Rebellion }{ It is time for a war.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

I felt that it wasn’t right, what I was itching to do. I was torn by loyalties, one two leashes pulling me into separate directions. I paced in the camp’s center, Alaois watching me curiously from nearby. When Alpha and Princess returned, I would have to choose whether or not to approach them and make a demand.

I had to choose whether or not to go against the human’s demand in an effort to follow them.

The man entered camp and I made a quick decision. My golden eyes locked onto his emerald and I heard him growl at the dominating action. I need not approach him, because he stormed over to me, towering above my bulk. My head was held low, tail straight out. My stance was an awkward one; I was showing signs of both submission and aggression. The brute was taken aback by this, trying to read me but to no avail.

I finally snapped my head up and, though it was not level with his, it was close enough to be a threat. My ears pressed back against my skull and now my stance was not dominating, but it was fully aggressive. As much as my hard-drive told me not to fight my alpha, I knew I would if he attacked. Him and the Princess if the need arose.

“Alpha, that pack lead by the Former Alphess has been left to thrive for too long.” So caught up in my confrontation, I failed to notice the genderless midget the had followed the dogs in. It was brown and fox-sized, looking thin and snake-like. I did not see it because my eyes remained focused on the Alpha’s, knowing my words would not be taken kindly.

The man needed a push in the right direction.

When I walk into camp with my daughter and a strange little man, I do not expect to come home to a rageful Nimrod. The hunter was my most loyal follower; the brute following the human’s every command without complaint or hesitance. He was the perfect Folami, but not bred to be alpha so he never rose to it. But as he stormed towards me, I was so sure I was about to brawl for my throne. I prepared myself regretfully, knowing deep down I was not who I used to be, thus I did not deserve the title of alpha.

But, damnit, I was bred for this job and I planned on keeping what the human’s had made my right.

My daughter shifted behind me as the black man stated what I had known was true. It was a fact that the pack had been left alone with no thoughts of war. I played it off as their lack of threat towards us. ‘They’re a pack of weak kittenhuggers. Why waste the energy on them?’ That usually quieted down my group, left them to simmer in their own disappointment at the thought of no war.

I knew what that this man was not going to take my typical answer again. He was boiling to the point that he was willing to defy the humans in an effort to do their will. Yes, I realized that my Masters would want the second pack gone if they found out about it. They had demanded we slaughter Paradox’s old pack when that alpha refused to let me take my place as ruler. I had fought back the knowledge of the human’s unspoken wishes, knowing that I could not put that burden on my heart until it was forced upon me.

Truth was, I wasn’t sure I could play out the human’s wishes this time.

I was torn in two as I glanced backwards towards my daughter. The woman held a blank expression, though I saw the mask twitch. It was clear the girl wanted nothing more than to shred this man for suggesting harm upon her mother. Well, clear to me. I knew my daughter. As much as I hated to admit it, I loved her enough to learn every little detail about her.

Eyes averting back to Nimrod, I watched the brute narrow his eyes accusingly, having taken my glance back as a weakness. “I hate to do this, Alpha, but you leave me no choice.” He turned away from me then, storming his way towards the den that the red-maned housed his family. “Lucifer, how would you like to lead a rebellion? Alpha has other loyalties and will not do so, despite the need. We need to do as the humans wish and get rid of the second pack; we need to slaughter the weak.” I held a guarded curiosity behind my hidden horror. This man also had kin in that second pack. Would he be able to agree to kill even his own son? I eyed him in what seemed to be challenge, but I was interested in his answer. Could he do what I could not?

I leaned backwards with his words, my snout turning every so slightly towards Fido. That idea of this dog had made me uneasy at first, but I was so grateful now. He was a mutual party and willing to obey me despite the threat. “Fido, I have a mission for you. There’s another pack that is led by a gray fae. I do not know where it is but I need you to find her and tell her that she is in danger of attack from the Folami Pack. Do not tell her I sent you, just say you joined us but then broke away at the first words of rebellion. Then stay with her and fight for her. Please, Fido. I will do what I can to make this not happen, but I know I will be outnumbered. If I can make them call it off, I will retrieve you.” My voice was low and whispered in the male’s ear. It was pleading, heartbroken, and terrified, even when my face held a mask of stone. I heard my daughter say ‘thank you, daddy’ in an almost silent voice, before adding her own ‘please do this, Fido’ to the snakelike dog, but I acted as if I had not heard her.

