise to my rightful place as Ruler of this pack, it would be wise to let this new male lead. You are not worthy." Ouch, that hurt. I slung my gaze over to spot the gray pelt of an akita sized dog; Alonda. Rage swept through me as I realized the words had leaked from the jaws of beastly child. I wanted to shred her! She couldn't speak to our Carska that way--her mother!

"Now, wait one damn minute." I stormed from the shadows and approached the newcomer, my alphess, and the now fuming Alonda. "Do you have dead fish for brains, Alonda? Miss Carska is a perfect leader, thank you very much." I looked to the arrogant male. I wanted to ring his fucking neck. His and that whore of his.

Ouch, I had grown too vile since Bidziil had been taken and I'd watched Carska fall apart.

Shaking away the disgust for my thoughtless vocabulary, I forced respect into my tone. "With no disrespect sir, but I must speak against you leading our family. You know nothing of your pack. It would be wiser for, if Carska must step down, someone within our own ranks to take lead." It occured to me then that I was a lioness.

Real Folami eat lions.

[I L Y I C H]

Carska-

This was there choice, and those two strangers were right in the essence that I did not know if I could run this pack without emotional support. Alonda, my own child. My own god damn daughter. I half opened my mouth before I closed it again. I had told them to choose. I would live with the consequences.

I had a protector of sorts. A very deranged protector. Abeni, what was she doing? She would get herself killed! Even as panic for the young lion surged threw me disgust did as well. He was right, I wasn't meant to lead this pack. I loved that stupid lion and never could I hurt her. She had become a form of emotional support. As had a small cluster of my closest friends. Well and Nimrod, but his support couldn't be counted as emotional.

But he froze, that red maned monster and in fury turned to me. "That kitten is protect you! What is this? Kill it! Kill it now!" We had been bred to kill, and to kill without discrimination. But I wouldn't. I wouldn't be run by genetics. My mind, nay, my heart meant too much to me to give in to such a pathetic chemical demand. "Did it just say family? Did that thing just call you a fucking family?" It was a demand, cascading from an arrogant tongue. But true shock was behind the statement.

The snarl that came from me forced him back a step, shocking him in its ferocity. "Do not call my Abeni a thing." Fighting to compose myself back into the good little alpha id made myself be these past few days, I glared at him. "Family. Don't you know what that means? We protect each other, we guard each other's views. We are a fucking family, and if you don't understand that you don't belong here." I turned my body to face him, and he snarled right back at me. He wasn't that much bigger then me, if it came down to it I could win in a fight.

But I'd let them choose. My eyes turned back to my people. To a traitor who raised his voice for the other. "No offense, Madam but watching you after Mister Bidziil was taken... I don't think you have it in you to lead any longer" Babylon lowered his head, looking away in shame from my gaze. My teeth ground together. But still people supported me. The large black fronted man stepped to my side and seated himself. Despite his thin frame Paradox towered over the other male, and nothing could stay peaceful under his vicious stare.

"Im ashamed in you Alonda" Mahal skulked away from his sister, tail high ocher eyes round and proud. He looked just like his father, and it made my heart quiver with grief and elation. He sat down beside Paradox, resoloute. "And I'm ashamed that anyone like you exists who would think it right to take away an Alpha's position due to gender" He turned his snout up in disgust. The black hued man did not like being told off by a cub one bit, and his fur lifted with anger. A small form blocked his line of attack before I could move to protect my son.

Val's thin blue-gray form slumped silently in front of Mahal, his sapphire eyes cold as they gazed up at the new male. He said nothing. How I wished Daiade was here. The white woman was staring at Abeni with hate in her eyes. Hate and murder. I could do nothing, for I must stay and guard the children. Paradox had his eyes on her though and maybe that would be enough. Daiade was out searching for rabbits and other tasty not feline food stuffs he could find.

