Book 1 Episode 3: Dances With Wolves Part 2

## Characters Involved

* "The Silver Haired Noble" Tahira

* Cheyenne Asagawa

* Crescent Moon Wolf Pack

* Akiko Yano

## RP Status

Ongoing

Tahira stood quietly yet alone at the southern most border of the woods her golden eyes focused strongly on the massive un-naturally made crack that was etched so deeply in the base of Mt. Fuji-san, one the largest and was most deadliest of all Japan's volcanos. And also the place where once the world's greatest threat, her grandsire was imprisoned by the world's nations for his actions of treason against it. It was here that the Alpha and sire of so many in the Crescent Moon pack found herself after her encounter with Akiko still dressed in the very same attire that she'd been outfitted in for her night's outting into the cite the beauty of their mother moon covered by a thick blanket of a clouds that hung in the evening sky, lost in thought or rather in the hope that with the strong connection this place has with her creator and the forests on deep ties to the spiritual realm that some how he would hear her words, and through some kind of sign help her with what needs to happen next. "Hey it been a while.....look I know I don't come out here as much as I used to....I guess becoming an alpha has kinda grown on me over the past 50 years..." Tahira would chuckle a bit awkwardly the memory of the last time she came to this place slowly pushing its way through the cerebral cortexes of her mind into the cerebellum after being declared the leader over the wolves who at the time were just a hand full now 150 strong and still growing with help of Cheyenne's medicinal herbs. "...but that's why I'm here tonight...Kin...I'm here tonight because...well I found her...well I should she found me...Kin, the sister that you never told...me...told Kaith, Nao, nor Lee about. And honestly I'm not mad....but in truth I'd like to know why it was kept from me...you know how it feels to be only one of your kind so I don't understand why you let me think for so long that I was the only one you ever made." she's go on to say into the brisk night air her eyes never once leaving the opening of what was once his cell, not even as she blinked. "You know Akiko thinks you did it because you saw her as a failure...but I don't think that was it....I think you saw greatness in her but she wasn't ready to shaped into the mold you'd made for her yet. So I guess you left that task up to me then....but honestly I don't think I am even ready for this. I mean she's in bad shape as wolfbloods go......I....Kin I need your help." Tahira's words were honest as she spoke them her gaze still looking up at the mount before she slowly began to lower her head into her bosom some sighing her keen ears picking up on the sounds of several foot steps approaching from behind her each of course were all fours, stepping on the falling leaves that had come from trees that now surrounded this sacred place. Thus meaning that at least one or both were indeed in dire wolf form from what Tahira could tell. With her head still lowered in what would appear to be prayer Tah would attempted to press her thoughts into the minds of the ones that approached one of which she knew was Cheyenne, the beta of her pack which meant that the latter quiet possibly was Akiko Yano, the pack sister in which she spoke so passionately about but moments earlier with the spirits around her. 'Cheyenne?'

'Don't be alarmed Tah its me....and lookie who I brought.' the young coyote would walk foward slowly presenting herself to the pack's alpha in formal manner before coming to sit on her butt in her coyote form to Tahira's right, giving Akiko room to sit before the young wolf queen as either a human or dire wolf before the once might Mt. Fuji. 'Did you take her to the camp yet?' 'No I brought her directly to you first.' 'Good I want you return to camp for now and help the others get ready, once the moon has reached its apex in the sky have those ready for the hunt gather here with us. I have a feeling that that the Elder will bless us with a good bounty tonight.'

The coyote would only lower her head before turning on its heels and taking off in the opposing direction towards the camp of the Crescent Moon Pack, leaving Tahira and Akiko alone in the shadows of the dormant volcano. "Thank you for accepting my invitation Akiko, I know that this all has to be very overwhelming for you, learning that their is another like you that Kin made and as much as I don't want to over load your senses even more I feel that it will." her tone was one of regret and solace as she gazed up at Mt. Fuji pausing there in order to allow Akiko a change to speak if she desire to.

“I think this all might be too much for me and my wolf… I’m…” Akiko did not want to admit that she was scared, not to the Alpha. “I’m not sure my she-wolf can handle the excitement. She wants out; she wants to run, yip, and enjoy life in the forest.” Akiko stared at the mountain, her eyes hooked on the outline of the opening the wolf queen taking full notice of this too as she was quite sure that the other she-wolf could feel the out pouring power that remained there even in the absence of their once imprisoned sire. Tahira would've listened to Akiko speak with great intent the golden orbs of her eyes watching her pack sister take her place beside her side adjacent to where Cheyenne once sat before she took her leave of them, so that they could speak in private with one another. The girl herself for some strange reason opting to remain in her human form rather than her dire wolf. Although once she sat down Tah soon understood why as the questions that soon followed fell from her lips. "How did you become Alpha Tahira? How do you control the beast that resides inside of you? Do you ever really control the beast?”

