Stone Circle he is without a heart

PP of Rosina’s body with permission. Please allow @Merrick to post first. 

 

Astara broke the cover of tree line covered in mud, Rosina’s body dragging behind her. Deep ruts appeared in the saturated earth as Astara hauled the corpse forward with silent grunts. 

Once the blackbird saw the monolith stones that marked Easthollow’s borders, she flung Rosina towards them. The corpse crumpled into the sodden loam, sinking wordlessly with sightless eyes aimed at the cheerless grey sky. 

Then, the nightshade threw back her head in a summoning howl — her voice incensed. These stone-fuckers and their hiding in their little hollow behind their stupid little stones was coming to an end —

Today, Easthollow faced retribution; today, Easthollow answered for the crime committed by one of their own. Astara was on the warpath — and nothing but killing would settle the relentless pounding of fury that rattled behind her skull.

it had not been necessary to aid the phantasm pouring over the flatlands like oil, snaring rosina's body and carrying it along with the deluge. whatever malevolent power snaked between them both kept him aside; merrick did not dare ask to bear the mud-stained burden she had lashed to her own weight and dragged in entirety to easthollow.
he stood to her left as the daemoness heaved, lurched the pale husk and its flailing limbs;
rosina tumbling over and over and —
tongue lolled as clumps of mud were thrown upward from the strike of dead flesh against wet ground.
merrick feared nothing aside from the wreaking crack of magma deep within his starblack paramour, for this day she embodied all of ursus, and the bearwolves had come to claim what she would mete.

oh boy

It hadn't been long since West's little brawl, he hadn't told anyone what happened in those woods. The witch got away and he didn't want to trouble his mom with news that she was lingering near their territory again. Little did he know he had done a lot more than just chase her off...

The wounds she had inflicted to him hurt, but they weren't nearly as bad as some that he had before. The others healed just fine so he was sure these would too. The woodland boy had intended on resting a bit for the next few days, watch the bison, check the caches, do anything that would take less moving around, though on his way to the bison one hell of a howl broke through the air. It wasn't like other summoning howls, this one gave him a feeling of dread.

Making his way to his paws, the boy would make his way to the borders, though before he even approached the small gathering of bodies, his eyes fell to the white muddied body that laid crumped at their front door. He didn't need to move closer to confirm it, he knew it was her and he didn't dare take another step closer. Instead, he felt his heart drop to the pit of his stomach as he muttered under his breath, Shit.

Just to clarify he's still some odd yards away so he's not like right there but he's there

it strikes with the potent of sharded lightning. a song of such unrestrained rage, assaulting the shiver of velveteen ears as the girl whips around. 

a demon, a behemoth surely could only loose a demand of such vigorous wrath. and they stood upon easthollow's very doorstep. polaris does not so much as spare a beat of that thundering heart to consider her options as she spurs to action; strung along like fish to a bait. a frantic dash into the waiting jaws of hell, an unwise decision perhaps but the girl had never laid claim to any such trait of smarts. she was driven solely by emotion, the complaints of a ticking mind striking off of deaf receptors. 

there was only ever one thing she held certainty in, she would not both live and stand by and let the ruffians of these lands lay waste to those that wished not to taint themselves in violence. she would rather die than have to endure a life in which she was forced to merely accept that they were expected to sit around and let these bastards play their bullying games and prowl off smug and satisfied. for once in her life, she wanted to see them quiver and wince- if it were the last thing she ever got to see she'd accept it. 

a pant as she skidded to a halt, not so much as noticing west a few paces behind as she came face to face with the unseeing gaze of the ravaged witch. ears slink close to her head, gaze widening as stiff limbs allowed her one step back to stare with unhidden horror at the ruddied corpse. no- no! who, what? glazed stare drags itself to the beasts, that ursus stink mingling languidly with the sickening tang of blood. her head hurt, seeming to pound along with each thud of that screeching heart. what had they done- those bastards! teeth assault each other with the force in which her jaw grits, panting heavily. she cannot see their rage, in that moment they smirk down on her like grinning vultures; their own features warped by vengeance's rubies or her pale assaulter's assured smile.

when would they ever STOP!

how dare they, how dare they bring this death to her home. it is with a great deal of effort that she grates out a comprehensible word, a throatily growled "WHY?" 

