After receiving aid from the woman at the plateau Amaretto had taken the next couple of days to recover. Finally she could wait no longer and she had ventured to Legion’s borders. She’d stuck to the shadows, watching and waiting for the opportune moment, and then she’d crept in. It was midday as she picked quietly through the territory in search of her brother’s scent. Amaretto has chosen the time of day carefully. It was summer and the heat was insufferable. Hopefully the pack’s inhabitants would be lounging in the shade where it was cooler and she could creep around unnoticed.

The plan was simple. Find her brother, free him if he was confined, and run as quickly as possible to the border. Honestly it wasn’t much of a plan, but it was all she had.

There was one glaring complication that she could do nothing about. The turn of her second year had come and gone while she was recovering and she was now smack dab in the middle of her first heat cycle. All she could do was hope that the summer heat would keep anyone from investigating the unusual and inescapable scent that was following her around like a lost puppy.

It was really super hot today, but Tyrian was determined to play anyway. Currently he was rolling around in the shade of the barn. He had a stick that he was pretending was a coyote. It was a vicious battle - one where the victory wasn't guaranteed. One second he was on top and the next he was on his back biting, clawing and kicking at the vile creature.

Movement out of the corner of his eye gave him pause. Tyrian tipped his head back so he could see better (the "coyote" had him pinned at that moment) and squinted through the dirt he'd kicked up. Hey, that was a woman sneaking through the bushes! She looked like she was playing hide and seek and that immediately had his undivided attention. He wanted to play too.

Tyrian kicked the stick away and ran after her. "Hey! Are you playing hide and seek? Can I play too?"

She very nearly jumped out of her skin when the boy's shout reached her ears. Her heart was beating so hard it sounded like thunder in her ears. Somehow she managed to calm herself quickly so as not to arouse suspicion. She glanced around covertly to make sure there were no adults lurking nearby and then kept walking in the hopes that the boy would take the hint and leaver her be.

"No, sweetheart, I'm just looking for a friend," she said as she continued to power walk away from him. Her eyes roved the trees, the shrubs and the many nooks and crannies in the terrain. She noted possible escape routes and casually scrutinized places that looked like they might hide a wolf or two.

Tyrian skidded to a halt after the woman brushed him off and tipped his head quizzically to the side to watch her go. His tail drooped at the rejection. She did look like she was in the middle of something important. It was a shame, really, because he was very good at hide and seek and she was missing out.

He perked at a sudden thought and then took off running after her. "Hey, wait! Maybe I can help you find your friend!" It was still kind of like hide and seek, right? He could make a game of it.

Now that he was following her he could see her tail. The brace on it immediately caught his eye. Was she hurt? He frowned and noted some of the other scabby spots on her back. It looked like she'd been in a fight. How cool was that? "Did my Auntie Rhythm take care of your tail? She's very good at stuff like that."

Although her dismay didn't show in her face, when Amaretto glanced back and saw that the boy was following her she very nearly sighed. Now she had a tail. So much for a covert mission. How did she get rid of him now? Although he was a nuisance the thought to deal with him permanently never crossed her mind. She may have been in an evil pack and the kid probably belonged to someone nasty, but she just didn't have it in her to hurt a child.

"Oh no, it's alright, dear, you just stay here. I'll find him." Perhaps that was the wrong approach. "Won't your parents be upset if they come back and you're not here?" Surely that would do it, right? No kid liked to get in trouble. "And yes, she lied absently, "Rhythm fixed my tail."

Amaretto eyed an outcropping to her left. The pup was rather young; it seemed unlikely that he could jump up there. Intent on leaving him behind, she changed course to approach it. When she did her brother's scent hit her full force in the face. Her heart leapt up in her throat. He was here! He'd been in this spot before. She was close.

Wow, she wasn't very friendly, was she? He just wanted to help! Well, okay, maybe the helping part was secondary, but he was bored and he liked hide and seek...and she didn't appear to be having much luck in finding her friend. Helping her look for her friend would give him something to do.

He frowned as she mentioned his parents, but continued to follow her. "Well, maybe my dad, but he won't be mad at me 'cause it's not my fault Zahir fell asleep, you know? If she's gonna volunteer to watch me she should be a better baby sitter."

Noonday patrol stole her thoughts as she maneuvered along the familiar path. Jynette was chattering about something or other but about midway through the conversation her thoughts drifted back to Ásvor. She'd been spending so much time on her Accipiter duties that some times she felt like she was neglecting her girlfriend. Then there was the matter of the future. Just how far did she hope for this relationship to go? She assumed marriage but how would she know? An unfamiliar scent caught Valdís' attention, she saw Jynette freeze out of the corner of her eyes. This was not a Legion wolf and the scent led right into the heart of the territory. Her pulse quickened but she held off sounding the alarm just yet. She wanted to know who it was who had the audacity to sneak into Legion in such a manner. If she sounded the alarm now the perpetrator would know Legion was on to them and could flee before any sort of identification could be made. Valdís traced the scent trail, Jynette at her heels. It didn't take long for her to spy an unfamiliar woman talking with Tyrian!  Gods, so close to a pup!  Valdís didn't care what they were talking about, she sought to use surprise to her advantage and tag this trespasser per Chaos' orders. Her defenses were up in a moment, second to her as much as breathing. With a burst of speed she charged at Amaretto's left side, her jaws flinging wide as she sought to grab the left side of the girl's face between her jaws. Her upper fangs sought to land below the base of the woman's left ear, her lower fangs at the left corner of the woman's muzzle. The goal was simple, she wanted to snap her jaws together in a brutal manner that would shred the woman's flesh down to the bone and leave a horrific scar. Valdís vs Amaretto for Maim (deep scar on left side of face from left corner of muzzle to just below ear) Round: 1 of ? Size: Large Build: Medium Skill Level: Expert Companion 1: Fox (battle) "Talk" "You" Think

