Demoniac Incarnations (Babylonia's Birthing!)

[Sivoncé™]

Assyria said nothing for a moment, just let her chest heave in and out with her rage. She knew, somewhere in the back of her mind, that there was a ounce of truth behind the sarcasm of the she-wolf. She loathed every inch of her, but despite this, she felt a reluctant gratitude. If it weren't for her, the healer that had popped out of thin air when they'd needed one the most, her siblings may have died along with Babylonia.
And she will come back....I just hope it's soon.
Taking a deep breath, she asked tightly, "Is there anything we need to do for them except keep them warm and....find a food source?"
Oh, and I know exactly where to find that one...

Amoret leaped cautiously down from her perch, moving downwards by hopping from stone to stone. She hid expertly behind each of them and strained her eyes forward. Creeping as close as she dared, she perked her ears and listened intently to the conversation. So the healer killed their queen bee...she'll be back soon enough. But what're they going to do about the pups? Assyria doesn't seem so worried about them... Dread flourished in Amoret's gut. They'll probably kidnap someone else! How could Sumer be involved in any of this? She watched as he moved towards Babylonia's corpse. I feel like I'm missing something here...I'll have to try and get him alone. She began to gingerly creep away from her hideout behind the rocks, towards the brush near Sumer's form.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

If possible, Sumer adopted an even more silent demeanor. He gazed mournfully over his mother’s remains, outlining the contours of her body—her stomach swollen, the seam of her wound a knotted mass of skin, blood, and splinters of wood. He caught various slivers of the accompanying conversation, but remained unappeased. His mother was still spilling her crimson flood out into the soil, and the image forever etched itself into his memory.
Could this have been prevented?
Without seeking an answer to his inquiry, a subtle shuffling noise caught the attention of his sensitive hearing. He glanced casually to one side, noting a tangled thicket and a collection of stones. Although not suspicious of any true danger, he was certain he had heard something, and casually slipped away to investigate the nearest bush.

The tone seemed to shift. Content, almost amused, with the altered attitude, Sanceul smirked and slowly shook her head. Maybe I’ll get out of here without some fresh scars, for once. Lupus knows how many times I’ve been beaten up like a ragdoll these past few… months? Seasons? Wow, I seriously need self-defense training.
“Nah, that’s pretty much the basics. Warmth and regular nursing should suit them just fine; even with the violent birth, I haven’t noted any abnormalities or injuries… though you might want to watch out for this one.” She brushed her muzzle across the smallest fae of the litter. “…and two have been given names already, actually. The two oldest—Sargon and Ishtar.” She nodded to each in turn. “I suppose the others are up to you.”
Sanceul nudged the pups away from her stomach, resulting in a protesting cry from Sargon. She sat up, splattered with all manner of blood and gore, to meet Assyria eye-to-eye.
“Anything else you lot need?”

[Sivoncé™]

Assyria listened as the healer spoke -- she was far too happy with herself. It wasn't at all clear whether or not Sanceul had purposely let Babylonia bleed out, but all the same, as Assyria's eyes gazed with mild horror on the twisted wound of Babylonia's underside, the she-wolf understood that there may have been no intention behind her mother's second death. The pups are out, and when she comes back, she'll be fit to care for them. And in the meantime, we need to get our food source...fast.
"Leave us," she barked coldly to the healer. "Keep your trap shut about what happened here, or we'll find you." She turned to call over her shoulder to her fellow Blood Mists. I wonder if they fled out of fear. "HEY! USELESS FUR BAGS!" Glancing back at the healer, she muttered, "Get out of here before they stumble over here, or I might rethink letting you leave at all."

Amoret crouched closer to her rocky hideout as the wolves began to shift from their places. Adjusting herself so she was better hidden, she peered through the brush to locate Sumer. Darn, I lost him! Disheartened, she sighed softly to herself. I can't seriously believe he'd willingly be involved in all of this...I know I didn't hang with him long, but still...he seemed like a good guy. Suddenly, the fronds of protection around her began to tremble with foreign interference. With a sharp intake of air, she backed fearfully against the rocks. She squinted to get a better look at her company.
Crap! Wait...
"Sumer!" She whispered elatedly. "It's me, Amoret!