the most vexing question to play around her mind, why did they do all of this? and how, how did it come so natural to someone to wreck such havoc? what was the matter with these barbarians?!

joined first by merrick, astara’s furious gaze turned outward, trailing the arrival of west. 

him. 

her gums skinned back as she recognized the scent along his pelt as the very same that clung to Rosina’s. 

he was responsible. 

the blackbird’s dark gaze narrowed and she lifted her tail and head in unison, a throaty grow spilling forth. look what you’ve done, astara commanded wordlessly, hate’s virulent tendrils choking her throat. that he was taken aback came as a shock, but it did not soften astara’s enmity. 

and why — why indeed? astara’s needlepoint gaze bore into Polaris without sympathy: this was the price on Easthollow’s head now. 

brought to ruin by the senselessness of their own sweet cub.

easthollow was filled with pretty, stupid little boys, was it not? merrick credited the lack of any discernable father, proudly ignoring his own paternal shortcomings as he judged the yearling that had arrived to seemingly gawk at them.
he was joined by the galloping, furious approach of one bitch or another. this one bore a demand for his bride; the coywolf bristled at the affront, hypervigilant over slights to her person now that he had been the genesis of so many.
"ask him why the fuck we're here," merrick cut in an icebound sneer that slinked torn lips back from his own fangs. to the boy he tipped his stare again;
i'm going to bury you with her, kid

 

As if matters couldn't get any worse, both strangers turned their gaze to him and they knew. Then she came, a flurry on the wind as his dove rushed to yell in the dark woman's face. It had been enough to stir the blood in his bones, Polaris GET AWAY— She shouldn't be here. She shouldn't know. She didn't need to see this. For once his voice hadn't rung out with a mere suggestion, it was an order. One that he prayed the flowering rebel of a girl would heed.

His legs carried him quickly, intent on shoving his body between Polaris and the Ursus wolves. Whatever happened was on him, this was his doing. Should she not leave on her own accord he'd be attempting to shove her away from the borders until her legs carried on the action without him.

injuries for toad very welcomed if fighting happens : )
also jem ur writing givin me life 

 

a mild sickness had kept toad at bay from wandering, not that he was ever too much of a wanderer. in the past month or so he had been patrolling a bit less, keeping to his den and occasionally asking @Evien for something or another. a slow recovery, today he found that trail of rosina's blood and followed, lips curling at the stench of death that hung heavy in the air too. 

eventually, coming upon the dark leaders, toad hung behind. howl struck the air and he slunk closer, just noticing the crumpled corpse of the woman he had once directed to ursus. in a way the idea crossed his mind that it was his fault- that he directing her to bearclaw, had doomed her. but ultimately whatever she had done was her own choice- though he felt a slight falling of his heart, seeing his packmate now dead. 

and ahead of them- easthollow. toad narrowed his gaze upon the youth, silent, though his hackles raised in warning as his lip trembled with the threat of rising again, prepared for the male that seeked to put himself before his friend.

aa tysm;-;

'ask him'

jarred from the dizzying catch of such vehement indigo, a miracle in itself that she does not stagger after having such nefarious intensity pinpointed right upon her very soul. no chance for as much as a second's reprieve however as a frown of brief bewilderment is spared for the rook's scarred sentry before her own features contort into a rough edged snarl, that coldly humorous lilt stroking the potency of that all consuming rage. but-- smoldering look takes a skip back; the horrified face of west spreading tendrils of domineering ice across the hiss of those flames. suddenly, she wants to shiver.

it dawns on her, sluggishly, as if struggling to pierce a rose tinted mist twisting hungrily around her mind. their insatiable fury, the slain woman, west's own bitter resentment that day she'd infiltrated their home....oh west tyree, no. these wolves hadn't killed their own, this was not just them coming to play...this was revenge. 

they were in some serious danger. 

teeth grit at his outburst- he has no right to tell her to leave. he's brought this here, now wasn't the time to play hero and sacrifice himself. there was consequences for this shit, and he'd have to realise that such a thing would involve all of them.

she twisted back to face the fiend's west had unwittingly summoned, frostbound glare steeled in its resolve. they wouldn't see her doubt her packmate, she'd snap those treacherous tendrils before they could plant bitter seeds in their enemies minds. hell, did they even care for the body crumpled before them? she struggled to believe so, glaring bitterly at the ungraceful heap at her feet. to them, this was just another reason to spin more destruction whilst using the song of revenge to attack them mentally as well. 

bastards. and they were joined by another slinking predator too, leaving them outnumbered until help came. 

