Trouble Abroad

As usual, Zia had spent the earlier hours of the day marking and patrolling the fringes of the Glen. For once, she loosened her strict routine just a little, knowing that there were plenty of willing wolves who would follow in her wake. With so much extra help, she felt that she could afford to take it easy, especially in these warm summer months. Each tree, shrub and rock had been doused in strong, pungent liquid, serving as a blatant "no trespassing" sign to outsiders and predators alike. With growing pups in the den, it was crucial that the pack maintained a steady vigil.

Only after she was satisfied with her rounds, did Zia dare to venture beyond the safety of the borders. But she didn't go far, just into the inner reaches of the Cold Water creek territory to check on an old, well worn hunting trail she had accidentally found sometime ago. Chances were slim that anything would turn up at this hour, but it never hurt to look. Her regal head twisted from one side to the other, her wet black nose guided to the dirt to assess the scents of whatever animals had used this path recently. Finding no signs of any recent visitors at the borders, her jaws parted in lazy yawn, salmon tongue curling before clicking her mouth shut. She didn't want to spend the rest of the day out in this heat, which was only going to get worse as late morning progressed into early afternoon. A good long nap in the cooler confines of the underground den was just what she needed.

Turning on a dime, Zia slipped back to the security of her own territory. At an easy lope, she allowed her legs to carry her unhurriedly back into the heart of the Glen. Her shortened summer coat glinted faintly in the dim lighting of the undergrowth, it's silver and charcoal tones blending in with the shadows. What she didn't expect was the foreign, potent musk that permeated the air once she was almost through the thicket. Wrinkling her muzzle in distaste, she registered the smell instantly. Badger. There was no mistaking it. With an irritated sweep of her tail, she cursed herself for allowing such an animal to slip past the borders. She should've been more vigilant! Bursting into action, she crashed through the tangle of dense shrubs and vines, emerging out into the open with haste.

Tracking the vermin down by it's scent trail, she was guided closer and closer to the den. Where the pups were huddled down. What she saw next made her blood boil. The stout, grizzled frame of the culprit itself, who was churning away the earth at the den with it's powerful front claws. She did not see Borlla or Phineas nearby, nor anyone else. It was a very real possibility that the pups were left alone, defenseless. Bolting forward at full speed, her dark lips curled back to reveal rows of ivory teeth, while her hackles stood on end. With a guttural snarl, she launched herself at the exposed hind end of the invader, intent on sinking her teeth into it's flesh. The puppies were far too young to defend themselves from such a threat, and after only having been introduced to them weeks earlier, Zia was already attached. She'd risk everything to protect the lives of the youngest members of Magnolia Glen. Her adversary whirled around as sharp teeth bit into it's flesh, lunging forward to snap and claw at the offending wolf. Zia however, wouldn't back down. With no time to summon help, she could only prey that the sounds of the scuffle would attract attention, and quickly.

There was something peaceful about hanging around home. Life felt normal, calm, wonderful. Waking up early, Borlla had immediately gone to hunt, intending to check the borders as she went. But before she reached the boundary, she'd caught two plump rabbits. Enough for her children and her and certainly leftovers to share. It felt good to get out and stretch her legs, but also know that her children were nearby, there was nothing to fret about. There would not be miles to race, which certainly would not have been preferable with her still sore foot. It had been just a day or so ago that she'd ended up with a large thorn in her paw. The pain had certainly faded, but if she put too much weight on it, it proved a bit of an issue. To catch the rabbits, she'd had to sort through the nagging discomfort. Food was a necessity. Although the cache was typically full, Borlla desired to give her own contribution.

It was early enough that she was certain someone might have already been out marking the borders, and once she'd left her children with their breakfast, Borlla would go back and check. Casually walking along, Borlla noticed a strange scent in the air and paused, her ears bending back. A warm breeze flowed along strengthening the scent. Her lips pulled back, and she broke into a run. The soreness in her paw escalated to pain, but she ignored it. There was a badger in their territory. And it was near the den. Near her children. Fury grew within her, wondering how it could have made it past the borders. They weren't small predators, though short and angry. But regardless of how it had made it into Magnolia Glen, Borlla was not going to let it out.

