Hephaestus City

Blossom was quite terrible at throwing things as shown when she attempted to throw another rock, but instead of being thrown toward Chaz, it somehow ended up going up and somewhere to the side of Blossom. It was a sign. "Hey, come on Feathas, he bain't doin' nothing! Let's just take you and your wing and sail on outta 'ere."

She ignored Tiberius and with her anger still fresh, picked up another stick. "Don't mind 'er! She jus' gets over heated sometimes! We won't head towards your city!" She stopped to really aim this time, focusing on Chaz when she somehow managed... to... let... it... fly.... into Tiberius. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. NO!

Blossom froze, a small look of surprise and... something else. She hadn't meant to throw it at Tiberius, but it hit him... It hit Tiberius. The stick she threw, hit Tiberius. She hit Tiberius. With a stick. Tiberius got a stick thrown at him. By her. Blossom, his friend. Hit him with a stick. A stick. Hit Tiberius... her thought processes went on like this for quite awhile. It took a few minutes before she could properly understand what she had done....

"I'm SOOOO sorry, Tiberius!!!!!" Finally, she jumped toward him and frantically checked him over all the while muttering, "I didn't mean it."

Which was true, she didn't mean to throw it at Tiberius. She was just that terrible at throwing things. Though it was somewhat hilarious, especially from an outsiders perspective. Tiberius wasn't even really in front of her, was he? But then again she had thrown a rock backwards before... It really had been a sign then. Though it was pointless to assume Tiberius would notice and take care to protect himself from his traveling companion.

Though this all was something Blossom was too busy apologising to have even considered such details. She was merely sorry that she had thrown that stick at Tiberius. A hundred apologies later, Blossom finally remembered the target of her earlier tantrum, to whom she was now looking at. It was only natural for her to childishly assume it was his fault... right?

She glared at him, but finally, after a second or two, her calm and healing Aven temperament came back and she walked up to him. "I'm sorry I tried to throw things at you. My name is Blossom."

"OH FLAMES!!!" Chaz cried as he jumped for cover behind a nearby rock. Even though Blossom was a terrible aim, Chaz couldn't help but feel he was in mortal danger. "Please! Stop, STOP!!" He shouted over the rock. He could hear the pair yelling and as Chaz looked over to see, a stray pebble knocked his nose. "OW! I'VE BEEN HIT!!" He cried. He then came stumbling from out behind the rock, only to trip over his own paws. "Oof!" He grunted. It would seem the onslaught was over as Chaz looked to see the one-winged wolf apologizing to her companion. He was confused to say the least.

Chaz then cowered before Blossom as she walked up to him. "Gah!! Don't throw anything else at me please!!!" He cried. "I'm sorry I tried to throw things at you. My name is Blossom." His ears perked up as he looked up to see Blossom. "Y-you, you apologized to me?" He asked rather stunned at her change in behavior. "No one ever apologizes for the mean tricks they play on Chaz, not even the Pups!" He then looked over to Tiberius and then back to Blossom. "You guys aren't playing any tricks on me right now are you? Please say you aren't!" He pleaded.

Chaz was flabbergasted to say the least. Has he really met two wolves that both apologize to him and actually WANT his help? This cannot be! Everyone he's ever met was nothing but mean and hurtful towards him. Then again, he's only met other Fire Wolves and never met Wolves from outside the Pack. Maybe foreigners are different? And they do look to be in trouble, especially from thirst!

"Wes ain't doin' no tricks, sir. We's just tryin' to get across your volcano. Its been a long way without wata', and standin' 'ear talkin' is just dryin' me out. You knows where we can gets some?" Tiberius asked

"W-Well, I don't know...I mean...there's some water at the, the, bar but...I-I can't get you in there!" Chaz blubbered. "They don't want Chaz hanging around there...and, besides...uh," Chaz paused when Blossom spoke up.

"Yes, we need water. And I'm really really sorry I hit you with that pebble." "I was just... We were... I mean... I'm sorry. We are trying to get to that volcano because..." "We have a message for a wolf. Over there. At the base of that volcano. It's really important." "Can you help us? Please?"

Chaz felt torn on what he should do in this situation. Sure, he was ordered to block all foreigners from entering their and territory and if they did, he should hurt them or capture them. He was also told that all foreigners were mean, evil, and cruel and would kill him the moment they get the opportunity too. Yet, all of that was wrong. These two are, without a doubt, the nicest wolves he met. Sure they yelled at him and threw pebbles, but they apologized for it! Besides if they wanted to kill Chaz, then he'd already be dead. He's no fighter and his fire is very weak.

They were in trouble and Chaz could see that and he doesn't want to see these two die of thirst. Not to mention that other Wolf would be without his message! But, what can he do? He'll be in trouble for sure if he decided to help these two! Not to mention they would get caught and thrown in jail! Chaz nervously, "Well, I-I-I would like to help you...but, but, I can't!!! Foreigners aren't allowed in the city!!! If they see you, you'll be thrown in jail!!!" He said. "And, and if they see Chaz helping you, then I'll be in one, hot, flaming mess!!!" He cried.

"Well, I-I-I would like to help you...but, but, I can't!!! Foreigners aren't allowed in the city!!! If they see you, you'll be thrown in jail!!!" He said. "And, and if they see Chaz helping you, then I'll be in one, hot, flaming mess!!!"

Tiberius drew in closer to the wolf, all thoughts of this wolf being a threat having long vanished.

"Well flames, sah! That's what we'll be, up in flames if we don'ts be gettin' water! What's if we get all disguised like afore we go marchin' into your bar? Is there somethin' we can use in your shed back there? I can act like a fire wolf if they all acts like ya!" Tiberius responded, taking a moment to appropriate the catchphrase of Chaz that he fancied. Tiberius' thirst, which he had squashed under the expectation of having to go without, was suddenly bubbling over again now that he saw a chance at water. Even if it meant that a water wolf juvenile would have to walk into a fire wolf bar.

"How far of a walk is it anyway, mista? Featha's ain't soundin' too good, mayhaps we should bring some back to her." Tiberius continued, remembering his friend had coughed. The thought brought a tickle to his own throat, which he promptly hacked out. Apparently, coughing was just like laughter. Contageous.

Chaz was rather confused over the situation that was unfolding before him. Sure, he was told not to let any foreigners into the territory but they never said anything about important foreigners. Oh flames! He was sure in one dozy of a predicament. Sure, he could go with his gut and tell them to run away, that nobody wants them here. But, that isn't true and that would be mean, considering these wolves have been the nicest he's met. Perhaps they are some sort of ambassadors? They don't look the part but maybe it's smart that they don't?

Of course they also seem too young to be diplomats, but then again he's not familiar with foreign customs. Perhaps diplomats are hired at a very young age from whatever Pack these two hail from. Oh, Chaz was never one for decision making, he's perhaps the most indecisive Wolf of all. He hates making orders at restaurants, shopping trips at the market, and figuring out which road he should take home! It always comes down to some sort of choice and poor Chaz can't help but feel his brain's about to burst every time!

This time though is different, this time, this time, this time, it's BIGGEST DECISION HE'S EVER MADE!!! "AGH!!! STEAMING PILE OF COALS!!! Don't make me choose!!!!" He cried aloud.

