Time For Change (Amar)

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[atrb=background,http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/GreenEyedMonster101/Anikira/Requests/KidMid.png?t=1344230995] Kiddo had decided that today was the day. Today was the day that all the bears, aside from Curse, would be evacuated from the Oriens one way or another. The males he had here were able bodied wolves as far as he knew. He found a nice clearing spot to summon his members together. He planned this to be a short meeting with instructions and then the hunt would begin. Today was an exciting day but, also a bit frightening. What if someone died during one of these fights? Bears were good fighters and much larger than wolves so, there was a good possibility of that happening. The question was, was he willing to put the lives of his members in danger for the good of the pack? The answer to that would be: yes, yes he would. In Kiddo's mind the importance of the pack was the most important. The reason that he tried to take good care of his members is because it would benefit the pack. Happy members are beneficial members. That was his motto. It was early in the morning. The sun had just began to rise and the grass and the fallen leaves were still wet. That would give them an advantage, at least a little bit. If the bears couldn't hear them on the wet leaves and the wet grass, that would help. Though, it could make things slippery if they were not careful. Kiddo looked around at the area that would soon become a battle zone. There would be bloodshed today, that was for sure. From which side? Probably both. He did not expect to come from this unscathed and he would tell his members to believe the same thing. He threw his head back and pointed his mouth to an opening in the trees above him and let out a low, bass song. He summoned his members to him for this very important day. He hoped that Zena and Vada may show up as well but, he was doubtful about that. Besides, he didn't really want to deal with them today. Even though it would be beneficial to have their lead warrior there with them. Once his melodic tune was finished, he stood and waited for everyone to come in. God so help him if Lynker didn't show up. His knowledge of the bears in the area would be helpful as well as a bear on bear on their side would be beneficial as long as everyone could keep Curse different from all the other bears. Which, Kiddo was going to have to do by smell because all bears looked practically the same to him.

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It had been a few days since Hadrian had met the female Vega outside of his mountainous home. In his brief time away he had managed to bring back a rather decent haul too. At the moment he was within one of the smaller chambers of Amar's den site, sorting and organizing his collection. Quepna... Ika Pija... Birch Bark... Ginseng moss, ivy, and he'd even managed to dig up some ginger root. Better yet, he had gotten lucky and found the last few blossoms of the Agrimony plant. These would come in useful once the Alpha finalized his plans for the bear attack. A mild pain killer, its accelerated healing powers would ease the effects of any battle wounds.

Nudging the plants around with his nose, he set about creating some sort of temporary categorical system. It would take time to set things up as he wanted and to prepare the chamber strategically, so for now he simply wanted to know where things were and what they did. It was quiet and peaceful as he worked, time ticking slowly. Not that Hadrian was complaining or anything. He was actually quite content to have the time alone. It meant he could be productive before later wandering out to mingle with his pack mates.

The howl startled him. It had taken a moment for the Mexican male to recognize his alpha's call. With only one good ear on top of being cloistered in the dens, he wasn't even sure he'd heard correctly. Leaving his work, he padded out into the main chamber just in time to hear the final notes more clearly. Kiddo was summoning the pack.

Was it time? Hadrian brought himself completely out of the den, the chilly morning air feeling good on his fur. Tilting his head back slightly, he let out a returning call. He would be there soon. Then the male turned to follow the path down the mountain. He made decent time considering the nature of the trail, careful not to fall and injure himself before the true battle began. Once his paws were on more spongey earth, he broke out into a light jog. It was not a tiring run nor a sprint, but it was enough to get his muscles warmed up and battle ready. He was feeling good about himself, confident in both body and spirit. And, as he came within the sights of his Alpha, Hadrian dipped his head respectfully. "Good morning, sir."

[Lynker]

It seemed that he had acquired another companion. Lynker trudged through the forest towards his alpha’s howl, accompanied on one side by a large brown bear with a gyrfalcon perched on its shoulder, and on the other side a leopard. She stalked through the forest, stepping high so that her beautiful spotted fur wouldn’t get wet from the morning dew.

He’d met her a few days ago when he’d noticed her on a branch above his den, just lying there, casual as anything. She hadn’t spoken much, but had seemed interested in their life by the lake and their relationship with the wolf pack. And today she’d asked him to take her to the alpha. Lynker was pretty sure he’d seen her around before once or twice, though only as a shadow slipping through the trees. A forest was a strange place for a leopard to be, and he wondered how she had come to make this her home. But that question would have to wait for another day.