It was then, as I pulled away from the small dog to reface my crowd, that somewhere deep in my black little heart something clicked; there was a part of me resisting the majority of me that wanted to stop this madness. There was a little voice saying that this had to be done. If Carska and my kittenhugging children were all gone, then I would have no reason to hold up this little charade because what I show now would be what is true. I would turn to the stone alpha with no little weakness holding me back. I would have no other loyalties. I wanted to curse that little voice, wondering why I had been burdened with it.

It occurred to me then that everyone had that little voice, some were just strong enough to overcome it.

[I L Y I C H]

I had been laying here for hours, settled carefully in a deep pile of rotton leaves. The air was pressed to my front, and I was careful to keep it that way. Spying was something I had always been good at. As a hcild it was important to be able to hide myself and still observe. Other pups could not be trusted with my body, and now it was the same. My frame was to be protected from the ravenouse guilt driven children amongst Bidzii's pack.

Pale eyes shifting I lifted my head slowly through the leaf litter as I peered into camp. Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Pressing my nose down I watched worridly through the brush. There was an odd little mishap trotting along side the Alpha's side, its fox like body waving with the motion of it's steps. Even the air told me nothing of the chemicly scented thing. How very interesting.

Laying my nose slowly into the leaves to avoid any noise, I listened. It was what I was sent to do, or so demanded Carska. How anxiouse the poor dear was, fighting just as her son was to keep up a smile and a mask. It was a wonder she hadn't snapped and gone on some sor t of disgruntled canabilistic rampage. Now just why did that sound familiar. My mind had begun to ramble at this point, bored beyond the edge of death.

I was just floating in some fucked up version of limbo at this point.

But the sight of Nimrod turning traitor, even in such a pathetic manor had my head lifting once more. Careful to keep my very heart as quiet as possible I inched forward to listen in my grassy hideaway. Lucifer looked up sharply from his spot, eyeing the black man with distrust. His whore stood up from his side, gray eyes dark with anger. They glanced at each other out of shock at the pronounsment before Lucifer turned back to Nimrod with a deep look of seriousness on his face. Of course the red headed man had always been a human lapdog. He'd simply been a better lap dog then Bidziil.

"If our Alpha will not destroy this thorn then we must, Nimrod. I agree whole heartedly" the man cast a short look towards the new/old alpha before turning back to the patheticly submissive creature before him. "I would think our tactics would need to be altered... we are ment to be fighting cats not our own desloyal kind..." The man turned to better confer with his harlot and the submissive monster. My ear twitched slightly, turning towards Bidziil and his Princess. And this newly dubbed 'Fido' of his.

We looked up at out master with deep enthusiasm, our tail waving slowly behind us. Anything for the master, they were all comandments. I dropped my head, sharp nose almost touching the dust. I would always do as I was told. Servant to the core I lifted my head and smiled. Being the female state of our being I could not help but notice the deep emotion in Bidziil's voice. It was a thing that was obviouse even to my young inexperienced heart.

"To find your Mistress, Sire?" We spoke as softly as he had, not questioning his words mearly the emotion behind them. Not that it was any of my buisness. Blinking apologeticly I padded backward a couple of steps. "Didn't mean to say that allowd sorry sir" pulling up a winning smile I turned side ways before looking back once more. "We will do as you say, m' lord. We await our return to you greatly" And with that we turned and headed right back out of camp, our fox frame sending us on an exceptionaly fast lope. Agility was a thing our body held greater then anything else.

