Arrival

[Tsukikage]

Shimo went to work, nudging Tsuki's shoulder and making clicking noises to try and get a good image of what had happened. He saw... the bone, the joint... What's this? he felt around some more, and found that there was nothing holding the leg in place anymore -- nothing at all. Maybe a few nerves and skin, but otherwise, he could just as easily picked the leg up and run off with it. He continued examining. It appeared as though his shoulder had been torn apart from inside, or eaten away at with some rot or something. Normally, this wouldn't be possible, but perhaps the damage he'd sustained earlier affected more than his heart. He'd have to rebuild the joint itself, as well as rebuild the muscle. He clicked again, and this time, there was even less there. His leg was deteriorating at an impossible rate. Shimo ran to a tree and removed a branch. He made sure it was the approximate length of Tsuki's leg, then wrapped it in dirt. Next was the hard part. He drew a circle into Tsuki's shoulder, and severed the dying leg, then seared the remaining flesh to make sure whatever had been eating his leg was gone.
Tsuki woke up at that point, as if he'd felt nothing. Then he saw it: his own front leg. He just stared at it in shock, and cried, "Hitoban... what's happening to me?"
Shimo ignored it and continued. He drew a circle into Tsuki where he'd attach a new arm, then another into the dirt mound covering the branch. Then he let out a howl that activated the two marks. The branch and dirt floated toward Tsuki, and he tried to get away, but the branch quickly plunged into the mark on Tsuki, and with several loud snapping and crunching noises, it took on the form of a leg.
"The new matter will transform and copy Tsuki's own DNA," Shimo explained to Hitoban, "but no transmutation is perfect; only time will tell if the leg will be like his old one."
Shimo turned and barked at the old leg, and found that it was almost completely disintegrated. He looked closer, and saw something bizarre absorbing the leg, like a tiny black pearl. He turned to Mar, and explained what he had seen.

"Hmm..." Mar thought a moment, A bunch of little black pearls eating Tsuki's leg? How is this possible? Maybe... "There's only one thing I can think of that would do this. We call it the Ancestral Blight back home. It's an ancient curse that grants amazing strength, then kills you about two days later. My guess is that when Tsuki's body was weakened, the Blight was able to attack him, or at least his front leg..." that's where I wounded him when he came home that first time... "It's the same thing that transformed me during our fight earlier, but Dante was able to remove it before it killed me. Each generation of my line has had a less severe form than the last, but I guess it hasn't died out yet. It could be that because Tsuki and Kage only have one body, it was able to combine what little strength it has left in him. My other children haven't shown any sign of it, so chances are this is the last of it, I'm just glad that Shimo was able to catch it before it devoured his whole body."
Tsuki just stared at his new leg. It was still dirt-colored and hairless, but otherwise, a perfect copy. Tears were streaming down his face, and he'd broken out in a cold sweat.
Kage had felt it, too, but at least they were safe now. Kage turned to Dawn, "I'm going to try and help the transmutation succeed, but that means I'll be devoting my energy to Tsuki's body, and won't be able to sustain my own, is it okay with you if I go?"

[hitobannofokkusu]

*Hitoban nuzzled Tsuki when he cried out to her and watched the transmutation silently. I hope he'll be alright...will he end up like Mar eventually? It doesn't matter...just as long as he lives.*

*Dawn nodded and nuzzled Kage, licking his cheek, before sitting down and waiting for him to disappear.*

*Meanwhile, Hina was pouting in a nearby tree, completely oblivious to everyone else's problems and sulking over her own. She was still feeling slightly betrayed over Wahya's reaction. She watched them, noticing Kuyaa looked uncomfortable. She was new to this group of people and felt more comfortable around them than her? She'd probably known them long before Hina had... Oh well...her problem now.*

[OCC]Sorry for the sucky post, just out of muse. ^^;[/OCC]

[Tsukikage]

[ooc: out of muse? ONOES!! I knew we should've picked some up before we left...]

Kage vanished, promising he'd return as soon as possible, and Shimo collapsed as soon as he didn't have to focus on anything.
Mar turned to Hitoban, "Hmm... perhaps it'd be best to continue in the morning? Though... with all the blood around, it may attract predators. Hmm... well, your decision, but if or when we do stop, I'll take the second watch."

[hitobannofokkusu]

*Hitoban knew it was probably best if they stopped until morning, but when the dawn breaks, the night creatures will go back to their dens...if there was something to mask the smell they might be able to rest here undetected. She turned to Maname and looked at her bag.*

"Maname, do you have anything to mask smells?"

I do, My Lady.

"Is there enough to cover the blood?"

I believe so. Here, let me fetch my sister.

*Maname trotted over to where Hina was still pouting and she followed her gaze. Then she sighed and nudged Hina.*

Come Sister, now is not the time to mull and sigh in pity over yourself. Do you have any masking roots?

