இ Ѻur Ѻwn Ҟeepers இ (Semi-lit Post-Apocalyptic- Beasts)

[Resin]

((I apologize for taking so long. It's been a stressfest around here for the past few days and I'm not feeling very creative.))

~|Tenzin|~Co-Leader of The Wise|~ Male Liger|~

The congregation broke up and animals had begun to leave in anger. Once Merikh and Mabaya left, the big liger stood. "The situation will be handled. We shall send this envoy in the hopes that a peace or at least a truce can be reached. I put my full trust in Oresia, Doll and Varg, as should you. They will do their very best for us and we must do our best for them." Locking eyes with each animal in the room, the big cat continued. "We must remain vigilant and we must help one another. Keep your eyes and your ears open at all times. If you see a human, do not approach it. If you smell a human, you'd best stay away. Though I do not like the idea of killing them or turning them away from this city, the truth is that they are killing us." He leaped to the floor, padding down the center aisle on massive, claws paws. "Vigilance... This library is open to any that do not feel safe in their own homes. Our meeting is adjourned."

Tenzin continued on to the back of the hall where Doll, Varg and a small fox sat. "Hello, little fox." He greeted the unknown member first then continued on to speak to the woman and the maned wolf. "This mission will be dangerous. They have killed our kind already and there's a possibility that they may try to do so when you arrive. I do not, however, believe that they will try to harm Doll since she is one of their own." Seating himself, he dwarfed the dark haired woman. He dwarfed them all. Locking his golden eyes upon those of the human woman, he continued. "We must talk them into parlaying in an open area far from their gates. Insist that only three of them may approach since there are three of you. We must speak to them of peace; of a truce."

The golden striped cat shook out his thick caramel mane then addressed them both together. "We do not wish to harm them. We are willing to live in peace and share that which we have, though some of the others may not like it. Should they be willing to listen, you may offer to bring their leader here to the grand library and we shall discuss terms." Again he met their eyes, his gaze full of severity. "Keep one another safe. Ora will do her duty to protect the pair of you, but you must protect one another. Be safe, Doll and Varg. We all thank you for what you've volunteered to do." He placed his large paw gently upon Doll's leg, giving a comforting and motivational touch. After gracing Varg and the little fox with a smile, he turned and moved aside to speak with Ora.

Coming up to the big silver wolf, Tenzin ran his cheek along the top of her head and pulled her close with one large paw, locking her in an embrace. "You be safe. Don't do anything reckless. If tensions rise and things start getting ugly, get yourself and both of them out of there. I'd rather have you come back so we can form a new plan rather than have you lose your lives." Releasing her, he pressed her forehead against hers, then pulled away and padded back towards his living area.

~|Oresia|~Co-Leader of The Wise|~Female Cascades Wolf|~

Settling herself down, she listened to Tenzin's pep talk. It was fine and good, but she doubted many would even listen. They had advanced, but they still retained their stubbornness and pride. Most would simply go back home and act as if nothing happened. They would live their lives as they always had and, if danger came, they'd complain about it later. She happened to glance to the side and noticed that Asali had a fleck of jerky upon her cheek, so she reached forward and nosed it off of the honey colored fur. After that, she looked to Tenzin once more.

When his talking stopped and he approached, she sat back up and was slightly shocked when he pulled her into an embrace. Despite the thoughts of many, she and the liger weren't a couple. They admire one another, sure, but it didn't go beyond that. Not for her, at least. His affection and concern warmed her heart slightly and a grin spread upon her silver maw. Placing a paw upon one of his massive ones, she leaned into the embrace, attempting to reciprocate his feeling of care. His words were quiet and wise, as always. He genuinely cared for the well being of his people. He was the true leader. She was simply the enforcer.

"Everything will be okay, Tenzin. I'll keep them safe." After he nuzzled her and walked away, she shook her head lightly, giving her attention back to the three that sat before her. Three turned into four as Calaphan flew down to land beside her. She listened to his words and nodded. "I had planned on choosing a neutral location, I just hadn't chosen the location yet. It would have to be something in the middle of both territories. A flat place where the humans can't set up an ambush." She flicked one ear and nodded. "A letter would work to send the invitation to parlay. I feel that the humans would try to kidnap and keep Doll if she went to their gates on her own to deliver it. That's the next issue."

Oresia rolled her silver shoulders and rocked her neck from side to side, loosening the muscles much as a prize fighter would before a battle. It was good to keep herself loose and ready at all times. Her mind changed. She may be ready, but Doll and Varg may not be. "We will do this tomorrow. It will give us time to compose a well thought out letter of request. I believe Hapi can write, but if Doll would like to stay and help, it would be appreciated." The silver female looked to the dark haired woman expectantly.