“How much further is it?” Curse grumbled as he walked. “Not far now, I think” Astra shuffled her wings nervously. As the smallest of them, she would be the most at risk of serious injury. But she had to prove that she was not defenseless and her help would make the forest safer so it was better for them all in the long run. Still, the thought of a bear hunt was making her feel rather jumpy. It didn’t help that this was unfamiliar territory, as none of them had left Nyspoli’s Pool since the day Kiddo had claimed the Oriens for his pack. Now they had an entire territory to roam around in, and it would probably take a while to get used to.

By the time they arrived, Hadrian was already there with the alpha. The small black arctic paused awkwardly at the edge of the clearing and his friends came to a stop beside him. He wasn’t sure if he was supposed to make some kind of greeting, since he really didn’t know much about wolf etiquette.

“Uh… Kiddo… This is-” “Ria Asariel Azuri. I saw that deal you made with this wolf and I want to be part of it too” The leopard’s eyes flashed blue as she unsheathed her claws “I’m a good fighter.”
The words weren’t spoken boastfully, and one could tell it was true by the muscles rippling under her pelt and the smooth confident way in which she moved. Lynker wondered if there was a hint of a threat there as well as the offer to help with the bear hunt, but couldn't really make up his mind about the leopard's intentions.

“So, when are we starting?” Curse asked, shifting his weight from one paw to the other in anticipation, oblivious to the gyrfalcon’s claws digging into his thick fur as she tried to keep her balance on his shoulder.

Lynker yawned, showing sharp white teeth. Why did this have to be so early in the morning? He didn’t like being dragged from his sleep, and he didn’t think that tiredness would be useful in a battle. But he supposed that it could take a long time to find all the bears in this forest and they didn’t really want to be still fighting when it got dark. Anyway, he was sure he’d be fine once the adrenaline got going.


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[atrb=background,http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/GreenEyedMonster101/Anikira/Requests/KidMid.png?t=1344230995] It wasn't long after his call that morning that his shaman Hadrian showed up. Kiddo had heard the male's call to him earlier, letting him know that he would be arriving shorty. Good morning, Hadrian. Kiddo said to the brute. His voice was friendly and calm. He didn't need anyone freaking out over what was about to come. He needed everyone to stay calm so that they could stay safe. The last thing that he wanted to have happen was someone getting seriously injured or killed on this little adventure that he and Lynker had agreed upon. Kiddo tested the air with his nose, trying to pick up any scents of bears that were particularly close. But of course, bear stenches always seemed to blend together for Kiddo. They all smelled about the same so, even though Kiddo could smell bears around, he could not distinguish between individuals. He was also checking for Lynker secretly. Kiddo was having a bit of a trust issue that was well understood. He and Lynker hadn't ever gotten along well until recently and Kiddo was a bit apprehensive about whether Lynker would actually show up. Kiddo took a deep breath as he waited. He had never been very good with conversation. His mind set was, if you don't have anything important to say, don't say anything at all. Speaking wasn't one of Kiddo's favorite things to do. First off his voice wasn't the most appealing this ever to grace this earth. It had a raspy, earthy, rustic sound to it. He had acquired this sound in his voice when he was about one or maybe one and a half out of no where. He just woke up one morning and it was there. At first he had thought it was a head cold but, it remained. Shortly after Hadrian had arrived, Lynker and his petting zoo showed up. Wait a minute..there was another one. A leopard. He had seen little shadows of a big cat around in the area but, he had no idea that she was with Lynker. He waited for an explanation from Lynker or at least a greeting. Lynker began introducing the leopard, or at least that's what Kiddo thought that he was doing, and then she introduced herself. She had a mighty long name..he'd probably end up calling her by a nickname. Partly because he wouldn't remember the whole thing. Kiddo wondered why Lynker surrounded himself with such an assortment of other creatures instead of with wolves. But, there wasn't anything he could do about it. Well, there was but, he didn't care enough to monitor what kinds of friends his members wanted. Ria stated that she wanted to be part of the little deal that he and Lynker had set up and that she was also a good fighter. Like he didn't hear that all the time. But, if she wanted to join the pack and if she was going to be staying with Lynker then, that was fine by him as long as she did her part. He looked at the leopard and examined her body. She was obviously very fit. Very well. Responding to Curse, Kiddo said: Soon. Kiddo wanted to give some instructions first before the hunt began. He didn't want to be on a wild goose chase or for everyone to stand around, not knowing what to do when the time came. He was also waiting on one more member. He didn't want to have to repeat himself. But, he also didn't know whether the others knew of the brute who had come to him, not too long ago. If they hadn't, well then there would be two things going on today. An introduction to a new wolf and the exiling of all the bears. What a fun day this would be.

