I was just so sick and tired of my other siblings pushing me around. Telling me I was to kind, to soft. To sweet and gentle to be a daughter of Vicious, the most wanted wolf in all the land. I didn't care anymore. It was beginning to get on my nerves. A deep burning feeling in my gut let me know my emotions, and I took a deep breath to control the burning rage that was inside of me. I was just like them, but I wasn't. I didn't know what real anger was, I just watched others to know that I didn't like it. When they were angry, things went wrong and someone ended up getting hurt. Especially if it was Risen that was angry. She seemed to be angry a lot. I didn't want to say it, but I hated the way she was running the shadow Haunters. She cheated when it came to fights. Was teaching pups the same kind of warfare that she used. I had watched as a small group attacked one pup, a little hybrid named Toxin. There were three lions upon her, and at least two canines. I hadn't stopped it. It was a 'lesson' to them. I sigh softly as I continue my upward climb. I had lived in the area for nearly two years now but had never been to the Canyon. Maybe now was a good time to go. I really hoped this long climb was worth the view. Wow, I was out of shape. I sigh softly but continue on, even though my muscles are just beginning to burn. Thats when I reach the top. Immediatly my breath leaves me in a whoosh, and I stare at the setting sun. Night was coming upon me, but for now shadows were everywhere. The suns last rays beat at me before it whispered behind the hills and a gentle smile spread across my lips. Yeah. It was definatly worth the climb. Stars were above me, and I sit upon my haunches to stare up at them. They were so beautiful. The moon was full tonight, and it basked me in its silver glow. The world around me appeared ethereal, and I giggled as I suddenly got the idea to play. I had never gotten to play as a pup. Ressurrection, she had always been to quiet and stand offish to play. Sacrifice had always been sly and betraying. Rapture...Well Rapture was just plain scary, okay? I look to my left and see another there, someone that was from long ago. He was like a mirage, and I bow to him, my tail wagging furiously. Then I take off, and we race around in circles, my laughter filling the air. Then I blink, and hes gone. Sighing softly, I turn towards the edge of the canyon and lay upon a ledge, my eyes taking in everything there is. The beautiful valley below, the lovely stars and moon above. I was happy I was alone, none of my family could ruin this for me now. I hadn't seen mom in quite some time. She'd gone off the deep end, was crazy now. I still loved her, I always would. She was my mother. I had to love her. My father I had met only once. I never wanted to do it again. Rapture had turned into him, and that scared me more then ever. I just wanted peace tonight. To play, to get lost in my own fantasys. Was it that bad? Was I that good, that soft? Maybe they were right. Maybe I didn't belong with them. And that was fine by me. Without them around, I could do what I wanted. Be who I wanted. Without them around, I wasn't the sweet little Purgatory who couldn't stand up for herself. I wasn't the daughter of Vicious and Kage. I was Purgatory, just Purgatory. And no one would know who I Was, how dangerous my family and pack were. Something flickered inside of me. Pain? Yes pain. I don't want to be with the Shadow Haunters any longer, but I can't leave them. Nearly my entire family belongs to them, if I leave....I betray my family. Then I think about Ressurrection. She had turned her back on all of us. Why couldn't I? I would just have to find her, beg her to let me stay with her. She would protect me. I know she would, she always put family ahead of herself. She had always been like that, thats why I loved her so much. I had always annoyed her though. "Your to good Purgatory. Stay here. If mom asks where we are, just tell her we're exploring the packlands." I could still see her face from that day. She had looked so deadly calm, so dark and serious. Her and Rapture had never come back, they had disappeared for some time. Then I saw her again, when I was nearly a year old. She was sleek and slender, cool and distant. But I would know her anywhere. She was my sister. Again I sigh. I was getting lost in memories, not something I wanted to do. They kept drowning me, making me feel worse. I raise my small dial up and glare darkly at the night sky. Tonight was the night that Purgatory would grow a backbone. Tomorrow was the day that I would tell my family that I was leaving the Shadow Haunters. Well....At least I hoped I was.

The sheek satin wolf came bounding up the side of the canyon. She had just saved a pups life from the dangerous moose, Avalanche. She loved to explore and the canyon was always the most beautiful in her golden eyes. Those golden eyes she inherited from her father of course.

Promise slowed her pace as she arrived at the leveled canyon. Just a ways off was Purgatory. Promise did not recognize her. She was to young to remember her half sister, and had always be seperate from the rest of her half brothers pack. Oh how the poor wolf looked so sad.