~|Dahlia (Doll)|~27 years old|~Female Human|~

Tenzin was so huge! Dahlia felt so tiny beside him and that feeling made her slightly nervous. She knew that he was probably the most peaceable animal in the lot, but just knowing that he could kill her in an instant made her feel uneasy. Thousands of years of fear were bred into humans. She could understand why the others were so afraid though she didn't condone the lengths that their fear took them to. His gentle paw upon her leg did bring her a bit of comfort, however. It eased some of the fear that she felt towards him.

When Tenzin left and Oresia and Calaphan began to speak again, she listened intently. Sending a letter would be a smart way to go about it. How would they make sure that the humans received that letter without Doll actually going onto the property there? When the raven questioned the whereabouts of the humans, she spoke up. "I know exactly where they reside. That's why I came here today, actually." Absently, she tucked a strand of dark hair behind one ear. "I saw them with the pelt of the leopardess, so I followed them. Their stronghold is a huge sprawling mansion in the hills. It rests upon a wide spread of land so there's no way that we could get close without them seeing us. It's also surrounded by tall iron fencing. We will literally have to knock upon their front door to give the letter to them. Unless..." She trailed off and fixed Calaphan with the full attention of her bright green eyes. "Unless you deliver it. You could leave it on their doorstep and they'd never know you were there."

Reaching out, she placed her hand on Varg's shoulder for reassurance. She wasn't sure how her suggestion would be taken. Was it her place to make plans that involved their lives? The plan made sense to her and would involve minimal risk. Where would they meet, however? "What if we asked to meet them on the highway? The raised overpass that crosses the river. The cars have been removed so it's just open space. No one would be able to hide up there and the concrete walls would protect us against gunfire from elsewhere." These were just suggestions, but they seemed like smart suggestions. She hoped that the others would see this as well.

When Oresia mentioned writing the letter, Dahlia nodded and smiled. "I'd be glad to. Hapi can help too, of course. Two heads are better than one."

[LittleStarWolf]

Asali - Fennec Fox - Young Adult

Asali almost fell over backwards when a large raven flew down and landed on the back of one of the chairs. The little fox let out a small squeak, as she tried to speak. "Well... um, I saw them leave the Opera House. They came, gathered food items, and then left." Asali wasn't sure how this information would help, as she didn't follow them across town or anything. She had got here as fast as she could, although she still wasn't really sure why she came. This people didn't need her. They had all the help in the bigger predators. She was just a little predator, tiny, even compared to the raven who stood a good foot over her. While thinking this thought, the silver leader, Oresia, wiped a piece of jerky off of Asal's face, making the little fox blush and look down quickly.

Thus Asali was startled when a big Lion suddenly stood in front of her. This creature was odd though. It had stripes like a tiger down its back and around its face, but they were faded and nothing like the black stripes of tigers. Maybe it was a hybrid. Asali had never seen anything like it before. It scared her but also awed her. The creature said hello Asali and she nodded back, unable to speak. She knew it was one of the wise but she actually had never met this one before. She only knew of Oresia, the silver she wolf. Then Asali heard Doll speaking to the Raven about delivering the letter. She could do that. Very few humans would notice a little fox like herself and she was a fast sneaky animal. But maybe the raven was best. If danger came, it could fly out of trouble quicker. Anyway, Asali wasn't that much a brave person, but curiosity usually won over her braveness and she was curious to where the humans lived.

Charm - Human Child and Kane - Boa Constrictor

Kane and Charm walked side by side, words not needed between the two friends. Each was lost in their own thoughts. Kane, a green anaconda of middle age, reaching a good thirteen feet long and weighing over two hundred pounds, was wondering about the group of humans they saw earlier that day. Humans were odd for the pair to see, and Kane had a bit of displeasure towards them, minus his friend Charm of course. Charm was a young human girl, with long dark brown hair pulled back, and a slightly dark complexion, mostly from being out in the sun all day. Charm was worried about the river they had just come from. She had seen animal tracks, like those of a large dog or a wolf.

"Kane...?" Charm said, snapping out of her thoughts, and turning her goldish brown eyes towards the large snake on the ground, slithering a long beside her. "Did you see the marks by the water's edge." She asked, knowing he most likely saw, so the questions was rhetorical. "They looked like a wolf, and fresh." Charm continued, not needing to give any more detail. Fresh marks meant the animal came there a lot. They led further down the river. The river was the only place to get fresh water which Charm knew of, so eventually all animals and humans came to the river. This made her a little concern as she really didn't want to run into the other animals. They made not care for her as Kane has.