[kyros]

Kyros had been travelling fast, his large paws racing through orange, red, and yellow leaves, scattering them high into the air as he traversed through the Oriens. Today was the day. It was his time to shine. He would prove to Kiddo that he was more than fitting for the Lead Warrior position. Pride flooded his young body – back home, in the empire, Kyros had been one step above the Lead Warrior; he had been a Beta. He had far outstripped the warrior beneath him when it came to talents, even though he was a year younger, but his father had insisted that Kyros fill the beta position instead. So, he had obliged, and kept up his duties, helping to train the warriors. The Lead got the job done well enough, Kyros thought.

As he neared the area where Kiddo and the rest of the pack were, Kyros slowed. He hadn’t yet met anyone else, and he didn’t want to startle them, especially given the current situation. He could hear the brutes talking, and Kyros stepped gently through the underbrush. Bowing low to Kiddo, he greeted him. ”My Lord, I do sincerely apologize for my lateness.” he told his Alpha, getting up only after he had finished speaking. Looking to the other brutes in turn, he bowed his head respectfully. Kyros glanced at the large bear beside one of the males, turned his gaze to the bird upon the bears’ shoulder, and blinked at the leopard. He was slightly confused as to what was going on, but he didn’t show it.

Looking to Kiddo, he chuckled a bit and asked, ”Correct me if I am wrong, Sir, but I am assuming that this bear is friendly towards us? As well as the other two creatures?” He gave the three other animals another glance, completely at ease with all of them. He found the leopard interesting, as it was a large animal and never associated with wolves. Bears and wolves met on occasion, especially during salmon-runs, and birds of prey were common. Kyros gave the others a slight smile and growled, ”My name is Kyros. It is a pleasure to meet you all.”

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Calm was Hadrian's middle name. Well, it could have been if he actually had a middle name, and a surname for that matter. But that was beside the point. The point was that he was a very level headed male. He had seen much in his five years of life. He had committed the greatest of sins and performed the most magical of miracles. He could take life away as easily as he could restore it and he wasn't about to let a few stubborn old bears get the better of him. No, he was too experienced for that. Hadrian was no longer a young, headstrong, battle hungry fool.

Was that a leopard?!

Okay, so he wasn't completely unphasable. To see one of his packmates walk into the clearing with two large predators in toe was a bit disconcerting. Those were the sorts of animals that competed with wolves to be at the top of the food chain. And, while he'd somewhat come to understand the relationship between a wolf an another animal, Lynker seemed to take it to the extreme. Which reminded him... Tilting his head up slightly, Hadrian scanned the treetops for any sign of a young, female raccoon. Paisley, as he had learned she was called, always seemed to be nearby whenever he ventured into the forest. He didn't want the sweet little female getting hurt if he could help it. Lynker's little zoo might have been keeping her away though. Even the bird was a bit of a threat to a scavenging creature like herself.

The male twitched his ears, returning his gaze to the situation at hand just in time to catch the leopard's introduction. Wow was her name a mouthful. Doing his best to commit it to memory, he kept silent during the remainder of the exchange. It wasn't really his place to talk and it seemed like there wasn't much going on yet anyway. Were they still waiting on someone? He knew there were supposedly two females in the pack though he had yet to meet them. In all truth, giving how long it had been since he joined up, he wasn't expecting them to show. So... had they gotten another new member? It was the more logical thought, and it was proven true when yet another powerful looking male made his way into the clearing. Interesting.

