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2010-03-24 14:10:18

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Run As One:
Chapter Eight

The wolves had successfully ceased production at the compound. Immediately afterward, Augustine left without a trace. Molly refused to let anyone search for him. Despite everyone's hopes, a remedy wasn't found for Garth in the compound. He passed away only two days later. The pack howled in respect for their lost member all night long. The next morning, Molly decided to lead the pack on their new mission...finding paradise.

They migrated out of the city in search of a paradise all their own, a place where a wolf could be a wolf. Where they wouldn't have to hide behind a human face. About a month of traveling passed and Molly's scent was becoming more apparent. Even if a human-raised wolf couldn't recognize the scent, one could easily see her belly expanding. The trek was long and full of obstacles, but they were able to pull through As the pack traveled, the pack picked up two rogue wolves and eagerly welcomed them into the group.

Roughly two months after the compound mission, the wolves found a place free of humans. The land was lush, green and prosperous. Almost like a dream...
And soon after they arrived, Molly gave birth to three pups, two males and one female. Due to the irresponsible father not being available to help, all of the pack members chipped in. Mercie and newcomer, Tabor were quite helpful in assisting Molly while the others did most of the hunting and scouting.

It was about noon on a bright sunny day. Molly had sent out everyone except for Tabor to retrieve meat for the pack and pups. She was busy relaxing in the sunlight while her pups played about around her. Yawning, she rolled over where she caught a strong whiff of something strong unpleasant. Molly's ears perked up and she immediately got to her feet, sniffing some more.

Tabor had been sitting by Molly, his eyes closed and his face in the sun. Despite the lack of pizza, this place truly was paradise. He opened an eye every now and then when a pup collided into his leg, but beside that, he was just too busy being happy. When Molly got up, he looked at her, confused. "What is it?" he asked, hoping it might be a deer or a pheasant.

"It better not be what I think it is..." Molly stepped forward and sniffed again, "No way...impossible." The hairs flared up on her spine as the stench filled her nostrils.

Mercie's paws pounded the turn as her nails dug in for better traction. Her thin frame was ideal for zipping threw trees, especially when she had a message to deliver. Her course was taking her right over top the den and she leaped down, sliding to a halt in front of Molly, Tabor and the pups. "Molly... August..." It was plainly visible that she was winded.

Tabor was shocked and confused. He had heard about Augustine, but he thought the guy was long gone. He looked from Mercie to Molly, hoping someone would clear things up.

Molly's nails dug into the ground beneath her and her lips flared up, revealing her teeth. "What does he want?!" she growled, the hairs on her back flared up completely now. The pups knew what to do when Mom went like that. The three of them clumsily scurried back into the den.

Mercie took a moment to catch her breath "Don't know, I ran ahead to tell you."

"I can smell that son of a bitch already." Molly swore under her growl. It wasn't like her to cuss but Augustine had put her and the entire pack to shame. "He has no right to come here. Why didn't you rip his hide open?"

Tabor almost said, ooo! Ooo! I can rip his hide open! but instead he looked excitedly into the woods, planning on pummeling this guy.

"I'm a lover not a fighter Moll" Mercie told her "You know that." she'd begun taking a bit of pride being pack omega, especially since they'd stopped wearing their human forms.

"Oh, Molly," said a voice coming from a growing shadow in the forest's shade. "You know the answer to that question. I'm just too damn pretty." Augustine emerged into the light as his huge, pure black, wolfy self. Despite not having human lips, he still managed to smirk.

Tabor's ears and tail dropped. This guy was huge... not to mention scary as fuck.

The pups were safe and hidden in the wolves den. Molly kept her teeth barred and her aggressive stance. The moment he took another step, Molly bounded forward and stopped right in front of him. She refused to let him get any closer to her pups. "HOW DARE YOU COME HERE!?" Molly snarled, as if she was holding back ripping his muzzle off.

