Combined: Black and Red (Helcerinex)

[Relairah]

She nodded, turning to leave. "Be back." And with that she was gone.

She easily swooped down from the ledge, heading toward the jungle where she knew plenty of prey lurked. Within little time, she had the trail of a rabbit and it wasn't long before she ended its life. Not wanting some other predator to come along and steal it, she buried it quickly until she had caught another. It would have taken her some significant time, but finally, she was on her way back to the den.

She gathered her finding and soon was upon the ledge once more. As she moved to enter the cave, she had a strange feeling and she turned, her eyes aglow. But seeing nothing, she went on in, dropping one of the rabbits at Tiber's paws and then moving aside to eat her own snack. Having finished it, she licked her maw, though the blood was hardly noticeable on her red fur and she had to admit, she felt much better! Well... the good feeling wouldn't last. She heard a loud roar outside the cave and she turned her head sharply, a low growl rising in her throat. Oh great... she knew she had had a weird feeling.

She glanced at Tiber, wondering how he would react. If he would stay in the cave or go out to see what was causing the raucous. She didn't really care what he did. Vel easily sneaked out of the cave, looking over the ledge, fur bristled.

OoC: So I had an idea of what I wanted the creature to be but I didn't know if you wanted something so if you want you can insert or I can whichever lol

[Helcerinex]

OOC: Hmmm... nah, do what you want, so long as it is reasonably frightening, but also not insanely big lol.

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Tiber hadnt gotten the chance to even bite down when he could hear the sounds before the cave. When Vel got up, he had done also... though wth a minutes hesitation. He was indeed curious as to what it could be...

He slowly through a slanted walk, and clearing of his throat, approached the end of the cave, coming up behind Vel, and looking down.

"With all haste, this best be a good reason to stop eating...", he grumbled stubbornly, now that his hunger had re-arisen he was easily aggitated if distracted from his food. He lowered his head, and peered a little mroe over the edge, his back bristled a little, matted a little, his fur seemed moe shard-like, that fur-like... Admittedly, he did need a place to clean himself... there best be water nearby though. Tiber despised tongue licking... he always had a dislike of grooming.

[Relairah]

OoC: Okay lol *thinks*

As she peered over the edge, the thing came into view and she wasn't quite sure exactly what it was, though it caused her fur to stand on end and a low growl to rumble through her throat.

Its face was like a tiger's, though where the fur usually fluffed on the cheeks, it spiked outward, fanned and sharp. Its back was long, wide and scaly, more flat than round, though it clearly had a belly. Fur fluffed down its chest though faded into the scales and large, powerful legs supported the beast with long, sharp claws sinking into the earth below it. Its tail was long and twitched behind it in a cat-like manner despite it being rather thick. Its eyes were slitted and beady, a green color with large black pupils. It roared again, its lips peeling back to reveal white fangs, a poison-like substance dripping onto the ground and burning like acid. Oh fun...

Vellina wondered if the creature thought she had stolen its prey... or if she was its prey. Either way, she wasn't letting him win. Her eyes flashed, and a geyser shot into the air right next to it, though the creature seemed to smirk as the stream of hot vapor avoided its skin. It seemed it could manipulate water. She snarled, this time a pillar of flame erupting and the creature leaped to the side as some of its fur was singed. Okay, so fire was a weakness. Good.

She leaped down from the ledge. She couldn't get too close to this thing. She had a feeling contact could be extremely dangerous. But that didn't mean she had to hide out of its range on a ledge and attack like a coward. She was gonna face it head on. Whether Tiber helped or not was his own business. The creature was about the size of a smaller tiger in height, which was significantly bigger than her. But she was smaller than the average wolf. Her body was tensed, every muscle ready, her senses alert. It shifted, moving in a fluid manner, eyes trained on her, its ears swiveling on its head to pick up anything it could.

She tapped the edge of a geyser hole, a burst of flame rising into the air until it was on level with her face. With that she snapped her jaws at it, the flame speeding toward the creature and exploding, sparks raining down on it, unavoidable. Yet somehow, it emerged with a few singes on its fur and shook some sparks from its body. It seemed to look at her like, "Really? Is that all you've got?" This thing was definitely born to kill.

