Returned To Fight

[Relairah]

As Ammolite would come to a standing point, and find herself surprised to discover Azarak had tagged along, perhaps she and Azarak may or may not have noticed another figure coming toward them. He moved in the shadows of the trees, his pelt becoming shaded and brighter as he passed out of each shadow and into the next. His pace was slow, a fast walk perhaps, yet he was in no sort of hurry. His gaze remained foward, but he didn't seem to be paying attention at all to his surroundings, or to the two others he was coming upon.

His pelt was a deep, rich purple, almost a blue color, giving the effect his pelt was changing colors between purple and blue and black, all entwined here and there. His foreright paw was white, and the tip of his tail, black. The tips of his ears were white, and he had a few streaks of white mingled in his thick fur. Large butterfly wings, shaped like those of a swallow butterfly were folded upon his back. Rims were white, the insides swirling purples and blues fading into each other. His build was large and muscular. He was rather average perhaps, considering his long maw and round body, thinner toward the thighs, with sturdy legs and huge paws, but his height was deffinately unnormal. His eyes were puppiless, like the eyes of a horse, the left eye being blue, the right being purple.

He was a quite beautiful and odd site to see. He drew nearer, and nearer, and suddenly he stopped in his step abruptly. Eyes came to rest upon the two beings, Azarak and Ammolite, and he looked at them curiously. He was quite unsure of what to do, and unsure of their own reaction, if they had noticed him... he was sure they had. Perhaps he shouldn't speak, and just keep going? "Hello..." it slipped his lips before he really knew what he was saying. His deep voice flowed from his vocals, and a slight smile came to his face. "Have I intruded?" he questioned after a moment.

[Felypsa]

Azarak sighed and started drumming his claws on her head, but hey weren't sharp enough to hurt her. "Alright, Ammolite, you can take a turn around the mountainous area we're in...but don't wander away. I've a bad feeling about being out here too long..." Having warned her, he fell silent and had nothing more to say.

"I just need a moment, Azarak. I need to...clear my head." She began to pace a little, breathing in the fresh air and sunlight. She was interrupted suddenly by the new arrival. It was a wolf, with a pelt of such extraordinary colors that vaguely reminded Ammolite of her eyes at times. The eyes in question became placid and automatic - yellow-green - as she wecolmed the new arrival. It struck Ammolite as she looked upon the stranger that it had been so long since she'd seen another wolf aside from herself, Hawk, and Zues - a real wolf, not just a cave-demon who took the form of a wolf, as Istariel and Fiendark did. This wolf was real. Looking at him, Ammolite felt herself transported back to the time before she met Hawk and Azarak - before this crazy adventure began. A time of innocence, when she sought only to learn more about the world around her.

As her eyes reverted back to yellow-green, so did Ammolite's temperance revert back to her naive friendliness. "Hello," she greeted back. "Don't worry, you're not intruding on anything. Nothing's happening, and there's no one of importance to really intrude on." She smiled sweetly at him, in her usual manner. It was the old Ammolite resurfaced. "My name is Ammolite. Who are you?"

[Monkey Monk]

Quite suddenly Phoebus swooped from the entrance to the tunnel. His talons raked the ground as his excellent timing brought him to a halt by Ammolite. He puffed out his chest as he tended to do and hopped onto the toes of her right, forepaw. The bird of prey tilted his head slightly and looked at her. "And where have you been young lady? You dare leave me alone with all those cave-demons? And you, you tasty lizard, you're just as bad. Atleast with you I can joke around. Not like with that king fellow." The bird then went into a tirade of his very poor impression of Istariel's father demanding in colorful language for the bird to remove himself from the back of the throne. Yet he stopped in his rantings when he took note of the stranger. Quickly and deftly he spun about on Ammolite's toes. His fierce eyes examined the other for a moment. "Well what do we have here?"

Hawk continued to enjoy the celebrations with his beloved mate and friends. Yet after a moment, he noticed the Phoebus was not present. He knew it was not like the bird to miss an opportunity to spin one of his tails to a stranger. Slowly he brought his muzzle to Istariel's ear and spoke gently. "Where did Phoebus run off to?"

[Relairah]

The oddly colored wolfen smiled, glad that he hadn't run into anyone that would immediately want to bite his head off. They were friendly, which made him smile. He looked curiously at Phoebus and raised a slight brow, 'What a curious bird,' he thought to himself. When Phoebus turned attention towards him, it was then his ears would twitch. Ah yes, the wolfess had requested who he was. "Okay, well, Ammolite, I am Akuma. Pretty name you have. And, I'm happy to know I haven't intruded," he said with a sheepish grin. He wondered how many more might join in the group. He really wasn't all too comfortable around crowds, at least, not unless he knew many of them well enough.

