Cloudbreaker & Dally

It was a bit of a journey from the Lake all the way up to the Eskers, but the trek was necessary to put distance between themselves and the humans who may be hunting Darkia. The white mare, with her random assortment of stripes and brisk, upright mane knew that she would stand out on the open plains like this. The payoff was that she could see any would-be danger long before it could reach her or her friend, and she knew humans to be scarce in this particular terrain.

Cloud slowed her hasty stride as a large pond came into view. The cornflower blue waters were nestled between two gently sloped hills, and backed on one side by a field of blueberry shrubs. On the other side, tufts of dead grass peaked up from a shallow blanket of snow. "Okay, we'll be safe here Darkia. There should be enough forage around to keep us full while we figure out our next move."

High above the two mares, a dark shaped circled in the sky.

Darkia

She followed her exhausted by the time they fainally reached their destination. She glanced around and snorted.They probably won't come up here at least not til lspringShe said as she went to the pond and began to drink . now they just had to find a familiar canine or feline.. but how would they..

Cloudbreaker & Dally

While Darkia sated her thirst, Cloudbreaker kept her head up and auds alert. Nothing of interest caught her eyes, just miles of loam, snow, and distant mountains. "I think you're right. And it'll be a few weeks yet before spring returns to the Valley, so we have time to figure things out." Only once her friend was done drinking did Cloud move in to quench her own thirst. The cold water was refreshing and brisk and helped to clear the mare's mind as she continued to tackle the problem of their future. Once satisfied, she raised her dial and shook her mane. "So Darkia, when's the last you saw any of the others? Mikia, Grayfell, any of the Warriors?"

Dally continued to circle above the pair, an inconspicuous little splotch against the rolling clouds above.

Darkia

Darkia quenched her thirst as her friend stood watch. She looks around to take in thier place and also to note where they might be able to make an escape if needed. Then her ear twitched at the question.I don't remember, i've been captive for maybe three months if not moreShe said then saw a bird shadow on the snow and glanced up. The bird was vagually familar.that bird...She says watching it as best she could.

Cloudbreaker & Dally

Cloudbreaker's ear swiveled towards a faint rustle a few yards away. Her nares flared and she turned her head abruptly to the source, ready to fight or flee... only to see a young ptarmigan kicking at the snow on the edge of the lake, trying to uncover some food for himself. Cloud sighed and closed her eyes momentarily to recover her composure. "Same here. I last saw them towards the south, near the Wolf Center. But, that's been some time ago, and there's a lot of two-legger activity around there now." The mare's dark eyes snapped open when Darkia mentioned the bird, and she looked mistakenly to the ptarmigan, completely missing the shadow that was now out of her line of sight.

"That one? What about that bi-" Right about that time, a sharp whistle of air stopped Cloud mid-sentence. Something small and dark whizzed past her head, and in the next instant, the ptarmigan all but exploded in a cloud of white feathers as Dally slammed into him, just as the bird was scrambling into the air. Cloudbreaker snorted and reared back, her startled brain taking a second or two to recognize the little raptor, "Dally! You damned, winged rat! Warn us next time!"

Darkia

She snorted and then shook her head.then we can't go near thereShe said. She would not risk it it was too risky. She glanced at the one on the ground and snorted.no Just as she said that was when Dally struck and she reared up and snorted. Her ears flat back and she moved in a circle a little agitated.

Cloudbreaker & Dally

The zorse would have heartily agreed with her friend that traveling to the Wolf Center was a bad idea, giving the increase in two-legger activity in the area. She was sure that the Haunters would have moved out of the area anyway, given their lack of friendliness towards most humans. Cloudbreaker's thoughts had turned to the falcon now though, while her heart worked on calming down from the jolt of surprise that had just rushed through her.

For his part, Dally only looked mildly irritated at the two equine before lowering his stout little head and inspecting his catch, "Calm down, the two of you." He shifted his talons and stepped off the ptarmigan once he was satisfied that it was well and truly dead. "What brings the two of you out this way? I've not seen either you in quite some time."

Darkia

Her nostrils were flaring as she finally s east the circling. She pawed the ground as her ears flicker and her eyes dart around. you have not seen me because I was in prison in the two legger worldShe snorted her breathing slowly returning to normal.

