A Looming Darkness

[Relairah]

Antarctica glanced toward Daichi a moment when he questioned whether or not she could help their fellow packmate. She smiled to him as reassuringly as she could and nodded. Her ears flicked slightly when she heard Icewulf answer him and continued to focus on her task. She knew Káshila also needed rest. The mere fact she was here safely surrounded by pack-members was good. Even if it was subconscious, she suspected the other wolfess would on some level feel peace at the moment.

Or perhaps not. As the raucus of the bird filled the cavern, Antarctica attempted to continue focusing on Káshila. This was her task and her priority. Yet she could feel the tension that swept the room as the bird landed and began to talk.



Zefirino listened calmly as the other members gathered presented their thoughts and ideas. His mind circled quickly, deducing how to respond. At Daichi's comment that Shanto might attack again, Zef met his gaze. "It's true that it's a possibility. Though in Shanto's case, he seeks out confrontation. There would be no current benefit at this immediate moment. Whatever he was trying to accomplish... I suspect it's already been done. He will bide his time and strike again when he feels is the most opportune moment to gain something."

Zef paused, his gaze snapping toward the entrance as the bird's call filled the room. His first instincts were to attack the thing, but something told him to wait and let it speak. There was something about it. Something both sinister and somehow familiar. Though he couldn't have placed it. The voice was certainly not the bird's. Blood magic, he thought. Soon, its speech was over and it vanished leaving that single feather.

He stepped forward, but Anara beat him to it. Immediately, she suggested beginning to spread the word to the human villages and she was gone. The thought irked him. Perhaps he had been to hasty to allow her to accompany them to the meeting on the notion she was Vyrn's daughter. Which was true. Nevertheless the stipulaton had been she keep it to herself. He felt incredibly disrespected and foolish. This was not her decision to make. Nor could she understand the gravity of such a decision, he thought. He breathed out slowly. For the moment, he needed to focus on those before him. He could address matters with Anara afterward.

Zefirino did feel the Vorlfur stood behind him and that they were thinking along the same lines. The words the bird had spoken still rang in his ears. On one side, the thing had brought up true points. But on the other side, Zef suspected the thing was trying to stir up discord and distrust. It had accused both Hawke and Icewulf of not only knowing it would happen, but doing nothing about it. Zefirino trusted both of the elder wolves with his life. He doubted that even if they had known Shanto was in the neighboring territory, they would have known he planned an attack so soon. They couldn't read his mind. And further, Shanto had been lurking just outside the territories for far longer than the past couple of weeks. As the bird had said, Shanto's desires were quite far from secret.

Zef wondered if something had recently happened to alter his plans and give him an advantage. Something that had made him feel confident enough to act as he had. Finally, Zefirino spoke. "Varadoss, I believe you are correct we need to expand the patrols to cover more ground. And also that the others should be instructed never to face him alone. If he is sighted, a signal is to be given and efforts sent to aid. I also agree concerning Nova-Wing. If nothing else than aiding in our efforts." The alpha paused, studying the group.

"Concerning the threat from the raven, we absolutely must crush this threat before it worsens. We will form a special team to deal with Shanto. We must reduce the amount of casualties and victims as much as we can. Gather those from the pack we trust that have demonstrated strength, honor, and skill. Vellina..." he paused, knowing already her conflict even if she didn't speak it. "We will need your knowledge for us to succeed." It was all he said. He knew she would understand what he meant.

Only moments before, the feelings had been to keep the matter hidden. Perhaps rallying the pack together as one would prove their strength. Yet he still felt the information should be relayed with care. He resumed silence, his gaze meeting each of those gathered.

