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For the most part, Bones felt content with her lot in life. She would remain in the creek, though she would visit the plateau at least once a month. Not to mention, she would have to drop by Silvertip Mountain (or, rather, the surrounding areas) to visit with Ira on a regular basis too. She could be an extrovert, mingling with wolves from other packs, and still make a life and home here on the banks of Swiftcurrent Creek.
She mused about these things as she stared up at the starry sky. She could see the Milky Way, not that she knew its name. Bones sighed happily and rolled over onto her side, letting her body and limbs relax into the soft, cool grass. With the creek chuckling at her back, she fell into a deep sleep.
A noise woke her in the middle of the night and Bones jumped to her feet to investigate. She loped toward the borders, her pastel green eyes scouring her dark surroundings, when the sound came again. She frowned, immediately thinking of coyotes. Ears pricked, she ventured slowly into the shadow of Mount Apikuni, stopping only when she came across a scent that made her heart break into a sprint. It definitely did not belong to a coyote...
"M—" The word didn't have a chance to leave her mouth before a shadow flung itself at her from the left and grabbed her roughly by the scruff. The shadow, which smelled just like her mother, began to drag her toward the mountain. Bones struggled for a few moments, to no avail.
Eventually, it occurred to Bones to make noise to alert her pack mates. Only one bark made its way out of her mouth before another shadow jumped out of the darkness, teeth digging into her muzzle as a pair of jaws forced hers shut. This second shadow released her after a few seconds, then stepped back, the shadowy face familiar once the starlight struck it.
"Corsair," the juvenile hissed, recognizing the she-wolf who was her mother's partner in crime. "What—" This time, Corsair silenced her with a swipe to the muzzle, which made Bones grimace and cry out with pain.
"Shut yer mouth. Yer comin' with us back to Tortuga," Corsair said in her gravelly voice, "ye thankless whippersnapper." She shook her head and sneered in disgust, then began to lope alongside Cutlass (and four other shadows who appeared out of the night), who continued to drag her daughter back toward the coast... back to Tortuga.
Jace heard a hoarse bark and then a sound of pain followed by muffled voices. He tilted his head trying to catch the should. It was late by rights he should have been asleep but he hadn't been able to sleep.
With a loping grace the wraith like shadow followed the direction he thought the noises had come. Eyes quickly becoming accustomed to the darkness he saw a pack mate struggling he couldn't tell who it was but it was a small one, his heart leaped in his chest as adrenaline hit a full high five and he ran straight at them thinking it could only be Bazi or Bones or Maybe even Fox but he couldn't tell for sure. Dark deep feral growls and snarls came into his chest as he went for the nearest wolf. He didn't care that there was 4 of them and 1 of him all he cared about was that a pack mate was in danger and he was the only one around.
He grabbed at the nearest wolf and biting down hard at shoulder or back wherever he could reach he attempted to throw them away from bones as he could now see it was bones and the accents that followed the others were hers.. His eyes turning red as he advanced hackles raised whispering hoarsely to bones before he got completely out of control. "Bones don't get directly in front of me. He continued after the wolf whose shoulder he had connected with.
Aryn tilted her head back and forth as she searched for a meal. She froze and almost went yeep- the unfortunate event when a birds wings lock and they fall to their deaths- but recovered. She heard a scuffle, and by the sound, it was among wolves.
She spotted the fight and almost fainted. Good Glaux! What in Glaux's name is happening? she began to circle and made a loud screech. She dove and feinted instead of actually attacking in hopes to break up the battle.
Cutthroat followed behind, along side the three others that were ‘muscle’ or assurance in case Crossbones managed to wrestle her way free, Corsair and similar to his own namesake, Cutlass. Vaguely, the inky teenager recalled Cutlass’ daughter, younger than him by a year and some odd months, knowing only of her brazen and successful attempt at running away because gossip tended to spread like wild fire in Tortuga making it effectively hard to hide much of anything from the pack. Disjointed and chaotic though they were, there was a slim chance anyone did something dramatic and kept it quiet. Pirates were many things and exceptional story-tellers happened to be an acquired skill for many of them. Mostly they were just that: stories. Fictional tales made up to give them bravado, or to scare children into obedience but when something took place they took to the gossip like a moth to a flame and weaved sometimes rather extravagant webs from the small bit of truth they were fed. Somehow, he had managed to have gotten himself convinced into going on the trip, with a bit of smooth talk, a couple of carnal promises (he was a teenage boy that part of him wasn’t particularly hard to appeal to), and more importantly than the other two he managed to barter that it would gain him reputation before he even knew what the mission was, despite that he had been wanting to get out of Tortuga on an adventure for a while, spurred by Calypso’s encouragement.