Lament Pyre He was grateful that they had Legion to shelter them as they passed the time, and waited for their memories to return. Rhythm was a great companion to him, the wily old woman had many tales to tell, having lived a life as long as fruitful as she had. He learned a little of healing, through it clearly was not his area of expertise. All that was missing, was his sister, who he longed to remember properly, to find, and ensure that she was well. So catching a sent that was almost familiar to him was bewildering, and he would follow it like one in a dream. He found her, and the shock of recognition flew through him, at the same time that another found her. This wolf would attack, and Lament leaped forward, shocked at the sudden display of violence aimed at one he loved. “Stop, she is my sister! Chaos granted us sanctuary!” It was not quite the truth, and there may well be a reckoning for that later, but Chaos had known that they searched for their sibling. “If you must spill blood, spill mine!” he said, coming to a stop close to the fighters, knowing he would give his life to defend his sister, and hoping that it would not be necessary. To find her, only for one of them to be taken from this world? Cruel. "Speech"|"Ademic"

Flee Attempt

Amaretto has attempted to flee!

Her attempt was unsuccessful.

It seemed the boy was determined to follow her all over the pack. He seemed oblivious to her rogue status so perhaps she could use his calm demeanor to shield her from the interest of the pack's adult residents.

Amaretto had no more thought of that idea when her hawkish ears picked up the drumming sound of paws on the move. She'd been afraid of such a sound so it immediately flooded her with dread and adrenaline. The small woman had just enough time to look to her left and then duck before her attacker's jaws sailed harmlessly over her head. She heard a familiar voice (he was here!) but she was under attack and the immediate threat had to be dealt with before she could focus on anything else.

Her numerous injuries would certainly bring her down, but she'd known this was a possibility way back at the battlefield. She'd accepted the risk then and she accepted it now.

Amaretto jutted out her left shoulder and sought to slam down and sideways into the much taller woman's forelegs. It was one of the few places on her torso that was free of bite wounds so it seemed like a fairly safe weapon she could use without making her own injuries worse. Her goal was simple: bring the giant crashing down.

Valdís vs Amaretto for Maim
Round: 1 of 1
Size: Small
Build: Heavy
Fight Skill Level: N/A

And the winner is...

Amaretto

VALDIS must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. AMARETTO'S maim is successful. Totals: Valdis: 220.29 Amaretto: 283.5

- Judged by Nyx

Valdís missed her target and went crashing down as the smaller woman slammed into her legs. At her high speed she ended up flipping completely over the girl. With a snarl she got to her feet, defenses still in place as she eyed the trespasser. It was not like her to take her eyes off of an opponent but she risked it to glance at Lament. She did not know the boys name or circumstances, only that his scent was part of Legion now.

"Your sister should know better than to trespass onto a foreign packs lands."

With a huff she tipped back her head and called for Chaos to come sort out this mess.

A lot happened all at once and there was nothing really Tyrian could do beside screech to a halt and watch everything unfold. He watched as one of his packmates ran onto the scene and engaged the woman he had been trying to befriend. Apparently she wasn't a good lady after all? Or maybe they'd gotten into a fight earlier and the grey lady was getting revenge? All Tyrian knew for sure was that it was interesting and he was glad he was there. His day had just gotten 110% better and none of his siblings were around! They were going to be so jealous when he told them about this fight.

Another wolf ran up and declared that the first woman had something called 'sanctuary' and that meant she was protected? Tyrian had no idea if that was true or not, but he noted that the smoke 'n' flames male had long teeth kinda like his own and figured he was family. And if he was family he had to be right, right?

Her move sent the woman tumbling over Amaretto's head. Valdis' weight nearly forced her to the ground, but she shoved upwards and remained on her paws. The moment the woman was clear Amaretto spun to face her. She was fully prepared for another assault and eyed the woman warily, but it soon became clear Lament's words had their desired effect. "Your sister should know better than to trespass onto a foreign packs lands," the woman said. "His sister," she said in a curt tone, "Thought he was a prisoner and came here to rescue him." Had she not had a lifetime of practice suppressing emotion Amaretto's tone would have been snappier. Instead she let her body show her irritation. And she was indeed irritated. Not at being attacked, the woman's response was reasonable considering the situation through her eyes, but at the insult that was indirectly meant for her. "Speech"|"Ademre"