She made something of an arch around the densite, her pace not once slowing until she flowed into the emergency exit that had been dug a few months ago. She could hear the scrabblings of the monster by the main entrance, thankfully it hadn't gotten in yet. <b style="color:#32527a">"Kyros?" The mother barked, fear evident in her voice. <b style="color:#32527a">"Hypatia?" It did not take long to find her children and see the shadow of the badger causing little bits of dirt to tumble into the denspace. <b style="color:#32527a">"Stay back." She growled to her children, hackles up as high as they'd ever been. Mixed in with the scrabblings of the badger she heard a snarl, and the scent of badger mixed with the scent of Zia. The digging stopped, and Borlla slowly crept forward until she could see out. Zia had engaged the badger, thankfully distracting it from its goal. Lunging forward, she bit at the badger's hind end, easily meeting her mark as it had been going after her packmate. <b style="color:#32527a">

Trix, I'll leave the badger attacks up to you for the time being. Hopefully that's alright.

Lurking until the end of July - Please PM/tag me to get my attention

you guys can skip Hypatia a few if ya want. I hope playing Kyros a little was ok as we wait to see what happens.

Tiny stomach rumbled, beginning to ache with hungry. Hypatia did not like that, and began to toss and turn against Kyros. Tired, as she always seemed to be with her never ending growing pains she did not yet want to open her eyes. She was hoping momma would come, wake them up, and surprise them with something to eat. Usually that was the norm now, and she waited. A little surprised Kyros was not urging her up, she did not think anything of it. The little girl was perfectly happy, lazily holding on to last few winks of sleep.

There was dirt being moved, and Hypatia did not like that either. "Kyros, no," she mumbled, wondering why he thought digging was a good idea. Nothing happened, and her eyes jolted open. "N-o-o," she barely mouthed, because she was assaulted by a horrible scent, and felt her muscles tighten throughout her frame. Eyes wide open, she saw her face reflected in the pale white of her brother's. What did they do? Where was momma? Instantly, if summoned she heard her sweet voice.

Suddenly she emerged from behind. Hypatia walked with Kyros, scrunching to her side. Already, they were made to huddle together as they were told not to move. This command would be easy to obey, she did not want to go any where and she doubted Kyros would either. Whatever was out there was scary if it had momma looking that cross, and Hyp hope it knew it was in big trouble. Assured by the warmth that was her brother, she listened to the hisses of the creature, the distant snaps of teeth waiting for it to be over.

(This post was last modified: Jul 23, 2013, 03:51 AM by Hypatia.)

All that was on her mind was the safety of those pups. Her own well being was on the back burner, here in this one frantic moment. Screw it all. Zia would gladly risk a few painful bites if it meant distracting the badger long enough. Fortunately, just seconds after she arrived on the crime scene, their protective mother, and her Alphess, Borlla, came charging in. Little mind was paid to the ivory she wolf, who was surely ensuring the protection of her children. The badger on the other hand, was proving to be frustrating. With a stinging pain in his rear, he whirled, hissing and grunting at the offending subordinate. Teeth clacked with a snap of strong jaws aimed towards her front legs. Zia only danced backwards and out of the way, daring a vengeful, defiant bite towards it's head.

With two wolves against one badger, it was now only a matter of time until his fate was sealed. He seemed aware of this, and grew frantic, snarling in pain as a set of teeth sank into his rear, drawing blood. Beady eyes glinting, he spun on his stout little legs, desperately trying to ward off his attacker. A swipe of a paw, tipped with long claws normally used for digging, was turned into a weapon as he struck at the muzzle of Borlla in an attempt to teach her he meant business. But Zia meant business as well. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a limp in Borlla's step. She was not in top form, but doing well enough she could still fight. Somehow, she must've had an unfortunate accident involving her paw. Rage coursed through her veins as the stout little mammal had the nerve to lunge for her leader.