Hadrian dipped his head in greeting, respectful though not extravagant. His eyes roamed over the stranger's body, calculating. Four males, a bear, an oversized cat, and a snow colored bird that could scout. "It seems we've gathered quite the hunting party." A small smile turned up his lips, never one to show his discomfort and knowing how much moral could affect a situation like their's. High spirits meant high returns. And though they were a motley crew, they had more than enough raw power to stand up to a few bears. "I'm known as Hadrian. The pleasure is mine."

[Lynker]

When Kiddo accepted the deal with her, Ria immediately relaxed and sheathed her claws. That buisness finished, she could now move on to getting those troublesome bears out of the pack’s territory.

The small black wolf sat as he waited for the alpha to explain what they would be doing. Unlike Curse, he wasn’t impatient and he knew bear hunting was a tiring sport so didn’t want to waste all his energy fidgeting beforehand. Anyway, it seemed that they were waiting for another wolf to arrive so Kiddo wouldn’t want to waste his speech until then. Perhaps it was Vada, although he hadn’t seen her for at least a month. She hadn’t been bad, and he’d actually kind of liked her. It would be a pity if she’d left.

Lynker was a little surprised when a brute he’d never seen before entered the clearing. Had a new wolf joined the pack since their meeting down by the lake? Behind him, Curse snorted at the wolf’s greeting, but Lynker ignored him. It wasn’t fair to judge this wolf as soon as he saw him, even if he did agree that the way he’d bowed was a bit over the top. But in any case he didn’t want to make enemies in his new pack, and if this wolf was polite that wasn’t a bad thing, was it?

The black arctic runt nodded back in response to Kyros’s greeting in an attempt at respect. “My name’s Lynker. These are my companions – Curse, Astra, and Ria Asariel Azuri” He indicated each of his friends in turn with one paw, a gesture strange for a wolf but common to a bear. His voice was still accented, but it had greatly improved since his arrival here.

Introductions over, hazel eyes turned once more towards his alpha. He was feeling good about this. With a leopard on one side and a huge brown bear on the other, and with a gyrfalcon soon to be up overhead to look out for danger, who wouldn’t feel confident?



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[atrb=background,http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/GreenEyedMonster101/Anikira/Requests/KidMid.png?t=1344230995] As soon as Kiddo has accepted the offer made by the female leopard, her body eased and her claws retracted. One could never have too many warriors when it came to bear fighting. They would all need any help that they could get. Even though, they had four strong males and a bear, a bird, and a large cat with them. Bears were strong and large and cunning. They were smart. So, they would all have to play their cards right and maybe, no one would die. He hoped that no one died today. That had not been his goal. However, it was his packs' calling to lay down their lives for the good of the pack if it was needed. The new brute, Kyros, had entered shortly after and bowed low to the ground in front of him. Respect went a long way with Kiddo and he was happy that at least two of his members knew how to show it. Lynker would learn. He had been living with bears for who knows how long. So, it was hard to judge him for it. He hoped that after watching Hadrian and Kyros that Lynker would too, show that much respect. He nodded his head To Kyros' apology. He didn't want to tell him that being late was an acceptable thing to do because it was not but, he also didn't think it was worth it to tear into the brute for being a little late. If it happened again though, there would be a conversation between the two brutes. Yes, they are with us. He answered Kyros' question before turning his attention to the group to make a little announcement before his much larger announcement. Curse, will not be harmed during this..adventure we are about to have. Learn his smell and his face. If there is even one claw put upon him by one of you during the fights, you will deal with me, personally. Kiddo looked around the group, careful to make eye contact with every one of them. He needed them to understand how serious he was about this. If they wanted to tear into Curse later, then that would be between them and Curse. But, he didn't want Curse injured accidentally or on purpose during the duration of the morning. He was a pack member as far as Kiddo was concerned and his safety was in the paws of Kiddo. Now, he was ready to give the battle plans for that day. It is common knowledge that one wolf cannot defeat a bear alone. We will stay together for as long as we can. There is strength in numbers. If there is a need that we split, Lynker, Curse, Ria and Astra will stay together. Hadrian, Kyros and myself will also stay together. Only split when I give the command. Astra, I want you to fly above us and alert us of oncoming dangers. As for the rest of you, keep each others' backs and fight with intelligence. For time's sake, we will kill the bears and feast like kings. Any questions? He didn't think that he would need to tell them how to fight a bear. He was certain that they all had some sort of fighting abilities. He was confident in his plan. He needed to be. He needed his pack to be confident in it as well. No one followed a wishy-washy leader. Death to the bears would be quicker than chasing each one over the mountains. Killing them might also save energy though, it was more dangerous. Though, his plan did have a downside or two, he was sure that it would work to keep other unwanted predators from crossing the mountains.

