Mydnyte's Story

Durandel panted after the gang decided to stop for a moment's reprieve. He then was subjected to one hell of a show as Dey's and Nova's banter went back and forth. For his own sake, he decided to just stay the hell out of it. He then snorted at the new name given to him by Dey. "Khan?" He spoke with a whine. He didn't particularly like the new name and was apt to remind her of his apology. It was then the issue about food sparked a diversion in the current banter. It was undeniable, the Cancius was hungry as well. He looked down and felt the low, grumblings of his stomach. "Yes...I'm starving as well." He agreed. He then watched as Nova decided they should fish in lieu of hunting, since well, they are being hunted as well. Durandel nodded.

He watched as Dey failed at her attempts to catch a fish. He would laugh himself if it wasn't for the fact he can't fish worth a damn either. Instead he held back a snicker as he watched Nova transform into a fishing machine. He was quite thankful as more fish started to pile up. It wasn't long before Dey decided to start a small fire...which is better for her to do. He would start a forest fire more likely with his lava. She decided to melt away the ice to better eat her piece of fish. Durandel didn't have need for the fire, his natural element allows him to melt through the ice with ever bite. Steam can be seen coming from his mouth with each and every bite. He just had to take care as to not slobber all over this bounty.

Durandel did notice that Dey was deep in thought. Perhaps it's over the days events which could have, for all intensive purposes, could have gone so much better. Yet it seemed like a painful memory to his eyes but before he could console, she snapped alive, claiming her favorite color to be blue. Despite his rocky relationships with the wolves here, he was grateful to have seen them again. He never thought he would be happy to know and be around these wolves. Even though he's sure they don't feel the same. He continued to eat as he spoke, "My favorite color is yellow." Just as he continued to finish off his frozen fish. "I know we are enjoying the silence and calm, but, well, I hate to be a downer but we are still in danger. I mean, we are being attacked by the Tenneth and those, strangers, and we are definitely not pass any imminent dangers. If I recall one of you mentioned finding refuge in the Onatah Cliffs. Well, I do believe we should head in that direction. At least the Tenneth would not dare to enter into Dimitrios territory for fear of assault." Durandel spoke waiting to see if the others are agreeable to that suggestion.

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Meanwhile, a tangent of Tenneth and Canicus roam the forest. "Damn! Durandel got away again!" shouted a Tenneth. "Yeah, why is this guy hard to pin down?" A Canicus chimed in. "Well, you should know Hogarth, he is one of us." Commented another Canicus. "Alright you three quiet down...I have a plan." Spoke a Tenneth. "What is it then?" asked Hogarth. "It seems direct confrontation has proven to be...ineffective with these wolves. Not to mention we can't return to Prometheus empty handed...he'll have our hides for sure." He spoke as the others nervously agreeed. "I suggest we follow them, but from a distance and watch them, waiting for the right opportunity to strike!" He spoke. "Yeah, a sneak attack might work." Answered the other Tenneth. The rest nod in agreement. "Good, lets continue forward...I don't wish to be attacked by the Hemlocks again." He spoke as they moved forward. Unbeknownst to them however, they too were being watched from afar.

In the distance the shadows swirled and melted away revealing two Kamarians. "Mydnyte did you hear that?" One of them spoke. "Yeah I heard...it seems one of my old acquaintances has gotten themselves mixed up with Prometheus." Mydnyte spoke. "Shall we follow?" The Kamarian asked. "Yes, quickly! I don't wish to waste anymore time on this." Mydnyte commanded as the Kamarians disappeared back into the shadows.

Durandel

The situation went from bad to worse in a few moments. Not only were they effectively separated his allies were failing all around him. Well it's no surprise, they have been run ragged by the ordeals they have all faced in such as short amount of time. He couldn't see too well, but he did notice the lack of another wolf behind him. "Dey!? DEY!" He shouted as he turned to growl at the Canicus. The snarled at Durandel as they nipped and bit at him. Durandel raised a paw and performed a swipe at the two Lava Wolves but they stayed out of his reach. He noticed Nova head for cover and he wasn't looking so hot himself. It must be the lava, it's detrimental to his element!

But what can he do? He could recede the lava pit to a smaller, more manageable size, but that will take time, time he cannot spare. Perhaps Ash could move the Earth and have the lava sink into a deep pit? It was then fireballs went whizzing over his head at the sight of Dey fleeing. "Don't bother! These are the wolves we want, make sure that Dimitrios has no where to run!" The Leader barked. The Tenneth had their eyes trained on the escape routes she could make on foot, making any more escapes rather risky. Durandel continued to fight off the Canicus as he shouted at Ash.

"Hey, She-Wolf! I need you to listen to me! We need to manage the lava from this pit, the heat is messing with my friend over there and we need all the help we can get to fight these wolves off! So I need you to create a deep pit and have the lava sink into it, hopefully we can reduce the heat!" Durandel barked. "Fools! Your plans will amount to nothing! Give yourselves up now and maybe we won't break a leg or two!" The Leader threatened. "Wolves, see Durandel's friends do anything I don't like, light'em up." The Leader ordered his Tenneth.

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"Are you ready?" "Ready."

Then suddenly, what looked like shadows moving on their own, burst from the shade of the nearby cliff walls as they darted forth and quickly spirited away two of the Tenneth. This made the Fire Wolves jump at the sight of their disappearance. "BOSS! I-I don't know what happened...but, something got Aedan and Conley!" A Tenneth shouted. Looking around and feeling confused he decided to stare at the wolves before him and barked, "They must have done something! Fire at them!" The remaining Tenneth shot fireballs at their general direction. "You two down there, hurry up and capture Durandel!" The Leader shouted. At his request the two Canicus's launched themselves at Durandel as they began to wrestle him down.

Mydnyte

The Kamarians made short work of the Tenneth they pulled out of the frey. Mydnyte looked from afar and saw the battle was escalating. It was then he noticed BattleDemon making a break for it. "Curious." He spoke. "What's curious?" asked his ally, Fang Hunter. "That an Alva would retreat from the face of battle." Mydnyte answered point with his muzzle at the running Dey. Fang nodded but it was then the rumbling began. "What is it!?" Fang shouted. Mydnyte looked over head to see the rocks beginning to fall.

"It's a rock slide! To the shadows!" Mydnyte barked. The Kamarians disappeared within the shadows trying to flee. The quake made it difficult for Mydnyte to reach the others, by the time he did they too would be crushed. Fearing the worse, the only thing he could hope is for his friends to survive. "To your allies?" Fang asked as they ran. "No, we can't reach them in time without being crushed...I'm afraid we must flee ourselves if we are to survive. To the Alva, we can at least make sure she is safe." Mydnyte answered as they moved down the cliffs.

They followed the bloodied paw prints of Dey, her scent fresh in their noses. "The Alva runs far." Fang spoke. "Yes...she's running her self ragged, look, the blood is her own. Be wary of the rocks." Mydnyte said concerned over her well being. "Hurry, we must reach her before she runs herself to death!" Mydnyte barked. The two Kamaria Wolves picked up the pace. Eventually Mydnyte was gaining on BattleDemon as he called out, "BattleDemon...BATTLEDEMON STOP!!" He shouted. He hoped she would listen.

"BattleDemon..." The voices in her head were insidious, more vicious than having lost her memories in the first place. Now that she'd had a glimpse of them, they, her memories scared her to the bone. Run faster, run faster. If I run faster, I could leave them behind me, those memorable voices. Although somewhere deep inside, she knew that she was deluding herself into thinking that she could outrun whatever history she had, she couldn't help but follow it just because it was there.

"BATTLEDEMON STOP!!" Stop? That word made her hesitate, brought her back to the present if only for a second just as that creeping memory stole her yet again. "Run Blue! Don't stop!" That thing was still chasing her. It was black and... "Run!" Fatigue made her coat heavy with sweat, both from over-exertion and fear. Her muscles were aching but because her mind was somewhere else, she didn't notice her physical pain. Run!

She ran harder, but since she was in a frenzied panic she didn't notice the rock jutting from the ground and she tripped. Tail and head, she rolled but then stopped, a heap on the ground. It was just enough to bring her back to the moment. Her muscles ached, every one of them. Her muscles were quivering, her breath was uneven, rapid, a dangerous pace for an exhausted she-wolf. She moaned, pain keeping her from moving at all.

Durandel

The Canicus listened to the conversation between Nova and Ash. He hoped the Dimitrios would show some mercy on them, otherwise, everything they've worked towards is for nothing. Although Nova condensed their current situation he wasn't sure if the she-wolf would even care. It turned out that wasn't the case, arguably, it might be worse. She decided to place them in debt! He would groan if it wasn't for being buried underneath all of this rock.

It was then Ash freed them from the darkness as they rose above ground. Soon he could see just how much the landscape changed from a simple landslide. There were rocks everywhere and hardly any road to see. One thing he did notice beyond the smell of dirt and rock, was the distinct scent of blood...wolf blood. He could see across the way a mangled paw barely rising above the rocks. "Well, it looks like we won't have to worry about them ever again." He spoke monotonously. He then looked around as fear began to show upon his face. "I hope to the Gods that Dey is alive." He thought to himself.

He then looked over to Ash, and sighed, "Well, thank you for what you did for us, but, I think we should move on...we've drawn enough attention as it is." Durandel solemnly spoke. It was then Ash decided to move on herself. Best they move quickly lest they wish to explain things to curious Dimitrios. He then followed Ash and Nova downward. He too wondered about Ash, but there wasn't many options available to them. "Other than a friend? No, well, not even sure we are that anymore...or were." Durandel answered.


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Mydnyte

While he couldn't be surprised at her decision he wish she would have listened. Of course he felt that her action would be as it was, he remembered the Alva to be quite fearless. Yet the scent of fear was pungent upon her, just what happened since last they met? BattleDemon got quite a ways ahead of them since she ignored the sharp rocks unlike them. Still her fall made it easier for them to catch up to her, yet not in the way they hoped. The two Kamaria Wolves stood over the battered and bloodied BattleDemon as Mydnyte sighed.

"Fang, we need to get her out of here." Mydnyte spoke. "I'll raise her up to your back so you can carry her out of here." He said as he performed said actions. "Of course, but where do we go from here?" Fang asked. "Well, our best lead to find out what Prometheus is up to is to get Battle healed, and for that, well I know of a contact with the Aven, we'll have to take her to their woods." Mydnyte answered. "That'll be the trip, you think this she-wolf will make it?" Fang concernedly asked. "This wolf is more tougher than you think, trust me, this isn't the first time she will have faced death. Even so, lets not press our luck, we must move on." Mydnyte finished as he walked forward followed by Fang with BattleDemon in tow.

Durandel

It seemed that their choice was made for them. Durandel couldn't help but growl at Ash for betraying their anonymity. Now what? Will they be forced to fight once again?! Nova was on the verge of collapsing and even himself wasn't far behind. Could he handle another battle? He felt that he didn't have the strength to fight anymore, no, they need to think of something fast. It was then Nova spoke and he felt surprised at his answer. "My peace?" He thought.

Has Nova finally start to come around? Has the days events seemed to have change his mind about finding peace yet again? Even though pain was radiating through pretty much most of his body, a smile crept upon his face. He felt his moral rise rather than sink like it has been for most of the day. Durandel nodded, "Right, let's make our escape, it will be hard for them to run so fast uphill, especially with how rough the land is!" Durandel concurred.