White pads moved her body along. Even in the night light her body was exceptionally shiny, illuminating her figure as she stalked forth. Her head and trunk were an oily black, shiny like the black obsidian. Contrasted greaty by her white legs and tail. Each leg was fully white. Her front cut the black off with a next to sharp line at her elbo, while her hind legs whitened near her flank. The tail was white straight from the base. Her eyes were a chilling gold, the only part of her that she had inherited from Vicious... the only thing she had inherited.

Gently moving up she sat a few yards from her half sister. Unknown of course, as well as unaware that her sister, Shattered, was in the Haunters with Purgatory. Her brother against the Haunters, Absolute sided with Vestige. Promise... well Promise was her own. She chose not a life of society, but of the solitar. "You have come at the most beautiful time." She said softly. If her voice was a color it would have been a soft blueish purple. Easily flowing from her vocals to wrap anyone in comfort. She was quiet after that, looking at the female. She would protect this female as long as she stayed by her side. It was an unconcious decision she had made.

My eyes lifted to see another, and I struggled for a moment, for she looked just so familiar, so....So Familiar. Then it was gone. I smile faintly at her, but once more its the same fake smile I give everyone else. Had she seen me playing? Did she know who I was? Did she want to be my friend? These and a million other questions were going through my mind, but I just continue to smile, then look back up at the moon. Yeah, its pretty out tonight. Good God, did I have to sound so damn young and innocent? I mean, if you like things like this. Smooth. Real smooth. I bite my tongue to hold the sigh back. I was really screwing up my first meeting with someone outside of the pack. When I speak, its gentle and soft. Like liquid silver, so beautiful and pure. I hated it. I wanted to be a dark and deadly demon, just like my sisters. But nooooo I was me. I offer another smile to Promise, and say to her My name is Purgatory. Whats your name? My tail wags a bit, and I continue smiling at her. Try and stay on her good side.

Karai's oldest was rambling through the Canyon, wandering aimlessly and looking for entertainment. After helping his mother's old friend defend a pack he was unfamiliar with, Saxton was bored and brooding, just looking for something to do. But finally, he spotted two young faes, really about his own age, and smiled, tail waving. Ziarre's words about "being distracted by a pretty sheila" crossed his mind, and he laughed a little to himself. Yes, he fancied himself quite the ladie's man, but he was feircely loyal and definitely monogamous. He never displayed interest in more than one female at a time. Still... it couldn't hurt to make friends.

So he let out a yip of greeting and began to trot towards them. Coming up near them, tail all a-twitter and excited, he spoke, voice all joy and liquid sunshine. Well, hello! Great stars we have here, aren't they? It's like watching fireflies wink down at you, don't you think? He wasn't really thinking that they might not be interested, and it never occurred to him to introduce himself. He was a free spirit usually, though he could occasionally be coaxed to be serious. His smile remained steadfast, his sunny, fun-loving demeanor displayed prominently.

I blink as yet another comes forth. My tail waves to and fro, and I smile at Saxton now as well. The same questions go through my mind, but then I stiffen. Backbone, Purgatory. Backbone. With a grin I say to him Hello. Yes they are really pretty tonight. I never really paid attention to them before tonight. Then I looked to Promise, and sit next to her. Something about her was just so familiar, so comforting. I couldn't remember what, but it worked for me. I'm Purgatory, whats your name? I ask him. Silver moonlight played across my coat, bathing me in its silver glory. Gentle, sweet little Purgatory. Just out to make friends, was that so bad?

Saxton's tail waved, and he pawed at the ground a little. Above all, he was a playful, lovable guy. So he smiled and answered Purgatory's question brightly. Saxton! Son of Karai. And he took a gallant but slightly over-played bow, adopting a quasi-formal attitude. It is a supreme pleasure indeed to make the acquaintance of two flowers as beautiful as yourselves.

Unlike Purgatory, he was very open about his friendliness. Most wolves tended to hide under a false mask that they portrayed to the world, but not Saxton. Saxton was really out there for the world to see, and to see how good things could be. He knew, of course, that there were bad things in the world, but he preferred to believe that the good would always win out in the end. He hadn't felt much pain in his life, so it was very easy for him to believe so. But he turned his eyes back up to them, voice liquid joy. So... anyone up for a game?

I blink at the males words. P-play? Umm....Okay.... My eyes flash quickly to Promise, uncertainty there. I didn't know how to play. Was that sad? Yeah, very very sad. I look back at Saxton and offer him a half smile, the uncertainty still in my eyes. U-um...Okay. What do you want to play? My sisters words flashed through my mind. We don't play, Purgatory. We're the offspring of Vicious. We DON'T play. But....I wanted to so bad. I didn't want to tell Saxton and Promise that I didn't know how to play. Cause, well how pathetic was that? About two years old and I had never played. The healer of the Shadow Haunters, but I had been replaced. So, now was a PERFECT time to leave them Yes it was.