With a furious growl escaping through clenched teeth, she dove at the animal, aiming to grasp it behind the neck and grant it a quick death. However her target proved to be too wiggly and too aggressive to ensure her jaws met their mark. As soon as she began to close the distance, the badger, sensing the attack, swung his head around to snap at her chin. His teeth only grazed a few short hairs, as she withdrew her head away in the nick of time. Through slitted blue eyes, she decided on a change of tactics. Such an animal was too dangerous to fight head on. They would need a more creative approach. Flinging her paw out, she swiped at it's side in an attempt to try and knock the critter off balance, where the soft flesh of it's underbelly would be exposed. Of course, her mark was off just a little bit, and the platinum coated female drew back, ready to slip in with another, more forceful blow when she saw an opening.

A few angry words, if only to startle her children into quick obedience, were nothing compared to the suffering that would certainly come if they did not keep behind her. Borlla was only thankful that, despite being cruelly pulled from a peaceful rest, they obeyed her. The next important thing to do: <b style="color:#32527a">"Zia, are you alright?" Borlla barked, getting a clear enough view of the woman from her position beneath the rocks. But she had little opportunity to worry as the badger turned on her now, obviously infuriated by her vicious hind attack. The woman jerked away, but not fast enough to avoid the vicious claws as they raked across her muzzle. What a week. The thorn had only been a minor pain in the aftermath, but the pain that now seared through her muzzle was something that she could not recall ever feeling before.

Through her rage, she could feel a thick wetness flowing down the sides of her snout, a sharp pain searing to the bone. Three deep marks let loose a stream of blood, but her fury and adrenaline made the pain all but invisible. <b style="color:#32527a">"I will not let it get you." She said curtly to her children, not turning to look at them, not wishing for them to see her injuries. Carefully moving forward, she began to push herself forward through the entrance. The badger seemed currently engaged with Zia, the swiftness of the smaller mammal making finding a weak point difficult. Borlla's eyes flitted between the badger and Zia, hoping to be able to match the female's attacks.

The badged seemed prepped to lash out at the light woman and Borlla took advantage of this, hoping Zia would do the same. Her head tilted to one side, and she struck out, aiming to wrap her teeth around the badger's leg. This creature was proving harder to take out than Borlla had imagined. <b style="color:#32527a">

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With the fight in full swing, Zia was bound and determined to eliminate the threat towards the pups with Borlla working with her. The badger was only further angered by her failed attempt to roll it's hefty little body over, but she wouldn't give up so easily. A snap of it's jaws forced her to withdraw her paw and wait for an opportunity. Azure eyes narrowed as red blood filled her sight. Gouges running down her Alpha's muzzle, weeping crimson. A snarl bubbled in her throat and escaped her vocal cords. While the children may be unharmed, the enemy did manage to inflict an additional injury upon the ivory woman, who was already suffering from a sore paw. That, was intolerable.

Whirling around, or at least attempting to, the badger swiped at the female once again with his sharp claws. It was at this moment, that Borlla moved in to grab at a hind leg. Seeing the opportunity, the silver wolf lurched forward, jaws agape. Aiming for the back of it's neck, she intended to sink her teeth deep into it's flesh. If she hit her mark, Zia would succeed in restraining the animal so it could no longer attack either her or Borlla with it's jaws. Her hit landed, jaws applying firm pressure around the stout, thick girth of it's neck. With a muffled growl, she bit down, attempting to sever the spine. But the badger would have none of it, wiggling and bucking frantically to shake the wolf off and release it. A swat of sharply tipped paws struck one foreleg, leaving deep, ugly lacerations in it's wake. The stinging pain and bleeding was a small price to pay and not life threatening.

Only further angered at the vicious injury inflicted upon her, Zia pressed her ears back, narrowing her eyes into slits. If the badger was so intent on wriggling around, she'd just return the favor. A savage shake of her head sent the DRECK reeling, tossing his body about like a rag doll. To assure Borlla a prime opportunity to finish it off, or to either maul it, she placed a paw on it's back, attempting to hold it down. She wouldn't be able to keep her jaws clamped around the neck forever. It was a muscular creature and it's struggles were making it difficult to keep a grip. For now all she could do was restrain the vermin.