Nothing would catch us if we didn't wish it to. Not that that matter. Our pace would put us in the neutral lands within the hour and then we would begin our search. A gray fae... some woman that ment the world to Master and his daughter. A mother? Yes probably the mother. But why would Master's wife run from him? Why would anyone run from master? Maybe I myself was just a naive child, but male Fido didn't get it either.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

I had not expected this turn of events. Well, I kind of did but not from Nimrod. Lucifer or Alaois, of course. But Nimrod? I was angry. I was so pissed off beyond comprehension. But somewhere there was a new emotion that my brain could not read. It was not supposed to be there and my mask twitched again as I tried to push it away. The emotion made my heart beat a bit faster, made my blood roar in my ears, and made my muscles tense and ache.

Fear.

A Folami should not fear anything, but here I was having to fight back my shaking knees. Outside I looked solid and unpertrubed by the goingons, but inside I was crying for my mommy. I looked hesitantly after Fido as he dashed away, then turned nervous eyes to Nimrod, pushing forward disapointed hate. The warrior glanced at me and blinked apologetically, but I bared my teeth in distaste. If you are going to be a son of a bitch, at least be a proud son of a bitch.

I pushed by my father hatefully. I had thanked him a second before because he had sent Fido to tell my mother of the danger, but I could still feel dislike bubbling in my gut. He should be fighting more, shouting foul words and demanding submission. The brute should be warring against the dominating idiots. I would have, but I was too small to fight any of the adult males that were opposing us. I was a teenager. I was no threat.

My dad had the physical ability, but not the mental capacity.

Making my way over to Val, I growled in unease. "Dude, you are not going to side with Nimrod on this one, are you?" My tone was harsh and threatening, but my eyes were more sincere. I pleaded him with my silent expression, not wanting to lose my only friend.

Did I just consider Val my friend?

[I L Y I C H]

My new friend approched my angerly, but her eyes spoke diffrently then her vicouse voice. My heart dropped to my gut and sat there to slowly burn. I couldn't do this. Indesicion ripped into me, despite my deep want to confess. Carska had been kind to me. Had been nice to me... Nimrod had too, but it wasn't the same. Carska had become a motherly figure, Nimrod was simply my teacher. The thign I looked to constantly because I had thought no one else could tell me I was doing well.

I was under the impression that no one but Nimrod could prove I was a good boy. I was a good boy. Biting my lip I stood up hastely. Alonda was counting on me. My friend... she was my friend. Sucking in a gut wrenching breath I shook my head. "No... If the humans wanted the pack gone they would destroy it themselves... I..." Tilting my ears slightly I walked a bit closer, turning sideways to stand beside the gray princess.

Sending a weak hurt stare in Nimrod's direction I loked back at her, stealing my expression. "Bidziil is Alpha. Listen to him." Twitching slightly I drug up the reserves and flug off my coat of constant anxiety. I didn't need Nimrod to tell me I had a right to live. I didn't need Nimrod to follow after. I was my own Folami and I could be whomever I wished to be. Blue eyes tunring up to meet the amber I smiled weakly. Lowering my voice I turned slightly to look back towards Bidziil. Acting like I wasn't talking to her.

"Im sorry for everything I did before. It wont happen again"

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

Bidziil

I knew my pack was turning against me. My daughter knew I didn't want to hurt our family, and now she had recruited Val to stand beside us. Nimrod's ears flicked towards us from across the way and I saw his eyes slowly come traveling to stand on Val. He looked hurt for a moment, but was quickly turned to disapointed distaste. I saw his lips open and I was about to rebute, but the quiet little voice in my head told me to be a good boy. It said that Nimrod was Val's trainer because I had assigned as such. Nimrod knew what was best for the boy.

"Val, you're a very bad dog."

My insides froze at the death filled tone Val's proud mentor was using. It was as if the man had never cared for the boy. I realized then, as I saw Nimrod shrug and turn away to disown the boy there and then, that Nimrod never had actually cared for the boy. His training did not allow for such and thus he did not do as such. The man was what I used to be and what I pretended to be now. Or what I should be pretending to be. I couldn't help but hate the man for the fact that he had not actually seen Val as his son, but rather just a student. He got rid of the boy just as quickly as he had been assigned the boy.