Mercie instinctively repositioned herself between the raised scruffs and the mouth of the cave.

Augustine tensed as she ran at him, ready to jump to the side. He loosened back up as soon as she stopped. He sighed. "I missed you too," he said lazily and then glanced behind her, wondering if there were any puppies rolling about. "How about I explain over dinner."

Molly kept her teeth barred fiercely. She hadn't been this pissed since the last time they spoke. "Explain why you abandoned your pack?! Abandoned your kin?! Abandoned me?!" she snarled, saliva dripping threw her teeth. "I refuse to hear it. If you want to be a lone wolf, fine. A lone wolf you will stay as long as I have anything to say about it." With that, she turned her back to him and headed towards the den, "Go back where you came from." she warned one last time. How could she trust him after what he did? Molly could only trust Mercie, Tabor, Lakota and the rest of her pack.

"Fine!" said Augustine. "But if you don't listen to me, you're all gonna die."

Mercie's hackles raised, she knew August was bigger than her but if he went after Molly she was prepared to hinder him. She didn't bother asking him what he was talking about, that was for the Alpha to do.

"Yea? And what do you care?" Molly asked, keeping her back to him as she headed next to Tabor. She stopped when her shoulders were aligned with Tabor's hips.

Mercie felt a lot more comfortable with everyone in protective positions. There was less chance of getting horribly injured when stuff went down.

"There are these big, forest eating machines rolling this way," Augustine elaborated. "But if you guys don't want hear about it, I guess I'll be on my way."

Initially she didn't believe him. How could she after all of Augustine's betrayal? But what if he wasn't lying? Why would he have come all this way otherwise? Molly looked to Tabor and Lakota, then to Mercie but resisted looking at the den where the pups were. If he was lying...she would kill him for sure. "Fine. Tell us what you know- but you don't eat with us."

Tabor shifted uncomfortably. He didn't like this situation in the least. He wanted the pack to chase this jerk out of there. He'd talk to Molly when Augustine wasn't around.

Molly took a brief glance to Mercie, then to Lakota. "Speaking of which, where is the meat?" she asked, wanting to not be disappointed. Her pups had been restless all morning and hopefully something would ease her recently risen headache.

Mercie looked at Lakota "You had it last." She had run on ahead to tell Molly that Auggy was around.

"Same old same old, I see," Augustine said. His eyes on the cave, he began to walk forwards. "Mind if I make myself comfortable?" There was an intensity in his expression. He had seen little paw prints.

Mercie's head lowered again and she growled when Auggy stepped forward. Molly hadn't told him that he was welcome yet and that meant no matter how big he was Mercie wasn't letting him near the pups.

"Not too comfortable." Molly warned, stepping in front of him along with Mercie. She then turned her back to him and walked into the cave first. He didn't have the authority to walk in first. This gesture let Mercie know that Molly accepted his presence- for now. If Augustine was telling the truth and they were in trouble, Molly had to hear what he had to say. If he didn't care about them, why would he bother to come and sniff them out? Disappearing into the cave, the pups quickly ran up to her and played around her feet, wanting to know what the trouble was. Bending down, Molly licked her babies cheeks to let them know not to worry.
She wondered in the back of her mind who Augustine would react to them. Either way, Molly didn't feel that he was their father...so she tried not to worry.

Tabor was right along with Mercie with the growling. He didn't ease up when Molly gave the OK, however.

Augy outright ignored the two kids snarling at him and sauntered after Molly. He successfully hid how incredibly anxious he was, but when he saw the little forms rolling around in the darkness, his bad ass routine slipped. His ears twitched back and his eyes widened. Even though he was expecting them, he was stunned.

The puppies, innocent as they were, looked over to the big black wolf at the den's entrance. Like any pups would, they were curious as to who this new wolf was and didn't hesitate to run over to him. They were small, clumsy little things and tripped over their own feet as they galloped. As they came into the light, it was clear that their coats held a variety of shades. One was black, the female...while the two males were a dark brown and a lighter brown. They yipped and sniffed at Augustine's feet.

