Geinah

The aging silver wolfess made a rare escape from the confines of the Ruins to stretch her legs and ease her mind of the many problems that had been running through it lately. Large, pale paws left measurable imprints in the ground, where a particularly warm string of winter days had allowed snow to melt and soften the top surface of the sandy soil. It was just enough to mark the female's passage, and put a certain spring in her step as she thought about the green that would soon return to the land, and with it warmth and new life.

Geinah slowed upon cresting a low esker, and sat back with her gray muzzle turned into the breeze, welcoming the various scents they brought her. For a few blissful minutes, the Strategist of the Shadow Haunters could rest her mind, letting it clear before she put it back to work on the task of rescuing Senka and the others.

Spotlight

The Eskers were a favorite place for Spotlight and many of his comrades to visit, as it wasn't terribly far east of their caves, and the openness of the hilly land allowed them to survey the area for miles around. And like Geinah, it was the same calm, gentle weather that brought the large cat out on this particular day, on a casual patrol of the lands and a temporary escape from guard duties. The only difference was that Spotlight had little to cloud his mind when he stumbled across the wolf's scent.

The feline paused, analyzing the scent before lifting his head to scan the frozen dunes. She was alone as far as he could tell, without a bird in the sky to report her whereabouts. Spotlight grinned inwardly and immediately started into a stealthy sprint, following Geinah's tracks until he spotted her sitting atop a low ridge. His tail flicked with anticipation, and he flattened his ears and lowered his body to reduce his profile.

Slowly, carefully, the six-hundred and twenty pound cat began to stalk up the ridge behind her, getting as close as he dared before lunging suddenly with his paws outstretched and his jaws agape, looking to pin the silver she-wolf down and tear her to pieces...

Geinah

The softness of the snow and sand had absorbed the heavy thumps of the cat's paws as he got closer, preventing the wolf from feeling his approach. The wind that she was so fondly reading had billowed in her ears, creating just enough white noise to obscure the delicate squish of melting ice with each step Spotlight took. It was enough to give him the advantage, and by the time Geinah finally heard her foe, he was already clearing the last few feet up the esker towards her.

The silver wolfess spun, fangs bared as she realized she didn't have time to spring away or flee in the moment. She braced for the crush of weight as she turned her ivories against his own throat and shoulder, trying to latch onto flesh as she felt her own being torn into. "I am a Haunter!" She snarled out as the fur flew, and she struggled against his claws, "Kill me and my clan will hunt you down!"

Spotlight

He wasn't expecting to be met by fangs, and was further surprised by how accurate her snap was. Age be damned, this elder wolf still had a fighting spirit, and Spotlight was at the receiving end of those battle-honed canines. Slipping easily past fur, they dug into the side of his neck, forcing a yowl of pain from the giant brute. "I know who you are, dog." Spotlight hissed back as crimson began to color his tawny, spotted coat. Giving hardly a moment for that retort, he flexed his claws and slashed again at Geinah, and once more drove his fangs at his enemy. This time, he was aiming to grab her by the back of the neck...

Geinah

It took all but a second for Geinah to make the connection - this cat had to be part of the Makucha pride. The clearly hybridized genes he carried further backed that notion, though she couldn't be sure who his parents might be, if he wasn't originally part of the Haunters. The details mattered little in this moment anyway, as the she-wolf was dipping down and making a desperate leap to get away from her assailant as he lunged in for his next attack. But the soft ground that had so perfectly cushioned Spot's paws earlier now betrayed Geinah as the slushy topsoil caused her paws to slide during her attempting leap.

The wolfess fell hard onto her shoulder, evading the dangers neck grab by Spotlight, whose teeth instead sunk into the muscle along the side of her neck. Claws again raked her side, and she uttered a desperate howl for her pack as his weight came down hard on her, "Makucha?!" The silver wolf managed the question through gritted teeth, struggling to break free from Spotlight, "We have a deal, we're workin- aggh!" The big cat's teeth were relentless, and Geinah turned a quick but furious snap at his face in an attempt to drive him back so that she might have a chance to slip away...

Spotlight

Her teeth caught the edge of his cheek and temple, the sting of which caused his eyes to water and his lips to writhe back in fury. He released briefly, but didn't move away from the wolfess, not about to let her escape her fate today, "We don't make deals with curs." Without warning he was swiping his giant paws forward again, going for her lower side while lunging his keen fangs for the wolf's soft throat once more...

Geinah

If not for the fear that ran cold in her veins, she'd have been boiling with carefully checked rage at his continued insults and flippant disregard for the power pack she called Family. There was no time for any witty retorts or pointless threats now though, as Geinah twisted her body and dove low, sparing her throat a second time from that lethal grasp of his jaws. They snagged the top of her scruff this time, and those wicked claws grasped at her sides, preventing immediate escape. With panic mounting, the Strategist shoved upwards with all her might in an attempt to break Spotlight's hold, and give her a spare moment to utter a quick, piercing howl to any who might be close enough to hear.

As she felt her energy wane and her muscles shake, Geinah made a final, decisive bite for any part of the big cat she could reach. And if fangs met flesh, she would grind down with all her might...

Spotlight

Spotlight cursed beneath his breath when Geinah managed a howl, and shifted his full weight down upon the struggling canine, trying to squelch her voice before it could get too far. It was easy enough to avoid those snapping jaws of her when she tried to twist around and snag him in the next instant, and for her efforts, he drove his teeth at her neck for a third time. Claws again extended and slashed at his enemy, "If any of your friends do respond, they'll meet the same fate as you."

Geinah

There was no getting out of this, Geinah realized. The massive cat bore down on her again, and she used the last remnants of her strength to pitch her howl as loud and far as she could manage. If this was to be her dying breath, she would use it to warn her father and the rest of the Haunters that they had a new enemy in the Valley.

The weight of Spotlight finally drove the air from her lungs, bringing a quick end to her cry. Geinah shifted, kicking against the loose soil and turned her fangs towards the cat in a weak but defiant last snap. No snarl sounded from her compressed lungs, but those old, battle-worn teeth were bared in their final message of rebellion against the one that struck her down. Even as her body went lax against the ground, and her pale, yellow orbs rolled back, the daughter of Risen and Cavan had refused to cower or back down to her enemy to the very end.