Returned To Fight

[Monkey Monk]

Phoebus opened one eye at the odd range of sounds that cascaded upon him. When the stranger called out to him, his attention drifted to the wall of dirt and stone that swirled in a twister. Quickly he spread his wings and went to take flight. Yet one of the rocks collided with the bird's skull. He was rendered unconscious and began to plummet to the ground. The golden feathers of his wings shook with the air that passed between them. There was a sickening crunch when the bird collided into the ground. Yet by some lucky act of nature, Phoebus was still alive. His injuries however, were far greater than the time their group had split up in the spirit world. Both his wings were broken and hung at crude angles. Blood leaked profusely from a gash on his head.

A warm smile pulled across Hawk's lips at his mother-in-law's reaction to his words. Gently he pressed against his beloved, offering forth yet another nip to the tip of her ear. Yet when Fiendark approached and expressed his concern, the golden warrior sobered up from his joyful mood. He let his voice rumble up in his chest. Before he could voice his words he fell to the ground crying out in pain. His figure shook on the stone floor as his eyes were tightly shut. After a moment, the excruciating pain subsided slightly. He breathed heavily and tried to shake off the daze that the burst of pain had caused. Slowly he spoke forth, his voice barely audible. "Phoebus.... he's been hurt badly... I think that.. that he's on the surface.. he left.. a while ago.. maybe... he's with Ammolite.." The mascu swayed for a moment in the spot where he stood. Yet after a moment, he regained his composure.

[Felypsa]

oOc| damn, Phoebus always gets hurt, doesn't he? =( poor guy.

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There was no trace of the real Ammolite in the frenzied whirlwind. She seemed to have vanished, replaced by a ferocious wind-and-rock demon. There was a little spark of energy as it collided with Phoebus, and the tornado spun even faster, seeming to feed a little on Phoebus’s lost energy. The cyclone then turned again, defying all laws of weather, gravity, and physics, making its way back towards Akuma. But then the blue ribbon enclosed it, wrapping tightly around the raging whirlwind. As a result, the tornado slowed, and a few rocks dropped from the drawing force of the spinning winds. But apparently it would take a lot more energy to stop this crazed cyclone.[/color]

Though Azarak was tossed mercilessly from Ammolite’s back, he seemed unhurt. He scrambled upright, watching in horror as the Ammolite-tornado spun out of control, hurtling madly towards the tree that Phoebus was in. He was caught completely off-guard, and for a moment stood disoriented as the whirlwind attacked the hawk, who was unable to escape its wrath. Numbly the lizard watched as Phoebus dropped onto the ground. The sound of the bird’s body hitting the ground, however, snapped Azarak out of his daze. He sent out a reverberating chord that would reach Melkior, warning the demon-king that reinforcements were needed. Once that was done, Azarak frantically tried to figure out what sorcery would work best. He was spared the effort, however, for the stranger—Akuma—had cast some strange blue ribbon around the cyclone-formerly-Ammolite, an enchantment Azarak was unfamiliar with. He stood where he was, transfixed, watching and hoping that Akuma’s endeavor would work. It did seem to slow the rapid whirling force, but Azarak discerned that more was needed. He added his own sorcery to Akuma’s, creating a wall of white radiance and placing it in front of the tornado. Many of the rocks crashed into the wall and fell harmlessly to the ground. But it was still not enough to completely stop the thing, which spun onward. It sought both Akuma and Azarak as if it could tell they were the ones attacking it. There seemed to be a strange intelligence and a powerful will behind the frenzy of the cyclone, which greatly unnerved Azarak. Everything is falling apart…[/color]

At the exact moment Hawk collapsed from the agony of Phoebus’s own pain, the magnificent tiger-king appeared beside his son-in-law. Melkior had just received Azarak’s warning from above, and looked with grave concern at Hawk. “If you are feeling too hurt, you ought to go to the Sick ward, just for now,” Melkior suggested. “Valkyrie, Fiendark, and I must journey to the Surface, where we will hopefully heal Phoebus and contain Ammolite. She has become a raging, uncontrollable tornado, as Azarak has just informed me.” He nodded briskly to his mate and Fiendark, and was about to move out of the grand hall.[/color]