His gaze turned to the non-wolfen creatures, that is, the lizard and the hawk. "Might I ask for the names of either of you?" he questioned. His thoughts of others joining in on the group were pushed aside, and perhaps even forgotten about temporarily in his mind.

[Felypsa]

"Oh, Phoebus!" Ammolite said with some surprise as the hawk emerged from the Underground. She smiled at him, abashed. "I'm sorry. Really. How was I to know you would suffer so?" She spoke lightly, liltingly. "You met the king? Oh...Istariel must have taken Hawk to meet Melkior and Valkyrie," she mumbled under her breath. But she was resolved not to think about that and directed her attention to Akuma. "Akuma is also a nice name," she said agreeably. "The lizard's name is Azarak, and the hawk is Phoebus. They're two of my good friends." She beamed at both nonwolven creatures affectionately.

Azarak rolled his eyes at Phoebus. "I'm sure King Melkior had a reason for speaking to you such," he retorted. "He is, after all...a king, while you're just an impertinent bird with an overlarge ego to match your overlarge beak. As for you," he added, addressing Akuma, "don't try anything. This Ammolite's been through a lot, and if you have any bad intentions at all, I will personally be sure you are reduced to a pile of dust. And yes, my name is Azarak. Nice to meet you."

Istariel took no notice of any of the absences; she was too busy greeting some old friends and laughing about something or other. But when Hawk brought her attention to the missing Phoebus, she was less concerned than one might suppose. "Maybe he doesn't like crowds," she suggested. "You shouldn't worry, Hawk." She was oddly dismissive; nothing was going to ruin her fabulous day.

But Fiendark overheard the exchange and sidled up beside Hawk. "He probably went the same place Azarak went," the cave-demon said quietly. "And he went to find - well. Haven't you noticed we're not all here?" Fiendark nodded to Hawk before vanishing into the throng.

Before Hawk could react to any of this, Queen Valkyrie came down from her throne to speak to Hawk. "Hawk, son," she said, her voice soft. "I hope you don't think I at all disapprove of the match. I just had to make a few things clear to Istariel. But I'm truly happy for you, for both of you. I don't want us to get off to a rocky start at the beginning of this joyous journey." She managed a small smile, but she was a little anxious. For a queen, she was terribly nervous and personal.

[Monkey Monk]

Phoebus nodded to the one who called themself Akuma. Seeing as how Ammolite gave his name, he saw no need to speak to the new acquaintance at the moment. Instead he glared at Azarak sarcasticly and flapped his wings slightly. "And I suppose you consider yourself Prince Shit of Turd Island hmm? Be care what you say to me Azarak. I still am wondering how you would taste after a nice flight through the clouds. Ahh dear Ammolite, it seems just about everyone is with those monarchs. Your father, Hawk, Istariel, Zues, even all those cave-demon folks. Yet I didn't see you or this tasty lizard so I came to make sure you were both alright."

Indeed Hawk had hardly any time to think upon the matter that Fiendark posed. When the queen came to him and spoke he offered a small smile. Slightly he inclined his head to her as a sign of respect before he spoke up in repsonse to her words. "I understand ma'am. I know it must have been a shock to have your daughter come forth with me at her side. Yet I assure you ma'am that no harm will come to my beloved Istariel. Not by a foe and certainly not by myself." For a moment he seemed to be pondering something. Yet finally he spoke up the subject that still confused him. "Is it true that in uniting with my love, I have become a prince? If so, I find it to be rather startling. I'm not one accustomed to having any stature above the norm. I'm not sure that I quite would like such a title. I'd much rather simply be Istariel's eternal mate."

[Relairah]

Akuma smiled at Ammolite and nodded, yet said nothing in response. He was completely clueless as to what these others were talking about. But it was easy to know at least that they were talking about others in their group, or so Akuma saw it. How big exactly was their group? It did seem the others might be preoccupied, but he wasn't sure. His thoughts were cut off when he was spoken to, by the lizard, whom Ammolite had said was Azarak. What would draw the other to the conclusion he had any bad intentions? Yet, if Ammolite had been through a lot, then perhaps it was only reasonable. He sighed, "You needn't worry about me at all," he said softly, reassuring them he was of nothing to be concerned about.