Mydnyte


Mydnyte and Fang turned towards the sound of the howling greeting as they looked up hill. There appeared to be three wolves standing up there and the one who howled, he did not recognize. "Great, what should we do?" Fang asked. They were standing a good distance so Mydnyte could not make them out, they could be foes. Yet, why would an enemy reveal themselves? Wouldn't any would-be attacker want the element of surprise. It was a bit suspicious.

Luckily they were standing downwind from that as Mydnyte sniffed the air. While he smelt dirt and dust, he smelt faint traces of sulfur and blood and then finally, the familiar scent of a certain Ausi and Canicus. "Well I'll be...," Mydnyte trailed off. "What? What is it?" Fang asked. "They survived...I guess I shouldn't be surprised." Mydnyte spoke. "They are your friends? But wouldn't they have been buried in that rock slide?" "It seems they've managed to cheat death once more...Fang stay here, I'll go and retrieve them. I don't want to take the chance if something bad happens and both you and Battle wind up in even direr straits." Mydnyte ordered. "Of course, be wary." Fang warned. Mydnyte nodded as he moved towards the three wolves.


Durandel

Durandel saw one of the black wolves move to their location. Great, they heard them. But why would they send only one? Wouldn't be better if both of them came after them? And the one that is coming, isn't exactly charging for them. Could be the difficulty in reaching to them but it doesn't matter. One wolf or two, Durandel wasn't in the mood to do more fighting. "Here they start to come, if you guys got a plan better speak up now!" Durandel shouted as he began to move further away from the direction the black wolf is coming from.

It was then that they heard a howl from down the hill. It came from the black wolf, but the howl wasn't threatening, it was actually...friendly? But, how can that be? Or better yet, why? Confusion ran across his face as he looked at Nova, wondering if he just heard what he think he heard?

Honestly, at the back of her Ash had been thinking that she'd been stupid to blow their cover, but when it appeared that the strange wolves were friendlies, she let out a breath. I didn't even know I was holding my breath, she turned to look at Durandel and Nova, "Hah! Now if they offer us food and a safe place to sleep, you both have to bow down to me and say I was right to do that." With a smirk on her face to let out a friendly howl in response to the stranger's howl.

"Come on! It'd be rude to let him come all the way over to us and not meet him half way!" With a flick of her tail, she created a rock bridge that would keep them from having to go the long way around. She began to trot down the newly made bridge, looking a lot more confident then she really felt.


Dey was in a daze, and was beginning to whisper words, most were insensible, but others were clear as day. Most of the clear ones were names. Others, were times and sayings. "Shira!" Why- "Nova, idiot... Khan..." Her ramblings went on....

"Blue... My name-" She groaned and tried not to move from her... perch, or whatever she was. Honestly, she didn't care anymore. She just wanted to sleep but... Everything was harsh to her, the light behind her eyelids, as well as the sound and feel of the wind dragging its fingers through her fur. She moaned and winced when she felt movement. Faintly, she could feel that she was moving, but could not move. Why... is that? She moved and let out a gasp as her muscles rebelled and began to ache instead of move. She closed her eyes again, feeling the world move and- it stopped.

Unable to bring herself out of her hazy stupor, she moaned yet again, Where.... She didn't finish her thought as that's when she entirely fell unconscious... but unknown to her, she still kept talking, even in her sleep, and she mostly kept saying her mother's name. "Battledemon...."

Nova

A little confused at why Ash would need to be offered a place to stay in her own pack, Nova nevertheless began to plod after her, shrugging to Durandel at who the owner of the howl could be. It did sound familiar somewhat, but it seemed out of context. Kind of like when you are used to seeing something at work or on patrol, but suddenly seeing them at the fishing pond. It just didn't quite fit.

Happy to have the rock bridge, Nova began to walk a bit more confidently towards the other wolves. He had about zero reason to trust anyone that showed up, so he figured he would get just close enough to talk, and nothing more. Edging closer, he confirmed that there were indeed three of them, one being carried upon the back of the other...a black shewolf. "They found her..." Nova whispered, relieved.

Forgetting his caution, he trotted as quick as safe down the bridge, soon to arrive in front of the other wolves, arriving at the one who had come up to greet them. He scarcely heard Dey mutter her name in the distance, which was good, because it meant she was breathing. Taking a moment to remember the other wolf's name, which he seemed to be having trouble with recently, Nova said warmly to Mydnyte, "Long time no see mate, you seem to have a knack for showing up on time."

Durandel and Mydnyte

Durandel groaned at Ash being so careless as to go and greet these wolves, and even more careless is to make their trek to them even easier! Still it seemed Nova decided to go along with and reluctantly he followed. As they etched closer to these new wolves he eventually made out that one of them was carrying Dey! She survived! He felt many times better to see her but then he worried if it was just a dead body. Yet upon coming in closer there were the faintest of mutters coming from her that his ears barely picked up. She was alive.

Within this close proximity Durandel looked upon the wolf before them. While the one carrying Dey was a complete stranger, the other wolf was one they met before, the Kamarian. After Nova greeted him, the Canicus blubbered, "Mydnyte?" The Kamaria Wolf looked at them both with a smirk. "Yes it has and you two seem to have a knack for defying death." Mydnyte quipped. He then looked over to Durandel who spoke his name. "Glad to see you remember me." "Well, nearly drowning in the underground cave is kind of hard to forget." Durandel spoke mentioning the time the both of them escaped Rashid's Prison.

Mydnyte looked over to Ash with an inquisitive glare. "I don't recognize you." He spoke. It was then Durandel said, "Is she okay?" Pointing his muzzle over to Dey. "Yes, BattleDemon is hurt but still alive. She's being carried by my friend and ally, in fact, FANG! Come over here with Battle!" He shouted as the other Kamarian came walking to the group. "Hello, my name is Fang Hunter. Mydnyte has told me alot about you or at least what he remembers of you." Fang spoke. "He too is apart of the Kamaria Pack and has been traveling with me for a while now. Anyway as stimulating as reunions go, I'm afraid we should continue this conversation elsewhere. Not only do we need to get Battle some medical attention, we should disappear ourselves in case curious parties start sniffing around. Especially with Prometheus after the lot of you." Mydnyte spoke as he turned around expecting them to follow.

"Wait!? What do you know of Prometheus?" Durandel asked. "Quite a bit actually and because of that, we have some very important things we need to discuss, but here and now is not the best time. We should move." Mydnyte spoke continuing to walk as Fang followed him. Durandel feeling impatient decided to follow the two Kamarians, he then looked over to the others, "You guys coming?" He asked.

If some great Alpha shows up saying he knew Durandel and Nova, now, I won't be surprised. Ash was very much surprised that the strangers knew her two pets, Durandel and Nova. "I don't recognize you." Shock replaced her current look of surprise. Doesn't know me, puh-lease. Well, she wasn't seen much outside of her pack kin even though her parents were generals, but... It was the first time that no one knew her, it was such a shocker to her, diva queen of the Dimitrois. "Yes, BattleDemon is hurt but still alive. She's being carried by my friend and ally, in fact, FANG! Come over here with Battle!

BattleDemon...? What a monstrous name... but, didn't my father mention that name once... a long time ago... It was a familiar name, one mentioned several times at a few meetings.... BattleDemon!? Ash tried hard not to feeling betrayed by Nova and Durandel, Why didn't they tell me this was... She tried not think the name, or think of what could happen now.

So engrossed with her thoughts of BattleDemon and the way her parents would react if she told them this adventure of hers, she didn't notice the other begin to leave. "You guys coming?" Durandel startled her out of her thoughts and she looked at him, "Coming!"

With that she ran after them, and imediately corned Nova, "Why didn't you tell me that THAT-" She nodded in the black she-wolf's direction - "was the infamous BattleDemon!?" She didn't wait for him to answer, "Wait, scratch that since I know why, but what the..." She fumbled for the appropriate word usage for the situation... "WHAT THE HELL?!" And she totally failed at choosing the proper words.

Annoyed that Ash was boxing him in, Nova returned her yelling with a scowl of his own. "You want to know what? That what is that you can go home now. Sorry again for tricking you, and thanks again for saving us from that landslide you created. Hope you have a nice gem filled life, Ash" Nova said brusquely, though honestly. Pushing past her to catch up with the others, and giving her a literal cold shoulder as his fur touched hers, he gave out a pent up sigh.

He considered asking her to pass on a note to his parents that he was okay the next time she saw an Ausi down here, but she didn't seem to be the type to do favors without a price, and he had nothing to give her. Ayesh, was he really going to walk away from home again? Here he was, practically at the base of the mountains, and yet he was walking away. He told himself that he was protecting them by trying to stop this war, but long term goals don't always satisfy short term feelings.

Ash was totally flabbergasted by Nova's response. Normally, she'd would have responded with a witty remark, but instead, only said, "I didn't create that landslide." Immediately after she said this, she quickly berated herself for letting such weak words escape her. Oh, you fool!

She watched them, including Nova, walk away. Hmmph! Apparently, I help them find their black she-wolf, who turns out to be BattleDemon and then they thrust me aside like the unwanted dirt and rock in a mine. Ohh! Her fur was bristling, and she was getting uneasy. Those... those... "Uhhhh!" She was shaking with this... this feeling.... Angry, I'm angry! Why am I angry!

Ash was angry and she knew exactly why but, what, why, how? She had been rejected for the first time in her life! Getting rejected from an adventurous group!!!! She sat down, and furiously began to groom her tail, which doesn't exactly work out right when she's angry, but grooming was the only way she knew how to calm herself down at the moment.

Durandel and Mydnyte


"Huh?" Durandel, confused as he looked over to see Ash grooming herself. "Uh, do you really think now's a good time for that?" He asked Ash. He then saw Nova walking by. "Hey what did you say to her?" He asked. It was then Mydnyte groaned at the hold up. "What the hell is going on back here!? When I say move then that means move." He said sternly. "Sorry it's just that Ash here seems to be distracted...," Durandel said trailing off. "Personal grooming? At a time like this!? You guys can groom when we get to where we are going, after all we have an injured wolf with us! Now it would be rude for us to keep Fang waiting since he's the one carrying her." Mydnyte said gruffly as he continued to move on.

"So...uh, are you even coming with us? I don't know what's going on here?" Durandel spoke. "What do you mean you don't know? Isn't she a friend of yours?" Mydnyte asked. "Well, we just barely met...and not even on good terms...I..., er." "Well hurry up and decide who's coming or going, I can't waste anymore time on this than I already have." Mydnyte finished. Durandel wasn't sure what to do. He looked over to Nova who seemed content on just leaving her, and Mydnyte had a good point. He just looked over at Ash, wondering what her choice would be.

Brushing off whatever Ash said, probably just an insult, Nova looked over at Durandel in an annoyed shock. He was as incredulous as if Durandel had just suggested they sleep on a cactus. Did he really just invite Ash to come along? They had been trying to get rid of her practically since they had met her, and she had just recklessly entombed them in solid rock! He knew Durandel had a kind heart, but recruiting everything with four legs that wasn't actively seeking their violent death wasn't going to get them too far.

