The mottled King Penguin walked through the humans' yards, holding her head high. It would surely be a surprise to see a native to Antarctica near your home. But she was a zoo escapee, like many of her friends here. The warm weather was making her uncomfortable. She finally stopped in a garden near a driveway, letting out a loud call.

So here she was, with no friends, no family, and no one by her side. She was a loner by nature, but now...Now she was just to much alone to suit her. She had rarely ever wandered the humans lands, but then she heard the call of another and she had to go see what was causing it. Thats when her eyes landed upon the penguin. Now what on earth is that? She had never seen a penguin. Well, that was mainly because she didn't really go near others but hey, she couldn't help her independant nature. Others just slowed her down all the time, driving her crazy. So here she was, bored with nothing to do and funny looking bird standing there screaming her heart out to the world. You might not want to do that. She said softly. Her voice, God a person could just fall in love with her voice. So soft, so gentle but there was an edge to it to let you know that she was deadly serious, and not about to let you get by without heeding her words. She was related to the muchly hated Risen, but then again, who wasn't these days? It seemed everyone had been forcebred by Vicious, and now his demons spawn was spreading out amongst the valley. Oh joy, right? The daughter of Kage looked upon the penguin, sorrow in her eyes. Why had everyone left her? She had done right by many, but wrong by them. So what now?

---

.:.Ressurrection.:.

.:.Female.:.

.:.Sliced From Time.:.

.:.Alone in a World of Darkness.:.

Nova stared at Ressurrection for a moment before speaking up. "Um...Hello..." She said quietly. The thought of speaking to a stranger who could eat her seemed to make her uneasy. "I'm Nova. Who are you?" She kept her voice low, ready to 'run' if she should have to. There was little water nearby, so she would have nowhere to hide if this wolf should make a foolish move.

Her smile was faint, but true. Ressurrection. She looked up, then to the bird. If I attacked you, Odd One, then you would be dead. You and I both know it. I see that you cannot run, and I highly doubt you can fly because if you could, you would have flown away at the sight of me. Just like everyone else. She thought to herself. In her eyes was a look of hurt, of such sadness and pain it was nearly unbearable. Her own family no longer wanted her, because she had betrayed them. Was this the way it was to be?

Nova stepped forward, cautiously but curiously. "Greetings, Ressurrection." Nova said softly. She noticed the look in the female's eyes and couldn't help but speak up. "Is something bothering you?" She stretched her neck out, barely letting her head get into the wolf's reach.

At the penguins question, her lip curled in a slight sneer. Oh honey, plentys bothering me. She looked left, then right, then asked If you don't mind me asking, what the Hell are you? She had never seen a penguin in her life, and well...She was curious.

Nova flapped her wings and shook her head. "I'm a penguin." She replied. "We come from Antarctica, way down at the other end of the world." The heat was getting to her now, and she didn't like it.

It didn't take long for Mesa to spot the enemy. Circling around, she found that there appeared to be no other Haunters in the area, and so she gave the signal for the canines to advance.

Ankh moved stealthy from one yard to the next, keeping to shrubbery and fences as much as he could to avoid detection from humans. Behind him trailed an eager Hatch, almost a year old now.

As father and son finally reached the area, they wasted no time hiding or planning an attack. Instead, the came right out in the open and circled around Ressurrection and Nova. "What in the world do we have here?" Ankh spoke out, in a voice that was cynical and not at all friendly. The penguin really threw him for a loop, but he focused mainly on the enemy. "Well well, a sister of Risen's, aren't you?" The little hybrid bore his fangs, but didn't attack yet. He needed to wait for Kiro and Sequoia first.

Hatch was much more interested in the giant bird. Wide-eyed, he googled at the strange, mottled beast that was taller than himself.

Following closely behind Ankh was Kuro, smirking menacingly as he joined the circle the rotated around the bird and beast. Pulling back his gums, Kuro looked up to Ankh but held off attacking as they waited for Sequioa. The hybrid growled, tucking his neck. His fur bristled and muscles coiled to ready himself should Resurrection attack.