[Kunabee]

Ekshen*

I stared at the newcomer. I didn't like him, facin' down Mommy like he was. And being a jerk. I don't care if he was supposed to be a stupid new alpha, he was insulting my mommy. She may have been a kitten-lover but she was my mama. And anyway... Abeni was a good playmate. And practice for when I could hunt cats I could actually kill. I gave her a dirty look, but then turned to Alonda.
"You should be sad!" I exclaimed, not havin' the full amount of words I wanted to say, "She's ouwa Mommy!" But I couldn't necessarily say I wanted Mommy to still lead. I just wasn't gonna straight-out tell her she wasn't fit. I didn't say anything more, just watching what was going on.
I still didn't like the newcomer. You should be nice to your pack - and nothing else. (Unlike Mommy and Daddy were... Where was Daddy? I miss him...)

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

Alaois
I had a choice to run the life of my former mentor. I could lift her up or utterly destroy her. Well that was no decision at all. The answer was obvious.

Let's run this sorry bitch into the ground.

Leaping forward, lips curled into the most vicious smiles of revenge, I placed myself to sit a few feet to the side of Lucifer. "I think you can guess where my loyalties will lie, Alphess." The word was said sarcastically, for I held no such respect for this woman. She had forbid my mauling of Abeni. It had been her who had kept the lioness around. At first it was because the girl was loved by Carska's sorry brother, but now even Carska loved the lioness. Maybe under Lucifer, I would be given the opportunity to do to Abeni what I had did to Akila.

Turning emerald eyes to the golden cat, I smirked and she stepped back only slightly. The girl was as dumb as a pile of sand, but she knew I had murdered her Akila. That much she could retain. She also knew I wanted to kill her just as much, but pack loyalties were part of my genetics. I would obey whom was in charge, however much I hated what they said.

My sister, Evangeline, shrunk around the outskirts and positioned herself in some shadowed corner of the camp. As any wise prisoner would do, she didn't speak her own opinion. Abeni was stupid, so one could expect she would go against the role of a traditional prisoner. Not to mention she was treated like an omega rather than a prisoner, while Evangeline was still treated as she should be.

Nimrod trotted into the camp and entered beside Evangeline. He saw the cowering juvenile and sneared, before looking towards the center of camp. He spotted Lucifer and Hatti, a snarl ripped out, and I tensed to defend the newcomers if need be. I couldn't let Nimrod shred our future alpha, for that would leave Carska alive and in charge. Oh no, that would not work.

"What is the meaning of these arrogant trespasser, Miss Carska? And why is our pack split as it is, your daughter even sitting beside him proudly?"

I followed his gaze and realized he was right, a split was clear. Ayita, as was expected, had gone beside Paradox, Abeni proudly followed, despite Lucifer seeing her as a meal. Alonda and I were firmly seated with the stranger. Clarimonde was hovering in the center, unsure of where to go. As was typical for the pup, she needed a speech to feel confident in choosing a side. But logic won out and she quickly scurried to be on Lucifer's side of the split. The girl was neither swayed towards good nor evil, just logic. And logic said we needed someone who wasn't emotionally attached to Bidziil, or anyone really, to lead us.

Helsa was another one who was see-sawing between the two. It wasn't that she didn't know who was the right leader, her eyes stated with obviousness, but rather she just didn't care. But as the seconds passed, she clambered over to Lucifer's side, Allana on her heals, making a random and spontaneous decision. Jeremiah quickly followed, seeing potential in this new ruler. His son, Logan, was quick to go to Carska, eyes uneasily watching the growing mass around Lucifer.

My gaze was quick to fall back on Nimrod, as he waited patiently for his alphess' respond. Stupid old man and his fucking loyalties.

[I L Y I C H]

Lucifer-

A cruel smile pulled across my lips, this was in the bag. Hati sat slowly beside me, gray eyes locked and full of loathing. That lion was too valuable a training tool to just kill, we'd already had that discussion, a snarl sent her eyes flitting back to me with wide stupid apology, and I hissed back at her. Hati's white face turned up and away, eyes now locked on the black man who questioned my right to challenge. I snarled at him too, starting to reply. That bitch cut me off.

"There all traitors, Nimrod" she sounded suddenly old, and it was truly a shock. That... Carska sounded like a real alpha for a short moment and now she sounded like a run down elder. I huffed in horror. A leader would let her subjects, nay her slaves turn her into that? My lips pealed back. "I am not to be trusted with running this pack he says, because I'm a weak old fool." Her lips curved up. Lifting one white paw she waved it at me, non committed, almost bored. I snarled in fury.