"I did my friend. Worry not though." Kane replied. He wasn't in the least bit worried about the other animals. He knew he could protect Charm from most. He was a large snake after all and could easily crush another animal. But he didn't think it would come to that. He was overly optimistic, thinking that any animal not smart enough to see how sweet his Charm was, then they needed a lesson in manners. The humans were a whole another story though. They came with tools to kill and venom in their hearts, not much unlike his cousins; the rattlesnakes. They came a rattling and a tattling, not much unlike a tyke, ready to fight and kill with a fatal bite.

Charm gave a small frown at the anaconda's reply but in reality she wasn't the least bit upset or even surprised at his response. The two of them felt obligated to care for each, as if they were siblings. Which was impossible, being her a human and him a snake. Yet that never stopped the two. They loved each other. Even more so since the disease and Kane developed speech. To Charm it was a miracle. To understand the only friend she had and forever be by his side. It was something she truly cherished. With this thought in her head, Charm smiled down at her friend. As she did so, a figure caught her attention. A movement. At first, she was sure it was nothing, but then a large hyena appeared in front of her, halting in the two friend's path.

Kane had seen the creature, the large spotted she-hyena, a second or two before Charm had. And thus, he position himself directly in front of his friend, saying clearly through body language, 'come through me first'. "This thing's name is Charm and she is my friend." Kane said clear as crystal, and quickly before Charm could interrupt in her sometimes sarcastic way. Okay maybe he was the one being slightly sarcastic but the hyena had insulted him and what he considered his. He waited a few heartbeats before speaking again. "My name is Kane, she-hyena. We mean no harm to you or your kind." Kane spoke, sounding a bit like a movie he once saw with Charm. It was about aliens, whatever those were. Anyway, he was trying to sound polite to the hyena.

Sorry for the semi short posts))

[Soriams]

Calaphan
~<<<<<<<<-–—=:•:=—–->>>>>>>>~

Looking down on the little fox, Calahphan nodded to her response. "So they've left on their own then? That is a good thing. At least no one will have to take on the risk of driving them out," he said, though the situation still worried him. If these had been simple gathers searching for food, they wouldn't have taken the time to drive poor Thayer out. More likely they would have avoided the conflict, and simply snuck in to steal what they wanted. He had the distinct impression that they were looking for something beyond simple rations, and they would be back, and if history held true now it would be in force.

Looking up as Tenzin and Oresa approached the little group, Calaphan listened closely to the liger's words. The great cat then embraced his fellow, and then headed off towards his home. The raven watched him curiously, as It was interesting that Tenzin had so quickly taken his leave of the others, as Calaphan had assumed that he would have wanted to be more involved in what was to come. Unless he was mistaken, the great cat seemed tired, and that in itself was worrisome.

Pushing that train of thought aside, Calaphan turned his attention to Doll when she began to speak. Her report, and then the question that followed, surprised him and he studied her closely, as though seeing her in a new light. "Yes, yes, I know that place. Good work, Doll!" he croaked appreciatively. Pacing across the back of the bench while he thought. Calaphan had seen much of the city, as it was an easy day for him if he flew a hundred miles or so. That allowed him to explore in a day on wing what it would take the others weeks to do on foot. Like all birds, he was an expert navigator, and never forgot a place and so was certain he could easily find this mansion again. "And I would be honored to deliver your message, even if that is a right normally reserved for pigeons..." he said, chuckling at his own joke. He wasn't sure if anyone besides Doll would understand the reference, but nevertheless, was amused by his own clever comment.

Taking noise of the tiny flake of jerky that Oresia had nosed off of Asali's cheek, and Calaphan hopped down onto the seat of the bench, pecking it up. Already the day had grown long, and he had yet to eat. Unlike the larger animals, he couldn't go more than a day without food before feeling ill. The high metabolism that fueled flight also meant you had to eat a tremendous amount, and he was growing quite hungry. Looking back up to Doll as she spoke, he nodded in agreement. "I couldn't think of a better place, honestly. There are only two ways to access it, and it leaves no room for trickery," he replied, feeling better about their prospects.

Maybe this was possible after all. He had his doubts that the humans would be so easily talked down, and complacency on this side could prove deadly. After all, they could never even all agree long enough to find peace among their own kind, and it was unlikely that their new relations would prove to be any different. However, there was a glimmer of hope there, that perhaps these few could be reasoned with. They acted out in fear, and if some small bit of reason was brought to shine on their dark world, then maybe there was a chance this could work. At any rate, it was better than nothing, and Calaphan chose to hold onto it.

Curious as to what Oresia thought of Doll's suggestion, he looked back to the wolf, wanting to hear what she would have to say. Should she agree, Calaphan would offer to scout both locations, and hopefully find some food along the way. With any luck, he could easily fly over both of them and return to the library before dark. It might have been difficult for the predators below to comprehend, but he was completely blind in the darkness. His eyes, while sharper and keener than any of theirs at, especially at distance, had evolved only to see during the day and he could not fly at night.

