The Desert

The white lighter let her rage release into the heat of the desert as her paws sank into the sand. The breath that she had been holding was released as the flames soared to be large and more vibrant than before. There were none to challenge her as the dominant of the Ignisi, so this display was being left to really only be known by her and whatever desert creature was looming around.

It was not like she craved attention, anyway. No. Solitude was fine. Or at least, she had told herself that so many times that she had begun to believe it. Her paranoia of an invasion sat omnipresent in her mind, and unnatural noises, or anything that seemed like it came from anything larger than a domesticated cat sent her into a frenzy of heated fear. No one really cared though. Her kind had not gained any in so long, and it was understandable. Who wanted to be feared? The demented?

Surely, but all Blaze wanted was to be cared about like all the others were. And in a way that she could care back and not fear about hurting the other. She just really wanted a friend, or maybe even somebody to love - though she seriously doubted the last part.

Curling up in the sun-warmed sand, Blaze began to drift off to sleep.

-lame sauce-

Kamea had been flying over the area when she had spotted a flare up of flames by the desert. She could only assume it was the Ignis, Blaze. This was merely confirmed as she perceived thoughts coming from the one down below. The grey female dropped lowing in the sky to circle the fire wolf. She would rather spend some time checking in with Blaze than going to greet some silly little pups anyway.

Landing near the fiery wolf and folding her wings up, she greeted Blaze, "Hello Blaze. Something wrong? I seem to be getting a few varied feelings from you. Makes it a bit hard to discern you thoughts... Anything you'd care to share?" Kamea's own burning ears flickered brighter here in the desert than they did up on the cold mountain top.

The grey Charmed one chuckled at the first retort of Blaze. "Ah but where would be the fun in that?" Sitting down she settled her turquoise tipped tail around her, listening to what she said as well as the clear thoughts she conveyed. Kamea found the company of this heated wolf to be quite amusing. She saw some of herself in the younger she-wolf.

"Well to answer your first and last questions, I have found myself here because the idea of going to meet some new little pups that have wandered into the land does not thrill me in the least. And yes a second one has reached us also. We shall have to see what they become." The female was just glad she would not be the one to do the babysitting.

"As for why the Ignisi are so feared I don't have the exact answer to that as every wolf is different in their fears and thoughts. I can answer you this, however, to most, fire is not the bringer of life." Moving closer to the fiery one she could feel the heat of her flames but knew it would not harm her. "To those who do not understand, fire brings only death. You should feel privileged that you know better..." She offered the female a smile.

The Charmed one nodded in response to Blaze. It was a shame most could not see the usefulness of fire. Worse still, they did not see the value of the fire wolves. All the clans were equally important, not one higher than the other. Trotting after Blaze, Kamea gave the female a bump on the shoulder, trying to let her know she was not completely alone.

~To the Recruits Run through
((D: where has my muse gone to D: ))

Misae's captor was the first to reach the Desert, swooping into the bowl in the rocks to drop their prey. Her limp body fell unceremoniously to the ground to land directly in the middle of the rough circle, a small groan escaping her jaws as she found herself lost in an even deeper sea of unconsciousness. Limbs splayed out and a small trickle of blood seeping through her fur from her temple, the Charmed One was helpless at the deadly talons of the over-sized birds.

Dobharchu rolled as the bird dropped her, what breath was in her knocked from her lungs. Cruel talons had ripped into her sides, leaving her gored, but alive. Her wounds, perhaps, would not be her end. The flight over the desert had left her feeling drained. Within hours, the compromised Dobharchu would succumb to the elements of fire if she couldn't find water.

She saw the Charmed one nearby, unconscious and vulnerable. How she was still alive was a mystery until Dobharchu lifted her head weakly. The bird that had dropped her here had begun to squabble with the other over the meal, leaving the two but briefly forgotton. Painfully, the water female dragged herself over to Misae, and nudged her with her nose. Wake up. She thought, dismal.

((Another short one, but I guess part II from my other post))

"Augh!" The young pup yelped as she was dropped, her weak and unfledged wings beating at the air uselessly as she fell some distance to the ground. She managed to use them in a way to turn forward, rolling onto the ground over her head as to prevent further bone damage. Gasping for air still, her fluffy and downy wing pressed to her injured rib, she stood for a few moments awkwardly, coughing a few times. It hurt. She soon noticed Misae laying limply on the ground, and hobbled awkwardly over.

Any powers she had gained were drained now. And in this dry, hot air, she almost wanted to increase the humidity a bit. Maybe dense it, she could make water for the dehydrated wolves. But there was no chance, she was unable. Giving a look of hatred, a look one might not expect from the kind and shy little pup, she flicked her tail at them and almost wished to be in that bird's talons so she could continue to ravage at it's toe.

