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Cheetahs - Ice

Ice gnawed at the rocky bone. The few strips of meat left were quickly licked by a greedy tongue. The day has been exhausting. The morning patrol stretched deep into the evening. Ice wanted to meet up with the rest of his small pack. He missed his siblings. They were inhabiting the same stinky pens near the other end of the village. A fitting punishment for insubordination, Kregor called it.

Ice left his bone and stared forward. The road was almost empty. The sun was setting, spreading its orange light across the wooden fence and dens. Ice licked his bloody paws. He liked sundown. Rations were distributed, warriors returned from patrols, and he played with his pack.

He would, on a normal day. The ColdPeaks wolf looked back, glancing at the miserable creatures he shared his pen with. Pathetic. They all looked worn and miserable. Ice didn't bother talking to them. Each day he was placed with different companions, thanks to the chieftain's fears. Like the wards surrounding the greypine cage weren't enough.

The wolf cleaned one of his paw pads when two sentries passed by. They looked at him, scoffed, and continued from here to there along the road. Pelts hung down their forms, bearing the color of stone and night. Pitiful, but not wasteful. With the recent incursions from the Sun Empire, more FrostFangs fell prey to their steel, wit, and arrows.

Ice considered himself fortunate, but how long was that going to last? The harsh measures implemented to repel the Sun invaders were scarcely successful. Humans died one after another, and none heeded the words of their animal companions. They knew better. The fools.

The white wolf's coat blazed within the rays cast by the dying sun. He shuffled towards his pine bedding and dropped with a soft growl. This felt so good. After a day of running, killing and freezing, tiredness barely argued.

"Tomorrow is not going to be easier. You should all rest." he growled to his companions as much as he did to himself. He knew better than expecting a useful answer. With his pack taken away and his choices fettered, Ice was unsure if he wanted 'tomorrow' to ever arrive.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

The sun lazily crept towards the horizon and a pair of beady orange and green eyes watched in silence. There was a time when a setting sun would never have distracted those eyes from the food that rested lifelessly on the roof in front. There was a time when those eyes would be trained on prey, living, fighting prey.

But VeinWing hadn't hunted the fish herself, it had been caught by the people that kept her, the people who needed her help. It was salted and cold. Not cold the way it should be, the cold of the water. But the cold of the long dead. It was probably weeks old, caught in a net with dozens of its kind, doomed to a slow suffocating death. It wasn't quite the same.

She grasped the fish between her talons and tore a couple more pieces of flesh from the bones and swallowed them one by one. It was a good sized fish, but it was barely enough after such a long day of scouting. The FrostFangs knew best though, that's why she was here. That's why they were all here, to support them. To save them.

Perhaps once upon a time VeinWing would have humoured the thought of taking a mate and raising a hatchling. But great ospreys like her took a long time to rear their young. The people just couldn't allow it. It was probably for the best.

She sighed, the white feathers of her breast rising and falling, the brown cross-like patch in the middle fluttering in the evening breeze. VeinWing finished off the fish as the sun vanished below the horizon and the light from the village torches slowly overwhelmed the light of the day.

She yawned a little but wasn't tired so stretched her wings instead. They were impressive, spanning nearly four metres tip to tip. White on their under sides and mottled browns and oranges on the top. They apparently looked like veins of metal ores, which gave rise to her name. Fitting enough she supposed. A couple of quick hops on her talons and she took to the air.

Perhaps she was not as graceful as smaller birds, but she could stay in the air for hours on end with little effort. She decided to give the village a couple of circuits before retreating back to her perch, the humans would no doubt get paranoid if she wasn't back within an hour after sun down. There was a lot of paranoia around the village these days.

Phenrir - Ember

Agonizingly slow the sun moved down from its position high in the sky to a place of mystery to cast the world in a welcome darkness. Usually no one would think that this bright light moved any slower than it did normally. This time however it felt slow, breathtakingly slow, so slow that a slug moving from one forest to a new one seemed insanely fast.

Ember was lying in her cage, gnawing on her own bone, which tasted like it belonged to a hysterically incontinent deer, but maybe that were just the smells around the wolfess. If you took so many animals and a bunch of filthy humans and put them so close together that freedom itself was screaming for more space, then something was very wrong. Smells like sweat and piss and shit were probably normal and Ember couldn't stand it anymore. She didn't want to let anyone know that. Not yet at least.

The wolfess was old for her kin, she was neither the biggest nor the strongest and where others had shimmering coats of fur her own was a mix between dark gray and muddy brown, looking ruffled. One could say that she was an unusual wolf. Before the FrostFangs had found her, she was alone and she was almost starving. Lone wolves have it rough, Ember had jumped at the chance of a company. Now... She would literally kill for a chance of more freedom than having cages and orders.

A plan was forming in her head, a plan of breaking out, but she needed the perfect moment for that, and as strange as it sounded the wolfess, who was used to being alone needed help for it. With her sharp teeth Ember gnawed more on the bone in her mouth. Every strip of meat had been gone for an hour. Yet she didn't stop, for Ember gnawed with purpose! As if her teeth could snap the cage like the bone the wolfess bit down on it until the bone cracked into two quite sharp halves. Then she spit them out.

Sighing Ember laid her head down between her paws. There was no idea, no perfect plan and so far no escape. Also, she had no clue if a damned bone could help her destroy this cursed cage! Instinct told her to keep fighting even though her rebellion was secret and all of it seemed hopeless.

Bored Ember looked at her cage mate. She didn't bother with looking too much at them, the humans would just give her a new companion on the next day anyway. This time she couldn't stop the urge to examine her lupine partner though. He was definitely male. To Ember's eyes he looked like a big, brawny one with radiant white fur, and as she watched him with an unsure gaze he spoke with a deep voice and a growl, telling Ember to rest.

A short growl emerged her throat as well. "Easier said than done!" There were times when she was like this unsettled and moody, maybe this time it was the dumb humans' fault. Who was she kidding? It was always the fault of the furless bipeds! "What is your name, Snowflake?" Ember loved to tease like that and she thought Snowflake was a nice and cute name for him. Perhaps she would call him like that anyway.

Cheetahs - Ice

A snarly voice perked the white wolf's ears. He turned his head towards a muddy grey wolf. The colors waged war across her form. Greys flanked the brown intruders near her flanks and front paws, only to be repelled by lighter nuances splashed on her side and back. With that fluffy head rested on her paws, she looked exactly like cage; stiff and lifeless. Yet something was different. The spark in her eyes was cold and vivid, like a frozen lake touched by morning's rays.

Ice blinked, licking his nose. He was too tired, too hungry and too thirsty to care. He brought his head to his tail, pushing his muzzle into a warm, welcoming tail. His own scent felt like his fur, silky and welcoming compared to the stench surrounding him. He hated this temporary measures. The humans were better than this. Kregor kept Ice inside his own tent not even two weeks ago. What caused such drastic changes? Ice asked his master several times. And he always was denied.

"My name? Unimportant." He closed his eyes. "Knowing it doesn't change the time of day, this place, nor our predicament."

He took three slow, measured breaths before he opened his heavy eyelids. His amber eyes sparkled under the sun's caress, two flaming orbs in the dying light. "You are the first asking me that though. Why?"

Yogoloth - VeinWing

Eyes built to penetrate the murky depths of the great ocean itself were not averse to penetrating the darkness of twilight. VeinWing had gained a moderate height and simply glided, letting the gentle air caress her feathers like the waters of a calm lake caress the shore.

Of course the village was hardly plunged into true darkness as many torches had been lit around the village already and more were appearing with each passing minute. In truth, if it were not for those, the great osprey would have found it impossible to find her perch at all.

But while she had this brief moment of precious freedom she enjoyed it. The membranes in her eyes protecting them from the rush of the night air and the smoke from the fires below. She wondered briefly what would happen to her if one morning she flew out as far as she could, to seek out distant waters, only to return that night.

No. They needed her as much as she needed them. That was the way of things now. She just had to accept her lot.

Her wings tilted slightly and she came around approaching the village again. It was too small to circle properly, so she flew back and forth taking in the sights. If anyone asked later she always claimed she was scouting he outskirts of the village before true night made such things more difficult. They could hardly argue with such things.

She was ever so slowly losing height. Although she would not need to beat her wings again until she decided to land. She smiled briefly at the though of flying as high as she could and seeing how long she could stay in the air for without a single flap. She'd heard stories of fellow great ospreys staying in the air all day like that. That would be quite something.

She was quite low now as she approached the edge of the village, but she wasn't tired nor did she want to return to her perch just yet. Her eyes picked out a few homes between the fires and a large cage. There were actually shapes moving in the cage, odd. She tipped a wing and flew down. There was still time to be nosy.

She landed gracefully on the sturdy cage. Gracefully for a bird with a four metre wing span that weighed just over twenty kilograms. Thankfully the cage was sturdy and VeinWing peered inside in time to hear the voices within.

"What brought you to this...", she started in her slightly shrill voice. The cage stank of dog and piss. "pleasant retreat?"

Phenrir - Ember

Raising his head the white wolf stared at whoever had disturbed his peace. In his eyes was something relentless and strong, at the same time however the last weeks hadn't left his eyes unscathed. Was it exhaustion from the humans' endless antics, was it hunger or something equally simple, or was it defiance like in Ember's eyes. She couldn't put her paws on it.

Tilting her head as she heard his curt words Ember looked at him. Her cage mate seemed like a puzzle to her, one she wanted to solve, maybe she would be surprised and he knew a way of how to leave this wretched place behind. Licking her nose, which still tasted a little like bad dear meat, Ember crept closer to him. Her tail low with a slight wag.

"If you don't have a name, I'll just call you Snowflake then." Standing up Ember poked him with a paw. "Because your fur is so soft and shiny. So, cute!" A part of her wanted to say 'please help me' or 'let's escape together and be a pack like real wolves', but she didn't. Maybe it was fear, maybe the simple reason was that Ember didn't know if she could trust Snowflake. It definitely wasn't for her own somehow repressed nature. Living by herself had changed Ember, but not wanting to spend time with her kind was simply 'not-wolf'.

As she thought of some kind of excuse to even bother talking with someone like Snowflake in a place like this cage, even though the bipeds would separate them again tomorrow something happened. There was a small gush of wind and Ember smelled fish right before something landed on their cage. It wasn't heavy or loud or anything particularly strange, yet Ember immediately looked up in curiosity. Before long a feathered head looked upside down into the cage and spoke words.There was nothing extraordinary there, except that Ember made it that way.

"Wow, birdy! Grace us with your appearance and wisdom. Please!" Ember stretched her front paws before lowering her head. The gesture looked a little like a hospitable bow, or a mocking invite to play. "What do you think? There is only one kind of furless freak, that could have put us here. If you know why, enlighten us, until then the reason remains a mystery... Maybe Snowflake here knows more than I do."

Cheetahs - Ice

Ice took in the sight of the approaching female. She didn't only look lean and healthy, but smelled like that too. Ice captured as much as he could in his twitching nostrils before the wind shifted. His tail twitched almost without his accord. It tapped the ground slowly, pushing more dust into the air as the female approached.

Ice growled a soft, muffled sound. He couldn't allow excitement to rule over him. This female would be moved with the next sunrise, and he would be left alone. Again. With unrequited excitement and too much time to ponder on desires that would never be.

"Works," he busied himself with a paw, running his tongue across the rough pads. Dirty as it was, the earthly scent tasted better even than the defiled meat he ate. Tomorrow? What would happen Tomorrow? Another incursion into the small Sun camps scattered around. They appeared like pups after the breeding season. The Empire was growing bolder, even if half the tribe was too thick to see it. Kregor was one of the few with a vision. He turned his patrol duty into something more useful. As he put it, killing is the ultimate purpose of any predator.

Ice wanted to disagree with him. The time he spent with his pack filled him more than any kill. He mentioned mating several times, only to be laughed at and branded as a wishful hunter. FrostClaws were only allowed to impregnate their mates. Bonding, hunting for prey, and raising cubs were for the wild, weaker creatures.

Ice sighed. His last female has been white, just like him, and twice as cold. Her master was the chieftain himself. That meant hours upon hours of sitting in the same stinky tent, with his companion agreeing with everything he said. His sister also mated near that time, as did mother. How droll. It weren't the pups, but the affairs of humans that separated them.

A soft touch put the wolf on the defensive. He bared his fangs, turning towards the threat-

Only to lower his hackles once his eyes met the earth-colored female.

"Apologies," he rose on his fours, sniffing the thick fur of her neck before meeting her nose. He lapped and circled her muzzle with four, sloppy licks. Greetings came before anything else. "I was thinking, and you.." he caught her eyes. Those beautiful spheres shining with hidden intent. The markings on her face were also exquisite, a blend between greys, browns, and whites. "You surprised me." He said instead, pushing his muzzle close to one of her ears. He sniffed again, taking in her scent. The faint traces of wood and pine needles hid under her fur. Trackers were skilled and new their way around the land. Could this female be one of them?

"Been a while since any creature voiced a single word in this exquisite establishment."

He took a few steps back, giving her a bit of freedom. Though several thoughts darkened his mood, Ice couldn't help but wag his tail with the little excitement that coursed through him.

It was then that the wind changed course, beating down on him in the rhythm of powerful wings. He eyed the perching bird. White feathers on her chest, wide wings stained with darker colors, and sharp talons to envy. He knew this one.

"I should ask you that question, sharp-eyes. Free to roam as you please, hunt where you like, breed as you see fit. Why care? Your young earn everything from the moment they hatch."

Ice stilled his words. The female wolf voiced hers with peculiar enthusiasm. Did she know the bird as well as he did? Ice doubted it. Though they were allies, he harbored a deep envy for the sky conquerors. An envy that slowly festered, turning into something dark and vile as the piss-stained ground he treaded upon.

He padded closer to the wolfess, eyes still on the predatory bird. "Fear brought us here. The tribe isn't willing to admit it, but they feel cornered. The Empire has camps throughout these forests. Hundreds of new recruits fill their ranks while we prowl the woods, hunt our prey, eat our meat like nothing happens. My master-" he snapped his mouth shut.

"My master didn't tell me anything, but I have my suspicions." He looked to the female, then at the long road winding between the human establishments. His master was a killer. The first of few that turned from the judgement of the tribe. He was rash and cruel, but not stupid. If the FrostFangs didn't deal with the encroaching threat, somebody had. And for that reason, nobody could know his secret.

Fool. You almost let it slip. Ice dropped on the ground. Words turned treacherous when exhaustion was involved.

"Rest," he looked at the wolf, then at the bird. "The same goes for both of you." Tomorrow was going to be a long day. Two camps to raid, hundreds of humans to kill, spoiled meat to eat and barely enough hours to rest.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

She listened to their words and rather liked the female, she was either respectful or sarcastic, either was fine. Better to have a positive attitude in a place like this than the male, to be defeated by your situation.

"I don't know what happened to make them suddenly so paranoid. But we just have to fight harder and things will work out...", VeinWing's voice trailed off a little but she tried to make it sound like she meant to stop there.

She looked about the cage as the male's words sank in. This wasn't right. It was one thing that the food rations were short, but there was no need to keep FrostClaws like this. What was going on? They... must have done something wrong... but they claimed to not know...

It was true that the people had changed recently. Their attitude was different, they were afraid; quietly afraid. Her handler who never normally spoke with her except to give her orders seemed even more edgy than normal.

"Yewk! I have to be back on my perch soon.", she said suddenly, even the short flight to her perch could clear her mind. VeinWing spread her considerable wings, then stopped and spoke quietly. "You're wrong, wolf brother. I cannot hunt nor breed, though I wish I could. When we win this war, things will be better. You'll see.", with that she took to the air producing a powerful down draft as she did. A single feather floated down and the air carried it inside the cage to land in the dirt.

She felt tired, suddenly very tired. She wouldn't have any trouble getting to sleep tonight.

Phenrir - Ember

Watching after the bird as it flew away into the remaining sunset to be greeted by an unsure night Ember sat down. She had kept quiet when Snowflake had opened his muzzle to talk. At first the icy-white wolf had seemed strange and irritated. The slightest touch had managed to make him almost jump, baring his teeth aggressively. However as fast as that sudden animosity had come, it vanished even faster to be replaced by friendly licks.

The touch of his tongue made Ember freeze for a tiny fraction of a heartbeat. It was familiar, yet alien, an affection Ember had instinctively missed. She didn't know what to do. Bite? Return the licked affection? Despite the presence of the birdy, and Snowflake's conversation with it, a quiet part of Ember was still pondering the situation. The rest of her focused on what they were talking about. Who knows, maybe they would just let the information slip that was key to breaking out.