Alonda looked at me, her eyes expecting.

I stared at her blankly before looking towards Nimrod with the same expression. The man glared back, daring my opposition. My heart wrenched, knowing I could not defend Val or my little girl. The humans would spill from the branches if I uttered a defensive word and stood firm against this rebellion. I did not allow my dominant stance to losen. Lucifer was not the alpha, I was.

"Everyone here knows I have kin in the pack of the kittenhugging bastards." I paused and looked towards Alonda, who listened with hot suspicion in her eyes. God, she looked so much like her fucking mother. "Regretably," I looked away from the girl and her friend, knowing I would only see hate for what was to come, "my heart has been altered by that damn fae that rules them. As long as she walks, I can not stand strong against them." I looked downwards, ears angled towards the ground to avoid catching the snarls of aggression I knew would flow from Alonda. "It is with great difficulty that I chose to stand down and fight as an omega until that woman and her followers have been dismissed from our world." I glanced over to Lucifer, continuing to avoid the hot stare I felt coming from my side. "Until they are dead, I submit to you, Alpha." I challenged him with my eyes. "Once the mission is complete, I will not stand in any position lower than Alpha, however."

"I hate you."

Her words came quietly from the side, an almost silent statement. It was her tone that dug the claws deeper than the words, though. The words hurt in themselves, but the tone made that sword turn flaming. It wasn't anger in the words. It wasn't saddness in the words. It was a complete blankness, a complete void of expression. I was not worth the energy to feel anymore. Any stand of family love we had continued to hold had been cut by my giving in to this charade. But I couldn't let myself care.

If I had to kill the girl with her mother, I would call over a warrior and let him do the dirty work. And yet, I couldn't stop the throb in my chest. The blade was long since stabbed in, but the knife had been keeping in the blood. Her words had torn the razor from the wound and now I was bleeding. Soon I would have none of the life fluid left and I would drop.

I couldn't fucking wait.




Alonda
My father was no-longer my father. It was me and Val against this pack. I felt my heart beating slowly in my chest. Even as I declared my hatred for Bidziil and yet I myself thought what he said. Would I be able to watch my mother die? Could I watch Mahal shredded? I regretably could lean towards yes. I would scream and cry on the inside, but only stare blankly on the outside. What I was unsure of was whether or not I could turn against the true Folami and stand to defend them. The dogs who stood against everything I stood for. How could I live with myself knowing I was being a hypocrite? If my family were not involved with the kittenhuggers, I would have no hesitation for war to kill them all.

Turning my eyes to Val, I let the mask drop so he could see my unease. "Looks like it is me and you, man. Bidziil has shown that he is no man." My words were much sadder than I wanted them to me. Was I upset that I hated my father and he had let me down? No.

I was sad knowing that my 'me and you' really only included Val.