Vellina felt shaken and disturbed by what she had witnessed from the raven, though with all that she had seen in her life she couldn't pin-point her reason. Her gaze met her emperor's as he spoke, his words restoring focus to her. She nodded slowly as he said they'd need her knowledge. Did she wish to see her father dead? No. Part of her still wanted him to learn from his ways and turn a new leaf. But after so much time, she had also long since accepted the reality. The fact that it was probably impossible for him to think of anything other than the revenge he had sworn in their mother's blood upon her death. Truly, it had changed him. He was and never would be the wolf he was when she was young. And she knew that capture wasn't an option. With Shanto's abilities, escape would be a simple thing. Death was the only fate which could await him. As much as it saddened her, she also knew how to put her emotions aside now and do what must be done.

[Vivid]

With his words taken seriously, Dai felt a little better about the meeting. They were all concerned and they all shared the same thoughts. Having his worries put to rest was quite a bonus however. The warm look Antarctica gave him shortly after didn't last long as there was an odd cawing infiltrating the tunnel, making his hackles raise. A lost raven? Surely not. The sight that followed was disturbing and made the male very uneasy, watching the carrion bird convulse and bleed after landing upon a rock in the middle of the hall. Was this some sort of sick joke? As it stopped and turned its head their eyes met, and for the first time in his life, Daichi felt frozen inside. He lowered his ears and stood up still remaining at Káshila's side, his lip pulled back in a fierce silent snarl while his inner flame shrunk - he was shaken to the core. He watched with an intense glare as the beak of the creature opened and it somehow spoke their language, though that particular thought didn't run through his mind until a long time after.

They knew he was coming? He listened to the mysterious voice of the hell bird as it spoke of secrets and Shanto, not sure what to believe from its mouth. Some parts made a little sense, keeping secrets could indeed hurt the pack more, but other parts he wasn't willing to put his faith in just yet. As the birds empty eyes passed him again Daichi shuddered and ground his teeth, the cold feeling he had turning his stomach and making him sick. Was this how death felt? So cold and sickening? The bird went into another fit of spastic twitches before it began to break away into itself, leaving nothing but a feather on the floor to prove it was even there.

He remained standing though his snarl lessened and his ears slowly began to rise, the chill not gone from his body but a little less prominent. His fiery eyes tracked Anara as she walked over to collect the feather, half expecting the bird to return and take it back somehow. And if being dragged into a battle, teleported, and traumatized by a hell bird wasn't enough for him today, he had finally had enough as Anara infiltrated his mind to speak.

What have I gotten myself into?

Anara warped away and things began to move along again, Zefirino picking up where they had left off almost immediately following the disturbance. He was still uneasy but managed to sit down, his tail curled tightly around him. He visibly shook as a shiver ran through his body and was mostly focused on getting himself warmed back up as he listened, the male not wanting to get involved in anything else for the time being. He had had enough tonight. For now, his only concern was Káshila once again, who he turned his head to gaze over, watching Antarctica with a surprisingly calm gaze.

[Xenoxice]

Just as Varadoss was about to speak again, he heard the shrilling caw-like sounds that came from the tunnel entrance and listened intently and informatively to the words that this unexpected crow seemed to offer to the participants of the meeting. The words soon ended as it disappeared in that gut-wrenching, unnatural implosion upon itself. Thinking only for a moment, Varadoss was once again about to speak before Anara had butted in and went her own way before anyone could even respond. His jaw clenched and eyes narrowed in obvious irritation at the notion the newcomer had made and even more so that an outsider had been allowed into such a meeting. What irked him the most was the blatant disregard for those whose home this was and making a decision that would affect many without any regard for the repercussions of those it would affect most. As Zefirino began to speak Varadoss held his tongue until he had finished.  Waiting only a moment to see if anyone else had words to speak, he began.  "Brash...  Too brash of an action by that outsider.  Emperor Zefirino I must offer my suggestion to disallow any further disclosure of information to anyone currently outside this meeting area.  Especially to one so quick to jump to decisions without logically thinking of the possible outcomes.  As for the words that abomination of a crow spoke, they may have contained some degree of truth to them, but it was from an unknown source.  Every word spoken must be taken with extreme caution and a grain of salt so to speak.  Yes, secrets can harm and cause disaster but they may also be held for the opposite.  Secrets when treated properly may be kept and only revealed to those who need to know the contents at the correct time to ensure safety and order not just for those involved directly, but those involved indirectly as well as innocent bystanders." 