Unfortunately that didn't happen. Of course it wasn't that easy. As she listened Ember watched Snowflake closely and couldn't help it, but to her the white wolf seemed - in one word - cold! His voice spoke useless words that for some very strange reason sounded repressed and maybe even resigned to Ember. Did he really think like that? How... boring? No, that was not it. Also the wolfess had the feeling that Snowflake was keeping something from her. The nerve of some wolves!

She was still thinking about this when the birdy left, even the feathered flyer didn't talk like she was overly eager to abandon the humans. Ember sighed again from her sitting position, watching as the bird left, and under her watchful gaze Ember saw a single white feather drift into the cage.

Rising on all fours Ember strolled over to it and sniffed the feather, as if the wolfess wanted to memorize the scent. "Goodbye birdy!" Maybe they would see each other again on better days, if that were to happen Ember definitely needed a better name for the winged female than 'birdy'. Turning around Ember was alone with Snowflake again. When he opened his muzzle to talk, 'rest' seemed like his most favorite word. Ember didn't want to rest, she wanted to be free, but she couldn't have that when she was exhausted.

Snowflake was right about that. If Ember really thought about it the male wolf that was her cage companion had much of an icy snowflake. They are cold, just like he was, but not literally, they are white, they drop down if released from the clouds, which Ember guessed would happen to the male as well and turned wet when licked.

Walking over to her equally caged acquaintance Ember wagged her tail a little. "Don't freak out again. I want to test a theory." She came over and licked the side of his muzzle. "I knew it!" All of the others Ember had met thought that she was strangely weird, even the human, who ordered Ember around. What was his name again? Ember always spoke of him as 'pinky-toes', not to his face though. "Can I ask you something, Snowflake, or do you insist on... 'Rest'?" Ember mocked his icy stiff tone just a little, she just had to.

Cheetahs - Ice

He expected that kind of reply from the bird. It revealed nothing. Her master was an oaf for wasting her swiftness on menial scouting tasks. Fliers were scarce. Though they bred quickly, they were also the most vulnerable to arrows and spells. The Empire kept its secrets well guarded. It was how they managed to get their foot soldiers so close to FrostFang lands.

"Fight harder?" Ice said after the predatory bird's words trailed off. "If that was the answer, this war, as you eloquently named it, would have been over for years. We kept them at bay, but they're like the frozen sea. Relentless against any assault"

The wolf licked his whiskers. An eerie silence draped over the cage in the place of his words. Ice eyed the bird. She was so large and beautiful for her kind. Though he saw the osprey flying around the village, Ice rarely bothered talking to anyone else but his kind. Still...this one seemed different. Wise and...

"Leaving so soon, snow-wing?" he pushed the ground with his front paws, settling on his flanks. Her wings unfolded, revealing the black and white marred span. Ice dipped his head. He didn't want her to leave. Her avian words swam in his mind. Fight harder? Wasn't this what he was doing? At the risk of losing both his and his master's life, Ice culled the empire threat so the rest of the village could enjoy their warm beds and scant meals. Where was the reward in sacrifice?

The choice of words puzzled the wolf until the bird's voice spoke again, quiet and soft and oiled with hidden emotion.

"I hope you are right..." he said softly, more to himself. He wanted to believe her. To trust her words. To have something to look forward to. Yet this trap stung his paw too many times. Within a few beats of her wings, she was gone. He watched the falling feather spiraling through the air until it touched the ground.

The wolfess' excitement made his ears perk. He almost forgot about her. Ice joined her, lowering her muzzle next to hers as he sniffed the fallen feather. It had the smell of water trapped in it. Ice sighed, then walked back to his place where he placed a furry head on two front paws. The female followed him. Words left her muzzle. Ice was too caught up in the bird's wisdom to mind them. He watched the wolfess dip her muzzle. Their whiskers touched, brushing against each other. A quick lick followed. Ice growled softly at the contact. This was one late greeting.

"You knew what?" He lowered his head back on his paws. Of course she didn't answer. Another question followed, vague as any of her replies. The male closed his eyes. He heard enough words for the day.

"You may. Ask." He dropped on the side, paws stretching on the tough soil. Ice surprised himself. Curiosity had a peculiar way of getting the best of him at the most improper of times.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

If she had the energy, she would have made another pass over the village. But as it was, she was suddenly very weary. The sun had fallen below the horizon and all that was left was a bloody scar that would fade quickly. VeinWing was troubled.

She looked down at the village as she flew the short distance to her perch, like she had done many times before. But this seemed like the first time she had actually seen it. The outside threat of the I invaders should strengthen their bonds. Instead it seemed like they were imploding, turning against each other.

Things would be better.

She landed carelessly on her short perch and shook out her feathers. They were dusty and she quickly oiled her beak and began to preen one outstretched wing. She heard her handler approach quickly looked up and smiled a greeting.

"It doesn't take that long to eat a fish.", he said gruffly as he looped a leather strap through the one around one of her legs. "Don't be this late again.", he tugged on the strap, turned and left.

"I thought I'd check the outskirts of the village...", the words trailed off as he disappeared into the darkness. He... was busy and tired. Like she was. He was always busy and tired. They all were.

She peered down at the strap that secured her to her perch. It was about a metre long and her perch a little over two metres tall. There we're a few short steps by the side so her handler could reach the small platform to feed or groom her. Not that he had time for the later.

A cool wind blew and she fluffed her feathers up on instinct to trap the air. A new day will bring with it new possibilities, she thought to banish the doubts into the night. VeinWing pulled her wings in close, tucked her head down and closed her eyes. Yes. Tomorrow.

Phenrir - Ember

The puzzle that was Snowflake didn't solve itself. No one could have expected that, yet Ember felt a little irritated when the smallest of licks made the male growl shortly. Instinct dictated her to growl softly herself. Before she knew why she did it though the sound was gone from her throat. Ember really didn't want to antagonize him, the only thing she wanted was to break out and for that she needed accomplices. Perhaps the birdy was a better choice. Snowflake seemed a little reluctant to even talk to Ember.

While Snowflake dropped on his side lazily, as if the whole concept of answering Ember made him so fatigued, the wolfess lay down as well. Not too close to Snowflake to make him lash out again, but close enough to sniff his distinctly male scent. The scents filled Ember with longings of all kinds, the white wolf himself only filled her with slight confusion though.

"Good, good. Questions... Questions!" Ember thought hard about how to voice her doubts and test the water with Snowflake. It was not likely that the caged male would snitch on her, or do something equally rash. Yet prudence is the better part of valor. "Let me say it like that... Do you hold any particular love for our keepers?" Just as she said it Ember was sure that she voiced her thoughts wrong.

"I mean... don't get me wrong... FrostFangs and FrostClaws, companionship, food and a den to sleep in sounds good... but all of this? Our bipeds against other strange humans for a reason I am not sure I could ever understand." What was this fucking war about? Each of them had their territory and should be happy, yet they weren't. Instead this conflict only got bigger through more senseless killing and lack of understanding.

Ember focused on Snowflake, who was still lying on his side. Waiting for some kind of reaction her tail swept the ground of the cage several times, only to get the scent of dirt and pine in the air. "Oh, and there is another thing! Suddenly the furless freaks have decided that we are no companions anymore, to them we're rather prisoners and pets!"

Cheetahs - Ice

Ice released a long breath. Air flew out of his chest, relieving him of the fatigue and the irritation he harbored since sunrise. This was too long a day. Dark was supposed to be calm and peaceful, his only oasis of relief in the middle of a frozen desert. Instead, it brought her. She dropped on the ground only four paws away from him! Ice fought to restrain a snarl. A rumbling hiss traveled between his bared fangs, but only for a moment. Ice slapped a forepaw on his muzzle. He couldn't trust his mind to control his sizzling irritation.

Teeth nipped at the fur between his pads, only to be replaced by a wet tongue. Ice tried to banish the wolfess from his mind. The relentless storm of words was his fault, after all. He had to give her free reign, despite better judgement.

"Too fast," he picked his head from his paws. "You talk too much, too fast." She complained worse than a newly weaned pup. She couldn't be so young. Her coat was dense, sign of an age long past the juvenile period. Maybe she was a lone wolf, raised by the caring hands of a tribesman. But was her master a cripple or a dimwit to provoke such question?

"Affection is irrelevant. We don't have to care for our masters, just as they don't have to care for us."

Ice rolled on his back, pawing and snapping at a passing moth. He caught it in his maw, then spat it on the ground, slimy and dead as it was.

He thought of doing the same to other Frostfangs, but never to his master. Stubborn and hot-blooded as he was, Kregor sacrificed everything for the good of the tribe. Even this stinky cage, despite the appearances, required coin and persuasion. With the several wards buried in each corner, no empire mage could sneak in and practice his magic. The same could not be said for the rest of the tribe.

What looked like a prison was, in fact, a safe haven. The female barely knew this. She didn't know anything. Ice envied and hated her in equal measures.

"We are better off in this cage than anywhere else, she-wolf. Accept your fate, or be destroyed by it," Ice said, repeating the same words Kregor whispered before he turned traitor. No FrostFang defied the will of the tribe in ears, but then again, wind never blew from one direction. Ice curled around, lulled to sleep by the pine scent and the soft thumps of the female's restless tail. He thought of Sari and Ary. He played with them in the tall grasses of midsummer before images shifted to the Empire encampment. Northpeak was tomorrow's target. The camp was new enough to excuse the use of experienced mages. The Empire always sent their weakest first, blaming their death on the elements. Fools. If the FrostFangs settled a post at the mouth of the valley, they could hold the pass against any trickles flowing from the Empire's reach. Yes. It had to be done. The bird could have helped, if she was still here, but Ice only had the overexcited wolf to talk with, and he wasn't about to entrust such a vital task to a mere pup.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

The great osprey began to doze lightly. She was in that place just between wakefulness and sleep. Pleasant thoughts began to flit through her mind, deciding whether or not to become dreams or fade away. Then the first explosion snapped her eyes open.

There was suddenly a sunrise, only it was brilliant white. VeinWing instinctively half spread her wings in alert and her keen eyes focused on the light. Then a second blast, a fair distance from the first, added its light to the evening. The fires were almost perfect white and spread quickly. These fires reeked of magic.

There was a commotion as people began to run this way and that. Some with buckets, others with children. Some just in panic. The third blast nearly blinded the great osprey as the scorching air struck her. She stumbled from the combination of things that assaulted her senses and slipped from her perch.

Her wings automatically spread and she had nearly righted her body before the leather strap that secured her to her perch pulled tight. She was jerked head first into the post. The blow stunned her momentarily and all her left eye could see was red. She frantically beat her wings as panic set in and scraped some of her feathers off on the ground.

She came to her senses and regained her calm as she hung upside down from her perch. The fire had quickly engulfed the nearby building, but it was an empty home whose owners had left empty. The fire was intense and had spread to a pile of hay and rags nearby, she felt panic rising again.

"Help me!", she called to a passing person. The young women looked over but carried on running the way she had been. A warrior did the same a moment later.

They were needed elsewhere. That's all. Her handler couldn't know the danger she was in. She pulled a wing in as flames drew closer and threatened to ignite her. She just had to save herself. VeinWing twisted her body to grasp the post so she could attack the straps with her beak, but they were tied tight and the leather was thick and boiled hard. There was nowhere to draw a rune, she couldn't use magic.

The heat was threatening to drive her to unconsciousness now, the smoke began to fill her nostrils. There was... there was nothing else to do... she swallowed at the thought. Yes. There was one last thing.

She took a deep breath and tried to hold back a cough. Her beak was ill suited to bite through hardened leather, but it was perfect for biting through flesh and bone. She imagined a giant writhing fish and bit down into the rear talon of her bound foot. She let the pain drive her beak deeper and finally it sliced through.

She felt light headed and quite sick. But she yanked her leg as hard as she could and it slipped a little. Another tug and it came free and she found herself in a pile in the dirt. There was no time to stop, someone could possibly need her help. She twisted her other toe around to support her injured foot and hissed at the pain. It was bleeding freely but she would be fine.

She hobbled a little away from the fire as it began to claim the perch that had been her home. She hadn't the magic to help directly with the fires, but there must be some- the caged wolves. She spread her wings and took clumsily to the air.

Phenrir - Ember

Just like the sun, which had left the sky, all sense had left Snowflake's confused head. Staring at him in disbelief wasn't enough, tilting her head with a frown wasn't enough, even the snarl and short growl were in Ember's opinion not enough to express how much she disagreed with the ice-cold male. His reserved behavior had to be expected, not the harsh words.

Firstly he insulted her. Of course she talked too much, she wanted his help and to know this strange Snowflake better, apparently that was in vain, because he preferred to be outright rude. Then he spoke in twisted lies, which were probably told by the wretched humans. Affection and care is not important? Not to Ember, not anymore at least. She helped the bipeds and as a reward she was chained and caged. Was that necessary? Definitely not. If they didn't care about the FrostClaws, why were they kept like prisoners, why couldn't Ember leave?

Lastly came the worst atrocity out of his mouth and the wolfess almost couldn't believe it. "Accept your fate or be destroyed? I think I'd rather be dead than spending one more night in this cage!" Ember knew she was spirited, hot-headed and more. She blamed the elements and her time alone for this. Being in the wild nature, running around until her paws hurt that was life. Not this! Before Snowflake had opened his muzzle and spoken his by humans corrupted mind, Ember had thought about fleeing with him. Now that was in the past. She knew a lost cause when she saw it.

Calming her raging mind the growl died down in her throat. Fuck Snowflake then, may he live in his cage until he drops dead! Since there was no reason to talk to him, Ember didn't want to waste her time, she could just sleep. It was already dark, Snowflake himself seemed tired. She crept as far away from that white-furred cold maniac as possible and leaned against the bars of the cage, then laid her head down and closed her eyes for just a moment.

A loud, sudden explosion startled Ember and she immediately jumped to all fours. How long had she slept? What was going on? Ember didn't know. Yet the wolfess smelled fire and sensed magic. She looked in the direction of the commotion and saw a fiery blast casting the dark sky with bright light. It had to be some kind of attack. This was a perfect moment for an escape attempt, but that damned cage was magic proof. Curses on the humans for figuring these wards out.

"We have to do something!" Ember screamed, but she didn't bother to look at Snowflake. What should that repressed male do? Humans ran around, some away from the fire, others towards it. Fear was present in their scent. Ember had no idea how she could get out of this cage, but she had to. She tackled the cage with the whole weight of her body, it didn't budge. Frantically Ember began to bite the bars, but left only small marks in the hardwood, this would take forever. If only she could do magic in this thing!

Cheetahs - Ice

A soft buzzing of words perked Ice's ears before nothingness claimed him. He didn't remember what he dreamed, or if he dreamed at all. Screams, shouts, wails rang in his ears as he shot to his paws, growling. His eyes scanned the surroundings. A black sky, tents, white fire....what? His eyes stung as they stared at the inferno consuming a group of tents on the east side of the winding road.

Ice bared his fangs. Out of every camp, it had to be NorthPeak. The empire must;ve been warned or rushed into action by something. Whatever the reason was, it didn't matter. The sentries were definitely unprepared if they got so far inside. He was late. Kregor misjudged the threat. He was probably out there, fighting whatever apprentice was conjuring the fire, but....

"He's alone," Ice growled, pacing around. "Blasted misfortune, my master's alone." He had a few magic amulets at his disposal, but...

It was then that the wolfess stated the obvious. She launched herself at the bars, biting, clawing, and doing everything she wasn't supposed to do. Ice ran towards her. She wouldn't listen, not when instincts got the better of her.

He leaped, tackling the female on the ground. "Stop that. Save your energy. This cage will not give in under any form of physical strain." He bared his fangs, almost without noticing. He felt so useless and helpless. The screams flared. Frostfangs crowded the streets, coming out bare of skin and armaments.

"Fangs! Get the ward master!" Ice howled to them. No answer. Panicked prey knew only one thing: to flee. The witless humans were not any better. They ran here and there, aiding no one but themselves.

"You!" Ice growled again and again. "Here, come here." Nobody came. A bearded axewielder eyed the cage briefly. Ice pawed and bit at the wood. Anything to get the Frostfang's attention from the whelp grabbing his hand.

"Wh-" He bounded over the cage. He grabbed the wood, voice thick with desperation. "No door."