[kyros]

As one of the brutes, Hadrian, spoke his name, Kyros dipped his head in greeting once again. ”Well met, Hadrian.” Kyros growled quietly, bronze orbs flashing in the sunlight as they turned to memorize the brutes’ face. He had paid little attention to the bears’ snorting, merely flicking an ear dismissively. He cared little for what any of these brutes thought of him – he knew that he had been raised different, in the Empire. His father had never been called “Alpha”, because an Alpha had never controlled more than one pack. A smile inwardly as Kyros imaged his father at the height of his power once again. No, oh no…his father had been a Lord. The title of Alpha had been far beneath him.

Eyes turned to a black Arctic brute, small for his species but still decent-sized overall. Although Kyros found his greeting to be lacking in respect, he didn’t say so. Once again, none of these brutes even knew that he had been the heir to his fathers’ throne. ”Lynker. Are you intending to allow these creatures to fight your battles for you?” Kyros had not asked the question scathingly, but there was the slightest hint of negativity that most of the others probably wouldn’t hear. He did not understand the alliance between the wolf and the other animals, and frankly he found it to be quite unacceptable. Still, he said nothing more, merely turned away, expecting no answer.

Kyros turned back to the alpha and nodded to show his understanding. The reek of bear was strong, and privately Kyros thought that Curse’s stench would never leave. He sat, still, tall and proud as Kiddo spoke, and as soon as he had finished, Kyros stood. If he was to gain the rank of Lead Warrior, he would have to prove to Kiddo that knew what he was doing, right? He moved to stand next to Kiddo, on his right side. The rank of beta was just over lead warrior, and as there was no beta, Kyros felt he was doing no harm. Either way, he was not doing it to seem as if he were in charge – he was only there to give them advice and tell them what he knew from his days in the Empire.

Clearing his throat slightly, Kyros started to speak. ”I was raised my entire life to fight off predators such as bears –“ he shot half a glance at Curse ” – as well as cougars. They do not form groups like the wolves do, nor do they fight as one. We have the upper hand here! As a split group, we can get more of these bears down. I warn you – do not attack them from the front. Those claws move extremely quickly. But also, be aware of this: We can move faster, turn quicker than the bears. Use these to your advantage – attack, as one, at the sides of the bears. They are easily confused, so three against one are good odds. They will not see what’s coming to them. Whatever you do, do not attack more than one at a time – it is better to lead them away, one by one, and then dispatch them quickly. Most of them will flee – bears are actually quite fearful of the wolf.” He took a deep breath, staring them all in the eyes. Licking his lips, Kyros finished in a voice of superb calm, ”Do not back down. If you show fear or hesitancy, they will attack you. But if you stand up to them…they will feel nervous and frightened. As long as you can all keep calm, you will always have the upper hand. I have trained many a wolf when it comes to fighting. You must trust my words.”

Kyros glanced at Kiddo, bowing his head. ”My Lord, I have told you what I know. I sense a great victory for us.” With that, he stepped back towards the others, taking a spot closer to Hadrian. He could sense many similarities between them, and knew that Hadrian would be a great ally.

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Birthright meant nothing in new lands where blood family was nowhere to be found. To think an old life would give you great advantage in a new one was a laughable ideal. Skills were valued more than blood in a family of misfits whose survival was based on trust rather than loyalty. Hadrian himself had been of noble birth. He had been born, not to rule and empire but to build one. And though he preferred not to reminisce on those days they did shine through in his character. Maybe that is why the one called Kyros was rubbing his fur the wrong way. They were similar in nature. In the Timber wolf he saw his younger self, someone he no longer wished to be.

His hackles rose at the slight directed towards Lynker and his strange companions though Hadrian did nothing else to show his discomfort. The was a pack mate, an unrefined one, yes, but just because the Arctic male was a bit rough around the edges did not mean he deserved disrespect upon introduction. What Lynker needed was a teacher, someone willing to take the time to refine him into a true wolf. And he needed the others to understand his unique ability at charming wildlife. The black wolf had a rare skill, a valuable skill, and if he could be taught to embrace the company of wolves the way he embraced the company of predators then he could be molded into a truly powerful liaison.