Keres
~<<<<<<<<-–—=:•:=—–->>>>>>>>~

"Your friend?" Keres said in response to the snake, her voice full of disbelief. Shaking her head, she barked out a laugh, the loud whoop characteristic of the calls of her kind. "How could you call such a creature a friend? Soon enough it is she who will be wearing your shiny green skin," she said, eyeing the smallish hominid. Sure, she seemed harmless enough now, but soon enough she too would turn like they always did. Ayanna too had trusted the humans, and she had spoke at length with her about how they had held her and fed her when she was a pup. Back then, it had been a curious thing for Keres and she had wondered what it would be like to have had such close contact with humans, but now, that memory seemed perverse and wrong. Her mate had been so excited when she thought she could finally talk to them, the humans she remembered so fondly, and they had killed her for it.

Ayanna had trusted them, these human monsters, and that had been her only mistake. She trusted too much and Keres hated the thought of that happening to anyone else. Though she might have seemed harsh on the outside, the hyena was actually quite sentimental, and while she relished the thought killing the human in some twisted fit of revenge, she couldn't bring herself to actually do it. However, she wasn't about to let them pass without saying her piece. "This thing, this Charm of yours, may seem to be your friend, but somewhere, deep inside, you have to know she is not. She might love you like a pet, the way one loves their mother's den, but she will never see you as an equal."

Shaking her head, she grimaced at the sour memories that flooded her mind, and stepped back. "Like it or not, your trust in them will be the end of you," Keres finished, her anger falling away from her and leaving just the husk of sad emptiness that haunted her every waking hour. Swinging her heavy head back towards Charm. "And you, don't think you're innocent in this. You may think you're doing the right thing, helping him even. That you're not like those 'other' humans. But you're wrong. You'll only lead him right into the hands of those who would see him dead," she said, growing quiet towards the end.

Out of both anger and words now, Keres looked back to the snake one last time, her chocolate colored eyes meeting his unblinking ones for a moment before turning away. The day had been long and tiring, and now she hurt inside. It was well past the time she should have been heading back to her den. Sighing heavily, she turned in the direction of the public works building, her paws carrying her away as if of their own volition. All she wanted to do was sleep and never wake up.

Musaleh (Max)
~<<<<<<<<-–—=:•:=—–->>>>>>>>~

Breakfast finished, Joost returned tot he map room, and after taking a few moments to compose himself and still his revolted stomach, Musaleh followed as well. Though he had been living with humans pretty much all his life, there were still times when they did things that astounded him, and it was with a little bit of shock and disbelief that he looked on his master as he busied himself over the map. What kind of person, what animal, for that matter, would willingly consume another thinking, sentient being? In the dog's mind, it bordered on cannibalism, and on a very base level he was horrified. However, watching the man as he straightened things up, putting pens and things back in their places while humming a cherry tune, he began to wonder if he even knew what he had done.

Was it possible, even after all this time and the many attempts they had made to speak to one another, that Joost still thought of the animals around him as nothing more than simple beasts? Musaleh had seen great fear in him, and among the other humans, when they spoke in hushed voices of the animals who had stolen their words. This world had been theirs, and everything that they held dear had been ripped from them and spread across the world to be shared with all. As the once beasts grew in intelligence, the humans seemed to let it slip away, wallowing in fear and wistful nostalgia. They simply could not come to terms with the fact that those they once so carelessly ruled were now gifted as equals. Yet, was he any different? Musaleh was an excellent hunter, blessed with a speed that surpassed most other animals and a keen sense of smell. Both of which he eagerly used to bring home rabbits and small deer to his human companions. What would he do, it suddenly the hares rose up around him and told him to stop, that they were living creatures too? The thought made the great shaggy dog never want to eat anything ever again.

Curling up on the little stuffed bed Joost has placed for him on the floor, Musaleh laid his head on his paws and watched his master as he went on with the day's work. Slowly, the shock of the morning ebbed away, and the horror of it dulled until he dozed in the corner, slipping in and out of sleep as people came and went. It was in just such a state, hovering between sleep and wakefulness, that the sound of the gate cut through his stupor, and he got to his feet. Ears perked, he looked down the hall and shook out his fur, then turned back to Joost. Letting out a quiet woof to get his attention, he turned and trotted off to the front door. This time of day, he could have easily let himself out, as they left one of the small doors on the side of the house open for him, but instead he chose to wait at the front door. Whatever was coming, it required his master's attention, and Musaleh would wait for him.