These where all some very good questions Tahira noted and to be honest most of their answers were merely based on a whim or due to the power and will that she possessed before she became a wolfblood but of course now looking back on it all...her encounters with Kin, Grey, Lee, Kaith, Naomi, and yes even the Elder himself, She guessed it was all just merely fate, as she went to move her right hand forward in the direction of the frightened girl all in the hopes that she would allow her to touch the skin of her forearm with ease, thus enabling the soft pulse of chi that lay concealed there in its palm press itself through the fabric make up of her skin tissue and cells towards the endings of each nerve and so forth through her entire body calming it and the beast within her some what if indeed she were permitted to do so. Tah would've explained with a sigh, "I was chosen by the members of this group mostly due to my leadership skills, my strength, my speed, and my natural fighting prowless. All were skills that I obtained from the time I was young living with both my tribe and with the Warlocks of the Skylands. The Warlocks....were how I came to know Kin. He was one of my students. As to how I control my wolf...I have learned that the best way to control it, is to do as it sees fit at times and by that I mean letting it out on nights such as these so that it might hunt and do as nature intended it to do. In time you do learn to control it but the only way you can do this Akiko is to stop fearing that which you are and trust those that you encounter here like family." pausing only when she reached the end of her reply her head turning in Akiko's direction offering her a smile as her hand gently caresses the girl's forearm before turning back towards the volcano. "Impressive once was our fire breather...Mt. Fuji-san that is until one day those here in Japan felt the earth shake in manner that was quite unlike anyone had felt before. Though at the time none of us realized it at the time but that 'quake' had released something from the bowels of this mountain, something that I had thought had died ages ago. This place is where the nations of world imprisoned Kin, for the mass murders and kidnapping of countless political figures, and is considered by those of our pack as a sacred place."

Akiko was soon comforted by a gentle hand upon her forearm. She could feel her nerves relaxing, settling as the other woman spoke. "I was chosen by the members of this mostly due to my leadership skills, my strength, my speed, and my natural fighting prowless. All were skills that I obtained from the time I was young living with both my tribe and with the Warlocks of the Skylands. The Warlocks....were how I came to know Kin. He was one of my students. As to how I control my wolf...I have learned that the best way to control it, is to do as it sees fit at times and by that I mean letting it out on nights such as these so that it might hunt and do as nature intended it to do. In time you do learn to control it but the only way you can do this Akiko is to stop fearing that which you are and trust those that you encounter here like family." Akiko stayed quiet, taking all of what she spoke about in. There was so much that Akiko did not know. “I hate bombarding you with so many questions but who and what are the Warlocks of Skylands. My wolf took over decades of my life, I’m just scared that if I give her the chance to emerge then she will take more of my life away.” Akiko looked back at the mountain, admiring the height and strength that loomed before her. "Impressive once was our fire breather...Mt. Fuji-san that is until one day those here in Japan felt the earth shake in manner that was quite unlike anyone had felt before. Though at the time none of us realized it at the time but that 'quake' had released something from the bowels of this mountain, something that I had thought had died ages ago. This place is where the nations of world imprisoned Kin, for the mass murders and kidnapping of countless political figures, and is considered by those of our pack as a sacred place." Shaking her head, Akiko’s mind was reeling with everything, it felt like her brain was about to explode. “What happened to him? What made him crack? I knew that he had unstable moments but mass murder is another thing. I just can’t wrap my head around this, it’s like I missed this huge chunk of time.” Akiko laughed because that is exactly what happened, she had lost a huge chunk of time. “Tell me everything.”