The scent of blood filled her nostrils. The scent of her own blood. It seemed very surreal. Borlla felt rarefied, invincible. It was hardly a fatal blow she'd taken, but it was the hardest physical blow that she'd been dealt in her life. But the feeling of godliness began to wear off, being replaced by lightheadedness. The cuts had been deep, pressure needed to be applied, but first this beast needed to be dealt with. She blinked swiftly, coming back to reality, focusing on Zia and her attempts to stifle the beast. It was a determined little creature, and while Borlla was certain that it wouldn't get to her children now, it needed to die. The badger would not get away.

Zia had made an attempt to sever the black and white predator's spine, but it wriggled desperately from her grasp. Borlla tried to hold firm to the badger's leg, but the subsequent thrashing had wrenched the limb free. Her gums felt sore as she let a snarl rip free, more red filling her sight as the badger now struck out at her packmate, leaving painful marks along her leg. Staring down her muzzle, she took a deep breath, holding back a reflexive gag as tiny droplets of blood were inhaled. Zia had regained control over the badger now, shaking it savagely before pinning it firmly down. The white fur upon it was now dappled with the blood of the wolves it had assaulted, and likely its own. She wondered, if it escaped, if it would survive long. Paws braced against the earth, she lunged forward, sinking her teeth into its back. She tried to focus on her attack, rather than the thrashing of her victim, and with some effort brought the badger's life to an end. There was a resounding crack, muffled only by the fur and muscle of the badger, as the spine snapped.

Her jaw was locked into place, her muscles twitching spastically. It took her a moment to loosen her grip on the deceased badger. The air that finally left her lungs rattled, spraying tiny droplets of blood on the dirt. Slowly, her orange eyes lifted to Zia. She felt like smiling, triumphant, at her packmate, but the smile didn't come. The lives of her children had been at stake, and despite the victory, she felt no reason to celebrate. Instead, she steadied her breath and her gaze adjusted slightly, a confirmation that she was alright. She breathed a thank you to the woman, before slowly turning her gaze to her children. <b style="color:#32527a">"It's alright now." She said, no signs of aggression left in her after the attack. Motherly tones seeped forward only, hoping to calm her children, despite the rather despondent appearance of their mother. Turning her eyes back to Zia, she finally mustered an inkling of a smile. If not for her packmate, Borlla wasn't sure what could have happened. <b style="color:#32527a">"Go find Eponine. She'll help you out." Hopefully the yearling herbalist wouldn't be too hard to find. She'd do the same soon, but she wanted to tend to her children first. <b style="color:#32527a">

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The young girl didn't move, not even to try to take a peek of the fight outside. Hypatia didn't want to see it. Didn't want to give it a chance to get them. When Borlla's voice came it was hard not to lift on tiny paws, wanting to reach her side where it had always been safe. The creature snarled more, and her tiny body began to shake. If she had seen the size of it she would have known it stood no chance. A little thorn had hurt momma, so what would stop this?

How she wanted to whimper, but felt that would simply give her away. She forced her ears to listen to Kyros' breathing, to her only the steps of paws, not the snaps and crunches. They waited, and waited. And then it was quiet, and carefully they rose to take a look of what had happened. Of what had threatened their home.

First there was Zia, whose seemed untouched, until her light eyes reached down, noticing here was something on her leg. Hypatia frowned, not liking the looks of blood. When the pale face of her mother met them the girl let out the whimper she had been holding. Despite, believing her words there was ugly redness all over her pretty face. Then her eyes spied the creature, who looked more horrific then she imagined. Flinching, and without thinking of Kyros, she fumbled down the little incline, half sliding until her blond paws touched the ground. Then she was shoving them hard, crashing herself into the large white of her mother's legs, burying herself in the thick fur about her chest trying not to cry.

(This post was last modified: Aug 11, 2013, 02:56 PM by Hypatia.)

