Phoenix/Saguaro/Seabird/War Song/Sarki

The trio arrived at the Temple, cold and shivering. All except for War Song, of course. The large Black Bear came first, followed by the Mule Deer and the Turkey.

"This must be it." Said Seabird. "We came in search of a peaceful home, but didn't get it thanks to the Haunters. Now we're only a short time away from it." He roamed around the walls, looking into each room. It was big enough for a whole herd of deer, with plenty of room for anyone else.

Sarki walked into the room Saguaro was in. It contained many ancient artifacts. Little clay and stone animals, they were. She pecked through the mess of them, searching for a place to rest. Finally, she sat down in a corner.

"Pretty nice, huh Sarki?" Saguaro said, tapping her hooves on the stone. "Oh, yes. Is this where you stay?" Sarki replied. The Javelina nodded.

Phoenix watched over her friends from the high stone platform. She especially kept her eye on Saguaro, who seemed to be a magnet for hungry carnivores.

Legend

While his mother, and the few lucky others to escape the massacre, were hiding out in an ally's territory, Legend sought out something different. At two years of age, he weighed in at quarter ton; not as large as he could be, but that would come with age. On his head were a set of velvet-covered antlers, growing bigger by the day. Like his sire, Legend's antlers grew like a pair of swords; two tineless masses of bone, strong enough to pierce through the skull of a bison. Like Nhosh, Legend was a switch stag.

Of course right now, his antlers were as harmless as his tail. They were still soft and growing, and he could not afford to damage them before they hardened off in the summer. He was not here to fight anyway, though.

He could smell many cats, and that brought instinctual fear into the young stag's heart. But he vaugely remembered the days was Venus and the other predators helped his pack out by killing a group of hunters and their dogs. If word had reached him right, the felines and other animals that lived here were just as willing to see him as a friend if he had the same agenda as they did.

Legend arrived just as the lastest group of friends were settling in. Slowing down, the red deer cautionsly stepped into the temple, doing his best to remain calm when the scent of predators swamped his senses. "Hello-" The young stag called out uncertainly, not sure who he should speak to about joining this pack.

Phoenix/Seabird

Phoenix looked down at Legend. She knew not to eat members of her family, and the Ancient Guardians were her family now. But she sensed his fear and spoke. "I will not eat you, little deer." She said softly. "I never harm a friend." She lied down to show that she was not a threat.

Seabird smelled another of his own kind. He slowly approached Legend. "Hello, young buck. I am Seabird." He said.

Venus

The nervous call rang out through the temple, bouncing off the walls. With relaxed muscles, one of the many felines slipped through the gathered members of the Gardians and headed towards the red deer. Noting his appearance was similar to that of Nhosh, the cat grinned slyly as she stopped a few feet from the stag. Hello, young buck. I believe you are a son of Nhosh, for you look much like him. My name is Venus, one of the many new Ancient Gardians that live here. Do you wish to join us?

Icarus

The large Borzoi walked into the Temple and sat near the doorway. After observing the place for a while, he approached Legend and Venus. "You must be some of the Anti-Shadow Haunters - the Ancient Guardians." He said in a friendly tone. "I am Icarus." His tail wagged and a smile lit up his face.

Tuari

Tuari stepped into the Temple, ruffling his feathers. "Pen? Are you here?" He asked quietly. The long plumes on his head went up and down as he looked around. There was no sign of his sister. There was no sign of any secretary bird, actually. He spotted the group in the distance and moved closer. "Sorry to interrupt, but has anyone seen another of my kind?" He asked. The one he was looking for was his sister, Penny.

Sasha

Sasha examined Tuari. He did look familiar. In fact, he looked almost exactly like her friend. "I have seen a bird like you. Penny is her name. Is this the one you are looking for?" She informed. "But I am sorry to tell you that she is being held captive by the Haunters. We are doing all we can to get back what we have lost."

Tuari

A look of sadness grew on Tuari's face. "Penny. I have not seen her for years. You say she is being held captive by the Shadow Haunters. I have heard of them and their very name angers me." He flicked his tail and looked at all the creatures in the Temple. "I would be happy to help you fight these beasts. Who is your leader?"

Venus

Whilst she waited for Legend's answer, Venus turned to the bird that appeared with flashing eyes. His name is Baphomet, He shall be around here somewhere. Pay him respect, small bird, and everything shall be fine. The cougar then turned back to Nhosh's son, with a smile.

Legend

Being confronted by so many creatures, and so many different kinds of creatures, was almost overwhelming. Yet he couldn't deny the sense of unity and sincerity they seemed to have; and most importantly for him, the predators didn't look at him as their next dinner. When Venus spoke, a light of recognition awoke on the young stag's eyes. He was very young when the hunters attacked, but there was the slightest of memories tied to this particular feline.

This only made Legend feel all the more secure in this bizarre place. "My name is Legend, son of Nhosh and Wycliff." The stag replied with a polite dip of his fuzzy antlers. "I've heard this group is against the Haunters...? Almost my entire herd has been captured by them." Legend explained with a glint of fury in his dark eyes, "I wish to join your... rebellion." He was about to say 'herd', but there was such a strange mix of animals here, he wasn't sure what to call the group. When the deer was finished speaking, he fixed his gaze back on Venus, still trying to place her, though he was sure she was one of the predators that had helped his herd against the humans.

Havoc .+. Chaotic .+. Pandora

Pandora! Come here! NO! WOULD YOU STOP!? Suddenly a cheetah flew past the group, and when I say flew I mean quite literally. Seeing that she had passed everyone, she turned and trotted back. Another came panting up, but this was no cheetah. Indeed, the voice had come from the siberian tiger, Havoc. He gave a scowl to Pandora, who held a look of anger in her eyes. I told you I knew where I was going! She hissed at him. The siberian just scowled. Then the cheetah spoke once more. We are looking for the second in command here. Since Baphomet himself is not here, we wish to see his...Beta? She wasn't used to pack life, but it wasn't her fault. Cheetahs were normally solitary animals.

Venus

Venus grinned, nodding her head. Ah, I recognise you. I know Nhosh from a long time ago, I helped your herd fight the humans and free many of the members your herd now has. Though by the sound of it, they've all fallen under Haunter control, She frowned, her eyes narrowing. At his question, she perked back up. Of course, Legend, Your very welcome to. We're growing very quickly, We'll soon rival the Shadow Haunters in size...

It was then that Pandora flew past. The feline's fur bristled, instinctively, but she calmed down when she noted there was no aggression. With a small smile, Venus turned to face the two new cats. I'm not sure if there is a second in command as of yet, but I'm sure I'll do fine for now. What do you need?