"and so are you wishing for us to give you him, or is this just another excuse to play your games?" she can't keep them talking for long, the heavy weight of their hysteria is enough to know that. but precious seconds could make a difference in odds.

and despite the threat of death dangling tauntingly in front of her face, she is oddly calm, a fact that is somehow terrifying in itself. 

because she was not ready to die.

merrick's rebuke rung in the air, accompanied by an agreeing growl from the nightshade. indeed, ask him -- astara's eyes roved west's form hungrily. he was just a boy, to have killed one of her own -- but did he not know a debt of blood must now be repaid?

as for the willowy girl before her, consumed by conflicting emotions that stormed across her thin-framed face, telling a story of turbulence within. astara lifted her chin proudly, a damned smile hanging loosely from her lips.

west moved to be in front of his little dove; astara watched with a lazy flicker of her gaze as he did so, noting toad was now pulling up the rear.

as for what she wanted -- they would know soon enough, wouldn't they? astara placed one forepaw forward, and then the other -- closing the distance as she stepped towards west in plucky, jaunty steps. one would almost think astara was here on pleasant business, were it not for the hardness of her gaze.


she lunged forward, but not for west. in a quick feint towards polaris, astara lunged with hooked teeth ready for paring -- should she catch the girl she would drag her, maul her, rip her --

kill one of mine, i kill one of yours -- and the bitch is first to go.

Donovan had hung back, sniffed around the side of their borders. Now he rolls up to party, fashionably late. His massive form impossible not to notice. A confident swagger in his step as his muscles shift beneath an extraordinary brindle coat. The fresh scars gleam with dark skin beneath. He wears them proudly. The curl of his tail high, surely none of them had seen anything like him. 

A god.

He comes to stand close to Merrick’s hip, a fair two feet away. As his wild golden gaze that could rival the sun dancing to each of the wolves present. Malice is obvious in those deadly orbs and his thick ears cup forward, ready to hear the excuses these fools will make up for killing one of Ursus’ own.

Yet the peace doesn’t last long. For he comes in on the best part. A daring smile rips open his maw, muzzle wrinkling and showing off pearly whites used to blood stains. The black bird rushes forward and his eyes go to slits with anticipation. Yes, this is what he lives for. Though he will not move unless told to do so.

the white wolf, biding her time. merrick's features contorted as the murdering boy leapt forward to protect her. he was so young to have killed anything, but had not the coywolf slain by this age? his balebird snapping forward in a rush of black silk, collecting her pound of flesh in the efforts between light and darkness entwined.
toad, hungry now, prowling forward with his eyes fixed on the boy. and donovan, sidling, tiger-striped and awaiting his own bite.
torn a moment, ultimately merrick jerked his muzzle toward the yearling who had taken rosina's life.
he would watch as they were coursed down upon, and then his own teeth snapped for the dovewhite hind-leg of the girl who had run her mouth for far too long, seeking to hobble and hold her,
like the burrowing rat-thing he had once pinned for avicus.

The elder had arrived late to the scene with a gate slowed by age. His face, one darkened with youth had been bleached, scorned with the wrinkles of time so apparent under his warm honey gaze. Where once his head held high it now hung downwards, burdened almost by the weight of his crown—his patriarchy to the hollow having taken it's toll upon it's jewel.

Rushing forward unannounced, the mammoth attempted to fling himself into the fray of bodies, his jaws opening wide to let out a thunderous yell loud enough to be heard by the god's ears.

"ENOUGH!" He commanded, eager to break up the fight around them, to crowd in front of Polaris and his son in an attempt to shield them from the onslaught of teeth and fangs.

I'll wait to do any rolls till next round sinc GB here!

Much to his disappointment, Polaris didn't run, but of course, she didn't. Polaris Tonrar was not the kind of wolf to run, he knew this, and unfortunately so was he. Despite his best efforts to keep her back, she continued to stand her ground and like he, kept her eyes on the dark-furred woman. She never spoke, though her expression said enough. The others that joined were barely registered by West before the woman approached one step at a time until she raced to lunge.