"What's up, Max?" Joost said from behind Musaleh, drawing back the bolt on the door and swinging it open for him. Barking once again to announce his presence, the shaggy dog ran down the path only to find yet another group of humans returning. These ones, thankfully, were empty handed. Recognizing them as the ones that had been sent to scout out the theater, he danced around them, tail wagging in greeting. Receiving a few pats and half of a stale biscuit, Joost soon joined them and beckoned them all to follow him back into the house.

Returning to the map room, Musaleh stood next to his master, listening as they reported. A tall dog, he stood just at nose level to the top of the table and could just barely see the places and things they gestured too. Of course, it would have been much easier to see if he put his front paws up on the table, but he would undoubtedly be scolded for such a thing. Instead, he gathered what he could and listened carefully as they made their plans.

The scouting party had found only one lone wolf in the theater, and it had offered no resistance, instead choosing to flee when they entered. Joost took this as good news, assuming that there would be little resistance when they chose to seize the building. That much settled, the went on to discuss the tactical advantages of the building and the number of men they thought would be needed to hold it should the animals decide to try and take it back. There would need to be at least a few full time residents to keep watch and Joost hinted that he was looking for volunteers. No one at the table bit though, perhaps not wanting to leave the relative safety of the mansion. Musaleh knew that it didn't matter though. His master had a way of making things happen when he wanted them done, and undoubtedly he would see the building filled.

Finally, it was decided that they would regroup and assess their position, then take the theater in four days time. After that, there was more talk, long into the night of future plans and the second renaissance of mankind that was to come. Musaleh eventually retired to his bed in the corner, his thoughts turning back towards the poor wolf they had chased out of her home. He didn't know her, but he felt some amount of kinship with his ancestors and felt profoundly sorry for her. He hoped, at the very least, she had found safety elsewhere.

[LittleStarWolf]

Charm - Human Child and Kane - Boa Constrictor

"Mother's den. I know of no mother. These humans you hate so much are not my kind, no matter what you think." Charm said angrily, rushing after the she-hyena when she turned away, walking off in a huff. "My own kind, whatever that may be, has turned against me!" She continued, stepping up and beside the hyena, not wishing to be behind a creature who could easily hurt her. "I did not save Kane, as you seem to think. He saved me. He rescued me when the humans turned against me. He is the only one who has ever loved me!" Charm raised her voice, almost shouting, tears threatening the corners of her eyes, but refusing to fall. Charm loved Kane too much, more than she had ever voiced out loud like this. She had been taught by life to not share emotion. Yet in this, she couldn't stop herself.

Eyes wide as a snakes eyes could go were Kane's now. He was startled speechless and frozen by Charm's outburst. Charm was one of calm and collect, thoughtful, like himself. Yes, she held anger, just like him, but not angry which came out boils like a fiery pit of hate. Snapping out of his daze moment, he rushed over to Charm's side, afraid for her, afraid this hyena was a human loathing animal, like so many Kane had seen in his life before and after the disease. "Charm... hun, lets go. Please." Kane spoke softly, unsure of what to say or do. "We don't need her appreciation." He continued, still at a lost as he placed himself, yet again, in front of Charm.

Blinking her eyes rapidly, Charm shook her head, clearly her mind of her stupidity. Looking down at her friend, defending her again, Charm knew stupidity is exactly what was going on. She was risking herself for a nobody. This hyena didn't matter, just like Kane said. Nodding to Kane, afraid to speak, Charm backed off from the hyena and now in her own way, walked off in a huff. She looked back only to make sure Kane was coming as well, not wishing to let her outburst get her friend hurt. So stupid so stupid, she thought in her head. She could have easily got Kane injured or worse because of what she said. Smacking her head, she looked down at her friend. "I'm sorry. I could have got you hurt. I'm truly sorry." Charm said, bending down to run hand down the snakes hide, giving him a smile. "Lets go home." She finished, standing up to walk home.

Lucky for them both, Charm decided to listen and she shut up her mouth, realizing her mistake. Slithering beside her, Kane hoped the hyena wouldn't retaliate. When Charm bent down and rubbed him like he liked, Kane turned his head and said with a parting good bye to the Hyena. "And you wonder why I call such a creature a friend." With this said, and needing no more words spoken, Kane preceded along side Charm, who being taller, could walk much faster than the snake could move. Yet she never did, she always slowed her pace to his, allowing them to walk together. "Home sounds good." He said once they were a good bit away from the hyena. He knew the hyena could still hear them, having better hearing the humans. But Kane didn't care in the least bit who heard. He was with his friend and going to their home and that is all that matter to anyone.

Soriams - I would have posted more but wasn't sure if the hyena wanted to say something else to them or not.))