"Half your supposed family stands with me, woman! Take that as your answer and step down! You said vote they voted. I am now alpha" She looked at me oddly, ears twitching.

"Those mutts are not my family. A family stays together, they are all traitors. You may keep them." The hair on the back of my neck stood up, she would back down that easily? She was no alpha! No alpha at all! Fickle women and their fickle emotions! Carska's eyes landed on me, hateful. Cold. Expectant. "But when a new challenger comes do not be surprised when your slaves turn on you, little boy"

And just like that she turned away, all dignity and assurance. I couldn't help it I lunged teeth snapping. Turn your back on your alpha! Teeth clashed with mine, cutting my lips and shocking me back. She had moved faster then expected. I was forced back and as I disengaged she drew back her own sliced lips in hate. "I have given this pack to you because that is what the humans want. I can no longer lead with my pathetic views. So leave me the fuck alone and take your prize." I froze, red mane bristling as she skulked away, pausing only to give her most loyal hunter a long look. "I am ashamed to have betrayed you, Nimrod."

Three forms slipped away from their seats. Mahal stepped after his mother without a pause. Ocher eyes turned to drill past me into his sibling's eyes. "I hope your happy, with your new place" no malice was held in the words, only a disturbing wistful dream. Val moved after the dark child without heed, not looking back, only up staring at the black coated adult before him.

"Miss Carska still holds my loyalty" he said it sharply, as if challenging the older man, before hurrying after his friend into the lower section of the camp. The massive brown haired man who had been first to side with the now huntress Carska padded right past me, daring with his body language for me to stop him. Placing his bulk beside the lion he looked at me with murder in his eyes. Not a game, or a threat, real ice cold calculating murder. I quailed under that look, unable to help it. That wasn't blood lust, it was cold surgical planning.

I stood taller, pulling a harsh look onto my face. "Right then, its been decided" I shoved the little tooth fight to the side of my memories. Hati stood beside me, eyes narrowed head lifted to turn towards our audience.

"Long live the king" the sarcastic whisper fell from her lips and I smacked her hard in retaliation. Scuttling off my right paw barked harshly after the retreating kitten-huggers, as I returned to my prize.

"Now perhaps this little caravan can get back on the track our masters made us for, hmm?"

[lapara]

Cenzolume


Ow. What the freak woke me up? The sun is way to bright. Dude. It's like, noon.

I was in the den we had grown up in, only it was harsher. The sun that managed to get through made it hard to see. I liked the light of the moon better. Somehow it seemed softer but more powerful, and I could hunt better in it. During the day I was as easy to spot as a duck in a flock of chickadees.

Normally I would just go back to sleep, but this was strange, because my mother was the one shouting. She was strangely quiet these days. And I knew that the loss of my father was the culprit.

So I stepped slightly out of the den. I was almost blinded by the intensity of the sun, but I managed to see that there was a stranger there. I heard their argument about who would be a better leader. Who was this guy kidding? He thought he could just waltz in here and take my mom's position? To take our pride? Our mom was not falling apart, she was going through a rough time. She had the genetics of a leader-- while this male did not-- and with our support she could become a leader that would be remembered for all time.

But I was shocked as our pack started taking the stranger's side.
How could they? The disloyalty and their refusal to see the obvious disgusted me. There were a few who were reasonable and stuck with my mother, but they were few.

I ran up next to her. I took a step toward the male and his little betrayer followers. My sister was over there. It hurt to see her show her true colors, but it couldn't be avoided.

"Who exactly do you think you are? Barging in on OUR pack. OUR family and suddenly saying your the leader. Even worse the fucking ruler?" I spat at the male.

I then turned to the betrayers who were gathered around him. "And all of you! I'm ashamed. You think that he would be such a better leader just because my mom is going through a rough time? What do you even know about this guy? That he came in here saying pretty much 'everyone must now bow down to me' like he thought he was a god or something. Do you really want a little bastard like that ruling you? If you do then I'm glad to be rid of you because you are an idiot who could endanger our pack with your stupidity."