"Well, the wolf were supposed to give the message to is over there and this is all Tenneth territory. So don't you think that wolf is a Tenneth? And they'd know of us, right? So shouldn't that be Okay? I mean we are messengers, very very important messengers with a message. If you help us, they might congratulate you for helping such important messengers."

Chaz attempted his best attempt to think through the situation. "OKAY, OKAY!! You might be important!!! But, but, I still can't help you!!! I mean, do you have something that you can prove to the other Tenneths that you are important!? Because if you do, that would really make me feel more comfortable helping you out! That way if the others asked, I can say I helped very important diplomats!!! Yes, that should make them think twice about hurting poor Chaz!" He responded quite frantically.

Tiberius was about to argue with his friend that yes, he very well could pretend to be a Tenneth. A good one too. But the conversation took a slightly more productive turn, and he stowed his comments for the moment.

"OKAY, OKAY!! You might be important!!! But, but, I still can't help you!!! I mean, do you have something that you can prove to the other Tenneths that you are important!? Because if you do, that would really make me feel more comfortable helping you out! That way if the others asked, I can say I helped very important diplomats!!! Yes, that should make them think twice about hurting poor Chaz!"

Tiberius was flummoxed. He didn't have anything on him! Suddenly nervous, he did what he did best when he was caught off guard. He rambled.

"Well, uh, sah. We's don't 'ave anythin' cause wes was...robbed on the way up 'ere! Yeah! Remember afore when wes thoughts that you was a wolf from the prison! Yeah! Yeah! We, uh, yeah! Got robbed there! No more diploschematics or ambassocratics. And we lost our wata'! Everythin' was taken! At least they didn't get our message, cause Feather's der keeps it in her head. She won't even tell me! Cause that's the most important kinda message, sah. The kind you can't tell. 'cept to the one you be given it too. And uh, yeah! Flames! And stuff..."

Tiberius trailed off, looking hesitantly at Blossom. The more and more time they were spending with Chaz, the more and more he was becoming their only hope of getting in. If they balked now, he'd just follow them or raise the alarm. Or both. Then again, they could probably silence him with a mean glare. But Tiberius was too tired to conjure one of those up.

This was one dozy of a conundrum for Chaz this time! He couldn't tell if they were lying or not so he assumes they aren't. It made sense to him what they told him. They did mention something about a prison earlier and well, of course criminals would steal everything they've got! Including any proof of their status! Of course without it, Chaz didn't feel at all confident in bringing them with him. Not many are as trusting as him.

"Ah huh!" "We were robbed! And they took everything! It's just as Tiberius said. But I have an idea now. We don't have proof to show you but we are trustworthy. Just give us directions to the place we're heading to and let us go there by ourselves. This way you won't get in trouble if you really think we are not who we say we are. And we'll lie and say we snuck in from a different place and I mean, we are just a couple of foreigners, of course the other Tenneths will just blast us away without any remorse. But!" "If we are who say we are - and we are - We'll get to the place and tell the higher ups there that you, Chaz, helped us and they'll reward you! We'll make sure of it! Either way, it works out for you right? You won't get hurt if you are wrong about us, and if you are right about us, you'll get rewarded!" "Will this plan work for you?"


"Well...I guess that might work." Chaz then mulled her words over. "O-okay, I'll do it." Chaz finally decided. "Go ahead and tell me the place you two are looking for?" Chaz asked.

Everything was in an uproar, all Soldiers heading toward the factory as if they were a current of water all being sucked into a whirlpool. It reminded Blue of a far off stream along side a field of grass as green as an Aven. A home to the Blue that didn't exist anymore. She sneezed, and stopped to hide inside a building when some Boraks passed her by. That's a lot of Mercenaries. Doesn't it feel like they're over doing it though? She watched their tails saunter around the corner, and was about ready to continue her observations when she smelt it. The smell that was so familiar to her she thought one of her... siblings was there, that is until she turned and saw it.

Firepowder.

Lots of it, barrels upon barrels. No doubt a huge supply to help the mining situation.

The barrels they were in were dark, stained by their contents. Blue smiled, and with a small glance outside, saw that she had been heading upwards. While the whirlpool of fighting was downwards. The idea that she hatched was so vicious and maddening that she fell in love with it immediately. All it needed was a swift and wiley she-wolf to enact it.

"Besides, the Rebels appear to be having a little bit of trouble. Helping them out doesn't seem so bad, right?" She talked to herself, all the while grinning like a fool. Or was she talking to the shadows? Who knew say for the madness that suddenly taken it's hold on her.

The plan was simple, easy, and efficient in taking out a large group of Borak and Prometheans. That is if it worked. And it all counted on Blue being fast enough to light them all quickly enough without getting caught. Not to mention getting the Barrels out to their designated areas without someone getting suspicious. It would be easy for something to go wrong, but Blue was keen on the idea so the mere fact that it was one big flaw didn't deter her at all.

She got to work, rolling out a barrel and then waiting for the perfect moment to roll it out and ferry it to another hiding spot again and again until she could get it to its spot. And then she'd had to scuttle back to where the Barrels were stored to do it again, and again, and again. It was tedious, heart pounding work seeing as how she couldn't just go about moving them out in the open. It was time consuming and it all wouldn't have worked if the Tenneth and Borak soldiers weren't all occupied with the rebels in the factory. She was lucky though, as one group of Tenneths had noticed her but seeing her wearing Tenneth armor, they shouted orders for her to do something. It was all too loud for her and all she could through the adrenaline filled haze she had going on, was to nod and grunt an agreement. Then she turned as if she was going to do whatever they had just told her to do. And once she turned a corner, she quickly made an alternate route to the supply of firepowder.

Once there, she let out a huge breathe, "That was close."

Blue shook her entire body, hating the weight of the armor she wore. It would probably weigh her down, but if she didn't wear it... She growled, and left it on.

With that, Blue continued her work until finally, she had placed the last barrel and all she was doing now was running a line of firepowder from each section of hidden explosives to the upper street where there weren't as many enemy soldiers. It was quicker then placing the Barrels, though she did have to fumble for a bag of some sort to create the lines. But she ended up using a Tenneth banner, leaving a hole in at the bottom so the firepowder could leak out to leave the lines. Finally, she was to finished. It was perfect...



Finally, Blue stood out in the open with a torch in her mouth. Staring down at the mass of fighting forces below, inside and outside the factory. She was above it all in this moment. Her racing heart, the soaring temperatures and the smell of burning... things. Their warring actions were a distance thing to her, far and untouchable. It all was except for the flame that was almost too close to her muzzle for comfort, and with its every flickering, her breathe would catch.
Do it.
Blue turned, silently and swiftled she ran forward and ducked her head almost too close to the ground every yard or so. Letting the torch she held, touch and spark the firepowder into being, creating a spark that ran down alongside the buildings until it met Blue's hidden explosives.

At first, she was sure the Tenneth and Borak soldiers had no idea what was going on, until the first explosion. It knocked out a weight bearing column, and one after another, explosions rocked the earth. And then, it all went down! The buildings opposite the factory, behind enemy lines, they fell in the only direction gravity would let them. Downwards, right into the soldiers.

It wasn't until Blue was half way through with lighting the lines that the Tenneth wised up and began targeting her. Fireballs and lightning were terribly fast to be directed at her. Several times, Blue thought her tail was on fire, but through it, she kept running, lighting all her lines of firepowder speeding up once she saw the last part of her plan.