Lament Pyre “Our apologies” The fanged wolf said, his voice emotionless, and his face devoid, through his paw occasionally moved beneath him. He kept himself polite, though if things had gone otherwise, he would have burned his bridges with this pack and leapt to his sisters defence at any moment. He was grateful that he did not yet have to, concerned what might happen to Ballad if he could not get her out, also. The woman whom he did not know, but smelled like Legion, tipped back her head and called for Chaos. That man had been level headed and good to the siblings so far, so he hoped also that the Alpha could untangle this without blood spilled. Confusion, questions, gladness, worry, love his paw flicked to his sister as he turned then to look to her. She looked like she had had a hard time of the last little while, and he wondered what had happened to her. Eris had told them that Amaretto had been with them, but they had found no signs of her at the battlefield. “I am no prisoner here, what happened to you?” he asked, [color=#b74935] concern he would express to her as, with a cautious glance to Valdis, he would move to Amaretto’s side. No matter what happened from here, the siblings would hold a unified front. "Speech"|"Ademic"

Hot on the trail of a trespasser, Chaos had been pleased when Valdis' scent had overlaid the trace. Not so pleased when he realized that one of his little brothers' scent did as well. It had put his hackles up, and he had put in a burst of speed only for Valdis' urgent call to reach him a moment later only a short distance ahead. Taking in the tableau from a distance he slowed to a less breakneck pace and strode in their midst, mismatched eyes taking them all in measuringly. "Tyrion," he said first, his voice firm but seemingly without concern. "Get behind Valdis." He could have told the boy to leave, and the protective instinct raged in him to do just that, but boys had to grow up sooner or later, and he may as well learn now how his pack ran. He didn't spare another glance to his long-fanged baby brother, but he added after a beat of thought, "Guard her back from any more trespassers." As a pup Chaos would have been devastated to be relegated to baby status by the insinuation he needed protecting and might have rebelled. If his brother was anything like him he might do the same, so he wouldnt test that with a volatile situation. Let him think he was acting like a warrior.


"So," he mused aloud, his voice low and dangerous despite the levity of his words, "who wants to explain what is going on here? Why there is a trespasser standing with one of Legion's pups would be a good place to start." His perpetual half-smile was conspicuously absent, buried beneath the flat stare he leveled at the trespasser. His baby brother had been put in danger here, and he wasn't feeling particularly inclined to be sympathetic towards the wolf who had caused that danger.

Tension stilled the air until at last Chaos arrived. Valdís had yet to fully lower her defenses and she continued to eye the strange woman, glancing occasionally at Lament. Chaos instructed Tyrion to get behind her and watch her back before asking if anyone wanted to explain.

Valdís cleared her throat. "This woman trespassed into our territory. Apparently she thought our fiery pack mate was a prisoner. She's his sister." She didn't say anything further, there was no need right now to lay out anything but the facts and she trusted Chaos to make the right decision as to what they were going to do. She'd stand by and wait for his orders.

His toothy mouth fell open in the beginnings of a protest when Chaos commanded him to stand behind Valdis, but the quick shift from 'helpless pup' to 'back up' caused it to slide shut again without a sound.

Tyrian puffed out his chest and strutted around behind Valdis where he stood with his head and tail held high, his eyes roving over the hills behind her. Though she may not have won the scuffle, Valdis' ferocity and eagerness to engage had earned her minor hero status in Tyrian's eyes. He was quite proud to be her lookout and determined to do his best. No one would sneak up on his watch.

Only once did his gaze dart back to the grown ups. Chaos had said something that made him feel a little small. Perhaps he'd been foolish for trying to be the little white lady's friend. The betrayal there, the feeling that he'd made a very bad choice that could have hurt him, stung a bit. He wasn't going to forget this lesson in trust.

Now that she was out of immediate danger Amaretto could appreciate her brother's presence. She was relieved to see him, relieved he was well and that none of the terrible things she'd imagined appeared to have happened to him. Amaretto finished signing this to him just as the alpha arrived. He was very tall and like the boy who refused to leave her alone, he had overly long upper canines. His voice, like his gaze, was steely as he asked for an explanation. Her attacker was quick to give a decent summary. "And I would do it again," she added quickly. "I was under the impression terrible things were being done to my brother and I couldn't stand by and let them continue." Perhaps this wasn't the best defense, but it was the truth. Amaretto sought to hold Chaos' gaze as she spoke. "I'm not particularly strong or skilled in combat, and I have no allies here so my options for freeing him were limited." Amaretto wouldn't apologize; she regretted nothing. She'd done what she thought necessary to save Lament. "Speech"|"Ademre"

Lament Pyre Lament turned his attention to Chaos when the Alpha appeared. The man had been fair to them thus far, and Lament did regret he had brought drama to the mans pack. Moreso, however, he was grateful to have found his sister, and that she was okay. “This is our sister, whom we have been looking for. We believe she was at the battlefield with us that day…” he shot Amaretto a look, but there was no emotion on his face. confusement, puzzlement his paw whispered. “My apologies for the drama Chaos, it seems a misunderstanding was at play… why did you think I was a captive here?” he asked Amaretto, realising that part made no sense. His scent markers on the border would show him coming and going as he looked for this very siblings. "Speech"|"Ademic"