[I L Y I C H]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/2dciphj.jpg] Horror. That was all I felt as Nimrod spoke to me. My heart shattered and fell to tear my flesh into bloody ribbons. So many pieces left to rot away in my gut where they belonged. Because I was a bad dog. I was a horrible dog. But I was my dog. And even as my face contorted into agony I began to pick Nimrod out of my mind. Bit by bit piece by piece. The papers were flung to fire, memories wrenched from their place to die. Nimrod had never been a father to me. He had never loved me as I had him. He had no right to my grief. I wouldn't let him see my cry. I could no concentrate on him. He didn't mean anything. His words didn't hurt me. They didn't. They didn't. As if chanting would make it real. Pealing terrified sapphire eyes from the black back of a man I would have died for, I locked the stare on Alonda. I needed someone to tell me I wasn't being stupid. Or bad. A barley held back whine bit at my teeth as I chewed at my tongue. Nimrod was wrong, he was. I had a heart, and just because he didn't didn't mean I was bad for listening to it. Right? Brain on the verge of seizing I dropped my head and turned my stare to Bidziil. Another black man who had no right to any heart. What a pair they made. Heaving out a heavy breath of air, heated hurt that made my chest seem lighter after it was released, I waited for the verdict. The decision that would decide just how far the Alpha had fallen. As Alonda held suspicion my own eyes held a deep worry. Diplomacy was not a thing humans practiced well, so we could not expect our own kind to have it. Apparently this worry was correct. Horror, yet another wall of fire slammed into my heart. Into my skull. Bidziil... Bidziil wanted to kill Miss Carska? After everything she had done. After all the bravery she held that his own worthless carcass could not... He was permitting her demise? My body began to tremble, but for once in my submissive life it shook with fury. With a rage that I had never once felt before. Betrayal was a thing so common, I had become desensitized. But that was shame in my alpha's eyes. He felt shame, and did not in his power stand by his heart. Being the changing hypocrite that I was I could not help but rage. That horrible smile that pulled across the devil's face should have been enough to change Bidziil's mind instantly. But I doubted it would. Lucifer had been placed back in command, and this time the plot would be so much easier. No Carska constantly at his back with a promise. He was ready to destroy those bastards that had made his last stint as ruler such hell. "Regrettably... Nimrod take Babylon and lead Bidziil to his den. I am sorry Bidziil, but we can not trust you to not run away to them." The white creature came as summoned, though he appeared frazzled. My eyes retained their blank vault of hatred. Could no one just speak their fucking minds? I had been raised to be a good boy. They had corrupted me for so very long, but I had a heart. I had a god damn heart and I was done letting them cut at me. This was the straw that broke patience's back. Lucifer was not done speaking, even as my mind continued on its tirade. "Hati be sure that all able warriors know they are to be ready at dusk for a possibly long journey into battle." His woman settled to the back on her haunches nodded ever so slightly. You could see the tide of information rushing behind those constantly aware eyes even as she turned to hurry away. Alonda's words caught me as she removed Bidziil form her heart as I had Nimrod. My teeth snapped together. She had every right to hate him, to despise him for the rest of her life. He was a coward, and did not deserve anything more then hate. "And pity" The word spat out of my maw, barley spoken but infused with such emotion that it should have boiled the ground when it landed. Body slumping into Alonda's unease I gave her a weak but all together heavy stare. "Is it just you and me?" Had Fido not been given specific instructions? Was there not an entire pack out in the desert somewhere sitting in the shade waiting for the attack? I turned to stare at her, expression fed up and half dead. Why did it have to be them and us? Not all of them were kitten huggers. Carska's pack had not been formed for that reason. That was not the point of this rebellion. They wanted to love one another. They wanted to be an actual pack, a family. Cats had had little to do with it. They simply wanted to escape Mao. They wanted to live as they wanted to. They wanted peace, and now we would deny them that. Well fuck us. We didn't deserve them anyway. "woof"

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[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

I hesitated as Nimrod and Babylon were ordered to assist me to the den. It was not my place to submiss to a warrior, and for a moment I glared. After a moment, I took a breath and lowered my eyes, tense but understanding. Yes, please guard me. If you do not, I will run to my wife like a child who needs a parent's forgiveness.

No, not my wife. We got divorced.

If possibly, my skull dropped lower as my heart skipped a beat. I was allowing for the destruction of my family. But I had sent Fido, so it was okay, right? I knew it wasn't. I knew I should be doing so much more. I urged myself to spin around and snap Babylon's neck, racing into the trees to find my woman and children. Alonda would follow. Val would come along. But the rest of the pack would give chase. Me and two yearlings could not win that battle. I would not put them in that danger.

Yeah, as if that were the reason.

"I am fighting in this war." I huffed it childishly as I allowed the warriors to guide me towards a den. It was not that I wanted to kill my family because I hated them. I wanted them gone so I could stop hating me. For some reason I had myself fooled into thinking that having them dead would fix all my problems.

But it would make things so much worse.

