The Birth of an Alliance

[silver]

((This is a continuation from The Arrival.))

It was a moment more before Exodus’ question was answered by Koli. Turning his attention the black brute, Exodus allowed his silver optics to gaze over the other taking in his submissive posture and familiar look and scent. "I remember you.” He commented to himself as the realization hit him. Regarding Koli with skeptical eyes, the brute couldn’t help but wonder if the deserter was slightly crazed to come back to the land that he had ditched. In addition to Koli leaving, Athabasca also up and left so Exodus not only lost one, but two. Staring, the brute frowned and shifted his weight to the opposite side. Exodus pushed the past business aside and listened to what the black messenger had to say. It began with a Knave leader called Ardemu. Exodus’ ears flickered back before straightening forward. What did this Knave leader matter to him?

Koli spoke on with a story from his era of Alpha. Was it this that he left Salen for? To become an Alpha? Exodus gave a small sigh before listening on. Not long after, the messenger finished his story and silence overtook the Lleingas Woods. An owl hooted in the near by distance, but the sound faded once more. A grave expression formed upon the charcoal Alpha’s countenance. His jaw muscles worked so that his muzzle clenched together while his eyes took on a hard, unkind, and merciless glare. Turning his back onto the messengers, the brute looked out into an empty area of land. No wolves were within his eyesight.

With a mind reeling with many thoughts, only one stood out within the alpha’s mind. If Haishin falls, Salen will be next. With a disheartened glance at his ‘pack’, Exodus’ head was hung as his shoulders rose above his cranium. We would not survive. Closing his eyes, the Salen Alpha continued to torture himself with these horrible thoughts. Moments later, hard silver eyes snapped open while the spell of the thoughts relinquished their hold. Turning to the messengers with a cold glare, the Alpha stood once more at his full height. At this moment, Exodus displayed the very fear others saw when first glancing upon his massive and intimidating bodice.

“Salen will answer the Haishin call. There is not much we can offer, but I promise to everyone present that I will do everything within my power to bring these knaves down. Forces such as these will not be tolerated in Anikira if I have anything to say about it.” Snarling, Exodus turned away from the others once more and looked out over his land. Tense with an edge of paranoia, the woods were suddenly full of enemies. The trees casted shadows that looked remarkable like an army of wolves. The wind howled like a battle cry. Exodus grimaced and pushed these images away. Sitting around doing nothing would no longer suffice. Action must be taken least everything crumbles to ruins.

There was movement within the trees, actual movement that paranoia could not create. Muscles already tightened became further tensed as the Alpha readied himself to attack the oncoming enemy with no questions asked. However, the second the pup came into view, every razor sharp edge upon Exodus’ body, including his eyes, went lax. It was as if a switch had been flicked for the reaction was so abrupt. “Dear gods child, what are you doing walking about alone?!” He called out in a distraught voice. Does she know how close she came to becoming victim to a rash and terrible act?

Giving a heavy sigh, the brute shook his head with weary eyes. How long had it been since he last slept? Ate? Drank? There seemed to be no time in his seemingly busy world. Frowning, Exodus mused, How can one life be so busy, yet so dull? Allowing his shoulders to sink, the brute frowned deeper. Bright orbs, contrasting such dark times, swept over the band around him; Exodus could only look on with a somber expression. Upon having started his pack, what exactly had Exodus accomplished? The answer could be summed up with one word.

Nothing.

"If it is possibly, I would like to arrange a meet with your Alpha. Zethrox was it? In order to reach our maximum potential, I will need to have every detail committed to memory so that I may act accordingly." It's all about the business.

[koli]

In all truth and honesty Koli felt awkward around Exodus, after all he had once been with Salen, if only for a short time and left to follow dreams which he didn't feel were his, and Athabasca had followed him, it must have put a strain on Exodus' numbers, and he felt sorry for that. He had never expected Athabasca to follow him, he was happy she had, at least for a while. He was still angry at her for breaking his heart but his guilt outweighed that anger. He would never forgive himself for her death. "I thought you would remember me." Koli said lowering his head in submission. "I apologise for abandoning Salen, I am also sorry that Ath- that she followed me, I never thought she would. Though I think it is only fair to tell you that she is dead." His voice shook as he told Exodus this, he felt so guilty for her death and so broken by it. It had been so hard to lie next to her in her last moments, wishing he could stop her pain but also wishing he had been the one to bring it. But like Dewet had told him, he had to forgive himself for his past mistakes.