"There is none. The wards," He pointed with a paw. "Suppress them."

"Don't know," the human looked around.

"Under those rocks. Dig them out and-"

"Don't know!" He yelled and turned around, running.

Ice lunged at him, biting and clawing at the wood. He so wanted flesh to replace the tough pinewood.

"We'll have to wait," he slowly backed away, looking at the wolfess. "Wait until...."

...a group of empire soldiers burst between two flaming tents, shields ready, polearms impaling any tribesman unfortunate enough to get in their way. Frostfangs moved to engage them, but they were alone. Where were the FrostClaws? What was exactly happening? Ice could only wait, caged like a helpless pup.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

Smoke filled the air and the heat made it unpredictable. But VeinWing had flown in worse conditions and it wasn't far. She closed her nostrils and panted through her beak instead. If only she could still see out of both eyes. Her head pounded and she still felt a little sick.

The fires raged but FrostFangs and a few FrostClaws fought against them, but they were numerous and clearly magical. The fight would be won, but buildings were being sacrificed to save other more important structures. Then the great osprey saw a small group of sun empire soldiers near the cage she had been flying towards.

They were clearly part of the group that set the fires, but they didn't have the look of sorcerers or mages. Either they carried something that held the magic or there were more of them somewhere. The panic was slowly turning into the semblance of organisation though, fires were being controlled and empire warriors pushed back.

Fires looked set to burn the cage to the ground, but somehow the flames could not burn the wooden cage, something was holding them back. Some kind of force was protecting the cage from the magical fire. But thick smoke began to gather in the cage, and the heat would only increase in time.

VeinWing didn't judge her landing very well. She had a combination of headache, near blindness in one eye, her injured foot and a sudden fogginess that clouded her thoughts slightly. She slipped straight off the roof of the cage and onto the dusty, slightly ash covered ground. Thankfully she wasn't injured and quickly hopped onto her feet shaking her head. Wincing slightly yet again, shook her wings out before folding them against her flanks.

"Snow-wing!", the male wolf's words assaulted her. "Under those rocks, dig out the wards!"

"Wards? Yes, of course!", she looked at the ground and hopped over to where the lupine was pointing. She quickly drew a rune into the dirt with a talon and it faded. Nothing. She tried again, nothing. The wards protected themselves. They would have to be dug out physically or suppressed by someone who knew about these kinds of wards. She didn't.

"I- I'll get someone...", she stammered, her vision wavering for a moment as she looked around.

The FrostFangs were pushing back a small group of empire soldiers, but their victory would be long and costly. VeinWing quickly drew a different rune into the dirt and focused on the enemy soldiers. The ground below them lurched and cracked, one tumbled over, another's foot slipped into a crack and was caught fast as the ground tried to return to its original shape. The FrostFangs took advantage and ran two of them through and the rest retreated.

She turned to a couple of tribes people who were running passed and called out. "Help us!"

The couple glanced over but carried on running into a nearby tent that was sure to burn down soon. They were probably saving their child. That would be it. They came out soon later with armfuls of clothes, wooden items and other personal possessions. The great osprey blinked, unable to comprehend what was happening as another anonymous person ran passed with a bucket of water.

"Cheereek!", she squawked desperately as words failed her, " Please! The cage!". They ignored her and continued trying to save their home.

"Why... why won't you help us...?", she whispered as something slowly died inside of her. Her wings drooped slightly against her flanks and she suddenly felt very cold despite the heat. They weren't going to help. Her handler would... no, he wouldn't. They were just animals to them.

She lifted her foot up to her face and looked at the bloody wound that was once her talon. What was the point any more? She turned back towards the cage and stamped her foot into the ground, she didn't feel the pain. Her talons clenched the dirt and the ground flinched as though it felt pain. The wolves looked at her, perhaps slightly confused.

"Live free.", she said to them simply before she opened herself to the wild magic within.

The earth shook and a burning building nearby collapsed from the tremor. The ground at the edge of the cage opened and a great crack formed reaching out far from the edge of the village. The cage came free from it's foundations and slid partly into the fissure and a great slab of stone rose up and shattered one of the corners. Wood splinters flew everywhere and another corner of the cage suddenly caught fire, the wards failed.

VeinWing smiled and then her eyes glazed over. She felt impossibly tired and then slumped forward unconscious into the dirt in front of the ruined cage.

Phenrir - Ember

Smoke and fire crept closer to the cage. Both were elements Ember knew well enough not to fear them, yet they still were deadly and would consume the wolves one way or another if they stayed in this blasted prison. They needed to get out! All of Ember's struggles to destroy the cage had no effect though.

There was a hard and surprising impact that swept Ember of her paws. She couldn't even comprehend what was happening. It was just smack, a little pain, and then she was on her back with Snowflake above her, scolding and growling. Even in this situation his words didn't lose their cold touch. Instantly Ember answered his growl with a snarl herself. The worst thing was that he was right. So Ember kept her muzzle shut reluctantly.

He called for help, sadly those stupid humans were not only ugly, but also useless. Running around like scared chickens, saving their hides and practically everything else that was not wolf. When Snowflake told her to wait Ember wanted to curse loudly. She never came that far, for as she saw the armed bipeds emerge all curses stuck in her throat. This couldn't have gotten worse! At least the Frostfangs had enough sense in their twisted heads to engage this new enemy. Regardless Ember saw that it was a losing battle for the tribesmen, they practically got slaughtered there.

Finally good fortune returned as the bird from before landing clumsily in front of the cage. "Birdy!" Ember's surprised voice was almost a whisper. The bird didn't look well. Battered and bruised, bleeding from one talon and with ruffled feathers, Ember wondered what the fuck had happened to her. At the moment all explanations had to wait however, since getting out of this cage was more important. Yet everything the birdy tried didn't work, this strange cage was impervious to runes and the humans preferred to save things rather than free, who could save their life. This selfishness made Ember feel disgusted.

"Life free", said the bird and Ember's ears perked up in confusion, while she rose to all fours again. 'Don't do it!' The wolfess only thought it because she wasn't fast enough to say it aloud. It was too late. Wild magic was released and the earth shook. The cage slipped a little forward, Ember was not sure why, she was too focused on keeping her balance. A loud crack distracted her, as a slab of stone rose under the corners of the cage, shattering it.

Splinters flew in all directions. Ember closed her eyes as some of them bit into her fur and even in the skin underneath it. Those were just scratches though. When she looked again the cage was partially open even though the new exit had a stone slab in its way. Appalled Ember also saw a smile on the birdy's face before she fell down unconscious. Her mission to open the cage was successful, but to what cost.

Ember inhaled deeply, the scent of freedom, mixed with smoke, fire and blood. It made her angry and delighted at the same time. With a grin on her face the wolfess drew a simple, big air rune with her paw. She had enough experience to do it quite fast. The magic rushed through her, it always felt to her like touching fire. It hurt and was somehow frightening to feel this kind of power, at the same time it was an exhilarating rush.

She released the magic and a strong gust of wind rushed from her in several directions the shear force was strong enough to shatter the damaged cage again, but maybe not strong enough to hurt a big wolf like Snowflake. With pleasure the wolfess watched the destruction of the cage, she hated that damned thing. Then Ember stepped from the ruins of her former prison. "Let's kill those wretched humans and get the birdy to safety when we have the chance!"

Cheetahs - Ice

Why was she taking so long? Ice padded around the cage restlessly. Someone betrayed the tribe, and it wasn't Kregor. The entrances were too well guarded for any Empire thug to sneak through. Not only that, but the sentries hidden in the woods would have blown their horn way before the invasion. Predatory blood churned inside him with lethal intent. All these days. All the killing and the sacrifices accomplished nothing? He could only look between the bars to see the result. Panicked Frostfangs ran away from the threat, while the few FrostClaws used their great gifts to battle the flames instead of those cowardly mages.

"Faster, snow-wing. Find a way." She didn't seem to hear him. Damnation. Why was she seeking the aid of those fools? None cared. Despite her desperate shrieks, no human turned their eyes in the cage's direction. Ice was about to approach her when two last words left her beak.

The ground shook and ruptured. Ripples traveled below the crust, splitting the soil open like a pomfruit. Ice steadied his paws as the cage finally came loose. A cold rush traveled across his spine, reinvigorating him. The wards were gone. Fierce winds followed, pushing the wood far behind the trio. Ice closed his eyes from the dust and the debris of the heated wind.

The female said something, but there was little time to listen. He could wait no longer. With a savage growl, Ice leaped over the fissure and onto the splintered road. Smoke and flames surrounded him on each side. Heat licked at his fur, and noises drilled in his sensitive ears. He cared for none but the smell. Even in this chaos, the Empire humans stunk of sweat and blood. He found a group nested in the ashes of a destroyed tent. Ice skidded to a stop.

"Claw!" a shout came. To whom it belonged, it wasn't certain. The empire troops had their eyes on Ice, enlarged with desperation. Lifting a paw, he traced flowing form of Rhanny. The rune flared to life, crackling and freezing as jagged Ahry pierced each of its four coiled edges.

Ice smashed the rune with his paw, focusing his will on every empire soldier within his gaze. They traded blows and retreated, but not for long. Fierce coldness whirled around them like a snowstorm, freezing flesh and shattering armaments.

"Gratitude," a female FrostFang walked towards Ice. The wolf growled and ran past her. He circled the road a single time, impaling any empire soldier he stumbled upon with icy spears. Weariness tugged at his senses. WIth every kill, his paws felt heavier. The bird. Snow-wing. Athys looked in the direction of the cage and forced himself into a speedy run, past the pleading fools who got in his way.

"Snow-wing," he nudged her head. No response. The great bird hugged the ground like a corpse. She even bled like one. He licked the raw flesh, tasting blood with every stroke. It wasn't helping. Scratching his two symbols on the ground near her severed talon, Ice willed the coldness into the stump, freezing it. He ran No wound, no blood. Good. Now he only had to-

He circled the bird, licking and nudging her beak encouragingly. "Snow-wing." No response, save for her faint breath. He pushed his muzzle into her chest, pressing harder. "Snow-wing, rise! We have no time!"

A hooded figure pushed the five frostfangs surrounding it like they were nothing.

"Weaver!"

"Mage!"

"Pusher. Get a Claw-"

The youthful FrostFang never finished. The robe unfolded, revealing a glimmering array of sharp metal fangs. They left cloth only to find a new shelter into the flesh of the mage's victims. Ice drew Ahry, surrounding himself with a column of wind. The mage waved his hands, forming an all too familiar rune. A howling storm surrounded the human. Soot and burned debris ran across the wolf's icy fur. The cloak was just enough to protect his eyes as he ran towards his target. Summoning a knife, the human crouched. Ice willed all of his air into the human's belly. He gasped, lowering defense. The wolf leaped. He grabbed his knife hand between the jaws, twisting it with a sickening crunch. The human punched and kicked at the great wolf, but to no avail. Ice's fangs were at his throat in an instant, tearing it.

He could barely keep his eyes open when he returned to the fallen bird. "I'm....not...." He licked her small head once before his legs gave in. He dropped next to her splayed wing.

"Not leaving you," the words came hard on his dried tongue. Tribesman gathered in groups, seeking shelter. One came their way, pointing and mumbling. Ice snarled a threat as the naked wretch opened her mouth.

"Leave."

The boy drew back. Her mother grabbed his hand, while the man looked around, sword hand shaking.

"We should"

"NO!" The woman yelled. "I-I mean no harm, Claw."

ice forced himself on his paws. "You do." A paw brushed the ground, wedging and circling a burning ember, "See yourselves vanish."

"He's rune-marking, you crazy woman!" The man turned tail and ran. The whelp was about to follow until a strong arm shook that frail neck of his.

"The empire," she pointed to the side. "Please. My brother is a sentry."

"Your pack-mate is a traitor!" Ice howled with the fury of a blizzard. Wind pushed her feet off the ground. Neck snapped, bones twisted, back bent. She fell on the ground several strides away, into the rift created by the bird.

Ice dragged his exhausted form back to snow-wing. She was too big and heavy to be dragged by somebody who could barely move. He curled protectively around her, placing a paw over her stone-colored neck.

"You will be free too," he licked her soft feathers, a low whimper leaving his throat. His head dropped next hers. "I will try to- I promise..." Words trailed off his tongue as doziness made everything spin.

Phenrir - Ember

Here she was getting ready for battle, destroying that stupid cage and in the mood for some payback. Whether it was on the humans that were attacking or someone else didn't matter. Yet as soon as Ember was ready, she had to look a little dumbfounded ahead. Snowflake just rushed past her, totally ignoring everything, but more importantly he ignored Ember. To him the wolfess seemed to be thin air.

"Well, don't mind me then..." It seemed though that he couldn't even hear her. Snowflake just rushed into battle to attack the armed humans. For a moment she just stared at him when he started to draw runes, then Ember's ears perked as she heard something. More shouting coming from somewhere behind. It sounded like more humans battling each other. "I take the rear!" Again it seemed like Snowflake was too focused on his fight and talking to bipeds.

Ember started running, following the noise. Thinking about what to do next. Some part of her was hungry for blood, wanted to rage and have revenge. After that she needed to leave and Ember definitely planned to take the bird with her even if she had to drag her the whole way. The birdy freed her so she needed to return the favor. Lost in thought and rushing on Ember rounded a corner almost bumping into a group of fighting humans.

Instantly she tried to stop her momentum and came to a halt right in front of a soldier with a raised weapon. He grunted something before thrusting his weapon in Ember's direction. The wolfess would have been too slow, to avoid a fatal blow. 'No you don't', she thought before activating the air rune on her paw. A rune needed to be drawn somewhere, whether the air or somewhere else didn't matter. Drawing however needed time. So Ember had prepared herself for surprise attacks by burning a rune forever in her paw. She lost a little feeling there and the rune was a little inaccurate, meaning that it fatigued her much more than all the other runes, but it worked.

Calling the wind through her paw rune Ember felt a rush of speed fuelling her. With that increased speed she jumped out of the way, the blade of the attacker only scraped her, leaving a small bleeding gash. At the same time Ember's paw felt like she had dipped it in fire and someone was hitting her head with a stick repeatedly. Now Ember was in the middle of the fight and several eyes fixated on her. "Fuck!"

Jumping and rushing around Ember avoided each attack, but only barely. When being surrounded not even speed could help you. Finally she saw an opening. One of the soldiers got distracted by a tribesman. Ember didn't care for the difference at the moment. All of them were humans. She jumped the soldier clenched her jaws around his exposed neck and tore his throat out. Blood splattered everywhere, yet the taste didn't quench her anger.

"I'm fed up with all of you!" Ember put some distance between herself and the humans, which was no problem due to the increased speed. Then she began to draw in the air. First the rune for air itself, which felt like a trusted companion, then fire, a respected and deadly force. Instantly the power flowed through Ember, increasing her pain and leaving her weaker, but she was far from being exhausted. A red hot blast appeared burning all of the humans in front of her, whether they were soldiers or tribesman. Ember didn't care anyway.

They screamed and burned, their flesh turning to ash and their armor getting soft, even some of the buildings around caught more fire. A second later the sudden heat was gone and dead humans fell to the ground. Ember was panting satisfied. "The bird... We have to leave!" She had almost forgotten. It was the only reason why she was still here. Frantically Ember looked around for something to help a bird, maybe some kind of healing salve, since Ember's own elements didn't exactly make her predestined for healing. Even one of those wheeled things humans push around would be helpful.

As she looked around Ember saw only smoke and flames. Her eyes fell on a small pouch carried by the one of the burned humans, it was intact, which was quite impressive. The wolfess had seen the bipeds carry important things in pouches like that several times, some had ready and prepared runes. Maybe that was inside. She had no time to look. Grabbing the pouch as well as a short rope that was lying around and a little burned on the edges with her teeth she started to run back. Maybe the rope could help to improvise something if Ember couldn't carry the birdy herself.

In front of the ruins of the cage the bird still lay unconscious on the ground. Right next to her was Snowflake, he looked exhausted dropping on the ground with quiet words. He somehow didn't look good. Ember herself had blood in her fur and perhaps looked a little crisp at the edges due to her own fires. "Don't fall asleep now! I am not carrying you too", she said after spitting out pouch and rope. In her throat was a low growl that turned into a short whine. Ember was not strong enough to carry him at all and part of her didn't want to after how he behaved, that made her somehow sad. "Don't be a whiny pup, birdy will be fine and you, too."