Though he opted to remain standing, his posture was comfortable but guarded. He looked like he belonged here, a soldier waiting for orders without the headstrong ambition that could jeopardize the mission. And as he listed to Kiddo, he nodded his consent. It was a sound plan. There was strength in numbers and teamwork would be crucial to success. Though he no longer saw merit in excessive murder, he would carry it out as was his duty. After all, bears were not wolves (even if one had decided to ally with them). The death of a true enemy, a predator that threatened their own survival, was easier to live with than the death of one of their own, slaughtered for personal gain rather than protection. Hadrian had killed enough innocents to justify the difference.

What he did not like was the way the new guy presumed to have power that was not his own. Had he been the pack's beta, he would have been introduced as such. Instead he was simply the newest addition, insignificant until he proved his worth, and the way he was making a power grab as his first impression definitely did not sit well with the older male. It was ambitious, greedy, and offered no respect to those who had been here longer. Rank was earned, not gifted, and the fact that Kyros had the nerve to try and seize it through both gesture and words made an imperceptible growl bubble within his throat. His left ear flicked in annoyance, habit caused by injury. It was because of a foolish play much like this one that he had lost his hearing and he did not wish to see others travel down the difficult path that had become his life.

It did not help that he felt like he was being talked down to. This wolf that knew nothing about his pack mates was assuming that they knew nothing about bears while they were in the presence of a bear. Better yet, he had blatantly contradicted the Alpha's plan. Had Kiddo not just said that they should only split up if needed? Again his ear flicked with annoyance, the only true outright sign that he was not entirely thrilled. And when Kyros finally finished and drew nearer, Hadrian cast him a sidewards glance, internally sizing him up. And then he took his own step forward though, instead of moving closer to Kiddo his approach was directed towards Curse.

"If I may speak?" He paused, humble in his approach as he made sure no one objected. "First I would like to say thank you, boy." His tone was calm, even, and not insulting in the least though that's what the comment was intended to be. Kyros seemed fittingly the youngest one here which would explain his eagerness to lead. Hadrian wanted the newcomer to know his place, that trust and respect were something to be earned, not given. If the Timber brute proved himself to be a capable leader then Hadrian would give him the respect he earned. Until then he fully intended to keep a close eye on the boy and keep him from losing a limb or two.

"But if I may make a suggestion?" He stood in front of Curse now, dipping his head slightly to the bear in a sign of respect. What he was about to do would not be very pleasant for either party but it could prove very useful to the hunt. "Curse is our greatest ally in this fight. We can further our advantage if we use his scent to mask our own. May I?" He looked up at the bear, waiting for permission to run his body along the much larger creatures. It would be a good way to help memorize Curse's scent as well as offer further protection. Male bears would be less quick to judge the stench of their own kind and, should they encounter a female with cubs, the frenzied rage induced by a male's arrival (though it made her more dangerous) would make her more irrational and prone to mistake.

[Lynker]

Was that supposed to be an insult? The fur on the back of Lynker's neck bristled but he kept his attention firmly fixed on the alpha. What Kiddo had to say was far more important and he knew that if he were alpha he wouldn’t want two members insulting each other while he was trying to speak. Lynker really wanted this pack thing to work out, and was willing to learn if the others wanted him to be more like them, even if that meant learning some etiquette. He still didn’t see what was so wrong with having loyal friends though, even if they were a different species. But he didn't care what the others thought; many wolves had told him that the attachment was unhealthy but that didn't mean he would be giving up his friends anytime soon.

The small black wolf listened carefully as the alpha began to explain his plan. He agreed that they ought to stick together, at least close enough that they could call each other for help if that was needed. Bears were dangerous, and he had the scars to prove it.

Curse screwed up his face in disgust at the bit about eating the bears that they killed. He wasn’t a cannibal, but then again, he supposed that he would eat a wolf if he killed it. He personally wouldn’t be joining their feast but if it meant the bears’ bodies weren’t going to waste he wasn’t going to stop the wolves.

“Yes, sir” Astra nodded quickly. The white gyrfalcon spread her wings and launched off the bear’s shoulder, quickly gaining altitude until she was in the air above the clearing, slowly circling. Her eyes were sharp and she was determined to do her duty well, especially because she felt a little guilty that she wouldn’t be fighting.