I caught Val's tone and turned my gaze to meet his. The world was falling apart, but he brought up a valid point with simply the tone he used. Fido would tell my mother and she would prepare the pack. They wouldn't run, I was confident in that. They were soft, but not cowards. I was the spawn of that woman and I did not come from a weak family group. I was a Folami because my mother was.

It was sure clear my father wasn't.

I hated soft Folami. I always have and I always will. But I hated one thing more; a Folami who was too scared to be true to themselves. It took a lot of guts to do what my mother and her followers were doing. I did not believe what they believed, but I honored their courage. My father shared my beliefs, but was too scared to stay true to the woman he loved and his children. If they weren't worth it because everyone here hated them, then I could not let that man be my sheild. A shield needs to be able to withstand attack. Once a force is put against it, it can not crumble as he was.

I realized then my eyes had focused harshly onto Val in my thoughts. The stare tunneled right through him and I blinked apologetically to regain my awareness of my surrondings. "Val, if I ever crumble as Bidziil has, if I ever give in to this maddness, kill me. Not only is it pathetic, but is just wrong." Can I call it wrong? I was sure I was going to betray my family once the battle call is howled. I would defend them here, but wasn't I being hypocritical? Bidziil loved my mom and siblings and even agreed with them slightly, thus he wanted them alive but was too afraid to protect them. Here I was, I did not agree with anything about them, but I was being soft by showing favortism. I would kill Ayita, Paradox, Logan, any of them without hesitance. Wasn't it wrong to protect someone for the sole reason being that you share blood?

"Lucifer," I stood up, storming towards the man. I had to make myself know that I was not a monster. I need to assure myself that I was a fucking good dog. "To lead this group into battle is suicidal. Do you realize that it is us against the world? Fucking felines will pour in and help them." I glared accusingly at the man, eyes flickering to his red mane. "You know I want nothing to do with this war, but I don't want to see a bunch of damn Folami killed because you're too stupid to see the fucking reality of the situation." My eyes averted to Nimrod at that, optics boring into his tense form. "Val is a good dog. A damn good fucking Folami." The man turn back to shoving Bidziil into a den and then stared at me harshly, not caring that I thought so. But I cared. I cared a lot. I believed it with my whole being.

You don't have to be a puppet to be a Folami. You become a Folami when you break the strings.

[I L Y I C H]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/2dciphj.jpg] My eyes averted themselves as Alonda proposed her pact. And with some sort of shame I looked back into her eyes and gave her a sharp nod. This woman would not be left to rot in self pity and fear. Alonda did not want that, no matter how she changed. I would keep this pact. I would hold it forever so she would know that she was not alone, and that I would not let her become this thing. Wrong? That's the bit that caught me. Everything crumbled. Everyone had to be allowed their moments of break down. Making a side note to wait a couple of days before trying to take her throat I padded after her as she moved over to Lucifer. The man gave me a throw of surprise as he turned to listen to her. Had he made some new decision? This was a trick wasn't it? My body stiffened, eyes slashing sideways to watch as Bidziil was led away. Those eyes burned into Nimrod's back before returning to the dark faced devil. Alpha once more. The man smiled coldly, though he looked slightly worried. What Alonda said was true. What would we do if the humans forgot who was on who's side? What if they didn't even care? This war could kill all of us. Lucifer wasn't quiet that worried about the humans though, and it showed as he addressed Alonda. "No feline will help them. This change in that witch is only a recent thing. Many families will remember her face in the blackest of lights. Besides, we have the humans." Sapphire eyes flickering, and a deep urge to run con-caving into my heart I shifted forward slightly. Lucifer looked at me sharply, his eyes daring me to speak. It was different, I remembered. Him listening to Alonda and me. Alonda held an extremely high rank. I was one notch above omega. My body slunk backwards, face twisting in fear. But I didn't take my eyes off his face. I wouldn't. Knowing he was quiet ready to attack me I quickly sputtered out what had been brewing in my head the entire time. "Who says the humans will take a side?" Flinching and closing my yes for impact, I stood frozen before Alonda's words had me peaking one eye open again. She thought that? Why? Sure I was her friend... or confident or whatever the hell I was, but that didn't mean I was a good folami. I didn't understand where she had pulled that out of, and after a long stare of confusion I glanced back at Lucifer. Another shock. He looked stunned. As if he had never even thought of that. Because he hadn't. Because none of them had. The humans held such an intricate part in their lives, that the instant thought was they would protect their folami. Th true ones. But they wouldn't. We didn't mean that much to them. One way or another they would wait until this war was over, I am sure of it. And then they shall take whoever is left and torment them as Bidziil had been tormented. They would try and corrupt us all over again. Bidziil would let them. My teeth ground together, half out of fear. Lucifer composed himself, shaking his head until the red mane sticking up along his spine shook. "That is preposterous." And he proceeded to ignore me, standing to go move over to his senior warriors. The ones who spoke and thought like he did. "woof"