Cheetahs - Ice

Something approached. Ice blinked, barely finding the strength to push his eyelids open. Sleep fettered its coils around him. He was as dead and lifeless as the bird he snuggled against. Air rushed out of his flared nostrils. No. She wasn't dead yet. he could still save her.

A battered wolf strolled towards him, growling a string of words. She looked battered and worn, with blood streaking between her earthly-colored coat. She looked almost as bad as the bird, but determination blazed in her eyes. The female dropped a rope and a small pouch. Useless items. What could he do with a rope? Humans barely had an use for the lifeless snake.

He turned his head to the osprey. Rope. Tied around neck. To pull things. Wood from the nearby buildings, used to make sleds. Sleds that carried meat and logs and unconscious birds of prey.

"Wood," Ice pushed himself up. His paws trembled with weakness. The ground changed sizes as he tried to raise, failing repeatedly. Damnation. Kregor's hunting trips exerted their deadly toll. With no magic energy left, the spells fed from Ice's vitality. He barely noticed during the heat of combat, but now was another story.

He gave up trying after his belly embraced the ground. "Female," he looked to the wolfess. Weird and silly as she was, Ice had no option but relying on her aid. "Find wood or...something tough. I will take....take care of the rest."

Phenrir - Ember

It was strange how seeing Snowflake like that pleased her. Yeah, he had been an ass with a muzzle whenever he had opened it, still he was wolf, he was kin and a possible packmate. That alone made Ember feel some sympathy, but not much. At the same time the wolfess had to wonder though what his plan was. Snowflake looked like he was too weak to stand and as Ember had said before she wouldn't carry him too!

"Very well, wood should not be hard to find..." She turned around, sniffed the air and sensed mostly smoke. It seemed like it was not that easy. The cage was utterly destroyed, so Ember had to look elsewhere. Some of the wooden things she found were already burning. Finally she found something. It could have been a table or some kind of door, or whatever those humans turned trees into when the plants were not fast enough to run away. The wolfess didn't care what it was. It was wood, it was long and flat, that would suit their needs perfectly if she guessed Snowflake's plan right.

Biting into the wooden thing Ember dragged it back to the others. "Stupid Snowflake! Has to be useless now... What did you do fight so hard that you turned into a helpless lump of fur? I tell you something drag your fuzzy butt up and be a real wolf!" Her words came out muffled around the wood in her jaws. She didn't care who heard her, Ember had to let off some steam. At least this time not literally.

After some dragging, which didn't take that long, Ember reached the remains of the cage. She could sense Snowflake behind her, but she didn't turn around as she dragged the thing as close to him as possible.

Cheetahs - Ice

Ice ripped into the soft leather, revealing small vials, runemarked stones and a few leechstones. The speckled minerals glowed faintly, displaying several colors. Ice dragged one under his paw and focused his will on the magic inside. A riptide of energy rushed through his fur as he absorbed the essence. The frostClaw who stored the energy wasn't very generous, but it pushed that bothersome weakness away.

He blinked again, amber eyes alight in the dying fires. Frostfangs became as extinct as their enemies. The three who leaped past the ruptures only glanced briefly at Ice before vanishing from sight. Figures. Why would two half-dead FrostClaws be of any importance? Ice turned his eyes to the approaching female. She dragged a long plank all the way to his side. Ice rolled to the side, allowing her to drop her load on the ground.

"Gratitude," he said with a short lick on one of her paws. "For the pouch and...everything." He turned his head away, licking his muzzle. She did good, and as much as he disliked to admit, they needed each other. Ice Found the ground under his feet and walked over the rope, dragging one end to the wooden plank. He placed a paw on the side, shattering everything around it. He dragged the robe between the crack, then formed another rune. A small block of ice encased the damaged section, tying wood and rope together.

"Should be done," Ice said weakly. Vitality leaked from him like water from a pierced water skin. His paws became unsteady, stumbling all the way to the fallen bird. He lowered his head, nuzzling her dark beak before turning his eyes to the wolfess.

"Female," he called to her. "Help me move her. I don't want to hurt her more than she already did."

Phenrir - Ember

Female this, female that. It seemed like Snowflake had nothing better to do than to order her around. At least he had the decency to thank Ember for her work and resourcefulness, though she thought it could have been a longer and better thank you. Well, there was no time for that anyway, the three of them had to leave.

With curiosity Ember watched Snowflake working on rope and wood. As he placed his paw to produce a small block of ice, she looked at him with a little smile, her tail wagging shortly. "The element fits!" It was just a small distraction and Ember was somehow amused that Snowflake was really a good name for this male wolf, then the wolfess remembered the dire situation they were in. Her tail dropped again.

"Help move her... Right, let's do it!" The makeshift sled was a good start, they could drag the birdy around with that, but first the hurt and feathered savior needed to be put on the woody rope thing. Ember walked over to Snowflake and took her place on the opposite site of the bird. Sniffing her scent a little Ember was quite sure that the birdy would survive. The flyer was strong, using the wild magic might have been a little crazy, something Ember maybe wouldn't have done herself, yet the bird was still alive and would fly again soon.

"Ready! I grab this wing, you the other." Very gently Ember clenched her jaws around one of the birdy's wings. The feathers tickled a little, but the wolfess tried not to think about it. Ember still tasted human blood and she wanted to be done with this, away in a safe place far from humans. Raising her muzzle and with that the bird Ember just realized how light the bird was.

Cheetahs - Ice

Ice dipped his head in acknowledgement. he didn't have the strength to argue, and time was of the essence. Grabbing the osprey by each wing, the two wolves dragged her on the makeshift sled. With a mouthful of feathers, Ice slowly backed off. He pulled, gently as he could, until his paws met the cold surface of the wood.

"Should do," he gently lowered the saliva-drenched wing, pushing it closer to the bird's limp form. The wolfess did the same, licking that tawny muzzle of hers and spitting out the few soft feathers that stuck in her mouth. She really was a pup, despite her yapping, age, and resourcefulness. Ice walked towards her, intending of giving her the gratitude she deserved. One step. His tail swished weakly with anticipation. Another step. She was almost as big as he was, yet slightly leaner. Ice pushed his nose closer to her ear, tongue flicking out between his canines when a glimmer attracted his attention.

He walked towards the scattered stones, no words leaving his maw. He pushed each into the ruined pouch, then used earth and ice to fuse them together. The male picked the mouth of the fabric in his mouth, then swung it to the female.

"That's yours. I take the sled."

Phenrir - Ember

Together they dragged the bird easily on the rope board. For a moment Ember looked at the strange sight there before her. A big bird lying unconscious on a misshapen sled, an exhausted Snowflake and herself coated in blood. The three of them made a strange group. While Ember was pondering the situation and the quiet slow breaths of the birdy.

When she looked up again Snowflake came closer to her. His tail swished a little and Ember had no idea what was going on. 'More orders? Or is it something else?' though Ember while she just waited for the male to do what he intended to. He came so close that his nose was right by Ember's ear. A little shiver ran down her spine, which was probably due to his ice-cold personality. Nothing happened.

Snowflake simply walked past her. Instinctively Ember turned her head to look at what he was doing. He found the pouch and put small stones in it. Was that what had been in the human bag of precious little things? Ember wasn't sure if she should have been glad or sad that he didn't do anything else to her. A part of her wished for more affection, or wiser words than 'help me, female', that stupid jerk didn't even ask for her name. Well, it wasn't like she would give it to him anyway, at least not after how he had treated her.

"If you think you can handle the sled, fine. Maybe I'll scout ahead a little..." Ember picked the pouch with her mouth up again. It was high time that Snowflake did some of the work here, if he wanted to drag the birdy around Ember surely wouldn't stop him. Also she could chose the way they were going now. Walking ahead a little, before making sure that Snowflake followed her, Ember sniffed the air. There was still smoke, fire and death in the air, the occasional human or FrostClaw as well, so it was quite hard to figure out where they should go. Finally Ember decided to head for the opposite direction of where the attackers came from.

Some humans were in front of her Ember could sense and see them, but she avoided as much contact as was possible. Those that really crossed her path were no warriors, just dumb bipeds trying to save their hide again. Ember scared them off with a growl combined with a raised paw that looked like she wanted to draw a rune. When she was sure the way was safe Ember ran back to Snowflake. "Come on, I found a good path out of here."

Cheetahs - Ice

Drawing a piece of hardwood with a huge bird splayed on it wasn't as easy as it seemed. Ice barely dragged her out of the cage area. The uneven ground and the rifts made for a hard, arduous journey. Digging his paws into the ground, Ice pulled. The bloodied female walked much faster than him, eyes alert and ears perked. Ice did the same, keeping an open mind to any possible escape. He cared for both females, but if fortune unsheathed its ugly claws, Ice wouldn't think twice before abandoning the wolfess to any danger she might encounter. He was barely strong enough to drag the osprey. What aid could he provide in the event of an attack?

Few sounds were more annoying than wood scraping against tough soil. A thin film of ice would help the sled slide with greater ease, but coldness would seep into the osprey too. In her fragile state, that could even mean death. No. The risk was too great, and a poor reward for the avian's sacrifice. Ice looked ahead. Fires slowly dimmed, giving way to the darkness of the night. The few frostfangs crossing their path grumbled and passed like nothing happened. Several required assistance, only to be met with snarls and threats. Good thing fangs were so good at intimidating lesser creatures. Ice had little to back his threats with.

He took between furred tents and cabins, changing one road for another. The south part of the village remained almost intact, save for a few corpses spread here and there. Two able-bodied FrostFangs came his way, offering aid. Ice denied them, using the little energy reserves he had to shelter the sled between the two imposing barracks. He dropped the rope and approached the osprey's dark-and-white head.

"Not long now," he dropped over her legs. They were slightly cold against his belly. Leaving her feathery damp neck with saliva, he turned to the approaching paw pads. Ember slid on the narrow alley, crimson tongue lolling from her mouth.

"South. The forest gets thicker, and the valleys are harsh with anything that doesn't walk on four legs."

Phenrir - Ember

Tilting her head a little Ember showed him a clear sign of confusion. While she was busy to secure an escape path Snowflake had found a secluded place to rest. Simply lying on the bird's legs Ember could only think one word: lazy. She padded closer to the pair, showing a little irritation in her steps. "Get up now, fuzzy butt. No time for resting or being exhausted!" If he behaved like this all of the time Ember was not sure what she could do with a useless wolf like that.

"I've secured a path by risking my life and sanity we cannot let that go to waste." Of course that was a little overdramatic, Ember simply talked like that if she was stressed. Just a little though! "Take the 'pouchy-thing' I grab the sled!" She spit the pouch in her mouth out, so that Snowflake could pick it up. After that Ember reached for the rope.

Immediately she began to pull. Ember had no intention of waiting. "Come on faster!" Patience was definitely not one of her virtues. Then she remembered what Snowflake had said. "No, it's not north, Snowflake. By the way, what is wrong with north?" Some of the humans probably told her about it. Were the attackers from that direction? Ember couldn't remember and didn't really care. At the moment the only right direction was away.

Cheetahs - Ice

Ice buried his head under a wing. The slight warmth and the scent of sea provided a measure of tranquility against the storm of words. All manner of non-sense reached his ears as the female babbled on and on with her misplaced sense of urgency. Why was she in such a rush? The path was probably safe before her intervention. As thick as FrostFangs were, they cared about their skin and their pathetic village. No threat came from them, despite the wolfess' irrational thinking.

Ice pulled himself away from the feathery mass. Right now, he wanted to be in the bird's place, cold and unaware of anything happening around him. He got up. Just as that happened, the frozen pouch dropped between his front paws.

"The sled is-" Too late. The female grabbed the rope and stubbornly pulled. Stupid pup. A sudden jerk, and the sleeping bird slipped from the makeshift sled.

"Faster?" He snarled, barely resisting the urge to grab that fluffy tail. He pushed his head into the osprey, rolling and dragging her unceremoniously back into the sled. "Fast is what gets you killed, female."

He picked up the pouch and walked behind her, too tired to even argue or answer her shallow curiosities. As long as they kept to the south, he needed not sharing what he knew.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

VeinWing drifted in and out of consciousness, but never became fully lucid. Her body hurt, but she couldn't tell which parts. She felt movement, heard voices, sensed magic. She drifted out again.

Phenrir - Ember

After her first fast jerk the nature's laws couldn't be denied. The bird slipped from the sled only to be replaced by vigilant Snowflake. Ember tried not to pull that fast again, at the same time she had a good fast pace of dragging the unconscious bird around. It must have been at least twice as fast as he was, maybe more. While she pulled on the rope to move the sled Ember couldn't stifle a low growl. Snowflake stopped talking again, ignored her questions, and the short things he said were nothing more than reprovals.

"The sled is too heavy", Ember guessed his words while speaking muffled with the rope between her teeth. Her voice was mocking him. "Fast gets you killed!" She couldn't stop talking, didn't want to either. If she calmed her temper to make the trip in silence only the bad things would remain. Pain, exhaustion, maybe even a little sympathy for the bird that had freed her, for instance.

Despite being silent Snowflake behaved. He took the pouch and walked right behind her like a common dog obeying it's master. Who should blame him? That was perhaps the humans' fault after all. "Oh, birdy what did we get ourselves into?" Ember was used to speaking to herself. In any case Snowflake was not really an exciting conversation partner.

With renewed fast speed and the perfect route she had scouted ahead the way out of the human settlement was easy. They passed burning buildings and tents. It was strange how fast the fire had spread here. Were they still fighting the attackers or were the bipeds simply too dumb to douse the flames? It was not important at the moment.

Finally they had left the burning things behind and Ember sighed audibly. She looked around, for Ember was not really sure where to go now. The most important thing was that it was far away from here. Maybe with some water, because her dirty fur began to irritate Ember.

Cheetahs - Ice

Ice stalked forward, one paw following the other. He kept his senses alert, despite the weariness gnawing at his mind. Wood almost entirely replaced cloth, allowing the buildings to be taller and stranger at the same time. Only a soft scent of ash remained from the failed attack. Maybe the Empire weren't so organized, after all. They invaded the village in force, only to be repelled by a bunch of untrained gnats and a clawful of FrostClaws.

No. It wasn't the attack that bothered Ice, but what the empire was after. He pondered in silence as he passed cabin after cabin, delighting in the suave scent of roasted boar and other meals being cooked inside. They took upon several alleys and emerged on SnakePath. The south exit was just at the end of the road's long tail. The sled's rough sound attracted several FrostFangs. They left their homes or emerged between the cracks, eying the unusual trio of FrostClaws. Ice said nothing. He ignored them if they ignored him. But of course, such a blessing was like asking the Gods themselves to descend from their perch.

"Claws!" Someone called from behind. Ice kept walking, hoping. Hard leather boots crunched on the pebbles. He wasn't alone.

"Ey, ye Claws. What ye carryin'?"

Ice stilled a growl. A muffled sound came out of his clenched muzzle instead.

"Am speakin ta ye!" The same annoying, bird-like voice called.

"I'm not," Ice said, not bothering to turn around. "See yourselves vanish."

"Can't do that," a gruffly cough joined in. "Don't have a place to. Empire burned our houses."

"Becos of ye!"

"Weren't there," the cough returned. "Weren' there when they came."

"Yer useless!"

"Cowardly!" A woman yelled

"An pitiful."

Hollow threats, meant for shallow ears. The perfect kindling for the hot-headed wolfess. Ice ran to her, breath almost catching in his throat.

"Don't kill them!" He snarled to her, launching his body into a tackle. The question is, was he too late?

Phenrir - Ember

Being the strongest or maybe healthiest of the three it was only natural that Ember pulled the sled. That didn't mean it was fun! She mumbled a little to herself, still somewhat angry, but at least Ember could focus on pulling birdy around. Snowflake was no help anyway. They emerged at a road that led to the exit out of this wretched place.

Ember had to admit she wasn't really focusing on her senses or her surroundings at the moment, she was too busy cursing under her breath. Before she knew it damn humans appeared. Talking in their dumb human ways. Snowflake was fast to repel them, but it seemed like his words had no effect.

Useless. Cowards. Pitiful. The words stung Ember like sharp claws. Who was talking there, Ember had seen none of them fight! She couldn't stop herself from screaming back, spitting the rope out. "If seen none of you fight! You are cowards yourself, even worse, selfish dumb cowards. Begone or I..." Right at that moment Snowflake tackled her and Ember's words turned into a yelp. That was probably good because she was about to say 'or I burn you to ashes'.