Tabor looked at Mercie. The two of them had been helping with the pups for a while. If Molly was ok with letting them near Augustine, that was her call. He, however, was extremely uncomfortable with the idea. He hoped Mercie shared his opinion.

Augustine looked down at them, unable to react. When he started his trek up here, he was sure he'd just shrug their existence off, but here he was, momentarily brain dead.

"Now we don't have all day and frankly- none of us like you. So can we make this quick?" Molly said, a little offended that he was just gawking at the pups like that. "You said something about a-" she paused, "Forest...eating machine?" She flicked her ear and sat herself down but kept an upright position.

One of the little males ran over to Tabor and Mercie. He stood under their legs and panted happily. The other two saw their Mom sit down and ran over to her.

Mercie wasn't at all happy with the turn of events but in a nice pool of sunshine she laid down so one of the boys could crawl all over her and suckle if he chose. None of them where her's of course but their pack had gotten so close in the recent months that, like with normal wolves, she was completely prepared to care for them if anything happened to Molly.

The little male just pounced on Mercie and started to nibble on her ear. He pulled at it playfully, growling in his high pitched tone.

Once the puppies ran off and Molly addressed him, Augustine snapped back to reality and straightened up, looking serious again. "There are 5 skyscraper sized saw machines slowly truckin' their way up here. Back in the city, I heard some humans upset that cutting was gonna happen up here, and, since last we talked, you were planning on going this direction, I decided to sniff it out, just in case."

"So you abandon us and yet- you came here to warn us?" Molly asked. still pissed at him. She forced down her frustration and tried to focus on what he said, "Saw machines?...Why are they coming here? We're up in the middle of nowhere. How long do we have?"

The male and female near her started to wrestle one another behind Molly.

"I don't know the specifics," said Augustine, annoyed at Molly's downpour of questions. "All I know is I saw them, they plan to plow down this area and I ran ahead of them a few days tops."

The two pups behind Molly went on wrestling. One yelped ane they stopped briefly only to jump into it once more, growling and carrying on like babes should.

"Well..." Molly took a moment to think. They had only stayed in this area for a few months and yet, it felt like home. "You don't know if they were human operated? We could stop them."

Tabor looked rather desperately between Lakota and Mercie. This was a big problem, wasn't it? He felt anxious sitting there while Molly dealt with that... guy. "What do you think's going on?" he finally asked in a low voice to Mercie.

"I'm with Molly no matter what happens." Mercie told Tabor "But I only trust Auggy about as far as I can throw him. He abandoned us, and real wolves don't do that." Mercie may be their little band's omega and therefore the unspoken peacemaker, but there where just some thing one didn't do to their pack and leaving a mother with a litter to raise was one of them.

Molly flicked her ear, ignoring that Augustine remained silent. "So I suppose we can either evacuate or fight." she thought out loud.

Augustine had been distracted by the pups. "Kinda the idea," he said. "... So, uh... what did, you, uh... what are their names?"

"You think he's lying?" Tabor asked. He was starting to get over his shock of Augy's appearance. When he imagined Molly having a relationship with someone, he usually imagined a more average kinda guy. Kinda like himself.

Arron backed into the den, a heavy carcass in his jaws as he traced his way back by scent. It wasn't so hard, but with his face full of dead creature, he couldn't easily see where he was going. Arron took a deep breath, trying to judge how far he was when he smelled something that he wasn't expecting. He dropped the meat and turned, looking for the wolf he hadn't planned on seeing again.

Molly couldn't help but be a little surprised by Augustine's question but hid the emotion. She looked over at the black female and dark brown male. "Abigail and Jude." She turned and looked outside of the cave where the light brown male was pestering Mercie, "And Toby."

Somewhere deeper in the forest, legs were moving at a frantic pace. Paws slamming into the ground, breath coming haggard as two wolves ran for their lives.