Varadoss paused but a moment or two to allow his words to be heard and processed before continuing.  "I must disagree with the crow however and I remain convinced keeping this event from the pack for the moment is the best choice.  If they were to be allowed to know of what is happening it is entirely possible some may try to leave the packlands until the threat is over to find a more secluded area for safety which would be far more dangerous in exposing oneself both openly, and alone.  It may become necessary at some point or another to notify the pack of what is happening in order to better protect them and surround them securely but such a decision will be made ONLY by the leadership of the Vorlfur whose job is the security and well being of the pack as a whole with the final approval by the emperor should the time come and be deemed a necessity.  In regards to the special team being assembled to handle Shanto, I agree whole heartedly and support the emperor in this endeavor.  Anyone with nominations should speak to myself or Zefirino and the emperor shall approve or disapprove of their status to join.  I believe it should be a small, agile and able group of our most elite.  If my visions come to pass I fear not just for the pack.... but for all."  With a large sigh that easily echoed in the halls Varadoss finished up his opinions on the matter.  "For all we know that bird was sent by Shanto himself.  A strategy that has been used for thousands of years and still effective even today is to divide and conquer.  If we change our current course of action it may split us up too far and make it far easier for Shanto to infiltrate us as well as the packlands.  I suggest we think this through carefully.... and cautiously." Varadoss turned his gaze specifically to Zefirino now as he spoke. "Should you feel the need to know of the exact contents of my visions Emperor, to aid your decisions, I shall divulge them to you, and you alone.  I feel there are no others who should have knowledge of such things at the present time."  Varadoss' large booming voice, even as a near whisper trailed off as his speaking ceased.  The knowledge obtained in having lived for millennia clearly showing in both his patience and wisdom.  As well as his ability to analyze multiple outcomes for a single option.

[Mokobo]