Tahira "The Silver Haired Noble": "The Warlocks are group of assassins who from the time they are young are trained to fight or rather hunt and kill the forces of the supernatural, creatures like ourselves and even regular scum of the earth....for a fee of course. These warriors consisted of many kinds of races and even species who were trained by one of the now 4 Masters in schools that are scattered across the world, the fourth school being my own, Scorpian Academy. The other three being the Schools of the Serpent, the Phoenix which is the school that Kin and I originated from and met in, and the School of the Eagle." Tahira would've explained a soft smile moving her full lips, the tone in her voice revealing a sense of pride in what was being said as she did so love her adopted family. More than words could even say as most upon her departure for Zanzibar packed what of their possessions that they could given it was all on such notice to make the journey with her to 2nd Soul Tokyo to be with her as not only mortal support but members of the new school's staff those among them being none other that Thabin Zachery, a fellow master trainer and her adopted mother, Morgianna Santos. Two people outside of their beloved late Master Corbin who suspected that Tah was not being entirely truthful as to how she miraculously survived the fire inside of Morg's tavern that had left her for dead almost 126 years ago. But Tah's pause would've allowed her to hear what more that Akiko had to say as she went on to explain as to why she feared what she was so, and that the lost of time was the price that she paid as result of it which in turn caused the wolf queen's eyes to narrow in both sorrow for the young girl for she too had heard of this happening to those who fought against their nature whilst so young and concern as it lead her to wonder just how in fuck's name did she regain control when so few had? It indeed was a mystery to say the very least to her but Tahira was certain she would gain the answers she needed tonight as she watched Akiko shake her head possibly from having it over taking by all the information she was taking it. "I was explain everything but try to take what you are about to be told one thing at a time Akiko." she said taking in a soft breath of air into her veins before and fixing her gaze upon the mount again before spinning what would seem like a very long and harrowing tale of Kasaihana's strange destruction by unknown forces, its inhabitants being forced into the harsh cruel wilderness of the Skylands, a massive desert wasteland that exists between the metropolis' of New Nexus Florida, Kasaihana, and New California, some adopting the lives as bounty hunters or Warlocks just to survive like Kin while others migrated to the other two mega cities left in the United States and continued out their lives. From there Tahira would proceed to weave the story of how she met Kin in Zanzibar Stone the Capital City for Warlocks of the Phoenix School and how student and teacher became very close friends. Tah did her best to weave the story of Gray Wind, a gifted wolfblood who Kin was mated to for a time before going on explain the fire at Morgianna's tavern which had been set by the Elder's (Okami's) son Lyacon. That in truth ended her life as mortal only to be saved by a man who in truth who was her first and for the longest time her only love. Tahira would pause here to take in a breath of air and also to moisten her lips, a part of her still hating that Kin shunned the feelings she'd borne so strongly for him as a girl but she could sense that even now after his death a century later that he indeed knew that what he did was what was best for her before parting her lips to speak again. This time of trios search for that of legendary Red Moon Maiden, of their pack sister Naomi who Lyacon was also looking for along with the alter to which she was be slain upon order to turn all those on Earth into wolves. Needless to say that this journey brought them into contact with two other wolfbloods who would also become their pack brothers, Lee Tanaka and Kaith Yamato. In addition two mortals women from Kasaihana a mother and daughter whose home became their base for a time in Big Rock Town a city in the midst of the Skylands. Tah explaining in detail the 6 warriors periless battle against the son of the one who created them all. Of how she and Naomi were injured, Lee subdued, and Kaith...well she couldn't quite remember what happened there. (xD I can't tbh) With all out of the way Kin and Lyacon were left to face off in the final draw but it was in this fight that what Akiko truly desired to know, its origins rather would begin to bare fruit. "During the battle with Lyacon, Kin was forced to watch the beast kill Grey Wind right before his very eyes and of course this brought on the desired effect the monster craved. Having murdered the woman he was starting to love but even after avenging her death by killing Lyacon Kin....Kin was no longer the same. He no longer cared for anyone or anything not even me though I was the only one who seemed to still care about him as the others especially Naomi our pack's beta thought he was a joke as an Alpha. Women and booze were his only comforts it finally got to the point that while he was sinking even lower, I finally started to break down too. It hurt too much to even watch him. If only we knew at that time that some else had their own plans to use him to do what came next we all might have slapped some sense into him....into ourselves....maybe..." Tahira's voice began to trail off at this point. As thinking back onto the dark days when Kin or rather Nik terrorized the world made her skin crawl to say the very least, the things that he had done under Victor Varex's control were so unspeakable that even 2nd Soul found mockery with them. The young wolf queen switching the focus of her conversation in hopes of finishing the tale before the others arrived as she could hear the voices of the hunters and others of her inner circle attempting to approach from the camp. "......A group called The Order lead by a man whose name was Varex placed something inside of Kin that was so powerful that not only did it force the Elder to retreat from his body into that of Naomi's but formed a completely different entity in itself inside of Kin. One that was made up of all his darkest and hanious desires. It called itself, Nik. And it was as Nik that Kin went around on a killing spree taking out the Mayor of New California, the Pope, destroying 2nd Soul Tokyo in his successful attempt to kidnapped Prime Minister Hakido, and decimating the nation of Azulon after killing its leader, Fuzen. The entire time rest of the pack and I, the Elder, and yes even a special O.Ps. team consisting of Kin's uncle and others were running around the world hunting him and the Order down. It was during that battle in Azulon that something happened to Kin, something that gave him strength to break free of Nik and of Varex's control and up until 50 years ago I never knew what, until his daughter Keiko told me. It was the sight of her on the battlefield that made Kin want to fight again but unfortunately the damage had been done....And rest of the world who had survived the tyranny wasn't about to take any chances of what had happened once, happening again." Tah would lower her eyes some turning away from the rock before her, before moving to stand upright on her own two feet. " At the age of 24, Kin Tasanagi was arrested by the United Nations' governments, -C-

Tahira "The Silver Haired Noble": charged with multiple acts of treason by both the United States, Rome and Japan, espionage, several counts of murder, and 2 counts kidnapping, and sentence to spend rest of his days here in a maximum securitity cell built inside of Mt. Fuji specifically created to deprive him of all his mental, physical, and yes even spiritual links to us his pack and the Elder that inhabited his body. Allowing him no contact to the outside world what so ever no matter how hard we'd tried." Akiko quite possibly hearing the implication that Tahira herself had indeed tried to see their sire several times but to no avail. "After Kin was locked away the pack....well we all went our separate ways. Lee to his mate Usagi...who bore him a son....Kaith was with him for a time though he soon parted from him in order to travel the world alone, though lately he's been spotted on this side of the globe a bit more probably due to me being here in Japan, I'd wager. As to Naomi, well she was a missionary as it turns out and a bit of lone wolf to start out with so it came naturally to her to returned to what she loved to do. And me....well I returned to the human friends we made back in Big Rock for a time before finally deciding to return to my birth place only to find that my father had passed away and I now was Chief due to me not wishing marry and bare a son to rule my people. After a lengthy stay I went back to Zanzibar Stone to face the music with those Kin and I had left behind, and the rest you already know......" the sound of voices male and female alike becoming much louder and clearer for them both as Tahira finished up explaining to Akiko everything she had missed thus far over the past decade or so. "Is there anything else that you wish to know before the others join us here in the clearing, Akiko?" -E-