At that moment it occurred to him that it wasn't his own hide that she sought, but the one behind him. She was aiming for Polaris. A moment of panic arose in the woodland boy as she tried to quickly shift his body to block Polaris with his own, though before he could turn to retaliate a boulder plowed between them. His father. West wasn't sure if he was relieved or terrified by his presence, his voice enough to make him step back as his ears lowered against his skull.

Skippable, but if anybody wants to zero in on Oryx, and engage her, feel welcome to do so :) She's the easiest target here and I'm 100% open to her taking damage.

It was not in Oryx's nature to wander too near the borders- but she felt an obligation to contribute to the pack which had taken her in, considering she'd done nothing but hide and avoid all others (save for Arlette) since Rosina had attacked her in the meadow. She was not confident in patrolling the borders so she stayed some distance from them, patrolling nonetheless- but from what she considered to be a safe distance from where the majority of their borders markings were. 

So she was not terribly far away when the commotion began, but her lack of conviction and strangling indecision made her doubt herself, and hesitate. She crept forward, keeping herself concealed as much as possible within the tall grasses, and heard a couple snippets of a heated conversation. When she peered through the grasses, finally close enough to see what was going on- she noticed several strangers facing off across from Polaris and West Tyree- but her gaze froze when she saw the torn and bloodied body of Rosina, barely recognizable from having been dragged through the mud to their borders. Oryx froze- and paid little attention to the strangers and the snapping of fangs, but she looked up when the gesture for the attack was given by the one-eyed male.

At a glance, she found herself overwhelmed by terror. With Oryx still several yards away and attempting to peer without being seen, West Tyree and Polaris faced a brutally intimidating group of wolves. A tawny, one-eyed male who looked to be the sort of wolf who felt most at home on the battlefield.  A pale, hungry-looking fellow whose eyes shone with bloodlust, barely contained by his master's command. She crouched, still several metres away and hidden in the grass, watching as one wolf after the other charged, or blocked another- and a moment later the regal king ordered the entire debacle come to a halt- but only time would tell if the intimidating group of strangers heeded his demand. A brindled wolf so large, she found herself wondering who was larger, him or the grey boulder who protected their pack. But the most feared amongst them all was the ebony rapier, whose violet eyes were savage with a neon glow. She was fast- and not bridled by the harness and chain command of the one-eyed male. 

There was a flurry of movement- and Oryx wasn't entire certain amid the wheeling, snapping and lunging who matched up against who- but no sooner had the clash begun then it was ordered to cease by the giant, grey boulder himself, but only time would tell if the others heeded his demand. Her eyes fell upon Rosina's corpse once more, and a thought occurred to her. 

Why was it here? 

They'd brought it with them...Did they think that one of the Easthollow wolves had done this? She tried to recall the snippets of conversation she'd overheard- and remembered Polaris asking them if they would demand to have him, which she assumed meant West Tyree. Had they come to seek revenge for the death of Rosina? And did they expect Easthollow to hand West Tyree over- an eye for an eye? She couldn't bear it. 

"It was me-" She shouted feverishly over the din. "She stole my ear; I caused this, it was me, I confess!" She said, practically inviting death upon herself in the process. But what else would she have to offer?

toad never really saw donovan arrive, nor greyback, nor oryx. merrick directed his target, and toad fell into a behavior something machine-like, with blinded vision that only wanted to follow that path towards west. he shifted forward moments after astara, almost instantly after the jerk of merrick's muzzle, jaws agape. crocodilian, sliding forward until he was nearly upon- 

and then a heavy stone was planted before him, and toad's path faltered in confidence. that booming command meant nothing to him; all he wished was to get around the ancient creature merrick had told him about long ago. a curve around, half-circling greyback, the frogboy would try his best to make his way at west again, wanting only to strangle him at the throat. 

his success on surpassing obstacles can be up to yall, or lmk if you'd rather i roll a die : )

Miryam doesn't know whether Astara would have told the red girl to stay put or hurried off without command. so it's vague how closely she follows her mother, but she does, at a high trot to keep up. they go into the meadow. . .and then beyond. loping, now, she hurries along. her eyes are everywhere at once, taking in the new sights.

and as she descends over a small hillock, she hears voices raised. she hears the sounds of anger, reminiscent of when her mother had slain the whelps' dam. she smells blood.

there's a body that looks vaguely familiar, and her parents are both there. and a couple more familiar faces, and. . .wait. . .

the scent of a new pack, the scent that had cloaked the woman that had treated her with such tenderness. brows raised, gaze troubled, she hurries toward the Ursus wolves. they must know that danger lies here (and they do, but for different reasons than her own). nothing good would come from seeing that woman again.