Kyros stepped up next to the alpha (a movement that Lynker didn’t see as particularly significant) but then he apparently felt that he needed to give some advice of his own. The black wolf tried to pay attention, but frankly, he was bored of the other wolf’s superior attitude considering that they were both supposed to be subordinates. But the more important thing was that he knew most of this already – he had after all, spent nearly his entire life growing up with bears and fighting with his adopted siblings. Outwardly, he didn’t show any disrespect though, because he was still hoping that once the adrenaline was gone he’d find the better side of this wolf and he didn’t want to base his judgements on one encounter. And who knew, maybe this wolf was as skilled as he claimed.

Hadrian then moved forward to speak, although instead of moving towards the alpha he moved towards Lynker, or more specifically, Curse. The brown bear watched the shaman curiously, wondering what he was doing. “Oh… Oh, yes, of course you may.” If it would help them with getting rid of the bears, he didn’t really have a problem with it. Ria on the other hand didn’t look too pleased to have to get the disgusting stench all over her nice fur, but she would not be a coward, so she rubbed against the bear after Hadrian had. Curse gave a rumbling laugh at the look on the leopard’s face. He believed it was for the best though. It would catch the males by surprise at least to find that the competition they were going to chase out of their territory was actually a pack of wolves. It seemed that the canines weren’t as stupid as he’d thought them to be... He decided that he liked this Hadrian guy.



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[atrb=background,http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/GreenEyedMonster101/Anikira/Requests/KidMid.png?t=1344230995] As the formal greetings were being completed, Kiddo waited to get this show on the road. He had given them his plan and was ready to leave so that they could be done with this today and not have to sleep with the bears still prowling around. The snide remark from Kyros, was actually a little funny. Though, it was rude and he would not have inner battles going on inside of his pack. He glared at the newest brute, he was not impressed. If he had a problem with the black arctic wolf, he could solve it later, in private. For a wolf coming from such royalty as he had claimed, he sure lacked class. Kiddo didn't mind that Lynker chose to have a zoo following him around. They each had special abilities that would help the pack. Curse, had more brute strength. Ria, he hadn't seen in action yet but, she looked fast and agile. Astra, could fly and be the best scout any pack could ever had. Yes, they were more mouths to feed but, they were also more individuals to help out around here. They all seemed to be understanding his plan and from the looks of their faces, they liked the idea. If he did say so himself, it was a pretty good plan. But, as soon as he had finished speaking, Kyros stood up from his proud seat and walked over to him like he was a beta or something! His eyes showed his discontent and anger as this new brute decided that he would just take over this whole mission and give his two-cents where they were not welcome. If he wanted his input, he would have asked for it. Kyros had completely gone against what he had just said. That was not going to be stood for. He did not make this pack to have his members walk all over him like the dirt on the ground. Your input has been considered but, we will be sticking with my plan. He had failed to consider the safety of the members that were around him. Kyros may have just met them but, Kiddo had known Hadrian for a little bit now and he had even known Lynker for a while now even though they had been at opposite ends of the battle field. Kiddo's first priority was to make sure that everyone made it out of today alive. His second priority was to execute as many bears as they could. Not the other way around. As stubborn and as much of an ass that Kiddo could be, he cared about the wolves that were around him and didn't want them to be injured. They would become his family. They were the only family that he had. It was obvious to Kiddo that the others around were also not impressed with Kyros' speech. Hadrian then decided that it was his turn to speak. Kiddo nodded to him as he asked permission to continue. The Mexican male went over to the bear and asked if he could mask his scent with Curse's. That was actually a helpful idea. Good idea, Hadrian. He complemented Hadrian on his intelligence. Kiddo needed an intelligent, older wolf around to fill in the spots that he may have missed. That was part of the reason why Hadrian was accepted. He was smart. Though, Kiddo wasn't incredibly excited about rubbing himself in the scent of a bear, if it would give them an upper hand, Kiddo was game for it. He walked over the the bear and rubbed himself against his thick fur pelt after Ria had finished. It was awkward but, it had to be done. He looked at the bear after his scenting had been done, as if to say a silent "thank-you." He then looked at Kyros before he motioned with his head for him to also put Curse's smell on himself. His attention was then turned to the bird up in the sky. Yes, she would make a good scout. When you are finished, catch up to the rest of us. Kiddo told Kyros before turning to lead his pack into their first battle. He took a deep breath as he was jogging further into the forest, listening for his pack to fall in-suit.