[Resin]

~|Oresia|~Co-Leader of The Wise|~Female Cascades Wolf|~

Dark tinged ears flicked forward, taking in each word that Doll spoke. Respect formed within Oresia. It seemed that Dahlia wasn't just another stupid human. The plan that she spoke of suggested great thought and concern towards them all. If she played her cards right, the woman may end up earning an eternal ally. The silver wolf would place herself in the line of danger for any of The Wise, and now she would do the same for the girl.

Asali, though soft spoken, said her bit about the humans having taken food before leaving the Opera House. The action seemed odd to Ora. Why, if you're looking for food, would you go to an opera house rather than one of the numerous stores or apartments in the area? She suspected that the humans had an ulterior motive. The Oper House would need to be watched closely. Perhaps she could ask the little fox to do so since she was small and inconspicuous. Ora would think on it.

Next Calaphan spoke and she listened to him as well. He could indeed carry the letter. She doubted that the stupid two-leggers would pay any mind to a bird, no matter how large and majestic looking it may be. Noting the raven's expectant look, the female nodded her approval. "I feel that this is a solid course of action. We will send a letter which Doll will compose. The meeting place is acceptable, though I still fear that the humans will try to pull one over on us." Quirking one brow, she eyed the four beasts around her. "We may not come out of this alive. I need you to realize that this is a possibility. Humans destroy everything that they don't understand; everything that they fear. Right now... they fear us."

Shaking her head lightly, Oresia closed her eyes momentarily, that knot forming between her brows once more. "If you can compose our proposition letter today, we can leave early tomorrow morning. Calaphan can fly ahead and deliver the letter. It will give us time to scout the meeting place a bit on foot." Doing that would definitely put her at ease. The word of another was appreciated, but she wouldn't feel safe until she saw things with her own eyes and ran through every possible situation in her mind. Oresia turned her attention on the little fox. "I'd like you to come as well, if you have no objections. You're small and can be carried in Doll's pack. If the meeting goes sour and something happens to us, it would be up to you to run back and inform Tenzin and the others. Can you do that?" She fixed her bright yellow eyes upon the golden furred fox expectantly.

[Soriams]

Calaphan
~<<<<<<<<-–—=:•:=—–->>>>>>>>~

Calaphan nodded as he listened to Oresia, and hopped down from the bench onto the floor, "Very good. I'll leave soon and make my first scouting run and report back before dark," he said, his feathers puffing out for a moment before lying flat once more. Now that he was on equal footing with the others, he seemed dwarfed by them, especially the two wolves and the human. He might have stood taller than the tiny fox, Asali, but still curled up on the bench, even she looked down upon him. It was a bit odd, to be looking up at them all, but he wasn't intimidated. Rather, he found the change of perspective interesting. Feeling the gravity of what Ora said next, he looked down at the carpet below his claws, "Oresia is right, and I beg of you all to be careful. Humans are so very clever, and it would be unwise to underestimate them. Remember, that while this light of knowledge may be new to all of us, they have had millennia to perfect it."

Taking a few more steps away, Calaphan stopped just on the threshold of the door, sensing that Ora had more to say. Looking back over his shoulder at her while she spoke. The plan sent a chill over him, and he shook himself to rid himself of the sensation. Should Doll be taken as well, the little fox would be trapped along with them. Yet, with great risk came the opportunity for great gain, and he knew that this was the way it would have to be. The decision lay with Asali alone. "Remember, I will be watching as well. You may not see me tomorrow, but I will be nearby," he said, hoping to reassure them. At the very least, Ora could rest easy knowing that they would no risk their lives in vain. Their story would be told, no matter what befell them.

Hoping that their discussion would go well, Calaphan took his leave then and hopped out the door and lifted up into the sky. The afternoon sun felt good on his back, and for a few moments, he simply flew circles in the sky to shake off the heaviness of the meeting. Soaring high into the sky, he could look down on the city and see it as a whole, for what it really was: a tiny speck of grey, just barely holding back the green carpet that threatened to envelope it entirely. Yet, the creatures below clung to it like it was all there was left in the world, when really, there was so much more just waiting to be seen. This was a sight that few would understand, and even fewer could appreciate for its significance, even if he could show them. He knew, he was just as tied to this pace as they were, but from up here, he felt free.