Like many of the assembled creatures, Hawke's sharp, golden gaze was arrested by the raven's intrusive display. As soon as the avian spoke in its eerie voice, the gilded canine would visibly blanch. Cold shivers ran down his spine with each syllable the carrion fowl uttered and the fur at the nape of his neck stood on end. That voice seemed familiar, and yet the one who had used it before was certainly no bird. When those beady, blood-soaked eyes settled upon the Cordus, he resisted the urge to retreat from the penetrating gaze. In that brief moment it felt as if the raven were peering into his very soul, and when it finally left he was left shaken to the core. Yet despite his instincts screaming at him to fight or flee for his life, Hawke could not look away from the macabre scene, even after the raven seemed to implode in on itself.
Unlike his old friend, a casual observer would think Icewulf apathetic to the actions or words of the raven. Other than shifting his seat to a more attentive one, the elder hardly budged during the intruder's speech. His icy blue eyes would narrow as a small frown tugged at the corners of his lips. Icewulf kept this stoic composure even when the bloody scavenger settled its gaze upon him, and yet he did defiantly meet the creature's gaze. When at last the raven had departed, the arctic wolf would keep his statuesque stance for a few more breaths. The sudden movement of Anara's actions would draw Icewulf from his brief reverie, causing him to turn his gaze in time to observe her own departure. The elder wolf's frown would deepen at this turn of events, and he would swivel his head to observe just what sort of reaction Zefirino would offer.
As the emperor began to address the the matters at paw, Hawke would continue to stare off at the spot in which two beasts had recently disappeared. The falling feather had brought forth an onslaught of memories, some sweet enough to bring a small smile to his lips and others bitter enough to cause tears to well in his eyes. Hesitantly he had taken a few steps toward that memento left behind by the raven, yet had absently stopped as Anara took her leave with it. Still the past kept its hold upon Hawke, and the Zefirino's speech seemed to come across a great distance. Yet his attention was quickly grasped at the mention of a task force to eliminate the threat that Shanto offered, causing the wolf's ears to perk and his gaze to break from its trance. During the brief exchange between the emperor and Vellina, the gilded wolf would seek his former comrade's gaze.
Icewulf felt a tingle creep up the back of his neck as if someone was staring intently at him. After a quick survey of the Atrium, he would spot Hawke doing just that. The white wolf would tilt his head slightly in question, to which the golden-pelted would offer a slight nod of his head toward Zefirino. After countless campaigns together the two had learned to communicate without words, and Icewulf knew all too well what it was that Hawke was trying to convey. The latter watched the former expectantly, but for several moments the only response Icewulf gave was the same cold, collected expression with which he had watched the raven. By then Varadoss had warned all those gathered of the caution that should be used when considering the words of the outsider. As the dragon agreed with the proposal to form a team to handle Shanto, Icewulf would frown and offer a faint shake of his head, causing Hawke's expectant eyes to widen.
Truly, Hawke had not expected his friend to nominate himself, or anyone for that matter, to the proposed squad. Despite that, he still found the outright denial incredulous. The tidal wave of old memories had stirred an almost equally undisturbed facet of Hawke's being; the thirst for adventure. The peace and safety of the pack was at stake, as well as that of their allies. All were under the looming shadow of Shanto, a foe that he knew far better than he had any desire to. Behind all of it was the recent developments in his research, as well as the foreboding warning offered by the gruesome messenger. Every thread of the tangled web seemed to tug at Hawke, and he found himself exhilarated at the prospect of unraveling it. Breaking his wordless conversation with Icewulf, the Cordus would wait for Varadoss to finish speaking before taking several steps forward to face Zefirino. "I nominate myself to this team. Such an endeavor should be overseen by the most seasoned of the Vorlfur, and as a Cordus the duty falls in my domain. Additionally, I have an unfortunate amount of experience with this fiend and-" For a moment Hawke would pause to look at a reproving Icewulf before continuing. "-And alongside Vellina I'm more than confidant we could locate him in a matter of days."
A soft, frustrated sigh would escape from the arctic elder as he turned away from the gathering to once more face those around the unconscious form of Káshila. First Icewulf would set his paw upon the nearest of Antarctica's in a comforting manner. Yet it was uncertain if the gesture was meant to bolster her or himself, as he would attempt to offer her a weak smile while failed to mask his nagging anxieties. After a brief moment, Icewulf would turn to look at a trembling Daichi. His slight frown returned for a heartbeat before he spoke in a soft voice so as to not interrupt the others. "The funny thing about night specters is they're always gone by morning. Don't you worry, the dawn is near."  After these prosaic words, the elder canine would look back to his mate before continuing in the same subdued tones. "Maybe we should move Káshila to somewhere more peaceful?"

[Relairah]

Kara had remained silent up until that point. She had had little more to offer than what had already been said. But once Zefirino affirmed the formation of an elite team, she stepped forward slightly. War was something she had been a part of her entire life, and fighting was perhaps her strongest point. As a result, she knew she could be of service.

"Emperor," she began, "I also offer myself to this group." She dipped her head slightly toward Zefirino, Hawke, and Vellina. She silently wondered how many the group would be.



As the other members in the room spoke, Zefirino listened and silently absorbed their words. He felt himself in agreement as Varadoss scolded him for allowing Anara along. He was more than aware of his mistake, but nevertheless, they were all equally concerned with the safety of the pack and felt it was the first priority. Therefore, he only nodded in response and said nothing. Varadoss seemed incredibly troubled, and he knew that after this meet was over, it was of utmost importance that they converse in private. But before that, they needed to agree on a course of action.