HEY! she shouts, but it's drowned out by a huge booming voice, coming from the maw of a man bigger than any wolf she'd ever seen. if he wasn't so gray, she'd think it was Jaylen; as it is, he's a stranger, and she comes to a skittering halt.

a halt that brings her mere paces away from the fray.

btw y'all can skip her unless someone actually tries to fuck her up

Valette was close to being on Greyback's heels ever since the commotion broke out. She had been further away but once she caught up with her mate, who was heading in the same direction. The dark female burst moments later with him, flanking his side to protect him at least from one side. Greyback's thundering voice echoed and Valette lifted her head as well. Her hazel eyes on the group before them. She didn't know what happened before, but the fight was clear. What was also clear, she noticed now was the mangled body of that white female. The one who trespassed AND later attacked Oryx. However, now the female was dead on the ground. That she was dead was an understatement it seemed.

She figured it was one of her pack members who did it. But who-- Then a wolf came towards them and Valette snapped her jaws at him in warning. Her tail was up and her teeth bared, ready to snap at him if he dared to go around them. She wanted to focus on the voice, the one who confessed, but she didn't dare to keep her eyes off the male (Toad). She rather not want to fight, but West and Polaris were in danger. The whole of Easthollow was in danger so she had to step up. "Call back you pack member, and say what is the meaning of this!," she called out to the leadership of their neighbors.

okay for clarity, i assumed west was successful in getting between polaris & astara at least in the seconds before greyback arrived but that merrick made his hit. i also tried to remain vague as to whether or not he released polaris after gb and valette's arrival- let me know if anyone wants anything changed<3

there is something so uncannily surreal about this dawning terror, a kind of fear that can only be inspired by dealing with creatures so vastly different from yourself. faced with butcher's that did not comprehend reason, and how her mind continued its fruitless whinnying as to how or why their minds allowed- no, supported such an existence. what did they feel when chewing up the lives of innocent beings, what on EARTH could they be thinking?? these questions, she realised, would be taken to her grave. it was so hopelessly infuriating, the stark truth that these situations would continue to play out again and again as long at the world wished to spawn further puppets to satisfy its sickening greed for callous entertainment. 

god it pissed her off. 

a narrow of that scintillating look, jaw setting the moment that ink stained paw slapped the earth; so that's how it's going to be. ears slink back as muscles bunch, the thunder of her heart a bittersweet symphony, it's preparation to stimulate her even if doing so led to its own demise.  

but as she stands next to her steadfast companion, the final blockade to those sneering demons, she finds it in herself to remain tall under the weight of their scorching stares. because it is a fool that would believe going on the offence screamed superiority, a lot could be said for the desire to protect- to defend. it was intertwined far deeper into the roots of ones soul than the desire for bloodlust. because as the diabolic crow strolled from the shadow of her looming behemoth, polaris' body sang with an energy she'd never so much as tasted before. and the drug to gift her with such invigoration? simply the image of blissful @Rosewood, it inspired a stark clarity within the hiss of swirling emotion; they would not break past and touch a hair on that boy's pelt. and she did not care who had to die to ensure such a thing. 

and like a cobra she strikes, lightning fast and the bearer of terrifying beauty as she swung towards the dove; a creature that should provide no match for the cunning crow but she is alive with riveting passion as she lunges to meet her with a harrowing scream.  but dear west- planting his body between them, a mortal shield as she could only gasp before the one eyed hellhound made contact and an instinctive cry spilled from trembling jaws at the flinch of her body in response to such assault. that bastard-! a snarl as she whipped, prepared to rip and tear if it meant a chance to dive and taste that rotting flesh herself but- 

the boom of greyback swatting through the fogged inferno of desire to get to him, to bite and claw and hurt-- 

a scan of wide eyes, valette swooping in to hinder the other man's progression towards west, another looming monster lingering off to the side, oryx's startling call..and...a child?? panting heavily as she glares to the intruders, it is shockingly difficult to remain still in the aftermath of all those voices- commands- body straining against the mind's instruction, speech was not their language this was pointless- and that man- she wanted him to die.