Amazingly, she reached the end of her plan. Which was just releasing the Barrels she had placed at the top of the higher side of Hepheastus city to roll in on the Boraks and light the firepowder they left in their wake so as to cause the biggest explosion yet. And she did so with joy.

The barrels rolled downwards, loud and rumbling as they fell into the unguarded backs of the Tenneth soldiers outside the main door of the factory. Surprised and confused, the soldiers looked up to where the Barrels came from to see a trail of firepowder ending at Blue's paws. And in their last moments, all they saw was Blue dropping the torch, and then a bright light that seared their eyeballs into their skulls until all that left was light.

The last explosion, the biggest and brightest yet, shook the ground and blew up not only Tenneth and Borak soldiers but the nearby buildings. Blue wasn't even the closest to it and she was covering her ears with paws, ducking down to avoid being hit with flying debris that the explosion had shot upwards and sideways.

She was so occupied with this, and enjoying her work when a small fireball hit her from behind. The air was knocked out of her chest as she felt herself somersault forward right into a building wall. There was a crack, and all she saw was darkness.

As the Tenneth picked her up, the movement caused her head and neck to loll about dangerously almost allowing for any necklace type jewelry to fall off, if there had been anything to fall off that was. Too bad she wasn't conscious, otherwise she would have known that her pendant must have flown off when she was thrown into the air.

It really was, too bad.



The water was soothing and eerie, pulling at her fur like paws in need of help.

Wait, water?

Blue opened her eyes to find herself in a world that was painted black, red and grey. The sky was grey, with stretches of storm clouds. It was a stark contrast from the white fluffy clouds she was used to seeing now. While the ground she stood on was not, in fact, dirt. It was an ocean of dark black waves, threatening to rise and swallow her whole.

Of course her normal reaction was to jump up and stare, amazed at her paws that didn't sink. What was going on?

Unsure of how to proceed, all she could do was stay as still as possible to think over what she was doing.

It was strange how Blue's instincts were telling her that she was in danger, that standing on water was impossible. That the cool water that lapped her at her paws was not real. She lifted a paw, seeing the water drip off it and placed it back down. It sunk an inch or two into the water but it didn't go any further. It was as if just below the surface was a sheet of invisible ice holding her up. Where am I?

She looked up, surveying the landscape around her. It was all black water as far as she could see, nothing in front of her. Maybe behind her? She turned around and that is when she saw them in the distance. The pitch black silhouettes of wolves staring back at her with glowing red eyes. She stopped breathing, the clarity of her situation nearly stilling her heart.

They were waiting for her to join them.

How long had they been there?

Blue took a step forward not knowing what to do and at that moment, the ocean surface caved in underneath her.

With a soundless splash, Blue dropped like a stone into the watery depths. She struggled, clawing at the surrounding darkness but it was all in vain. Everything was gone, her senses were slowly fading as the dark waves roared, filling her ears and lungs with sludge of darkness. It crushed the light out of everything, she was drowned in it, pulled deeper and deeper.

"There is no escape."

The dark waves had devoured her completely.

The light was gone.



Her head hurt, and even though she was completely out of it, there was one loud thought she was having. Why the hell didn't they kill her!? Her anger certainly didn't help the headache she was coming down with, not to mention the swaying motion of being carried. It reminded her of getting motion sickness. Motion.... sickness.... The motion.... making her sick.... Sick....

Blue groaned, coming back to life if only just to slide off the Tenneth guard who was carrying her. The thump of her body hitting the ground was soon followed by a: "Blargh!"

She threw up.

The smell of stomach contents was now in the air, not a particularly new scent to a battlefield that was now drenched in the smell of blood, death and... fear. What happened? How much time has passed? He must be bloated with power.

Blossom clearly made a mistake...

"Feathers, you're tellin' me you dragged us up here to go somewhere you don't know where it is, to do something you don't know what to do?!" Tiberius exclaimed, his frustration causing his voice to rise above its previous whisper. "We're gonna die up here, Feathers!"

Blossom flinched and slapped her wing over Tiberius in a pretend huddle away from Chaz. "Shhhhhh! He almost heard you!" She whispered roughly, then pulling away just as quickly as she grabbed Tiberius.

"We just got to keep going!" She shouted, "I bet we're almost there!"

The one winged she-wolf ran ahead of Chaz, throwing caution to the wind as she came up to a rise to see.... smoke, and fire. She felt a hollow sense of... something. Something like pain in her chest but mixed with something else.... Ah, she was hurting because others were hurting. It tore her apart on the inside and without bothering to wait for Tiberius, she bolted toward the city of fire dens. Her kind Aven nature had taken over, despite everything else telling her to turn the other way. For she was small but certainly courageous enough to help fate move forward.

After all, she was here to meet her fate anyways.

*****

"Hello!" Blossom shouted into the city, ignoring the heat. For some odd reason, no one had seen her or stopped her. Maybe they didn't see her at all? Well, she had just entered the city and seen no hide or tail of a fire wolf, or any wolf for that matter. Maybe they were all at the far end of the city where the fire and smoke was the worst? The walkways and rock dens she saw were all eerily silent.

Either way, Blossom was afraid and if a fire wolf didn't kill her then Tiberius definitely would with his shouting when he caught up to her. She let out a whine, suddenly hearing voices. Wolves! Living ones!

"-is a Resistance hideout, I'm sure there must be some supplies lying around here. Could you check it around, Nova needs some medicine badly. In the meantime, I'll keep an eye out for anyone. The city is bound to be crawling with Prometheans and I don't want Mydnyte to be caught without anyone to help him."

Blossom wanted to rush forward and help, as she did run straight into a half burning city but... there was a stream of lava in her way. She wanted to jump over it but odds were she would fall short and died in a puddle of lava. So.... she decided to backtrack a bit and go around to the other side.

Her detour was easy and working just fine, save for the pile of lava rocks she tripped and knocked over. The sound of the rocks falling and hitting the building side wall was loud! It made her freeze hoping no fire wolves heard that. It would be bad to get killed now.

After a few seconds of not getting anyone's attention she turned a corner and standing in front of her was a big, burly and not to mention burning wolf glaring at her. So much for not getting anyone's attention. Was this fire wolf eavesdropping on the voices she was trying to get to? Maybe he was because he let out an almost silent growl and lunged forward, aiming for her puny neck.

Her ears and tails immediately went down and she let out an ear piercing shriek.

The resistance hideout had little of the quiet care and homeliness that the base they had planned the raid from had. From the musky smell and the dirt flooring, Nova supposed they were in little more than a cellar. Probably dark too, but then what wasn't to him. The Ausi extended a leg to feel around, feeling self-conscious as he imagined other wolves watching him. Oh look at that poor wolf, can't even find a spot to lay down. Hopefully he doesn't trip over the others and make a mess. The imagined thoughts of pity did not subside when Nova at last felt something like a cot. Relief. He collapsed on the stretched fabric frame as soon as he verified the bed space was vacant enough.

The ice wolf heard Fang say something about taking watch, but little else beyond that. His sightless eyes stared up at the ceiling as Nova focused on his breathing. He wanted, no, needed to sleep. That universal solace for problems that he couldn't deal with now. All the pain, stress, and despair would be a future Nova's problem. The now Nova could just drift off into the elixir of slumber. No other desire gripped his mind like sleep. Not even thirst. Though his throat had become numb to the constant demands for drink, Nova knew asking for water would just mean another delay to his resting. He had to seize this moment before it was taken from him, even if it was to be for just five minutes. The Ausi prayed in a muttered verse that Shanice was calm his racing mind, that his ears would stop out the clamor going on around him.