Istariel knelt beside Hawk, worried about his condition. “You mustn’t go anywhere,” she murmured, knowing Hawk’s tendency to rush off to help others. “I will go and help in your stead. Ammolite still has my ring, so—”[/color]

“You must not come, Istariel,” Queen Valkyrie said, sounding stern despite her anxiety. “You wouldn’t last five minutes in the sunlight. Do not forget your inhibitions in your quest to help others. We should be able to save those on the Surface, if it is possible.” There was an implication there: they might not be able to rescue Phoebus from death…and the only way to stop Ammolite might be to kill her. Valkyrie, as well as Melkior, knew this was a likely possibility, but neither of them wanted to say as much to Hawk or Istariel, not wanting to worry them.[/color]

Fiendark looked at Hawk, knowing he was hiding his pain. Ammolite’s father, upon hearing about her troubles, knew immediately that her death was a very possible outcome. But he did not want to betray that knowledge. He refused to think about it. She must be saved. She can be saved. I had given up my life for her before; I will do it again if it is necessary. She is my daughter. She must live. She will live. “You have been a good friend to her,” he said to Hawk quietly. “For which I am grateful, as I’m sure she is.” I cannot ask his aid for her sake, though he could help greatly. I cannot ask it. He is in pain; he must look after himself. She will have to do without him. She must live…With that thought, he nodded back to Melkior, and followed the king and queen as they made their way out of the grand hall.[/color]
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[Relairah]

Akuma was glad of his success, yet he wasn't surprised that it was little to stop the raging tornado. He saw the white wall that went up, and then the tornado was coming toward him again, or at least, in his dirrection. He glanced at Azarak, it seemed the other was also a target. He wondered how they were supposed to stop this. What had happened? This thought twirled and danced in his mind. What had so suddenly gone wrong? He didn't want to kill this... live tornado... because, it was merely a wolfess gone mad, or so he was sure. But... how could they stop it?

There wasn't much time for thinking, and running wouldn't do any good either, although his legs ached to do so. Despite his dislike for more than a few characters together at a time around him, right now, he supposed he really did wish there were others. Shaking these thoughts from his mind, he focused upon the tornado once again. His amulet glowed steadily, never losing the pale bluish color that highlighted it. His thick fur rippled about more wildly than it already was from the tornado, and a light began to form in front of him, growing larger and larger, until it was a large, silvery orb. He murmered a foreign word and the orb suddenly burst, as if it had been an exploding star, light flowed from its source of explotion, yet instead of going in all dirrections, light flowed in streams toward the tornado. Perhaps this would be something else to slow its dangerous path.

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk ached all over. He could hear the other's telling him not to go, he could feel the soft touches from his beloved mate. Yet he had to go. If not for Ammolite, then for Phoebus. Despite how annoyed he could get at the bird, he cared for his guardian. Not to mention that they were the only soul he knew the ancient magics and lore of his family. He had to go an aid that bird of prey. Slowly the golden warrior rose to his feet with a great deal of difficulty. Those glowing eyes of his watched as the others left, off on an adventure. As much as he hated it, he knew that he would be more of a hindrance than an aid. Softly he leaned against Istariel, resting his head against hers as if to reassure her that he would stay with her. No words passed his lips as he softly nuzzled his lover. I hope that my friends will be ok..

Zues had been listening to the others speak of the troubles. As Hawk fell to the ground and spoke of his problem, the black mascu slid off into the crowd. He had left only moments before the others, but his speed soon brought him to the surface. Once in the open, he had slunk into the shadows so as to avoid the spinning vortex of dust and rubble. His fierce yellow eyes looked to Azarak and the unconscious Phoebus. For a moment he looked at the stranger with confusion, not knowing who they were. Perhaps what worried him the most was that no where he could see Ammolite. Worry bubbled up in him, but he knew that there were things to attend to first. Quickly he leaped from the shadows and scooped the golden bird into his jaws lightly. He shot Azarak a look saying that he would take care of Phoebus and return. With that he dashed off toward the entrance to the underground. Gingerly he set the bird on the ground before turning about and keeping to his word. It was only seconds before he skidded to a stop beside Akuma and exclaimed out to no one in particular. "What the devil is that thing?!" Of course he was speaking of the twister. Yet he continued to stand fearlessly toward the unknown.