[Helcerinex]

Tiber looked down upon this creature, particularly before Velinna had engaged in combay. He raised one eyebrow extremely wide... the only type of monster close to such a thing he'd ever seen were Scavengers, or large, bearsize, enlongened forearmed, jagged teeth, with two or three eyes on each side of their heads.

He tilted his head a little slowly as he watched the fight insue, and he blatenly became aware he may end up assissting, he began stalking down the hill, with a wide curve as well.

"If you can keep it busy long enough, I'll provide more than enough assistance!", he called out to Vellina, even amongst the snarls and roaring of the beast. Tiber was certainly one to seek the easiest, and most EFFICIENT way to achieve a victory... he wasn't ALL brute force. And he certainly couldn't be brute force any longer, with his own age.

His eyes narrowed a little, and eased as he walked, thinking of his next move so long as Vel would actually listen to him, and do as he says...

"Keep it within that spot!", he said... where Vel and the ebast were fighting was a thirty by thirty space, at least in HIS eye. The mountain was bare so far as he knew, so he had to narrow things down.

[Relairah]

He didn't have to tell her twice. She was perhaps as aware of his movements as of the beasts, but more because she didn't want to send some sort of attack which missed the beast and harmed her ally. The beast continued to shift, it looked like it was calculating something. Obviously, it had grown used to being the biggest, baddest thing in the jungle and thought these wolves were no match. Perhaps the previous pack had been gone for too long. Well, it would be in for a surprise.

Vellina shifted as the beast did, watching it with her dark brown eyes. So far, it hadn't attacked. Was it just waiting for her to let her guard down? To use up all her energy? She wasn't sure. But it was clearly waiting for something. The beast lowered, like a cat on the prowl about to pounce.

She erupted a flame just before its face that exploded into the air and faded. It leaped back, shaking its face and roaring again, before continuing its fluid movements. The creature's ears swiveled, picking up any sounds coming from Tiberius. But so far, the older wolf hadn't given him any bother or threat so its attention was more on Vellina. Which would give Tiber an advantage.... if he took it.

Vellina erupted several flames one after the other from different geyser points, the creature having to turn left and right to avoid them, and it didn't avoid all of them successfully, emerging with some more burnt fur. It was clear it was beginning to get ticked off. Another loud roar escaped its mouth, poison beginning to drip more frequently from its fangs. Its attack would come soon..

[Helcerinex]

Tiber just took his time, setting one paw down upon the ground, then another. He wanted the best possible advantage strategically. He seemed to show some interest in keeping Vel alive, and not injured... though this may only be because she'd done him good... so he might as well do her good.

He moved through a cluster of rocks, and soon rose up on top of them, watching the fight as he hunched over a little. His fur bristled a bit as he was, Left-rear facing the beast. He didn't like such a thing, it looked like a horrible freak of nature. Not like other mythical beasts, whatever this was... he was somewhat determined to destroy it.

His eyes narrowed a little, as he raised his forepaw, hoisitng his weight backward, and groaned, exhaling and growling, "Uzsokti!", he hit the gorund on his forearms, his claws digging in, and cracking the earth he stood upon.

The crack grew larger, and large, until shards of rock jutted outward, as they got closer, they grew longer, and wider, until the ground, behind the beast uplifted, and earthy shards ripped forward... whether or not it would HIT the beast... was up to the creature's own speed and reaction time. The viscious roar of the ground being used as a weapon, and granted a very wide ranged attack was hard to ignore

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OOC: That too much?... I made sure it didnt hit, or well... naturally I knew to let it be up to you ^^

[Relairah]

OoC: Oh lol yea its good XD Actually you didn't have to since the beast isn't my character per say. But thanks! ^-^

The beast's tail continued to twitch more and more in an agitated manner. It was just waiting. And Vellina knew this. She glanced toward Tiberius, watching him closely, and it seemed the beast thought she was diverting her attention. He chose that moment to suddenly burst toward her, though the way it ran was like a crocodile on land rather than a bounding tiger. It was extremely fast though it was clear it would not be able to change directions on a moment's notice and Vellina leaped out of the way, the loud snap of the creature's jaws barely missing her and the hiss of acid coming into the air.