How long had it been since Blossom bolted? Ten minutes? An hour? Half a day? It was impossible to tell in the city soot. Clouds of ash choked out the sky, and the lights of the fire masked any celestial rays that managed to pierce the haze. Tiberius looked from lifeless window to lifeless window, desperate for a trace of his best friend. And yet the grey buildings of the scorched city stood by impassive to the plight of one more desperate wolf.

He shouldn't have let her get so far away. He had just been so mad. Mad enough to block out the fear of losing her, long enough that he actually did. Feathers had been crazy ever since their escape from the mines. And unlike other times where she would always tell him what was on her mind, on this self-imposed quest she would only give a fleeting explanation about why they were throwing themselves into danger. Even that time they almost been suffocated by a mudslide, at least Tiberius had known that it had been for some rare seed that she coveted. He hated uncertainty. And he had let it get the better of him.

"Feathers!" Tiberius called out hoarsely, his voice too dry to call a cleaner note. He didn't care which pairs of ears picked him up, so long as Blossom's was one of them. It wasn't like he had seen another living wolf since he had run from Chaz. He moved further into the billowing smoke. The air was getting thicker, that he knew. But in a bizarre way, it also seemed to be getting lighter. The dark clouds of soot were becoming whiter the farther he traveled, the smell of charcoal beginning to fade in degrees. As the smoke at last become as white as the clouds above, Tiberius realized what he had walked into. Steam. He could hear the bubbling of scalding water nearby, and upon examination he found what appeared to be a broken sewer line. A churning mess of boiling water spilled from a cracked metal pipe, throwing steam into the air as it did. Tiberius was thirsty enough that he did not immediately dismiss the temptation of trying to drink it.

He turned away. If was a better water wolf, he could have probably used that runoff to do something. But he had run away before he had really learned to control his element beyond swimming. He was absolutely useless up here. "Feathers! Come back!" he croaked, a sob entering his voice.

Chaz was doing his best to lead these young Wolves to the Embassy. Chaz looked all around him anxiously trying to make sure no Fire Wolf sees him with these two. He had a story but he wasn't confident he could pull of it. He was certain someone would see right through his deceptions! Chaz was never the best liar and was often at the mercies of such Wolves, being as gullible as he is. Still, Chaz did notice something odd, thanks to his constant awareness. They're back in the city but he hasn't seen a single wolf yet. It's nighttime but it's not that late already, is it? He wasn't sure he hadn't looked at the time.

Because of the eeriness of the scene it started to unnerve Chaz, to the point he wasn't paying attention to where he was going. Because of this fluke he drifted towards the industrial sector of the city instead of towards the middle of the city. That was when one of his unwanted charges decide to run right past him. "Huh!?" This caught him off guard as he let Blossom get way ahead of him. By the time he realized what happened, Tiberius raced past him too. "W-wait!! Don't go that way!!!" Chaz ran after them. They were definitely faster than poor Chaz, he was never the best sprinter and would run out of breath quite easily. Still he didn't want those two Wolves to get hurt. They were nice to him!

"W-Why!? W-Wh-Why are you r-r-running?! D-Didn't Ch-Chaz do-a-good-job!?" Chaz wheezed. Tonight was definitely not Chaz's night! He began to wonder why does everything bad happen to him!? It seems Chaz's life was designed to be one series of bad accidents from another. Yet, what was about to happen to Chaz next will be the greatest series of misfortunes he will ever have. Nothing his life will ever compare to this moment in time. Worse that the time he drank lava, worse than the time he lost a wrestling contest to a random she-wolf in front of the barracks, and worse than the time he accidentally peed in the Captain's favorite eating bowl! Chaz never thought his legs would work after running twenty-five laps for twenty-five days! And you would think his cardio at the very least improved, but it really didn't.

Still, Chaz was determined, not to lose those young Wolves and pushed himself to follow them, even though he was running out of breath. That was when he caught up to Tiberius. Finally! Success! "Tyeh-Tyeh-Tyeh-Tyeh-Berius!!" Chaz coughed. "Wh-Why-are-you-running?!" He asked at a loud pant. That was when he heard that shrilling shriek. Chaz's ears perked up as he began to shake and shiver. "W-Wasn't that the other one!?" He cried. Chaz then moved on ahead hoping that he was wrong. That was when he finally saw Blossom but she wasn't alone. Before her was one of the Tenneth guards and a big one too. "BWAHHH! FEATHERS!!!" He cried out. She was too far away from him to help, his fireballs are not only puny, but only travel an inch or two from his mouth after he spits one out. Besides he was too scared to try even if he could! Just looking at the Guard has him trembling! He would wipe the floor with poor Chaz if he got involved! "That's it!!! She's a goner!!!" He cried aloud.

That was when a dark wolf dashed forth and went into intercept the Tenneth and Blossom. Chaz saw this and could tell a fight was about to go down. "OH GODS!!! I can't watch!!" Chaz cried as he ducked and placed his paws over his eyes.

Few Moments Earlier...


Fang was keeping out a watch for Mydnyte, whiled the others tended to Nova. Fang was admittedly tense, he could hear the distant howls of the Tenneth as they went about a search and rescue effort among the rubble. He could swear he heard their howls getting closer and closer to where they are. Fang nervously scratched at a wooden pillar, etching claw marks into the board. "Come on, come on, make it back you guys." He muttered to himself. That was when he heard something cling off the side of the building. "Huh? What was that?" He wondered. He thought it might have been nothing but it could be Mydnyte. It seemed strange for him to approach from the side rather than through the front. Of course he could be doing that to avoid attention.

Fang moved and looked though a loose board to see out the window. It was there he saw a She-Wolf he had never seen before. He thought her another Tenneth until he saw the giant wing. "Wait-!? What-!?" He thought to himself. "Why is there an Avira out here of all places?" Fang was thoroughly confused. That was then she made that shriek, surprised, Fang looked over to where the Avira was seeing and noticed a Tenneth! "Oh crap!" Fang blurted out. He wasn't sure who that Wolf was but she definitely wasn't a Promethean and she was in danger! Not taking much time to analyze the situation, Fang ran out to intercept the lunging Tenneth. Outside, Fang charged at the Tenneth full speed. He hoped he could stop him in time, there weren't any shadows around him to use. Not only they were out in the middle of the street away from the buildings, but no lights were on and the moon was covered by the clouds of smoke.

Still he couldn't let that poor Wolf just get chomped and torn apart. It was then the Tenneth noticed a dark wolf come charging at him. The brute turned his maw towards the greater threat but before he could launch a fireball, Fang had clawed at his face. "GRAH!" The Tenneth bellowed in pain. Then the Fire Wolf lashed back out at his attacker. Luckily Fang was quicker and managed to avoid the Wolf's swipes. It was then Fang bit at the Tenneth's neck. The Tenneth shook his scruff, breaking Fang's bit attempt. The Tenneth bit at Fang's muzzle as the Kamarian quickly backsteps. Damn, he could really use as shadow right now. That was then he remembered Mydnyte's special technique! "If there were no shadows to exploit you just have to create your own darkness." Mydnyte voice said in Fang's mind. Darkforce, he wasn't good at creating it yet, in fact his technique was sloppy. But at this moment in time, that technique was his best bet.