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[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

What children these dogs were.

I had been watching with bored acceptance to the whole charade. Nimrod had confronted Bidziil, Bidziil had tried to dominate, Bidzill had realized he was outnumbered, Bidziil backed down, Lucifer was put in charge. Then that demon princess spoke up and her little friend whom I had not minded until now backed her up. Yeah, I would fight in this war and support it and all that jazz, but not because of the kittenhugging, family loving intentions of the other pack. No, I pretty much adored those concepts and ideas. But my mission was to kill off all Folami and then kill myself so that the felines could have a little less danger.

The little bundle beside me shifted anxiously, no doubt fretting over her friend in the other pack. She had taken Paradox on as a friend and his absence had made her antsy. The sooner the brute was dead, the sooner I could let my hair lie flat again. I cooed gentle to Allana, who looked up at me with uncertainty. The girl obviously had swayed loyalties since I had sided with Lucifer. I explained to her countless times that I only did so so I could stay in the heart of the enemies world. I didn't happen to mention, however, that my main reason was so I could provoke them into killing the second pack, which would cut my job down in half.

"Hush, child." She had parted her jaws but she clamped them shut and looked to her feet in frustration. Nudging her to keep her still and quiet, I approached Lucifer but looked past him at Alonda, who had the expression that said we were all mentally challenged as the lioness that had run away from us. "Lucifer is correct, Alonda. Those cats don't know that Carska will now show them mercy." I glanced sideways at her. "Besides, little girl, she still eats cats."

"Little girl?"

I saw hate shadow over Alonda's controlled gaze. Her lip quivered before it lifted to bare her fangs. "I'll show you who's a little girl." I tensed my limbs, expecting her to attack me. The impact never came, though, for the girl bounded by me. I looked over my shoulder dumbly, not really knowing what she was doing. I heard a squeal and saw the blood, but it still didn't process.

The girl turned with Allana hanging from her jaws.

She glanced over at me and I turned to block any attack that she would give. But she just stared at me expectantly.

Oh yeah, I am supposed to be pissed that she just killed my child.

I grumbled in agitation as I stared angrily at her. "Killing my daughter does not make you a better Folami, Princess."

"No, but it taught you not to call me little girl."

I huffed as she put the mangled body of my girl down and she trotted to go sit by Val. "If you all wanna get yourself killed, then whatever. I will fight with you if I feel like it." I caught a hint of frustration behind her tone as she spoke.

This was just another day in the Folami world. Damn, now I had to find another cub.

[I L Y I C H]

I glanced about uneasily, watching Helsa with a shocked air when she spoke up. Was she mad, or just stupid? Anger pooled in my heart, much to my own surprise, and my own low snarl slid in alongside Alonda's. That shifty white bitch didn't have any right to call my friend such dismissive things. Despite that, Helsa had some small point. Even if she made me mad for Alonda, she was right. Carska still ate feline, even if she had a bad habit of making friends with some of her food. Ah but that wasn't wrong. Or was it? Confusion bit with my anger,and my snarl crept a bit higher.