I took a step back toward my mother and brothers and sat myself down. I was tense though. Ready to fight for my family if it came to that. My family now included only those who had logic. I disowned my sister and all the rest of them too.


Number of Words: 476
Post Rating: 6 out of 10
Other: Oooo! Cenzoooo! You are going to get your behind kicked my friend.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

Nimrod
My alphess thought she betrayed me. My brain could not fathom such a concept. Her pack turns its back on her, and she feels she is the backstabber. Just because she stuck to her word. She said we could vote like any democratic society, like any family, and the majority ruled in Lucifer's favor. She was being loyal in her willingness to stand down.

My ears perked over to her son's tiny speech. It frightened me that I could not lean to fully agree. Perhaps this Lucifer did have some potential. Carska loved Abeni, and that was something a Folami should never do, nevermind admit. It showed a lack of training. But my instincts screamed that she was alphess. The humans created Bidziil to be the alpha, and he had chosen her before he had gone all gooey. There was no doubt in my mind that Carska was my alphess.

When Cenzolume finished his words, I watched the dark side of our pack, ready to defend any violent retalition. I was relieved to see Princess Alonda be the one to step forward. The girl was rock solid and cold as stone, but she had enough logic to say she could not attack the Prince without dangerous consequences. Her eyes assessed my stance, knowing I would defend him from her, and she decided to use words rather than claws. To my surprise, her and I were on the same mindset. It was Abeni's place in the pack that had us both questioning Carska, her more than I.

"Brother, I do not know where your loyalties lie, besides with Carska," I let a low grow emit when the girl went as far as to use her own mother's name. The girl gave me a quick glance, realized my seriousness, and corrected herself, "Mother, but it is clear it is not with the humans. The humans say that felines are our prey. Abeni is a training toy, or she was. But Mother has taken to caring for the lioness, which shows a deep disloyalty. I would not question our Mother's abilities if not for that one lone fact." I was taken aback at how respectful the tiny dog was sounding, as if she actually valued her brother in any way. I knew it was false emotion, but she was trying.

I shook myself from the trance I had settled into and approached the group of betrayers. Letting my eyes narrowed, I stood tall so as to look down at the young canine, Lucifer. My eyes held defiance and a threat that would not yet be acted upon. I pushed passed the now silent Alonda, taking a stand only a foot or so in front of the male's bulk. "Sleep with one eye open, Alpha Lucifer," there was no sarcasm, I was a respectable animal, "for though you have won the battle, you have not yet won the war." With that I walked proudly, smuggly almost to tail Cenzolume, continuing to stay tense so as to protect the Prince with my very life if need be.

[I L Y I C H]

Val--

My nose turned towards my mistress, waiting to and dreading to see pain in her eyes. None showed. It was like a light switch had been flicked off, and she could simply ignore half of her world now. As if she simply couldn't find any emotion left to give them. This sacrificial lamb had been bleed dry. It was a horrible thing to see. Mahal cast a small pained look over his shoulder, right into my face before hurrying to stand beside his mother at the far end of camp.

Carska was trembling, muttering under her breath. I could barley hear her. But there it was over and over again. That word, that horrible accursed word. "Gone" A word of nightmares. My silver-blue head shook hard, trying to blot it out. When I opened my eyes the true Carska, the broken one was gone. The old mask was there, sitting stoic on her haunches. The curtains had been drawn, and all emotion was contained holey. Fighting the urge to cry for her I sat down. Pretending I wasn't fighting terror too.

This marked a change. This was the end of a chapter,and I had no way of knowing if it was the end of the book. I rolled my shoulders, anxious. I could not show fear, that was wrong. Only cowards showed their fear. I hid mine behind anxiety. Anxiety wasn't cowardly it was a sign of a fast witted individual. I was prepared not frightened. I was ready for any outcome, not terrified by the concept of my entire world changing in any direction our new tyrant chose.