[Felypsa]

Though Zues’s legendary speed allowed him to get to the Surface far before any of the others, the small band of cave-demons was not too far behind him. Before long, Queen Valkyrie emerged from the Underground, at roughly the same time Zues set the fallen Phoebus nearby. She withheld a gasp of sympathy and quickly moved over to him. Like Istariel, she possessed some healing abilities, and immediately set to work on the struck Phoebus, encircling him with bands of violet light that would hopefully return his energy and fix the hawk’s broken bones.

[/color]

While his mate was doing this, Melkior entered the fray, standing beside Zues and Akuma. When he saw the terror that was Ammolite, he didn’t flinch and, indeed, stood tall, surrounded by a pale white glow that seemed to emanate from his luxurious fur. As Akuma sent the starburst towards the cyclone, the demon-king added his own powerful attack, ten times as radiant as Akuma’s and Azarak’s endeavors combined. It was a shower of brilliant-white meteors that flew alongside Akuma’s streaming orb. Its target was, of course, thw twisting, evasive whirlwind. The tiger’s efforts were not powerful enough to hurt Ammolite, but hopefully could stop its forceful movement.[/color]

With the attacks of both Akuma and Melkior, the tornado could not continue. But neither did it stop completely. Some odd, physics-defying reaction occurred when the twister made contact with the orb of light and explosion of meteors. At first, the radiance was too bright for one to look upon, like the light of a very tiny sun; and then, once the brilliance had cleared away, there was a frozen tornado before them all. There was still no sign of Ammolite within it; it was like a tall, cyclone-shaped tower of stones. The ferocious gales had ceased, but the rocks did not fall.[/color]

Fiendark arrived in time to see this bewildering phenomenon. But he did not waste time staring at the paradoxical motionless whirlwind. The threat was still unabated, he knew. He caught the eye of Azarak, and hurried over to the lizard, who immediately scurried up onto Fiendark’s back. “Zues, we need your help,” Fiendark said softly to the Defender. “Will you run with us—towards her?” He nodded to the immobile tornado, in which he knew Ammolite was—somewhere. “Will you come too?” he asked Akuma. “You don’t have to—but we’ll need all the speed and energy we can to penetrate her prison.” Without waiting for an answer from either, he began to run towards it. His opal amulet began to glow dark green, casting a bizarre radiant aura over the running party.[/color]

Azarak was there to ensure the runners’ safety. Under his breath, he muttered an endless stream of strange words, and though nothing visible appeared from his efforts, he was clearly casting some kind of sorcery. King Melkior would stay behind, for the imminent collision between the runners and the frozen cyclone would be messy, so the tiger-demon would be cleanup. In the meantime, should Zues and Akuma decide to charge the tower of rocks headlong as Fiendark was, they would find that there was a tangible, if not visible, kind of guard protecting them when they struck the cyclone, so they would not get hurt.[/color]

Unaware of all the excitement above them, Istariel gently and lovingly conducted Hawk towards the Sick ward, which, since the Sickness had been cured, was now completely empty. She slowly eased him onto one of the stone tables, which was padded with feathers, fur, and the stuff of birds’ nest. As her mother attempted to heal the guardian, so did Istariel attempt to heal the guarded. But she found her efforts balked, and realized that she could do nothing to help Hawk—that his condition lay wholly on the condition of his guardian, Phoebus. Restless and helpless, Istariel paced back and forth, stopping every now and then to nuzzle Hawk affectionately and inquire after his health. But inside, she was screaming. For the first time, she was not getting what she wanted. She wanted to help the ones she loved, but was unable to do so. As a result, she was boiling with frustration, but managed to keep it under a smooth, smiling countenance.[/color]
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[Relairah]

If he had been his normal self, he would've froze at the site of more coming. He would've turned and ran, or tried to edge away into the shadows. But his mind was else-where. Instead, he noticed that along with his explosion of meteors, also came a much brighter light, that suddenly burst blindingly and cleared to reveal a tornado unmoving. Ears twitched, and he was being spoken to. He glanced at Fiendark, watching him a moment, and then slowly nodded.

Soon after Fiendark began his dash toward the tornado, he was running foward as well. He ran at a different angle than Fiendark was, and had little knowledge of the invisible protection about him. He really had no idea what precisely they were running toward this tornado for... but he didn't think about it, instead, he merely did as he was asked to do.