[Felypsa]

Ammolite listened to Phoebus's and Azarak's conversation, then decided to ignore them and instead get to know this Akuma. “Don’t mind them,” she confided to him. “They’re always bickering like this. And don’t worry about Azarak. He can be uptight.” She didn’t dispute the lizard’s claim that she had been through a lot, however. That much was true, and she was still unwilling to completely open up to the stranger. Spectre had taught her that much. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t be friendly, and Akuma’s reassurance was slightly convincing. “So…Akuma. Where do you come from? Do you belong to Shinkou Ookami?” Her pack. Or, it used to be. Ammolite wasn’t sure what was her home or not anymore.

[/color]

“You know, I’m curious how you can be so threatening when you lack the self-control to even be quiet for half a moment,” Azarak snapped. Then he changed topic to the other issue Phoebus had brought up. “Oho, so Melkior’s got ’em all gathered up, eh? Well, it’s flattering to know that someone missed us, even this birdbrain. They’re all having a grand party down there, it seems. Well, no matter.” He yawned. “I never liked parties anyhow. Too easy to get squashed.”[/color]

Valkyrie offered a tentative smile in response to Hawk’s reassuring words. “It gladdens my heart to hear you say so, Hawk. Istariel is very important to us, and it is good to know you will be there to protect her if need be.” Her smile fell a little, however, when he mentioned his concerns. She sighed. “Oh, Hawk. Yes, technically, now you are Istariel’s prince consort, and you do have authority over these cave-demons. It is only a technicality though. Melkior and I do not intend on passing the throne on to Istariel any time soon; we still have many years of ruling left in us, I hope. But if it so happens one day, that we are incapable of ruling, and Istariel must take our place, if you are still alive and united with her, you will be required to sit beside her at those thrones. Does that trouble you so much? I’m afraid it’s the way it is. There is no ‘simply’ about it. Istariel is a princess; that just about ruins all possible simplicity of mating. Please don’t be afraid,” she added quickly, realizing she was sounding rather doomsaying, “there is still great happiness in your future. Melkior and I are quite happy together, even now, after all these years. But there are more…obstacles, as a member of royalty. I am sorry, but that’s the way it is.” She hesitated before asking the next question. “You are not…regretting your decision, are you?”[/color]
[/center]

[Monkey Monk]

Phoebus shot a sidelong glance over to Azarak. When he next spoke, his voice was in a cruel voice that was obviously fake. "Who asked whether or not you like parties?" The bird quickly bowed his head in apologies, finding the joke not as funny as he had expected. He puffed up his chest slightly and proceded to relaxe upon Ammolite's back. The bird could think of nothing else to say, and he certainly had no intentions of going back to the celebrations.

Hawk was disarmed by the last question the queen asked him. Quickly he shook his head and spoke in a voice that showed the pure sincerety behind his words. "I will never in my life regret having Istariel as my lover. I enjoy every moment I am with her deeply in my heart. Right now, I feel an odd emptiness with her not by my side even though I know she is near. I am not detered by the position I may or may not assimilate to. I only worry that a few neighsayers might accuse me of only having Istariel as my eternal love for such a position. Yet power has absolutely nothing to do with why I love Istariel. You may see her as a princess ma'am. Yet I, and please don't take offense to this, I see her as something much more. I see her as the beautiful, caring, and compassionate female that she is. For these qualities that I see and many more, I love Istariel with all my heart."

[Relairah]

He chuckled slightly when Ammolite spoke of them bickering so much, watching the bird and lizard a moment, before turning his gaze toward Ammolite's once more. He bit his lip slightly, as if thinking. He had never really felt comfortable much with talking about himself. "I don't much remember my past," that was true, and he didn't want to reveal what he did know of it, at least not yet. "But, yes, I am part of Shinkou Ookami. I have been for a little while now." His attention would change to Phoebus and Azarak now and then when they spoke, he found them rather amusing. "And what about yourself, Ammolite? Where are you from?" he questioned in return. He was quite bad at conversations, mostly because he hardly had them.

[Felypsa]

Ammolite looked at Phoebus in surprise at his nasty jibe, but said nothing of it. She felt a brief pang of regret for lingering up here while there was a grand celebration below her - but they didn't miss her anyway, as Azarak said, so why bother? She shoved such bitter thoughts from her mind and again returned her attention to Akuma. Doesn't remember his past? Now that's peculiar...She chose not to inquire further, for that would be tactless. She did shift a little uncomfortably at his follow-up question. "Well...down there, actually," she admitted, indicating the entrance between the oak and the water-rock. "The Underground caverns, below the mountains. They're really nice, just ask Azarak or Phoebus. But I find I, uh..." She stumbled with the words. "I...somewhat prefer the outside...outside world..." She managed to smile, though it was shaky. Unnoticed by her, her amulet had begun to glow - though its radiance may have been lost in the blinding sunlight.