Instead of unleashing his irritation on him, however, Nova turned to Mydnyte, who was doing nothing useful besides growling and groaning. Growling softly himself, Nova stormed after the Kamarians who had already walked on. Despite how relieved he had been to see them just moments before, he let loose a quiet verbal tirade that he meant for only them to hear. "You think Fang has any right to be uncomfortable considering what I've - er, we've - been through today? I doubt he has been beat, shot at, clawed, drowned, burned, and physically exhausted himself since he got up this morning. But mate, if he has problems carrying a comatose shewolf, let someone who cares about her do it" said Nova indignantly, despite probably being the scrawniest and most ill suited to carry her load of the group of them.

Though tired and bothered he was, Nova quickly regretted his outburst. He knew he was doing nothing but alienating the other wolves around him, and he felt guilty about pinning blame on Fang, whom he barely met. "Er...sorry mates. I'm a little thick sometimes" Nova mumbled, and made an attempt to repent for his mistakes by walking ahead quickly as Mydnyte had wished.

There are wolves.... talking.... She could them whisper their words from a far off world. She could faintly recall her bodily aches and pains, but here, in the numb blankness, everything was far off. Like she had suddenly been removed from the world, and was watching it from another place, through goggles. Through.... like through other things.... black... formless.... darkness....

If she had eyes they would be squinting, but she felt that wherever she was, there were no eyes. No nothing, nothing.... but shadow... Shadow... shadow.... She was watching the others from below, but her sight was dark and shadowed, like she was looking through a shady tunnel to see through to the other side. But she couldn't hear them.

She felt loose headed, like she could easily cave in on herself, whatever she was. She tried to focus more, to get closer to her friends... and.... herself... Dey saw some brute carrying what looked like her body. Disoriented and feeling like someone had just hit her on the back of her head, she didn't find it odd, but sort of funny. She tried to laugh but no sound escaped from her. She then saw Nova, and another dark wolf... but this one was more irritable. And Durandel... with that earth she-wolf. That stopped her humor, and instead filled her with heavy hate.

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No one noticed anything except that Dey's shadow had become darker and that Dey had laughed a little in her sleep, nothing else.

Durandel and Mydnyte

Durandel noticed that Nova didn't seem happy...today had been horrible. Now when rest seemed like the only thing they should do, Mydnyte is pushing them onward. He seemed kind of irritated himself and he didn't want his fellow comrades to be as such. He looked at Ash and said, "Well, you can decide for yourself what you want to do...otherwise Mydnyte's right. I have an injured friend and I need to ensure that she will be cared for. So follow, don't follow, it doesn't matter to me. But thank you for saving our lives." Durandel said with a nod as he followed after them.

"What?!" Mydnyte barked at Nova, and growled as he continued his tirade. Mydnyte seemed even more agitated than before. It was then Fang spoke up, "No, it's fine. I have no issues carrying Battle from here to the Woods." Mydnyte looked over to Fang as he turned his attention back to Nova, still growling. He was about ready to launch his counter offensive, but It was then Nova made an apology. Mydnyte was frustrated but he then sighed. "It's...alright...I understand that I can be...insensitive, but that still doesn't change the gravity of our situation here. Let's keep going that way I can help to make some sense of things." He said gruffly. He then moved on.

Durandel heard Mydnyte's bark and worried that Nova and him, where about to enter a scrap. Luckily for him, Mydnyte seems to have found a cooler head. "Is everything alright?" He asked. "It's fine." Mydnyte answered abruptly. "Um, Nova isn't wrong Mydnyte. These wolves are dead beat tired...perhaps we can find shelter for the night and resume our travels in the morning?" Fang suggested. Mydnyte growled at that suggestion but then sighed after considering it. "Yes...I should think of them and not just my mission...besides they are more of a force to be reckoned with after some rest." Mydnyte mulled over his thoughts. "But, the Alva needs medical attention now. I'm not sure if she'll make it over night." It was then that they noticed Dey laughing and the strangeness of her shadow. "What the?" Durandel said out of confusion. That camping out for the night idea seemed to become wiser at this point.

"Grr...I'm not sure if that's good or bad." Mydnyte growled. "If you are concerned for her well-being, I know of some herbs and plants that can help to medicate her." Fang spoke. "They grow not too far off from here." Mydnyte then conceded with a nod. "Fine, will find some place to hold out for the night up ahead in the forest. Then we'll resume our travels in the morning." Mydnyte decided. It was then the Kamarians carried onward. Soon Fang found a fallen tree that was hallowed out. The entrance had the roots of the once tall, standing tree sticking up in the air. "We'll camp here." Mydnyte declared as he and Fang helped to lower her down on some soft brush. "I'll gather sticks for the fire." Mydnyte spoke as he wandered off to do so. "I'll go look for those herbs to help the Alva." Fang said as he too wandered off. Durandel finally rested his body on the inside of the fallen tree as he breathed a sigh of relief. "Finally." He said with triumph.

Durandel and Mydnyte

Durandel sluggishly rolled over to address Nova, he then shrugged. "Yeah, I'm sorry...about all of it." He said as he looked up to the sky as well. In the Vulcans you could never see the night time sky because of all the light and smoke the volcanoes give off. That was one thing that he liked about being out here...the stars always looked so beautiful. He then shifted his focus back to Nova. "I don't know what went so wrong...my business was even official...which leaves me to wonder if we were betrayed." Durandel spoke grimly. "I hope everything is okay back home...I left my friends and family back there...I don't want them mixed up in this business." Durandel spoke as he noticed Mydnyte appear out of the dark woods with plenty of sticks.

"I'll start us a fire." Mydnyte spoke as he gathered the sticks in a pile. "Durandel, would you mind providing some heat?" Mydnyte asked as the Canicus sluggishly stood. He then spat a little lava spittle as the sticks ignited. He then returned to his former resting place. "I overheard you talking about some business, for the Tenneth right?" Mydnyte asked. "Yeah, I didn't find Nova by chance, I was told to by my Alpha in order to help establish better relations between our packs...because of...Prometheus." Durandel then looked over to Mydnyte and chuckled. "Oh right, you probably don't know who that is." Durandel spoke as Mydnyte sighed. "I know who that is, and probably better than you do." Mydnyte spoke. "What do you mean?" Durandel asked.

It was then Fang returned with those herbs. "Alright, I'm back. Let's move Battle closer to the fire, the heat could do her some good." He spoke as Mydnyte paused his story to situate Battle. Once they were done Fang went to treating her wounds as Mydnyte looked at them both. "Well, that's what I need to talk to you two about. At this point Prometheus may seem just like another rogue wolf with a mad scheme but to be honest, it's much worse than that." Mydnyte grimly spoke. "How can it be worse than that?" Durandel asked feeling growing concern. "You see, I've been tailing Prometheus for awhile and his ascent to power in the Vulcans was by no means a coincidence. Now both of you brace yourselves for what I am about to tell you next but I have reasons to believe that Prometheus is in league with Rashid." Mydnyte spoke, no falter in his voice.

Durandel shot up, "WAIT!? WHAT!? No! That's not possible!? Rashid! He...he disappeared! And Prometheus doesn't act like he's mind controlled!? It, It doesn't make any sense...how do you know this?! Did you find Rashid!? Did Prometheus find him!?" Durandel went on until he was interrupted by Mydnyte. "If you give me a chance to explain, then you'll understand me better." Mydnyte spoke as Durandel calmed down.

Mydnyte then cleared his throat as he spoke. "Let me start from the beginning. After the search for Rashid ended when we discovered that he abandoned his prison, I decided to continue my search. After all I didn't have much of a home or people to return to since Kaveh sold them off as slaves to Rashid. Trust me, it wasn't easy to find any clues as to where he could have run off to. I had no leads, no evidence, nothing but say instinct to go off of. I searched far and wide and followed rumors that I would hear about. Especially the rumors about brain dead or zombie wolves or about large clusters of Kamaria wolves. Most of the time they were dead ends but sometimes...sometimes I had promising leads. My first breakthrough was a cave fire that happened far off from here. When I investigated I found the charred remains of cages and wolves but little else. This was but the first of several prisons Rashid had left behind. Apparently he's been moving his base all around Nigerius, never staying in one spot for long...that's why no one could find the bastard. It became frustrating after awhile, the feeling of him always being two steps ahead of me! That was until I came across our mutual acquaintance Prometheus. After following a lead about loud howling coming from a cave, I smelt smoke drifting in the air. I immediately knew what that meant as I rushed to the scene of a cave fire. I foolishly braved the blaze to find evidence but nothing was salvageable yet the only piece of evidence I could find was the arsonist himself, Prometheus. I couldn't confront the wolf at the time, the cave was becoming increasingly unstable not the best place for a fight. Once I exited I stood in wait for Prometheus until several Kamarians appeared. I had to make myself hidden in order to not be captured. Once they arrived they spoke with Prometheus complimenting him on another job well done. It was then he was told that he must return home to the Vulcans, that the next phase of the plan was about to begin. They separated. I wanted so badly to confront my fellow Shadow Wolves but I knew that would be a fool move, so I followed Prometheus instead, intending to confront him on my own. Unfortunately I never got the opportunity to do so as he ran across a Tenneth scouting party, claiming he just escaped his Dimitrios captors." Mydnyte then took a deep breath as he looked towards his friends.

"I'm not sure what's going on around here, but whatever it is, it can't be good. Once I heard about you're involvement in all of this I saw it as an opportunity to gain more allies in this conflict. Now I know that the both of you did not intend to fight against Prometheus, but I am asking you to now. If we can get to him then we can get to Rashid and make sure whatever he's planning does not come to light." Mydnyte finished as he looked at the both, hoping they will say yes. Durandel at the moment was speechless as he laid down, trying to absorb this new found information.

Rashid, Prometheus...by the fang, had he really forgotten their attack on the Sharikere's? Ashamed at his earlier attitude at almost shrugging off the news of the attack once he knew that his family was safe, the full weight of what had happened began to press upon his chest as he listened to Mydnyte. Death had been brought from the front into the homes and hearts of the wolves who had hoped they would never see it. His family, his friends. Well, whatever friends he had left after his crusade to work with the other packs to pound out Rashid. He had taken a few poundings himself over that policy. This same Rashid, who had destroyed Mydnyte's pack, was working through his puppets to end any freedom this torn land had left.

And yet...what could they do to touch him? Nova winced at the physical and emotional pain of one who lacked hope. Upon hearing that Rashid had more prisons than even his nightmares dare conjure, the ice wolf felt crushed that the war was already lost. With connections in the top of the Tenneth pack, what is to say that he had not penetrated the Ausi and Alva as well? Could they even trust their own packs to help them?

But his decision had already been made. From the moment he had cast his lot with Durandel this morning, to the minute he had renewed his resolve atop the mountain after the landslide, he knew that he had to fight for whatever hope was left out there, even if it was not his own. He didn't mean to be dramatic, or the hero type, but those were simply the facts, and he had to face them with bared teeth or cowardly submit.

"If it must come to more fighting, let it be, so that others don't have to. It is really Durandel who has to agree to the capture of one of his own. Whatever he decides I'll stand by it. But can we at least wait until morning?" Nova responded with tired resolve.

Dey was floating at the fine line between being conscious and unconscious. She vaguely felt warmth beginning to flow through her fur, warming her and chasing away the cold shadows she thought held her from waking up. Slowly, she woke, and found that opening her eyes was hardwork, but when she did open them... She came face to face with a wolf she didn't.

Fear shot her full of adrenaline and through it she was able to jump to her paws... and hit her head on a tree branch. Letting out a yelp, she sat back and raised both her front paws to the top of her head. She whined rocking back onto her hind legs, looking more like a monk that had just begun to pray than a she-wolf that had just bumped her head. It was only five seconds after this that she remembered why she had hit her head in the first place.