[Monkey Monk]

Zues nodded to Fiendark but made no immediate move. He waited and bided his time for the right moment. Soon it came though and he was off. Quickly he enacted his hidden power, touching it with his mind. To any onlooker, he would seem a blur. Something barely visible to the naked eye. At the same moment that the others collided with their target, he hit with full force. The area that he impacted with would implode forth in a cloud of dust and rubble. When it all cleared, Zues would be seen panting heavily as if he had run for several miles. Yet he had only used his power for a second or too. After all, such a skill was very draining.

Slowly the wounds began to heal. The wings reset themselves with sickening sounds. More and more injuries were fixed underneath the soft healing of the queen. The last thing to occur was that the gash on his forehead closed up. Slowly Phoebus rose to his feet and looked around confusedly. He had risen just in time to see the others collide with the motionless cyclone. As if to ask what was going on, he looked up to Valkyrie, yet no words passed his lips at the moment. Those fierce golden eyes of his looked up to her and spoke his words for him with their hazy, lost gaze.

Each and every time Istariel would nuzzle him affectionately, Hawk would softly return the expression. He still felt weak from his earlier spasms of pain. Yet after a moment, the anxiety within began to recede back to the corners of his mind. A sigh of relief passed his lips as he let his golden eyes slowly close. "Phoebus is no longer in danger...I think that means things are going well.." The warrior still felt nervous, anxious. He had wanted to join the others in aiding his friends. Yet he could not. Besides, a part of him wanted to stay down in the underground with his beloved mate. That same part of him never wanted to leave this place, to forever be with Istariel. The other half of him wanted the same thing, but also wanted to go above(if only for now) to aid the others. Alas. He knew he must stay down here, but at the least he wanted to be out of the sick ward.

[Felypsa]

The tower of rocks could not withstand the combined force and speed of Fiendark, Akuma, and the rapid Zues. It blew apart at the moment of the collision, sending stones every which way, from huge, bone-crushing boulders to tiny, sharp pieces of slate. Yet thanks to Azarak’s protection, none of these missiles touched any of the runners. When all the debris has cleared, there lay an exhausted wolf with ragged grey fur, her eyes closed so that her eye color was not discernible. Yet even without the color of her eyes, it was fairly obvious how she felt. With the destruction of her prison, Ammolite had returned…barely alive, but she had returned. Her amulet was no longer glowing. She moaned slightly but did not open her eyes.

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Though he had just run at top speed into a pillar of solid rocks, Fiendark was unharmed, due to Azarak’s very helpful sorcery. The moment he could see his daughter, he stooped beside her, licking her dust-covered face in hopes of waking her. He was the very picture of a tender father looking after his sleeping daughter. But though he was relieved that she was relatively alright now, he was troubled inside. This won’t be the last time this happens…But he refused to think of that, nudging Ammolite softly. “Ammolite, wake up,” he urged her gently.

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What happened to all those rocks? The instant the runners had collided and dispersed the tornado, the stones had scattered in every direction. But they did not get far. Melkior extended his sorcery and caught every single rock midair, down to the most insignificant pebble, with levitation. With this intangible hold on them, the demon-king slowly lowered every one to the ground, making sure they did not touch a single person. Once this was done, he released his magic hold on them, and they became regular rocks, uncharged by energy and sorcery. The tiger-demon, however, was not unscathed by this effort. The energy it took for both his meteor attack and this cleanup taxed him, and he sagged, weary, against the mountainside, eyes half-closed.

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To Valkyrie’s relief, Phoebus was healed and awake before long. She saw the question in his golden eyes and followed his gaze to see what happened. She flinched as the runners collided head-on with the frozen whirlwind, and watched as her mate painstakingly carried every stone to a proper resting place. She breathed in relief when she saw Ammolite, unconscious but alive, and turned back to her patient, smiling a little shakily. “I think everything’s okay now,” she said softly. “She was trapped inside a tornado, but then they destroyed the tornado, and have freed her. How are you feeling?”