Concentrating on the very Element that runs in his blood; Fang imagined dark shadows forming around his claws. "Quit moving around so much!!" The Tenneth barked, growing frustrated that he hasn't hit Fang yet. "Just a little more." Fang thought to himself as he focused on making the shadows thicker. Soon a noticeable darkness began to emanate from Fang's claws. It looked like a thick, black fog had shot from Fang's claws it slashed right through the Tenneth's face. Deep claw marks formed on the Fire Wolf's face as blood gushes forth! "AARGH!" The Wolf cried as blood began to blind him. Now was Fang's chance, Fang raised a paw and slashed right through the Wolf's throat as blood spewed forth. Then, the Tenneth doubled over and buckled onto the ground. Fang had did it and without a scratch, but, boy, was he tired. "Whoa, that Dark Claw move does take alot out of ya." Fang chuckled to himself. He then looked at Blossom, "Are you alright?" He asked.

The fear turned her legs into mud and she dropped instantly to the ground, waiting for fire to melt her to a puddle.

"GRAH!"

She flinched and looked up.

There was a blob of a black wolf moving about with the Tenneth and before she could really understand what had happened... "AARGH!"

A quick spurt of blood flung through the air and then it was gushing onto the ground. Where it came from... A black wolf stood atop the body with an aura of darkness. He really looked dangerous and untouchable to her. Maybe it was the blood on his face and paws, but she likened him to an angel of death. Was he going to end her life too? Maybe he'd be fine with her promising her life to be one of his worshippers...?

"Whoa, that Dark Claw move does take alot out of ya." Fang chuckled to himself. He then looked at Blossom, "Are you alright?" He asked.

Blossom was suddenly wondering if she was dead for in a situation like this, she did not think something as light as laughter could exist here with death. She was in shock now, "Umm, mister Angel of Death... You're not gonna kill me? Are you?"

She stayed on the ground in case he really was gonna kill her. Her wing tucked firmly into her side as she tried not to stare up at Fang with her round eyes full of fear... and awe. But she really couldn't help it. It was either stare at the lovely angel of death or the body he stood upon. "Please, I don't want to die now especially since I lost my friend somewhere in the city earlier."

Blossom was totally unaware of Chaz somewhere off to the side.

"Tyeh-Tyeh-Tyeh-Tyeh-Berius!! Wh-Why-are-you-running?!"

It was the first voice he heard it the dirty deserted city besides his own, and for that reason alone Tiberius didn't try to scram again. It was only Chaz after all. But Tiberius was done pretending everything was alright. No free smiles out of him this time, this time they would have to be earned!

But then Chaz was gone again. The water wolf would have lost him in the smoke if not for a well-timed "BWAHHH! FEATHERS!!!" keeping him from making the wrong turn. "What's it, Chaz?! You see her, yeah?" Tiberius sputtered out, almost tripping over the other wolf's tail as he stumbled through the haze. Chaz was sticking his face in his paws, so Tiberius couldn't simply follow his gaze to what he had been moaning about. It took a moment of anxious questions on Tiberius part before the Arlyne was quiet enough to hear a snippet of a nearby plea.

"...don't want to die now especially since I lost my friend somewhere in the city earlier."

Tiberius snapped his head in the direction of Blossom's voice, ducking down to try and see under the ever-present smoke. There he saw it, not ten leaps off, the unmistakable flanks and wing of his friend prone in the dirt. Making those ten leaps in nine, Tiberius saved his burst of words for when he would tackle her to the ground semi-affectionately. But, as he had forgotten that he had seen her laying down, so as he was calling out his first "Feathers! I can't belie-" he was sailing over his prone friend and landing in the bloody embrace of a recently deceased Tenneth. The young wolf screamed, slipping out of the blood that didn't belong to him.

"Y-you k-k-KILLED somewolf, F-feathers!" was the first appearance of his stutter in a long while.

Durandel was taken a bit by surprise from Blue's reaction but he was happier for it. It would seem the feeling was mutual. He guesses Blue isn't completely gone after all. Even so, Mydnyte was right, now isn't the time for small talk and at the behest of the Kamarian he nodded. They started to move coming ever closer to the hideout despite the sluggish pace. "We're almost there." Mydnyte spoke breaking the silence. That was when they heard a shriek. Mydnyte's ears perked up. "What? That sounded like it came from the hideout!" He spoke. That was then Durandel turned to look towards Blue when he noticed she had wandered off.

"Wait...Mydnyte, where's Blue?" Durandel asked. Mydnyte looked over his shoulder and noticed Blue had disappeared. "Dammit! Where did she go now!?" He growled in frustration. This was bit of a conundrum for the Shadow Wolf, on the one paw it sounded like someone was in danger, on the other he has an injured Durandel, and three, Blue disappeared! He wasn't quite sure what he should do. Perhaps he should wait until the danger has passed, he can't exactly waltz in with Durandel, they would be easy pickings. Then again, what if Fang and the others needed him? Could he leave Durandel here even though he wouldn't be safe? Then of course Blue could be in trouble, damn, this was certainly annoying the Kamarian.

"Mydnyte...just put me down." Durandel spoke up. "What? Why would I do that?" Mydnyte retorted. "You need to go ahead and make sure the way is clear...I'll just wait here for Blue...I'm sure she'll be alright." Mydnyte looked at Durandel after he finished. The Kamarian mulled the words over and then spoke, "Are you sure?" "I'm sure...if it gets too bad, I'll use my Element...I can sense there is a nearby lava vein." Durandel reassured Mydnyte. Mydnyte nodded and laid the Canicus down gently. "All go on ahead, if it's the enemy I'll do my best to kill them all. Then I will return for you and Blue." Mydnyte spoke. Durandel nodded. Then the Kamarian went on ahead, as he drew closer he could hear the sounds of a scuffle, and then, the smell of blood. This of course concerned the old wolf but that was when he heard two voices. One was definitely Fang's and the other, he wasn't familiar with.

After he appeared from out of the smoke he saw Fang standing victoriously over a slain Tenneth. As for the other Wolf...well, the other Wolf looked strange to him. Most notably the one wing tucked aside. That was when another Wolf suddenly appeared and this one had a...a fin!? Just who are these Wolves? It was then Fang looked towards the young She-Wolf and just laughed at her question. "Fang! What happened here!? Who are these Wolves!?" Mydnyte questioned. Fang looked over to his fellow Kamarian. "Oh, Mydnyte! Aren't I glad to see you!" Fang then looked past the Wolf. "Where's Durandel and Blue, don't tell me you couldn't find them! Or worse!?" Fang spoke concernedly. "I did find them, but I had to leave Durandel a few feet back when I heard the sounds of trouble." Mydnyte answered. "As for these Wolves...well, to be honest I haven't a clue. One of them was about to be attacked by this Fire Wolf, and so I jumped in and rescued her." Fang explained. Mydnyte snorted as he walked up to the pair of misfits. "Alright talk, who are you?" Mydnyte questioned.