It stopped, roaring and turned, its eyes sharp. It seemed to grin, as if it was toying with her. But the creature was stupid. Vellina noticed Tiber's attack as it increased toward the creature, and at that moment, she sent a blaze of flame from her maw, bursting in the creature's face causing it to stumble backward and be impaled by the earthy shards. However, the thing wasn't quite dead yet.

It roared angrily in pain, squirming and writhing as it was not able to detach itself from the shards. Unfortunately, its paws were now off the ground and though it tried, its claws were only able to scrape at the earth, hardly enough to get a good grip and pull itself forward. Vellina smirked, they had it now! Her eyes flashed and the shards erupted in flame, quickly turning into a full out fire which licked at the creature's body until it was engulfed and roaring as it burned to a crisp.

She stepped back and away, moving back toward Tiberius. She wasn't one to enjoy watching something suffer and die slowly so she figured she'd just leave it to its bitter end. "Thanks," she said to Tiberius, feeling that he would understand her gratitude. "I think it was me it was trying to eat," she said with a slight laugh, "which speaking of food yours is waiting..."

[Helcerinex]

With mellow eyes, Tiber greatfully had no problem watching it suffer. Not that he was sadistic about it, he jsut... couldn't look away. He stood up on his rock, jaws clsoed and head tilted and angled a little to watch. He had a very mundain frown on his face, something he did often.

He'd usually relieve the earth of these shards, and force them bakc from where theyd come from. And he did so. Raising a paw openly, and swaying it with a closing motion.

The shards shook and rattled as they sank down, scraping the charrewd creature off as they slowly wiggled back into the ground. It still left a mark on the ground from where they'd been used, but at least it didn't prove a hazard.

The male did turn when she mentioned his food, he'd forgotten by now, but he soon grew hungry.

"Hmmm...", he said, turning his ehad away from her, "Indeed.", he said fittingly to the mood. Quite plain, and with a more upbeat sarcasm.

[Relairah]

Vellina continued forward, making her way back into the cave. She glanced back at the sound of the shards Tiberius had created sinking back into the earth and the blood which pooled from the large holes now in the creature's body. Well, it served it right, attacking her and such. She looked forward and plopped down in the cave. Frankly, she was tired and her food needed to digest anyway. She glanced at Tiber.

"After you feel you have regained your strength," since he seemed fine enough in combat, "I think we should return to the group. My father probably has some sort of mission for me and I am not sure about you.. but if you don't have one of your own, perhaps you might accompany me."

[Helcerinex]

Tiber flexed and cracked his knuckles on his paws soon after theyd been reabsorbed into the earth. He turned full round, and approached the cave again.

He stepped bakc down upon the carcass he so wished to actually feed on, and slowly pried a limb off with a bloody mess pooling onto the ground. He rather enjoyed it, not having eaten in quite some time. He relished the taste of actual food, and meats.

He raised his head when Vel had offered him such a proposal, and he licked his chops once, before turning to face her more properly, "Well that all depends.", he began, "Whether or not I believe you are capable of finishing an assignment on your own... without being injured... Or if you simply wish for me to accumpany you on your own time.", he said, and flicked a bone he'd seperated away form his food.

"Afterall... I don't neccasarily hold a grudge agaisnt these... Cougars, like you, and your kin."

[Relairah]

She ignored him as he chowed down on a piece of the creature, uncertain how he could eat that thing but whatever he did was his own business. She almost wondered what other sort of things he had eaten in his life time. But she didn't ask. Instead, she listened to his response and finally laughed, though in a mocking sort of way.