Cloudbreaker & Dally

Cloud's eyes were still wide in slowly dissipating fear, but her composure was regained more quickly, and her focus honed in on the raptor. With her ears forward, she took a few heavy steps towards him, stomping her hooves just enough to let Dally know she wasn't pleased with him. For his part, the falcon recoiled a bit over his prey, but refused to be completely cowed or frightened back. "Next time, let us know before you go exploding birds a foot away from us." Cloudbreaker snorted lightly, then glanced back at Darkia to make sure she was okay. "Speaking of, you haven't seen any two-leggers around here, have you? We're afraid the ones that caught her might be out and about."

Dally began to pluck beak-fulls of white feathers from his dinner, hardly pausing in this task to answer his equine friends, "You're in the clear right now, no humans here. There were some at the edge of the Eskers though, a few miles out." The raptor was almost nonchalant about this, though it was more because of his interest in his meal than a lack of concern for the two mares. It was after a few moments of plucking that he finally stopped and directed his full attention to Darkia and Cloudbreaker, "I can be your eyes in the sky, if you two need it."

Darkia

Darkia let Cloud speak. Her body calming down till dally said there were some at the edge of the eskers.Did it look like they were looking for somethingher nostrils flared and she pawed the ground nervously. She heard Dally about being their eyes that would be nice but she was more concerned about those humans.

Cloudbreaker & Dally

Dally turned his head thoughtfully, recalling what he saw of the humans earlier. "I'm not the best judge of humans and their behavior, but..." Large eyes blinked and narrowed, "I got that impression, yes. There were three of them, one was riding a horse - dark fellow, with strange ears."

Cloudbreaker pawed the ground, not caring that she'd uncovered a bit of green below the snow. She was getting anxious about these two-leggers now, especially if one was on a horse. "Do keep watch out for us then Dally, in case they start heading this way." For good measure, the zorse raised her dial and took in a deep draft of air, scenting the wind. No trace of human.

Darkia

Darkia nostrils flared at that. its them im sure of it She siad pawing the ground. She reared up alittle. we need to do something they'll get here..... She said.

Cloudbreaker & Dally

Dally plucked another beak-full of feathers from his meal, sending a plume of fluffy white down into the air. "Let me finish my meal first, then I can take another survey for you." Another cluster of feathers were wrenched loose and cast aside.

Cloudbreaker narrowed her dark eyes as the almost flippant attitude of the falcon. She couldn't afford to get too angry with him though, not if they were going to rely on him as their eyes int he sky. Saving her indignation, the mare opted for a solution, "We could find another place to stay, but we can't just keep running forever. We either need safety in numbers, or we need to confront the two-leggers head on and stop them for good." She shifted her legs and turned to face Darkia. Her friend was on the skinny side, and she wasn't sure whether fighting or fleeing would be the better option for the mare.

Darkia

Darkia even though feared it. You need dto go, go find help im afraid I can't run any longer. Ill need to face them, Dally can keep an eye and follow if they take me then he can lead you and who ever to free me once againShe said. Defeat written in her eyes.

Cloudbreaker & Dally

The fear was rising strongly in the mare, shifting her reflexes ever closer to bolting instead of fighting. Her heart was racing, and her sides rising and falling with an ever increasing breath rate. "Darkia..." Cloud didn't like the idea of leaving her friend, especially after she'd just been reunited with her former packmate, but she didn't have a better plan. Cloudbreaker could outpace the humans, but Darkia was too weakened. And neither of them stood a chance fighting the two-leggers if they carried boomsticks or hunting hounds. No, Darkia was right. They needed reinforcements. "...okay, I'll look for help. You stay here, and stay hidden. With any luck, the humans wont come this deep into the Eskers." The zorse looked down to Dally, "Keep an eye on her. I'll rendezvous back here as soon as I can."

The peregrine falcon was more than a little perturbed about his fresh meal being interrupted, and he let this annoyance be displayed in the sour look that was shot up at Cloud. Nevertheless, Dally stepped away from his partially plucked ptarmigan and nodded to the pair, "I did offer, I suppose. Alright, I'll keep a watch out if you make sure no one hawks my bird there." This direction was given to Darkia before he shot into the sky, rising quickly into the clear skies to get a good view of the land around.