Though it startled me slightly, Allana's death did nothing to upset me. The girl would have died sooner or later. She had been small and weak. Better to die in some pissing war then by slow torture. My snarl fell back into a low growl,and I watched Alonda spit the tuft to the dirt with a decided expression. She had every right to do what she did and as I moved past Helsa, glaring sideways at the taller female as I made my way to the Princess' side.

Her words just caught me by surprise, though I expected as much. Warmth filtered through my gaze as I turned to give her my silent support. Alonda had every right to set her wants where she would. Nodding my white tipped muzzle alongside her head, I turned to cast a glance at the annoyance on Lucifer's black face. His eyes, bright amber as always, seemed a bit resigned. With a huff he turned back towards Nimrod and the other older loyal's. Babylon looked a bit more aggravated, casting hateful glances towards us, Kamau twitching oddly at the maroon eyed man's side.

It was odd this feeling of strength building in me. Having been born to be an omega I could not help but flinch slightly when Hati snarled my way. Quickly drawing into myself I made as proud a stance as I could and clipped away. Or at least a few feet away, my head turning uncertainty towards Alonda. Maybe it made me a horrid creature, but I needed companionship. I was trying to protect her, or at least take her side, but I needed her to do the same for me.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

The man's slight movements beside me did nothing but sooth my agitated soul. A small moment of regret had formed for killed Allana, worrying that such things would harm the rigid friendship I had formed with the far kinder soul. Was it an unwarranted kill? Did not even God claim to see it fit to punish the children for the parents sins? I saw some logic in it--what greater blow to a parents pride and heart than to steal their offspring?--but would Val share in such thoughts.

Apparantly it didn't bother him, which surprised me, though not nearly as much as the fact that it mattered to me. Sure, Folami are social creatures by instinct, but that instinct did not demand companionship, it demanded contact. I had plenty of interaction with those around me, though not pleasant. An alpha does not need to be, nor should they be, liked. But for some strange little reason, Val's opinion mattered. My first and only friend. Ever. Period.

Perhaps I was mortal, even a little bit. Only a beating heart could account for such meager emotions.

Glancing at the man, I offered a tight lipped smile, inching closer so as to keep his ears the only to hear. Anything I was to say would not be some grand secret, I just felt that, at this moment, no other form was worthy of my voice. These slobbering mutts knew nothing of courage, however much they pleasured in waving their purple hearts around. Those stupid little things were factory made; true bravery comes from somewhere deeper. I realized that now.

"Val, it seems we are the only two dogs with balls in this pack." I dared a teasing smirk. "Never thought I would get the chance to say that about you."

[I L Y I C H]

I smiled back at her strongly, for once letting a full fledged grinned jerk up on my awkward lips. Alonda was smiling as well, and perhaps that was a reason. The gray always had such a horrible look on her face. These past couple of days, or week, of friendship had been a great thing for me. A dose of confidence from a warrior princess. My smile became almost reckless. Oh shoot. It was probably ever fiber in my poor little subordinate brain snapping lengthwise.

That may prove to be a problem at some point.

Thus having crumbled all the faulty steel beams in my mind I gave a small shake before letting my smile drop an octave. I must have looked mad, what with my white lips tugged up so sharply. Than again the word 'mad' asserted itself in all folami relations didn't it? Or maybe that was just us. Us being the small group that remained with their minds at least partially sound. That group was getting smaller every day.

I chucked at her teasing, agreeing whole heartedly. If Alonda had suggested such a thing a month ago, not even that far back, a week ago I would have scoffed and asked her if she had a fever. But now? Now the man made steel was being replaced by wood. Good sound wood that held the conclaves of my mind in a good natural way. A warmth came into me, and whether it was from her words or the manor she spoken them, I could not help but be happy. Proud.

Black tipped tail giving a wag I didn't fight my amusement and winked conspiratorially at her. "Of course. Didn't you know it was always the quiet ones that held all the manly power" And I broke the false seriousness with a staccato snort and a giggle. A childish playful innocent giggle. It didn't matter that we could possibly be in trouble. Alonda had helped me a bit out of my shell. I had stood up and spoken, and it was all thanks to my brave royal friend.