I was a loyal boy who stood beside my best friend and the greatest Alphess this pack would ever see, and was not shamed to stand there. I was shamed to know that I was terrified to stay there.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

Clarimonde
I watched the old male recede into the midst of the Carska hugging pack. There was some remorse in the depths of my gut. I was a good girl; a curious girl, but a good one. I only wanted to do what was logical, but that didn't mean my heart always agreed.

It was clear that I was the youngest of the Lucifer abiding citizens, perhaps even the youngest in the pack, but I couldn't help but feel smug at being a higher intellectual then most of my pairs. Approaching Alonda, who now sat beside the yearling Alaois, I attempted to make friends with my fellow intellects. I only really spoke to Abeni before this point, indifferent to her breed. She was not my friend, but we did speak. Now that she would refuse to acknowledge me, I had to evolve.

"Bunch of saps, aye guys?" I inquired with a smug smile, indicating towards those surronded Carska's vacant form. The Princess and older male turned from each other and faced me, there eyes questioning and showing no sign of friendliness.

"Alaois, why is the mutt-blooded dog speaking to us?" The gray females words were what I had feared. I wasn't a full Folami, and thus I was judged. No wonder I never spoke to those of Folami origin.

Looking back to Carska's team, I cursed to myself. In my effort to be logical in survival, I forgot to consider where I was welcome.




Nimrod
Stepping away from Cenzolume, I approached the empty-eyed Carska. Dipping my head in respect to the fallen Alphess, I laid down in a position of submission. Looking up, I met her gaze evenly, no expression on my own rock-solid face. "This isn't over, Alphess Carska. The human's will release Bidziil and with him back at your side, it will be the royal family on the throne once more. But for now," I glanced over my shoulder to scowl at Lucifer and his loyal subjects, "we will not make Alpha Lucifer's stay an easy one." Looking to Val, I indicated for him to come forward. "My young apprentice and I will not let you down." When I made a promise such as this, especially to my Rulers, it was something I would die to keep. In my eight plus years of life, I had never gone back on a promise.

[I L Y I C H]

Val-

My queen, the only true leader, lifted her head to look at Nimrod. The woman blinked once, needing to right her sight and gave him a small smile. She seemed as if she wanted to retaliate and thank him all at once. Mahal spoke up for her, the head slumped to his paws raising. "Mother would have been perfectly capable of leading by herself, if half of our pack knew what the word loyalty meant of course." He sounded so bitter, so carouse for a child even younger then I, who had in the last week changed more then most animals did in their entire lives.

Having said what he wanted, he deferred to his elder as any good child did and set his head back on his paws, though his brow remained crumpled. Carska looked to her child, smiling growing slightly warmer. My tail waged as I moved up to stand beside my master. I said not a word, that was not my place, but I gave her my heart glowing bright in my eyes. The leader of our small faction nodded to me, eyes turning back to Nimrod. Her eyes were grateful. But she said nothing, knowing perhaps that Nimrod would not really appreciate any kind words on her part.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

Nimrod
Turning to the Prince, I dipped my head in his direction as a sign of respectful submission. I had not meant for my works to be belittling to my Queen, but to raise them up. It was not in my nature to give kind expressions but this ordeal did call for some reasurrment to play along with my loyalty. I would not be the perfect Folami if I didn't raise my leader onto stilts. "Young Prince, I had not meant to speak as if I did not believe your fine mother could lead on her own. That was not my intention in the least. All I was expressing was that," I broke off, unsure of myself. What had I been trying to say? Yes, deep down I believed no female should lead without a male, but I also believed no male should lead without a female. I disagreed with the concept of mating and bearing children, but both women and men could hand over different qualities neccessary for leading successfully. A pack was not complete without an alpha and an alphess.

"Ohfph." I huffed in frustration, my eyes turning to the ground in shame. I didn't know how to work my thoughts without them coming out as insulting and sexist! Curse my heritage, genes of killers and not friends. My humans were so preoccupied in breeding murder and loyalty into the likes of me, they must have forgotten to add in the socialization skills.

"I think Mr. Nimrod is simply saying that no pack is complete without male and female masters. He would say the same to Bidziil if it were Carska who was stolen. That big meanie, the new boy, don't stand any chance at ruler if he does not choose a female to stand beside him."