Essentially, his role was nothing much and hardly anything impressive in the hunt for Crossbones, and his details of what exactly was to happen had been sketchy at best, heard through the low murmurs of “I heard…” that passed between the three other shadows. It was not the best way to garner information, admittedly. From what Cutthroat had gathered from the rumors that flitted in a breathless conversation between his three other companions as they followed behind the two women in charge of the operation, they were going to retrieve Crossbones back to Tortuga. Whether it was out of fear of the two commanding women that led them they did not mention any specifics - if, in fact, they knew any. Cutthroat didn’t and suspected they were running off of speculation themselves.
When Cutlass and Corsair came in contact with Crossbones in question - when had she grown up, Cutthroat wondered vaguely, he could have sworn she was smaller than that - he began to feel unsettled as he watched the scene unfold, eyes the color of melted treasure causing the inky pirate to stand out despite how well he took to the shadows. Weight shifted when he watched Cutlass grab her, without giving Crossbones any chance to speak. There was no questioning, not even an attempt at parley, just action and violence. Force. Eyes narrowed, when Corsair swiped at the girl’s muzzle hissing accusations at her. This was not their way. Bones wasn’t even given the chance to evoke parley - everyone was entitled to parley to at least explain themselves. With the reckless abandon of every teenager everywhere, Cutthroat stepped out of the formation of shadows, gold eyes harsh as he approached Cutlass whom struggled with her daughter and Corsair, sure that this would come back to bite him in the butt at some point. “Stop!” He demanded despite that he had no right.
He didn’t give a damn.
“I call parley for her,” He gestured to Crossbones with his muzzle. “She deserves parley.” The two women might have disagreed but this wasn’t right and while Cutthroat wasn’t exactly good when it came to moral grounds he wanted to give Crossbones her rights; and then suddenly there was something charging at their group and inky hackles bristled upon instinct confused by the sudden whirlwind. Damnit. The stupid idiot that had flung himself at one of the shadows behind Cutthroat (since he had stepped out to catch up to the struggling Cutlass and Corsair) had basically thrown Cutthroat's attempts at getting Crossbones parley out the proverbial window. There was a sharp screech from somewhere above him but Cutthroat kept his eyes on Cutlass, Corsair and Crossbones, ignoring the hulking black thing for now.
Ferdie Von Pelt had been following the Owl, so when the thing began diveing down from the sky, he became alarmed then there was a growl, Ferdie's eyes went wide and he hissed to himself 'Jace' His heart hammered as he loped across the ground to exactly where the Owl and the Growl came from.
His own open mouthed growl/roar filled the air, The sheer size of Jace and now Ferdie would be enough to send any sane invader away. One wolf however had Bones' scruff in it's mouth and that would N O T do. NO!
Ferdie Pounced the wolf holding Bones and snapped his teeth has hard as he could listening for the clack of his teeth through the wolfs scruff. Landing a bit like that would force the wolf holding Bones to let go. but he would not let go. The large brute with adrenaline in his system helping him to be stronger then he was normally would lift this wolf up like a pup. Lucky this wolf would be that he'd not shake it's life from it's body yet...
Not without Bones's go ahead anyway, he had the sense about him to realize she must have known these wolves
He didn't stay at the rear, however, suddenly pitching forward and shouting for the mob to stop. They acquiesced, likely out of surprise more than any sense of obedience. Cutlass even let go of Bones, though she and Corsair stood on either side of her, preventing escape. She glanced sideways at them, then blinked as Cutthroat argued that they should offer her parley. The youth's heart began to beat rapidly again.
Before Cutlass and her followers could make a reply, two wolves suddenly materialized out of the darkness, one of them catching Killick by surprise and seizing him by the shoulder, the other launching directly at Cutlass. The wily she-wolf snarled, snapping her jaws at her attacker. He managed to grab the loose fur around her neck and yank it, yet she tore herself free a moment later, even as Corsair leaped to defend her leader.