Cloudbreaker took one last look at Darkia before she broke into a gallop and set out across the Eskers, heading south into the Valley.

Darkia

She snorted. "No sense in them getting the both of us" she said. She watched them both before lowering her head to graze. Some knew she wouldn't outrun the humans. She'd put up a fight though.

Dally & *Others*

The higher the raptor climbed, the further his keen eyes could see of the land that swept out below him. A heavily pregnant coyote skirted the bottom of a large esker half a mile away, and in the opposite direction, a pair of geese foraged for nesting material for their upcoming clutch. Keen eyes searched further, sweeping in the direction of the Prairie where he last saw the trio of hunters and their horse. Not immediately seeing them, Dally was quick to assume that they'd headed further into the tall grasses, and were not the threat that Darkia and Cloudbreaker thought they were.

'This is what I get for opening my big beak.' He mused dryly to himself. Forgetting about the humans, the falcon shifted his wings and began to circle lower, now scanning the terrain for jackals, foxes, or any other little beasties that might try to steal his dinner. 'Come on Darkia, keep an eye on that.'

What Dally had missed was the three-person crew, traveling through a dense thicket. Ahead of them was a black and white wolfdog with a thick leather collar and chest harness, nose to the ground and ears pointed forward. She'd stop now and then, waiting for the humans to catch up before stalking determinedly forward again, hot on the trail of the escaped horse...

Darkia

Darkia was partially paying attention to dally food but her mind was elseware. She ate till she was full. However; her ears twitched. Her head lifted. She wasn't sure if the noise should worry her or not but she was sure she heard something.However; as she had stated earlier she would not out run them any longer. Sure she had water and food in her now but it wasn't enough to make her well enough to run. She lowered her head once again to graze. She did snort at a jackal who tried to take dally food and it ran off without it.

Dally & *Others*

Dally spied the little jackal as he neared Darkia and his prized ptarmigan. His attention immediately swung to the would-be-thief and he began to circle even lower, letting loose a cry of anger, and preparing to do combat with much larger scavenger. Before he could get close or even begin to dive out of the sky however, the mare was on top of it, giving a snort of warning that sent the little canine scurrying.

In that time, Silver Fyre drew closer. Ruddy-red eyes constantly switched between the ground and the land around her, though she never lost track of the scent trail she had been following. Time and again, the wolfdog would stop and wait just long enough for Ethan and the others to come into view before she move forward once more, leading them ever closer to their quarry. When at last she stepped foot out of the thicket and onto more level, open ground, her keen eyes fell upon a dark shape in the distance. 'There you are.' Silver's tail went up and she bolted, running straight for Darkia...

Darkia

Darkia wanted to bolt especially when she heard the rustle of running. But her body screamed to rest and knew she could kill herself if she fled. So the one thing she could do was kill that blasted flea bag coming at her or try. Her ears pinned back when the thing got close she reared and lashed out at silver with her hoof before spinning around and aiming to kick the wolf dog with her back legs. She had been peacefully eatting before the dog showed itself making it clear that she wasn't sick.

Dally & *Others*

"Wolf!" Dally's cry of warning came too little too late. Cursing vehemently to himself, the falcon shifted abruptly and beat his wings to gain altitude. Silver Fyre was already rushing towards Darkia, and the mare had already spotted her. The falcon hastily scanned the area again for the rest of the mongrel's pack, and was horrified to see not additional wolves but humans. Three humans and that black horse with the inward curled ears. "Darkia, you've got more company! Three humans!"

The wolfdog paid no mind to the shrieking falcon, for that was not her quarry today. It was this horse she was after, and now that she was locked onto her, Silver was not going to let her get away. But she also wasn't going to harm her; that was not her job, and she was smart enough not to get within Darkia's striking range. Instead, as she got close to the frightened mare, Silver Fyre began to circle around her in a quick sprint, snarling lightly and flashing her fangs, "The more you fight this horse, the worse it's going to be for you."

Darkia

Darkia kept the dog in her site for quiet some time. She heard Dally and knew it was the humans. They used this canine for his nose. Her nostrils flared as she kept the dog in her site till she was sure the three humans were close. She knew that the dog wasn't gonna hurt her that was not its job. These humans wanted her alive or else they would of killed her that day.