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When Hawk related the good news, Istariel gave a relieved smile and licked his maw affectionately. “I am so glad,” she said sincerely. “I hope everything works out for Ammolite…” She was nervous, worried about her dear friend. I have not seen her since that time she ran into Hawk and me. And then she acted very strange. And before that, she was upset about something. I wonder if all this is my fault…but what could I have done to hurt her so? She closed her eyes and said to Hawk, “I cannot travel to the Surface, for I’m inhibited by my allergy to sunlight. But you should go—go, and make sure our friend Ammolite is okay. Though I hate to be parted from you, I’m really worried about her, and I would feel better knowing that you’re there to help her.” She looked anxiously into Hawk’s eyes—what if he didn’t want to go? What if it was too soon?

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[Relairah]

One white paw, the others a mingling blue and purple, stepped toward the wolfess lying upon the ground. Bright, puppiless eyes looked down at her form, the left being blue, the right purple. "I-is she going to be okay?" he asked softly, glancing at Fiendark, then once again at Ammolite. She seemed to be okay now. But he was curious. What the heck had happened? He half wanted to know, and half didn't. He sat back on his haunches, flicking a black tipped tail. He hadn't really paid attention to the fact he was unharmed completely. Right now, his attention was completely upon Ammolite. Other things he would pay attention later to, perhaps. Such as, introductions and explanations and such.

[Monkey Monk]

The golden wolf embraced his mate tightly. Softly his face was buried within her neck as he enjoyed her closeness. He knew that she was right, that he should go check on their friends. Yet he did not want to leave her. There was an ominous feeling about that made him tense. Almost as if all these sorrowful events were just the prelude to one massive one. After a moment he licked his lover's flesh and slowly pulled from her. His eyes were misty, on the verge of leaking tears. Great was his desire not to leave her, but he had to. Besides, it would only be for a little bit. Slowly he nodded his head to her. "I...I should check on them. I won't be long my love." Quickly and passionately he kissed her lips as only a wolf could before running off.

Slowly Zues approached the fallen femora as well. His fierce yellow eyes were soft with his concern. When the stranger's words cascaded upon his ears, he let his emotions become hidden within the back of his mind. He looked up to the other and offered a friendly smile of comfort. When he spoke, he airily waved of the other's own concerns, an attempt to reassure them. "Bah! Don't you worry about Ammolite. She always bounces back when hurt. I'm sure she'll be up and about in no time."

Phoebus looked up to the queen groggily and nodded. For a moment he watched the king work his sorcery. Yet his attention was ripped away when Hawk emerged from the underground. Wearily he rose to his talons and hopped over to his counter part. When he spoke, his voice was fatigued but still held it's usual humor. "About time you showed your ugly mug! And look at that, just in time to be late to help any." With a chuckle he flew up onto Hawk's shoulders.

[Felypsa]

Fiendark looked at Zues in surprise at his confidence, then broke into a smile. “I suspect you are right. She gets that from her mother.” He shifted his attention to Akuma, the stranger whom no one knew, but whom Fiendark had trusted to help. “As Zues has said, I’m sure she’ll be fine, thanks especially to you and your quick action.” It was Fiendark’s way of expressing gratitude.

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A little lizard scurried over to the fallen Ammolite, his tiny, harmless claws checking all over her face, making sure she suffered no injuries. Azarak shook his head in astonishment, realizing that Ammolite was quite healthy…just tired. “Amazing,” he murmured. “An experience like that would have killed a wolf five times her strength…and yet…she’s quite well.” Physically, anyway. Spiritually, she might be a little shaken.

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Ammolite gave another groan, then with great effort opened her eyes. They were grey, pure exhaustion. But as she looked at the concerned creatures standing over her—Zues, Akuma, Azarak, her father—she also felt Hawk come near. The presence of all her friends revitalized her. Her eyes cleared to a steady gold-green, and she stood up. She blushed a little as she faced the anxious faces of her friends, and quickly attempted to dispel their worries. “Don’t look so morbid! You look as if I’ve died and gone to Hell without you. I’m fine, I promise. But—oh Phoebus!” Apparently she remembered what she as a raging tornado had done to the hawk. “Is he okay? Are you all okay? I didn’t hurt any of you, did I? Oh, I couldn’t bear the thought—”

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Valkyrie looked a little startled to see Hawk join them. She wanted to ask after her daughter, but declined. She could tell that everyone’s main concern was Ammolite, despite her quick reenergizing. I wonder if anyone even knows what happened to her, the queen reflected. And if it’ll ever happen again. The coyote-demoness shivered; the rage of the cyclone was not one she should ever like to encounter again.