This left Bones unguarded and she jumped to her feet, springing instinctively toward Cutthroat, who seemed to have her best interests at heart. She then spun around, gasping slightly, to ascertain the situation. Despite the darkness, she saw Killick's torn shoulder, the blood bright against his colorless fur. Her green eyes flicked to where Ferdie tousled with her mother and Corsair. Their snarls filled the night and the smell of blood filled Bones's nose.
"STOP!" the child screamed suddenly, hoping to arrest any further attacks. "STOP!" she repeated, causing Cutlass and Corsair to jump away from Ferdie and regroup with the twins. Killick limped swiftly to join them. The five of them now faced Swiftcurrent Creek's wolves, Cutthroat and Bones herself. In fact, the term face-off would have been an incredibly accurate term at the moment.
"Nobody attack," the youth said loudly, ignoring the owl that circled overhead of the dramatic scene. "I don't want anybody getting hurt... not because of me!" Even as she said this, she looked at Killick's wounded shoulder and frowned. Although he was part of the kidnapping party, he was also a member of her former crew, Blackflag... as were the rest of them. And they likely thought they were only doing what was best for her, even if they were sorely mistaken.
"I don't want anybody getting hurt," she repeated after a few deep breaths, "so I'm going to go with them to Tortuga." Bones thought she could make a break for it at the first opportunity, though she would have to consider that. They knew where to find her now, which meant they could continue their assault... perhaps they might even target the place for a raid. Her insides clenched sadly when she recognized the full breadth of this predicament.
"I don't know why you want me back there so bad," she said darkly to Cutlass, her mother, "but I'll go with you peacefully." She took several steps toward the lead raider.
Fox, having heard the scuffle from within the bounds of Swiftcurrent, rushed to investigate. What she came across was a band of wolves she'd never seen, along with Bones accepting defeat and putting up a white flag. "No, she won't." Fox snarled at the others she did not know, bristling with every inch of her body as she placed herself between Bones and the strangers. "Bones is a part of the creek, and I will not have her taken away. Leave now, or you will be killed." She cast a glance to the one who was standing on Bones's side, but she said nothing to him.
His shoulders were down waiting for an attack hackles raised he stared and was very ready to attack again if needed. The simple fact was that she was his pack mate and his friend and they had no right to take her from somewhere she belonged it had been her choice to leave them her choice and they should respect it. On the outside he seemed very much in control, but if any of his pack mates could see the war he waged inside his own self they would have run away in fear. It was taking all his energy not to blow up and rip off the faces of those who had done the injustice to his pack and feed it to them bit by blood bit.
She zoned in on Bones, which seemed to be the spotlight of the moment. The owl tilted her head upside down, with her eyes on bottom and her beak on top, curious.
Bazi arrived mere moments after Fox, panting from the long sprint she had undertaken to be there at all. What she saw confused her; Bones with a wolf she didn't recognize, lined up with a good portion of the Creek pack against a crew of vagabonds. One was injured, and Jace's face was visibly dripping with blood - not his own, she guessed, and wondered what had stopped the her dark pack-mate from doing more damage. He must have his condition under control. The thought evaporated before she could pursue it further.
She missed the juvenile's words, and it wasn't until Fox spoke up that a glimmer of understanding crossed Bazi's face. Tortuga, the Gamma thought, remembering Bones's description of her chaotic origins. She kept back, hairs rising into a spiky ridge along her spine - but she wasn't fired up and raring for a fight like Jace, or even Ferdie. Bones had once expressed some indecisiveness about her existence in the Creek to Bazi (granted, that conversation had concerned her wandering father) and this was her family. Bazi wondered what she would do, if Shar-Kali suddenly turned up and demanded she return home.
Cutthroat felt the hackles rise along his spine in uncertainty and defiance as wolves came melting from the shadows until Cutlass and the crew were surrounded by Crossbones’ pack mates - at least this was what Cutthroat, alarmed and full of adrenaline, assumed for they all carried the same scent as her. The girl sprung towards him when Cutlass and Corsair, likely in shock the inky Pirate determined allowed her to slip loose from them. He lingered near Crossbones as she face everyone screaming stop as more appeared causing him to shift his position until he was at her side, eyes frantically flicking between his fellow raiders and Crossbones’ pack-mates none of them allies and every one of them potential enemies - all except for Crossbones whose side he had inherently decided to pick, not agreeing with Cutlass’ and Corsair’s treatment of her, defying their simple system of laws.