But forgiveness wasn't something Koli felt he deserved, he had hurt so many people and destroyed so many lives, and all because of his temper. If only he had fought against his father's cruelty or run away, things may have been different. Perhaps he should have stayed a while longer after defeating his father and learned compassion and love, maybe if he had done that his anger at the world would have slowly faded away. of course this was all hopes and dreams, nothing could change what had happened, he just had to accept that. Hopefully his time with Haishin under Zethrox's rule would calm his temper, he truely believed Zethrox could help him, he just hoped there was enough time to do that before facing the Knaves.

"My alpha will be pleased to know that you wish to join us." Looking at Apollo he nodded his head and wagged his tail, one down two to go. Once they had alligned all the pack there would be no way Ardemu could stop him. Koli had no idea how big Ardemu's numbers were but he doubted that they'd pose a threat against all the wolves in the four packs. Maybe they could even recruit a few loners, he doubted that those wondering Anikira alone would pass on joining the rebellion against the Knaves. The Knaves had caused a lot of pain and they had to be stopped. The more numbers they gained the better their chances.

Hearing something in the trees, Koli turned his head and growled defensivly. Could the Knaves already be here? This would not be good if they were, they still believed Koli was on their side, and Koli wanted to use that for as long as he could. He had a plan which he had not yet shared, he guessed that Zethrox wouldn't like it, which was why he wouldn't reveal it. He would steal away in the night and hunt out the Knaves, going among them and finding out their numbers and their plans. He try and find Ardemu and say that his lands belonged to someone else, it was a slight betrayel but he had to keep up the pretence. He'd think of something to keep Ardemu still believing that Koli was faithful and return to Zethrox with information on them. But if a Knave was here now then all that would be destroyed, he highly doubted that Ardemu would believe him if he said he'd been lying to Exodus. But his growl soon subsided when he saw a young pup. Relaxing he turned his head away in guilt, the pup looked scared enough without him making it worse.

"I understand what you are saying Exodus, but times are difficult at the moment. Nethertheless I will try and see if I can't arrange something. I'm sure Zethrox also wishes to meet with you and the other Alphas. Once Apollo and I have met with them I will send word as to where we can meet. The Knaves are looking to take all the lands so I'm sure you understand the risk in leaving pack lands." He wasn't trying to be rude or disrespectful in anyway, he merely wished to convey the seriousness of the situation. Who knew what could happen if an Alpha was away from his lands. The Knaves already believed Haishin was theirs, the last thing Koli wanted was for them to claim other lands.

[akela]

These wolves were so big, and some were so strange, never in her life had she seen a stripped wolf. But that didn't matter now, she felt fear grip her as she watched two wolves talk. She briefly heard the word 'dead' and her mind began to race. Had this black wolf killed someone? Maybe they were Knaves after all, maybe the black wolf had been ordered to kill someone and was now reporting back that the job was done. Her heart pounding she stepped back away from the group of wolves, however she found herself caught on a thorn, breaking free she gasped as the bush around her shook from side to side, clearly showing her to the group of wolves.

Frozen in place she began to shake as the killer black wolf growled at her, she was right! They were Knaves and they had come to finish her off. They had killed her parents, her nurse and possibly her siblings and now they were going to finish the job. As the other black wolf spoke she let out a high pitched bark, hoping to try and keep the wolves away. It didn't matter that the other black wolf had spoken kindly to her, it was probably a trick they used to lead unsuspecting pups towards them before they went for the kill. As the growling wolf turned away she tried to make her feet move but they wouldn't. She was too scared, even if she ran they'd catcth her and kill her.

Looking towards the young white wolf, who couldn't be much older then her she wondered if he was another victim of the Knaves or if he was a part of their sick and cruel pack. She couldn't imagine a pup being a part of it but it was possible wasn't it? "You monsters!" She cried angry at them for what they had done. She didn't know what to do with herself, she was so scared, so hungry...so tired. Her legs shaking she fell to the ground as her legs gave way, though she was concious she could barely feel anything, but at least there was something possitive about this, her drowsiness would mean that death wouldn't hurt as much, and so she waited.