Nadine ran as fast as her little paws could carry her. Darting through bushes, leaping over ditchs, and whipping around trees. "Oh man, oh man, oh man. This is not good. " She said to herself. She had just settled down to enjoy an ill-gotten chicken leg when these...things attacked. "Man if this is what they send to retrieve a stolen chicken leg I am never going to that area again."

Kenny was running quickly through the forest, dodging trees and panting hard as he tried to control his hammering heart. Just what WERE those things that had chased them from their home? He'd barely had time to hear the crunch of trees before he'd taken off running.

Looking behind her to see if they were still there, Nadine almsot collided with a tree. "Keep my eyes on the front!". She was also trying to see if her fellow wolf was still with her. She didnt spot him though.

Kenny was fast, Kenny was slim, Kenny was already in front by the time she looked around. There were other following, hoping, begging. Not sure, but no time to stop, stopping could mean death.

"We cant keep running." Nadine thought. "Sooner or later we will wear out and collapse, then we wont stand a chance against these things." She began to look for a good hiding spot, a cave or a downed tree creating a little den. "Anything." she thought again, "Anything to hide us."

Quite happy to run until the end of his life, which would probably be much sooner if he stopped, Kenny was still bounding through the wilderness. He wasn't trying to be quiet, they were after them, had to be, so he kept running as fast as he could.

"I duno," Mercie told Tabor quietly "It's Molly who determines whether or not he's lying." It may have sounded as if she where a bit too obedient towards Molly, but it had been Molly who led them to this wonderful sort of paradise and she was going to follow her to the gates of hell if she had to to keep it.

Arron looked at Mercie. "I smell trouble. Is Molly alright?" He grabbed the carcass again and dragged it closer to the den entrance. It wasn't heavy so much as purely awkward for him to move on his own. Arron knew the history, knew who was here just by his smell. Why he was here was another matter entirely.

Tabor had been raised like a human by humans for almost his entire life and he was taught to value individuality and personal beliefs. Needless to say, he found Mercie's comment unsatisfying and annoying as hell.
He couldn't handle sitting here quietly while something big like this happened. When Arron appeared, he hoped he'd be more talkative than the girls. "Augustine's back," Tabor quickly responded to Arron. "He's been saying something about death machines coming this way. I don't believe him."

Augustine simply nodded and paused. "I need a smoke. I'll be in the forest, so come get me if need anything." With that he turned around and headed out.

Molly looked at the two little ones in the cave. She gestured them to follow her out of the den. Obediently, they ran behind her. Molly refused to say anything until she knew Augustine was a good distance away. Watching him disappear into the woods, she looked at the others. "Alright, so apparently there are these enormous forest cutting machines headed in this direction. Probably some sort of giant escavators. Augustine guesstimates they will be here in two to three days. He says that they destroy all wildlife in their path and unfortunately we have to choose." Molly took a deep breath, now that she had puppies, everything was harder. Toby got off of Mercie and ran to his brother and sister. They moved in towards the carcass and started to chomp and pull at one of the thighs.
"We either stand out ground and fight or- flee." Molly explained when suddenly a whiff of wolf hit her nose. "Wait- do you guys smell that?" Getting closer from the woods, they could smell the two wolves, Nadine and Kenny. Maybe they were coming to steal their food? A rivalry pack perhaps? Either way, Molly lowered her head and barred her teeth in the direction the scent was coming from.

Augustine walked a little ways into the forest, turned human and pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. He tapped one out, shoved the pack back into his jacket and flipped open a zippo. He was majorly grumpy. The way he imagined his grand entrance was much more bad ass. Stupid puppies. He'd ignore them from now on. The strong odor of his cigarette prevented him from smelling the action happening not to far off.