His eyes turned to meet Hawke's as the Cordus stepped forward. He felt a small bit of relief that the old warrior would accompany the group. As he had pointed out, Hawke was one of the very few present whose experience with Shanto went back to when this all started. He was also not incredibly surprised that Icewulf stayed out of it. Particularly as Antarctica was present. However, the final thoughts that ran through Zefirino's mind were once more concerning his brother. Normally, Gjelu would have probably been the first to have volunteered. And as a result his absence was more noticeable. Still, for the sake of keeping focus, Zefirino once more kept these thoughts to himself.

"It is settled then. We will continue to keep this to ourselves for the time being and spread the patrols to cover more of the borders. Meanwhile, the group will seek out Shanto and eliminate his threat once and for all. Varadoss, I can't help but feel that there is more behind the raven's appearance and message - its timing is no mere coincidence." He paused and looked to each of the wolves that had volunteered for the elite team. "Be wary and watch each other's backs." They were words he probably didn't need to speak. Nor did they need a reminder that Shanto was more than just an enemy. But he said them anyway.

As the emperor, Zefirino could not be a member of the group. He needed to remain in order to oversee the pack's affairs. After all, if he were to suddenly disappear, it could cause unrest. Finally, he approached Varadoss. "Perhaps we should take a walk," he said softly. They should part ways with the others to avoid being overheard and find somewhere both private and secluded.

Vellina heaved a small sigh as things seemed to be concluding. She was ready for all of this to be over with Shanto. And at the same time, she had been hoping not to have to face him for a very long time. Regardless, things were already set in motion, and to some degree she felt swept into a wave she could not control. She glanced toward her sister, reminding herself the importance of their new mission. And with a small nuzzle against Káshila's neck, she moved away. "Cordus Hawke," she said, dipping her head slightly in respect, "Perhaps we should converse?" she asked.



Antarctica glanced toward her mate as he placed a paw on her own. She smiled at him gently, and touched her nose to his neck a moment in reassurance. As he spoke for her ears only, she turned her gaze once more to Káshila. "Yes. We should take her to the dens. I imagine she will wake before too long. Do you plan to accompany me?" she asked, turning her eyes to meeeting Icewulf's once more.

[Vivid]

His large ears swiveled to listen as Varadoss gave his speech, the wolf interested in the creature and its thoughts. Some he agreed with while other points he wasn't as sure about. For a time Daichi tried to put himself in the place of a leader, faced with the decision of telling his pack or not that there was a lingering danger. It was a hard choice, and he began to understand the beasts words. There was a certain danger in telling them, something that he could faintly relate to with the previous war. He was but a pup back then, but Dai recalled how his parents felt about the whole thing. Perhaps had they not been told about it, they would still be together?

Bitterness built up quickly with that thought and he silently cursed himself for it. What kind of an idiot was he? None the less, he had come to believe that it probably was better for the rest of the pack not to know immediately. Was there anything he could do about it though? He was still rather fresh blood here and had none of their battle training, plus what use could he be? Too afraid to use his magic, Dai realized just how useless he was in battle. He wanted to protect his new home and family, but at what cost? He mulled over the thought in a gloom, having warmed himself up enough to feel slightly better.

His fiery eyes flicked over to Icewulf as the elder addressed something to him, blinking and looking a bit sheepish as he realized that Icewulf had noticed how affected he was by the bird. "Thank you." He replied simply, dipping his head. He appreciated the elders words greatly, still having some fur standing on edge from the haunting sight. After their interaction Icewulf asked the wolfess beside them if they should bring Káshila elsewhere, the male wondering if he'd be used for the task at hand. He watched with a sense of longing as Vellina nuzzled her sister, thinking back to his own brothers and sisters and what might have become of them.

"Would you like me to assist you with taking her there?" Daichi stood and stretched a little while making an attempt to flatten down his pelt and shake it out, still mildly ruffled from the prior events. What a night.