Eventually, Calaphan tilted into the wind and moved towards the highway. Not far outside the city center, this was one of the last sections of the civic artery still standing. At one time, it stretched as far as the eye could see, from one horizon to the other, but now much of it had crumbled, and fallen to the ground in disrepair. It looked as it always did, a lonely and stubborn monument to the past, devoid of life. He flew over it, for several minutes, looking at it from all angles, and still saw nothing of concern, but to make absolutely certain, he landed on the ground beside it, to look under the cement structure. It was difficult to see into the deep shadows at either end, but nothing moved on the ground. Staisfied, he was just about to leave when something above him caught his attention, and he looked up under the bridge. There, cloistered together in clumps were thousands of bats, their still fluffy bodies looking rather like a hanging fungus where they slept. Amused by the sight, Calaphan lifted off again, leaving them to their rest. The tiny insectivores posed no threat to either man nor beast.

The raven's next stop was to be the mansion on the outskirts of town. Leaving the cement sprawl of the city behind, the trees grew dense as the buildings became further apart, and soon it looked like a forest from above. Here and there, the peak of a roof could be seen, or the grey swatch of road, but for the most part, it was a smooth blanket of vegetation. One might of assumed it would be difficult to locate the mansion beneath all this cover, but the way it had been cropped and tended, it stood out as a barren rectangle, cut back from the trees.

For nearly a half hour, Calaphan flew circles high over the house, seeing nothing at all move around it besides a few foolish rabbits. Reassured that there was no one watching the skies, he swooped down and landed in an old maple. The tree had been pruned and shaped for generations, and thus, was thin compared to the feral trees outside of the yard. While it offered little cover for the large bird, it also afforded him a nice view of the house. Still, nothing much moved, and even from what he could see through the windows, the humans kept themselves well hidden inside. It would be a simple matter to come and drop off the letter in the morning.

Satisfied with the results of his mission, Calaphan left the lonely maple and picked up the task of feeding himself. Flying much lower now, he flew lazy spirals just above the treetops as he headed back towards New Isolia. Just before he came to the taller buildings, chuckling cries of blue jays caught his attention, and he landed abruptly on the top of a tall pine. Below, there were a pair of the raucous birds, squabbling over what appeared to be the remains of a cow. Quite a bit more cautious than his smaller cousins, Calaphan sat and watched for awhile until he was satisfied that the owner of this kill was nowhere to be found before gliding down to eat. The thick tracks of a hyena could be seen, the raven easily distinguishing them from those of a wolf or great cat. Surely, the mostly nocturnal creature would be well on their way to bed at this time, so he happily took his share. Filling his crop, he returned to the pine to rest for awhile before returning to the library.

Keres
~<<<<<<<<-–—=:•:=—–->>>>>>>>~

Ready to give up on the snake and his pet and return to her brooding, Keres' was surprised by the human's outburst. It seemed as though she really did care for the snake who called her friend, and the vehemence with which she defended him was uncommon. Curious now, and not the least intimidated by the girl, Keres turned her head to face Charm, her ears pricked forward to listen. Nearly face to face with her now, a simple snap of her heavy jaws is all it would take to end her horrid little life, but an idea was growing in the hyena's mind and instead she smiled.

Perhaps she was better off not killing this little human so fast, as she might yet be useful to her, Keres thought to herself. If Charm really felt betrayed by her own kind, then maybe she would be willing to do the same to them. Could it be, that this little child could deliver to Keres the revenge she wanted so badly?

Not moving a muscle as Kane came to pull Charm back, Keres watched the pair for a long moment as they moved a little way off. Her keen ears could easily pick up their conversation, and this only cemented her suppositions. The possiblilities of the situation slowly grew on her until Kane called back; And you wonder why I call such a creature a friend. That drew a rumble of amusement out of her, and she called back to them. "And quite the friend it is... but is she willing to prove it?" she said, waiting to see what they would do.

Should Charm take the bait, Keres would speak with her further. Test the waters, so to speak, and see if she could be turned. Should they refuse, Keres would track them down and kill them in their sleep. After all, she was fairly certain both were edible, as least to some extent. Honestly, she would rather see this small human corrupted to her own purposes before killing her, but either was an acceptable outcome for the hyena. Already she had their scent strong in her nose, and could easily track them wherever they went.

[Resin]

~|Oresia|~Co-Leader of The Wise|~Female Cascades Wolf|~

Oresia noted the concerned look upon Calaphan's face when she mentioned bringing Asali along. Still, she felt that it would be better to have two sets of small eyes rather than one. One would watch from above, the other from below. Technically they were breaking their own rules by bringing more than three ambassadors, but the humans had nothing to fear from a tiny fennec fox and a raven. Not much to fear, anyway.

The raven flew off to scout the area after reminding her that he would be watching as well. Ora knew that he would be watching. Not only was this meeting beneficial for every single animal in the city, it was bound to be an interesting encounter. She doubted Calaphan would want to miss something like this. It would be another story that he could add to his archives. A story that he would spread, should the situation turn sour.