Yes, why?

Because we're camping out here overnight and we need to mask Lord Tsuki's blood.

He's shed blood? Why? What happened to him?

He had an injury in his leg, but Mister Shimo fixed it. However, Lady Hitoban feels the need to stay here overnight and we need to cover up the blood in order to hide ourselves.

I see. Go, I will help you.

*They trotted back, already pulling the roots out of their bags and laying them on the ground. They eat bit into them and squeezed out the black goop around the area until the smell of blood was completely gone. Then they put the remaining roots away, Hina went back to her tree, and Maname sat down in front of Hitoban.*

We're finished Lady Hitoban. The smell of blood should be completely gone here for a few days at least.

"Good. Then I guess it's safe to stay here overnight. I will stay awake as long as I can to protect everyone and when I feel I cannot hold my eyelids open anymore, Mar will take over. Are we agreed?"

[Rynn]

Rin shrugged and nodded, not about to argue with Hitoban. She padded over to her brother and laid next to him, they laid there watching the others.

[Tsukikage]

Mar tilted his head and smiled. "You healers really are amazing." He said before laying down next to Tsuki and closing his eyes. The blood red of his coat seemed to blend effortlessly with the dyed snow and dirt beneath them.
In his dreams that night, his mind drifted back to Jira, and to the moment they first met. He shuddered as he remembered the wolf he had been less than two months ago. He'd been so cold and unforgiving, caring for no one, sometimes, not even himself. Now all he could think about was making sure the son he had failed was safe, and how hard this must be for his mate. Then he thought of the twins. Kenji was brash and selfish, the only thought on his mind was pleasing a father that would never have loved him. Merida... poor Merida, he barely even knew who she was. He whimpered while he dreamed, hoping it wasn't too late for him to be a good father, mate, and alpha. His people had put up with his heartlessness for more years than he wished to count, but perhaps he could go back and make amends... or maybe it really was too late...
Mar sprang up in a cold sweat. He'd dreamed that when he returned, they did not recognize him, and left him, because they had learned to close their hearts to him, and he could not hope to be let back in.
Mar walked for a while, in no specific direction, until he came to a clearing with a little moonlit hill. He sat there, staring at the stars, and praying that his dream never came to pass.

[hitobannofokkusu]

*Maname had lay down now and was dozing lightly while Hitoban sat, not far away from her, next to Tsuki. Hitoban had watched Mar and her ears perked to his whimpering and when he woke, and then left. She thought about stopping him, but she decided against it. He probably had things to think about. Her tail twitched and her eyes fixed on Dawn. She had gotten up and was walking away from them. Hitoban knew where she was going. It had been Hitoban's secret place when Missy had come and stolen away her mother's pack. She had gone there every day just so she wouldn't have to watch her father degrade himself day after day. Hitoban lay down and continued to watch the area.*

*Dawn padded through the trees, lonely again, but not for long. She jumped nimbly over the brush leading into the clearing and stopped with a little gasp.*

Oh, Mar. I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here. Would you like me to leave?

[Tsukikage]

Mar shook the tears from his eyes and turned to Dawn, "Um, no, not at all... what's the matter? Are the boys all right?" He let out a long sigh and shook his head. "I don't suppose you'd know much about this," he began, "but I am not a good father, and an even worse alpha. I've been cruel and unfeeling, coldly discarding anyone who wasn't 'useful', even when they needed me. How can I go back now? I've changed, but is it too late?" Mar began crying again, thinking about the twins, "Then there's Kenji... you know, he'd kill his own mother if I told him to... I wish I could stay here with all of you forever, but I have responsibilities, y'know? I'm torn in two." Maybe... maybe I could bring them here? No. Not with Kenji gunning for Tsuki like he is... there's no way they'd allow it. "I just wish I could have my whole family around me, and that I could somehow earn their love again, but Tsuki has his own pack now, and there's no way Kenji or my brother, Oben could come here; it'd cause too many problems for all of you."
He stared back up at the stars, and thought back to the day he cast that horrible spell on the boys. "I don't know if Kage told you or not, but his real name is Regal, and Tsuki's is Lars. I don't think they'd like to be called that, but I just thought their mates should know..." Mar blushed, but it was undetectable beneath his blood red fur. He looked away, "I'm sorry. It's probably not my place, I was just trying... to find some common ground, something to talk about besides my family issues."

[hitobannofokkusu]

*Dawn smiled and padded forward, standing beside him. She also looked to the stars as she listened to him.*

I don't know a lot about responsibility, but I do know what it's like to be torn in two. My brother, Twilight, has his own pack now, and Hitoban has hers. I met Hitoban when she was just a pup. Twilight has only ever met her twice, but he feels as if he knows her through me. And now my brother and my sister are far away from each other and I can't be with them both, and it tears me apart. But I know I need to watch over Hitoban, and I couldn't leave Kage for the world...so I guess Twilight's on his own now. But he's got Sheeta...and his pack, and his pup. So he'll be fine.