rolls are here

a black bolt hurled towards polaris, intercepted by west's advancement.

the thundering arrival of another (others'?) was ignored; astara had time, she had ---

greyback came between them. fine --if he was so deadset on placing himself in harm's way like a fool, what was directed at polaris would be doled out to greyback instead.

he was but one ancient wolf, and they were the many -- astara did not blink did not hesitate did not flinch as she drove her teeth for the crone's muzzle or eyes or scruff -- meat was meat and anything would do; punish him make him bend yield cry bleed die

astara had no fear for this male or his soft-eared compatriot;  both were advanced in years, soft around the eyes and ears -- pushovers. their commands meant nothing to the blackbird, and she snorted at their presumption she would be a good samaritan and listen to their old voices and pleas -- AS IF ONE OF THEIR OWN HAD NOT FELLED ROSINA

she would have driven against greyback immediately and felt the crush of geriatric bones between her teeth, were it not for avicus' form in her periphery.

avicus did not belong here, not in this court of bedlam. 

but it was too late to change the trajectory -- astara lunged then for the broad muzzle of greyback, teeth glistening in the dull late summer light.

// Evie is here specifically to sass, protect the puppy, and fix wounds if necessary. He won't be directly fighting unless he absolutely needs to.

The scene was chaotic. Evien had taken a bit longer to get there, as usual, but that didn't mean that he was going to leave his packmates to their fate. He'd brought herbs with him, to use as a sort of field patch-up if necessary. And it looked like he might actually need them.

"An Easthollow wolf killed one of our own and you're surprised that we would be angry?" he shot back at the woman who had spoken, eyes narrowing. He had not been the biggest fan of Rosina, but murder was murder regardless, and he felt like this was justifiable.

He padded over to stand beside Avicus. The pup did not belong here, but he would defend her if need be. Though it looked as though Ursus had the upper hand here, he did not know if the Easthollians would take more drastic measures in their attacks. After all, they had killed already.

Rolls here!

The mess before him has begun with the teeth of Merrick’s heartfelt lover. The savage blackbird gives no mercy. Neither does Merrick. They both go for the silvery shewolf, yet they are interrupted. A massive male of grey stomps into the fight. His voice booming and reverberating through Donovan’s very soul. Oh, that’s one big boy. Goes through his mind. Yet he’s not intimidated. His muscles twitch, he’s about to jump in when yet another wolf, female type, almost of the same greys as the massive male jumps into the fray. This shewolf is Valette. Donovan doesn’t know her name — doesn’t care for it. 

They try to make things civil but it seems their weak attempt at breaking up the shit show before them only succeeds in making it worse. Astara is silent, as per usual, savage. Seems as if the woman couldn’t give a rats ass as to what they have to say. She goes in for the large male. That’s his cue. Noticing that Merrick is preoccupied with the snowy shewolf, he decides to sink his teeth into the pretty wolf that followed close behind Greyback.

It’s the smartest option so far. She’s close enough to do a fair amount of damage to the raging shewolf of Ursus. He’d protect her as much as he can. He fights for his allies as if they are his own after all.

As he stands massive head level with a straight back and tail curled high, his teeth are bared in a savage curling of lips. Kicking up dirt he’s throwing himself into the mix without a second thought. He’s going on for a kill. The brindled male couldn’t give a fuck what they have to say either. The only words he’ll heed are Merrick’s himself. 

He’s slow, but not slow enough for his attack to miss as he closes in on the Easthollow wolf. He’s ramming himself into her rib cage as hard as he can. Wouldn’t be surprised in there are a few cracked ribs. As for his massive size and weight, he hopes she crumbles to the ground. She’s only but an average sized wolf, but he knows not the skill she could hold beneath her. He’s learned his lesson to underestimate females.