Again Ora kneaded the knot that had formed between her brows. A hefty headache was thumping inside of her skull. She needed to rest if she was going to be any benefit to the team tomorrow. Speaking to Doll, Varg, and Asali, she said, "I need to rest and think." Even speaking made her feel as if she was going to vomit. Ora couldn't remember getting headaches before the wisdom took them all. Seems that it came with the territory. The bright sunlight sent daggers through her eyes and mind and she squinted against the searing light. "Write the letter as best as you can. Ask Tenzin for help with the terms. I must go."

Without another word, the silver female turned and exited the library. She braved the intense sunlight to reach her destination. For the most part, she could walk to the park with her eyes closed, which she did. Head lowered, ears forward. One may have thought she was blind if they hadn't known her. Periodically she would crack a golden eye to make sure that she was still on track. Making it all the way to the park, Ora pulled herself beneath the welcoming shade of a low hanging bush that nestled up against the very edge of the pond. She knew no danger here. The crocodiles would alert her if anything was amiss.

Closing her sulfur yellow orbs against her enemy, the sun, Oresia rested. It didn't take long for the familiar form of Merikh to pull up beside her in the water, mere inches from her resting place. This was a normal occurrence for them. She would rest here, he would rest there, and they would talk together. Again she cracked an eye, and smiled at the giant reptile. "Tomorrow is the day. I'm going to meet with the humans." The scowl that formed upon his already angry looking face was expected and she continued to smile. "You can't talk me out of it, so just keep me company while I rest."

[LittleStarWolf]

Asali - Fennec Fox - Young Adult

Asali smiled down at the Raven who sat on the ground, below everyone else. Asali didn't know the raven's name but that was expected as she knew but only a few members of this meeting. She nodded at the raven's question, even though it was a bit of a rhetorical question. She wasn't really sure why the humans had left but to her, she felt they wouldn't come back. Even if the Opera House was an odd place to look for food, Asali sensed that the humans were done with Thayer's home. While thinking about the humans and her semi home, Asali almost missed the comment made by Oresia, one of the leaders.

"Me come...?" Asali repeated, a little lost of to where the conversation was going. "O no no objections. I would love to come." Asali continued, excited to be included. This would be fun, dangerous, yes, dangerous but she couldn't help but be excited. Her large ears pricking up even more and the little fox seemed to be bouncing in place. "Of course. I can do that. I good at hiding. I'm small after all." She told Oresia with a smile on her face. Maybe these animals weren't so bad as those in the wild. Maybe they could all just be friends? Asali thought.

The raven spoke again, telling Asali he would be watching over her. This brought a little blush to the fennec fox and she ducked her head to hide her face, a paw instantly coming up to rub at her face. "Thank you Raven." Asali said, not sure what to call him since she knew not his name. With this said, Asali wondered when the meeting would be over so she could slink back home and hide. She wasn't good with groups, they kind of scared her. But mostly it was because she was shy. And anyway, she needed to check over her home.

[-Starchild.Keith-]

(I apologize for the late post. My muse is running low on certain things, school is hard, and I'm not sleeping well...)

Varg
- Maned Wolf - Male - Young Adult -

Varg turned his head as the loud voice of Calaphan suddenly was heard. The wolf's head nodded slowly, taking in what the raven said. A neutral location would definitely be best. If they found the humans' home, they would surely not make it even to the front gate without being slaughtered. That wasn't a chance he wanted to take. Sure, he was a wolf and, therefore, a natural fighter. His personality, however, was not built for that. He was an athlete, not a warrior.

The idea of the letter was obviously a yes at this point, and he was glad that they had multiple beings that possessed thumbs. He dearly wished he did as well, but Varg's paws weren't made for that. Suddenly, Tenzin appeared beside him. Varg nodded to the large carnivore, listening intently as he spoke. He left soon after, and Oresia spoke to their group once more. He felt Doll's hand on his shoulder and smiled slightly, glad that he had such a good friend.

Varg continued listening, though his ears went back a bit at the reminder that they could very well die. He took a calming breath, reassuring himself that this was a step in the right direction and they would all be fine. At the thought of bringing along Asali, Varg nodded. "Asali would definitely be good to take, but will they trust us with a bag? Isn't Calaphan enough? Flying straight back would be safer and quicker than running."

Oresia suddenly left, leaving Varg concerned. He was worried for her, mainly because of how stressed she seemed. Perhaps he had misjudged the danger. Asali's excitement at the mission only made him cringe. How could she be looking forward to going? He was only looking forward to the results and hoping that they would work. Sighing, he turned to Doll. "Shall we start composing?"

[Resin]

((Sorry for taking so long. All of this pre-job paperwork and orientation crap sucks and is time consuming. I'm going to steal a few minutes to finally eat some breakfast then I'll post.))