This was stupid. It was painfully obvious how idiotic and unthought-of this plan had been. It should have never been attempted and he! he had been stupid enough to go along with it. To agree to it like some green boy eager for glory. Though, admittedly, he had expected Cutlass and Corsair to adhere to their laws and customs which they had not. A russet colored wolf sprang between Bones and them, pushing him back away from the girl’s side with her sudden appearance and death threat, though he did not like his back to any of them, especially not to Cutlass and Corsair who would likely repay him for his insubordination in kind, despite that, now, he was not so sure he wished to go with them, though it looked like the inky teenager would suffer death no matter where he went, now.
But he was feeling bold on his adrenaline rush and spoke to Corsair and Cutlass, “This is not our way. If I’d have known you were going to force her I would have never came,” Of course it was too little, much too late for that now. Eyes the color of melted treasure sought Bones out in the confusion and mess though he dared not go closer to her lest the russet colored female between them make good on her promise.
Ferdie then placed himself directly beside Bones and nuzzled the top of her neck as if to remove the indignity of having her scruff grabbed. He noticed he had left blood on her pelt, the other wolf must have injured itself pulling away from him. He opened his eyes wide, then proceeded the lick his muzzle and then Bones's back cleaning the blood from her pelt. After that he lifted his head up and stared at the motley crew gathered before half of their pack ready to listen to Fox and react according to her words and actions, in effect the swiftcurrent wolves were now an extension of Fox.
The owl stood next to him and he glanced down, although he looked upon the owl fondly he was unhappy to see the thing on the ground. Very gently he touched the top of it's head with his muzzle then motioned to his shoulders, if fighting stated he wanted it up of the ground at least to somewhere where it could take off and not get trampled, As long as it didn't sink it's talons in he'd stand still enough to allow the bird a safer place to stand.
Both parties were convinced they had Bones's best interests at heart, both of them wanted very badly to claim her... and yet neither side stopped to think about respecting her wishes. It seemed it would come to blows, no matter what she said or did, and though she appreciated her pack mates defending her, the sight of Captain Fox standing between herself and the raiders made Bones's heart jump into her throat. Wolves from both sides would get hurt. Someone might even get killed. She certainly didn't wish harm on anyone here. Beneath her charcoal fur, she paled.
"Please... don't..." she argued weakly, aware that it was useless to protest, painfully aware that her youth was her downfall in this situation... as well as the very reason for it. Because of her age, Bones had no autonomy in this situation. And the only one speaking up for her rights was a stranger to her. Not to mention, nobody seemed to be listening to Cutthroat's voice of reason.
The Blackflag Crew did not take kindly to Fox's open threat and didn't hesitate to try and take what was theirs. One twin (Gangplank) sprang for Jace, the other (Galleon) leaped at Ferdie, who was standing next to her. Killick went after the recently arrived Bazi, ignoring the pain in his mauled shoulder blade. Corsair went directly for Fox's throat, leaving Cutlass to grab at Bones again. None of the Blackflag Crew touched Cutthroat, mostly because the numbers didn't allow it but also because they couldn't bring themselves to harm their crew mate.
When her mother seized her roughly, Bones didn't fight her this time. Even as her body went limp again, an idea struck her and she suddenly started screaming, "I WANT TO GO TO TORTUGA! I WANT TO GO WITH THEM! THEY AREN'T GOING TO HURT ME! THEY JUST WANT TO TAKE ME HOME! I WANT TO GO WITH THEM! LET ME GO!" Experience told her it wouldn't change matters, that nobody would listen, but still the ever-optimistic Bones dared to hope.
To have one of their own stolen away from them by a band of scraggly Tortuga wolves (who were disorganized, from what Fox recalled) would make Swiftcurrent look weak. Her thoughts were more on that and far less on the wishes of Bones. Fox was a proud wolf, and having something of hers taken away was not something she would stand for. "It's their choice," Fox snapped at Bones, and as soon as she did so, the outsiders jumped at them.
Ducking her head and covering her neck, Corsair's teeth sunk into the ruff of her neck, drawing blood and sending sharp pain across her skin. Still, it was better than getting her throat ripped out, and Fox retaliated with a sharp bite to the other woman's front leg, latching on and shaking it from side to side before releasing it. For this, Fox received several bites on her shoulders, though none penetrated her skin.