Keeping her muzzle shut Ember found her reason again. She stood up and waited for Snowflake to handle this situation. His cold personality could freeze their foolishness for sure.

Cheetahs - Ice

Ice tumbled on the ground in an embrace of paws and fur. The female kicked and snarled, getting up in an instant. Ice wrapped a paw around her neck, dragging her down. He was prepared to embrace her neck with his fangs if she dared move a paw, but her inactivity spoke otherwise. Ice apologized with a short growl.

"The saddle. Quick!" He nudged her neck, then turned around to face the humans.

"They fightin one anotha'!"

"Stupid Claws. Madness claimed ye?"

"Perhaps it did. Go back to-"

An axe flew forward. Ice Yelped. He had no time to react, only see. The steel glimmered in the moonlight, burying two paw lengths away from the sled.

"Hador. Ye didn't-"

"Yes I did!" The fur covered warrior unleashed a giant, double bladed axe.

"Yer gonna get us killed, you mad fuck!" Another man was at the large one's throat. They scuffled briefly before the others grabbed them, shouting curses and insults.

Ice scribbled the combined runes he drew and rushed back to the female. "Run, now!" He went behind the sled, pushing the osprey whenever her body fled the wood. Few parts of her body weren't covered with dust by the time the trio arrived at the exit.

Damnation. The two sentries were still there, as were their claws. A black bear and a wolf of equal color ran ahead of their masters, two bowmen with arrows notched on their hornbows.

Ice ran ahead to meet them.

"Moon's grace upon you," he said, barely containing his frustration.

"Wasn't very graceful tonight. Could barely see her with all that smoke," one of the men spoke.

The wolf was upon him in an instant, a storm of tongue, nose, and soft fur. Ice exchanged the greetings, whimpering softly.

"Glad to see you alive, Ice," Lenora spoke. She was often picking guard duties due to her affinity with air. "What was with that attack?"

"NorthPeak paid us a visit," Ice said low enough so only she and the bear could hear. "Master had us caged. The osprey saved us, and-"

"Northpeak? What happened there?" The bear growled. With that thundering voice, everybody could hear him. The humans were definitely confused, talking among each other.

"Nothing. Just my suspicions. May we pass?" He asked, turning his head to Ember.

"Ice, the village-" Lenora barely spoke her piece.

"Why would you leave?" A bowman intervened.

"Is the attack over?" the bear asked.

The shouts coming from behind spoke clearly enough.

Phenrir - Ember

The rage inside her didn't vanish just because Snowflake tackled her. Again he took her off her paws and the humans seemed to get confused, but Ember had no better plan, so she played along with a low growl. Suddenly the humans turned from confusion to utter madness, when one of them threw his axe. "Run, now!" screamed Snowflake, so Ember did just that with no hesitation at all. She dragged the sled until they arrived at the exit.

Standing there, were two humans, a bear and a wolf. Ember had totally forgotten about the guards. How useless to guard your village if everyone else was dying and the buildings were burning. The wolfess had seen none of them actually trying to douse the flames, but well if they wanted to be stupid.

Going ahead Snowflake tried to smart talk his way out of here. That couldn't possibly work and so far it didn't. Finally Ember couldn't take it anymore. "No, the attack isn't over! Claws and people are dying back there and they need your help. We have to circle around to start a surprise attack on the sides of the enemy, but our scouting flyer got hurt. Just let us go, we need to help the others, or your friends and family will die!" In Ember's eyes burned passion and anger. She was no great con artist, so she hoped FrostClaws or their human master would see it as devotion. Despite that Ember was ready to hit them anytime, if talking didn't work out.

Cheetahs - Ice

"Ignore those brutes behind us. My companion's words inflamed their passion." Ice spoke quickly. "The flames were a pestering distraction for a few untrained fools to-"

Ice's words were interrupted by the volcano erupting from the tawny female's mouth. No, no, no! What was she saying? Claws dying? Surprise attacks?

"No, she's- no one's dying. We- attack- no, it wasn't- no," Ice said over the female's words. In the end, nobody understood a thing. The angry FrostFangs still approached while Lenora and the bear stared in confusion at the trio. The archers too lowered their bows, looking puzzled.

"Wh-?"

"Repeat?"

"Wolf, what-"

Ice snarled, obtaining a small measure of silence. Lenora drew back, blinking her amber eyes. "Ice..."

"Let us through. I killed most of the fools who infiltrated. There barely was an attack!"

"Those behind would disagree," The bear lumbered forward. "And the bird you carry?"

"Exhausted. She used wild magic."

"Why would a Claw-" a bowman asked, shortly interrupted.

"She wasn't thinking," Ice growled softly.

"Oh!" His companion chuckled. "Well either case, ya'll are of better use back there. Can still see smoke-"

"Just meat roasting in a fire pit."

"Your words are deceitful, wolf," the black bear circled the two.

"Ice tells the truth," Lenora intervened. "No redfurs (( this is what she calls the empire )) have shown here, did they?"

Dipping his head, the bear looked back at the bird. "Then why didn't you take her to a healer?"

"Becos they're turn-tails, is why!" a familiar shout thundered from behind. "Fled from the fight. Like pups."

"We don't-" Ice said, only to be interrupted by the the same reeking son of an urchin.

"Seen them killin our own!"

"That true?"

"No!"

"Go home you witless drunk!" A bowman called. More weapons were drawn. Great. The bowmen waved to each other, then went to settle the commotion.

"You can't leave," the bear said. "If the village is threatened, your abilities can still be put to use."

"I'm spent, and the bird is injured," Ice added quickly.

"take her to a healer," Lenora said.

"No time. I know the herbs and the means to-"

The bear blocked the exit. "Won't allow you."

"Allow me and the bird. You can keep her," Ice pointed to the singed, bloodied female.

The bear and the wolf growled in acknowledgement just as the bowman were returning with a whole lot of angry FrostFangs at their back. There was so little time, and no other way out.

Phenrir - Ember

Snowflake new those Claws, that alone meant that the icy male wolf was in a better position to negotiate their escape. This was reason alone to shut up when he was outright rude. 'Have it your way! With your almighty FrostFangs and FrostClaws who would mind a little fire here and there... and attacks that's nothing to bother about it's perfectly fine. I am glad that someone tries to burn this place down', thought Ember silently.

The longer she listened to Snowflake the faster her bottled up rage increased and turned into outright hate. Still, she kept her mouth shut and let fucking Snowflake handle this fucking situation, but no! Leaving could never be that easy, because if you don't want to stay you simply had to for some fucked up excuse of a reason.

"You can keep her." These words alone ignited a rage with the heat of a thousand suns in Ember. If her looks could kill everyone in this village would now probably be dead. Snowflake didn't know what he had said, there was simply no worse insult he could have ever given to Ember. It was like he had just wounded her gravely, or took her cubs and killed them in front of her eyes, only to use magic to revive them, so that he could kill them again more slowly.

Very slowly and with a determined tone Ember spoke, she couldn't stress the meaning of every word enough. It was not possible to be more clear about it or it might cause a contradiction that turned nature and the elements themselves into utter chaos. "I will not be left behind!" She stifled a growl, she tried not to kill him or explode like a volcano of undying hate that now focused entirely on Snowflake.

Cheetahs - Ice

Ice turned around. That stubborn bitch was about to slam the rock upon the narrow hole he dug. He walked to her, baring his fangs in annoyance. It didn't look like she had long before bursting either. Ice pondered about silencing her, but something stopped him. He didn't know if it was hesitation or the upraised axe that cleaved an unaware bowman in half.

"Graaah!" The frostfang shouted just as an avalanche of blood and meat slipped on the ground. The other bowman had no chance. Two men were upon him before he even turned.

"Rendor!" Lenora howled. She ran past Ice, skidding to a stop as she frantically drew a rune in the air. Three blades whirled past her, finding sheath in the ground on her sides. Ice scratched his own runes, drawing upon the little energy reserves he had. He finished Ahry just when an axe flew past his head. A timely evade saved his fluffy ear, but no the bear howling from behind. Ice barely caught a glimpse of him. The earth trembled and ruptured just as he turned his attention back towards the group of frostfangs. Rifts forked between buildings like lightning, tearing deep gashes. It didn't stop there. As if alive, chunks split from the ground, only to rain down upon the group of terrified ForstFangs. Most fell, screaming under the weight of upturned chunks of hungry earth.

But a few still advanced. Lenora crawled towards him, whining helplessly. An attack like that was bound to have a great cost. Ice formed several ice spikes and hurled them at the five advancing warriors. They dispersed into the air in a fluorescent mist. Damnation. They had wards.

"wards," Ice growled, a tinge of fear mixing with desperation. "Run. Flee."

"They killed my master!" The bear thundered, rushing forth to meet his attackers.

"An ya killed me wife!" The double-axed warrior yelled in return.

It was a lost battle. Ice rushed to the sled, grabbing the robe between his teeth. "Lenora!"

She didn't even look at him. Ice's fur ruffled and shook as violent winds burst into existence. He dug his paws into the ground, drawing upon the air rune he marked earlier. Wood splintered and collapsed in the savage gale, ripping into every hole and cranny. Stupid bitch, that Lenora. Cared for her master more than she cared for her pups.

"Female!" He yowled towards Ember. "Follow, now!"

The trio pushed forward. Ice shielded them with a basic aura, but that didn't prevent the debris from slamming into them, nor it prevented the osprey from spilling from the sled. Ice froze her legs to the sled. Barely any energy wasted. He blinked, then shut his eyes from the storm of pebbles, dust and wood splinters. Those were too bothersome. Ice flared the wind coat. Nausea washed over him, but he bit it back.

He had to leave. Instinct willed him forward. he didn't know when the storm ended or how he left the village. Everything was a blur. Trees rose on either side, twisting their trunks and branches in a mocking embrace. Ice looked at the ground. It was black and hazy, like an endless pit. He wobbled on his paws.The bird. Freezing. He collapsed on top of her. Blinking weakly, Ice undid the freezing tie just before consciousness fled his senses.

Phenrir - Ember

This kind of bad luck had to be some sort of sign, maybe a silly joke at Embers expense. She was just about to do something terribly stupid, or to wait for Snowflake's failed master plan, Ember was not sure which, when the humans behind them lost it. Weapons flew at the group of claws, there was a smell of blood, the sound of death and the feeling of total madness. The two Claws that had guarded the exit were dumb enough to engage the crazed bipeds. Only Snowflake seemed to have some sense in him.

"Follow, now!" he shouted over the raising winds. The stupid guard wolfess had called the winds to aid her in her fury. Ignoring the rage that was still in her, Ember followed him, dragging the sled while Snowflake cast runes to protect them in this sudden gale of air. There was no time for rage or hate only for survival. Debris hit her hard bruising her body only more, but Ember kept pushing forward just as Snowflake did. He was using up all his strength, Ember could see that. At the moment she probably had more power in her than the white-furred wolf had and she needed her strength to drag the bird.

When their advance in this storm only got slower and no safe place was in sight Ember couldn't take it anymore. Despite better judgment she used her paw rune again, but this time she casted it on Snowflake and herself. Instantly they got faster while the passage through the wind got way easier and just as fast Ember felt exhaustion creep over her. She knew that another paw rune would mean that she instantly fell unconscious, but it was worth the risk if her own life and that of the bird was at stake. Ember didn't really care for Snowflake though, making him faster just increased all of their odds.

Moments later they passed the storm and could rush ahead still fuelled by Embers wind rune. As they reached trees, which were finally a sign of freedom to Ember, Snowflake staggered like a drunk biped before he fell on the bird unconscious. "Fuck!" Ember came closer, sniffing and pawing at him, she also checked the bird, both were alive.

"I should just leave you here, you bastard!" Ember thought about it, she really didn't want to drag both of them, more so after she had seen what an asshole Snowflake was. Yet she feared that the bird might not take it lightly when one of the wolves she had rescued at the peril of her own just got lost on the way. "I'll do this for birdy!" After that Ember had plans to leave, she wouldn't stay that close to wretched humans anymore, but first she needed to find a good place to rest.

Grabbing the sled's rope with her mouth Ember dragged both of the unconscious Claws into the woods. "Why are you so heavy?" Snowflake needed a diet! Mumbling, cursing and dragging on Ember moved deeper into the woods using all of the strength she had left. She was so fucking tired that her eyes became lidded and occasionally closed in a moment of rest, nevertheless the wolfess pushed forward. When night turned into dawn and the warm, soothing light of the sun appeared she had found a small clearing, divided by a stream of water. Ember let go of the sled, went over to the other two and pushed Snowflake groggily of the birdy so both could lie comfortably. After that Ember dragged herself to the stream, then dropped into the water. "Cold." It was refreshing and kept Ember awake a little longer, even though the wolfess desperately wanted to sleep and after that leave.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

VeilWing's eyes flicked open and then narrowed as her senses returned. It was early dawn, but why was she in a forest? Why did her body hurt all over? Why could she smell dog? What had VeinWing been up to?

She carefully and ever so quietly climbed onto her feet and staggered backwards slightly, the pain in her head and right foot suddenly spiking. VeilWing looked down at her talons and her eyes widened. We've lost a talon? Why is our left eye nearly blind?

Turning another talon around she tested her weight and took a few slow steps. Then noticed the wolf collapsed nearby, a male. VeilWing could hear his breathing and then heard the equally deep breathing of another sleeping wolf near a stream, a female. Were they mated? Wouldn't they be snuggled together if they were? Perhaps they had been too tired...

Foolish bird, no second guessing. VeilWing stood upright and spread her wings, testing them out. The sun began to peak above the horizon as she closed her eyes. She allowed their shared memories to flow through her. VeinWing had certainly been busy, it had been months since VeilWing had last been awake.

Memories of mundane boredom and servitude flowed passed her as she caught up with what had happened. VeilWing nearly hissed out loud at how weak her "sister" was. If only VeinWing spoke out, fought more for her rights, if only... if only she could talk to her... VeilWing frowned, such things were not meant to be.

Further delving brought VeilWing to the previous night. Memories of caged wolves, magical fire, falling from their perch- oh! The osprey looked down at the bloody stump where her talon used to be. Pride swelled in her heart and she grinned around her beak. My, my sister, I never knew you had it in you.

So, she saved the wolves and they must have escaped with her. So, they owed the wolves their life. She would have to find something else to... prey on then. It would be rude otherwise.

VeilWing folded her wings back against her flank and looked about the forest. Her head throbbed and her wings stung where they had thrashed against the ground the night before. She hadn't really the strength to fly, so she would have to use her "gift" to find what she needed. That would hardly be difficult.

The great osprey took one more look at the exhausted wolves. They both seemed fast asleep, perhaps they might even still be that way when she returned with breakfast. Even better. She opened herself to the pulse of the forest and felt that faint surge of life in the distance. She carefully walked that way, using her wings for a little extra speed.

Soon she was well out of sight and sound of her companions. Her stomach rumbled and she let out a sigh. It was good to be awake again.

It wasn't too tiring to move through the forest, but that missing talon caused problems. VeilWing wasn't used to walking with her opposable turned backwards. It allowed her to walk well enough, but she kept catching it on rocks, twigs, her other talons. By the time she reached her destination, it had started bleeding again.

Her senses had lead her near to a rabbit warren. So she settled down onto the ground and waited a little way off from a few of the burrow holes. She could almost hear their breathing through the ground, feel their little hearts beating with life. VeilWing's own heart pumped a little faster in response and her headache returned. She had to be patient.

It was not long before the first couple of rabbits emerged and she stayed still. They sniffed the air as a couple more emerged from another hole that VeilWing had not noticed until now. Yet still she waited. They grew in confidence and began to graze at the short grasses nearby and young shoots.

The great osprey closed her eyes and concentrated on what she could feel. Their hearts, their breathing, that spark of life in every living thing. She grew excited. She struggled to focus and tried again as her body's weariness took its toll on her concentration. It took so much... if only it was as simple as drawing a rune.

The rabbits sensed something was wrong and all but three fled back into the burrows. Those that didn't, couldn't. Instead, they writhed in pain and collapsed shaking onto the ground. VeilWing surged forwards as quickly as she could despite her weakness, leapt and killed two of the rabbits with her talons.

Pain wracked her body as she pushed it too far. She almost blindly stumbled after the third rabbit as it scrambled to its paws. The pain was dying down for both of them as VeilWing managed to get a grip on its neck. But she didn't kill it, she needed it alive.