Ready to flee, she scrambled to the side and... promptly fell over. Seems her body was rebelling. She whimpered again, and could not help but let out a strained, "Oww!" Her aching joints and muscles hurt!

Dey heard no pawsteps, and wondered why her captor wasn't making a move. She looked back to see... Nova, and Durandel... lying around a campfire... With two strangers. Embarrassment made her close her eyes and cover her face with her paws. "You jerks."

Durandel and Mydnyte

Mydnyte nodded to Nova's request. "Of course, no sense in forcing you two." Mydnyte spoke. Durandel shifted silently, mulling over this new bit of information. "I...never thought Rashid had anything to do with this...how could we have been so blind?" Durandel asked. "Rashid is a master of manipulation, if he didn't wish us to know his allies then he can make it so." Mydnyte answered. Durandel looked over to Nova and then nodded, "Yes, I need my rest if I am to be of any help." Mydnyte nodded. It was then that Fang had finished his part in providing aid to Battle, when suddenly, she sprang to life.

"Whoa!" Fang blurted out as the she-wolf tried to flee again. "No, wait! You shouldn't move, you'll make your injuries worse!" Fang shouted as Dey came to a stop. Durandel and Mydnyte couldn't help but look over at the spectacle. "Dey, are you alright?" Durandel asked concerned. It was then her response pretty much answered that question for him, Dey's back. "Dey? Don't you mean BattleDemon?" Mydnyte asked confused. Durandel looked over to him and noticed the Kamarian's confusion and then he meekly chuckled. "Yeah, the answer would just make you even more confused."

Mydnyte looked over to Fang who shrugged. It was then Mydnyte walked over by Fang and introduced himself, "Hello, Battle, it's me, Mydnyte remember?" He asked. Durandel then coughed to gain his attention, "Uh, not to make you look foolish, and sorry on my part, but that isn't BattleDemon." Mydnyte turned to look at Durandel thinking he's gone mad. "What do you mean that's not BattleDemon? This she-wolf clearly is! Just look at her!" Mydnyte said aloud. "Yeah, I understand but just because she looks like her, doesn't mean she is her. Her name is Dey and well, I accidentally ran into her thinking what you're thinking right now." Durandel explained. "But...that doesn't make any sense! Not only does she look like her, her scent is that of the Alva, my nose can't be fooled as well as my eyes!" He barked. "I'm sorry, I have no other way to explain it...I...I just don't know." Durandel spoke feeling a little ashamed of himself.

Mydnyte looked at the ground then at Dey. "So...you are not an Alva, a Death Wolf?" Mydnyte asked. "Perhaps we were wrong in our assumptions?" Fang spoke up. "If Durandel recognizes her as another wolf then surely Nova does too?" Mydnyte shook his head, "But...this is odd to see a wolf with such an uncanny likeness to another one! I just don't believe it!" Mydnyte spoke obviously confused. Durandel wished he could help clear the air but there wasn't much he could do. Fang then spoke, "Whether or not this is BattleDemon, does not change our plans. I say we still head to the Acacia Woods in the morning, we can still gather more of your old allies." Mydnyte then nodded, "Yes, but, to challenge Rashid's forces we really needed a powerful warrior like BattleDemon on our side." Mydnyte then growled. "Perhaps we all need rest, we have been traveling for a long time ourselves." Fang reasonded. Mydnyte growling died down as he spat, "Fine, I'll take my rest." Mydnyte grumbled as he made a spot for himself to lay down in.

Already dropping off, Nova watch through slitted eyes the ordeal of trying to figure out BattleDemon. Or Dey. He was still pretty sure that she was the former somehow, just with memory loss. Some of her old scarring must have healed too, she certainly looked younger without her war wounds. Bah, he was too tired to think about it to hard, it was just good to see that she was awake. Now, hopefully she and everyone else would drop off into a natural sleep.

...The thought came to him to suggest that someone should keep watch. If today was any signal, it seemed the entire world was their enemy. But it was such an effort to talk, it felt like he was trying to talk through a mouthful of honey. He was sure one of the others would think to do it, they were smart enough.

Shifting his body so that he could get the most out of his warm rock, Nova drifted off.

Dey tried hard not to wince as she began to lick at her torn paw pads, pretending that she wasn't listening in on the conversation going on. Worry and anxiety began to eat at her when Mydnyte, the darkest brute present, questioned her. Do I know him? No, I don't... I.... Oh! She let Durandel explain what was apparently going on, listening as well as Mydnyte was and to her dismay... realized that they had mistaken her for someone else, someone far more important than she was.

Before the tides of jealousy, and disappointment could reach her, that shadowy secret came back to her. The one that had scared her into bolting before. With this secret came even more anxiety, If they knew, would they leave me behind? Would they deem me unimportant and leave me to die? Doubts began to poke and prod her with questions she didn't have answers to, or perhaps, questions she was scared to answer. "-we really needed a powerful warrior like BattleDemon on our side."

Whatever chance of being able to tell them the truth, however slim, were completely dashed when Mydnyte said that one line. I can't tell them now! I've never even been in a fight! They had some hope of the belief that BattleDemon is on their side, but if... If I tell them the truth, they'll... She whimpered and covered her face with paws yet again, wishing that she didn't have the same physical traits as her mother.

Durandel and Mydnyte

As Mydnyte laid there he noticed that Nova and Durandel had nodded off. He then snorted as he looked over to Fang Hunter and BattleDemon or Dey or whatever, were still awake. He didn't expect the She-Wolf to take over the first he watch, in fact he suspected her to be too weak to do so. He then spoke up, "Fang, you take first watch, once the midnight moon passes over, I shall take over the next watch." Mydnyte ordered. "Yes, I shall wake you up when the time comes." Fang responded as Mydnyte fell asleep.

Fang looked over at Dey who seemed troubled. He then sighed, "You should get some sleep as well, you're body needs the time to heal. Do not worry, my eyes are exceptional in the dark...nothing harmful will get past without my knowledge of it." Fang spoke reassuringly. He felt bad for the She-Wolf, not only was she hurt but she was mistaken for another wolf. That must be annoying. "Besides we will be leaving early in the morning and trust me, Mydnyte isn't very good at good mornings." Fang chuckled trying to make light of the situation.


____________

Felonious looked over to Shamus who asked him a peculiar question. Felonious shrugged, "Schemeko is complex and at times can seem confusing. Often we are given commands to assist in his enterprises...but the wolf isn't an invalid in the slightest." Felonious spoke as he sniffed the air. "We are nearly out of the Swamps. I suggest we find a dry spot, preferably a cave for our evening rest." Felonious suggested, whether or not Shamus would agree, he didn't mind. He wasn't here to direct, but merely follow. "As for the matter of compensation...well, he's not impoverished either." Felonious answered.

Dey nodded slightly at Fang's words but felt more miserable then ever. She had a secret that desperately needed to be told but... What would the consequences be if it got out? It was like a sudden wound inside her chest, it made her feel like everything was wrong, like she had rabbits jumping around inside her head and chest. Why? Why do I have to have a secret!? I can't stand it!

If anything, Dey was nearly the opposite of her mother, quiet, soft and playful. More prone to running from a battle than into one. She couldn't stand to be serious unless it was absolutely necessary. And my father.... She thought of her father's identity and felt that that was one secret she was happy keeping a secret. I can't keep it a secret, but if I did it would mean... She tried not to think about it and desperately grasped at the wispy tendrils of sleep that seemed to elude her so.

Yet it seemed that she could not sleep. Not a wink for the first half of the night. She kept wrestling with the mind-bunnies in her head that just wouldn't settle down until she came to the conclusion that she had to tell Durandel and the others the truth in the morning. With that in mind, she was finally able to sleep. If only for a few more moments before the sun began to peek above the horizon, greeting the world with the beginning of a new day.

Being an early riser is useful. There seems to be more hours in the day, you are able to get where you going before others are out, and there is a certain calm that seems to exist in those early dawn hours. A scout who is an early riser has the added bonus of being able to get into position to spy on others long before they are up and going, setting up a much better day for him. Right now, Nova hated being an early riser. But he was awake, and there was no use trying to force himself back. With a standing stretch, Nova got up and looked over the camp.

Not noticing anything different right away, he decided that he still needed to get blood moving through his bruised and stiff body. "I'm going to find meat nearby" Nova said to Mydnyte, before trotting off through the woods. He was starving, and he was sure that the others would be too when they were awake. The last they had eaten was that fish yesterday afternoon, and his body was dreaming of getting something fresh. His body didn't seem too worse for wear, surprisingly, just a few minor scrapes and bruises that added up to a lot of pain. The ordeals of yesterday should have put him in a clinic, if not six feet under!

The forest was quiet except for the birds, and the grey light of morning was slowly growing brighter. He picked up wind of something a hundred or so yards away, and, dreaming of venison or elk, wandered off to follow the scent.

Durandel and Mydnyte

Mydnyte watched over the group once Fang turned into the night. He was awoken a little later than scheduled because Fang watched over Battle until she fell asleep. Mydnyte found it odd but did not question his motives. As he kept vigilance he noticed that Nova was the first to rise without his morning alarm. Mydnyte watched as Nova wandered close to him he then spoke, "Got enough sleep eh?" He asked. It was then Nova said he was going off to hunt. "Alright, I'll stay here and watch the camp for a few more minutes, hurry back." Mydnyte responded. He watched Nova disappear off into the woods.

Some more time passed and with a yawn Mydnyte barked, "Alright everyone, get up!" With the softness of a drill sergeant, Mydnyte roused everyone with his abrupt and stern tone. Durandel yawned and stretched as he lazily got up. "Oh? Wha? Already time?" He asked with a yawn. "Yes! It's time you woke up, we have a whole day of travel head of us! If we make good time we should reach the outer limits of the Aven territories before sunset!" Mydnyte spoke. Durandel nodded and yawn as he stood beginning to walk around the camp. Fang rose with sudden pep as the Kamarian looked around.

"Hey where's Nova?" Fang asked. "He went off to hunt some time ago, hopefully he's found some game by now." Mydnyte answered. Fang nodded. He then looked over to BattleDemon, "Hey it's time to get up!" He said with a grumble. "So? When are we heading out?" Durandel asked. "Whenever Nova returns...in fact, Fang go and see about Nova and his hunt would ya?" Mydnyte asked. Fang agreed as Mydnyte pointed in the general direction where Nova left. Fang then departed.

In many ways, it was a lot easier to kill a doe than it is to draw her back to eat, and so Nova figured that he would return to the others to let them know of his kill, so that they could travel to it at their leisure. Call it laziness, but the Ausi didn't feel up to dragging the carcass half a mile.

Leaving the carcass untouched, save for where a blade of ice had inflicted its death blow, Nova started to make his way back to where the others were. The whole affair hadn't taken too long, but he would be suprised if the others hadn't woken up by the time he returned. His stomach fluttered when he heard another wolf nearby, but was relieved to see that it was merely Fang coming to check on him. "Morning mate, did you sleep well? Gotta kill back there, you can go start on it while I fetch the others if you like" Nova said cheerfully. Nothing like sleep and the promise of a good meal to raise the spirits.

Regardless of his answer, Nova determined to return to camp and share the news of breakfast.