like fine-tuned panthers toad and donovan moved. the yearling boy who had managed to kill rosina was suddenly blocked by a towering mass of ash and fur. he jerked as teeth scored briefly along his muzzle, single eye sneering toward polaris.
"no thanks, grandpa. you fuckin' fossils had your chance," merrick hooted derisively in answer, though his lopsided gaze was trained upon the hen who emerged from the coop to squawk at the lot of them.
they were beyond speech. was the message unclear? dimly he heard the clash of ursus against easthollow: toad curving toward the stupid child, donovan seeking to pulverize the she-wolf who had been the first to scream nonsense.
evien; why was evien here?
merrick did not have time to notice avicus; he tore his stare from the din and lunged for the stone-circle coward who had never indicated a respect for his young neighbor.
not even so much as a potluck or a text back.
and merrick, why the prince was simply bored with being left on read.
his raven flared in a spread of obsidian that dazzled the bearwitch, and he saw in a moment how he might exact a price for both rosina and clay in the same motion. the upstart little royal had died of his wounds, so merrick hoped, but here was the great oak who had tossed the pathetic acorn.
deciding against his chosen opponent, merrick instead followed a bound later, cutting his fangs in a slice across the broad shoulder of greyback. enthused to be so close to the power denied, merrick tittered despite his weak blow: old old old old dessicated, dust to be blown away. 
and his carrionbird ravening and delightful to his eyes, flushing merrick with a deep and answering lust. this then, their legacy. this then, their goblet of wine taken from the veins of easthollow.

To the elder's surprise—no one had heeded his command.

Bodies flocked to the fray more and more, their masses joining the endless clash of fangs and cries, and he, a man whose power was everything, felt somewhat lost. His head turned frantically as he searched for his wolves—his son—his mate. Valette had been behind him, and as he took a step back he felt himself shoved away from her.  He couldn't get to his son in time.

A figure clocked in black, swift as a magpie caught his eye, and as he attempted to side step Astara he felt the heat of her sting upon his jaw. Teeth sharp as needles pieced his skin, parting fur and slicing through meat upon reopening the scarred wound on his face. Greyback hissed.

Throwing a giantic paw up, he attempted to detach the wretch from him with fury. "What is the meaning of this?" he roared once more, "We did not send an order to hurt your wolves!"

A groan slipped through his lips as he once more felt jaws clench, this time upon one of his shoulders, and teetering from the weight of them, the man staggered to the side. He abandoned trying to detatch the female, and instead shot his paw out to knock at the other, bowling them over with force. "Let us talk this out, there is no need for fighting." he pleaded.

Greyback attacking Merrick, dealing 3 damage as per dice roll. So far he has taken 9 damage from Astara and Merrick!
Health: 41

Permission by summer granted for the grab since its a little PP-y I rolled a total of 9 for damage
West current health after Astara's hit that he intercepted from Polaris: 36/50

Everything was happening so fast. West had managed to shoulder the fangs of the blackbird, his body quickly becoming a shield to the dove behind him as ivories tore into his shoulder, yet despite his frozen state no one else seemed to freeze. For a moment, he was alone, lost in a haze as bodies and fangs clashed. Few voices rang out amongst the crowd, but they were hard to decipher. However, one, in particular, seemed to ring clear.

"It was me- I confess"

The woodland boy blinked in surprise as his eyes fell on the source. Why? She was surely lying, those wounds were inflicted by himself, even the Ursus wolves acknowledged his doing. It hadn't been intentional of course, she ran, he thought she had escaped with her life. Was it possible that it wasn't his fault? The wounds were his doing, but perhaps their healer had done something more.

His string of thoughts only grew more chaotic and confusing as more blood was spilled around him, Polaris, his father, his mother. Rather the witch's ultimate end had been on his shoulders or another, he brought these wolves here. It was his blood they craved and so far everyone else he loved was suffering in his stead. Their pleas lost to the drive of relentless wolves sparked something new in him, or perhaps something buried. A flame thawed his body and stirred him into action, the intensity of which strong enough to consume him whole.

Emerald orbs caught sight of two wolves as they charged towards his mother, one as big as himself with a pelt unlike any he had seen before, and the small dagger that lunged. Sprinting into action, West tore away from the safety of his parent's sides. They didn't deserve this. They shouldn't be harmed for his own doing. The halfbreed collided with Valette, his feet seemingly carrying him away just in time to avoid being involved in the collision, though he turned quickly his new target settling over Toad's head. A new growl ripped through him as he lunged quickly, his maw seeking the fleshy underside of the boy's throat. As soon as his fangs connected he'd shove him back intent on keeping his grip and keeping the other away from his family.

Just for clarification west is moving around Valette and grabbing toad by the throat/holding him