She quickly opened her self again to the pulse of the forest and focused on the panicked prey in her talons. It was so alive, it was almost intoxicatingly so. The great osprey opened herself a little more and then she opened the rabbit too. Its screams were short lived as warmth flowed into VeilWing's body.

The vision in her eye rapidly cleared, her headache faded and the stinging pain in her wings was gone. Her beak gaped open and lifted up to the sky as the warmth turned wave by wave into a pleasant tingle. She held the warmth back from her talon, she didn't dare to heal that, she'd caused too much trouble for VeinWing in the past. They'd just have to live without it.

Her wings spread slightly and shivered and then the warmth was gone. She breathed a little unsteadily and stepped off the rabbit. Not that it looked like a rabbit anymore. Its flesh had shrivelled and turned a brownish grey and its eyes and fur were gone. She had taken everything from it and now there was nothing left but a dry husk. She felt wonderful, yet slightly unsatisfied.

VeilWing quickly gathered the two dead rabbits and couldn't sense any magic in either. Carefully gripping them together in her large beak she carried them both back to the wolves she had left behind. Even with the weight of her prey, the going was much easier as she arrived back at the small clearing.

The sun had risen further and the sky was clear. VeilWing smirked at the sleeping wolves around her beak and dropped the rabbits on the ground near the stream. The waters were fairly slow moving and she admired her reflection. Still covered in blood, still look like a mess, good. Picking up one rabbit she hopped a little over to the sleeping male and poked him with a talon before dropping the rabbit.

"Wake up! Its V- VeinWing. I caught breakfast.", she quickly pretended.

Cheetahs - Ice

Thoughts and images flashed through the wolf's mind before he woke up. He hardly wanted to. Waking up signaled the start of yet another grueling day. Northpeak. NorthPeak...with its golden-streaked tents and wooden walls and insufferable scents blazed like a pyre in the ephemeral light of the morning. The sky was still dark, with only a hint of blue hinting the time of day. Kregor favored mornings. Humans never moved quick nor thought fast on empty stomachs. He signaled the command with a whistle and a dagger, pointing towards the sentries. Ice reached into his runes. The battle replayed again and again, each time with different results. He remembered pain, a few spears and the distinct scent of blood before the men surrounding him vanished into darkness.

Ice woke up to the whispers of a river, the song of two excited birds arguing somewhere above him, and the thump falling near his his head. His ears perked up way before his eyelids parted. Vegetation surrounded him on either side, hazy and blurred. Ice blinked again. The voice. It was speaking to him. He lifted his head from a hind paw, looking at the great bird perching beside him.

"Snow-wing," he said slowly. Was she really here? The limp feathered corpse he carried all the way from the destroyed cage? She certainly looked like one. Dark splotches covered her lower half of the body, making the feathers sticky and rugged. Maybe this was the dream. Ice scarcely remembered how he traded the safety of the cage for grass and trees. Only vague images appeared, barely fitting together.

He switched his attention towards the dead rabbit. Dream or not, blood and meat never lost their scent. He placed the soft morsel between his front paws, lapping at the gashes briefly.

"Gratitude," he half-heartedly rose and licked around the bird's curved beak. She smelled of smoke and death and dried blood. Ice suddenly felt bad for devouring her catch. It wasn't much of a catch anyway.

"But you don't have any debts to repay. Freedom was a better gift than any." He looked back at the rabbit, then nuzzled the bird's neck encouragingly. "Feast on its flesh, and regain lost strength."

Leaving the osprey to her kill, Ice padded down the small incline that led to the river's bank. The water rushed through a narrow bedding littered with rocks and grasses. He lapped at the cool water, enjoying every dip of his crimson tongue. Freedom. He thought of it a few times, mainly because his old pack mentioned it. What was freedom? The lack of a master? Even now, Ice still felt the bond tugging at him. Kregor's fetters reached far longer than his physical presence. They gave purpose, a reason to fight through each night and wake up every morning.

Ice shook his head. Thoughts tired him. He didn't need them. Not now. Pushing past reeds and gold petaled lilies, he approached the sleeping female. The forest was too thick and wild here. She must have been the reason why. Why indeed, when he was so close to forfeit her life? Ice licked his muzzle. More questions, more concerns. He dropped close enough to feel her warmth and smell her sharp scent. Such flagrance traded only in obvious cravings.

Ice pushed his muzzle into a dark, moist, squishy paw pad only to sneeze shortly after. It couldn't happen. Kregor forbid it, but he wasn't here now to-

"Foolishness," Ice whispered. He sat there in silence, torn between returning to the osprey or rousing the sleepy female. In the end, he did nothing, They both deserved less pestering after last night's raid.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

VeilWing's feathers tingled at the wolf's touch as he slowly padded down to the stream. She watched after him, suddenly the rabbit the last thing on her mind. She looked down at the small rodent. Not much even for her, but something to fill her belly. Draining the other rabbit didn't feed her, just healed her wounds and quenched her thirst. It left her unsatisfied in more ways than just hunger though.

She smirked and hopped down after the wolf as he drank from the stream. VeilWing wasn't thirsty though, the rabbit had given her all the water she needed. She still to this day had no idea what she was. Why she even existed with VeinWing. Why had neither of them seen nor heard a whisper of another with such abilities.

She shook the thoughts from her mind and carried on towards the stream. From this angle she could clearly see he was a male wolf. Oh, what would her sister think... she made a show of taking a drink from the stream and she was reminded of how the cool liquid tasted. VeinWing's memories were never so vivid as actually doing something for herself. Almost all of VeilWing's existence was reliving her sister's memories.

"Thank you for saving us. You must have risked a lot to get us all out of the village.", she smiled and slowly wrapped a large wing around the wolf. She may only weigh a third of what he did, but she still dwarfed him with a single wing.

Cheetahs - Ice

He didn't expect the osprey to follow him so quickly. Her wing expanded like a feathery curtain, blocking everything from view. Ice swished his tail weakly, pushing a few small stones with his fluffy white tail. He was tired and purposeless, but not alone.

"Us?" He perked his head, pushing his nose under her neck. "I almost left the wolfess behind. Throwing her back to those wretches seemed a fitting price for your sacrifice." What good was the female anyway? She whined, complained and barked louder than a unweaned pup. If only she wasn't kin, Ice would...

...what would he do? Ice took a deeper breath, whining softly. He knew exactly what he wanted. Those desires plagued every waking moment. Too long has passed since he last spent his seed. Kregor promised and preached, yet the prospect of a mate became but distant memory. Claws couldn't mate until the starting of winter, when armies would stack wood and food for the coming winter.

Was the bird in the same situation? He vaguely recalled the question he asked her when she perched on the cage's roof. No. She was a sole hunter. Her ways were different than a pack's, yet here she was, pulling the wolf in a feathery embrace.

"Risk..." Ice pushed his muzzle into her wing, enjoying the warmth and the distinct scent on his cold nose. "There was none. Just a quick, thoughtless decision." He flicked his tongue, licking along several feathers before settling on his haunches. "And we have yet to know if we made the right one."

His member pushed through the swollen sheath regardless of that. Out of all times, it had to be now. Ice dropped on his belly, busying himself with a paw. All manner of threats were abound. His pack was back in the village. Empire scouts could wander here at a moment's notice. Kregor's tasks became void. Why couldn't he think of those? The answer had yet to reveal itself.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

She could smell his growing excitement as it kept pace with hers. VeinWing's embarrassed memories of horny wolves many moons ago came to her... but VeilWing was not so shy and not so... conservative. The osprey pushed the thought of her "sister" out of her mind and circled around in front of the wolf.

She spread her other wing around and nuzzled back against him, her beak gently allopreening the fur around his ears as her breath quickened. He was troubled, she knew as much and she searched her memories for the right thing to say. But at one moment VeinWing would say one thing and another she would say the opposite. Both seemed to work for that situation and VeilWing didn't know the difference. Her "sister" had always been better at knowing the right thing to say.

Foolish bird, just comfort him in the way that both your bodies want. She wanted to feel something real, to have memories of her own, she hated being the ghost she was. A shadow of a bird, doomed to never live for herself. She wanted this wolf, to feel another the way Vein was afraid to feel. To have something for her, to have something that wasn't second hand. But she had to say something.

"Then... we... enjoy the time we have... until fate decides things for us...", she struggled and decided to just to act.

She pulled him tighter with her wings, showing their strength, and pushed her head into the fur of his neck. His scent, his heat, the mild irritation of his fur against her nares, it was so real.

"If it helps,", she whispered against his neck. "pretend I'm a wolfess. But I want you just as you are."

Cheetahs - Ice

A soft shiver forked its way through Ice, making his ears twitch with surprise. The soft nips behind his ear felt gentle and slightly rough at the same time. And they were so quick! He scarcely expected the bird to return his attention, but in this situation he didn't really mind. Ice pushed his muzzle between her dense chest feathers, nuzzling whatever he found. It felt so good. Their shared warmth and affection were like a copious meal after days of failed hunting attempts.

Her wings squeezed, pulling him closer to her. Ice tried to raise on his fours, but thought against it when his neck was met with nudges and soft caresses. She was warm, and caring, and a bird! What was he doing? His heart thundered against his chest, throbbing in the same rhythm with his member. "You're right," he placed a paw on her back, just behind her wing joint for support. "Life is a dry river. Only the touch of another," he softly nipped her neck, then licked a couple of feathers. "Can release gentle trickles."

Pressing need welled under his belly. Ice collected his paw, then ducked under a large wing. The earth felt stingy and cold on his exposed flesh. Ice emerged on the other side, coming face to face with her charred snow tail. He loved those colors. White, as pure as his coat, battling with its darkened counterpart. Ice licked his muzzle. He wanted her too much. The overwhelming intensity of sheer instincts overwhelmed him. Before he figured how he could lust such over a bird, Ice mounted her.

Front paws on either side, he thrust his hips quickly and savagely. Her smaller form and body didn't allow for a proper mounting, but that didn't matter. Release had to come. It had to come now! Ice pushed past those irritating fingers. Two thrusts earned him nothing but pain. He whined softly, tongue poking between his canines. Another thrust. Then another. His member burned with both pain and arousal.

Then, he found it. A deep, warm shelter that offered proper caress. A whimper left his maw as he sought deeper shelter. Release took him like a storm. Seed rushed out of an overly engorged tip, spearing through the osprey's clenched flesh. The wolf's muscles clenched with strain, thrusting deeper. Nips and licks assaulted whatever they could as more liquid lust poured forth.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

VeilWing's words seemed to spill clumsily from her beak, so she let her body speak for her. His tongue slipped from his muzzle and caressed her feathers as it had done when she had brought him the rabbit. But there was more behind the action this time. There was more heat, more desire, a desperate edge that excited her.

The wolf moved under her wing and her heart quickened, this was it, another chance at that intimacy she craved for herself. Some deep part of herself told her not to do it, that it could only cause trouble for both her and VeinWing. But she pushed those thoughts away as the male's weight pushed her down and she folded her wings back against her flanks.

She was suddenly nervous, the wolf was bigger than the wild cat, but it only made her desire it more. A few uncertain thrusts and his whines spoke deeply of how much his instincts were controlling him now. Another and she felt him push inside of her, she relaxed best she could to feel every bump, every ridge, its warmth in her body. I'm sorry sister...

Then another thrust and he was deeper, she could feel the moistness of his seed already inside her. VeilWing's beak gaped open as the sensation threatened to overwhelm her, too many faded foreign memories separated her from her last day. She wriggled herself backwards, clenched down on the wolf's cock and opened her senses to everything she could.

The gentle notes of the stream, his paws against the ground, the sound of wind through trees. His breath played across her neck and she pushed it back to meet him. The feel of the soil between her talons, his weight on her back, his member deep inside her, her muscles played with it. The smell of blood, the wolfess, then trees and a fresh kill came to her. Every smell committed to memory, more detailed than anything she had from her sister.

Another thrust and every vein seemed vivid in VeilWing's mind, her wings opened slightly and shivered as the pleasure rose. Her small tongue panting in her beak, the feel of the cool morning air, the ache in her body. The small grasses, a fallen branch, the rays of a rising sun. Every sight was absorbed like heavy rains into the welcoming earth.

Then her body spasmed and her wings spread as her orgasm hit. Her muscles clenched around the invading shaft and she welcomed the release. This was her memory.

Cheetahs - Ice

Beads of saliva dropped down from Ice's tongue. With a flick, he dashed his crimson tongue across his whiskers. Heavy breaths left his throat almost in the same rhythm as the throbs. They were relentless. Muscles pressed and clenched under his tail, drawing every ounce of seed out of hiding. Numbing delight speared through his being, causing his vision to briefly flicker. Ice yelped. Flesh squeezed his member, causing it to burst with ecstasy. Four quick throbs happened almost instantly, pushing the healthy seed deep into the female. She was almost as tight as a wolf. No. Even more. Ice never remembered succumbing to such fire and lust.

The grip faltered into several weaker ones. The alteration briefly allowed the wolf to regain his composure. Breathing in the cold air, he stared at the feathers decorating the bird's form. They were as varied in size and color as fur on a timberwolf. If only she was one...Ice pushed the thought out of his head. He chose to mate a bird. No amount of thinking or blaming would change that.

"Do you have nest-brothers, Snow-wing?" He asked, feeling the feathers of her left wing through gentle bites. "Hatchlings, maybe? I...had a pack," he said, licking his nose as his flanks briefly thrust into her. "They remained in the village. They aren't free, like us."

He laid his head on her back, awaiting an answer as his thoughts drifted back to night-furred Lenora and his two pack mates. Like him, they were bound by fetters. But his were warm and moist and pleasant. The masters knew of a different touch and spoke different words. Lies and half-truths, woven to suit their needs.

Another jet of release reminded Ice of the present. No. Thoughts would be left for later. Now was the time to fulfill his own needs. He pushed again, wedging his swollen member deeper. Ice growled softly. Two thrusts had earned him nothing but a feeble spurt. The coil around his knot grew weaker. slowly taming the wild fire he felt earlier.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

The pleasure washed through her and VeilWing pushed the edges of her wings against the ground for support. Yes, much better than the wild cat, she thought as her tongue panted in ragged breaths. The wolf's words surprised her, he was still pulsing inside of her and he spoke, his teeth gently nibbling at her wing.

VeilWing lost herself in the feeling for a moment. Her body ached from exertion, she felt full and satisfied from being mated like a mammal. It was so much more intimate than the clumsy mountings of her kind. She suddenly felt a little self-conscious about thinking in such a way as she twisted her flexible neck to meet his gaze.

"Never had anyone else... but my sister...", she let slip, still in the throes of pleasure. Her beak found his sensitive ears again, her neck able to twist like no mammal's ever could. "Do you have nothing left, little wolf?".

Then she squeezed her muscles again. Those same muscles, designed to deliver eggs, now massaged her partner best they could as VeilWing's beak roamed through the fur around his ears.

Cheetahs - Ice

Ice closed his eyes, whimpering. He needn't focus on anything else but the gentle touch around his ears and the tight knot around his member. He wagged his tail, licking at the air repeatedly. If he was inside a wolf, she would undoubtedly bear his pups by now. Copious streams of seed rammed the insides of her flesh, spurred by overwhelming pressure. He found her beak, licking quickly around the bird's small head. Was there only lust he felt? Ice couldn't know. Thoughts became fuzzy when he soared above the peaks of pleasure.

"I do," he nuzzled the small feathers under her beak. "You are caring and selfless and...," he looked into her bright eyes, wetting her forehead with a sloppy lick. "I am glad to have you."

The osprey barely resembled his kind. She had no fur, only two legs, and an arrow shaped muzzle tougher than wood. Those beautiful black and white wings that sought the ground for support were meant to tame the sky. By all rights and laws, this was no proper mate. Ice caught sight of a brown shape nestled between grasses and stones. She was a female too, a proper one. A prospective mate of too many words and too little of anything else. Ice felt nothing for her but contempt. She was a thorn; a painful reminder of what he was stuck with.

Ice blinked. He wanted snow-wing, different as she was. Her touch was gentle as any canine's, and her insides warm and inviting. Only her scent was different, resembling the river and the wet rocks bathing under its stream. A scent Ice had all the time he needed to get used to.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

VeilWing felt his last few spurts splash against her insides. Her instinct to draw his seed towards her eggs irresistible, even though she knew nothing could come of it. He was wedged inside of her and she would hold him there as long as she could. She tensed, reminding herself of every bump, every curve, every vein. This moment was like a drug to the satisfied bird, it would see her through. It had to see her through.