***

Back to where Durandel is lying, the Canicus looks around for any sign of his friend. "Blue? Blue!?" Durandel called out only to start coughing immediately after. "Ow...that was painful." The Canicus wheezed. He hoped Blue was alright along with the others. He didn't like waiting around but what could he do, it hurt so much to stand up on his own. Not to mention the amount of blood he lost. No, he'll just have to sit tight, he just hoped nothing bad will happen. Of course, the chances of that seemed pretty slim, all things considered.

It was surreal.

That's how it felt to her, poor young enamored Blossom. Time felt like it had stopped, and there wasn't even a sound to suggest otherwise. Of course that was the moment when something went flying over her. "Feathers! I can't belie-"

She wanted to run but once she realized it was just Tiberius, she ignored it.

It was then Fang looked towards the young She-Wolf and just laughed at her question. "Fang! What happened here!? Who are these Wolves!?" Mydnyte questioned. Fang looked over to his fellow Kamarian. "Oh, Mydnyte! Aren't I glad to see you!" Fang then looked past the Wolf. "Where's Durandel and Blue, don't tell me you couldn't find them! Or worse!?" Fang spoke concernedly. "I did find them, but I had to leave Durandel a few feet back when I heard the sounds of trouble." Mydnyte answered. "As for these Wolves...well, to be honest I haven't a clue. One of them was about to be attacked by this Fire Wolf, and so I jumped in and rescued her." Fang explained. Mydnyte snorted as he walked up to the pair of misfits. "Alright talk, who are you?" Mydnyte questioned.

Blossom stayed on the ground, her eyes moving back and forth between the angel of death, who she now knows is called Fang. And the other? Well he was Mydnyte and he sounded like nothing but a grumps. Kind of like Drais. Everything felt totally normal to her now.

"I'm Blossom and fish breathe over there-" She tilted her head in the direction of Tiberius, "is Tiberius. I'm also an Aven and he's a water wolf." She spoke freely and almost seemed carefree about the situation. She was almost smiling. "Thanks for saving my life."

Tiberius

His disgust with his cadaver dive still fresh, Tiberius nevertheless held his peace as the new set of wolves approached. Unlike Chaz, these wolves seemed to be capable of speaking with confidence. Seeing that they were black wolves, Tiberius didn't suppose they were Tenneth's either. Why any wolf would want to be in another pack's city when it seemed to be burning down was beyond him, but he didn't think the reason would be too friendly.

Hearing Feathers chime in to introduce him, the Arlyne was quick to speak up for himself. "Fish breath?! I haven't had fish in like a season, Feathers!" he argued, as if they were the only ones present. "Though I'd love to have one. I ain't heard of lava fish before, but if there were one, I'd eat it no matter how spicy it was, yeah? Maybe they exist! Be quicker to find out than to get off this volcano!"

Remembering that they were with uncertainly friendly company, despite whatever hoopla Blossom was saying about having her life saved, Tiberius nudged his friend to start pulling away. "Sorry though, can't stay! We gotta city tah go see, embassies tah go embassy, and a guide back there who's really right anxious about us!" he exclaimed, falling back on their default story.

Mydnyte looked at two youngsters whom both seemed rather antsy. Especially the one that was covered in that Tenneth's blood. The other seemed paralyzed by the sight of both of them. These two aren't a couple of warriors by any means, that much was clear to the Kamarian. Still doesn't explain why two non-Tenneths are here in the city or how they got this far without much trouble til now. He could chalk it up to their recent exploits but he figures they would've ran into some bogeys much earlier. During his musings the one-winged wolf introduced herself as Blossom, the other as Tiberius. It was then Mydnyte's head tilted to the side. For some strange and confusing reason, the Kamarian swore he's heard those names before.

It could've been anyone though and he's certain he would've remembered seeing a couple of oddball wolves like these two. They're pretty distinctive physically after all. It was then the finned wolf, Tiberius spoke up trying to usher his friend along. It was then Tiberius mentioned something interesting, "Embassy? Guide?" He echoed. "Wait! Whose guiding you!?" Mydnyte barked as he looked behind the two. Mydnyte stomped past the two to see a cowering Tenneth lying down in the dirt. "Fang watch those two!" He barked as he walked around to reach the other wolf. "Hey you there!" He barked. With a yip, the cowardly Chaz shot up only to see the most unpleasant sight he's ever saw.

The black wolf was much bigger than him and looked like death itself. "AAAAAAHHHHHH!!! Please don't hurt me!!!" Chaz bawled. "A Tenneth!?" Mydnyte growled as he lunged at Chaz and pinned him to the ground. Chaz did nothing but cry his poor eyes out. "Who are you!? A spy!? An assassin!? Talk!?" Mydnyte shouted. "P-P-P-P-Please!!!! I'm not any of those things!!! I'm Ch-Chaz!!! Just Chaaaaaazzzzz." He whined. "Hmph." Mydnyte then took his paw off him. He could tell that this Tenneth was no warrior, in fact he seemed even wimpier than those two over there. Chaz looked up at Mydnyte tears streaming down. "P-Please mister....d-don't k-kill poor Chaz...Chaz has never done anything wrong!" He pleaded. The Kamarian just looked at the posturing Tenneth and could only sigh. "Why do we keep running into weirdos?" He griped. "Look, I'm not gonna kill you so stop groveling! It's unbecoming of a Wolf!!" He barked causing Chaz to cry louder. He then growled, "Will you shut up already?! I said I WASN'T going to kill you!"


At this point Chaz seemed to be inconsolable. Mydnyte then looked back over at the others. "Hey! Could one of you shut him up?! He's getting on my nerves!" Mydnyte barked at Blossom and Tiberius. "Grah! I'm not in the mood to deal with any of this crap!" Mydnyte barked as he stormed off. "Fang, I'm going back for Durandel, take care of this will ya?" He said in a huff. "Sure, no problem." Fang responded as Mydnyte took off. Fang then looked back at these oddball Wolves and smiled. "Sorry, Mydnyte doesn't have the most patience in the world, but don't let that fool ya, he's a good guy underneath all of that grumpiness." Fang chuckled. "Anyway, since you guys are not the enemy, I suggest we all head inside. You guys wouldn't know this but we kind of caused a big mess, and, well, that dead Tenneth was just the beginning. There will be more like him and I really don't want to fight if I don't have to." Fang said as he pointed his nose to the abandoned shop. "You can bring that other Wolf too, if Mydnyte didn't kill him then he must be alright." Fang added. The Kamarian then went on ahead and entered through the side.

***

Elsewhere, Mydnyte returned to where he had left Durandel, thankfully the Canicus was alright. "Still no sign of Blue?" Mydnyte asked. Durandel just shook his head. "Damn that She-Wolf, she's going to get herself caught or worse." Mydnyte grumbled. "Well, I better get you back to the hideout. Once I do, I'll come back out for her, you have my word." Mydnyte promised. Durandel did not protest. Mydnyte then helped Durandel to stand once again as the two trekked on reaching the hideout in a few minutes. Mydnyte entered with the injured Durandel in toe, he decided to bring him down to where Nova was. Across from the injured Ausi, Mydnyte laid the Canicus down. "Alright, I'll be back." Mydnyte spoke as he went outside. Durandel looked over towards Nova and said, "You look like crap."

"Sorry though, can't stay! We gotta city tah go see, embassies tah go embassy, and a guide back there who's really right anxious about us!" Tiberius exclaimed, falling back on their default story.

Blossom was just about to object to Tiberius's actions when Mydnyte did it for her.

