Bargain (OPEN/PLOTISH!)

[Destiny]

Though the distance wasn't that great, Olive's words were mildly obscured by the other conversations going on somewhat nearby, and the undergrowth which the sound waves bounced off helter-skelter. Never-the-less, he picked up enough to determine that his former pack was no longer the great force it had once been. Night had done them well, as had Yozora - he had not, and it was time those wrongs were written over and the Yozorans were returned to their former glory.

He shifted, fixating a dark - not by nature, but simply because he had particularly dark orange eyes - stare in the general direction that was Lyell, following the wolf's movements with careful scrutiny. Ah, but what luck! Was he recognized? Perhaps - or perhaps the younger brute realized that whoever was beckoning him could not be a huge threat. Regardless, this worked perfectly, and he lay in wait until his old comrade was equally hidden from the rest of his pack.

Almost immediately after being beckoned, the underbrush began to part and a fairly broad-shouldered wolf emerged from the shadowy recesses of the forest. Not where he had been moments before, but, rather,almost three wolf lengths from where Lyell was standing. He was a muscular fellow, looking to be in his prime, and there was a healthy sheen to the grey, brown, black, white mix of his coat, though the occasional patch of mud, what with the mucky-ness of Spring rain and all that. "Been awhile, old friend." Oddly at ease, there was no hostility in his tone nor stance; Iver waited to see how said 'old friend' would react.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Breathing. In, then out, his lungs acclimating to the new blood in his veins.
Lacking the mechanical rigidity of just moments prior, the twin heads slid smoothly back onto their shoulders, and absorbed their environment. As an overcast curtain drew over the sky, his crown smiled silver, and his attentions swayed to the new company at his heels. A ruby-hinted gaze ensnared the vengeful and beautiful vision before him, and Bain Hades managed a graceful bow in her direction.
[glow=maroon,2,300]“Hiding? My lady, I have not felt more myself in ages. Please disregard Bain… he has been a tad overwhelmed as of late, and needs to take his rest.”[/glow]
The brow of the Destinian Beta shifted slightly, shading his only distinguishable features. Metaphoric clock gears chinked loudly in his skull cavity. The dance had begun.
[glow=maroon,2,300]“But I assure you he is tamed; it is the third party that tends to get a little… antsy. No harm dealt, I hope?”[/glow]

[Sivoncé™]

Assyria couldn't calm her racing heartbeat. She'd known it, she'd know it all along! The answers lay with Hades -- all of them. The episode she'd just witnessed proved that. The others might not see it, but she was a child of prophecy, and her eyes were made to recognize a comrade of fate. She had been raised by the paws of Babylonia, once a great queen, and led by decree of the goddess Verlust. As a mere child, she was one of the seven of Verlust's guard. She'd died trying, but she returned. For a reason. Everything, every breath and moment, happened for a reason.
Mother left so I could ascend the throne, she thought with feverish excitement. Maybe Babylonia had seen the patterns, too. Maybe her mother still loved her. Assyria dipped her head in a respectful greeting, flattered by Hades' formality.
"So Bain is the vessel, then," she thought aloud. "And you are what, Hades? A deity, or simply soul with purpose like myself?"
It was fathomable that he was a forgotten god, but the faster her mind raced ahead, the more the second idea seemed to fit. After all, Assyria had returned from a separate universe entirely -- a universe of death and flame -- for a purpose.
"Forgive me for being so blunt," she murmured quickly, feeling suddenly embarrassed of her frankness. "No harm was done at all -- he would've been comic relief had I been sure I would find you here eventually. You see, Hades, you've managed to both puzzle and fascinate me. Curiosity has gotten the best of me."

The last wolf Lyell would've ever expected to see in his life was standing in front of him referring to him as 'old friend'. True, Lyell had tried his best to be loyal to Iver, but after his role in sabotaging the alpha's relationship with Nightshade, Lyell didn't think the wolf still thought of him as a friend. Oddly enough, Lyell did not resent Iver for abandoning them as some wolves did. He had seen the desperation of the alpha's love for the former Siverian beta, and he could not force himself to come between them anymore than he had. He didn't pretend to understand what had driven him to love a hypothetical enemy, or to leave the Yozorans, but Lyell understood the power of love and how it could make a man do crazy things. He'd do anything for Olive, anything for his daughters, and lay down his life for each one. If, in some bizarre, cruel circumstance, he was required to leave the Yozorans for the purpose of protecting them, he would.
Lyell swallowed hard as he realized that scenario was not the most far-fetched thing given the current circumstances.
There's Blood Mists in the camp.....if I was really smart, I'd get Olive and Plum and Mary and run now while we still can. We don't know what might happen if we stay...
The idea was painful, but feverishly tempting.
Nevertheless, he forced his paws to stay where they were, and he dipped his head in greeting.
"It's been a long time, Iver. What brings you here?"

