Bad Moon Rising (PM for invite)

Bao was more than slightly irritated, both with Amir and with Subira. Anything he thought he might be imagining was suddenly confirmed, at least to his mind it was. This was suicide and she knew it. He knew it. He knew full well that he and Mara were risking their necks for Amir. Bao, however, wasn't sure how much Amir would appreciate it. Well that, they would worry about later.

Fortunately, he had been at the Manor when he'd gotten his sister's call. While he'd not wasted any time, he had at least changed from his suit to something more appropriate. It was hardly armor, he wasn't often called on to fight as Amir was, but it would be something between himself and fangs if it came to that. He'd also put a silver bracelet on each wrist and put silver chain in his pocket before taking two Kodachis, one intended for Mara, of his wall and then completely ignoring the speed limit. It might not be the ideal weapon but he suspected she had nothing at all with her.

Parking his car, he quickly spotted Mara and stood before her. She was obviously agitated. He also noted Dana and was more than slightly surprised to see her. However, he gave no reaction and was, as always stoic and unreadable. Despite the fact that his feeling rather mirrored Mara's body language.

"What do we know exactly? And I am sure you intend to go in after him."Â?

As did Bao. He'd not leave his maker to face this alone Subira be damned.

Mara grimaced at Bao. "We don't know much. Something about Subira testing Amir. Of course he would see that," she half hissed, half groaned. Amir's pride was about to be the death of him.

That said, she looked to Dana; it was she who had lest seen Amir that evening. If there was anything to add, she was certain Dana would speak up. She and Mara might not be on the best of terms but Dana clearly cared for Amir.

"I do intend to go after him. He's good, but I don't know how his luck will run."

She shivered in the moonlight, well aware that they may not find Amir at all, but ashes on the wind.

Dana halted her run just in time to not run through Mara. She watched Bao leave his vehicle and sighed a small bit of relief.

Their exchange was quick and then suddenly they were looking at her.

"Ah... Long story short." She blinked several times, and sighed. "While I was sleeping he recieved a phone call. I caught only the end of it with him reassuring someone in rather irritated tones that he 'could handle it.' "

She swallowed flushing a little as the next words left her. "When he came back to bed, he wasn't himself. He said he usually understood her methods, but this one he did not, so it must be a test. A test to see if the last time had been luck or skill."

Her hands came together and began twist around each other. "I tried to get him to tell me more, but he declined. I offered my services, but he rightly told me I was not yet ready to face the wolves. And tasked me with gathering information."

Her pleading eyes met Bao's "I'm sorry, but that is all I know."

"I doubt anyone's luck is that good tonight."Â?

Bao cast a meaningful glance at the full moon before giving his attention to Dana.

"God damned the both of them."Â?

Bao cursed to himself under his breath. Was Subira threatened by Amir? Was she tired of him? And had he totally lost his mind to be blindly accepting this order?

His dark scowl softened slightly and he nodded to Dana.

"That is more than we did know. I'm afraid he is right and this will be no place for you tonight."Â?

It was no place for any of them tonight, and yet here there were. He hoped that Dana would understand that what he had said and Amir had told her were for her safety and well-being. She was improving but this... this was well beyond her skill range.

He opened the trunk and opened it, giving Mara her choice of blades.

"We go in together."Â?

It was not a question. Bao was not about to sit on the sidelines right now.

"Dana, I hate to ask this of you but it may be best if you wait for us. We may need to make a quick get away once we find him."Â?

He doubted she would appreciate the request, but he hoped she would see the wisdom. If she insisted on coming, however, he'd not waste time convincing her to stay. They would also, however, not be able to help protect her mush if they encountered a pack rather than individuals.


((OOC... red is Vietnamese))

Dana bowed her head in resignation. It was not the best choice, but it was the smartest. She knew they were right, they were all right and she was intensely angry at Lady Erin for not giving her the right tools for this. It was misplaced anger, but it was all she had at the moment.

"I will stay, for now." She looked back up at Bao. "I'm sorry it is the best I can do. I will not ignore horrible sounds because you asked me to stay with the car. I will not engage a wolf, if it is possible to avoid them, but I will come in and drag you out if I can."

She spread her arms wide in a gesture of surrender. It was all she could offer.

