Her brother pulled away, and for a moment - she couldn't help but wonder why. This was a challenge for dominance, for the future of this pack. And yet he had stopped, and her eyes would meed his, wild and confused, before shifting toward the wolves that had gathered in one particular area. Her breathing came out in shuddered pants, her heart racing inside of her chest as she scanned the crowd. She had dismissed them - why were they still here?


And then she saw him, being supported by those that love him so very much - laying there, limp, lifeless. "Father." She muttered, any of the hot blood running through her veins, spurred on by the fight with her brother, immediately becoming ice cold. Erani was here though, as was Rayne, and Evelette. She roughly swallowed, not feeling like she could do anything to help her father at that moment. Syrinx had been the one to stop, and therefore was the one to forfeit the crown, but this didn't feel like a win. Her father was aging, dying, possibly might not get up. Her stomach was immediately wrapped in knots again, but she crept toward the gathering regardless. "Will he be alright?" She asked Erani, because she seemed to know what was happening, she was the most experienced medic that the newly dubbed alpha had ever known. Her words were quiet, as to not break the healer's concentration entirely - this was her father's life on the line after all.


There were things that needed to be announced, but they could wait, would have to wait until she knew how Cairo was going to fair. Ranks would have to be reworked, and the wedding needed a formal announcement. It didn't even have to be said that it would proceed as planned - she and her sister, as well as Collision and Cairo, had worked too hard to create a lasting pact with Seracia to throw it away for any reason. "Syrinx, it is good to see you here, in Valhalla again." She offered words to her brother, soft ones, it seemed seeing Cairo in this state had taken away much of the fire in her eyes. Yet it was far from extinguished. "He would want you here." Did she want him here? After the way that he had come, she thought that she would be unsure - but she wasn't. She did. "You may stay as a member, prove you're going to stick around, and that I can trust you." Ruling beside him, was once something that she dreamed about. "But I will never cast you away." Even if she thought that he was a brat, coming and challenging for a crown that he hadn't earned.


"If you want to talk?" She would leave it at that, but if he wanted to hash this out right here and now, she would comply. If he didn't, she would turn her attention back to her father, watching him, praying that each breath that Erani pulled from him would not be his last.

Walk | Talk | Think

More gathered and all the while Ashtoreth's two-toned gaze drifted over the faces expectantly, each time disappointed. Surely the meeting would begin soon and her attention would need to be given over fully to the wolf who had once ruled over them, the one who had called for their meeting. It surprised her, after a lull in the new arrivals, to note that Collision did not even seem to be present anywhere, and it further fueled her confusion. Letting her attention waver from the remaining stragglers to settle wholly upon Cairo, the petite wolf could only hope the mysteries that she was noticing could be cleared up.

The meeting began before she knew it, but no sooner had Cairo begun speaking Ash knew it would not be a pleasant event. Wolves were called out for their previous transgressions, their once leader had stepped down, and now the care of the pack would be placed in the hands of an unknown, the wolf who had sat by idly and silently while Cairo took the lead. Ashtoreth's eyes shifted to watch the stranger furtively, wondering how well this change might effect the whole of Valhalla. There seemed to be so much instability of late, inside the pack and out, that she was reluctant to take things at face value anymore. Who was to say chaos might not ensue from this unexpected promotion?

It was not her place to speak, and neither did she want to, so she bit her tongue, merely tucked her chin where she sat and stared at the ground pensively as the voices of recognizable pack members reacted to the elder wolf's declarations. The diplomatic and compassionate Chrysanthe was the first to speak, rising quickly to the defense of her pack mates. Her actions were admirable, though Ash wondered how much merit they might hold overall. More spoke, their old leader left, but it was Epiphron's words that caught her attention most. A change in leadership yet again? As much as the thought irked her, the grey would could only sigh quietly. If she thought her sister better prepared for such a task, then who was she to object if it meant the betterment of their pack? And Chrysanthe had already shown her compassion and regard for each of them. Perhaps it was for the best.

Syrinx's arrival was most unexpected, and for the first time since Cairo had spoken Ashtoreth lifted her head to peer narrowly at the youth, who, she had to admit, looked less youthful now. Young, yes, but filling out, the mysterious son of their ex-leader maneuvered rather forcefully through the throngs and positioned himself where Cairo had been mere moments before, a challenge all in itself. Declarations of his own rolled from his lips commandingly, as if the power was already his to wield, and he waited as if expecting things to fall right into place as he decreed. She had expected opposition to rise, and sure enough it did. Chrysanthe, newly appointed leader and all, accepted her sibling's challenge, and a fight for the Alpha position of Valhalla ensued.