[/color]

Azarak gave Phoebus a funny look in response to his taunt, but otherwise did not reply to the hawk. He was feeling a little restless, and not just because there was a party going on currently. He had a strange feeling...that something was amiss. Something's about to go horribly wrong. Something unanticipated...but what? And what can I do about it? He scurried over Ammolite's back, ruby red gaze darting this way and that, as if he could pick out the trouble by doing so.[/color]

"Oh dear - I hope I haven't offended you," Valkyrie said, surprisingly timidly for a queen. "I didn't mean to suggest that you don't love her. You do, obviously, and with a passion not easily extinguished. I just - wanted to make sure you were alright with the position...not that you'll be expected to do much. Istariel has a lot of free time for a princess, as you may have noticed. Well. Anyway. This has been a lovely chat. You, Hawk, are very deserving of my daughter, and vice versa. I am proud to have you as my son-in-law." And that, no matter what else the queen said, was completely sincere and true.[/color]

It was also what Istariel overheard as she came back to her lover's side. She beamed at both mother and mate. "I'm so glad you two are getting along," she gushed. "This is an absolutely wonderful celebration, Mother. I feel I can't possibly get any happier than this." She nuzzled Hawk affectionately.[/color]
[/center]

[Monkey Monk]

Phoebus grew quiet at the look that Azarak and Ammolite both gave him. He regretted his earlier jibe dearly and took the flight. The bird soared off a short ways to the apex of a tall tree. There he tucked his head beneath his wing and began to brood.

Hawk shook his head, quickly dismissing the fear that the queen had addressed. When Istariel returned, he returned the nuzzle with and equal amount of affection. After giving her a playful nip, he then directed his attention back to Valkyrie. "Don't worry mother, I am very hard to offend and especially by one of my own family. I am honored that you think of me so highly and I assure you I return the favor graciously. I have truly enjoyed talking with you." He let a smile pull at his lips when he spoke the word 'mother'. The thrill of having parents, even if they were in-laws, made his attitude bubbly with his joy.

[Relairah]

Akuma's ears twitched as Ammolite spoke, and his gaze drifted downward, towards the ground briefly, then he slowly smiled. "Oh, well, I will say I have never been to the... uhm... Underworld, but this outside world is indeed lovely." His gaze drifted as Phoebus took flight, then fell upon Ammolite once more. He did notice her suddenly brighter-growing amulet, and looked at it with curiosity for a moment, rather wonder what it was doing and what was going to happen. He raised his gaze from it, perhaps he shouldn't worry... he had seen so many wolves in these lands that had amulets, that did the same thing. He himself had one. Only, he had never used it. He was rather unsure of it. And so, he simply said nothing about her amulet. "Perhaps I should visit... the Underworld, someday..." He shrugged, someday indeed, who knew when.

He sought for something to say, it seemed rather awkward this conversation they were having. Akuma hadn't seemed to have noticed Ammolite's color-changing eyes, although they had changed twice since he'd been standing there. Perhaps so many before him had questioned them... "May I question your eyes?" he asked after a moment. He shifted on his paws, "And... do you think we could walk? Or, do you want to simply stand in one place." He smiled, standing in one place for too long did become uncomfortable.

[Felypsa]

Ammolite began to feel a little queasy, but she hid it with a smile at Akuma. She did notice when Phoebus took flight, but strangely felt too…weary, or conflicted, to call out to him. She murmured, “I have been informed that my eyes change with my emotions. Everyone asks. But no one knows for sure. They’re part of…” She fumbled for words, her mind foggy. “…of my demonic heritage…my father’s a demon, you know…Mother was a wolf…I…” She could not complete her thought. Her eyes suddenly went purple and red, a strange and eerie combination. Her amulet had now become much noticeably brighter, and Ammolite was lost.