Kenny exploded through the undergrowth, taking whatever was in front of him in his stride. When he noticed it was another pack of wolves, ones with pups none the less, he decided he had to do something. He couldn't stop running though, so instead began to duck and weave, moving around the group, over them, and in one case under them. "Quick!" he panted "enourmas forest cutting machines headed in this direction! RUN!"

Arron watched Molly exit the cave and stood aside so the pups could get to it. He sniffed the air at Molly's mention of a smell and his hackles raised slightly. Arron heard what was said, and looked at Molly, ready to grab one of the pups and run.

Nadine's enterance was less graceful. She lept over the brush and about midjump she saw the other wolves and tried to change directions. This caused her to be off balance when she landed which resulted in her crumbling instead of landing without losing any momentum. She tumbled and flipped towards the group before sliding to a stop only a foot or two away from the group. She laid there motionless, panting heavily, the only thing she was able to say was, "Ow."

"Hey!" Molly's pose went from offensive to more of an alert stance. "Wait- can you tell us about the diggers?" she motioned for her clan to surround Nadine and get some answers.

"Cutting trees" Kenny said, pausing on the spot for a moment, but doing an unsteady "jogging on the spot" motion before making his way over to Nadine. He licked her a few times and nudged her with his head, trying to make her stand up "Very big, metal, ripped apart the trees around where we lived, so we ran."

Nadine rolled over onto her other side before getting up on her feet. "They came out of nowhere and began ripping things to shreds. Its like they didnt even see us." she said in an angry tone.

Tabor did as Molly instructed and stood by the newbies. Turned out Molly's ex wasn't lying after-all. He wondered what her plan would be.

It was quite an effort keeping three rambunctious young pups cornered when your only one wolf. They wanted to inspect the newcomers but a protective and distinctly harsh growl from Mercie told them that "Until Mom comes back it's not safe yet."

"Could you tell if they operated by humans?" Molly asked. Normally she wouldn't be so open to chatting with foreign wolves like this but if they saw these machines up close....maybe they had more information? She circled them and sniffed at the two tired wolves.

Arron joined Mercie in the pup herding. He nuzzled one of the males playfully, but kept an ear open for what was being said.

Nadine watched Molly as she circled around them. "Who else would be piloting them, Elves?" she said dripping with sarcasm.

Mercie didn't like Nadine's tone of sarcasm one bit; even though it wasn't even directed at her, she felt that is was disrespectful and in the very least impolite. Toby tried scampering over to Nadine to investigate so Mercie placed her paw on his tail so he couldn't move any closer.

Molly sneered and snapped her jaws together, barring her teeth. The hairs on her back stood up. She didn't appreciate that tone from this rogue wolf at all. "HEY! Don't get cute with me! I was asking if there were humans inside of the machines or if they were being controlled from elsewhere." She let out a low growl. "I advice you to watch your tongue while on our turf." Molly warned her with a very threatening tone.

The hair on Nadine's rose as well and she took her best threatening stance to counter Molly's. "Well excuse me lady! Im sorry that im wore out and on edge from running for the past 45 minutes from some machines that dont care whether or not I get chopped up with the trees. This is hardly the time for a game of 20 questions!"

"Nadine" Kenny said warningly, but kindly, nudging her with his head again "Now's not the time to make enemies. Need to keep going. Can't stop now, don't know how far behind they are."

The pups stayed in the entrance of the den, behind Mercie and Arron. They turned their attention to the tantalizing smell of dead flesh to their right. Jude, Toby and Abigail ran over to it and started to chomp their teeth onto the hind leg. They did their best to try and rip it off.

Augustine's ears pricked at the commotion. He rolled his eyes, flicked his cigarette on the ground and stepped on it. He shifted back into a wolf and quickly came back to the den. "What the fuck is going on?" he asked. Knowing the group had picked up some newbs, he didn't know if these new guys were strangers or not. Either way, they seemed to be causing problems.

Arron looked at Mercie. "What do you think?" he asked her as he went over to stand over the pups. He tore the flesh open for them so they could get there little teeth into the meat. "I was just getting used to living here, too."