Mara looked back and forth from Bao to Dana. Then she turned, gave a soft sigh, and said to the fair-haired woman, "You should come."

It would be safer this way. Better to have Dana with them than to have her try and make her way across the Park alone. Mara didn't think Dana was helpless, just - not ready to wander around the preserve under a full moon by herself. Far better to have companionship. The buddy system had not died.

Amir would have disapproved, surely, but Amir wasn't here. Amir was following what had to be the top contender for the Stupidest Order of the Year award. Mara was vexed with him; he was so busy trying to prove his worth, something he had done a thousand times over, that he hadn't seen the true reason for this.

"Let's not waste time."

She gave Bao a nod of thanks and selected a kodachi from the trunk, then turned and headed down across the beach toward the woodland, listening behind her for however many pairs of feet decided to follow. Dana had seemed confident in her ability to remain hidden; hopefully she would use those skills to their fullest.

Mara was hardly shocked to see Dana's little cloud of fog tagging along with Bao. In many long years she'd seen equally as many abilities. That Dana was an ethereal gave her comfort; at least there would be no harm done to her unless she were to materialize and do something foolish.

Opening her senses, she attuned herself to the sounds, smells, and tastes of the night around them. Using her perception required enough concentration that she left Bao and Dana to their devices; Bao knew her capabilities and Dana appeared to be following Bao. They would remain together. A low howl sounded in the distance; Mara veered them toward it, picking up her pace to a run, her enhanced agility combined with her perception allowing her to move through the forest, unhindered and silent, at top speed.

As they covered the acres of the preserve as quickly as possible, Mara steered them away from the numerous predators in their paths. Perhaps the wolves could smell them, but Mara, using all her abilities, could return the favor. She didn't want a fight right now. She wanted to find Amir. Her normally slow heart beat a faster pattern in her chest as she heard a sharp bark and another after it.

She turned them that way. The smell of blood was in the air, thick, coppery, and abundant. She tasted it in her nose, on her tongue.

"He's near," she whispered to Bao, knowing he would hear her.

There were seven Pipers, eight if you include the LT, left in the pack now. They had stopped calling family from overseas to fill up the ranks after the Alpha had put them on indefinite hiatus. So those that were left formed an even tighter bond, hunting together as well as playing in the city together. Brothers, cousins - they acted like young men and enjoyed it.

'Oh you wanker!'

They had succumbed to the full moon early but only the LT and two others had managed to shift back to human form as the others mulled around, play fighting as wolves. The moon's sway would pull at them again soon, so they enjoyed a quick chat and a cigarette as they felt the madness creeping back.

'Lend me a fag, quick.'

Charlie threw a cigarette at Red's head and then began to undress, not wanting to destroy another set of clothes when a frantic howl pierced the night, followed by the angry call of the Beta. Charlie and Red stopped immediately and looked to the rest of the Pipers and their LT.

LT yelled out as he began to run back into the forest with a half naked Charlie. 'Two and two take the flanks, Charlie and Red with me.'

Cresting a hill, LT forced his change and landed on all fours, shredding his clothes as Charlie and Red did the same. The eight Pipers ran swiftly into the night on full alert with their cups filled to the brim with urgency as well as their madness.

Having made a critical observation Mara had to time her movements right, but they were spoiled slightly by two things. First Amir, her cursedly stubborn, beloved creator, somehow, some way, began to haul his bloodied corpse upright. And then he didn't even have the good sense to stand behind his children and let them be protective for once, no! He placed himself between them and the wolves.

Secondly, one of the wolves flanking the black one broke away, ruining what was a tense, pregnant standstill, leaping for Mara even as Mara herself sprang into motion. There was nothing but action and reaction; no time to do anything but go on instinct. Mara felt the wolf's jaws close upon her forearm as she raised it up defensively.

Levering the wolf up and over, she hammered it against the ground and plunged the blade of her sword through its ribs and into the dirt on the other side of its body, impaling it. As her arm was released she fell onto the hilt of the sword, grasped it with both hands and pushed up and away in a handspring, pulling it out of the dying wolf and hurtling toward the older white one.

They were protecting the younger one. Both of them. Particularly this older female. The younger one meant something to them. Mara had no idea what but she didn't wait around to find out. She locked her knees around the older white wolf's neck and slammed her to the ground as well, ignoring the claws that ripped through her jeans into her leg. Mara punched the wolf in the head, badly denting her two rings, but the wolf collapsed and stopped thrashing, losing control of her form.