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Istariel lovingly returned Hawk’s affections, then watched him leave until he vanished completely from her sight. She suddenly felt a firm dread, as if she would not see him again. But she dismissed it from her mind, knowing that he would be back in just a few minutes, along with Ammolite, who was hopefully well again. Istariel decided she needed to calm down, get her mind off things. She strode to Dalia’s Lake, dipping her three tails into the cool water. The lakewater soothed her like nothing else. She closed her eyes in comfort. There she sat—alone but not lonely, confident but not secure, unwittingly exposed and vulnerable. Ignorance is bliss.

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[Relairah]

A smile decorated bluish-purple lips at Zeus' words, he glancing up at the wolf when the other spoke. He opened his mouth to reply, yet closed it and turned his gaze towards Fiendark as yet the other spoke. His smile widened, and he looked down at Ammolite once more. Her eyes opened... a gray color, and he looked at her curiously as if expecting something, yet all of a sudden she stood to her feet and her eyes changed colors. He found her eyes quite intriguing. Perhaps many did, he thought. When she spoke, he felt a tinge of relief. "Perhaps you're right," he murmered in response to Fiendark and Zeus. Still, he hoped she truly was as fine as she seemed to be.

Gaze rose to where Hawk had joined the group, he looking at him curiously. Was he yet another in this group? It seemed so... and once again his mind returned to that question of how many more there were... he was still not feeling so comfortable with so many, or maybe it was just a lot for him. And yet again, he was half wanting to dash off and disappear, perhaps while attention wasn't on him, yet the other half wanted to stay and make sure everything was okay, with Ammolite, and Phoebus, and perhaps meet everyone else, whom he really hadn't met yet due to dealing with Ammolite in her rabid state she had been in previously. Yet, the bird appeared to be fine as well. He was quite intriguied and curious.

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk breathed a sigh of relief as he saw that everyone seemed to be ok. When Phoebus perched upon his back, he tilted his head so as to look at his counter part through one eye. "And here I was hoping that I had finally rid myself of your wisecracks and boring stories." It was obviously meant as a joke. In truth, the golden warrior felt jubilant that everyone seemed fine. For a moment his glowing eyes fell upon Ammolite. Those golden colored irises softened for a moment as he felt a surge of joy to see his friend not harmed. Yet he did not make any approaches toward the other. He could not shake off the feeling that something terribly grave was about to happen.

Phoebus puffed out his chest indignantly. He raised his beak royalty and let loose a puff of air through his beak. "Do you hear this? Completely ungrateful and such a horrid stench about him. I swear. He carries no semblance to his parents. Maybe there was a mistake at birth." With that he took to flight. His words may have sounded hurtful to one who did not know the pair of Hawk and his guardian. Yet it was their way to treat each other such. It may make each other sound cruel and ungrateful for each other's presence. However, whenever they were too far apart one would be able to tell that they missed each other sorely. It was then that he took his perch atop Ammolite's back and nipped at the tip of her ear. "How do you fair now?"

Silence captivated Zues. He could find no words for him to speak at the moment. So it was thus that he drifted slowly to the edge of everyone's attention. This mascu too felt as if something was approaching. Almost similar to the feeling that completely feral beings were said to get before a particularly nasty storm. His lightning yellow eyes darted around slowly, almost as if he was trying to find whatever it was that was agitating him so. I sense a great sorrow is approaching. But from where will it hail? These is an ill scent upon the winds. Yet it comes from no where. This is disturbing at best...

"Such a lovely place isn't it?" Slowly a creature seemed to take form from the shadows. Naturally it was a wolf, and yet... he seemed to be much more. His tan fur was torn in several fur, matted with what was most likely long, arduous days of travel. Eagle-like wings sprouted forth from his spinal column. There too held a tannish color, their feathers ruffled up to give the whole scene a rather nasty look about it. Yet if disgust would arise in one's mind at this mascu, they would only have to gaze into his eyes to allow such thoughts to dissipate in but a moment. Not that his ocular organs were beautiful, but hypnotizing. The entirety of the orbs were a pitch black. Pupil, iris, and white all held that dark hue.