*A tear rolled down Dawn's cheek as a shooting star passed by.*

I hope...

[Tsukikage]

Mar nodded, "It'd be great if we could be with all our loved ones all the time," he said, "but I guess fate has something else in mind for us. Mmm... well there's no reason we can't visit each other, right?" His ears perked up, "Yeah! We could all meet again, maybe... oh, I don't know, twice a year maybe? All the packs could come together for a while! It'd be great!" Hope was renewed in Mar, and he felt not so burdened as he was in his dreams. "I'll ask Hitoban what she thinks. It'd be an opportunity for us to keep in touch." Who knows? Maybe I'll see your pups there someday. He smiled widely, then looked up at the sky and yawned, "Oh, but look at the time! We should get some rest before morning, I'm sure Tsuki's leg will be working by then."
Mar waited to walk back with Dawn before returning to his sleeping place next to Tsuki.

[hitobannofokkusu]

*Dawn nodded and smiled.*

That would be nice. I'm sure Hitoban would like the idea.

*She went with Mar back to the others and lay down next to Hitoban. Hitoban smiled at her and she smiled back.*

*Hina, still sulking, was beginning to grow tired. She had just woken herself up from a temporary trance when Maname's melodic voice floated to her ears from the ground.*

Sister, go to sleep.

I don't want to.

Please? You never know when Lady Hitoban will need you. You need your rest.

What's the point? I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway...

Stop sulking and sleep!

*Hina jumped and nearly fell out of the tree when Maname spoke a little too loudly to her. She finally mumbled something like "fine" and closed her eyes. Maname lay down at the base of the tree to make sure Hina fell asleep.*

[Wahya Ayawisgi]

Wahya continues to look to Kuyaa, but no response. Guess she is still in shock I guess... Wahya turns and starts to walk into the forest, his stomach was turning for another meal. He stops for a second to look back to the others then looks back in front of him as he disappears into the darkness of the forest.

[Tsukikage]

Morning came early for Mar, but he was hopeful now. He looked around and noticed that he was the only one up. Man, I'm gonna be wiped out later... he chuckled softly before closing his eyes again. Unfortunately, the rest of him wasn't getting the memo. Just let me sleep a little longer, please.

[hitobannofokkusu]

*Maname's eyes fluttered open and she yawned. She looked around her, momentarily dazed, not knowing where she was, but when she saw Hitoban, she remembered. Then she looked up at Hina in the tree. Hina was already awake and looking down at her. Hina jumped down and sat beside her.*

Have you been up all night Sister?

No Maname, I went to sleep, just like you told me.

Good...Sister I have something I need to tell you and Brother.

*Daisuke's back leg twitched and he let out a snore. The girls chuckled and Hina looked back to Maname.*

Could you tell Daisuke later?

I guess...Sister...I've joined Lady Hitoban's pack. I'm her healer now.

*It took a moment for this news to sink into Hina's mind, and when it did, she wasn't too happy.*

What? I thought we all agreed that we'd stay together!

You and Brother can join her too! I don't see the problem...

You know you brother isn't the "pack type" and I have...something else in mind.

*Hina looked around to find that Wahya was gone. Maname followed her gaze and knew what she was talking about.*

It just feels like they're calling me Sister. You must understand...You and Brother can come and visit me whenever you like!

*Hina sighed and padded over to Daisuke. She nudged him first with her forehead, but when he didn't wake, she kicked him. He gasped and flailed up into a sitting position and glared at Hina. They spoke where Maname couldn't hear and Daisuke went through the same facial expressions Hina had. Finally he looked over at Maname and smiled gently. The walked over together and Daisuke nuzzled Maname.*

I'm going to miss you Sis.

You guys act like I'm going to be gone forever! You can come and visit me whenever you want to! You know Brother will be able to find me wherever we are.

I know kiddo, but it just wont be the same. We're mainly jealous. I mean, you're the baby here and you've got a pack before either of us!

*Maname blushed and her siblings laughed. They all sat down together and waited for the rest of them to wake.*

[Tsukikage]

"Why don't you let Daisuke decide for himself?" Mar said without moving, "You say 'we' too much; just speak for yourself, no matter if you may be right or not, it's a good habit not to speak on behalf of others without their express permission."
Mar still gave every appearance of being asleep, but he was wide awake. "If you were in my pack," he continued, "the old Mar would've killed you for that."
He finally rose and walked closer to the two sisters, chuckling to himself, "But momentai, no worries. I'm not that guy anymore. I just wanted to make a point."
He smiled warmly and gave them both a hug with one massive paw. "Good morning! Beautiful day, isn't it?" He laughed.