Mara didn't bother to stop and watch. The others were already in action, springing toward them, barely held back by Bao and a supremely unsteady Amir. Wrapping her arm around the remaining wolf's neck, she scored two shallow cuts as she punched that one, as well, on the temple. Her sword came up, kissing the wolf's neck gently, her arm still wrapped around her. Mara's other hand rested where it was, holding the thrashing wolf as she transformed into a very familiar figure.

It was over in seconds, from the time Mara began moving to the time she looked down on a dazed and pained Nikhila Gounder, scientist and, apparently, werewolf.

"Well hello," Mara purred.

Mara frowned as the wolves surrounded them. There were far too many of them. Pressing her two rings to Nikhila's temple she ground them in savagely, scowling at the wolves.

"Let's go," she said softly to Bao and Amir. She raised her voice. "We'll give her back - conditional on your good behavior."

Xeph rolled to his feet, finally, in time to see the woman who'd decked him whirl around, take out the Nakubili female, and Lily. He sprang forward, heedless of the vampires in front of him, and was rewarded twofold when Nikhila cried out in pain and something burst into his face.

The latter had an immediate reaction on him. The unmistakable tang of silver filled his nose and began to sting his eyes, and yet again his body reacted. Even more quickly and painfully than before, Xeph was thrust into his naked human body. Still the silver burned away at him and he realized the jackal had thrown tiny particles of filed silver into his face as he tried to pass. The realization helped little; Xeph's eyes watered, his throat burned, and he gagged helplessly as his body did everything in its power to rid itself of the tiny particles.

Down on his knees, an hour or a year might have passed. He raised watery eyes, felt the tension, felt the tightly-knotted muscles of his Pack around him.

Dry-heaving, he felt himself falling inside and out. All he could see, even with his eyes reddened and feeling burned, was the slim trickle of blood at Nikhila's neck.

"Go," he coughed harshly, breath not coming easily. Then he turned to Hammer, to Brig and the Pipers, and managed one more word. "Follow."

And then he lowered himself to the dirt and once more curled up in misery as the moon once more forced him back, slowly and painfully. He embraced it this time. He wanted the vampires dead. They should be attacking, not submitting. But the wily female had forced them into a stalemate.

His eyes continued to water.

Amir had one card left and Xephier gave him the perfect opportunity to play it; he watched with vindictive satisfaction as the Kadzait Alpha writhed on the ground, again forced into his naked, vulnerable, human shape. Sadly, Amir wasn't in any condition to capitalize on it.

As they had stood there, he had been busy channeling his scant reserves into his left knee, knowing he'd have to get out of here somehow. His right ankle was a mess. He couldn't even begin to try and force regeneration there until he figured out what bone fragments were where. Unable to speak, he couldn't issue a single Command the Xephier would follow.

Mara, fortunately, solved the problem for him. He couldn't see what she had done, but clearly she held someone hostage. In short order a safe passage arrangement had been worked out.

Using the edge of his kilij as an improvised walking stick, Amir backed away from the wolves. Trusting Bao to watch his back he turned and heaved himself away from his child's supporting shoulder and followed Mara out, staggering now and then as his mauled ankle crackled and popped with the slightest weight.

Mara had never believed a walk through the park could take so long. She held Nikhila firmly, traveling slowly enough to let Amir keep the pace although she fretted that he wasn't moving quickly enough. The night was fast fading, and she had no doubts that their "escorts" would be thrilled to see them dissolve into ash before their eyes.

Eventually though, they reached the parking lot. Mara studiously avoided looking at the small cloud of mist that tracked their movements. It was safer for Dana, and better for them all, if the wolves didn't know they had a fourth in their numbers. It could be useful in the future. Thanks to Dana's timely information, they would have a future.

Bao went for his car; Amir, stoic and stubborn, refused to head in any direction but his bike. Mara scowled as he gestured at her, still unable to speak. She wasn't about to get involved in a staring fight. She understood the reason for it although she still thought he should get his overly-proud ass in the car.

