Cortinarri

Moving along at a steady pace, despite her ever-present limp, Cortinarri scaled the lower reaches of the rugged Croal Mountains. Now and then she would pause and take a moment to sniff at prominant areas where she could detect the passings of other canines. One scent in particular, that of Keilo's, caught her attention. For a long while she lingered over the odor, for it brought many memories to her. Vatoni, Kanan, Umay, Kiolana, and Kouji... The wolfess sat down on her haunches as more faces and names awoke in her mind; Vevisca, Cedar, Nau, Wespro, Sahena... Isia. A low, seething growl escaped her clamped jaws.

After a few minutes had gone by, a loud boom startled the slender minx out of her reverie. Humans...! But no, this was no human. A deep, reverberating rumble rolled out, so powerful she could feel it in her chest. Looking up, Corinarri saw the dark, low thunderheads sailing closer. Pushing her muzzle forward, she met the uncoming storm front as it swept it cool, heavy wind her way. Shortly after, a nearly blinding deluge started, soaking her to the skin despite her resiliant wolf-coat.

Namir

A familiar face appeared, looking down from a high ledge above Cortinarri. It was her long-time friend, Namir. The big cougar, who owed his life to Cortinarri and the pack, was hardly recognizeable from the first time they had seen him, as an emaciated bag of bones and stretched flesh. Sleek, powerful muscles lay underneath a sheening tawny pelt, defining his form with intriquet groves and humps to show his peek conditioning. He was in the prime of his life now, and one of the largest land predators in the valley; save for the bears of course, and the few tigers that had made it home here.

Coiling his limbs, Namir sprung down to a second ledge, and then to the ground in front of Cortinarri. "Greetings." He said with a smiling grin. Padding forward, the cougar gave the wolfess a light nudge, "Mind to share a hunt with an old friend?"

Hidden Betrayal

"Cortinarri." Came a bark over the loud roar from above. She leaped from a large rock and landed with casual grace next to Namir. "You are the wolfess whom hates Aaka, oui?" Betrayal's eyes were over bright and eager. Another possible member for them. And maybe the cougar as well. Her black bodice was defiant against both those here but she continued to stare into Cortinarri's eyes as her body trembled from the heat of the storm. IT was not fear she felt, but excitement. "I am Hidden Betrayal, alphess of the Shadow Haunters. I do believe we have met before." She was unsure but she wanted, no needed, to stay on Cortinarri's good side.

I feel so misused and misplaced
In this world of Distaste
They scream at me in their pain
Why cant you release me to play the game
These fallen angels, they whisper to me
They are nothing but a pawn to me
A dream for these shadows are closing in
I beg on my knees and dance on that thin dark line
The devil he knows that I dont stand a chance
But he doesnt know the plan
Seduce and destroy, lets play the game
Enter the mind of those who enjoy
Tear it open and rub salt in the wounds
Tear me from the bone and bleed me dry
Let them all hang high
Fight it until you get the chance
And now youve lost this dance
Charm and wit and now your in a fit
I get what I want and never lose
This is what I choose
Slide the knife on that path of blue
And I know now that I killed you

Cortinarri

A joyful nuzzle was given to her cougar-friend, "Namir, a hunt sounds..." the sentence was not finished, for a loud bark rose above the turmoil of the storm. Cortinarri stood tall as Hidden Betrayal jumped down in front of her, hidding her marred hind limb by shifting her body slightly to the side in a casual manner. Firey yet stone-hard eyes looked straight back into the others, "Aaka..." The name was issued in a dark growl as her lips writhed back to reveal deadly ivories. "...she destroyed my pack. Hate is an understatement." Cortinarri affirmed, the distaste for the current alpha very clear in her voice and narrowed eyes. Sly-minded, the wolf hid her curiousity about why Betrayal had come to her, although she had a hinting idea. "Yes, I do remember you. From the Toklat Canyon."

Namir

Namir flashed an intent look to Hidden Betrayal, wondering why Aaka had been brought up. Being so close to Cortinarri and their pack, he too shared a similar animosity to the white alphess that stole their home. And although he was mates with Tolacca, he did not have any special bondage to Sivinith or the rest of her kin. However, he did have three grown offspring of his own. He was not particularly close to any of them, apart from Namalt perhapse, yet he was sure they would all help him if he were in any sort of trouble.

Hidden Betrayal

She grinned, a quick flash of fangs. "A new pack has arisen, Cortinarri. We are going to take over all the packs of the valley. It would be best to join now, or be dominated. Aaka.....I am sure she will not live. To many in our pack hate her as it is. They want to cause her pain Torture her. I am sure that such a beautiful mastermind such as yourself would love to get in on that. Non?" Her words were silky smooth but spoken in a cold tone as she held herself loosely, not giving away her alpha position except by the way she stared into Cortinarris own orbs.

Cortinarri

A flash of irritation passed her features, but it was brief and quickly dissolved. She did not like to be dominated, though it had happened more than once in the past. She had ample pride, and was often spiteful in her actions, but she knew how to work with and against others to get what she wanted. However, with Aaka's hold on her previous terra, and her affiliation with the Lurkers, there was no way she could have taken out the white alphess. But now, it seemed she was left without a choice again; join with this new pack, or be crushed. The choice was simple enough; Cortinarri knew it would only be a matter of asserting herself amongst the newly proclaimed pack and gaining the highest ranking she could.

"I will join, of course." She wolfess replied in a calm tone, as if there had been no racing debates or thoughts in her mind when the question was put to her. "My mate will be with me as well, Manov..." Now she lingered after that name, thinking over all the others she knew. Keilo? Vevisca? Ghost, Kanan? No, they weren't much to her. None of them went with her when she was forced to submit to Aaka; she would not help them now, even they had once been part of her pack. Well, Ghost maybe... if only Manov wanted it. "Where does this pack reside? And when do we plan a strike against the white whench?" Already counting herself a member, using 'our' instead of 'you'.

Hidden Betrayal

She grinned and said softly "We call ourselves the Shadow Haunters. We take residence in the ruins. We are taking over the smaller packs first. Aaka's pack has grown so she will come later. When we are large enough to take her over. But slowly we are taking out her allies. The Lurkers for example...." She grinned menacingly. They had killed at least two members. Of that she was certain. And another had betrayed its pack and come to their side. Oh the joy of it all. "You can bring your mate as well. I am sure he to will wish to get revenge on the Ice Bitch." Betrayal held a particular grudge. Aaka had used the black alphess as a bargaining token. Now....The tables had turned.

Cortinarri

Ah, the Lurkers... oh, she was very glad they were on the Shadow Haunter's list of enemies. They had tortured her at one point, nearly causing her death. Though they spared her life in the end, she would return no such favor. No one stole her title, her pride, and attacked her and got away with it, as far as she could help it. And now that she has allies, she can help it; she can get her revenge. "Oh yes, he will delight in it, I assure you. As will I." Cortinarri glanced to Namir, then turned to leave and bring the news to her mate.