She then looked to Misae, her hatred turning to sadness. Hopping lightly over her and standing behind her, she looked at her temple, giving it a careful lick. She might have a decent concussion. Another look, muzzle slightly wrinkled in disgust to the birds. She wished she were bigger.

Audric Landed with a very heavy thump, his leg landed badly and he knew it would end up sprained, but there was little he could do. He saw that even though he was one of the first wolves to be taken, he was one of the last to be dropped. He attributed this to his size, and how much longer it took to fly him. It gave him a fleeting sense of satisfaction before he realized it was more food for them. Well they would get another thing coming if they tried.

He moved his head around and limped to a standing position and hobbled over to the fallen Charmed One. "Come on madame, we need you right now, don't give up on us." He murmured while keeping a watchful eye on the vultures and the other wolves around him.

Aphrodite landed, with a loud thud, and rolled down to the center, bumping into Audric's legs. She stood up as the world around her had changed from a forest, to a nightmare feeding bowl. There was blood from recent food that had been sacrificed to horrid Devil Birds.

"Audric. I'm scared. What's going on." The female asked. She had grown quite a bit and was considerably bigger than another pup with wings was. Her paws were huge by comparison.

She had hated to admit it, but she was scared for her life. Only hoping that these birds would take her first, though. The others didn't need to die now. Rather the her than the others with their massive wisdom. None had yet to have offspring and so be it they would live.

(short fail post)

Dobharchu could not wake the Charmed one, and the sickening realization of the severity of their situation hit her. Struggling to her feet, her eyes shone hollow as she met Audric's gaze. She took a mental inventory of who was here. Audric, the whitelighter, the pups Aphrodite and Aeria, and the unconscious Misae.

Would help arrive? Dobharchu's only hope now was that soon, it would. However, that could not be relied upon. "My lord." She turned to Audric, respectfully. Her face set with the severity of her words. "You and the cubs need to get Misae to safety. There is little cover here, but near the rim of the bowl there is a little cover, and perhaps you can make it better." With two earth wolves, one must be able to burrow somewhat, or at least be able to defend the others.

"I'll draw their eyes until help arrives." She locked eyes with each cub in turn, her ferocity almost as frightening as the looming birds above. "Take care of Misae. We need her more than ever. And no matter what happens, get her to cover and stand your ground." With a final nod to the wolves, she stepped away from the small cluster. Nearby was the rim of the bowl, where there were some rocks, not big enough for the adults or even Aphrodite to take complete cover, but Aeria may have been able to squeeze into one of the crevaces.

Snarling, she turned her back to the wolves, who would hopefully see the importance of protecting Misae and keeping the cubs and whitelighter alive. Frankly, with the searing heat of the desert and the blood loss from her wounds, she would be dead in a few hours anyhow. Already her lips felt dry, and the greenery on her back felt brittle. A water wolf in normal conditions needed to stay hydrated, and a few hours out of the water would begin to make them feel drained, and this became more serious when conditions were dry. Compounded by the fact that she had neither eaten nor slept since her journey over the mountains, she was in an incredibly weakened state. Even if the wolves made it to her in time, she doubted she would make the journey across the desert and live to tell the tale.

If she were to die here, she would die for the honor of her pack, the Fluidus. Stepping heavily, determination and pain in her steps, she faced the squabbling birds, some of whom turned their eyes on her curiously. Seemingly without warning, she tipped her head back and howled, the sound challenging and sad, a sort of swan song meant to draw all predatory eyes on her pathetic form, and for a moment, the others in the bowl were forgotten.

Aphrodite heard the words, yet did not acknowledge the meaning until the wisdom Fluidus wolf had snarled and turned her back on them. Snarling herself she grabbed Misae's scruff and with all her might, began to pull the Charmed One up the slope of the bowl. Growling in frustration and agony when she reached the top, Rodite nudged Misae under cover and away from the devil demon birds.

Feeling completely helpless in saving Dobbharchu, the white female growled out at the birds who stared at her with hunger, much like a cougar and a fawn. Most swooped down and scratched her muzzle, others picked her paws and shifted her from the ground. She had a horrible time generating the protective vines, and when she did, they wre drawn away quickly as if the birds were eating her energy.

"They eat away at our power, don't even begin to tap into it. It only makes them stronger!" The young fae said over the screeching and flapping wings. One grabbed Misae and began to make it's way up into the sky to eat, but the young female resisted and snatched onto the leg of the bird, red blood flooding into her mouth.

That was when it hit her. The sudden overwhelming feel of sickness and the feeling of racing a hundred miles without rest. The blood was tainted, yet the bird did not look a day sick or tired. The fae, completely crazed with the red fluid, dropped onto the ground, stumbling, eyes shifting different shades of yellow and a black.