Still holding Nikhila in an iron-strong grip, Mara climbed onto the bike and fired it up. She waited for Bao to get into the car, accompanied by a small subtle cloud she was sure none of the wolves really noticed. Feeling Amir settle himself heavily against her back, Mara revved the bike and slowly drove, tugging Nikhila along with them. As they reached the exit she gunned it and let Nikhila fall away, tucking the kodachi into the saddlebag of the bike by thrusting it through the fabric and grabbing Amir's hands to help hold him in place.

Behind them, the wolves faded into the distance, gone but not forgotten.

((ooc: Vampires out - no permission given, it just kinda worked. Lemme know if you want it changed and I will! :D))

Xeph focused on trying to breathe as the Pipers took off, following the vampires toward the front of the Park. Eventually he thought he might be able to move again, and he crawled on his stomach over to where Lily lay unmoving. Collapsing next to her seemed way more convenient than over there.

He looked around; LT had stayed behind and now stood watch, ears pricked toward the slowly moving Pipers.

It was no competition. If the female vampire harmed one hair on Nikhila's head, the Pack would take them all down.

It was the only consolation he had, feeling like he'd betrayed her.

((ooc: Lily and Xeph out))

She didn't dare struggle, not at all. Nikhila was not at all convinced the vampires would honor their word and she'd gotten just half a look at an unguarded expression on Hoang's face. It didn't bode well. She took some small comfort from the fact that The Pipers and even the Vyusher were following. She hadn't been abandon at the very least.

As the bike started to move and she was still held Nikhila's blood ran cold. They weren't going to let her go, she would be dragged. Finally the vice like grip released her. Nikhila gratefully hit the pavement, rolling to lessen the impact and doing what she could to protect her stomach.

Stunned, disoriented Nikhila staggered to her feet only to have the moon reclaim her. Looking around she found two Pipers looking at her somewhat expectantly. She knew then she just wanted Aidan, she wanted to go home. They escorted her back to the sight of the fight. Quietly wagging her tail at LT who was keeping watch, Nikhila found Aidan and sofly nuzzled her mate, trying to offer some support. He'd fought so well done his best to protect them all, they all had. Tired and worried she curled up next to Aidan. This was half of what she needed right now.

((OCC... Nikhila out))

'Relinquish your hold. Now.'

Ringo fought against the Kadzait Beta's control, not surprised that with the CO they were able to temper their violent blood feud. The one-eyed giant spoke, smiling what Ringo knew to be a rare humorous expression.

'Now why would I do that?'

'Because you owe me.'

The Nakubili's snarls began to grow louder behind him.

'We owe you shit.'

Brig could barely hold onto his human form when Ringo finally spoke the inevitable insult. Standing next to his cousin, he reinforced his hold, bending Ringo's will and forcing the Nakubili to recede, but just barely. It was taking everything to exert this type of control and he could only guess his rage was fueling it.

Suddenly Hammer turned his head and looked at Brig with a side long glance. He did not have to speak the words, but it irritated him just the same. Slowly he eased his gestalt and ability to rally the troops, as it were, and conceded to his cousin's authority.

'Why did you side with us, besides the obvious weak wills,' Ringo's eyes narrowed and Brig smiled, 'what did the vampires do to warrant your actions? It wasn't your fight.'

'Their female,' Hammer replied.

Brig counted eleven Nakubili standing behind Ringo. A female had sacrificed herself to help their females.

'But that doesn't explain why they were there in the first place.'

Ringo felt the weight of their control tighten, enraging him even more, but did not permit him to break it. He glared at Jameson, at his gloating.

'There are more in the woods. More of ours, no doubt more of yours. The vampire was busy before finding your females to play with.' Ringo looked at Hammer then and smiled. 'And what pretty females they were.'

Ringo saw Hammer's reaction to the older female being wounded. Despite their gender, females could hold their own, but there was something different about their pack's reaction, especially from Hammer and the Alpha.

'They were...special.'

The Pipers advanced, their hackles rising and the Nakubili responded, refusing to give an inch.

Hammerthynn snorted halfheartedly. 'It's a matter of honor, Ringo. We protect our females...unlike you.'

Sisi had responded to something, something the other males did not detect. Ringo honestly did not have a clue, but he still came to the same conclusion.

'Regardless, one of mine died...for two of yours.'

'That sounds familiar.'