"Embassy? Guide?" Mydnyte echoed. "Wait! Whose guiding you!?" Mydnyte barked as he looked behind the two and stomped past the two to see a cowering Tenneth lying down in the dirt. "Fang watch those two!"

Blossom turned back and smiled, ignoring the screaming Tenneth and the angry Mydnyte to whisper into Tiberius's ear. "This is it Tiberius! I'm sure this is why we came here!"

"Sorry, Mydnyte doesn't have the most patience in the world, but don't let that fool ya, he's a good guy underneath all of that grumpiness." Fang chuckled. "Anyway, since you guys are not the enemy, I suggest we all head inside. You guys wouldn't know this but we kind of caused a big mess, and, well, that dead Tenneth was just the beginning. There will be more like him and I really don't want to fight if I don't have to." Fang said as he pointed his nose to the abandoned ship. "You can bring that other Wolf too, if Mydnyte didn't kill him then he must be alright." Fang added. The Kamarian then went on ahead and entered through the side.

Blossom was ecstatic! She got up on shaky legs and followed Fang inside the building like a lamb to slaughter. She didn't bother to wait on Tiberius since she knew he wouldn't ever leave her.

Inside she was shocked to see a bloodied up wolf. Her heart twisted and without thinking she went up to him to get a good look. "S-Sir, how bad are your eyes?"

The blood that seeped from his eyes was partially caked with dirt and debrief. His muzzle was also badly scratched up. If you call these battle wounds 'scratches.' Not much time passed before another battered up wolf was brought inside by Mydnyte. She whined to Fang, "I think it was fate that brought us here."

She walked around the small tan wolf with the bleeding eyes and then looked over the big burly fire wolf. She then sat to pull the plant she had been growing down in the caves, out of her wing. It was now bigger, a luscious plant with orange petals that were just about to bloom. "It's a Calendula plant. I don't have yarrow with me but... this will help you both heal faster."

Without hesitation Blossom snapped it up and began to chew on it. It didn't taste good at all! Yet, she stayed strong and kept chewing until it was a greenish-orange paste that she put on some of Durandel's worst wounds. There wasn't a lot of it so she spread it between the two injured wolves, barely having enough to cover the blind Wolf's bad scratches. She however didn't put any on his eyes, as she wasn't sure if it was safe for this plant to get in his eyes should it reduce the swelling. "I'm sorry but that's all I can do for now. I w-wish I could do something for your eyes, Mister."

She backed away with a sad look on her face before speaking to Fang, "I know this may be strange, but do you know a blue wolf? We've been looking for her cause we have a message for her."

The world was off-balance, and Blue wasn't even sure if she was on the scale. Maybe she fell off? Or was her future still sliding back and forth between the two sides, sliding dangerously between them? Her ears were ringing. "Where? Where are you?"

"I'm lost! Someone... please," Tears were falling from her eyes, only to drop to the floor and sizzle away in this arid heat. She sniffled and wiped her face before continuing to stumble further from where she had left Khan and Mydnyte... "I have to find it. I have to... BattleDemon... and... I just have to. Summanus...."

She tripped on a rock and her already fuzzy vision, faded away... "I'm sorry..." Before her eyes closed though, she thought she saw paws standing in front of her. Was she hallucinating? She whimpered and her eyes shut completely.



Her body laid on the ground somewhere in the city, unconscious and barely breathing. Her adrenaline had run out, and her exhausted body had finally had enough.

Nova stirred from his half-lucidity with a groan. He had shrugged off the mutterings of those strangers around him, but hearing familiar voices nearby forced him to be interested. Mydnyte he could hear, making a gravely promise, followed by a too familiar grunt. The same grunt he had heard after every ambush, mudslide, earthquake, and firestorm they had been through together.

"You look like crap."

Nova couldn't stop a quick chuckle. He hadn't expected that from Durandel. The Ausi tried to push the levity forward, if only to stave off more serious questions. "My poker face must be pretty bad then, mate. Was hoping you wouldn't notice," Nova replied, drawing a deep breath between thoughts. "I'm sure this heat just amped you right up though. But to be fair to Rashid, let's have him meet us somewhere cooler next time."

"S-Sir, how bad are your eyes?"

The question startled him. He had been too focused on the sound sound of his own raspy voice that he hadn't heard the new wolf come padding up. She sounded young. That usually meant cute. But right now he couldn't enjoy even that one small perk of being tended to. "They're doing a good job of keeping the birds from nestin' in my skull, but not much else right now," Nova said after a moment. Wasn't really a reason to downplay how he was feeling, even to this random nurse, alchemist, passerby, whoever she was. Her pity, while well-meaning, didn't add much. He had enough of his own that the addition of a strangers threatened to make him depressed. Maybe if he just imagined her as his sister talking to him. That would make the sympathy at least seem more genuine.

The paste she spread on his maw burned, but that usually meant that the medicine was working. Nova let her apply it with minimal grimace. He could hear her withdrawing after muttering a brief apology about not being able to do more. It took him a moment to think to request something, and he spoke up with a cough. "Miss, can you get me some water? Or anything wet, really."

Mydnyte braved the outside, looking around the city as best he could. It wasn't easy, the Tenneth were out in force as he could hear the Fire Wolves chatter while they searched for the Rebels. Mydnyte had to use what shadows he could find to avoid being detected by the Guards. If it was already becoming hard for him to move about then he could only think how much more difficult it must be for Blue. He had to find her and quick before any of the Tenneth do. Thanks to the smoke it was difficult to get a scent on her but after sometime he got something. Hanging off that scent like hanging on a ledge, Mydnyte followed as best he could. It was then he found her.

He saw the She-Wolf lying down on the ground in plain view. He was lucky no one else had found her yet. "Blue!? Blue!" Mydnyte spoke as he went up to her body. She was still breathing but she wasn't getting up. Mydnyte had no other choice but to drag her away to safety. Mydnyte bit down her scruff, not hard to hurt her but hard enough to establish a grip. Mydnyte then did his best to move her body but this was going to be tough. The Kamarian wasn't sure how he was going to get her back to the hideout. With more Tenneth crawling about the city it would take a miracle to get there without incident. Mydnyte couldn't think about that, he had to do it. He did his best to hug the darkened street corners and alleyways of the city. Yet even these empty areas were starting to get traffic.

Down one of the alleys he saw a couple of Tenneth talking. "Did you see what happened at the Factory?" One asked. "No, I didn't get there until after the explosion." The other answered. "That was insane...I never would've thought the Rebels would blow up their own home." "This just proves that Prometheus is right, the Resistance is ran by bunch of Tenneth hating, foreigner loving anarchists!" The Fire Wolf barked. "I guess so...never thought our own people would do such a thing. But what about the Borak? They're foreigners yet I see them walk about like they own the place!" "I don't much care for them either! Stupid Wolves, they think just because their Element is so powerful, they can look down on the rest of us!" "Why is Prometheus even working with them? We don't need their help!"