Leaping backward, Fox rushed at Corsair, all of her weight directed at the other woman's shoulder in an attempt to bowl her over. Fox barely heard Bones in the background, but she was vaguely aware that one of them was dragging Bones away. Fox snarled, frustrated that she could not rid herself of her opponent more quickly and start on the next one. Taking advantage of Corsair's glance to the screaming Bones, Fox leapt at her yet again, this time taking a small chunk of the Tortuga wolf's ear and spitting it upon the ground.
With the opportunity open, Fox belted out a howl to @Njal, though she refrained from calling the pregnant Tuwawi. Of course, this had left her open to attack, and it was she who was knocked to the ground this time. The yearling sprang to her feet yet again, teeth bared as her jaws latched around the other woman's scruff. It was a good hold, and Fox hung on for dear life as she was tossed around like a cowboy at a rodeo.
A snarl erupted from his maw as he bowled over the female dragging Bones. Leave her be. If she wants to go with you don't you think you should ask? He jumped in front of them squaring off unafraid and angry blue eyes tinged with red saliva and blood dripping from his maw. He was waging a war within himself, but the rage was threatening to suffocate him and he hoped for everyone's sake it wouldn't cause there would be no stopping him. He briefly wondered how Ferdie was faring warring with his dark side too.
That was when the wolf charged towards them.
An angry, hiss-like sound erupted from her throat, loud enough to drown out the sound of the other battles. Her feathers fluffed up in anger, making her look twice her size. She leapt off of Ferdie and went straight for the charging wolf. She was just out of it's mouth's reach before she dipped down and raked her talons right across its eye. She felt it's bony skull scrape against her claws in satisfaction before she pulled up and out of the line of fire, looking down victoriously.
Bazi looked from Bones to Fox to the wolf that spoke, then swept her gaze over the scrappy troop of Tortuga pirates. She was still struggling to piece together the details. Force her? If Bones wanted to leave, that was one thing - it was a burn to the Creek, and she was unlikely to be welcomed back (particularly by Fox, who did not take slights to her pride lightly), but she wouldn't be chained to the ground. A wavering pack-mate was worse than no pack-mate at all.
Thinking time ended abruptly.
The albino wolf launched himself at Bazi, spraying blood from a freshly injured shoulder - Jace's work, and a serious blow to the wolf's strength. The last thing she saw before instinct took over was an ugly, liver-coloured nose and pink-rimmed eyes rushing at her.
Speed was already on the yearling's side, and her attacker's injury greatly exacerbated that advantage. She dodged and parried several vicious slashes and bites, looking for ways to compromise the larger wolf's balance. The very second he left his shoulder open to attack, she lunged, bit down hard on the pulpy wound and pushed. He yowled, struggling to free his caught leg but too busy staggering from the force of the ongoing bulldozing to do anything about the trap of teeth that held it.
With a final almighty shove, strengthened by a surge of adrenaline, Killick fell to the ground - Bazi went straight for the throat, pushing the Tortuga wolf's muzzle into the dirt with her paw. Wide eyes skimmed the battling crowd of wolves, looking for anyone that might object in the split second between now and when she would bite down on the trapped wolf's windpipe.
Somewhere beyond the din of battle, Bones screamed cutting, treacherous words.
Cutthroat might as well have been talking to wall for all the good his jabbering had gotten him, hell, a wall might have paid better attention. The problem, the inky teenager felt, was that there was just too many wolves in on what was supposed to be simple and correctly done. Instead, it turned into a big mess that even Davy Jones himself probably wouldn’t have touched with a ten foot pole. Cutthroat was just kind of caught in the fight, luckily no one - neither Tortuga’s or the Creek’s wolves - had attacked him yet and the Pirate was left glimpsing around him wearily, no longer sure who was a friend and who was a foe. Except, perhaps, for Crossbones. Though of course she was not as lucky as he was in the matter no one except Cutlass, whom had grasped her by the scruff yet again, was being dragged off by Cutlass, though stopped by the black brute who nearly bowled her over. The fire kissed woman had Corsair engaged in a bloody battle, and Cutthroat’s his eyes flitting furiously between the bloodied wolves watched as an ivory woman had Killick trapped and seemed to be going for the death kill. Cutthroat glimpsed back to Crossbones quickly as her screams echoed, helplessly, around the carnage and battle. They wouldn’t listen he thought grimly but she was trying and though the whole idea had been stupid on Cutlass’ and Corsair’s part all of the wolves now battling it out, ignoring Crossbones’ pleas for parley were stupid.