The pups went on eating at the thigh that Arro had so kindly tore open for them.

Molly's ear flicked when she heard Augustine walk out from the woods. She ignored him and focused on the two rogues wolves. She tried to regain her composture, but it was difficult. Nothing that Molly had heard today was good news. Despite it, she stood up straight from her fighting stance. "I've been informed that the machines are slow and are roughly three days away from here." She paused for a moment, "Where is the rest of your pack?"

Giving Kenny a look in response to his reprimand Nadine answered. "Who knows, I dont exactly keep track of them and when those machines appeared I just ran. Im surprised I even found Kenny."

"No fucking way," said Augy. "I had at least 2 days on those things. They can't be here!"

Mercie stayed at the mouth of the Den as Aaron assisted the pups with his meal. She'd raised her hackles the moment Nadiene raised her's and kept her eyes on both the new wolves. "I'd rather not give this place up without a fight." She told Aaron "But a hand full of wolves against something that can eat a forest doesn't bode very good odds."

Kenny was dancing on his feet slightly, swaying back and forth and staring around at the woods behind them; he'd obviously had quite a shock when those things had come. "Don't try. Others tried. Haven't seen them. Don't want to try. Just MOVE!"

Molly didn't like how rude these two were being. These two weren't very informative either. "You know, I was going to offer you a place to rest and maybe something to eat but I changed my mind. You're free to go." she said.

"Good... good" Kenny said, still swaying slightly on his paws as he looked around wildly at the scenery "We should go, run. Hide somewhere they can't find us. More rocks, less machines able to get through. You?" His head turned to gaze at Molly, his eyes slightly mad and rolling; it was obvious that he hadn't slept, hadn't eaten in a while either. He was terrified however, terrified enough to keep running even when offered food and shelter.

"Rocks?" Molly's ear flickered. "You think the humans are going to stop because of rocks?" She paused for a moment, not knowing the history of these two wolves. "I would rather die fighting then keep on running away. The humans aren't going to stop until every inch of his Earth is covered with concrete! What's the point in running if it's only going to keep you alive for one more day? It won't stop unless someone fights!" Her voice became loud. The puppies raised their heads from their meal to look at their Mother.

Tabor watched Molly, both in awe of her courage, and horrified at what she was suggesting. He watched her, looking a little distressed.

"We've gotta rip their throats out!" Augustine added. "How far off are they? How fast are they moving?" Like usual, Augy was eager for a blood bath.

"Dont know." Nadine said plainly. "It seemed like they were right on top of us the entire time. The sound they made was horrific and still echos in my head."

Mercie looked at the pups, Molly wanted to fight but these little guys couldn't do without an abundant food source and good shelter. Where would they go while the Wolves waged war on the humans? But if they didn't do something soon there wouldn't be any shelter or food.

Molly's eyelid twitched with frustration. There was a lot for her to think about right now....and at the moment, she wanted to take care of the easiest one, her hunger. Molly turned her back to the newbies and Augustine. She walked casually over to the deer carcass and ripped open the shoulder. Planting a sharp paw on the neck, she started to eat.

"We've got to hide" Kenny said, still pacing slightly but not actually moving very much any more "Always hide, run away, only peace we have. Same for you, I know it. Why else here? Why else hide in the woods?"

This guy was really getting on Augustine's nerves. His ears flattened and he snarled. "Wolves fucking live in the woods, dumbass! Now sit down and become coherent before I rip out a chunk of you!"

Arron moved aside as Molly made her way to the carcass. He looked at the newcomer with confusion. Kenny was much too nervous and it was agitating Arron. He sat down near the pups, waiting for the decision to be made.