[.Rabid Lycan.]

All at once—as if stumbling across his mother’s corpse wasn’t enough—an incredibly familiar voice graced his ears, and stunned him into stupor. He robotically traced his steps to the location of the hidden fae, a blank, comatose-like expression washing over his muzzle. He stared down at her.
Is it really you…? How?
He was unable to comprehend—did the Hellfirians invite her into the pack? Was it willing? Unwilling? Was she their prisoner? Better yet, what’s a rogue of use to them?
All the same, he couldn’t bring himself to dwell on the discrepancies. A delighted sensation warmed his chest, and he smiled in recognition at his acquaintance.

Sanceul lunged into a graceful bow, lowering her torso to brush the stained earth below. “Thy will be done, your highness.” Swaying her tail to one side, the femme quickly assumed a more casual position, and trotted pleasantly away from the demonic company. Inwardly, she withheld doubts about the perspired events.
This’ll come back to haunt me, but when? How will the ghosts manifest this time? And… should I even tell Damien about this? How long has it been, anyway—I don’t remember when these creeps knocked me on the side of the head.
But with each step, she was compelled to acknowledge the aching in her body, and the urge to collapse and immerse herself in sleep was all too difficult to resist. Worries, she quickly decided, could be dismissed for the time being—for now, a period of rest was in order.
Mental health day, at least.
She exited the camp as several subordinates, including Mange, Frenzy, and Temper to name a few, clamored to Assyria’s aid at the command.

[Sivoncé™]

A spark of fiery anger raged as the healer wolf fled casually into the brush. Her clan were gathered around her. They're useless weaklings, but if they can do this, maybe it won't be such a task to let them keep breathing...
Sumer, for the moment, was out of her thoughts completely. She was obvlivious to his vigil at their mother's side, or that he'd wandered from the immediate premsis. She turned to address the incoming group with eyes of wrathful irony.
"I need two of you to do something for me --- for the greater good of our kind. If you're ears are working, I'm sure you heard Babylonia die. She will return, but in the meantime, we need to preserve the pack's only pups, and I have the perfect wolf to feed them. Two of you -- I don't care who -- will snatch the she-wolf Annelise from the Siverians. She will be their foster mother, and when she is no longer needed, we will take her children as payment for the injustice her mother committed to Babylonia all those years ago. The rest of you will stay here with me and watch the pups...." A cruel, hard curve of a smile appeared on her face. The first wolf to feel our vegeance...a perfect match. "Oh, and if you fail, you can try to run away but.....I will find you, and then you will die a thousand times over."

Amoret's tail gave its first genuine wag in moons. She beamed back at her friend, delighted by his happiness at seeing her. But all at once, she frowned with concern. "Sumer....why are you here? I know we haven't known each other long and all, but...this just doesn't seem like the place for a wolf like you....did they snatch you too?" As an afterthought she added, "I know you can't talk and all but...nodding should help." Her eyes peered at him questioningly.

(( I made a thread in the Siverian Camp for their little mission ))

[.Rabid Lycan.]

((hooray for scheming :3 ))

Shiver gazed thoughtfully amongst the cowardly ranks of her denmates. A fleeting twinge of disgust strangled her jowls for the briefest of moments. These brutes; mindless idiots, the lot of them. They tremble with fear as much as any pack wolf, and are just as helplessly obedient. Even a task such as this—in its importance and diabolically appropriate irony—is a job for underlings alone.
The ivory wraith slipped behind Temper, shoving him forward with her nose. With a protesting squeak, the male lurched forward. Time to redeem yourself, maggot. Shiver then pivoted to volunteer Magnus in a similar fashion. And you, rogue, better keep an eye on this buffoon.
Once seemingly satisfied, Shiver settled herself in much the same position as he entered, watching the two soldiers with a keen eye. Magnus stood beside Temper, the latter blinking blankly at Assyria.

The helicopter motion of his tail began to die down. He did not concern himself with the ruckus occurring elsewhere—although he was somewhat aware of its presence—but rather was absorbed in the matter at hand. So… she’s a captive?
The thought troubled him, a strange sensation bubbling in his gut. He paused, shook his head at her inquiry, and nodded to Assyria. Well, an Assyria half-concealed by wolves, anyway. He also turned his gaze to the decaying corpse, but it was all but hidden from view by the assembled ranks.