They were just attacking to attack, no one listening to what Crossbones wanted, ignoring her pleas that she did not want to have anyone hurt or killed on her behalf. In a manner of speaking, Cutthroat understood. It was a heavy burden to bear that these wolves would not have to shoulder.
He didn’t know Crossbones - not well - but he knew that she needed help to get them to listen, not that, likely he was about to garner any more attention than she. “STOP,” He barked sharply though he was sure that they would not hear him over the sounds of tearing flesh, snarls, and if they did that they would simply, as they had shown to Bones, did not care. Cutthroat was tired of feeling useless in this situation, and though he did not particularly want to become injured he was tired of everyone fighting for Bones but no one wanting to listen to her. He rushed at Jace and Cutlass then, attempting to free Crossbones from Cutlass and break up Jace’s rush towards her which would likely put Crossbones in danger of being attacked too. “Get off ’er!” The inky teenager snapped to both of them. “You are all of you stupid scurvy dogs, just shut up and let her go.” Yeah, he was still feeling pretty useless because he was confused by the onslaught of war. He just wanted it to stop, wanted Bones to have the freedom of parley which she should have been granted in the first place but no one - not the Pirates, nor her pack mates seemed all that interested in giving it to her as they continued to ignore her.
It was disgusting.
Ferdie Von Pelt could think of only one thing, protect, protect, protect, for the moment all he could see was Bones and the one whom lunged at her.
The moment teeth touched Bones' body Ferdie's teeth did the same to Cutlass but her neck was already sore from Ferdie's brutal grab earlier, Ferdie was taller then Cutlass and stronger, This time without tearing her own skin off completely cutlass would not break free.
The wolf who charged him got him in the ruff of his well groomed neck, just above the shoulder blade, where Ferdie had lost weight there was really no meat for the wolf to grab just loose skin. And That was before the Owl took it's anger out upon the wolfs eyes. Ferdie did nothing to retaliate to his attack he allowed the attack so that he, the closest to Bones could interfere. Blood would pour from Ferdie's neck without him noticing. In fact no other attack would stop Ferdie from his goal of pinning Cutlass, they would be completely ignored allowing him to be attacked without retaliation
Bones said words that did not match her body language. She wanted everyone to stop, but none would or could now, the pirates had started an onslaught that would not be stopped until surrender or death which ever Fox would accept.
Ferdie's Eyes glazed over, his own internal war hard upon him for Bones was not his true light, but close enough he might be able to stop when he was told. Cutlass's head below his she could not injure him further with her teeth at least but her legs would not damage his skin. If she let go of Bones when she was bitten in the same manner herself only then would she be shaken roughly then pinned to the ground below Ferdie's bulk for Fox to do with as she pleased.
Bones might realize Ferdie was not disobeying her wishes, only stopping what was happening, He was not trying to kill or maim. All the brute wanted was the same thing Bones did, for everyone to listen. The only way to stop one party from attacking was to take out the leader which he had effectively done with as little injury as he could.
His teeth were still clamped and he held Cutlass down as hard as he could. She would not escape but she would not be killed under his control either, unless fox did it herself. He'd not stop his alpha from anything she wanted done, obedient beast he was, much like someone Jace knew.
Nobody listened. They went at one another, growling and snapping and biting. Bones felt like she might scream. She shook her head, suddenly angry at every last one of them for being so stubborn. At the same time, a sense of humility dawned on her at the way the Swiftcurrent Creek wolves went to battle for her. They were risking their lives for her. She would never forget the way they stood up for her, even if they didn't heed her.
Still, young Bones couldn't stand what was happening and wanted to do whatever was in her power to make it stop. Spurred by the sight of Bazi dispatching Killick, who fell in a pool of his own blood, Bones suddenly bolted. "I'M GOING BACK TO TORTUGA!" she screeched over her shoulder, hoping the Blackflag wolves would hear her and retreat, saving themselves and the creek wolves from further injury.
Of course, Bones didn't want to go back there. She wanted nothing to do with her mother, nor the Blackflag Crew. Her life was in Swiftcurrent Creek, in the Teekon Wilds, now. It killed her to think that some of her pack mates would hear her words and take them at face value, thinking her a traitor. But she only fled to save them, because it was the best thing the child could think to do in this situation, to stop her loved ones on both sides from getting hurt... and to stop Cutlass from going back to Tortuga, gathering reinforcements and returning to tear the creek wolves to shreds.