[kyros]

Whatever Kyros had expected, it certainly wasn’t the reaction the brutes gave him; Hadrian had purposely condescended him, Lynker was paying his words no mind, and even Kiddo seemed angered with him. The Eastern Timber brute said nothing in response to all this – none of them knew him, and he had known that his words would be cast aside for the most part. It didn’t bother him much, especially as it was only knowledge and advice that he had given them. Still, Kyros felt that they had all acted rudely and disrespected him Even so; he wasn’t going to say anything or act against them. They would come to respect his judgment in time, and soon they would learn of his fighting skills.

Kyros kept his mouth shut, merely listening and watching. But when the idea came up to rub against Curse, he snorted inwardly. ’Great, bear stink. We’ll be scaring of lone wolves for days.’ his thoughts snarled quietly. Sure, it was a decent idea when it came to fighting the bears, but their scent wouldn’t be fully masked. And when it came to greeting loners? They’d run off in fright before they even saw the brutes’ coming. But Kyros didn’t argue – apparently these brutes didn’t want his input. ’Some pack,’ he thought coldly, ’Not every member is equal, that’s for sure.’

As Kiddo turned to Kyros, he nodded curtly, his thoughts racing. Should he stay and fight these bears? None of these creatures wanted to fight by his side now, that was obvious, as they had left him. But if he left? Where would he go? Kyros snorted to himself, paws and haunches still planted firmly upon the ground. If he did stay, he could prove his worth…but would they even accept him? They obviously didn’t care about what he had to say – had they even listened? Kyros had not been arguing with the alpha, he had been telling them all what he knew about bears’ habits, how they lived and how best to fight them!

A snarl ripped through his chest, and Kyros decided; he would stay, for now at least, if only to show them that he did know what he was talking about. Rising to his paws, he hurried off after Kiddo and Hadrian, a dark fire gleaming in his coppery=bronze orbs.

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Exactly! None of them knew him! And yet Kyros had had the audacity to assume he held more power without first getting to know them as well. If he wanted respect then he would have to earn it. The same way they would earn his. But to self appoint himself power it was clear he did not yet have (given the alpha's reaction)? To the pack it looked as if a complete stranger was trying to do the alpha's job. Hadrian was not one to trust a wolf he had only just met. The fact that they were members of the same pack assured (hopefully) that neither was allowed to turn and kill the other. But he still would not trust Kyros as far as he could throw him. That went for Lynker and Kiddo as well. The pack had his loyalty. Loyalty and honor went a long way, but it still was not friendship. It still was not love. That had to be built up over time.

What Kyros had done was an immature move. Amar was not his birth pack. The wolves here did not hold the same traditions, the same mannerisms, the same attitudes. The timber brute had acted like a son of the throne when he was clearly not. But... In time he would learn. Hadrian himself had once been like him. He had been ambitious, arrogant, and had been in a position to take what he pleased. Land, women, dominance! It had all been his. Though the key word was been. He had learned to live with what he'd lost both physically and emotionally. And in time Kyros would too. He would learn that these wolves could become his family and could respect him. He just had a little growing up to do.

With his fur successfully covered in bear, he nodded towards Kiddo and prepared to move forward. Really, he didn't have as many problems with the scent of Curse as the others did. Yes, he was a bear, but the others would have to get used to it. As long as Curse was a part of Amar then his scent would be attached to them all just as theirs would cling to him. It would be what made their pack scent unique: the threat of predators so strongly embraced by all of them.

Before he bounded off, however, he did give pause by the waiting Kyros. Brown eyes showed no anger or misgivings. There was simply compassion, wisdom, and the determination of and old warrior who had long since learned better. "Respect your current place before you try to change it. Ambition, even with honorable intention, is worthless among strangers." For a moment he held eye contact, hoping the message would sink in. Hadrian was trying to teach, to show him why his little show had backfired so badly. And hopefully the boy would realize that he had to give in order to receive anything in return. If he continued to try and take he would only end up ostracized.

The mexican male gave chase to his alpha.