She wasn't sure how long she would make it with them atleast mind wise. They may break her before cloud could find help and she feared that. She had starved herself hint the bones that could be seen. When she was sure the humans were in site her attention changed to them. Her ears were back and she stomped her hooves. If they had all been on foot she probably could make arun for it but one was on a horse and she knew she wouldn't out run the horse. Stupid flea bag slaveShe snorted at the dog but her attention was on the other four.

Dally, Ethan, Harthrou, Silver Fyre, & *Humans*

Dally knew there was not much he could do to help the mare in this situation. The humans carried those awful boomsticks, and the wolf hybrid could tear him out of the sky in one quick snap if he got too close. If it had just been one human and a horse, he'd have tried to harry them to give his friend time to escape, but three was just too many for a single raptor to manage. 'Sorry, Dark.' With this remorseful thought, all the falcon could do was gain altitude once more and keep an eye on the situation below.

Around and around Silver Fyre circled, her growling vocals constantly taunting Darkia in a bid to keep the mare distracted and occupied so that she wouldn't bolt and make things more difficult for the humans. "I'm a pack member of theirs, not a slave. That'll be your rank here soon." The wolfdog bared her fangs again, her tongue now lolling from her mouth.

With Silver to help keep Darkia corralled, and the mare herself disinclined to run, it didn't take much longer for the three humans to reach the scene. On the black-coated Marwari horse was Ethan, a seasoned hunter and animal wrangler in the Valley. A long rope was already in hand when he began to click with his tongue and advance on Darkia. "Hey there girl, out for a joy ride are you? Time that you got back home." Though his words seemed calm and gentle, his eyes were those of a predator's, and his body language was not much different. Even Harthrou, his trusted steed, seemed to exude this quiet aggression. Closer he came, until he was near enough to suddenly toss the rope out, hoping to lasso the end around her neck...

The other two humans had advanced as well, each with a rope of their own as they each circled wide on either side of the escaped mare...

Darkia

Darkia knew Dally was no help persay it wasn't dally fault. If only they could of run into cats or even wolves from the haunters. She laughed at the dog.think what you wantShe snorted. Her ears were still flat back when Ethan advanced speaking to her as if she could understand him. She snorted and instead of trying to flee when he threw the rope and it landed but she moved , not away but toward and she aimed her teeth for his horses face before rearing up and lashing out with her hooves at him. She knew she didn't have much energy to fight long so she knew she had to win it in one or two bursts. Normally if she had been fit she'd be both rearing and bucking wildly as it were she would just tire herself out too fast. She snorted at the other two humans as she attempted to now pull ethan from his horse.

Dally, Ethan, Harthrou, Silver Fyre, & *Humans*

"There's a good girl.." Ethan's cool voice murmured, at first believing Darkia was not going to put up much of a fight. He was watching those ears though, laid flat against her skull, and hadn't missed the stamping of her hooves into the ground - the mare was not a happy camper. "See there, not-" What he didn't entirely expect was for the horse to lunge forward at him. His calm words were interrupted by a harsh curse and a shout Silver Fyre. Harthrou reared back and turned, taking a snap of teeth to his face, as well as the blunt strike of hooves against his side in order to protect his master from the assault. His own curled ears went back and he aimed a vicious bite towards Darkia's neck, "You're gonna pay for that one, lass!"

Silver Fyre rapidly switched gears, going from herding to offense in the blink of an eye. Barking savagely, she rushed up at Darkia and offered the mare a series of quick nips to the flank and side. Nothing meant to cause much harm, but rather to irritate and distract.

One of the other humans tossed a lasso out next, trying for Darkia's head so that he might help Ethan corral the mare. The third man continued to circle the opposite side, readying his own lasso, but waiting for a better opportunity to strike.

Darkia

She knew it would take him by suprised these humans were not smart enough to realize that even though she was an animal that rather run that if given no other resource to do so she would turn and attack. She snorted when she felt her teeth rake the horses face and hooves crash into his side. Even if her legs had been aimed for the man on his back. Perhaps lad you should toss that thing on your back off but your broken so guess you wontShe said. If it wasn't for Silver coming at her Hawth teeth would of gotten her but as it were she spun around just in time to avoid it. She aimed her hooves for the dog. Unlike him she was aiming to maime or kill only because she valued her life first.