Lightly his paws fell upon the ground as he tried to lock his gaze with Istariel's. If he so succeeded, he would feign a friendly demeanor. The lyrics of his voice were warm and soft like a summer breeze. He continued to slowly stride toward the femora. If he indeed gain her gaze locked with his own, he would try his best to keep it. His mind surged as he tried to ensnare the princess in his mind grip. "He's not coming back. You know of who I speak and why. He doesn't love you. He loves the other. He doesn't want you as his own anymore. But do not despair lovely. I can take away all this pain. All you have to do, is come with me. I can take you away from all this despair. You can live in a realm of peace." Such an alluring offer was so heavily ladened with deceit and lies. It seemed every sentence was one of untruth. And yet, added on to his mesmerizing gaze, she might just fall for it.

[Felypsa]

oOc| oh, what a creep....

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"Phoebus!" Ammolite cried when she saw her friend, wincing as he nipped her ear. "You're alright! Well, so I assume you are, since you're as bitter as usual. Oh, I'm so sorry! Will you ever forgive me?" She nudged the hawk with her nose, beaming at him. "I'm fine now that everyone else is unhurt. But I hope that never happens again - that was awful!" She shuddered at the memory. But she turned back to her father, Azarak, Zues, and Akuma, showering them with gratitude and praise. "You saved me! You're fantastic! And King Melkior, too. I don't know what I'd do without you all...thank you so much," she murmured sincerely, her eyes shifting colors again. Then she looked at Akuma and realized how confused he must be. "Oh, Akuma! Forgive me, you must absolutely lost. Let me introduce you to everyone. Everyone, this is Akuma." She indicated her father, who was smiling relievedly at her. "My father here is Fiendark. The swift one is Zues." She paused as she introduced him, for he seemed...moody, his face brooding. She decided not to ask. She continued the introductions merrily, "You already know Phoebus and Azarak. The tiger and the coyote are the rulers of the cave-demons, King Melkior and Queen Valkyrie." Ammolite smiled, remembering meeting the monarchs in her youth. "And this...wolf here, this is Hawk," she finished softly, looking up at him. He looked relieved that she was unharmed, but distracted. Worried, she burst out, "Hawk, what's wrong?"

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Valkyrie sidled up beside her mate, who was tiredly closing his eyes. She poured some healing energy into him, and watched as he slowly rejuvenated himself. Once the monarchs were both recovered from their efforts, they were suddenly attuned to whatever it was Zues and Hawk had both sensed. They tensed, Melkior's eyes flashing, Valkyrie trembling slightly. But they did not know what was wrong. Valkyrie whispered, "I wonder if Istariel is all right."

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It was a good concern. Istariel was startled when this strange wolf came in, moving closer to her than was comfortable. She didn't like the vibe he was giving off, and scuttled backwards just a little, her three tails raised in self-defense. Just in case. Yet she could not help her gaze to fall into his hypnotic eyes. She resisted, feeling some strange sorcery at work, flailing against his mental influence. His words bore into her mind, and both her reason and emotion rejected their validity. He cannot possibly be true! She attempted to say this. "Hawk...would never do that...I know him...I know Ammolite...they are loyal to me...they would never...stop talking!" She barked out this order, infusing her royal command in the words. But to her surprise, they had no effect on this wolf; he was a wolf, not a cave-demon, and thus, she had no especial power over him. She trembled, fighting against his gaze and his words, knowing what was happening to her, and yet not strong enough to prevail over it.

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[Relairah]

Akuma watched Ammolite with curious yet happy eyes. She seemed to be unaffected at all by what had just happened. He still wondered, but perhaps he shouldn't worry at all. He was half surprised when she adressed him, yet looked around as she introduced him to each of the others that had gathered here since the incident. His gaze followed around slowly, as if memorizing each face as she pointed he, or she, out. He nodded to each, Fiendark, Zeus, Melkior, Valkyrie, and Hawk, and merely smiled when she pointed out Azarak and Phoebus. "Pleasure to meet you all..." he said simply. Gaze swiftly turned toward the golden wolfen, Hawk, as Ammolite had said his name was, cocking his head slightly. He moved to a sitting position, still completely unsure of what to do.