[.Rabid Lycan.]

An amused purr tickled his throat.
[glow=maroon,2,300]“Better to be curious than ignorant, Assyria. Naïve eyes reap no vision. I am not a god anymore than Bain is a god. The “vessel’s” flesh, as it were, could and can be vanquished with much less than an assassin’s precision. Bain himself has not performed a good service in preserving his livelihood. And yet, you are not entirely misled. There is immortal blood in these veins.”[/glow]
His form ghosted toward the peak of the skeleton mound, a turn of his claws revealing an older hood—his first mask, before Toss’ crown had solidified into his face. Expression hidden, but eyes eternally trained on his companion, he pressed the skull until it fractured.
[glow=maroon,2,300]“I am that I am. An idea, Assyria. And to what, may I ask, do I owe the pleasure this evening?”[/glow]

[Sivoncé™]

Assyria didn't respond immediately, but instead, took a moment to marvel at the wolf before her and the words he spoke and how his formality wasn't rigid discipline, but rather charming in nature. Eventually, she roused herself from such contemplations to consider the question he had posed. She knew what she wanted, but how could she present her proposal?

"Several changes have occurred within Blood Mist since we last met. Of course, there was the battle that you wisely stayed out of. The Siverians, Sheerans, and Destinians failed miserably with whatever they were attempting to accomplish; victory belonged to Blood Mist. Until now, my mother was a figurehead of leadership in my pack. Now she is gone, and I am their leader. I have a greater vision for my brethren that is bigger than the boundaries of the packs. My ideas are quite similar to yours, and I believe the shift in circumstances has left a perfect opportunity for us to move forward with them. We could be a team, you and I."

She waited, uncertain of how much she should say. Who cared, really, if it was common knowledge that Babylonia was gone? The accompanying fact of Babylonia's daughter taking control shouldn't be a comfort to her enemies. She was more concerned about how her proposal would be received. When they'd met before, he'd been evasive -- she could only hope his mind would be more open now.

[featherswift]

Oh he'd had enough of this! The Yozorans weren't even taking anything into their own hands as he had done. Just because an Alpha liked the Blood Mists it didn't mean they all had to. It was a democracy for pete's sake! If you didn't like something you spoke about it and rather loudly too. Jolon looked at the warriors he was next to.

"Are you just going to sit there like dead kill and wait for the end without even fighting? There are only a few Blood Mists here and it's our chance to show them that we still have strength, even Bain," he said in a low voice for only the couple of wolves there to hear. From the Alpha's den though, everything looked calm on his part. Nothing showed on his features of the turmoil bouncing through his body, ready to run out Assyria and her idiots.

He huffed and looked at them with deep eyes. "There is a lot you guys don't know, but for now we have a chance to drive out the sickness spreading through our camp. I'm not ready to let these Blood Mists deal with Bain about our pack without us hearing too. We should have a say and listen to what she has to offer," he growled lowly to them. If they could frighten the Blood Mists or even walk straight up to the den and get them to come out and talk in front of the whole pack, that would be a victory in Jolon's book.

He was tired of this, Bain making offers on the whole pack's life. No, it wasn't right. Each should have a say. If these warriors didn't help, he'd do it for them. Jolon wasn't having his pack destroyed right in front of his eyes without doing something very drastic.

[Sivoncé™]

Olive blinked back at Jolon. She had never talked to the other warrior much before, and was startled by the fire in his voice. Sure, much of what he said was true, but his words made her weary. "We're tired of fighting, Jolon. There's only so long you can fight, and maybe you can do it longer than the rest of us, but I have my family to consider. We're not immortal, and they are. My children aren't replacable and if sitting here quietly while Assyria talks with Bain is what saves us from getting killed, then I'll do it. You're right, maybe we could overpower them for now, but as soon as they come back they'd come down on this place and tear us to bits. None of the other packs will help us, and if they brought a fighting force, we'd all die. I'm sorry, but I have to think of my family!" Her eyes darted fearfully to the Blood Mist warriors at their posts, wondering how much they had overheard.