Thats when a second rope was around her neck. She snorted heavily, her breathing was heavy as this was taken its toll. She knew however that she would loose soon if she did not figure something out. Especially if that third human got his chance.

Her mind was realing now. She could lunge for him but ethan could possibly hold her back with his rope. She could run toward ethan and his horse but risk his horse getting her good but it could cause the second human to be pulled off his feet. Was it worth it though?

She reared up once but came back down and then she made to lay down. Well maybe she could make it so they couldn't get her anywhere. She was exhausted anyways, laying down seemed like a good idea for many reasons. She couldn't fight it any more. Her breathing was heavy her body hurting and sweaty. What little energy the food she had eaten had given her gone. Deafeat for now written in her eyes as she laid her legs under her head head barely held off the ground. In her mind she was glad cloud wasn't here. She would not want her friend falling to these humans. She couldn't fight them any more.A tear slipped out of her eyes as she just laid there one ear still fully back the other twitching as she lsitened to everything.

Dally, Ethan, Harthrou, Silver Fyre, & *Humans*

Blood seeped like dark oil against the marwari's coat where the hooves had caught him, and he could feel the bruise beneath the skin already beginning to swell. Harthrou ignored this discomfort and that of his stinging face to keep Darkia steadily in his sights. His job was to keep his rider safe, and he was more than willing to take such damage to do that, and to keep himself between Darkia and Ethan. "The half-starved mongrel, calling me broken?" Harth snorted and narrowed his darkened eyes, looking past her words and into her body language, doing his best to anticipate her next movements all while trying to follow Ethan's commands at the same time. "You'll be a bloody pulp beneath my hooves before you land a blow against him."

Silver very nearly took a deadly blow to the neck from Darkia, but training served her just as well as it did the stallion. She ducked low and spun away from the dangerous weapon, spitting a curse at the mare as she did so. With the grace of the wolf in her blood, Silver Fyre bounced out of Darkia's range and paced quickly in the opposite direction in preparation to rush in again for another nip if need be.

"Hold tight!" Ethan called out to the other man, who quickly reduced the slack on his rope by backing up in the opposite direction of him. "Steady." This whisper when to Harthrou, though the well-trained beast needed no command in this situation, knowing exactly what his master wanted. Though his own heart raced for the danger and thrill of it all, Harth appeared and acted utterly in control of himself the entire time. He stayed where he was, a solid wall of muscle and aggression. This all put Darkia in a spot of trouble, and as the third man went to throw his lasso, the mare did the only thing she could - she laid down.

"Call Dan, get the trailer in here. We got her." Ethan commanded of the third fellow. He didn't bother trying to get the mare to stand again, knowing it would be much simpler to wait for the vehicle and use a winch and a bit of muscle power to get their captive loaded up and back where she belonged. "Keep those ropes steady! She might still have a go at one of us." While the leader said this, Harthrou relaxed in the confidence that Darkia was done fighting. His cold eyes seemed not to care for the tear that streaked down her face, or the defeat written across her body.

High above them all, Dally let loose a frustrated cry.

Darkia

Her breathing was heavy as she just led there. She knew she wouldn't get free. She glanced up at dally. As long as he followed them she knew others could come free her. She lowered her head to the ground.

Ethan & Others

The third rope fell over her neck and tightened, sealing the mare's fate. From there, it was only a matter of time before the older man dubbed 'Dan' arrived at their location with a truck and trailer in tow. And now, with four humans to help, the tugged and prodded at Darkia in an attempt to haul her into the trailer. And if that failed, Ethan was ready to use a winch to drag the poor mare into the metal cage...

By this point, Harthrou was grazing idly nearby, but always had an eye and ear on their captive to make sure she didn't get any ideas of escaping. Likewise, Silver Fyre now rested beneath the shade of Dan's truck, alert and ready for action... and happily full, after devouring Dally's dinner.

Darkia

Darkia managed to stand but barely and collapsed once in the metal trap. She just laid her head down.