The feeling was nothing like the feline she had had all those endless moons ago, only days to her, but the shared memories pushed it further back. Mammals were so varied in their mating and their tongues so delicious and warm against her feathers. The wolf's words briefly brought her sorrow but she pushed it back.

"Thank you. After... everything that's happened... I...", her words failed her as she started to guard against developing any deeper feelings for the wolf. Who knows what might happen in the future. But for now, she was happy to enjoy his weight, his warmth and his company.

Phenrir - Ember

After the exhaustion of the last night it was no surprise that Ember had fallen into a deep slumber. She dreamed strange things. There was fiery haze and her pups, how Ember missed them after all those years. In her dream troubled memories of war and death appeared, but before long it changed pain and blood turned into lust and pleasure. She could only see vague things, but she felt arousal that turned very slowly into an almost aching need.

In the past Ember didn't have the luxury of a mate, she had to take care of her arousal herself, which had been very hard during season. The wolfess missed the intimacy, the pleasure of being mounted and the affection of a mate, yet she was not really sure if Ember was ready to have pups again, so she tried to ignore every feeling of arousal.

Slowly she woke up. Her eyes blinked several times to adjust to the light of day. Stretching a little Ember was almost sad that her dream was over. How late was it? Rising with a yawn many Ember smelled many interesting scents. There was rabbit meat, water, male wolf and female bird, but more importantly the smell of mating hung thickly in the air. When Ember was awake enough to look around the origin of these scents was impossible to ignore.

"Wow, I guess you are alright..." At some point last night Ember had wondered how hurt her partially undesired companions were, but since Snowflake was buried knot deep into birdy they were probably better than good. "I missed the entire show!" Ember whined a little playful as she came closer to the pair, sniffing a little at both. There was still hate in her reserved only for Snowflake, but most of her fiery passion had died down last night. "Tell me all the details." Her tail was wagging a little, Ember was not really curious. The arousal under her tail was still from the dream, it couldn't be the sight before her. She was just in a teasing mood.

Cheetahs - Ice

The osprey seemed to struggle with the weight of her words. Ice licked her parted beak, briefly tasting the gooey saliva hiding inside. That was as much of an intimate contact as mating her.

"Worry not for the past. Change can only happen with things yet to come." Right...as if that was true. Even he doubted the truth of his words. A few wrong steps led him so far away from his own pack. He missed them both. Aryi, with her never-ending playfulness and grey-furred Nera, a pup barely past adulthood. They were both family, yet lust cared not for such bonds. Ice wrestled with the thoughts and his hardened member every time they slept piled into another. He imagined himself being deep inside his older sister, filling her with his fertile seed...

Ice drew his head back, pulling one of the feathers he was licking around. It didn't come off, but he still soothed the area with strokes of tongue. Why think of a mate when he was already deep inside one?

The answer had four legs, brown and grey fur, and an annoying voice to remember. Ice eyed the wolfess, not intending to say even one word. Not that he was interested in speaking. A few whiffs of the clean morning air had her scent trapped in his nostrils. She wasn't in heat yet, but the pleasant aroma bore the sweet taste of fertility. His member tensed, releasing more of its seed. He mounted her, thrusting greedily under that fluffy brown tail. The female whined with submission. He had nowhere to flee when two strong paws held her lithe flanks. Finally, with a firm thrust, Ice lodged his entire length into her. They both whined and yelped, crying out their release-

Ice blinked, as did the osprey. The bird...she was his mate, even if his rebellious mind and instincts demanded otherwise. Ice took a step back, whining with delight as his member remained firmly lodged inside the osprey. The heat. So delightful... He approached his nose to the osprey's forehead. "Pay no mind to her," he wanted to say, but only a soft lick left his maw. He couldn't advise when his own attention was stolen by the wolfess' playful whine and wagging tail.

"We are in fine physical condition, female. I guess you are partially responsible for that. Gratitude," He spoke quickly, mentioning nothing of the gate. The place where he was so eager to abandon her.

She approached, her nostrils twitching as they took in the scents. Ice found his tail wagging vigorously. He turned his head, watching every step of her cream colored paws.

"Words are a poor substitute for affection. Come closer," Ice pawed playfully. He was just out of reach of her fluffy flank...and the tantalizing scent dwelling underneath.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

VeilWing eyed the approaching female and smirked around her beak. Judging from memories alone, these two were not mates, and the wolfess's reaction to finding them mating confirmed that.

"I just exhausted myself, that's all.", she spoke, a little annoyed that the female was not more shocked at their position. The great osprey pointed her beak to the rabbit nearby. "I caught some breakfast while you slept, but we had to sate a different hunger first."

Being locked together with the wolf was something quite special. VeilWing felt she might be able to push him out, but had no intention of doing that. His unique anatomy still teased at her insides in delicious ways. Although her back was beginning to ache a little.

As the female approached she braced herself on one wing and quickly wrapped the other around the female pulling her a little closer. VeilWing's beak nibbled briefly at her furry cheek before releasing her again.

"Thank you. It... means a lot what you've done for us."

Phenrir - Ember

They thanked her, both of them. It was the least they could do after Ember had helped them both and dragged that fucking sled through the night, yet it was still surprising... and nice. She felt wanted, a feeling Ember hadn't felt for a long time. Her tail still wagging Ember came closer and allowed herself to take the affections from the birdy.

"I simply returned a favor. Breaking that cage meant a lot to me, so let's just say we are even! As for Snowflake here, I have to admit I thought about leaving him behind..." For a moment Ember looked at him. She was still not really sure what had inspired her to drag him, too, it probably was a simple whim just like all the other stupid things Ember did. "Well, whatever!" She pawed a little playfully at him, before licking the side of his muzzle shortly in a simple but friendly greeting.

After that she looked at the rabbit, Ember was somewhat hungry, but the opportunity to tease the pair in front of her was too great to be wasted. "Rabbit... Maybe later, I've developed a little thirst!" With that she got to their side and laid down, so that she could see exactly where the two were locked together. Pushing her head between paws and talons Ember took in their scent, the male musk and the strangely foreign female smell aroused her.

Licking at the place where their crotches met, over fur and feathers, and maybe even a little flesh, Ember grinned. "Why don't you turn around by the way? That would be much more comfortable." Ember had vivid memories of her last real mating, even though it was probably years in the past. She hadn't really kept track of how long her loneliness had lasted.

Cheetahs - Ice

The lick felt so wet, so soothing. Ice reacted immediately, managing three quick excited licks before she turned to that rabbit. The taste and smell of kin had no equal. Ice patiently waited for her to react. The female's intentions were always vague. Like a flame flickering in the wind, she was ever changing.

And Ice couldn't fail. Not this time, when instincts urged him to do what any male would. He watched her drooping ears as she pushed her head below his snow-white belly. He placed a paw around her head, nipping at her neck. Soft whines left his throat as the rush of energy traversed his spine. He wanted nothing more than to play, to-

A presence poked between her flanks. Ice switched his weight, hind paws dancing clumsily as he accommodated for the invading presence. These intimate greetings were not uncommon among strangers. Scent revealed much about health, age, and fertility. Ice breathed it in. His heartbeats quickened, as did his throbs. Pleasure wracked his form with every beat, making his tail swish with excitement. More.

Ice turned around, seemingly ignorant of the osprey he was bound to. With a predatory quickness, he pushed his head past the female's flank. Smooth fur surrounded his nose, latched with her most intimate scent. Ice flicked his tongue. His first stroke caught only fur. The second brushed off the sheen from her small lips. His tongue rushed back. The taste was rich and arousing just as her scent. An avalanche of quick, needy licks followed. Every thought about her was disregarded. Suddenly it didn't matter who she was, but what she offered.

Ice pushed his tongue deeper, cleaning every trace of slime dwelling on and between her soft lips with quick, throughout strokes.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

The she-wolf seemed in excellent spirits and very quickly pushed her muzzle between the two of them and began to lick. The warm moisture of her tongue sent wonderful sensations up her spine and both VeilWing and the male shivered slightly at the touch.

Then he hopped off and turned around, still inside of her. The great osprey shook slightly, her wings feeling slightly weak as she was stimulated yet again. The licking continued and it threw her over the edge into another blissful orgasm.

It faded and she realised without the wolf on her back she could stand without help from her wings. VeilWing blinked a couple of times and looked back. Both wolves were now licking at each other. How wonderful!

She relaxed her body as much as she could and then thought back to the memory of the last egg Vein had laid. She contracted, relaxed and then pulled away. There was resistance, but she was not a female wolf, her anatomy was different and couldn't facilitate a true canine tying. She took a few shaky steps to the rabbit she dropped earlier.

She settled a talon onto the rabbit and tore a strip of fresh away with her beak and downed it in one gulp. She watched the wolves and smirked as she tore another piece from her meal. She was more than happy to watch them together, it was best that the male forget her and focus on another. What could be a better start to the day?

Phenrir - Ember

Actually Ember had just planned to tease them a little, make both of them shudder as she licked over their sensitive parts, but it seemed like Snowflake had another plan. He turned around while Ember was still tasting their arousal and pushed his nose under her tail. She was about to say something when his tongue brushed over her lips. Instantly she could feel the pleasure and heat rise.

Her instincts told her to go on, lick more so that she could be licked, and Ember did just that. It had been too long since the last mate took care of her needs, but was she really ready to make Snowflake her mate? A cold-hearted asshole that was the mere excuse of a free wolf. Her fogged mind didn't care, so Ember pushed her nose and tongue deeper between both of their legs.

Eagerly Snowflake licked at Ember's folds, he didn't even stop when the birdy moved away from his lupine member. It slipped free easily from the bird and now hung right in front of Ember's nose, covered with the juices of her mating. She didn't hesitate, to lick and clean the wolf's malehood. The taste ignited the passion only more and the wonderful licks under her tail made Ember shudder in delight.

With all the arousing scent's in the air it didn't take long for Ember to reach her release. After several minutes of licking it arrived. She had been so pent up and lonely that the pleasure came fast and strong, of course with all the problematic humans, there really hadn't been much time for taking care of her needs. Panting Ember felt as years of frustration were released as pleasure wrecked her loins. Her tail was wagging furiously now.

Finally more sense returned in Ember's mind. She was still cleaning Snowflake's member and was not really fully satiated, but mating with him, after he had taken the birdy, the wolfess was just not sure if she wanted to do that.

Cheetahs - Ice

Ice huffed with arousal, He pushed his nose into her folds, piercing them as deep as he could. The scent and taste were intoxicating, as was the tightness around his member. Streams of seed burst with each heartbeat, only adding to the mating fire. Ice yelped, lips puffing with the onrush of air. Release never took him so strong, so suddenly. For a several quickened heartbeats, the throbs were his only focus.

Until coldness bit at his exposed member. It popped out of the bird, jutting like a dyed rod. Thick veins webbed the purple surface where copious amounts of blood remained trapped. Ice licked the small arrow-shaped tip, lapping eagerly at his own, bitter seed. His smooth tongue quickened four jets of release as his member repeatedly slapped against his white furred belly.

He barely noticed another muzzle joining in. Quick licks welcomed it before turning to more pressing needs. Pushing the female's flank away, Ice returned to his prize. Clumped fur rose around her exposed lips like spear tips. He licked everything with broad licks, narrowing as he approached her sweet spot. For such a feisty bitch, Ember had him in her fetters. It was impossible for any male to resist the welcoming grip of fertility. Breeding was the innate purpose of any being, and he intended to do just that.

After a short while of squeezing his malleable tongue between her folds, the female finally reached her peak. Warm, liquid goo oozed from her trembling lips, pushed by mind-shattering spasm. The wetness around his muzzle only added to his arousal. The male whimpered with need, wasting no time in cleaning everything up.

He moved above her, his bobbing member wetting her side with healthy streams of fertile seed. Ice said nothing. He could hardly think when instincts imposed their reign. He smelled, licked, and now he wanted her. He pawed, nuzzled and licked into her flank, encouraging her to raise into the proper mating position.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

VeilWing watched in rapture as the two wolves lapped greedily at each other. Her beak idly tearing at the rabbit as they slowly built towards a rough mating. She was quite impressed at the young male's stamina and it was clear that it had been a while for him. His body was still producing seed even though the great osprey felt full.

She looked down at herself and realised she was a total mess. Covered in combinations of her own blood, wolf saliva, soot, dirt, rabbit blood and the male's seed. There was even dust embedded in her talons from the rabbit she drained earlier. Suddenly she felt the overwhelming urge to wash and preen.

But she was hungry and part way through eating. There wasn't any reason she could think of to stop watching the two wolves. VeinWing had always been keen to turn away from such displays. It was a joy to experience such things directly. Things were so much more vivid than from pale old memories. She smirked and tore another piece of meat from her prey. Today was possibly already her favourite day ever.

Phenrir - Ember

The lust slowly ebbed away, leaving only a pleasant tingling between Ember's legs. She loved the sensations Snowflake's tongue had caused and instinctively longed for more. It seemed like he was not fully satisfied himself. His member still spurting his seed Snowflake moved over her, coated her fur her in trickles the male juices, licked, nuzzled and pawed as a sign for Ember to get up and present herself to him.

A part of her wanted to, to raise her tail and get mounted, so that he could mate and tie her. Yet there was an even greater part of herself that started to remember just now who Snowflake was. He was someone that disregarded her all the time in his unfriendly coldness, someone that preferred to fight for humans and be their pet, a wolf that would have traded her freedom for his own. Such a wolf was not a good mate, or a father for pups, that Ember didn't even want to have! Even if he was the only one available and Ember felt a needy sensation under her tail.

Growling at him, Ember made clear this was as close as he would get without being burned. "That's enough! I am still mad at you!"

Cheetahs - Ice

Ice answered with his own growl, but only for a fleeting moment. He licked his muzzle, taking a few steps back. The female needed her space, and he saw no reason to insist.

"As you wish." He arched his neck, flattening his ears as he cleaned his member with six more quick licks. It seemed such a waste for his seed to spill on barren ground, yet his choices were fettered. Mating with that female pierced deeper than fleeting pleasure. She would be his mate. Bear his pups. Follow him and spew orders like a second master.

A poor choice, however he looked at it. With his mind freed from instinct's thick fog, Ice wandered over to the other rabbit. It was small and insignificant to quench anyone's hunger. And Ice felt famished. He took a quick look at the blood-beaked osprey before sinking his own fangs into the soft meat. Cold, but still fresh. He licked at the clogged blood, savoring the pungent taste.

The morsel squelched when jaws clenched around it. Ice padded over to the lounging female, dropping the bloody mess just a paw away from her muzzle.

"Yours," he said with a lick on her nose. He tilted his head inquisitively, expecting a comeback. Surely she would snap one of her witty replies. "Until I find a more suitable prey."

Ice swished his tail, then bounded between the trees, leaping over rocks and weeds alike.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

The great osprey sighed as she looked down at the rabbit and pulled another morsel from the carcass. For a smaller bird this would be far too large a meal, but for her, it would have to do for now. Her usual prey of large fish would wait until she could find a suitable body of water. Preferably a lake, but the open sea would do just fine.

VeilWing was disappointed that the female had denied the male. That would have bound them as mates and would have been quite a show. What was going on with those two? Nothing in her sister's memories shed any light on the wolfess's anger.

She finished the last few stringy bits of rabbit flesh and felt satisfied enough for now. Neither she nor Vein knew the area well enough to seek out more appropriate food. That would have to be remedied. But first she would need to clean, flying on dirty feathers was just not done.

She headed to the clear, flowing waters a little downstream of the clearing and splashed into the water. It was wonderful to feel. She relieved herself and began to dunk her head under the surface, throwing water across her back. Lowering her belly into the water she fluffed up her feathers and shook herself, water spraying in all directions.

"So,", she began, looking over to the wolfess. "What's the story between you two?"

Phenrir - Ember

Watching him with a growl Ember waited what he would do. It looked like Snowflake gave up his urge to mate her easily. Good for him! The two of them would make quite a strange pair, so being mates... just no. Ember still watched him when he picked up the meat that had been a rabbit and came over to her, dropping it right before Ember's muzzle. Words spilled out of his mouth, like an annoying buzzing insect that begged to get bitten by Ember they reached her ears.

'Yours until I find a more suitable prey? So, if he finds something better Snowflake will try to bribe me with food?' she thought and noticed a little too late that he was already turning around, heading for the trees. His words were like a trap for, but Ember couldn't let such an opportunity go to waste. "Don't open your mouth to speak! Your coldness might freeze everything!" She didn't know if he could even hear it, but Ember felt better saying that.