Ashtoreth rose as the two faced off, quickly limping her way back through those who still remained, to stand well away from the challenge, wishing to observe yet keep herself safe all the same. This was madness! In what felt like such a short time, the stability and community and warmth that had once spread thickly through her home territory had vanished. Wolves could not agree any longer, leaders could not hold their positions without earning the ire and mistrust of their subjects, words could not be exchanged without insult being given or taken. It was ridiculous. This isn't home. It was painful to admit, but it was something she needed to realize. As Cairo said, Valhalla was not what it once was. She could only hope that whatever it turned to be might be still bearable enough to live with.

Very briefly did her eyes stray from the fighting, merely to see who still remained as many had started to depart, ushering away youngsters who would do better not to witness the intricacies and destruction of battle. But one face caught her attention, one face she had thought to have left well before. His blue eyes seemed ravaged by pain and suffering, possibly at the sight of his children fighting, but as he collapsed she had to wonder, with a sickening drop of her stomach, if it was not something much worse. She didn't bother attending him - she was no healer and would have been useless even on a good day - but did glance about worriedly, hoping that as the fight calmed that someone might be willing to aid the collapsed Cairo. A call rang from a large black male and evnetually Erani arrived. Knowing she was there eased Ashtoreth's panic, though she knew they were nowhere in the clear just yet.

It was all too much to take in, honestly. The fighting, the injury, the fainting, the chaos. The change. A part of her, a strong part, insisted she leave. She was of no use currently, just a bystander left on the sidelines to witness the collapse of a once great king. But duty and dedication and honest concern rooted her to the spot, refusing to let her leave. Cairo had ruled when she arrived, and he had done so justly and with great care and consideration to each under his protection. Whatever had just happened could not erase that. Knowing herself to be a hindrance more than an asset, the injured she-wolf walked quietly closer to the group who had gathered around Cairo and stopped well beyond their protective inner circle. She merely watched, waiting, expectant and hopeful that those skilled healers present might work whatever magic they possessed and fix whatever was wrong.

Everything happened with startling swiftness. The gnashing of teeth of her two blood siblings left Epiphron feeling uneasy. The woman watched the scene with wide eyes, jaw unhinged slightly, an incredulous look painted upon her maw. But then Syrinx retreated, unwilling to go on -- out of the corner of her eye, she saw her father collapse. Immediately she jerked her head in his direction, standing, stunned, as wolves began to move. A terrible howl left the throat of Evelette, one of the members she knew the least, calling for help. Erani arrived almost instantaneously, moving swiftly and with purpose, though she swore she could see the fear in the woman's eyes. Luckily, her children had been ushered away; this was something that none of them needed to see. Unlike the others, who rushed to Cairo's side, she stood at her position. Just a few moments ago she had felt exhilarated, taking full control of her fate -- and now she was stunned, shocked and afraid. Glued to the spot, Epiphron Adravendi stood, watching the scene unfold with an awful sense of dread, waiting.

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OOC:Thank you, to Seren, who did exactly with syrinx as I planned on doing, even before the default, trust me, I don't randomly shove Cairo into high blood pressure inducing heartattacks. It's kind of rude and I feel bad when I do it. aha. So yeah, onwards and upwards!



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Jaws would snap forward a final time, and as they took hold of the woman's flesh, he would quickly retreat, his eyes freezing, his blood stopping, as the frame of his father crashed against the stone cold floor. He would release his sister, in awe at what he had done, in shock and lost in the moment. Was...was his father dead? He failed to find the strength to move towards the man, to get to him, and to bring some kind of justification to this all. It was his fault, wasn't it? Once, he had been the Valhallan heir, and while rather improper at that, he had come back expecting everyone to be fine with it. Tail tip dipped between his legs, not in fright or exacted submission to his sister, but in momentary worry, in complete and utter confusion at the happenings of his father. Was this the end? With Cairo...would Syrinx clear Valhalla? What was to be left of them? Of anything? He had not come here in an attempt to drive his siblings away, and yet, he had done just that, hadn't he?

A shiver coursed through him as he halted and refused to continue attacking his blood. There were no sin worse than what he was doing and he would refuse to carry on. Especially with his father's life on the line. His eyes averted, stopping, and refusing to look at the scene before them. I'm sorry father. the solemn thought came with the utmost honestly, and he would then turn to Chrysanthe, aiming his head along her side where he had peeled at flesh, attempting to lightly clean the area, an audible apology would slip forth for her, "I'm sorry," the arkhos was not completely gone, not totally, and though it made up for nothing, it would have to do.