Molly's ears perked a little and she swallowed. Lifting her head, but refusing to look at Augustine, she shouted "Do you mind keeping that language down?!" The last thing she wanted was him influencing her pups. Without waiting for a reply, she went back and tore roughly at the flesh of the deer. The pups had eaten to their full. Abigail ran over to Tabor and stood under his legs. The other two, Toby and Jude, went over by Lakota and Mercie.

"And they said we were rude." Nadine said as Molly began to eat infront of them and Augustine threatened Kenny. She didnt know what was these wolves problem, they acted like they are the royal court of the woods.

Augustine rolled his eyes at Molly then looked at Nadine with an intense look of annoyance. These wolves were useless.

Kenny growled slightly at Augustine "You act tough, act in charge. You don't smell here. Followed you. You ran, ran faster than we did. Ran past, ran to this lot. You're not in charge. You're a passing MU-" He paused, for once standing still, and gazed at the pups in the cave mouth "Must watch language. Pups." He turned his head slightly to Molly and bowed it for a moment "Congradulations. But you must wish to save your pups?"

"Listen, dog," Augustine said, getting up in Kenny's face. "You don't know shit about me."

Tabor had guessed Augy was an asshole, but damn, he was a huge asshole. He looked down at Abigail and sweetly nuzzled his snout on her side. He hoped the tensity of the situation wasn't upsetting the pups.

"Know enough" Kenny responded, not even scared, but slightly stirring on his legs again "You're big. Strong. Commanding. Easy to anger." Kenny was stirring a bit more, circling around Augustine slowly and staring at him "Also thoughtless. Inconsiderate and rude. New here, yet you speak for them. You have no place telling me what to do. Only the alpha does..." He scanned slightly and licked his lips, trying not to gaze at the meat "Who is the alpha?"

Augustine snarled, totally flabbergasted and enraged by this weird kid. "Are you asking me to kill you? I dunno, I'm pretty sure that's what you're doing!"

"Babies!" Tabor called all of a sudden, nudging Abigail towards the den. "Babies babies babies..." He shot Mercie a worried glance, hoping she'd help him collect the youngins.

"You wouldn't dare do that" Kenny said, circling Augustine slowly and sniffing at him "You're a stranger here, either that or you knew these before and then left for some reason. Either way you're on dangerous ground here. I'm scared, hungry, tired and I'm seeing things whenever I drop down asleep. What's your excuse?"

Arron stood, moving in front of where the others were, in between Augustine, the newcomers, and the pups. This was classic Augy, fight when they should be talking. Of course, the newcomer wasn't making it any better. "He would take a good chunk from you," he told Kenny. "You are on more dangerous ground. We at least know Augustine. You are more a stranger. So speak and stop threatening. If you stop, he will have no reason to continue, and if he does, we can more than handle him." Arron was trying to keep the peace. It was as if Augustine had never left.

Molly, in her current state, would do nothing if those two broke out into a bloodbath. Kenny and Nadine had disrespected her and she could care less about what happened to Augustine. Now with Arron between the two feuding wolves, she had to come to attention. "I will NOT be disrespected like this. If you two wish to fight, get the fuck off of my turf!" she shouted, her fur flaring up immediately. Blood from Molly's meal stained the fur around her mouth. "Something needs to be done about this menace and unless we get along and ban together, there will be no outcome for us other then death! If blood is going to be drawn right now, it's going to be my teeth on YOUR HIDE!"

Kenny bowed his head slightly to Molly, turning away from Augustine "I am sorry. Do not wish to cause trouble. Just wanted to pause, warn." Kenny raised his head and caught sight of the blood, licking his lips he disguised the grumble of his stomach as a cough and lowered his head again. "Told I have problem with authority. Sometimes misplaced..." he tried not to look at Augustine "are you the Alpha? Are these your pups?"

"Yes." Molly said to both questions. She kept her aggressive, dominant stance before Kenny. They were strange wolves, terrified and a bit off- but wolves nonetheless. "So long as you show respect- you eat last." Molly said plainly.