As tense as the situation was, it would seem the two were heavily involved in their own conversation. Hopefully the Kamarian can just, it was then he knocked over a trash can. "Huh!? What was that?" One of them asked. "I don't know." The other responded. "You think it could be the Rebels?" "I don't know but we better check it out." Great! Now he's raised their suspicion...looks like he may have to kill them. Mydnyte then tucked Blue's body safely way in case this gets ugly. "Whose back there huh? Come out now unless you wanna end up as ashes!" The Tenneth threatened. Just a little closer, and they'll be with Mydnyte's range. That was when more Wolves showed up. "Hey there yo two, stop lazying about! We just found some Rebels in the Market District! We've been ordered to take them in!" The new Tenneth barked. The others stopped in their tracks and turned around. "Good, we were getting antsy!" One of them spoke as they went on ahead. That was a bit of good fortune for Mydnyte even if it is at the cost of some good Wolves.

The Kamarian can't think about stuff like that right now, he needs to focus on getting Blue out of here. He picked her back up and continued on his way.





"My poker face must be pretty bad then, mate. Was hoping you wouldn't notice," "I'm sure this heat just amped you right up though. But to be fair to Rashid, let's have him meet us somewhere cooler next time."

Durandel chuckled as well even though his sides hurt. "Not much of a gambling Wolf myself. Though I wish I could say I was amped but I just feel horrible." Durandel responded. He then noticed the new Wolf that just wandered in. He wasn't sure who she was, could be another rebel though he seriously doubts it. The Wing alone made him feel both confused and curious about this Wolf. Just who was she? He's never seen her before. But the more burning question is what was she doing here? He assumes she must be alright, if she's in here with them even though he finds the decision of letting a complete stranger near them questionable.

"It's a Calendula plant. I don't have yarrow with me but... this will help you both heal faster."

Durandel was surprised by this. He thought her an Avira with that wing but she knows of Aven medicine? Most Aven don't share their medicinal secrets with just anyone. Just who or what is she? Still the Canicus did not protest to her medical aid, he was badly injured after all. Anything to help him get back on his feet again he will gladly accept. The paste she applied did sting some but hopefully it will work as fast as she says it will. They need to get back in the fight, Prometheus must be feeling the blow of losing his little project. They need to keep pressing the offense while momentum is on their side.

That was when Nova asked for some water, a relief that sounds good right about now. "I'll take some too if that's alright?" Durandel asked. If Fang is letting her treat them, then he might as well get all the benefits he can get right?



Fang looked towards the young She-Wolf who spoke of fate. He wasn't sure if it was fate or some other force but the Kamarian was not so unwise to deny such a thing. After all it was the will of the Gods that he is here. "Perhaps it was fate but it could very well be the Gods themselves." Fang responded. He was happy to have saved someone who had some medical knowledge since Nova and Durandel are no worse for wear. Still even if it he could chalk it up to the work of mysterious forces he was curious about these young Wolves. Who are they? Where did they come from? And why are they here?

After she was doing tending to Nova and Durandel she asked a curious question. "A blue wolf?" Fang repeated. He thought for a moment. "Sorry, I don't know any blue wolves. I would try the Falls if you're looking for a Wolf with such an exotic fur coloration." Fang answered.

"Perhaps it was fate but it could very well be the Gods themselves." Fang responded. "A blue wolf? Sorry, I don't know any blue wolves. I would try the Falls if you're looking for a Wolf with such an exotic fur coloration."

Blossom felt her stomach drop, and she dropped her head, "I'm sorry, but I had to ask. We were told to look for her here, and thought it would be easy. Especially since she wears a lightning pendant and travels with an ice wolf and a fire wolf." She let out a sigh, despite having thought this was fate she now thought it was a mistake. Where was this blue she-wolf? "I guess it wasn't fate or the Gods that made this situation. It was a mistake."

"Tibe-" she was just about to tell him they made a mistake coming here, when instead, she was interrupted by the blind wolf.

"Miss, can you get me some water? Or anything wet, really."

Blossom walked over to him and immediately thought this wolf was onto something. I guess if we had water.... We could flush the debris out of his eyes...? Her spirit seemed to lighten up at that thought. Maybe this adventure wasn't for nothing. "Tiberius, can you find some water? Please...." She wanted to look for the water herself, but if anyone had a chance at finding water in this inferno it would be a water wolf, exactly like Tiberius. "He needs it and I-I think we do too." Her eyes were pleading with him.





As dangerous and hazardous as the situation was, Blue was asleep. She hadn't slept all that well the past several days and her mental state hadn't been all that great either what with having to go through such emotional turmoil. Everything had weighed down on her, and despite forcing her body to keep going, it had finally had enough and now, she was asleep. She really needed the rest and it showed by how she didn't even twitch when Mydnye began moving her body. Not even the rocks or uneven ground stirred her from her slumber.

She had just been that tired.

Tiberius had kept off to the side of proceedings, feeling out of place. Blossom had seemed to find her calling in a snap, but he knew next to nothing about nursing. Besides, he had no idea who these wolves were, nor they him. So when Blossom beckoned him to go find some water, he was more than happy to oblige. "Sure Feathers, I'll be right back!" Tiberius said perkily. Helping his friend, helping these wolves, and getting out of that room. A trifecta of problems solved.

He had lost track of Chaz, but Tiberius figured that if he saw him he would pull him along. A scatterbrain still had eyes after all. The Arlyne didn't know anything about the city of the fire wolves; the only source of water he had seen was from that busted pipe. He figured that was a good place to start. It was darker outside than he remembered, so either he had been in that infirmary longer than he had thought, or the soot-choked air had shifted. Either way, visibility was down. Tiberius hoped that the way to the pipe had been as straight a shot as he remembered. An occasional howl breaking through the air staved off the otherwise silent walk, and it took a few for the young wolf to stop flinching. This side of town was clearly abandoned, he kept telling himself.

After a bit of scrounging, the water wolf was able to find his way back to he broken main. Steaming water still gushed from the aperture, a rusty lightning bolt-shaped slit that came out of the side of the buckled pipe. There wasn't a terrible amount of pressure left, so the water wasn't airborne for more than a couple claws lengths before seeping into the sodden soil. Tiberius has fortunately found a pail along the way, which he promptly filled, careful to keep the heated water from getting too close to the rim and hence his carrying jaw. Hopefully it would cool down along the way.

The Arlyne had not made it far from his improvised well when he almost tripped into two black wolves emerging in the ashy streets. With something one iota more dignified than a scream, Tiberius dropped his pail, spilling the scalding water. It was a Kamarian carrying another, and only a well-timed recollection let him recognize the gruff wolf from the hideout. "S-sorry mista' Dark. Jus' gettin' water for your friends, yeah? I'll-ah, get some more, yeah? Don't let me get in your way, just keep bein' heroes and stuff, yeah?" Tiberius said quickly, scrambling to get the bucket so he could turn tail.


Nova listened to hear if his request had been heard after Durandel chimed in, and was content to settle back into his cot with a sigh as he heard the task delegated. Of course they didn't have any on paw. But he's had waited this long, what was another few minutes. To keep his mind out of the recess of his own thoughts, he decided to keep up his conversation with Durandel, turning to a bit more serious tone. "So'd who came out of this, mate? I heard Vesta and the Kamarians moving about, what about Blue? Summanus?" Nova asked, finding little way to ask the tough question besides straightly.

"I know that none of my team made it out. All...blasted by Boraks. I don't even know if those plans they died for made it out," Nova continued, remembering the few he had known for such a short time. He still remembered the look on that young Tenneth's face as the thunderbolt jumped from the metal cabinet to the pendant about his neck. It had probably been a good luck charm. Given by a sister or a fawning shewolf. Some luck it brought him.