Against Kasparr's wishes, Autumn had to do it. She knew Jolon could take care of himself, but something had her nerves all up in a bundle. Going to the battle had been too much of a risk, even though they hadn't known Bain would show up. She had to make sure he was all right. Crouching low in the brush, she peered into the Yozoran camp from her cover in the surrounding woods. Her heart began to race at what she saw.
Are those Blood Mists at Bain's cave?

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Sitting now, regal as a statuesque gargoyle towering from his perch, his paws neatly spread in front of his coiled legs. He listened, considered, and nodded, the grotesque mask swaying with each slight movement, shadows waltzing over the bone ridges. A grin curled somewhere beneath his hood, but remained hidden other than the faint gleam of one or two fangs peering from behind the additional row.
Not so much a purr anymore, but a nevertheless a melodic, delighted sound.
[glow=maroon,2,300]“It would appear that the figurative stars have aligned in our favor, then—the time is ripe for even further proactive motions. Ideas, Assyria, are flighty creatures; they require stability in order to extend their roots, to absorb their fuel—to grow. And this coalition, it would seem, is providing firm ground. All that is needed is a plan of action with the desired foresight.”[/glow]
His eyes gleamed with a mad excitement that bordered on unsettling.
[glow=maroon,2,300]“Forgive my tongue, but this conversation seems to be getting a little too elitist for my taste. Shall we invite the others to hear this gamble, or is there a private matter to be discussed?”[/glow]
It was more than excitement now; it was a ravenous hunger. And as he descended his skull kingdom, both faces appeared to smile in unison.

[Sivoncé™]

As Hades' grin widened, Assyria's did as well. It was perfect. Everything was fitting so perfectly into place. Already, she could taste the sweetness of victory. Indeed, they were about to seize the day. Normally, she would've wanted some sort of concrete agreement from the other side before taking things out to the public, but what Hades had said was true here: there were no sides anymore. Their minds had met and merged. They were one purpose now.
"We are in agreement here; if we are to truly move forward with our ideas, which we may with such foundations as we have discussed, we must share them. If we don't they will never be as fully embraced as they should be. An idea cannot grow into a reality if it doesn't have minds to spread across. Let us speak with them, then, and discuss what actions we might take." She rose to her paws, eyes glittering with excitement.
This was the moment she had been waiting for her entire existence.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

[glow=maroon,2,300]“Then let the show begin.”[/glow]
Shouldering through the crevice and padding confidently through the entrance of his den, Hades emerged at last into the sight of his packmates. No longer did he need to cower behind Bain’s mortal identity; the dawn for action had arrived.
Let the magician unveil his secrets.
[glow=maroon,2,300]“Yozorans—I formally present to you Assyria, the new Alphess of Blood Mist. She has rather interesting matters that she would like to discuss with us.”[/glow]
He bowed, the skull upon his brow shifting in sync with his jaws, and vitality recently unknown to Bain flooding his movements with unusual vigor for a wolf his age. It was more than zeal; something else.

[Destiny]

There is no easier thing in the world to do than lie - little lies, big lies, lies that are astronomical; they are not, none of them, difficult. Certainly not for a wolf with the ability to twist words that he held, the bravado with which he could so easily trick friends, relatives, and, in the past, his pack. It was a talent the wisest of leaders, the most cunning and daring always learned; and a skill he felt quite useful. However, it was not one that would aid the argument that needed to be made - if anything, it would hinder his trustworthiness in the eyes of this loyal pack wolf, and the others, should things go as he had hoped.

"It has indeed, Lyell. I will get straight to the point, as we are both aware that enemies lie within the camp as we speak." There was no conviction in his voice; it was a statement of fact, something he believed so solidly true that no wolf could have convinced him otherwise. "The pack is not what it once was, and I take full responsibility for its downfall, as I should. However, all is not lost." Right ear was pricked towards the undergrowth they had both passed through, picking up bits and pieces, though very muffled, of the nearby conversation. Olive's protests were clearest. "I come to offer myself up to the Yozorans once again, to lead you back from the darkness. I have heard whispers from the Twilight wolves of the terrors that exist within our forest, and I will not have it." At this point, he took a few moments of pause, to allow for some consideration on Lyell's part. Let it all sink in. After he had briefly glanced in the direction of the camp, he continued. "You are a loyal wolf, Lyell. Tell me - do the Yozorans want their freedom, their glory, their pack returned to them? For if what I have been told is true, they are lurking a pawstep from both damnation and extinction."