Brig's voice was cold and just above a whisper. He felt LT come up beside him, electricity coming off his hackles, infuriating him even further. Ringo was talking about his youngest brother David and his wife, LT's parents. He knew he should not be heading down this path, but his rage was blindly forcing him into a corner. Brig caught Hammer's eye, silently he shrugged at his cousin.

So what if he's got one dead, his expression asked. Brig looked back at Ringo and glared down at him, his face disgusted.

The tension was increasing by the second and Hammer knew soon they would have an all out fight. Twelve Nakubili versus eight Pipers - granted Hammer and Brig could do a fair amount of damage on their own and had at least fifty years of experience on Ringo, he knew he'd lose at least one if not two more Pipers - LT more than likely included. He had to stop the battle before it escalated to a full out war.

Besides, they were still suspended and they had their Alpha, Nikhila, and his own mate to look after now.

He turned his head and held up his hand, leveling it in a subtle, horizontal motion. The Pipers immediately stopped their advance and tempered their snarls. LT had moved up in between him and Brig, but he resisted, continuing his advance. In a move that LT would definitely feel later back at the Den, Hammer clenched his jaw and spoke two words.

'Stand. Down.'

LT immediately broke off, but narrowed his eyes at RIngo.

'Take your men, your dead, and go, Ringo. I neither have the time nor the patience for your pious threats. If you start this...right now...I'll finish it by grounding you into the dirt, till there is nothing left. Not even your weak will.'

Ringo's eyes were on fire with hate. Hammer took one step closer and looked down at the man.

'But thank you for your assistance. You be sure to forward me an address so I can send you a thank you card.'

Ringo's second came up beside him, snarling, ready to unleash the Nakubili onto the weakened Pipers, ignoring the threat of the Kadzait Beta and the Piper Commander. It was ill placed confidence, Ringo knew this. Despite almost having twice the amount of wolves, Ringo knew that the losses would be heavy and with the bitter Triad: Hammerthynn, Jameson, and their LT, he'd be torn apart first. It was his own skin he thought of in the bitter end and it just wasn't a price he was willing to pay.

Ringo turned his head and commanded the Nakubili to back off and retreat. 'Gather our dead,' he told his Second who's ears which were flat pushed forward in confusion. 'Now.'

The Nakubili stepped backwards, never turning their back on the Pipers and never quite leaving their Unkulunkulu until the Kadzait Beta done the same. Both the Pipers and the Nakubili disengaged from the head-to-head.

Ringo lifted his hands and gave them a brilliant, white tooth smiled. 'Let us part as friends then, Hammer, even in our retribution.'

For now, Ringo added silently to himself.

'I'll be seeing you.'

'Of that I have no doubt.'

Hammer narrowed his eye at Ringo as he backed up and the finally turned toward the forest with the rest of his Nakubili. He returned to his wolf form and the twelve of them darted back into the forest.

'That was bullshit, Hammer.'

Brig stepped forward, confronting him and overstepping his authority. No doubt infuriated that they had not killed Ringo on the spot. Hammer reminded him of his place by grabbing the collar of his flight suit and snarling into his face.

'Keep it together, Brian.'

Hammer rarely used Brig's real name - in fact he hadn't called him Brian since they were young men. It was always in Brig to be the man he was, and even though he was older than Hammer, he wasn't the Beta. He let go of Brig's collar and his cousin took a step back, his face tight with fury.

'We gather our dead and go. We need to check on the Alpha and the others.' Hammer paused and thought about his reaction to Brig when he first entered the clearing and came near Lily. It was possessive and pretty damn obvious at Hammer's aggression. No point putting it off any further.

'Plus I need to talk to you privately.'

Brig straightened and ran a hand behind his head, along his neck. Nodding to LT, the Pipers ran off back into the woods, cautiously avoiding the Nakubili, and retreated several more bodies of Kadzait members who had met their fate with the vampire.

The need to return to the Den had grown exponentially. He'd want to check on Lily and Nikhila, make sure they were ok and attend to his own wounds. The slashes at his ribcage had closed but were still tender. He was surprised that he just now noticed the pain. The silver burns would have to be looked at as well, no doubt adding beautifully to the scars on his face.

With a resigned sigh, he turned to look back into the dark woods. The horizon beginning to light up the sky with reds and oranges, starting another day.

((OOC Hammer, Pipers, Brig, Ringo, Nakubili out))