Don't play dead with a vulture

Deluge had picked up the scent at the party. She kept her cool and mingled, tried to hide her concern from her 'prince'. If he saw her constantly eyeing the caves, well, she would write it off as general curiosity. She was an explorer at heart, after all, and it wasn't often she got to come check out another packs territory without a fight. If anyone mentioned his name, she made a point of ignoring it. She was still 'the Pirate', and he was still 'the Prince'. The longer they could keep up this ruse, surely the better it would be for them. The Armada didn't like Pirates, and... well... She wouldn't say the pirates didn't like the Armada, just enjoyed antagonising them a bit too much, maybe?

As darkness fell and the crowds began to disperse, Deluge had slipped away. Her nose hadn't been lying to her. Of course her dad was here. Her eyes rolled back in her head as she awkwardly dipped down to get her father onto her back. He was so damn heavy! but his bulk covered the glow of her fur as she made her way away from Armada and out into the open of the battlefield, and over to veterans plateau. She would have to send her apologies to her prince another time. Maybe it was better if she didn't say goodbye after all?

Unfortunately for her, her escape hadn't entirely gone unnoticed. The black bird was concealed against the starry night sky until it swooped down with a terrifying screech, claws extended to... Deluge didn't even know, she didn't fight fucking birds, they were up in the sky and she was down on the ground, what reason did she have to fight them?

Unceremoniously, she dumped her father on the ground between crumpled bits of metal machinery and stood over him, golden eyes turned skyward, teeth bared. It was only as it was coming in for a second attack that she recognised it as the warlords bird.

"Ah fuck, here we go."