She was about to say something to the penguin, when another voice was heard. Immediatly, her silver body tensed and she froze. Frozen sister, Flee! Her tail was held low, her head down to protect her throat. I'm not here for trouble, kids. Why don't you run along home now, huh? I'm just having a nice chat with a...Whatever she is. Her tail wagged slowly, but there was something in those eyes. Darkness. Pain. Hatred for herself. At Ankhs words, those eyes became cold. Not according to her. I'm...I'm disowned for standing in the way of a mission. She gave a wolfish shrug. They wanted to kill the Aspen Grove pack. I wouldn't let them. So, according to her and the rest of my family, I'm not one of them. You kill me, it gains you nothing. Her smile was dark. Actually, here. Kill me. End it all, right now. She raised her head, exposing her throat. She just....Didn't want to fight anymore.

The snowy-white mate of Ankh was next to arrive, and she was quick to join in the circling of their enemy. "Don't trust a word from the enemy." The hybrid hissed, glancing briefly to her son to warn him. "Killing you is too easy. We will follow through with the orders of Hydras and break two legs-one now, and one when we get back to the Den." Owl glared at Ressurrection before looking to her pack mates to be sure they agreed with the plan. The images of a dead Panic, Lasher, and her own son so badly wounded did not sit well with the white mother, and she wasn't about to give this Haunter a chance, even if she was telling the truth.

She followed the others, the delta female holding her tail high. She came from behind, then lightly snapped at Ressurrections back end. What should they do now? Believe her? Or don't and snap an innocents legs? Ugh, so many decisions. She lifted her gaze to Ankh. She trusted him most, so far in the pack. And that trust didn't go very far.

She had one chance. To Flee. Besides Purgatory, Ress was the fastest of her litter. Her entire body tensed, and she turned to run when suddenly there was Sequioa. With a snarl, she sprang back. Get away from me. All of you. Her tail lifted, but only slightly. Desperation was creeping into her eyes, and she said I was never a Haunter! Why must you do this? It was not I who killed any of you, let me go! Her tail waved a bit, but it was out of fear. She had always prided herself on being cool and level headed, but she was greatly out numbered with a lot of angry canines around her. I can prove it to you! Seek my sister, Purgatory! She...She lives with a new pack. A great Pack. One that is against the Haunters, she will tell you! She needed to run, but with two on her left, one on her right, one behind and a wall in the front...She was pretty much screwed. She had to come into an alley. Just had to.

Sharing glances with his mate and Sequoia, a wicked grin delevoped on Ankh's lean muzzle, "I remember watching two of my nieces die. My sister too, and my mom." He stopped circling now, hackles slowly rising higher as his voice deepened into a leering snarl, "I don't really care whether you are telling the truth or not. The unfortunate thing for you, is that Risen is your sister, and that automatically earns you a broken leg." The little hybrid, almost smaller than his son, nodded to the others, "We will treat you as an enemy now, and take no risks. A broken leg will ensure you don't escape or pose us any threat. In the meantime, we'll check out your story and see if you tell the truth. If your story checks, then you won't get a second broken leg... but if your story doesn't check out, you'll get three broken."

Ankh dipped his muzzle, whispering something to his son. After a few seconds, Hatch suddenly rushed forward, going for one of Ressurrection's front legs. But at the last second, he dodged to the side, snapping at her muzzle. That's when Ankh rushed in, trying to catch the wolfess off gaurd and snap one of her hind legs...

As Ankh went in, so did Sequioa. She, however, didn't go for a leg. Indeed, the hybrid went for Ressurrections body, trying to land on her back and send her down and allow them to make it easier to snap her legs in two. This is for Panic. She hissed into the others ear.

The hybrid didn't leap in when the others did, circling the 'target', Kuro would defend his packmates, should he need to. A glare was sent to the bird. Leave now if you know what's good for you.

Nova nodded and scurried away fearfully.

She turned to meet the younger male, when suddenly a pain so intense caught her leg. She tried to pull away, but at that point another was upon her back and she fell hard to the ground. SNAP There was no other noise. No snarls, no cries of pain. Just silence. She lay there, letting all the sounds wash over her. Their conversing, their snarls. The sounds of humans not so far, her pounding heart. She could feel the tears rising up inside of her, but she would not cry. She would not give them that satisfaction. Indeed, the once fiery Ressurrection was now an empty shell. She had been defeated, not by the Lurkers, but by her own blood. Her own family.

Snarling, he watched the bird scuttle away. Turning his narrowed eyes on the cripple form of Ressurrection, Kuro glanced to Ankh and Sequioa. "Let's get her back to the den." Padding over, the hybrid seized the back of the 'victim's' neck and began to drag her to the Aegis den.

Her eyes narrowed when no sound escaped Ressurrection. Lets go. She said to all the others.