Eyes fell, searching around him, wondering what to do, before Chrysanthe's voice lingered over his ears. Eyes fell towards her and he shook his head, "Not here," the timing was quite inappropriate, and hopefully, she could agree to that. Attention was their father, and it would not be broken. Body turned as he attempted to bring his nose to Epiphron's shoulder and lightly graze her, his act of trying to show some civility and humility. He knew where he had trespassed, and quickly, he would glide to the side, moving to get

behind those that were there, and darting his eyes towards Erani, "If he's breathing, I'd like myself and a few other men to move him to his den," If all else failed, Cairo would die knowing he was home, knowing he was safe, and knowing that everything would be okay.



Posterior fell back against the stone, eyes void of emotion, as though he were not recalling any of the events that had led any of them here, some may have thought it foolish, rude, and irresponsible, but in his mind, alleviating the arena of the traces of war that had occurred, would be all the better for his patriarch. Things were coming to a halt, and Syrinx had a feeling within' a few days, things would change for ever for himself, Chrysanthe, and Epiphron. Even Eos, wherever she was.

Silence encumbers him, his breathing becomes slowed, and the king slips into unconciousness. Around him, they flourish, these wolves, attempting to scamper and save him, and while, death does not become his undoing on this day, there is left, no trace in the air, that soon it shall come on swift wings. There is no doubt that the lord will soon leave his beloved children behind, and there is no questioning what he is. There is no questioning that his heart was not the product of ache, and of over excitement, but of break. Raw breaking to see his own flesh and blood ravage each other. Blackness surrounds him, and little does he know what happens next, or what is to become of him. Does he even exist anymore?



-exit via unconsciousness-

Nova

This was sickening. He knew it was only a matter of time before something along the lines of this would happen. He stood slowly, not wanting to reopen his nearly healed wound and watched Erani work her magic for a moment before trailing off to find his pups. She knew he disliked violence amongst brothers. He looked at the old wolf he had come to know and flattened his ears as he passed. His head hung low as the scuffling stopped and panic began to spread through the pack. He remained stony until he was out of sight and then he ran for home, appalled by the recent behavior. Even though he had been out of things for a while he knew this was just wrong. -Exit Nova-

Erani

Time seemed to pass slowly as the pack began to panic around her. Again, and again, she brought her weight down on the ribs of the wolf she had come to love as a friend, and a part of her family. She paused intermittently to check his heartbeat, and it seemed to be steadying somewhat. Rayne?s voice buzzed through the haze of concentration, and she nodded, an ear flicking backward to acknowledge the younger healer. ?Rayne, put that herb to your left under his tongue, chew it slightly to let the juices out. Don?t swallow, you don?t need it?s effects. It?ll strengthen his heart, but yours is strong enough. Cormalin, keep your ear to his chest, listen to his heart, and tell me if it fades, or begins beating off cadence again.? Vaguely, she was aware of the sudden halt in the fight. She set that aside until she heard Chrysanthe?s soft, worried tones voicing a question. She gave a slight shake of her head. ?It?ll be up to him, most of all. I can only give him herbs and plants that will strengthen him. He needs close care and attention until we know if he?ll pull through.? Her heart felt tired. She felt afraid. This was one battle with Death she did not, under any circumstances, want to lose. This wolf was like family to her. Syrinx?s voice rumbled through her thoughts, and she glanced at him. ?He breathes, and the worst seems to be through. But he needs to have a close eye kept on him.? Cormalin?s soft whuff of concern made her bend to listen. The breathing had slowed, and for a moment, she was afraid it would stop, but Cairo had only passed into that place just beyond dreams. She rose and sat back. She hoped she was right, and that the herb would do it?s work. She wanted to buy Cairo just a little more time. Just a little more. She turned and looked at his three children, wondering where Eos was now. ?Now would be a good time to move him, but make sure the herb stays under his tongue for another hour. Keep a regular check on his breathing. With luck, he?ll pull through. Besides, he has a wedding to attend soon, and I don? think he?d let himself go and miss it.? She gave a tired smile to her daughters. ?The best thing is to never stop hoping. Don?t allow doubt to cloud your minds. Be with him as much as you can. Syrinx,? She turned to look up at the young male. ?Can you find Eos? You were always the closest to her.? Earnest deep blue eyes gazed up into the eyes that were his father?s mirror. It was good to see him alive and well. She looked around for Nova, but he?d gone. She didn?t blame him. She wanted nothing more right then, than to curl into his side and breathe him in and watch their children play. Oh why couldn?t they have met sooner in life? Her eyes drifted to Cairo. Why couldn?t they become immortal, the ones she loved, and never be able to die?