Dey yelped and stumbled over when Fang woke her in such a harsh way. Irritated and definitely not a morning person, Dey gave him the cold shoulder and instead of immediately telling the others what terrible secret she had, she settled for licking her paws. Ugh, it felt like I slept on a bed of stones! She stood to find that every muscle in her body was sore.

She stretched and yawned, and after attempting to straighten out her fur, she felt better about the morning. Yet she was still more grumpy then was per her usual self. That is until she had a thought. Hmm, Nova and Durandel don't even know what normal me is like. With her cobalt blue eyes and dark black fur, she really did look like a younger version of her mother, albeit without the scars and milky eye.

Oh well, but they deserve to know... Here it goes. Dey gulped and tried not to see that her paws were shaking. "Durandel! Hey um, Durandel..." She paused feeling his name roll of her tongue, Strange, I've never really called him by his real name until now. She thought of how she had renamed him Khan and how Nova still needed a name... But I hardly even know them! How could I be so rude? Confused about how this would change their current relationship, Dey decided on just treating them politely, like they were just starting over.

Dey leaped in front Durandel and quickly reminded herself not to ever jump again. A nervous expression on her face, she tried to speak but only got out some garbled words that could hardly be called words. Annoyed that she wasn't acting herself, she spoke the words quickly. "My-name-isn't-BattleDemon-as-my-mother-is-BattleDemon-and-I'm-her-daughter!"

"And my name is Blue." She was able to calm down after most of the major bits of info was out, but her heart was still pounding terribly fast. Although, instead of just telling Durandel, it seems she was loud enough for everyone in the camp to hear her confession. Er, part of my confession.

Durandel and Mydnyte

Durandel yawned still trying to get the kinks worked out, as he would stretch. Already Mydnyte seemed fired to go, he never would have suspected a Kamarian to be the morning type. It was then Nova returned with news of a kill. This brightened up Durandel's spirits at the thought of food. "Thanks my friend, don't mind if I do." Durandel responded. "Eat what you can but as soon as we're finished it's off to the Woods!" Mydnyte barked. It was then Durandel's ears shot up over the calling of his name. "Huh? What?" He asked confused.

It was then Dey appeared before him and she was acting odd to say the least. He supposes it's because of the previous day's injuries still, she seemed worked up over something. "Hm? What's the matter?" He asked concerned. It was then Dey had difficulty with speaking, most of it was unintelligible and then she said a sentence way too fast. "What?" He asked even more confused. It was then she said her name was Blue. "Huh? Wha? I'm sorry you spoke so fast...wait...I thought you're name was Dey?" Durandel spoke, hopelessly confused.

Mydnyte overhead this and then barked, "What did you just say!?" He then stood before her. "Well!?" Mydnyte commanded. "Whoa calm down, there's no need for this." Durandel retorted. |No, I'm curious, because it sounded like you said that you're not BattleDemon." Mydnyte spoke. "Of course she isn't, I told you last night she just looks like her." Durandel reminded. "No, this wolf knows more than she's letting on, go on say it again!" Mydnyte pressured. "Hey! At least give her a chance to speak!" Durandel argued. "Fine!" Mydnyte grumbled as he backed off. Durandel then looked over to Dey or Blue, "Say what you need to say and try it slower this time, alright?" Durandel asked.

Hearing the commotion erupt as he was turning to go back to the kill, Nova stayed to observe what was happening. Battle wasn't acting herself, which wasn't all that unusual lately, she seemed to have a new self every hour, but hey, we all have mood swings, right? Nova figured that that was the case as he replayed what she shouted. Blue? That was an unusual name. Better than the last one she came up with, Khan, but nicknames are only good if they stick.

"Hey Mydnyte, why don't you go cool off with some breakfast? I left Fang over there" Nova suggested, pointing a paw back to where he had come from. Everyone was getting a little too excited, and Nova decided to break it up before their day got off on the wrong paw. Durandel was doing a fine job trying to consul whatever had gotten into Battle...Dey...Blue...whoever, but Nova decided to stick around and hear what was going on.

Blue was getting annoyed by Mydnyte's argueing nature, but she felt that perhaps he was kin so maybe stubborness ran in the pack... Er, at least on her father's side. She let out a frustrated sigh, and looked at both Durandel and Mydnyte, speaking the words slowly as if they were cubs whose minds were slow. "I said: I'm BattleDemon's daughter." She put a heavy emphasis on the word daughter and tried to hold back the tide of panic she felt rising inside her.

"I repeat: My mother is Battledemon therefore I am BattleDemon's daughter. And my father is a Kamarian... My name is Blue." She flinched when she said her own name, feeling relieved but terrified at finally remembering everything she had forgotten. Now, though, she had keep to herself from telling them the location of Battle to these... friends of her...? Are they even friends? Wow.... That means their both so old... She cocked her head at the thought of being younger than both Nova and Durandel. She had expected everything to change now once they all realized she was one of no importance but how big the changes were, she hadn't expected that.

Although she was thinking about their many differences now, she stayed quiet about her opinions and seemed to radiate a calmness that she didn't know she had.

Durandel and Mydnyte

"Daughter?!" Durandel repeated incredulously. Mydnyte then made a sound that sounded like a mix between a growl and a groan. Obviously the Shadow Wolf was frustrated beyond a doubt. "Wow...I didn't know Battle even had pups." Durandel spoke in disbelief. Mydnyte shook his head as he turned away from Blue. He then looked over to Nova, "Yeah...I haven't eaten awhile...hunger always makes me irritable." Mydnyte confessed. As he turned away he decided to head down to where the kill was. Once there he ran across Fang who seemed to be enjoying himself.

Durandel couldn't really think about food at the moment, this new info was startling. Still it would explain both her resemblance and her scent. Durandel looked at her and nodded, "Well thank you for telling us the truth...," He then paused for a moment, "...So if she's you're mother then, do you know where she is?" Durandel asked. He knew Mydnyte would return and ask that same question, so in order to avoid more arguing perhaps he could spare everyone the trouble.

Listening to Blue, Nova couldn't help but to believe her sudden confession. It certainly explained her warmer personality and her lack of wounds. He silently berated himself, but he knew that until this explanation, he had no reason to believe her otherwise. But as often happens, this one answer breaks out so many more questions, the greatest of which Durandel had already asked. Leading Nova to only say something witty, like "Golly..."

As a way to distract himself, he tried to direct them to the woods to follow Mydnyte as he thought. BattleDemon's daughter? He didn't even know that cold Alva had any offspring. And well, BattleDemon had been a little older than him, which could explain how her daughter was already full grown, but not by much. That could only mean that she had skipped out on her pup while they were off adventuring those seasons ago. Why would she have done that? She couldn't have done it willingly. Who was her father? Probably just another Alva, but he though that Battle had killed her mate. Or was that her own father, the Alpha?

After giving her time to respond to Durandel, Nova almost felt obligated to apologize for giving her a hard time the day before. "Sorry...for treating you like another wolf. But I guess you have a good name to live up to?" Nova said, unsure if he was sincere about the last part.

"...So if she's you're mother then, do you know where she is?" Blue became guarded at the question and didn't bother to hide her somewhat secretive expression. Perhaps, Durandel and Nova would feel betrayed in some way but her response, but after all, it was her mother that went on those adventures with them, not Blue.

In the back of her mind, Blue was wondering if Durandel and Nova were actually who they claimed to be, but that though she quickly dismissed as so far, they proved to be... who they were. She just didn't entirely trust them, and in reality, she probably never would. Yet she owed them for having aided her, if you could call it that, and they at least deserved part of the truth.

So, she replied with an answer that wasn't quite the answer Durandel would be expecting, but at least would keep them from questioning further. For the moment. "If she's where I last saw her, then yes I do know where she is." Obviously, due to the Borak pendant her mother had given her, she had met her mother. But only once. Her thoughts were interrupted when Nova apologized. "Sorry...for treating you like another wolf. But I guess you have a good name to live up to?"

Blue scoffed at that. A feeling of resentment surfaced, causing her to respond to Nova's words curtly, "If that's your opinion." She immediately tried to rectify her words and manner by a quick mumbled apology, "I apologies for my behavior as well." She left them to think about her words, making her way toward the deer kill to join Fang and Mydnyte.

Durandel and Mydnyte

Durandel hadn't gotten the most satisfactory of answers but he wasn't going to press the issue. Since this really isn't Battle they're dealing with, he isn't sure about her daughter. So far she seems different in personality from her mother making him reevaluate her character. Perhaps in time she will reveal what they wish to know, best not to ruin any of their chances. Durandel nodded as Blue wandered off to the kill.

Durandel looked towards Nova with a look of uncertainty, he didn't expect any answers from him over this situation. He's either confused, surprised, or perhaps indifferent? He wasn't sure, reading other wolves isn't exactly his specialty. He wasn't sure if he was going to hear anything pertaining to this subject from Nova; so he decided it would be best to change it. "Well, if you haven't eaten yet, I'll meet you over at the kill?" He asked as he wandered off himself. Durandel then reached the kill as Fang and Mydnyte finished their portions.

"Alright, everyone, eat what you need and once you're done we are gonna move on. With a fresh kill like this the scent of blood could attract some unwanted parties, so I would ask you to be brisk." Mydnyte spoke. Durandel took to the meat of the kill and it was marvelous to eat like this! It felt like ages since he had anything to eat, so the fresh game came at a much needed time. Once he finished his portions of the kill, the Canicus felt even more energized. He was ready to move on.

There was just enough meat left on the deer for Nova to satisfy his hunger by the time he strolled over to the others. Not enough to get full, five hungry wolves is a lot to feed, but it would be easier walking without a full stomach. Finished, he wiped off his snout and followed Mydnyte's order to get moving along. Nova wasn't exactly sure where they were, a thought unsettling to a scout, but he figured it was somewhere southeast of the canyons, where they left Ash. Or, er, where he left Ash. Perhaps he had been a bit a jerk, now that he had a night to let his emotions wear off. But she would be safer back home, eh? More Dimitrios around to help with her canyon sized screw ups.

Deciding to test the waters after their confrontation this morning, Nova decided to field a question to the nearby BattleDemon, er, Blue. "So you must have done a bit of traveling yourself to end up here. Ever been to the Aven lands?" Nova asked as they walked.

"Alright, everyone, eat what you need and once you're done we are gonna move on. With a fresh kill like this the scent of blood could attract some unwanted parties, so I would ask you to be brisk."

Blue was disgruntled, but about what she couldn't tell exactly. Perhaps it was because of how they were treating her now that they knew she wasn't who they though she was or... how she was reacting to them.... or, it could be many other things. Like when she last her mother, a person she wasn't very happy being related to and not to mention father! There were too many things on her mind! Like how the world has changed and the fact that this is her first time being out and about since she had been...

Shuddering, Blue pulled back from the kill and tried not to think about those dark times, already following after Nova. "So you must have done a bit of traveling yourself to end up here. Ever been to the Aven lands?" She tried not to look too ignorant, but after pausing for moment, she decided to at least give them this bit of information. "I haven't actually. This is the first time I've been outside since I was cub. And.." She hesitated to give the rest but she felt that they needed to know.

"I've, in a way, been kept from the world. I don't know what a lot of these things are, and I've never hunted before in my life. Needless to say I don't know much about this world, and... Avens... I don't know what those are." She wasn't lying, but she didn't tell them that she knew of the bad side of wolves and their cruelty... Their savage hatred that has got many a wolf killed in front of her.