[Sivoncé™]

(OMGPLOTTWISTDIDN'TSEETHATCOMING! ;D )

Complete and utter shock met Iver's words. If the former alpha had stunned him before, it was nothing to how Lyell felt now. He was only distantly aware of how his mouth had dropped agape expression had been blasted with astonishment; he had to blink to refocus on the wolf in front of him. His ears twitched several times, as if they were playing trick on him, but when Iver finished his speech, it was clear the wolf was completely serious about what he'd proposed.
"T-That's not my call, Iver," he stuttered, nearly at a loss for words. What was he supposed to say? He wasn't even beta, for cripes' sake, this was out of his realm! In fact, why was Iver bothering with him? Wouldn't he have more success with Pernille -- his own daughter? Flashes of Pernille's betrayal at the discovery of her father's relationship with Nightshade darted through his mind. No, Pernille wouldn't go for it. Not after everything that's happened. Iver had sought him out specifically, and now he had to do his best to answer honestly. Unfortunately, the poor wolf had no idea what was going on in the camp at present. Perhaps, if he knew of Hades' takeover, he would've answered Iver differently.
"There are so few of us left, Iver. We don't want glory anymore. I think we're all very tired....we just want peace. That is all. And in a world like this, peace is nonexistent. Maybe we're supposed to die." He could hardly believe what he'd spoken, thinking of Olive with a sharp stab of pain in his chest. But wasn't it true? A quick death for the Yozorans might be all they had left to hope for.
"And what about Nightshade?" He pressed. He was weary as he addressed the former alpha, but there was also a hint of reproach in his voice. "It's common knowledge she left the Siverians long ago. I always assumed that meant the two of you were together. Our pack has a death sentence, Iver. You two have a life together. Olive and I don't have much time left, but you two might. Don't you dare throw that away like it's nothing!"

Assyria stood tall next to Bain, an impenetrable smirk upon her features and glimmer in her gaze. She dipped her head slightly as she was introduced, eyes never leaving her audience. She paused for a moment to take it all in, relishing in the shock that must be rippling through the crowd. It was positively delicious.
"I, Assyria, leader of Blood Mist, am here to propose a formal alliance between or packs. Or rather, a joining of forces. I see no reason why we should continue to fight each other and murder for the sake of out-dated vengeance. Seeing you all now, I know that the Yozorans must be tired of such useless fighting as well. I cannot pretend I know or understand why Blood Mist has been reawakened, but I know in my soul it is for a purpose. Here we are, in the valley of our ancestors, and things are not as they should be. Long ago, the first leader of Blood Mist made a bargain with your pack, Night Mist. The bargain was too weak to hold. So this time, let us not repeat history and make the same mistakes that have led to only death and destruction. Let us not continue to fight out of habit, and let us not make such false treaties, only to turn on one another. Let us join together as one -- for the purpose of the greater good of us all."She turned to Bain, and with a respectful dip of her head, she spoke the words she'd been dying to from the moment she'd laid eyes on the skull-hooded figure.
"I am proposing that we unite our forces and lead them together, as one pack, with two alpha operating in cooperation with one another."

[Destiny]

[ ; D ]

This was most certainly not the reaction that he had quite been expecting, but it was far better than the one he had feared, which had involved bloodshed. Features did not betray his mild surprise, however, but remained composed, with an almost wise, contemplating composure about them. While Lyell tried to make sense of it all, he stood, silent, unmoving - except for the occasional twitch of his right ear. Iver might never have been the fastest wolf around, or the best hunter, or the most agile, but he had always had exceptional brute strength and overly fine-tuned hearing. It was coming in handy at the moment; not to say he could hear everything, but the disjointed words were enough to deliver at least a third of the ongoing conversation.

"That is not the Yozoran spirit I remember, not the strength-" He had begun to speak over Lyell, in a tone of voice that was neither commanding nor allowing for any doubt that he was disappointed. But at the mention of Nightshade, his demeanor faltered. Without a doubt, he was taken aback, perhaps even mildly confused. For several moments, his eyes looked at something that Lyell could not see, appeared to be searching, but not finding the desired image. Or memory, as it were. There was a brief moment were an expression of the deepest heartbreak he could have ever felt was accidentally allowed to press itself upon his features. Then he managed to blur it, twisting it with something that bordered on calmness but wasn't quite there. "She never came to me."