"Do you think I'm stupid, Tiberius? Of course I know you have no grudge against the cougars. Many of our group have never even seen them. The purpose is more to satisfy a thirst for personal revenge, not just mine. Or perhaps just a relieve of a thirst for blood. In light of your past, I would say yours is the latter."

She paused, holding herself proudly despite her small size. "I am fully capable of handling myself. I do not need help. I merely asked out of courtesy, though it might be wasted on someone who doesn't ask for it. I only thought you might enjoy a bit of fun."

Another pause. "Do not mistake me. I am not a helpless wolfess in distress." She scoffed at the term, having met some other female wolves who were pathetic and petty. She didn't like to think of them, much less herself being like them in any way.

[Helcerinex]

He held up a bone, caught between two long claws, not truly taking her minor arguement, and her disrespectful laugh in any way seriously. And he hardly looked at her now.

"If I... interpreted you... as weak... petty... naive... helpless... Arrogant... Pathetic.", his eyes had a harsh look to them, and he broke the bone in two with his claws rather dully, and dropped them, "Do you... REALLY...", he looked at her, "Think that I would have bothered to follow you here, let alone, listen to you?", he asked, almost as though he HAD interpretted her to be stupid in some way... or just not paying attention.

He had gone bakc to fiddling around with the carcass... getting a long, sharp claw in, and twining a long strip of flesh off like it was a strand of speghetti, "Hm.", he said, staring at it, and blowing a stream of black gas onto it, causing it to break down, and rot away to dust.

[Relairah]

She listened to his response and glanced away. He had a point, and of course she should have thought of that. Perhaps she had gotten too hasty. She did have a tendency to do that, it was true. Her pride was a little hurt, but she didn't show it. Instead, she rose, glancing at the rotting bone as it faded to dust. "Indeed." She paused, turning toward the cave entrance.

"Forgive me if I overstepped my bounds." Another pause. "When you are ready, we will be waiting for you at the spot when we first arrived."

With that she left, spreading her wings and gliding over the lands easily, soon finding her father and the group and landing. Shanto smiled briefly when he saw her and gestured for her to join him, which she did. "Vellina, I trust your... recruit had the rest he needed. I have already sent out the essential members and some scouts. It will be soon. We have located the cougars. It will be your task to get their attention, and bring them here."

If/when Tiberius arrived, Shanto would dip his head in a sort of greeting, though quite brief and hardly in a courteous manner. That just wasn't the type of wolves they were. "Tiberius... wasn't it?" A pause for confirmation. "We should talk for a bit. Tell me your power. Nothing detailed unless you want, just the point. I plan to make good use..."

[Helcerinex]

OOC: lol try to lay off a little on stuff in that last paragraph, the predicting thing is alright, it can jsut be confusing, and a little unnecasary.
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Tiber hardly minded the trip down from the mountain... he hadnt thought much of Vellina, if she was upset, it was relatively her own fault. Of course it didn't mean he had less trust in her... if there WAS any to begin with. He hardly trusted anyone. He eyes were low, and his pace slow...

When he approached the alpha male, he did think much for courtesy either, he merely bowed his head slowly... Tiber was far more proper by nature. Even if he could be violent, he'd much rather have submission than war from his opponent. So his idea of manner was indeed... expectent.

However, in this case, as long as he did not become spat at, or called out, he really didn't care.

"I can tell you what you want to know...", he lumed his words. His teeth which showed as he spoke contained blood from the meal earlier. And he would prone his eyes around any packmember present... not taking much of a consideration, he jsut wanted to keep note of whether or not they had a potential backbone with which he would have difficulty quarreling with IF need be.

[Relairah]

OoC: Well, on one hand yea cause obviously he would have no clue since he hasn't done anything with Tiberius, but perhaps he got some info from Vellina, in which case I should've written that in. However, in this case, he's more just probing for information. Shanto likes being aware of what he's dealing with so he can best execute his plans. Sorry if it came off like he already knows. He really doesn't DX he's just trying to give Tiberius the best job for him. Maybe I wrote it a little too directly lol

Also, I'll reply shortly after I get a couple things figured out...