[Sivoncé™]

Assyria sowled darkly at Shiver with narrowed eyes. Huh. Give me the most idiotic of the bunch, why don't you? "Fine then...Magnus...Temper...get out of here. You'd better be back within the hour." She turned to delegate tasks to the remainder of the thinning collection. "The rest of you...just guard the camp. It's not that hard." Sumer will help me keep the pups warm. Slowly, she began to remember her brother. She scanned the immediate vicinity, but he was not in sight. Damnit...well, I'll have to wait until they get back with the Siverian. The pups need me more than him for now...

Amoret followed Sumer's nods with a puzzled and troubled gaze. "But...you're with them? You mean you know some of them?" She tried to frame her thoughts into another question, the words stuck in her throat. She gazed back at him in disbelief. How could he possibly be tied to any of these fleabags?

[.Rabid Lycan.]

A playful gleam lighted her eyes, only to recede quickly into her stern façade. Retreating a few steps, Shiver headed for the entrance, assuming her defensive post. And now we wait… as per usual. At least now there aren’t flames to consume us. She inclined her head, thoughts trailing to the dark recesses of her memory—of her lost life. Of Darkdeath, the pups… everything.
No, you’re a soldier. Straighten up.
She shifted her posture, stiffer than ever, as Magnus and Temper slipped out of the camp with lowly murmurs of concession.

Sumer’s throat tightened, a pressure suddenly asserting its presence. Or maybe it had always been there, and Amoret had forced him to acknowledge it.
He nodded slowly, his befuddlement mirroring his companion’s. They’re… my family.

[Sivoncé™]

Amoret sighed softly in confusion, knowing there was only minimal light Sumer would be able to shed on the situation. Ugh...if I wasn't so wary of what they would do about it...I'd ask him to show me what he means. He can't use words, so he has to use actions or something else... Amoret thought hard for a moment, then murmured. "Are you...um...buddies with all of them, or is there just one or two...?" I guess some of them aren't all that bad....eh...a very very small portion of them, that is. Maybe this is all just a misunderstanding... In the back of her mind, Amoret knew she was only trying to comfort herself.

Assyria gathered the pups close to her stomach and wrapped herself around them protectively. Sumer's disappearence irked her deeply. Where could he have gone in that short amount of time? He knows that it's Babylonia's body. Her angry thoughts quelled into understnading, warm and empathetic ones. He probably couldn't bear the sight of it....I didn't even think....poor Sumer! I need to find him....but I can't trust the pups with anyone but myself.... She sighed heavily and continued to eye the undergrowth, searching silently for her brother.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

This is… ridiculous.
Until this moment, Sumer had never realized how much he enjoyed Euphrates’ presence—not as a brother (he already knew that), but as a translator, specifically. He could get by fairly well for himself, but it was always nice to be able to relax and have someone simply communicate the thought for him. He wasn’t dependent, but it was… nice. Here and now, it was a breeding ground for misinterpretation.
And this moment was already complicated enough without misinterpretation.
Sumer dipped hi s head, pawing at the ground twice, and then looked up at the fae. How do I explain this? There’s only so much you can say with movement.

Sargon whimpers died into an approving silence, calmed by the sudden warmth that flooded around him.

[Sivoncé™]

Assyria adjusted herself around the pups and bent down to tenderly lick each of the on their tiny, vulnerable heads. She looked out into the brush again for Sumer, but if he was still in the Blood Mist camp, he was out of sight. Anxiety stirred in her belly. What if he left and ran back to Euphrates? Her mind shied away from the thought of rejection. No, Sumer's here, he probably needs a moment alone, anyhow...
Those stupid whelps better get back soon...

Amoret sighed softly, plagued with confusion. She blinked up at Sumer, refusing to let her optimism die. "Well. maybe I'll figure out how to understand you better in time...and we'll answer each others' questions. For now, why don't we see where we can get with yes or no answers." She offered him a wistful smile that covered her disappointment. I just wish I knew why he was here...well, maybe I can get a good idea through the questions he's able to answer. She bit her lip idly and began tentatively.
"So...you're not a Destinian anymore?"