Pulling her knees up to her chest, Akiko hugged herself closely. There was too much, just too much to be thinking of. Akiko was starting to regret ever coming out to meet the pack. She already felt like her life was flipped over and beaten, and now it was like her life never stopped spinning. Akiko was expecting some sort of a strange story but this was too much. Warlocks, Nik, and the world over all changing so drastically; it was too much. How her wolf could not have told her about all this, but did her she-wolf even know what was happening. She was completely shocked that Akira and Sian were still alive, with the way it sounded; she was surprised that she was not dead. Akiko still couldn’t wrap her mind around it all, she could feel her wolf finally rise up and try to comfort her. Akiko might not have agreed with Kin’s ways but that didn’t mean that she wanted him dead or harmed. " At the age of 24, Kin Tasanagi was arrested by the United Nations' governments, charged with multiple acts of treason by both the United States, Rome and Japan, espionage, several counts of murder, and 2 counts kidnapping, and sentence to spend rest of his days here in a maximum security cell built inside of Mt. Fuji specifically created to deprive him of all his mental, physical, and yes even spiritual links to us his pack and the Elder that inhabited his body.” She appreciated that Tahira was taking the time to explain all of this too her but it all was insane. It is like she left and all hell broke loose. There were so many new people that Akiko had not met or even heard of; Varex, Naomi, Keiko, Grey Wind, and Nik. It was just too much for all at once, Akiko would have rather have heard about one thing at a time. Or maybe not, she thought about how she probably would have had so many more questions. Maybe it was better to have heard everything at once, then it would only take her mind this one time to adjust to all of the knowledge that she had gained. At least that was what she was going to be telling herself. ‘Welcome back’ she whispered to her she-wolf as she felt it curl and wiggle around inside of her, still trying to calm her nerves. "Is there anything else that you wish to know before the others join us here in the clearing, Akiko?" Akiko just shook her head, scared at what words would come out of her mouth. Swallowing the large lump in her throat she spoke softly. “I don’t want to know anymore, not right now.” Akiko stood and took a few steps away from Tahira as the large crowd of people came into the clearing. At least they would be the distraction that Akiko needed right now, she needed people to come and take these thoughts away. Maybe give her a chance to learn more about herself and other wolves, especially since she would never get another chance with Kin. That one thought actually made her want to weep for her maker, that she never got the time to learn from him. Maybe if the both of them had tried harder, then she could have been there for him. Not like she could have stopped what had happened, but just maybe something different would have occurred.

The wolf queen would've nodding her head to her words, knowing all too well that for one of Akiko's caliber what was spoken was far too much to take on just one single dose. It would take days even months to a year to process what Tahira herself had come to experience in just mere months of her being changed into a wolfblood. And though her time with Kin was short she still valued it, regardless of how their paths together had parted as she went to remove her hand from Akiko the voices of the others of her inner court and those who hunted in the name of the pack drew closer into the light of their mother moon who was at her peek in the apex of the night sky. The blood of the Elder which flowed through her veins as it had done in those of the one who made her before being past on to her began to adhere to massive lunar orbs call, granting Tah the power to shift into her half wolf and human state. Her wolven ears no longer a rustic brown color as they were in youth much like her hair was but a snowy silver white along with the long bushy tail that swished from left to right behind her. The golden color of her eyes remained unchanged but their irises had become slanted as most often did rendering it closer that of her dire wolf's state. Those that were entering the shadow of the once mighty mountain immediately took note of their Alpha's form and followed suit each taking their place at her side denoting their position and rank amongst the pack to form a circle on the hallowed grounds. Cheyenne of course stood to Tahira's right denoting her place as the pack's female beta, the current leader's right hand and second in command in her absence. To her left stood a blonde haired woman, Colleen and a male with black hair, her mate Draven Ishido both of average height as their sexes deemed but the male was slightly larger and more built quite possibly alerting Akiko to him being a wolfblood without even having to ask. These two of course being the pack's deltas and the only mated pair in the hierarchy of the Crescents. Those who remained to further enclose the circle were the Leader of the Hunters, Chase and seven others that made up his hunting party. All of which had proven themselves time and time again that they had earned the right of position that Tahira had given them and earned her trust enough to be granted more so when the time came. Tah looked around at the faces of those present who also looked back some with smiles on their lips while others wonder just who the new comer was before shifting her gaze towards Akiko, who possibly was still on the ground as she extending her right hand to the girl into an attempt to aid her to stand in the mists of them, then going on to part her lips to speak. "Blessed be unto the Elder for he has brought another....nay my sister Akiko home to us." "We give the One who Created us all thanks for this." everyone replied acknowledging the Alpha's prayer and slight decree of just who Akiko was to them and her station with the pack. "Everyone this Yano Akiko-san, the first of the grand sire's line to be created, my elder pack sister. Though a loner my desire is for her to made welcome among us by all, treated as one of us, and if she so desires to be trained and learn all that I have taught you. So that when the time comes and she is ready she will want to enter our ranks as a member of the Crescents, a daughter of the royal wolfblood line."