The satin wolfess looked up through a glowing brow. Yellow eyes dancing as each star reflected in them. She smiled brightly and wagged her tail. "Yes, they are most magnificent, especially when Mother Moon is with them, they seem much more happy." an ear turned to Purgatory as she reveals her name, it sounded familiar, but not enough to make her question. "My name is Promise... I'd rather not recall my parents..." She gave a painful smile, but the pain was soon swept away when the mentioning of a game was offered.

Her tail wagged, the thought of playing was most joyful though, she too, had never really played. Her only games were with the minds of males. To make them drool, if she were evil in any ways it was just to tease the opposite sex and then move along with her life. Though she would not flaunt herself with a new friend with her. No yet anyways. Yes, a friend, she would consider her half sister a friend for as long as she could.

Standing up her dainty figure loomed on white stalks. A snowy tail flittered about behind her, "I would like to play, but what kind of game is it?" For a breif moment her mind flashed back to one of the only puppy memories she had Blind Wolf Calling But that was a pups game, what did adult wolves play?

He smiled and hopped about a little bit, looking around him a bit to gain inspiration for a game. Finally, he spotted a sizable boulder, far enough away from the edge so that if one stumbled they would not tumble into the Canyon. With a light leap, he landed atop the boulder, voice calling back to them, teasing, but in a fun way. Can't get me down! The two of you together couldn't wrestle me down!

Maybe a little childish for a wolf so old, but it had always been one of his favorite games, and as neither of his new friends had ever played... well it couldn't hurt. It was actually kind of fun, usually... with one friend tugging on an ear and another on your tail or leg, it incited laugh fests, often with everyone tumbling in a heap, laughing breathlessly. It was a good game for chasing away the blues. He turned his back on the ladies, flipping his tail a bit as he gazed at them over his shoulder, grinning, face clearly saying, "Can't catch me!"

I blink as the male suddenly turned and took off for large boulder. I grin at him then say Can to! I'll bet we can get you down and take over the rock! I leap after him, and head for his front leg. Even if I get it, my bite won't be hard. Stupid healer thing in me, I can't hurt others. But I sound vicious, damn it! My growls echo deep in my throat, but my eyes don't match their darkness for they are alight with happiness. Come on, Promise! I say to my half sister. Lets bring this bad boy down!

Angelic wolf watched as the brute lept up to the boulder. Her eyes gleaming as he spoke out such daring words. She would not be the first to go after him, to her it was un lady like to play such simple games, but when she saw Purgatory race up and try to take down the brute, all Promise could do was smile and nod. She would join this little wolf game of his, no matter how childish is was.

As Purgatory collided and began to snap at Saxton's leg, Promise swept her tail from side to side, shruging her shoulds before swiftly letting her feet race under her. A black ball with a white stream moved her way toward him and as Purgatory continued to bite his front, She lept up to the rock and began to bite at his back and hind legs. Pushing him with her chest while dull claws dug into the mineral to keep her balance. "You will go down, without hesitation." She gave a seductive smile, eyes twinkleing deep within. The optics were half closed, staring into his mind, and then in a flash pushed with her hind legs to knock him down. She could only hope that it worked.

Saxton let a surprised laugh hit the air as he found himself staggering. At exactly the same moment Purgatory moved to toss him, Promise suddenly released him, sending him reeling over top of Purgatory to land in a breathless, laughing heap on the other side. He was laughing so hard that he could barely speak. Wowwwww... wow. Haha... wwwooowwweee I... I guess you... you got me, haha. I'm... no match... no match for you two. And he took a clumsy bow to his de-throners, still smiling, tail going ninety to nothing, laughing helplessly.

I laugh as I grasp hold of the male, then suddenly I lunge forward, trying to throw him off balance. My claws dig into the rock, scraping sharply across its base and once more I laugh. This, this felt good. My siblings, they never played like this and now I could go back to puppy hood and relive it. Why not? The moon was basking our hides, all of us taking on that ethereal look that enchanted so many. It was only a wolf that could do this, only a wolf that could capture the souls of so many and hold them captive.

Her eyes widened as she clamered back and landed on the ground, smiling and wagging the snow-bitten tail when she heard the call of a bird. She turned and barked in the direction then looked at the due and moved over to Disaster.