The air between them seemed to have turned to lead, the breeze heavier than a ten tonne boulder on his solid shoulders. Iver cleared his throat. Loudly. "Regardless, I still possess several of the lives Twilight pressed upon my shoulders. For Yozora, for Night, for Lupus himself, I have to try." His gaze returned to Lyell; it may as well have been made of diamond. "It is my duty."

[Sivoncé™]

Lyell swallowed hard. He knew nothing should phase him anymore -- not with the horrors of the past moons, or the fact that Iver was standing here, or with all of the death and destruction he had witnessed. But after his role in nearly tearing them apart for good, Lyell had secretly cheered Iver and Nightshade on. He'd hoped that when the alpha had gone, it had been to be with her -- no other reason would've been good enough for Lyell. No other reason would allow him to maintain enough respect for Iver to speak calmly with him now. As it was, the warrior was quickly losing his calm. Iver didn't understand, but he supposed that wasn't really his fault. He hadn't been around here. By the sounds of it, he'd been very, very far away. He growled openly at him now, in frustration and weariness. "You know what that means, then, Iver? It means she's dead, or as good as dead. Many wolves have gone missing around here since you've left, and none of them -- except for the Siverian healer -- have ever been found. If you have any hope in seeing Nightshade again, if she's even alive, I'd advise you to go find that healer and ask her if she saw her in Blood Mist. If she has, you might have hope. If she hasn't, then you're a damned bastard for ever letting her out of your sight in the first place."
He didn't expect Iver to understand his anger. Iver wasn't facing immenent death right in the eyes. He knew that any moment, Olive or Mary or Plum could be dead, and there was nothing he could to do change it except maybe run. Evey moment with a loved one was to be savored like the last. In Lyell's eyes, Iver was wasting time with the girl he loved to be here, trying to salvage a lost cause.
"You're right, it's not the Yozoran Pack you knew, Iver, because there hardly is a pack anymore. It's not just the deaths, either. It's the desertion. Wolves are leaving, running away while they can cause they're a hell of a lot smarter than I've been. The ones left are too tired or weary or rebellious for our pack to do anything but fall apart. I know you don't get it because you haven't been here, so don't stand there and talk to me about duty and glory and courage because you don't know what the hell you're getting yourself into!"

[Destiny]

If there had been any semblance of 'calm and composed' remaining, it evaporated in less than an instant. By the time Lyell had finished, there was an aura of something that could only be described as 'I am damned' radiating from Iver like steam from a hot spring. It was a mix of pain, fury, heartache and pride - but mostly the middle two. "Do not dare think for a second that I wanted to let her go, Lyell. We saw each other again after I left you all. Many, many times. But she never stayed with me. Rescued me, once or twice. Let me reunite her with family, yes. But she never stayed." It was a tone so low, so rough that he may as well have been forcing iron doors closed against a mountain of gravel. "We had something that was once in a lifetime, and I will find her again, even if it is long after we are both dead, for I must. But she made her choice a long time ago, and she upheld it until long after I had gone to learn from the wolves who have passed." His stance had changed so that shoulders were higher than the top of his head, which now lay within a foot 'n a half of the earth. It was not the stature of a friend. "Love is a two-sided drama, Lyell. I gave her everything I had to give, and she took it all, but never returned the ultimate favor. Not then. Do not think that I do not desire to be with her - I simply know that you are all damned. So many lives are not worth one love." He straightened up again. Not completely, but enough to show that he was done being a level of angry that he rarely ever was. "We will be together in death, but lives can not be restored."

Several very long minutes passed until Iver's composure was almost fully regained, but there was an unmistakable determination about him now that, were it suddenly turned to a liquid state, would have drowned them both. "There is a way. There is always a way. I will die, and if I can help it, Bain will die. My own daughter may die. You may die." It was very clear that none of this bothered him; not anymore. "But we can not allow Blood Mist to rule. We defeated them once, long ago, and we can do it again, with the help of our neighbors. Not just the other packs, either, but the loners, the rogues. Anyone we can find. Hellfirians who do not serve Assyria, if it comes to it. Everyone." It was not a challenge. He had truly come to believe that this was fact, what must be done. The absolute future.

Lyell had hit a nerve.