Colleen would've listened to Tahira speak, along with her husband both having been eyeing Akiko down taking note of the girl's fragile nature not just physically due her being curled up upon their arrival but the mental status as well, them of course due to their link with their Alpha being able to pick up on the faintness of the other she-wolf's thoughts. Draven of course being the voice here for them both moving to speak first, "Lady Tahira, no disrespect intended but this one compared to you, Lord Kaith, and yes your other siblings seems....." Draven's voice trails off a bit as Tahira looks towards him her right eye some what narrowing at him as if to say, "go on I dare you to say the word." "What he means great lady is that Lady Akiko seems to be struggling verses you and the others." Colleen interjects quickly, causing Tahira to ease up on her glare on Draven. "So were you Colleen when you once stood in this place over 30 years ago, if I recall. And doubt was placed on you too if you would be able stand tall with pride again but you shamed those who said so, and like you so will she starting with tonight's hunt." Some of the others would've made attempts to part their lips to intercede into the matter but Cheyenne raising her right hand upwards stops any further actions altogether as Tahira turns to address Chase, the leader of the hunters. "Chase, is it alright if Akiko and I join you in formation tonight?" Chase a middle age male with brown hair and green eyes let out a chuckle. "Are you kidding me Tahira, I'd be honored to have you both with me." "Good, man." Tah said smiling giving him a firm slap on the back then turning towards Akiko. "Akiko try to stay close to me or Chase as possible, this being your first hunt your wolf might be a bit unpredictable but don't worry that's natural....just open your mind to it and let your instincts take control okay." These words might have sounded easy enough but for those like Akiko Tahira knew this was hard but something that needed to be done if both were survive tonight as she watched the clouds peel back from the moon overhead a smile moving over her lips as her body began to contort and twist in what was a painful change that all cursed blood go through in order to change into their dire wolf forms before exclaiming, "LET HUNT BEGIN!!" The others some cursed as she was and the rest gifted shifting with grace and painlessly into the same form, Chase of course being them first to complete his change emerging a large black wolf with wild fur and grey-yellowish eyes looking around a bit at first whilst shuffling dirt a moment between his paws before raring his head back and letting out a loud mighty howl at the moon. Which soon followed by the others Tahira herself included, who was a large white wolf of demonic origin a testament to the age, power, and skill she truly did possess. The animal's head turning back to see if Akiko too had embraced her change and was ready to follow them off into the night in search of prey.

Breathing deeply, Akiko took everything in as the other wolves rushed in, taking their spots next to Tahira. Akiko’s reacted as it watched Tahira transform into her next form. The She-wolf wanting to take hold and join in with the rest of the wolves. This was so different for Akiko; it was like being on the outside of a window watching a family gather together. She was there but she didn’t feel like she was part of it, at least not yet. As Tahira looked upon Akiko, she stood but stayed to the side so that she did not interfere with the gathering of the pack members. "Blessed be unto the Elder for he has brought another....nay my sister Akiko home to us." "We give the One who Created us all thanks for this." With the words in unison, Akiko was taken back a bit. "Everyone this Yano Akiko-san, the first of the grand sire's line to be created, my elder pack sister. Though a loner my desire is for her to made welcome among us by all, treated as one of us, and if she so desires to be trained and learn all that I have taught you. So that when the time comes and she is ready she will want to enter our ranks as a member of the Crescents, a daughter of the royal wolfblood line." Akiko’s eyebrows lifted at the words ‘Royal Wolfblood’ now that was something she would have to remember so that she could ask Tahira about that. She tried to look upon the members of the pack, she wanted to be part of something and this was her chance to have a family again. But soon old wounds were opened up by the comment of a male wolf , "Lady Tahira, no disrespect intended but this one compared to you, Lord Kaith, and yes your other siblings seems....." Negative thoughts started to seep back into her mind; thoughts of being useless and unworthy made their way through. The She-wolf on the other hand was not happy with the fact that this male was calling them weak. The She-wolf wanted out so that it could sink its claws into the one that insulted them. ‘Shhh, mauling a pack member is probably not the best thing to do when you want to join the pack’ Akiko thought. ‘We are weak because I don’t trust you and you tend to take over, but that is why we are here. If we can learn from Tahira then we can become stronger, she is someone that will take the time to teach us. Make us whole instead of two entities.’ Tahira’s words just proved that she was there to help and not to use Akiko. Tahira was an Alpha that Akiko could see getting behind; she has the strength to take a broken wolf and turn them into something shiny and new. "Chase, is it alright if Akiko and I join you in formation tonight?" Akiko was ready for this at least that was what she was trying to tell herself.

"LET THE HUNT BEGIN!!" The words echoed in Akiko’s mind, her wolf jumping about energized by the sheer number and excitement of the other wolves. ‘Listen up; we need to do this together. No pushing me to the back as you take a joy ride. And when this is all over we need to make a compromise, I will join this pack for the both of us, so don’t screw me over… again.’ Her wolf settled down and took this moment to be serious. Akiko could feel the agreement being made between girl and beast. Closing her eyes, Akiko opened her mind and heart to the change. At first she could feel her black hair follicles continue to grow. She knew that this part was the easiest of the change. Akiko fell to the ground as she could feel her nails start to elongate into points, as well as her fangs, pushing out her human teeth. Biting her lip, blood trickled down onto the ground; she was not ready to make a scene as she shifted. Her bones began to break and twist, her clothing ripping from her body as her fur stretched the fabric. Akiko finally let out a scream as the end of the change took over. Her legs breaking and arching up into hind legs, her feet and hands morphing slowly and painfully into paws. As her clothing fell to the ground, in Akiko’s place stood a large midnight black wolf with glowing red eyes. Lifting her head up the sky the She-wolf let her voice be heard, her muscular legs taking a strong stance. As her voice died down, she lowered her front body and stretched out her tail. Shaking out her fur, the she-wolf felt free again. ‘Don’t forget, we can continue to do this as long as we work together.’ Shaking her large head, the she-wolf agreed. Her red eyes gleaming with freedom, excitement, and the desire to run with fellow wolves. (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/5c/e4/be/5ce4be251d5e426ff9d97a27aeb6c5a3.jpg)