I looked over my shoulder with gratitude, but it quickly washed away. It was Abeni who had come to my rescue, and I glared with uneasy frustration at her. The confident girl turned her yellow orbs away from mine, sensing the unsure heat I was sending with daggers. If Carska basically adopted the lioness, did that make the lioness a Princess, too? Surely not. She was a cat. Even the most vile of kitten huggers would not have themselves ranked below such a being. "Yeah, what the Lioness said." My huff was barely audiable, spoken downwards to the soil. I couldn't use her name. Wouldn't. I had never spoken it, I had only barely thought it. She was not one to have an identity. If I stripped her of all personal uniqueness, it wouldn't hurt when she was killed.

A name makes the kill a murder.

[I L Y I C H]

Val-
Mahal nodded sheepishly, his orange-yellow eyes resting on Nimrod for a second longer then they would have the day before. Confidence came in the face of adversity. "I didn't mean it like that, I'm sorry Nimrod. My words wont form right in my head." He looked away for a second, eyes shutting tight before he opened them, more composed and gave my mentor a small smile. "But its still my opinion." he added, face slightly less composed as he forced himself to see into the real blinding truth once again.

Carska lifted herself back into a proper position, shaking her head hard against what had to be buzzing in her injured head. My eyes looked up into hers apprehensively, before I turned to look at her feet only then realizing the bullet wound at her calf was still riveted with iron. My ears slunk back against my skull. "That's going to get infected if you don't get the biting shell out." The woman nodded understanding, she hadn't had any amount of time to work on digging the thing out of her flesh. And now it was to be worried over wither she could suffer the pain that would cause under such hateful eyes as Lucifer's.

My alphess, my true leader, huffed a welcome to the lion that had so valiantly and stupidly protected her. I shifted closer to Nimrod, not wanting to show any form of loyalty to the lion I now held a small notch of respect for. Turning my eyes back to Carska, I caught her nod as she agreed with the male's words. "Your right, Nimrod. One man or one woman have no chance at ruling a well maintained pack." I noticed she did not seem to transition his idea to the cat as many would have, she spoke it as if ever ounce had come from him, but she gave the feline a small look that meant nothing to me and everything to Carska.

Carska shook her head again, drawing her lips together in an anxious smacking sound. "That is precisely what I fear,and why I stepped down. I can not lead, but I was under the impression that little... woman he had would be taking up the second seat." Her eyes slipped behind me, narrowing. I turned to see the black man snarling his supposed cohort into submission. A rattle of a sigh slid between her teeth. "It seems either way our lives will be changing even more drastically in these next days." My ears twitched. Carska had not given up on her Bidziil, but she was fighting on without him.

Forging on. I had the distinct intuition that she would continue to do so.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

Logan
My eyes were sitting on the ground before me. They all spoke, none uttering a word of Skoll. In times of adversity, one should always rest upon Him, and yet these dogs seemed ignorant to His presence. And Abeni...where was Dio? I turned my eyes panicy to the lioness. She had walked away from her own god, sje had forgotten who had saved her. Evangeline often spoke of Dio as I spoke of Skoll. It was the thought of Dio that Abeni and dear Akila had provided my female that had kept her from killing both cubs. And now Abeni didn't care for any higher power. My frustration came out as a sigh, causing Evangeline to lean against me with encouragement. I knew her mind assumed my current unease was because of the misfortune of my father abandoning me by joining Lucifer, but I was not phased by it. He was not the same man he had once been. I knew he would choose wrong without Skoll in his life.

Padding over to my one true leader, I examined her wound closely. Evangeline hesitantly followed behind me, her eyes set on the ground. As I came close enough to touch Carska, the young dog paniced and scurried to stand hovering near Abeni. The lioness seemed indifferent to her presence, as if she had even forgotten the third wheel to her former friendships. It was once Akila, Daiade, Evangeline, and Abeni. Then Evangeline sought revenge on her brother and scared Abeni, leaving the young girl, at the time, fearful of the friend. Then Alaois killed Akila. By this time Abeni seemed to have already forgotten Evangeline. I held a mild distaste for the lioness because of this. The abandonment had broken my friend into a million jagged edges, and I had cut up my paws picking them up. Not that I blamed her. Deep down I knew Evangeline deserved Abeni's indifference.