The battle between wolf and badger waged on. Both of the females had sustained some degree of injury, but that didn't matter. All that she could think of was killing this nuisance so it didn't pose a threat to the pups. It was an uninvited and dangerous guest in the Glen, and thus, had to be eliminated. Adrenalin pumped through her veins as she struggled to control the feisty animal, to drag it back and away from the den. Borlla was proving to be a huge help in the task. Had it not been for her arrival, then Zia would've been left to fight solo. Gods forbid should she have failed. The pups could've been killed, or her injuries would've been far worse, had fate not been smiling upon the Glen wolves.

Her hold upon the badgers stout neck was precarious. She couldn't close her jaws completely around it's girth, so she may snap it's spinal cord. Grunting, she released her grip, only to dart in a second later, aiming carefully. This time, her mark was on the spot, and she felt the points of her teeth digging into the flesh, the metallic taste of blood pooling in her mouth. She snapped her mouth closed like a vice, digging her paws into the soil. Her muscles bunched as she tugged, taking a small step backwards. The pulse of veins was rampant beneath the skin, and she was keen to seek out a vital artery, to which she would tear into. So preoccupied in the heat of the moment, she barely noticed her Alphess zero in on the exposed back of the animal, neatly and effectively snapping it's backbone. Even after the creature went limp, Zia refused to unlock her jaws. Only when Hypatia emerged tentatively from the den, did she snap out of her daze, releasing her hold abruptly.

Her raised hackles slowly settled down back into place, her tail ceasing it's violent lashing. Sapphire eyes flicked up to the yellow one's of Borlla, glinting with a sense of gratitude. The throbbing in her leg then made itself known, and she peered down at the wound, carefully licking around the edges. But Borlla was right, she needed the expertise of a healer. Eponine was available, thankfully. "Thank you, Borlla. I'll be okay in a day or two." Her eyes landed on the set of claw marks on her muzzle. Obviously she was concerned. "Please, make sure you get treatment for those too." A mothers duty to her children came first though, as she saw Hypatia nuzzle into the chest of her mother, a little shaken. With a soft whine of reassurance, Zia then turned and headed off to find Eponine, while wishing the mother daughter pair well.

-Zia Exits-

The worst of it was over. The badger was dead and the two women were mostly alright, still intact, not anywhere near death. Though her muzzle stung like hell and the dead and bloody badger laid in view of her children, Borlla found herself much more eager to reassure Hypatia that everything was alright. They'd see death one day, they'd be the cause of it. Though Borlla hoped Hypatia would never have to fend off a badger to protect her children, it was always a possibility. The world could not always be shiny and beautiful, unfortunately. Even as blood flowed down her muzzle and past her nostrils, she kept herself still as the blonde girl barreled against her. The woman crouched slightly in an attempt to cuddle the girl, comfort her in some way that would result in the child getting blood-spattered every time her mother exhaled.

Her eyes rose to Zia, whose leg seemed in the same shape as Borlla's muzzle, and she nodded stiffly, a quiet promise. Clenching her jaw for a moment to ingest the pain that shot up and between her eyes, she kept her head even as she spoke only for Hypatia. <b style="color:#32527a">"That was a badger, darling. A terrible nasty beast that likes to eat pups, just like you." She told her girl, no hint of cruelty in her voice. She was only hoping to be blunt to avoid any mishaps in the future, though hopefully the sight of the black and white marked animal was clear enough now that they wouldn't be confused as prey or playmates. She was almost glad that it happened this way, rather than the latter way, though she would have preferred it never happen at all. <b style="color:#32527a">"But Zia and I made sure that it didn't get to you or your brother. There are terrible things out there, Hypatia. And I wish you never had to see them, but you have and you will." Borlla took a deep breath, aiming a huff towards the already bloodied mouth of the den. <b style="color:#32527a">"But as long as I bleed and breathe, I will never let anything or anyone hurt either of you." Her jaw clenched again, though only out of sudden fury. How dare anything come near her children. <b style="color:#32527a">"I promise." <b style="color:#32527a">

/borlla exits

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