Then she looked at the rabbit, Ember hadn't realized how hungry she was, and after last night that was no surprise at all. Greedily she tore into the rabbit meat. She didn't pay attention to the bird until she spoke. "The story between me and him? It's surprisingly short." Ember didn't stop eating, she just spoke between bites with a slight growl in her voice.

"I don't even know him, because that asshole wouldn't even give me his name. So, I named him Snowflake and tried to be all friendly, but nooo! He ignored me, insulted me, wanted to keep me locked up in a cage, ordered me around and tried to sell me to the humans to save his own hide. All of that in a single night! I don't even want to know how he plans to break this record. Stupid, icy, white-furred human pet, asshole of a wolf." Ember just let go of some of the anger, it felt good to talk and badmouth Snowflake, though it sounded a little excessive to Ember.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

VeilWing listened to the wolfess's brief monologue and smirked. These two were quite the pair and it might have been by pure luck that the two of them had managed to escape the village with an unconscious bird at all. Still, it was good that the three of them barely knew each other. It would make what came next much easier.

The great osprey shrugged her wings as she began to preen a wing, still standing in the calm stream. "Well, my name is... VeinWing.", she lied.

She just wanted to tell the truth, to use her real name again. But the trouble it would cause, even with those she barely knew, wasn't fair to Vein. She shook her wings out and began to preen her breast feathers. She felt better already. The least she could do is get their body clean and tidy so Vein didn't have to suffer more than she already had.

"Well, I guess we all know each other a little better since this morning.", she made slightly awkward conversation.

Phenrir - Ember

It took only several bites for Ember to finish the rabbit and even though it didn't really satisfy her hunger, she felt better after tasting the fresh meat. After that, she just nibbled a little bored on the bones of the small thing, while watching the birdy doing her cleaning. Scents of blood, meat and arousal still hung in the air, but Ember ignored them.

"VeinWing?" That was an interesting name, sounded a little strange to the wolfess, then again she hadn't talked to many other birds about their names before today. For a moment Ember thought about 'VeinWing', speaking it several times to get a feeling for the word. She had no better nickname and VeinWing sort of fit the big winged flyer Ember saw standing in the water.

"Nice to finally meet you," she said after deciding that VeinWing was the birdy's name for now. "I am Ember and I guess you're right, we know each other better now, at least somewhat." Her tail was wagging a little, Ember didn't consider mating to be equal with knowing, but there was some truth to it. "What are your plans? Now that we are free I mean..."

Yogoloth - VeinWing

Plans? VeilWing could have laughed. It would have been ironic if not so tragic. Plans...

"I don't know.", she said, honestly not knowing what Vein would do when she woke up. She did too much thinking and not enough doing. In the end, her 'sleeping' sister talked herself out of most things.

But with everything that had happened, perhaps things would change? VeilWing tried to think back to the previous night, tired to gauge her sister's mood. As usual, it was difficult to get any actual thoughts, but she knew her sister was... upset? It was so dark and cloudy in there, VeilWing didn't like it.

The great osprey finished cleaning and hopped out of the stream and into a shaft of morning sun. She turned to the wolfess, spread her wings wide and shook her body violently. Her right foot ached suddenly and she looked down at the missing talon. It would be fine. She looked back up and the sun was already starting to warm up nicely; it would dry her feathers soon enough.

"Do you have any plans, Ember?", she asked. It hardly mattered, but it felt awkward to remain silent.

Phenrir - Ember

No plans? Wasn't she the first one to flee her prison? There was something strange about VeinWing, she seemed... indecisive. What was the problem? Was it Snowflake? Ember could understand that. Countless questions appeared in her head, but she kept silent, maybe Ember was simply mistaken.

"My plans?" Ember asked, while watching VeinWing bask in the light. Actually, her plans were kind of simple, get as far away as soon as possible. "Easy, I want to put some distance between me and those damned humans!" She rolled on her back and yawned a little. "Being alone worked out for me before..." Ember didn't really care whether VeinWing or Snowflake would accompany her, those two could do whatever they wanted, just like the wolfess.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

As the sun warmed her body she slowly closed her eyes. The slight breeze contrasting the rising warmth as her feathers fluttered slightly in the light. The calm. That place in her mind where she could feel peace. The breath. The aches of her body settled. She felt satisfied in several different ways and smiled as the wolf- no, as Ember spoke.

"Then I'm glad I did what I did... things are just really confusing for me right now. I'm really not being myself today.", she tried to sound casual. If for some reason VeinWing ever met Ember again, VeilWing had to make sure the wolfess knew why she was acting differently now.

"Would you seek a pack to join? Maybe even a feral pack of mundanes?"

Cheetahs - Ice

Trees rose all around Ice, spreading their luxurious canopy far above the patches of grasses growing between the gnarled roots. The suave scents of early spring were but a promise of blooming life. Ice inhaled the crisp air through his parted muzzle. His paws touched the ground briefly before the next leap sent the wolf bounding forward.

Dew found a new home on the wolf's coat, clumping the cream colored strands together. Though the sun sent its fiery arrows through branches and leaves, it was still cold. Winter never released its fetters until mid summer, when Fangs and Claws alike spread through the same woods to gather supplies and scout for any enemies.

Ice was here for the former reason. He stopped briefly before each sprint to search for scents and catch his breath. Luck seemed to evade him. Nothing larger than a rabbit lived in the vicinity. ice circled the area until a young buck finally fell prey to his rune-weaving. Three spikes dug into the animal's neck, ending its promising life. Ice latched his fangs around his throat and pulled. The carcass was heavier than he expected. A few steps barely earned him any progress.

Drawing his wind rune, Ice focused his energies around the limp deer, then unleashed them forward. The corpse flew like an arrow from a bow, dancing in the wind like a living being before smashing on the trunk of a tree. Ice barked with approval, fluffy tail swishing happily. This method lacked any kind of elegance, but no one could question its efficiency.

The scents of his companions grew stronger. Ice gave another push. The carcass soared above the two females, unceremoniously falling a dozen leaps behind the river.

"Told you I'd find something suitable," ice said, panting. He ran giddily towards the female, greeting her with two licks on the muzzle and another one near the ear.

"What have you done in my absence?" The osprey looked positively cleaner, ruffled as she was. "Aside from bathing."

The water felt cold on his warm pads. Ice greeted the winged hunter in a similar fashion, whining softly as he did so. He wanted to stay longer, yet the growls of his empty stomach threatened to turn into roars. Ice leaped on the other bank, expecting his companion's answers before feasting on his kill.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

Looks up suddenly to see the dead deer flop to the ground. She'd never actually tasted deer, just fish and the odd rodent when she couldn't find a suitable body of water. Two wolves were unlikely to finish the whole thing... so maybe today was the day to try it! VeilWing grinned around her beak again. A very good day indeed.

Phenrir - Ember

"Yeah, confusing. Last night was pretty crazy." She couldn't shake the feeling that VeinWing meant something else. Maybe she just hit her head or something, but Ember didn't ask about it, instead she listened to her words. "A feral pack? No, that cannot work out for me!" It was as simple as that. Even those gifted with the elements had troubles to get along with Ember, normal wolves... Just no. Ember would probably live alone again. "Another pack maybe, but no mundanes."

Before VeinWing could ask more there was a change in the wind. Ember noticed this only moments before the body of a deer soared over her head and Snowflake came back totally excited. As he came to her Ember accepted his greeting and returned it, although not as spirited as he did. Looking at the deer Ember had to admit for hunting it alone that was pretty good, then again he had the elements at his disposal.

"I am impressed, this is a good kill. Never would have guess that Snowflakes can hunt." Her tone was somewhat calm and she didn't want to tease him that much, it just came out of her mouth before the wolfess could think of anything else. "We just talked. You didn't miss anything special."

Cheetahs - Ice

"What if I did?" Ice took a quick look behind. He didn't exactly missed the female, only her scent. She had a stringy personality unlike the deer he hunted. Without waiting for an answer, Ice ran over to the battered carcass. Blood matted the deer's fur, oozing from the many scrapes and broken bones. The wolf licked the blood, then opened the soft belly with claws and fangs.

He didn't wait for the others to join them, and certainly didn't mind their presence if they did. His focus lay on the soft organs he munched and the resilient meat he ripped from the hind legs. Chewing, swallowing, and ripping slowly led the wolf into a frenzy. Only when his belly was half full he paused, licking his bloodied muzzle.

"Maybe you have yet to know, but the empire will invade this forest and more. I want you to help me in thwarting their plans."

He dipped his head into the carcass. Memories came back to him. Memories of blood and vengeance. "Doubtfully the three of us will make a difference, yet even a small wound can cripple the fiercest of warriors."

Yogoloth - VeinWing

Veil's wings were more or less dry enough and would dry completely once she took to the air. She could make her excuses and vanish into a memory. She felt that Vein would probably not return to the village when she woke, especially if she put more distance between them today.

She would fly far and find the ocean if possible, away from all of the humans and their silly battles. She would live free and never bow to an inferior ever again. She would... she would... plans again. She was making plans that she had no control over again. Her wings hung a little heavy and her beak sank fractionally.

The male wolf was feasting on the carcass greedily and VeilWing felt some of that hunger too. She was not a small bird and the thought of trying some new kind of meat suddenly interested her greatly. She banished her inescapable worries, smiled and flapped over to the carcass.

"I don't know what I'm doing yet. As I was saying to Ember earlier, I'm not myself today, with everything that's happened... tomorrow is going to be tough for me...", she trailed off and tore a strip of flesh from the exposed ribs of the deer.

It was richly flavoured, strong and tough. Not exactly difficult to eat, but it wasn't like anything else she'd ever tasted. She wondered how her stomach would react as she happily tore away some more flesh.

Phenrir - Ember

While waiting for him to have the first bite, it was his kill after all, she wondered about what he said. Fighting the empire. Those humans that were supposed to be worse than the other ones, but actually weren't. It was just too confusing for Ember, she never really paid attention to these stupid things.

"Thwarting empire plans? I have just one question. Why?" Ember had no love for both kinds of humans, so why should she fight a battle that was not her own, she couldn't understand and that made her more like a prisoner with each day. No, Ember would definitely not fight them. There was simply no reason. Why wanted Snowflake to do it? He was free now and should live a little.

Despite her own words and rising suspicion concerning Snowflake's allegiance with the bipeds, the wolfess came over to the others, who were already feasting on the deer. Just like the wolf and bird she tore into it and tasted delicious meat.

Cheetahs - Ice

"Not yourself?" Ice cleaned his bloody muzzle with two strokes of his tongue. Not every Frostclaw had masters like Ice did. Some even liked them. He doubted the osprey was one of them. He hasn't heard her talking about her master even once.

"You've been away from the village more than any of us," he walked towards her and licked her curved beak reassuringly. "Surely the winds of freedom do not feel as cold as a master's fetters." He swished his tail, ears flattened. "I mean mine. He was...we weren't a proper...pack," he said that for the lack of a better term. He looked back at the carcass. The female held nothing back. She ripped into the meat and gulped it without any restraints.

Ice licked his whiskers. "Maybe yours wasn't like that." He told the osprey before walking beside the female. Lowering into half a crouch, Ice purposely gnawed on the meat closest to her muzzle.

"To..." words stopped as soon as they left his parted muzzle. Why continue a senseless conflict? Three FrostClaws would barely make a dent in the Empire's forces. They would kill and kill until better trained troops replaced the useless gnats.

"Just an insignificant reason, better left forgotten." Ice ripped into a stringy muscle, savoring the lukewarm morsel between his sharp molars. "You made be right. We are free to choose our own paths."

Yogoloth - VeinWing

What could she say to make them understand? What words could she possibly say to make things right in the face of what was to come. It hardly mattered, it was best to fly free of them and not leave VeinWing to have to live with decisions she had no control of.

But wasn't leaving these wolves behind doing just that but in a different way. It would suit VeilWing just fine to be alone, answerable to no one. But her sister wasn't like that, she needed others to give her purpose, direction. She wouldn't want to be alone... and in a strange way, neither did she.

The great osprey leant her head instinctively into the wolf's lick, the affection quickened her heart a little. She wondered if her sister would like him... not as mate, but as a friend perhaps? She should stay then... or not... she had no idea what her sister would decide... it wasn't fair. Then let's stick to facts.

"My master doesn't care for me. He treats me like a well trained animal. He openly keeps some of the food meant for me to himself. There is no companionship there.", she said flatly, staring into the carcass, suddenly not hungry. She needed some time alone to think.

"I need to stretch my wings. I'll scout out the area while I'm up there, keep a look out for humans.", she casually nibbled a little at the wolf's head fur between his hungry gulps. "I'll be careful. I'll be back later, promise."

Without further delay she hopped back a little, spread her substantial wings and took to the air. Easily agile enough to navigate the trees and disappear into the blue.

Phenrir - Ember

Ember watched as VeinWing flew off. Again the female bird had mentioned that she was not herself and again the wolfess had to wonder what she was actually talking about. It sounded somehow serious if she needed to emphasize it. At least the words about masters sounded very familiar. Master was such a useless term, putting the Claws with a single word into a submissive position, as if each and every human was better than them. It was clear to Ember that there was no unity between them, only orders and servitude.

"An insignificant reason, is that so?" Now that the wolves were alone again, Ember had to speak to Snowflake between bites of delicious deer meat. "Sounds like no reason at all. You probably won't mind then if I refuse!" The wolfess had no plans of helping humans, whether those were fire-spitting empire bipeds, or brainless village bipeds.

"If you ask me I think we shoulds just leave and let them kill each other." Actually that really sounded like a good plan anyway. Who needed them, surely not Ember. The same was somewhat true for Snowflake and VeinWing. Of course Ember longed for company, but freedom was more important to her than dumb fights that were not her own.

She stopped eating for a moment. "Now that I think about it I might do that anyway..." Eating the deer had satiated her hunger more than enough, so licking her muzzle to taste the remnants of deer and blood Ember went to the water to drink and quench her thirst.

Cheetahs - Ice

Ice was left alone to think. The osprey's quick departure left him without a reply. Her master seemed even worse than Kregor. At least he had the decency to see Ice properly fed and sheltered. Not all the masters in the village shared the same concerns for their Claws. The streets were littered with rumors and tales of fear even since the empire incursions started to happen. No doubt some of the FrostFangs threw their ragged pelts to done the blazing sun cloaks of the Empire. Though they did not openly wore such garments, some Fangs aggravated the conflict the right moment saw those empire recruits in the midst of the village.

That was when Ice tasted freedom. Even now, the possibilities circled his head like voracious predators, each waiting for the proper moment to pounce. What to do? Where to go? The wolf lifted his head and licked his bloodied muzzle, absent thoughts and purpose. For a very long time in his life, Ice had no idea how to put his skills to the tasks.

"Female," he called to the wolfess as jumped into the stream. That was hardly a proper name. Ice shut his eyes from the water droplets and opened them to stare back at the grey and brown furred female. She hardly bore the strength of stone in that lanky body.

"Storm-fur," Ice padded closer to her, his paws already tingling with the chilling water rushing around them. "You've led us this far, and you are right. We owe nothing to the humans."

It stung a bit to say that after all the sacrifices he made for those witless oafs. "So lead. Show me a path, and I will follow."

It felt strange to pass the lead to another, but with his master gone, Ice felt worse than purposeless. He felt useless.

Yogoloth - VeinWing

VeilWing delighted in the air currents as she lifted herself higher. Soon she was so high she felt she could touch the sun if only she had the courage to go higher. But the air was thin and her lungs rasped at her exertion in getting there. So she held out her wings and glided.

The joy of this freedom of body was exhilarating. The last time she had woken she had been forced into acting exactly like VeinWing would have. Back then, the village had been more pleasant and her sister's master at the time had been kinder. But she still had to do all the same boring things that Vein had done all these months... countless months.

VeilWing looked up at the sun for a moment and figured that it was late morning. If nothing else happened today, it would still be the best day of her life. She chuckled, that wasn't exactly saying that much though.

She had to return to the wolves eventually. Her sister might return to the village if she found herself alone. Perhaps head to the lake that Vein had sometimes caught scent of over the past few months. Certainly a large body of freshwater... it would be glorious to fish again. Vein would have enjoyed that, pity.

The great osprey tilted her wings but did not beat them, she was so high that she could simply glide for a while longer. It would only take a few hours to get there, fish, eat and return. She smiled at the thought. A wonderful day.