Durandel and Mydnyte

Mydnyte headed the group as the made way to the Acacia Woods, there Mydnyte hoped to meet up with a certain contact. Following him were his allies, Fang Hunter and his old acquaintances Nova and Durandel, and of course the daughter of BattleDemon, Blue. Mydnyte came to terms with that bit of information, he wasn't pleased, but he was convinced to keeping Blue around. After all she could be their only key to finding her mother. Even so they trudged forward as the Kamarain followed the forest paths determined to reach the edge of Aven territory.

As they walked Fang heard the conversation that Nova and Blue were having and decided to add his knowledge to the situation. "Why the Aven are one of the Great Wolf Packs of Nigerius. Meaning their one of the largest." He spoke. "It would be a good idea to learn what you can about them since we are heading for their lands. First of all these Wolves are known for their control over the Element of Flora or plant life. They are also known for their cultivation of plant life especially for the practice of herbalism...which means using plants for medicine." Fang went on. "I can't say I have ever been to the Aven lands myself...it has been hard to reach them ever since the beginning of this war. These wolves have no interest in the affairs of others and would prefer to remain neutral in this conflict." Fang spoke as he looked towards Blue to see if she was paying attention.

"Still that hasn't worked out so well for them. The Aven are masters at the art of healing and are highly sought after by the other Packs to become their ally. They have denied to be aligned with any one pack but still continued to give their medicine to all the packs. This has made the other packs suspicious of their intentions and have attacked them because of it. It's sad, because of their caring nature they are treated with paranoia and violence." Fang finished with a sigh. "Speaking of which, all of you should be careful...the Aven may attack us if they feel threatened...they aren't as trusting as the legends say." Mydnyte added gruffly.

Durandel nodded. "I don't think I've ever visited the Aven lands either now that I think about it." Durandel pondered. Mydnyte looked over his shoulder at Durandel and said, "I would suggest you make yourself scarce when we get close...the Aven have a particular grudge against the Fire Packs for burning down their forests." Durandel then looked down at the ground feeling ashamed for the careless actions his people have made in the past. The Tenneth have made many enemies in this longstanding war because of their militaristic behavior...even now they struggle to find allies in spite of their past deeds. "Yeah...I probably should have guessed." Durandel added pessimistically.


______________

It was morning finally but Felonious was tired, having only gotten very little sleep. The Hemlock wished he could just nap the day away but the Saffron was in a hurry, and in accordance with Schemeko's wishes, he had to escort him. Felonious wasn't a fool and gathered that Shamus had done this on purpose but the Hemlock would not address it. He suspected the Saffron did this out of mistrust...which he could understand. He had considered abandoning this wolf just to get some decent rest but Schemeko would find that behavior unsportsmanlike. So Felonious opted to endure as he tiredly followed the Saffron to his homeland.

Listening to everyone's input on the conversation, Nova couldn't help but interject a bit of optimism on Fang's remark on being trusted. "Aye, but I ain't the most trusting wolf ever, and yet somehow you all won me over. Being locked up by Rashid certainly helped that. I'd say if any of us were being trusting right now, it would be you, Blue" Nova explained, gesturing towards her. "You're putting a lot of faith in a couple of random wolves who are blind enough that they can't tell you from your family."

He wasn't sure why she had begun to follow them. After all, it was clear that they didn't know who she was, and for his part he had boiled over on her more than once. Nova wasn't even sure why HE was following this group, other than a faint hope that somehow this would lead to the end of Rashid for good. Granted, it was to ease the suffering of many generations of wolves to come if they took this wolf down, but there was no mistaking that there was a little revenge involved. He knew that was such a stupid thing to pursue, but what he thought and what he felt didn't always line up.

"Good to have you along though, anyway. You're one of the few wolves that can survive the trouble that we seem to stir up" Nova commented, looking over to Blue and then back on the trail.

"-I'd say if any of us were being trusting right now, it would be you, Blue" Nova explained, gesturing towards her. "You're putting a lot of faith in a couple of random wolves who are blind enough that they can't tell you from your family." Blue twitched her ears at that, If he really knew what I knew, he wouldn't be saying that. "Good to have you along though, anyway. You're one of the few wolves that can survive the trouble that we seem to stir up." Sheesh, it sounds like I should be walking away from them, not with them. She rolled her eyes at her poor decision making skills... and had a spark of thought.

With a sudden glare that could melt stones, she scoffed, "You mean trouble that your - " She said the next part with a vindictive edge, suggesting that Nova being good with words was anything but a gift - "gift of gab stirs up. If I recall correctly, it wasn't Khan who got us turned into prisoners and made us into pack mules!"

"Heh, if I recall correctly, he was a much better pack mule too! Half the torment Ash made you go through was your own silly fault, Dearest Dey" Nova quickly shot back with a defensive laugh. With so many things that had happened between now and their little slave charade, he had thought it wouldn't come back up, in fact he had mostly forgotten about it. Well, she hadn't. And if she was going to start acting like how "Dey" did, his reaction was to treat her like Dey.

Reigning himself in a little bit, he followed up quickly. "Well, it was better than getting stewed by those Tenneth who were following us. Bet we're all glad their not on their tail anymore" he suggested, looking back around to the others and trying to get the attention off himself.

Durandel and Mydnyte

As they walked Fang looked curiously over his shoulder and asked, "Khan?" The confusion was written all over the Kamarian's face. "It's a long story." Durandel responded. Durandel then continued to listen at Nova's and Blue's little back and forth. After they were finished Durandel spoke up, "Yeah...that rock slide sure came at a convenient time." He added. As they continued to walk Mydnyte stuck his nose up as they headed further into the forest. "Hm." He muttered.

"What is it?" Fang asked. "I detect a trace hint of Aven, yet we must still be a little ways off from their lands." Mydnyte responded. "So what's the issue? Are we not moving at a fast enough pace?" Fang continued. "It's not that...I just find it odd that Aven were this far off from the Acacia Woods." Mydnyte answered. "Could be scouts? Besides this is a forest, their powers would not diminish in the slightest." Fang reasoned. "I guess...but you don't send scouts unless it's for reconnaissance," Mydnyte then paused, "Anyway we should pick up the pace now that you mention it." Mydnyte finished. Fang nodded as he motioned for everyone to move a little faster.

"Heh, if I recall correctly, he was a much better pack mule too! Half the torment Ash made you go through was your own silly fault, Dearest Dey." Blue glowered at Nova's use of her former nickname, realizing that even though she had regained most of her social manners, they were doomed to butt heads. "Well, it was better than getting stewed by those Tenneth who were following us. Bet we're all glad their not on their tail anymore." What a GREAT topic change. She couldn't help but roll her eyes, "You are one unexceptional wolf; being in the spotlight isn't going to kill you." With a shot down her spine, she became confused. Hmm, I didn't mean to say THAT. Where did that come from?

She pulled back from the conversation, becoming quiet... Except to glare at Fang, a defiant look on her face suggesting that she moved at her own pace. Despite that, she still hurried along, hanging at the back of the group.

Nova

"Heh, well at least I never have had an identity crisis" Nova muttered, loud enough for others to hear if they were listening. He wasn't one to care about getting the last word in a verbal spar, normally he would run away if he felt threatened. But whether he had just grown used to sparring with her, or that he didn't feel threatened by her, he almost thought of it as a game by now to try to get the one up on her. Unless she managed to actually get under his fur, which she has come close to doing once or twice.

Remember what the others had been saying while he was thinking of what to say during their little squabble, he began to wonder along as well why the Aven would be so far out. Where they trying to have a few wolves lurking around to try and scare others off? Were they just guards, ready to run back to tell the others to protect they young from an attack? Who knew. "So, who are we meeting with at the Aven territory, again?" Nova asked, ignorantly. He had probably been told before, but he wanted some more clarification to give him something to think about. Well, besides the next thing to say to Dey, anyway.

Durandel and Mydnyte

Fang couldn't help but chuckle at little at their war of words. "Was it always like this?" He asked to whoever may answer. "It seems familiar." Mydnyte said offhandedly. "Yeah it's something you might want to get used to." Durandel joked. As they continued to walk Nova asked a question as Mydnyte looked over his shoulder at the Ausi and snorted.

"You two might remember her. She was that one Aven we rescued from Rashid...the one that looked like a fox?" Mydnyte answered while not facing them. "I believe her name IS Fox." Fang corrected. "Whatever I know it was something to do with a fox." Mydnyte dismissed. Durandel then racked his brain for any memories he had of a fox wolf or a wolf named Fox. It was then he did remember there was an Aven in their company. It was during the time they were imprisoned and forced to fight in those awful Elemental Battles.

"Yeah I believe I do remember," Durandel paused, "You still keep in contact with her?" He asked. "Occasionally." Mydnyte answered. He then looked over to Durandel and then back to the path before speaking. "We have been coordinating with her over the Borak situation with the Kita Pack. Normally I wouldn't care what happened to those Light Wolves...but, there has been some suspicious activity with them. Activity that seems a little too coincidental." Mydnyte ominously spoke.

"Yeah last I spoke with her I remember having her send a couple wolves to investigate that very thing." Fang added. "Yeah, well I guess will know the answer to our questions once we get to Springwood." Mydnyte spoke. "Hopefully." Fang wished.

"Heh, well at least I never have had an identity crisis." Gritting her teeth, she tried to resist the urge to smack him. "So, who are we meeting with at the Aven territory, again?" And on the conversation went, all of them appearing to have some information to add into the conversation. All except Blue who stayed silent. She had been ready to deliver a response to Nova's words when she'd realized that she had done it again! Oh! I can't even keep my temper under control!

She admonished herself for acting so.... so.... She didn't even have a word for it! She was so irritated by the fact that without hesitating, snapped at a butterfly that happened to fly near her head. Of which she didn't know was a butterfly as she had never seen one before. Damn... whatever that is. She had been so busy that hating herself for her flaws when she noticed that she was dragging behind the others. Just another flaw to hate about myself.

Before she could really attempt to catch up to the others, a movement at the side of her vision. She stopped and stared at the thing that had caught her attention. It was round, like an orb, but more oblong. And it looked like cactus. Except, unlike a cactus, it had much, much more cactus spines on it. It was covered in it! Blue crept closer to it, thinking that it was just a strange bush that had just moved when the wind stirred it, she was about dismiss the idea of it having been moving that when it did move.... She froze. It... It looks...

Blue moved closer to it, and after closer inspection, growled at herself for being afraid of such a thing. Somehow, the animal before her seemed, to her growling and whipped around so fast that Blue didn't know was happening until she felt something smack into her. "Ouch!" She let out a yelp as whatever hit her pulled back, leaving several spikes behind already beginning it's second attack. This time, she was at least aware that the spiky bush was alive and not something to mess with, she leaped back and before she could begin to run, it JUMPED ON HER! Completely terrified, she turned and began to run for her life, with the little monster stuck on her back. She didn't even notice when she ran past the others.

Letting out several whining yelps, Blue began to buck up and down, kicking out with her back feet to the get the little monster off her. Somehow throughout this entire episode, the porcupine - she didn't know it was a porcupine - had moved around, and now was upside down with it's back quills stuck into Blue flesh. It was now stuck and unable to got itself away from Blue. "SOME - ONE - HELP - ME!!!!" She howled out as she began to run even faster, hoping that the monster would stop it's attack.