Cutlass, first assailed by Jace and then by Ferdie, tore herself free, nearly skinning herself in the process and doing damage that might spell her eventual death. She felt woozy from loss of blood but managed to sneer and spit in their faces. "She does want to go, ye louts!" she screeched. "Didn't ye hear?" As she spoke, her closest follower, Corsair, wrestled her scruff from Fox's mouth and, with blood running down the side of her neck, leaped between her leader and the two males, causing enough of a distraction to allow them to gain some ground as they ran after the fleeing Bones.
They left behind Killick, whose pink eyes stared unseeingly at the night sky, and Gangplank, who struggled through the last few minutes of his fading life. Unable to abandon his twin, the now one-eyed Galleon jumped to his dying brother's side and stood there, his blood dripping onto his bloodied sibling. If the pack wolves (and their crazy pet owl) slew him too, so be it; he would not leave his twin brother's side. Cutthroat, too, was left behind, to do whatever he wanted. He had defied Cutlass but they would not turn him away if he followed them home, though they would mete out punishment for his disobedience.
The Swiftcurrent Creek wolves could (and likely did) give chase but Bones, Cutlass and Corsair soon vanished into the darkness. When the two older she-wolves caught up to the juvenile, they spurred her on with hard nips to her hindquarters. Bones did not resist, running with them. She thought her mother might perish right there on the run, yet somehow Cutlass kept her feet and the three escaped back in the direction of Keelhaul Bay.
Perhaps an hour after the battle, a mournful howl rose up from the direction of the coast, begging for understanding and forgiveness. It cut off abruptly.
But at some point, it was not worth it. Fox slowed herself, panting heavily and knowing that they had not won this one. Not in the way that she had wished to, anyway. Fox could not follow them any further, or it would take her too far away from home, and she was no abandoner. The howl that resounded a few minutes later caused Fox to stop in her tracks completely. Snorting through her nostrils, Fox turned and headed home.
He sighed and long limber legs gave chase following close behind fox and catching up. He stopped when she did and stood panting. He was unsure if he should stay or follow them, but given the mood of Fox he could practically feel her anger and hurt he decided to stay lest he be thought an abandoned as well.
The howl he heard cut him to the quick. Granted he hadn't known the little bones long, but he had known her enough and it was enough to hurt the big brute that she was now gone as was her endless energy and vibrancy. He hung his head in defeat and sighed.
She was not five feet in the air when a howl rose into the cool, night air, and then cut off. The sudden stop caused Aryn to cringe and go yeep, thankfully she was only a little bit in he air.
The owl feared the worst, and couldn't bear to look at the other wolves. With a glance at Ferdie that stated I'll be back soon, she rose into the night, a misty figure in the moonlight, looking for something to settle Ferdie's stomach in hopes to lighten the wolf's mood.
Dazed and bloodied, Bazi followed Fox and the others as far as the pull of the Creek would allow. They ran for what seemed like hours, stopping only when their paws ached and distance threatened to leave their territory unprotected. A long, mournful howl floated through the air, but Bazi barely heard it. The shock of murdering someone so easily had numbed her, and it would not be until hours later that the pale Gamma worked out what to think - what to feel. Whatever their alpha thought of what had just happened, the thoughts weren't pleasant.
"Jace -" Bazi said in a placid, honey-soft voice that stood in stark contrast to the blood that covered every inch of her face and chest. "Come. Let's arrange the bodies on the border, like the coyotes."
Assuming he would follow, she loped gently back to the kill-site.
Feride panted heavily and raced to catch up with Fox, but he was weary and he could not. After the howl Fox passed him on the return trip to the pack lands.
Ferdie stood still, his legs shook beneath him. Minutes passed by before he slowly turned around he adjusted his course for the den he shared with Bazi. Though he felt like he needed to find another Den; that mayhaps he had over stayed his welcome there. Bazi was no longer a young pup she needed her den to grow her own relationships.
Tonight, however, was not the night to figure that out. He made it to the den and there and he collapsed outside the earthen bowl not even making it in the den due to sheer exhaustion. His breath was steady, he lay there sound asleep the blood upon his neck left to dry with time.