Seeing Akiko's willingness to give her dire wolf form another try brought a smile to Tahira at least in a mental sort of sense as the Alpha placed great care of her strength into her hind legs before pushing off with agile grace and speed into night right behind leader of hunt and his pack. With those of her inner circle following in at a dead last. The younger of the two sired wolves taking great care to maintain a pace that accurate enough for Akiko to keep up with but still fast enough to keep in formation with the others as they blazed a trail off towards the Seeing Akiko's willingness to give her dire wolf form another try brought a smile to Tahira at least in a mental sort of sense as the Alpha placed great care of her strength into her hind legs before pushing off with agile grace and speed into night right behind leader of hunt and his pack. With those of her inner circle following in at a dead last. The younger of the two sired wolves taking great care to maintain a pace that accurate enough for Akiko to keep up with but still fast enough to keep in formation with the others as they blazed a trail off towards the western most parts of the woods in search of...what seem to Tah by its scent to be several deer grazing near a running brook of water if her ears were making the sounds out right. Chase too heard the sound of grass being grazed upon the large grey wolf lowering its head first to sniff the ground as his eyes moved from left to right spying quickly the hoof prints of their prey in the dirt before lifting its head to look back at the others. 'Chase?' Tah asked through mental coils of their packs bond. The large Wolfblood replied, 'Deer, Alpha....about 6 or 7 yards from here near the brook on the western edge of the forest. It appears to be about 4 of them. Pair twos no less.'

'Tis a feast Alpha, those two bucks would feed the pack for a month alone, not counting the two does with them' Colleen's voice would intervene the voices of the others chiming in behind her. 'I agree.' Tah agreed chuckling the Alpha female using a portion of her power in an attempt to transition Akiko's mind into the link they all share so that she could hear all that was being said the gaze of her golden eyes keeping constant vigil on her as she was still new to all of this. 'Chase, you and others proceed to formation.' She'd go one to say. 'My lady you should know this there's something else you should know...' Chase began. Tahira would counter, ' Aye I am aware we are heading into Blood Claw territory and Alex is nearby no need to worry my friend, his queen has assured me that our treaties will remain intact as long as its the animals blood we shed not one another's. Proceed' Chase would only nod his furry head continuing to use the mental link give orders to the others as he would attempt to place each one onto teams of three. Cheyenne, Colleen, her mate, and other being one were to head west. The other consisting of 4 more were to come in from the east. These two being the teams that would cut off any chances their preys escaping thus forcing them in a southern direction where the last team consisting of he, Tahira, Akiko and what remain would be lying in wait to move in for the kill. The plan of course had its risks as they all knew being trampled to death being one of them as bucks were known to become very defensive when threatened. But after several bites and clawing from them even they would be down for the count. The the other two teams breaking off in order to do as told while Tahira and company proceeded onward in a northern direction towards their destination. 'Akiko how are you doing back there? ' Tahira asked her as their team proceed further into the heart of another pack's territory. If did in fact reply that all was well Tah would then say. 'I want you be careful here as this is your first time, if you begin to feel you can't handle what your wolf might do I want you back down immediately. Understood?' This being more so an order than request as she did wish for any harm to befall the girl before she'd even had a chance to even fly. The baying of Cheyenne's team unto the airs of the night letting them all know that they were on the move cover the north west, west and south west directions around the deers forcing them to push towards the east in the direction of other who would cover the same corners of their cardinal directions forcing the agile beasts towards them.

Shaking from side to side, her black fur glistened in the moon light. Her red eyes bright and intense against her black fur, she never realized how beautiful or alive she felt in her wolf form. With yet another deep howl, Akiko took off into a run. She felt like finally she was in control of herself, it didn’t feel like it was her in the back seat and her wolf running the show. It was the both of them working together. She felt the wind brush through her fur as she needed to take a moment to run on her own. She kept close to the pack; she could feel a tie with Tahira, almost like she knew exactly where she was. Coming back towards the pack she was ready to start the hunt with the rest of her new found pack. That made her and her wolf yip with excitement, her pack. She finally felt like she had the family she felt like she deserved. She had found Akira again and now she was surrounded with creatures like herself. People that could help her better herself, help her understand herself, and people she could be with. Standing with Tahira, she waited for the pack to move. Then they took off as a group, Akiko following after Tahira, keeping up with the pace. Sniffing the air, Akiko could smell the forest, the earth, the brook that ran close by, and the other smells of the wolves that she ran with.

She could smell the herd of deer that nestled in the forest a few yards away. This made Akiko a little nervous. Her wolf was starting to tear free of her, wanting to run free and chase the deer down for the kill. –If you want to make this pack happy, then we need to work together. I know the hunt is getting to you but we both need to stay in control. - Akiko spoke sweetly to her wolf, wanting them to continue to work together. As the both of them came back together to work as one, she could feel a very familiar tingle in her mind. A tingle that she hadn’t felt for years now, she knew that someone was breaking through the barriers of her mind and connecting to her. Soon Akiko could listen in on the many other conversations that were traveling back and forth with Tahira. Akiko listened closely, wanting to make a good impression on Tahira and her fellow pack members. The words Blood Claw territory echoed through her mind, she was curious to know where all of the boundaries were, especially if she started to run as a wolf throughout the forest. Last thing she needed was to run into the wrong people or the wrong wolves. As orders were given, Akiko stuck close to Tahira, watching carefully as the other wolves moved and split up in different directions. Getting low, Akiko didn’t want to spook anything that took shelter within the woods. 'Akiko how are you doing back there? ' Tahira’s voice was low and welcomed in Akiko’s mind. ‘Doing very well, the she-wolf and I seem to be at an agreement but I fear that the chase and kill might cause some blood lust within my beast. I am going to take this very slowly.’ Tahira’s voice continued. 'I want you be careful here as this is your first time, if you begin to feel you can't handle what your wolf might do I want you back down immediately. Understood?' Akiko shook her head up and down, agreeing with the statement. ‘Yes, can’t be messing up on my first hunt.’ Then Akiko heard the rustling in the woods. Of the wolves herding the pack of deer in their direction, their paws and hooves slapping against the ground at a heavy pace. Akiko’s heart raced with the excitement of the hunt.