What had happened before—when Luke and Kindare attacked them—now happened again, only this time there seemed neither reason nor limitation. Ammolite, possessed and frenzied, raged uncontrollably; first she bucked off a very startled Azarak, then snarled demonically at Akuma. The rocks and dirt surrounding her began to swirl, then to spin crazily, increasing with space and material, until Ammolite had before her a giant tornado of dirt and sharp rocks. And then, the strangest thing happened: Ammolite joined with the cyclone. She leaped into her creation, which picked her up neatly, seeming to cause her no harm. It was an odd sight, seeing a red-purple-eyed grey wolf sitting placidly in the middle of a raging storm, which seemed to have a will of its own. The whirlwind first bent towards Akuma, then veered suddenly and headed to Azarak, who smartly dodged its path. The tornado-plus-Ammolite seemed to have no direct course, but it began to wind towards the tree in which Phoebus was brooding. It grew as it sped along and gathered more rocks and dirt. Soon it seemed to be a moving wall of spinning stones. Ammolite had disappeared behind the swirl of dirt and rock. Something had clearly gone horribly wrong.

[/color]

Just as Hawk felt bubbly about being able to call her Mother, so did Queen Valkyrie feel a pleasure and pride at his addressing her that way. She had never had a son, and Hawk now was the closest thing, and a very good son he was. Tears sprung to her eyes but she turned her head away and effectively hid them, only turning back to her children when she was relatively dry-eyed. “I can certainly say the same for you,” she said quietly. “This is indeed a joyous day.” I can see why Istariel acted so hastily, she added silently. She couldn’t resist![/color]

Before Istariel could add anything to the conversation, however, Fiendark appeared after celebrating with the myriad grateful demons whom he had healed. He looked anxious, and his opal amulet shimmered with an unnatural light. “I am uneasy,” he informed the small party. “And I hate to disrupt the happy mood, but I feel something terrible is happening to my daughter. I believe her hardships are far from over…and that she didn’t return from the Spirit World completely normal. I don’t even know where she is, she’s not here, though she should be. Does anyone have any idea where she can be found?” He seemed calm, but he was frantic inside, his mind screaming for him to hurry up and help Ammolite.[/color]
[/center]

[Relairah]

'...of my demonic heritage...' Akuma's ears did indeed seem to listen more intently at this point, yet there wasn't much more listening to be done as the events next would unfold. Her eyes changed, to purple and red, and he looked at her questionably, stepping back slightly, "A-Ammolite? Are you..." but his question was cut off as Azarak went flying from his place on her back. He gasped softly as the rocks and dirt began to rise, and then the tornado formed before his very eyes! He didn't have time to take notice to her brighter and brighter glowing amulet, to take notice was unnecessary. And then, she became one with the tornado, or so it seemed.

When it came straight for him, his first reaction was to run, but then it veered away toward the lizard. He opened his mouth to shout something yet closed his mouth once more when Azarak dodged the reckless tornado. Then it headed toward the tree... wasn't that the one that Phoebus had flown to? What was going on! He looked about frantically, having no clue what to do. "Watch out!" he screamed toward Phoebus, unsure if the bird even heard him or not. It seemed that Ammolite, the friendly female she had seemed to be, had no gone on some sort of powerful, reckless rampage! And what he noticed, was the way the tornado took no apparent path, but seemed to simply head toward the nearest life-source. Perhaps this was her demonic heritage coming out in her?

'Run... run... run!' his mind screamed inside of him. Yet somehow, his feet stood firm where he was. Should he really just run away? Should he really just leave her and the other two to deal with the problem themselves? He bit his lip, he had never before seen anything like this at all. He was completely lost and confused. He had to do something... right? He had to at least try, didn't he? He sighed, and he didn't notice his own amulet about his bushy neck pulse and begin to gain a glow, one that his amulet had never gained. The glow was of a mingled purple and blue light, and grew bolder with each passing moment. Yet, even if he had to do something... what?

Surely it would be suicide to merely leap into the tornado, 'twould be much a foolish action. He was unsure of his elements he possessed, and he didn't want to use them. He never had, and perhaps he even feared of what would happen if he were to use them. Yet... did he have any other solutions? He felt himself moving forward, first slowly then getting faster and steadier, his paws making a growing steady beat upon the earth beneath him, moving toward the tornado. To use Ammolite's name, perhaps would do little, yet he didn't think of this. He shouted her name at the tornado constantly, as if that would somehow draw her out of her crazed state.

After a moment, he ceased his callings of her name and lowered his gaze, beginning to utter soft words. Everything was happening so fast, he was almost unsure of what he was doing. As the words were uttered from his lips, a curved beam seamed to try and curl itself about the tornado. It was quite pale blue in color, so much that it seamed transparent, almost white, and winded around, as if hoping to contain the tornado within its hold, yet it moved with the tornado, not trying to hold it within one spot only. If and when completed, it would seem the tornado were surrounded by a pale blue ribbon of sorts, and if indeed he were successfully, Akuma would then attempt to slow this tornado's crazed rampage.