My gaze falling back on my leader's wound, I carefully measured how deep the biting metal lay embedded. "I can get it out, Miss Carska, but it is near a main blood stream. We need to have something close by to put pressure on it and catch the escaping blood." I looked to the elders around me, eyes falling partly on the new male, Paradox. He was scarred and had been alone. Surely he knew medicnals. "Any ideas?" I left it open, not wanting to openly place the pressure entirely on Ayita's boy.

"Skoll, help us." It was a soft prayer beneath my breath, only barely loud enough for all to hear. It was not unknown that I took after the earlier years of my father, the times before my mothers death. He had been a minister, and now I came in his place.

"Dio, guide us." My eyes scanned over to Evangeline, who had mumbled an addition under her own breath. I wanted to slap the child for the ridiculous statement. I loved what Dio did, but he was the feline's god. It often frustrated me that Evangeline refused to take Skoll on as her own saviour. I saw Abeni look to my pale furred shedog out of the corner of her eye, unsure and hesitant, but then she looked away, back at Carska. I turned my own attention back to the pack, hoping for a suggestion to my question.

[I L Y I C H]

Carska-

Everything was so very black right now. So very dark, like the sky had erupted and rained soot down into my eyes. I had allowed myself to be disillusioned into thinking I could protect my family until my beloved mate came back to me, but I had been wrong. Wrong on so many counts. A tyrant had control of my loved ones, I was shoved down into a rank I had not healed in years and my family had betrayed me, or at least some of them.

My eyes turned down to watch Logan with disinterest. Why was he concentrating on me, when he should be worrying about the whole of our group. I watched Evangeline instead, shrinking slightly when she fled in terror. It made me feel like a monster. I could do that to a child. To a pup that had been placed under my care, simply because she was kinder then the others. I could make her hate and fear me like that. I could teach her brother to treat her like that. My body shuddered. What had I been? A folami, yes. A monster, yes. A human toy.

I had gone along with what I was told was truth, no matter how harshly it wronged what I thought of as values, or morals. I was a horrible person. Dropping my head to lightly press Logan's away, I spoke again, feeling my son stiffen by my side at my refusal for help. "Thank you, my boy. But I will get it out myself." I had taken that bullet to save my mate, to try to protect our family. It would reside in its hole until the day he came back to us.

Mahal whined beside me, pressing closer but not saying anything. He understood my mindset. The talks my blood family had had in the darkness of night had been morbid and rank with the pain of separation. He knew I would not allow the iron reminder to leave my body just yet. Paradox, my newest brother spoke up in his low smooth voice.

"The bullet should rest easily, it wont move as long as it isn't bitten at. If the girl thinks its too unothidox to remove it can stay." His eyes, blue and pale, slid sideways to eyes Val who was leaning forward a bit out of worry. "But if she will relent then a small paw should be enough to block the flow until we can get a good hunk of moss to stem it completely." The silver puppy, who despite his slightly elevated age, was smaller then Mahal, nodded furiously. I smiled at him, grateful for his offer but unwilling to accept his help.

"No, leave it be. It is doing no damage, and I'd like to be able to walk on this leg" I shook it for emphasis. The bullet wound itself was uninfected, saved by the iron itself. It had not hit the bone, or as Logan had said the major artery. If we were to take it out I would need days to recover full use of the limb. A small pinch at my movement would go miles against a night time ambush by one rather outlandish new alpha. Paradox nodded to himself, seeming to have known this would be my response. Lifting his large body he slunk away from Abeni, the spot given up to Daiade who plopped down beside his odd adopted daughter.

Seated once again beside Ayita, the man dropped his head slightly, watching the proceedings on the other side of camp with a single keen eye wile the other remained trained on the out fringe of camp. Ambush would become the constant fear for this family. I could feel the long cooled paranoia heating in my heart once again.


ooc:// sorry for ignoring Lucy's side of the field for so long xD He isn't really doing anything other then hopping about snapping that now that he's alpha 'shits gonna change' and being mean towards Hati... so~ xD