The Alpha could hear the thundering of hooves and paws against the cold earth in addition to feeling the vibrations as well due to her natural bond over the elemental and nature itself as a whole. Cheyenne and the others were doing well so much so that Tahira was beginning to believe that they might have enough food to last past the start of spring, if there were no casualties of course. And as predicted Tah sensed Akiko's wolf trying to take the lead in the mist of the excitement of the herd being forced towards them even in the wake of her reply. 'Good...tis almost time...now remember stay as low to ground as you can when not on the attack, and use the agility given you in your hind legs to avoid their hooves and antlers.' Tah explains to her, the massive white wolf turning it's head in the direction of the approaching prey with ears raised as the yipping and growling was much closer than before. Chase looking back for a moment his wolf's head gesturing for everyone to get into position Tahira to his left, Akiko to his right and the others following the same suit one behind the other unto at last their formation was in the shape of "V" before finally giving a good push off of his hind legs into a full out run his tail moving in a blur his only gesture to the others to follow suit. Which made Tahira chuckling just bit as she too dashed off after him soon followed by the rest and hopefully Akiko as well. By this point Cheyenne and College's groups were practically on the deers tails, snapping their jaws at them and even making attempts claw at them to keep them from escaping, so much to the point that animals were frantic to try to free themselves from their fates by fighting back to some degree at least the bucks were any how, one thrusting its antlers forwards in attempt shake off Draven in the mist of attack only to have his mate swipe down her right paw over the left side of its face as growled low in a warning to the creature not to try that again. The beast rearing back in a recoil of sorts as it had been blinded as at result of the attack before continue its dash forward with the others in Chase and company's direction. Tahira too also feeling her own feral nature slowly starting to come to the surface as Chase mentally gave the order for their group to move out, the large white wolf lunging forward with rest at full speeds with an inhuman grace that couldn't be described as anything more than deadly if anyone were paying attention at this point. Most would probably be too focused on the task at hand...especially now since their targets were in view. Allowing a lowly growl to move over and through her bared razor sharp teeth, the alpha pushed placed all of her weight into her hind legs and lunges her massive body forward in a full pounce with mouth open, teeth bared, and growling at largest buck in the group as one of the others let out a loud howl signaling the others back off and assist when need be thus granting Tah room to literally ram herself into the proud beast toppling him down towards the ground so that she could grasp him by the neck using her fangs, fatally wounding it before Colleen and company move in injury him further.

Chase having turned his attention towards the slaughter buck's young doe using his claws to back the frighten mate into a corner before Cheyenne came in for the kill gripping biting deeply into its stomach, and giving it several wild shakes like a domesticated dog would a toy snapping its neck instantly and killing it, thus leaving only two more buck and doe for them to take down. Despite having her pure white fur cover now in deer's blood, Tahira savored the taste of raw veal in her mouth eating on some of it happily as she watched in a state of blissful blood lust, something that she could control as the remaining buck prepared to do battle with the 10 or more of them in order to protect his mate, its right hooves digging into the earth below several times and head lowered showing off its only means of defense its antlers whilst they all and hopefully Akiko began to close in on them with fangs bared, and growling. 'Hee-hee no where for them to run now....' Tahira could hear one of the others say, her eyes taking note of them running their tongue over their lips. And to some extent she did agree but something here was off...at least not to her it didn't but regardless she gave a nod of her head for everyone including Akiko to attack the pair. Opting to become her support in this attack rather than the offensive so that her pack sister could claim her first kill without interference and satisfy her wolf's feral nature thus unifying them further. While awaiting Akiko's move Tahira would remain low to the ground her golden eyes searching over the two possible targets and which ever she choice her gaze would initially turn to it negating the other, to focus her attacks on said target.

The pounding of their hooves matched the pounding of Akiko’s heart. She stayed low to the ground as the beasts approached the rest of that pack. As Chase and Tahira took off running as the herd passed us, Akiko took off running behind Tahira. Akiko’s legs pounded into the ground as they followed the herd, her jaw tightening as she imagined her teeth digging into the deer’s flesh. The very thought drove her faster towards the herd. She watched as the front of the pack took down a very large buck. To her wonder and amazement, Tahira took down the largest buck in the herd. Her large white form flashing forward and grabbing hold of the deer’s throat, bring it down to the ground. Akiko watched with admiration as the fellow pack gave Tahira the space to take down the giant beast. All around her, wolves were working together to take down these beasts. Chase and Cheyenne using their strengths to chase down a deer and kill it in one single earth powering shake. Akiko and her wolf had never seen something so beautiful. Who would have thought that Akiko and her wolf found something that would be so horrific to one would be so beautiful for another? Akiko could smell the blood in the air and she could tell that it was driving the pack to keep going, to strive to complete this task at hand. And the key was that they were going to complete it together, as a pack. Something that Akiko was not use to but for some reason she felt like this was how it was suppose to be. Silly her, she thought that she was forever going to be a lone wolf, who knew that this was exactly what she needed to survive as a wolf and a woman.