Nova

"The devil's snout?!" Nova swore, as Blue ran by. Leave it to her to interrupt their peaceful morning. Hopefully this wasn't an ominous sign for things to come, he was daring to hope that they wouldn't have too many shenanigans to deal with on their way to see Fox, even with the Aven sentries that were out and about. She had had something stuck to her back, it almost looked like a bur or a thorn but she had gone by in such a blur it was hard to see. Well, lava would melt the thorn as well as her, and darkness wouldn't do anything, so Nova figured it was up to him and his ice to go get it off her right quick so they could get back to walking. It wasn't wise to keep Mydnyte waiting, anyway.

"I'll go stop her, STOP RUNNING BLUE" Nova said first to Durandel, and then yelling to the fleeing shewolf. He began to trot after her, moving quickly into a gallop as he realized she wasn't slowing down. Realizing it would take too much time to close the distance, she was moving like she was being chased by death itself, Nova realized he would have to try and perform surgery at twenty yards.

Remembering a trick he had done for ole' Cerise, where he had frozen a rope binding her to be brittle enough to break, the Ausi decided to pull the stunt again with the thorns, and freeze them so at least the weight of them would be off her. And then she'd stop freaking out. As accurate as he could while running through trees, Nova fired a bolt of frost directly at the small target on her back fifty feet away, wincing at what she would do to him if he missed.

Durandel and Mydnyte

Durandel was walking calmly along until the peace was disturbed by something. Somethings got a hold on a Blue and she was freaking out. "Wait, WHAT!?" He shouted aloud, startled by her actions. Mydnyte's ears twitched as he barked, "What now!?" He looked over to see Blue run right pass them. The She-Wolf acted like she was under attack by the enemy, but there was nothing, no one around them. If there was they would've smelt the scent of a wolf from a mile away.

"We should help." Fang spoke up. Before he could do anything Nova was the first to act. Durandel watched on as he saw Nova fire a rather precise shot of ice at whatever attached itself to Blue. He wasn't sure if he hit his mark it was quite a few feet away for him to see. Mydnyte was both annoyed and astounded by Blue's overreaction. It didn't look like anything dangerous except maybe a large bur. One could expect to see a lot of plant life, especially large plant life as they get closer and closer to the Aven lands. "Dammit, she's going to have every wolf in this forest breathing down on our necks!" He growled.

"Did you get it? Is there anything I can do to help?" Durandel ran up to ask Nova. He wanted to quickly end this business before Mydnyte explodes, which he looks ready to do. "And I as well." Fang spoke up.

Blue was terrified... and didn't stop to obey Nova's orders... and indeed, did not realize he shot a ball of ice at the prickly animal on her back. Perhaps if she had known, she would have been watching where she stepped and may have slowed down. But she didn't, and very hilariously tripped and which upon Nova's ball of ice, hit her left hind leg as she tumbled forward landing on her chest with her back end in the air.

Whereupon, she let out a painful how that could burst the ear drums on anyone nearby. Indeed, several flocks o birds that had been resting in the trees nearby took to the skies frantically. She finally stopped howling but began to whine.

"Well...you can stop her from trying to kill me?" Nova said with a wince, guessing from a distance that he had knocked the shewolf flat with his attack. That last part of his remark was drowned out by her cries of pain, indeed her shrieks forced Nova to cover her own ears. Had this wolf completely lost her mind? He had no more doubts about her identity, this definitely wasn't BattleDemon.

As he got close enough to shove her face in the dirt to muffle her cries, which was sure to alert every creature with ears withing ten miles, she seemed to compose herself a little bit more. "Y'alright Blue?" is what Nova said, but what he mouthed and acted out to Durandel and Fang was whether they should just knock her out and carry her. It was a joke, but all jokes have their basis in some kind of truth, right?

Durandel and Mydnyte

Mydnyte growled in frustration over this farce. He looked with displeasure over to Fang who took it upon himself to run up to Blue to see how he could help. Durandel also rushed over falling in behind Nova as he looked to the wining Blue. "My ears are still ringing." Durandel commented. Fang shook his head at Nova, jokingly of course. "While that might seem easy I'm sure we could do something better." Fang then looked at Blue then at the thing stuck to her. It was a porcupine! A porcupine of all things! Fang would find it hilarious but if Mydnyte figured out that this was the reason for all this commotion, he would be furious!

"Well, we should remove the...what is that? A porcupine?" Durandel asked. "Yep, and trust me guys the faster we get rid of it, the lest chance we have Mydnyte breathing down our necks." Fang spoke. "Well at least it's not all bad, at least there's been some pleasant smelling flowers along this road." Durandel optimistically added. Fang nodded. "Yeah are you alright? That was a nasty trip." Durandel asked concerned.

Before much more could be done a rustling could be heard in the nearby brush. Mydnyte growled as he lept to their defense. "Did you hear that?" He asked. Fang too took a defensive position as he looked around. The brush was quite thick along the road, it could hide any number of wolves. Durandel looked around but saw or smelt nothing. "Fellas, it could just be another porcupine. There are loads of wild animals in these woods." Durandel reasoned. It was then they heard more rustling. "See? If it was an enemy they wouldn't make so much noise so quickly." It was then Mydnyte eyed him and then spoke, "Then tell me Lava Wolf...do you smell any other animals around here?" It was then Durandel smelt the air around him and to his shock, he was right. All he could smell was flowers.

Another rustling came as vines quickly sprang forth and surrounded them! It was then the brush parted to reveal a squad of Aven warriors as they surrounded the small group. The Aven growled defensively as a wolf, presumably their leader, spoke, "So then? What business does an Ice Wolf, a Lava Wolf, and," The Aven eyed the others and noticed the shadows beneath the black wolves moving in peculiar ways, "Shadow Wolves, eh? Quite the eclectic bunch you are." He observed. The Aven didn't seem quite pleased to see them and didn't show any intent of being hospitable anytime soon. They were especially displeased to see Durandel as some snarled and bared their fangs at him.

Mydnyte for once stopped growling as he stepped forward, "Listen here, we mean you and your kin no harm, Forest Wolf." He spoke. "Hm, I find that difficult to believe since you're in the company of such a destructive wolf." The Aven spoke glaring at Durandel. Durandel couldn't help but growl a little at the disrespect shown to him. "It's true. We are here to meet with one of your own actually." Fang spoke up. "Really? And who might that be pray tell?" The Aven asked. "Fox." Mydnyte answered. The Aven were taken aback at their knowledge of one of their own. "Who are all of you? Spies?!" The Forest Wolf barked. "No, were not!" Durandel yelled at them. "Be silent!" Mydnyte barked at him.

"Look, if we were all spies then we would be pretty poor excuses for ones right? I mean for starters we took a clearly, public path and two, well we wouldn't make so much noise that it could raise the dead, now would we?" Fang reasoned. The Aven took his points into consideration and decided to take a second glance at these intruders. He noticed the one on the ground had...a porcupine stuck to her?! He then laughed a hardy laugh at the sight. His squad looked at him peculiarly. "I am sorry my friends but look at the one on the ground! See what's stuck to her!" He then chuckled. The other Aven looked and laughed as well. "I remember my first time getting stuck by one of those as a pup, here let me help." It was then the Aven called down a branch from a nearby tree as it snaked it's way down to his muzzle. He then picked an nut from the tree and tossed it before the creature. Smelling it the Porcupine wiggled it's way off of Blue, although not in the most gentle of fashion as it ran for the nut. It then scurried off.

"Porcupine's like salty things, like nuts, you should be fine once you get whatever quills stuck in you out." The Aven spoke. He then turned to the rest of the group, "Well I guess you aren't spies, but what do you want with Fox?" He asked. "Fox is an ally of ours, I am Mydnyte perhaps she's spoken about me?" He asked. The Aven racked his brain for any confirmation and the remembered something, "Wait a minute? Weren't you one of the ones that helped rescued her?" He asked. "Yes, you know about that?" "Of course we do! It's quite a riveting and inspirational story to us Aven. Hm, so you wish to speak with her?" The Aven asked. "Yes if you could? We're heading to Springwood to meet her." Fang responded. "Very well, follow us we'll take you down one of our hidden paths to the Woods." The Aven spoke. As the vines snaked away the Aven parted the brush to reveal a new path that leads deeper into the forest. As the Forest Wolves moved forward, Mydnyte looked at the others and beckoned them to follow.

To say she was embarrassed would be an understatement. She was humiliated! And when the critter scurried off, it left Blue a heap on the ground, her teeth clenched to keep her whines from getting out. She choked back her cries of agony and sat up gingerly. She refused to cry about such a embarrassing situation in front of these wolves.

While Mydnyte and the head honcho Aven exchanged words, she looked back at her rear end. Although she couldn't completely turn her head to see where the porkupine left the most of its quills, she could see some of the small ones on her back. And miffed that everyone had laughed, she began to pull some of the quills out. I make a terrible wolf... Especially an Alvan...

Taking his cue, Nova began to move along with the others as they started off into one of their hidden forest trails. From the looks of it, there might as well not ever be a path, there wasn't even so much as a game trail where deer or the like went through. The way was strangely clear, however, and despite the path looking to be wild and untamed, Nova was suprised by the levelness of the way, and the lack of the usual rocks and brambles that got in his paws whenever he walked through savage forest.

"Mydnyte up there seems to know all the right things to say, huh" Nova commented as he walked up next to Durandel. He was glad that the Kamarians were there to help them get from point A to point B, even if the journey in the middle was filled with minor annoyances and set backs. Some of those set backs were caused by circumstance, others were caused by...porcupines.

He hadn't gone far when he realized Blue was still have problems, and he began to have a strange wish that Ash was still here so that the two of them could goad each other along. The two of them went together like oil and water, of course, but at least they kept each other moving. Guess he was going to have to be the annoying one in place of Ash. "I'll go lend her a paw real quick, she looks like she is about to break down in the middle of the trail" Nova mentioned to his companion, feeling bold.

"Come on, sulky, they're just needles" Nova cooed, coming around to her backside. In one quick motion, he grabbed a hold of some of the quills she probably wouldn't reach with his teeth, and gave them a forceful tug to try and get them out quickly, planning on spitting them off the trail once they came out. Notably, he stayed behind her in case she decided to make a snap at him.

Durandel and Mydnyte

As they followed along the forestry continued to part before them revealing more of the trail. Durandel then thought about the legend of moving trails found in some forests. This must be what the stories were talking about, he just hopes they won't end up lost indefinitely like some of the wolves in those stories. Durandel then noticed Nova appearing beside him talking to him about their current predicament. "Yeah." He responded to Nova. He then looked up to see Mydnyte following close behind the head Aven. He then looked over to Nova, "Well, Mydnyte has always been a sharp one, right?" He rhetorically asked.

Durandel's attention was brought over to Blue who seemed to be quite upset. He isn't surprised, porcupine quills do hurt and walking with some stuck inside of ya isn't pleasant. He watched as Nova went in to help remove some of those quills. "You alright?" Fang asked. "You look distracted." Durandel flipped his head around to see Fang addressing him. "Oh, no, sorry it was just Blue...that porcupine stuck her good." Durandel responded. "Ah yeah, that happens sometimes. I remember one time a friend of mine bit down on one of them. It seemed like he was picking quills out of his mouth for days." Fang then chuckled. "Anyway, I'm sure she'll be alright her pride might be bruised a little." Fang added.