With a buck and a doe left, Akiko knew that she wanted to contribute to the pack. She watched the deer, trying to figure out what her best chance was. She knew she could not take down the buck alone and she was not sure as to how to work together with a fellow wolf without getting in the way. Her eyes scanned the area around the buck and the doe. Crouching down towards the ground she ran off to the side and behind the trees, it helped that she was small enough and dark enough that she blended in with the woods. Circling what was left of the herd, Akiko positioned herself directly behind the doe. Akiko hoped that the scent of the other wolves would confuse the buck and not tip them off that she was behind them. Light on her feet, Akiko pushed with her hind legs, pushing her up into the air. Her jaw gaping open to latch onto the throat of the doe. The first thing to hit the doe was Akiko’s large, empowered claws. Her nails digging into the flesh so that when the doe tore away, she was only injuring herself more. Then Akiko’s fangs glistened white as they sunk deep into the does flesh. Blood spilled into her mouth and it almost seemed to calm her, giving her piece. Looking behind her, she hoped that the buck was not coming after her, especially since she took down its females. If no one had taken out the buck, Akiko would brace herself for the impact of strong antlers. If the buck was taken down then she would look upon the rest of the pack as they celebrated the take down of such a large herd together.

It was in Akiko's choice that both she and the wolf queen in fact made a grave mistake for in that moment when she sank her teeth into the doe's flesh successfully killing the gentle creature that the buck's eyes began to glow with an eerie red light, un-natural to this world. A sign that there was something far more sinister at work here as the menacing laughter of something that had gone mad began lay shrill to the air and pair of ominous silhouetted talons cast their shadow down upon a near by bamboo tree as Tahira's golden eyes began to shift about wildly in order to determine it origins, the scent in the air suddenly changing to that of decay and death. A scent more commonly associate to this place and those that came to die here. Still shifting her large furry head about, Tah would suddenly spy the hand and It's owner attempting lower his palm in a hasty but prudent attack to strike at her newly discovered sister, that would not only serrate one of her own hind legs from her body but also leave a 12 inch gash upon the under most side of the female wolfblood stomach if indeed it landed before going further when drew it back to expose her upper and lower instines to the naked eye, for all to see and there immobilizing her so that he could dispatch of the others before possibly take her on or the other around. Tahira wagered either way it was something that the wolf queen wouldn't allow to happen and without a second thought to it she took off at unearthly speeds screaming through their mental bond, 'AKIKO BEHIND YOU!!!' the larger of the two wolves trying her hardest to launch the full weight of her body, head first into Akiko's form like a battering ram would its full force into the wall hereby knocking the elder sister with her prey still between her teeth several feet away from where she and the now decease deer presently stood. Thus putting Tahira in direct line of fire of the attack that was stated, the blow due to the pack's physical and mental bond together as whole that everyone who was apart of the Crescents would be able to feel the pain that she herself could not during having been burned alive when she was young....thus alerting those who served as warriors of the pack that there was danger in their lands as they allowed the power of the mother moon to take hold of their bodies, and change them in order to pursue the others; and aid their comrades. Those that were with Tah immediately rushing to their wounded Alpha's aid in order to defend and protect her despite her constant warnings to never show her any pity in when hurt in the heat of battle as her ranking meant that she wasn't a weakling nor did she need them to protect too. "Alpha, are you alright?" she'd hear one of the she wolf hunters ask as those of Tahira's inner circle namely Cheyenne, Draven, Chase, and his second were in front of her growling with intensity at the in truth possessed creature. Collen herself having some how disappear from the group sometime between the creatures arrival and Tahira being attacked. While the rest of the hunters took to her rear and protecting Akiko, who might have been a bit out of breath from being head butted in the lungs by Tah but not hurt none the less. Growling herself in both agitation from having been disobeyed and struck Tahira replied, "I'm fine, Akiko where is she? Akiko?!" If she were reply back staying that she was still with them Tah would ask her, "Are you alright?" the large white wolf attempting to stand upright once more hind legs first then front with her stomach still slashed open and bleeding profusely to boot listening to her reply. Cheyenne's voice coming in loud into her thoughts as the young shape shifting caught all of this out of the corner of her right eye. "Tahira just what the hell do you think you're doing? You'll only agitate it more if you..."

'I know what I am doing Cyan, now get out of the way!' she growled her anger at its peak here, the power of the full moon overhead granting to the queen the full potential of her powers to full negate any pain that she might have remotely felt to nothing but a mere scratch as the mighty white wolf stood up on all fours wounds and all. The pride in which all Alpha's have radiating from her under its glow as she took a step forward and then other, forcing her way through those that stood before her towards the menace creature that stood before them. It's laughter still ringing loud and clear. "Common out and face us yokai...." Demanded Tah her eyes starting to see much more than just the sack of rotten meat that the creature was inhabiting, hence the smell of death that was in the air that she had gotten a whiff of earlier.

However if Tahira's attempt however wasn't indeed successful, and Akiko was given the full blow of the attack the other wolves would've saw Tah take the air snarling with teeth bared and claws extended. The young wolf queen's body shifting in painful opposition to the moon's calls into that of beast neither human or wolf that stood at least 6 feet or more tall brandishing two scimitars swords deep in an aura of red hot color as Cheyenne, Chase and the rest of them minus Colleen who seemed to smile as she turned on her tail to run, ran to her aid leaving Tahira who now was in her lycan form to do battle with a creature, who was only using carcus of a dead buck to hide himself in. Or so the young queen wagered, barking out for it to come out from hiding and face them in its real form.