"Yeah." Durandel spoke as he looked back at the two. Nova seemed to be joking around with Blue. Durandel couldn't help but wonder why she was out on her own to begin with. Was her parents not around for her? And where is her pack? Did she even grow up with the other Alvas? And who was her father? The pup of BattleDemon is quite the mystery herself now that he thinks about it. "How much further do we have to go?" Mydnyte asked. "Not too much farther, since Springwood lies on the outer edges of the Acacias." the Aven answered. "Just keep up with us, we're closing the trail behind us as we move along and we don't want to have to come looking for ya if you get lost." the Aven warned.

Blue felt, more than saw Nova coming, "Come on, sulky, they're just needles" She tried to muster a growl, but was only able to whine, "I'm not a-" And immediately let out a yelp when Nova started yanking at the quills she couldn't reach. She wanted to growl back at him, throw a good insult his way... but her heart just wasn't in it at the moment. So, strangely she stayed quiet and did her best not to whine.

She was pretty miserable now, and in a voice true to Nova's earlier nickname, said, "I guess I'm not a very good traveling companion, huh?" She was glad Nova couldn't see her face for the small moment as she let her walls down. She was tired, in pain and for once, not insulting him.

Nova

Taking advantage of Blue's tensing up, Nova quickly grabbed another mouthful of the smaller needles that revealed themselves when she changed position. It wasn't too difficult to keep them out of his tongue, he just had to grab them at the right angle. The hard part was knowing just how hard to pull.

"Heh, and you think I am?" Nova responded once he got his mouth clear, inspecting her backside to see if there were any other offending needles. "The only times I have opened my mouth is to wind you up or to get Durandel turned into a gem slave. There's a reason I usually travel alone. You want a good travel companion, look to Khan up there. He has the patience of the gods" Nova said back, looking from the back of her head up to where Durandel was walking up ahead, before walking up next to her to keep ahead of the closing trail. The Aven's warning was coming true, as they moved the foliage seemed to wrap around were they just were, concealing any tracks they were making.

Durandel and Mydnyte

It was a few hours later as they group of wolves walked quietly through the wood. As of a few minutes ago the world around them began to change. The land became more wilder and unkempt, the plant life grew larger even the bushes were as big as boulders. As for the trees that surround them, they are far taller than any seen in any forest. As the Aven continue to guide them one can tell....they have begun to enter the Acacia Woods. Light became dim as the vast canopies of leaves began to block out to Sun. To supplement the loss of light the luminescent Lantern Flower that grew off of long vines, shines above them illuminating their path. "We have begun to enter the Woods, now stay close! If you become lost in these Woods then she may never let you go. The Forest is a mysterious Lady, even we, her loyal servants are not always privy to her whims." The Aven sing-songly spoke.

"What? Do you think us as pups? We understand the importance of sticking together already." Mydnyte grouchily responded. "Forgive me Master Kamaria, I did not mean to insult you. It's just that others in your group my not be so wise as you are." The Aven playfully chuckled. "Oh? Are you being clever with me Forest Wolf?" Mydnyte growled. Fang then chuckled as well. "Don't start with me." He growled at Fang. The Aven laughed aloud as he looked over to the others. "Now, now, we are almost there just bear with me." He spoke. Durandel looked over to see Blue and Nova following along as best they can. Beyond them he couldn't recognize a thing, it just looked like a huge green wall suddenly appeared from where they walked. This made the Canicus a little nervous, no wonder the Tenneth burned these Woods instead of braving them. He took the words the Aven spoke to heart you really could lose yourself out there, even on this path all these plants looked like they could jump out and eat ya alive. It felt incredibly claustrophobic.

"Well I hope you're right about that." Durandel mumbled. As they continued onward through the Acacia Woods it wouldn't be long until path diverted into two. "Alright to the left everybody." The Aven spoke as they turned. It was then the heard a howl. "Well, they've moved the sentries up further last I checked, must be the Warden's new orders." The Aven commented as he let loose a howl. After a few moments the howl was received and responded with another. "Alright, they should let us pass. In few moments we shall be at the village of Springwood and from there we shall part ways." The Aven spoke.

Blue looked over at Durandel, her mind already processing the information with what info she had already accumulated about Nova and the others. She realized, something.... and that was when she growled unexpectedly at the leaves moving around them. Her walls came back up and she seemed to distant herself from her present company yet again. "Did my mo- Battledemon," she caught herself before she finished the word and quickly replaced it was the more formal name of her mother. She growled darkly again, the shadows around her thickening with a suffocating hatred. "Battledemon, what was she like?"

She needed more information about who her mother really was and why she did what she did.... to her. What mother would.... Blue looked at Nova, expecting an answer to her question.

Focusing on the conversation up ahead, Nova almost missed Blue's question, and was glad when she repeated part of it. Clearly she didn't like his previous answer, as her voice was beginning to harden again. So much for jokes. "Well, if you hadn't figured out by how I initially treated you, she was quite distant. I don't know if I ever show any emotion except pain, but I figured that she was an Alva, and that kind of thing was natural" Nova explained candidly, doing little to water down the truth.

Still, it did seem a little harsh, and so he added that "she did have her heroic times, more than once. She threw her neck out to save the rest of us without any hopes of compensation or reward. When you threw yourself into the fight when we first met, I had no problem believing you were her, you acted so much like her. So I guess if you want to know what she was like, look at yourself."

Wondering how that last part would blow over, listening to the eerie howls echo through the forest, as the party began to hook left through the trees. No wonder the Tenneth burned places like this down, these trees were suffocating without a guide.

Through the thick brush and grass as near limitless trees cover the sky, the group presses onward as the forest itself parts ways. What seemed like forever, Durandel spoke up, "So, are we nearly there?" He asked. Mydnyte shrugged his shoulders in response to this question. "I'm not sure, I've been here before but I came from a different path." He said. It was then the Aven chimed in with a much needed update. "Fret not, we're here." He said just as the last brush moved aside to reveal a busy village. Avens were milling about as lights came from hollowed out trees. It seemed they have entered Springwood's marketplace as stands held produce and trinkets with vendors overlooking their wares and selling them to the public. It was almost difficult to imagine that a war was going on.

Yet the hustle and bustle of daily life suddenly halted as the foregin group of wolves entered their homes. It didn't take long for the Aven to sniff out a Canicus as the public bared their fangs and growled at Durandel. The Lava Wolf became nervous as they were lead deeper into the village. He worried that these Aven will attack him on sight for being what he was. "Fret not, Master Canicus, they will not harm you. Not since you've entered with us." The Aven reassured. He then brought them to a particularly big, hollowed tree with an over hanging signage called the Springwood Inn. "It is here that I shall leave you, I know the owners they are kind and hospitable and will surely give you lodgings." He explained.

"Yes, except we have nothing to pay them with." Mydnyte interjected. "True, that is why Fox went to the trouble to make for you and your fellows, reservations." Mydnyte was bit taken back from the news and curiously he asked, "We were expected to arrive at this time?" "Not exactly, Fox didn't know when but did give the owners specific instructions but that is all I know. For now, I leave, please enjoy your stay here in Springwood. Alright Wolves back to the Woods!" He ordered as their escorts left their company returning to their previous duties. Mydnyte looked over his shoulder to the rest, "Well let's head inside and see what Fox has done for us." He said as the group entered the establishment.

Once inside they asked at the wolf behind the counter and apparently it was true. Fox some weeks earlier had explained to the Innkeeper that a Kamarian named Mydnyte would come with companions to meet with her a few weeks later. Fang remembered talking to Fox about it but never expected she would go out of her way to do this for them. While their group was larger than expected, they had enough room for them all. The Innkeeper lead them to their rooms and bid them a good stay. And their stay would be a bit long, they were a week ahead of schedule and would have to wait in Springwood for Fox to arrive.

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Nearly the week has passed, and they stay in Springwood is mainly pleasant. The Aven did little to give Nova, Blue, or even the Kamarians trouble. As for Durandel, he was often met with suspicion and angry stares. The Canicus did learn from biting tongues about what the Aven's call the Burning Edge. In the Northernmost part of the Acacias the Tenneth attacked with an impressive force of troops. The Avens were easily outnumbered but thanks to their knowledge of the Woods and the power of their element the Forest Wolves pushed back the Tenneth assault with minimal losses. The Fire Wolves were outraged they had the superior numbers but they couldn't even push past five miles of the Woods. Their Commander, enraged at this humiliation ordered his forces to begin burning down the trees. This method did provide assaults as the Tenneth managed to push deeper into the Acacias.

This forced the Aven Alpha to intervene and with a host of Forest Wolves, created a defense so strong they managed to block the Tenneth advance. They did this by moving the Dendrium Trees creating a wall of steel-like wood that was very resistant to burning. The Tenneth lost many Wolves during their foray into the Woods and finding themselves on the losing side of this battle retreated. Yet the damage was done as a good portion of the Woods were lost to the raging forest fires that Tenneth continued to perpetuate. This new forest edge has been dubbed the Burning Edge and restoration to these lost woods has been a slow-going process. Coaxing new plant growth has found itself a most difficult challenge. Never before have the plants been so ignorant of the Avens leading towards a scare that their element is weakening. This fear has since been translated into anger at the Fire Pack for their rampant deforestation of their home.

So Durandel spent most of his time indoors trying to avoid the burning glares of the Forest Wolves. It was the eve of Fox's arrival and as Durandel laid alone in his room there was a sudden skitter across the floor. Durandel perked his head up as the dim light of the lantern partially illuminated the room. The Lava Wolf wasn't sure what it was but didn't particularly care, it couldn't have been a little squirrel or something. Before he could completely dismiss it a shadow of movement brushed across his vision as the wolf perked up again. "Gods, I am going to get any rest tonight?" He complained as he stood up. It was then a crow appeared as it bravely showed itself to Durandel, even squawking at him.

The Bird walked up to Durandel as if on a mission as it stared up at the wolf. It's talons reached for him as if trying to signal him to come closer. It seemed the crow wished to give a letter to Durandel as the bird untied a knot detaching the string and paper from it's left leg. The Canicus was of course confused at this strange display and wondered just what was going on. The Crow sat there as it motioned it's head to the paper trying to coax Durandel into picking it up. Slowly, Durandel picked up the paper and with it a caw it seemed to have congratulated him. Durandel opened the paper and could see that it was note, from Ezra! Quickly Durandel began to read the note.

"Durandel, my friend, I am not long for this world, by the time you read this I am probably dead. It is my sincerest hopes that this letter reaches you in time to do some good. Much has happened while you were away on mission, one of which happens to be my incarceration, which is where I met my Jivanta cellmate, Chaim. We took a big gamble on this one. Once we managed to lure the Crow to our cell window, we had to use rats to steal for us pen and paper. From there Chaim sent the Crow to look for you and we worried it might not find you, but if you are reading this letter then our gamble payed off. Now it's your turn.

Durandel, Prometheus has done it, earlier this week Cendrillion named him Supreme Commander of his army and now Prometheus has access to hundreds of soldiers. I can only shudder to think what he might do with such numbers...actually, I had the misfortune of finding out. Prometheus's ambitions didn't end with his newly acquired title, he sought to become the Alpha himself. His new position left him dangerously close to Cendrillion and Prometheus used it well. By the way I write this letter, I'm sure you could probably understand what has happened. Cendrillion is dead...Prometheus is our new Alpha..."

"No..."

End of Chapter One