Augy would have snapped but upon Kenny's comment that he saw things, Augy began to consider if this pup's insolence was due to some mental condition. Then he considered killing the kid so he'd keep out of everyone's way. Arron stepped up, annoying Augy some more, then Molly... Augy curled his lip, annoyed and basically vanquished. He huffed angrily and sat down, glaring at Kenny menacingly.

"No. Thank you" Kenny nodded slightly and turned to look at the food, licking his chops but not moving towards it "Must get to somewhere safe. So should you. For pups, at very least. Get them safe, then do suicidal rampage you are so intent upon. Have no intention on causing you more grief and causing eventual fight." He turned slightly in a circle, then stared at Nadine, wondering what she would do.

Arron sat down, watching Kenny closely. He wasn't at all sure about this one. But the danger was obviously not him. He looked back at Molly. "Do you want to send runners to investigate?"

"Runners?" Nadine said in response to Arron's question. "You want to know if you should send runners?" she asked again with a little more irritation in her voice. "We ARE runners! We have been running for god knows how long. They are real, they are human driven, they are not stopping for anything, and they are heading. This. Way." she finished as she looked at the other wolves and then to Kenny, giving him a look as if saying that the others had to be deaf. She knew that her outburst would warrant a reaction from the group and she would be surprised if teeth werent bared, but she just couldnt hold her tongue anymore.

"I don't hear any machines," Augustine snapped. "I don't smell any machines. We don't know exactly how far off they are and you two are too brain damaged to give us any useful information. I volunteer to go sniff the machines out. Anyone coming with me?"

"I am not brain damaged you worthless of bag flea excrement!" Nadine snapped. Her temper finally got the best of her and she was ready. She had fallen down into attack position: teeth bared, hackles raised, the hair on her back fully raised and her legs primed and ready to charge or pounce on this degenerate of a wolf. "Maybe your to busy bugging out on roid rage to notice it all. I smell the oil and exhaust of the machines perfectly."

At this point, Augy couldn't even care enough to snap back at her. He looked at Molly, "Can you tell them to get the fuck out of here already?"

Molly couldn't really blame Nadine when she got pissed at Augustine. That was just what he did- piss people off. "I'm not sending any 'runners' to look at the machines. We know they are there and that they are coming. I'm not going to risk anyone's life to be sure of it and waste time." She told Arron and Augustine. Bringing her attention to Kenny and Nadine, Molly said, "I need to device a plan with my pack. If you two want to discuss what you are doing out here, that's fine. But if do you chose to continue running, I suggest you leave now."

Mercie felt more comfortable when Molly declared that she wanted to talk to the pack. All these voices where getting on her nerves and the pups where only a partial distraction.

When no one helped Tabor with the pups, he gave up. Besides, now that the threats had stopped, he assumed it'd be ok for the puppies to scurry around.

Augustine exhaled an annoyed snort when Molly shot down hisa idea. He gave Nadine and Kenny a threatening glare before he stood up and wlked over towards Molly.

Mercie wanted to say something about Auggy not being part of the pack but bit her lip considering that was Molly's do to.

Molly noticed Augustine closing in on her. What the fuck was he doing? Like hell she would let him in on their group meeting. She instead turned her back to him and gave her pack members a look to make sure he didn't follow them inside the den. She then shuffled her little ones in the den with her. Someone would also have to drag the carcass in the opening so the others didn't eat it before them.

Mercie bared her teeth and raised her hackals the moment she saw the look from molly. Auggy could probably kill her in seconds due to him overabundance in size, but she didn't care. Molly said no so that meant he wasn;t coming inside.

Augy stopped, lifting his paw in surprise when Molly blew him off then curling his lip in offense at Mercie.

Tabor helped herd the puppies and gave Augustine a rather smug look as he proudly followed his leader into the den.

"Hey, muscle head" Kenny said as he saw Augy's responce to Mercie "What do you mean stranger means? Means they don't want you in on their business." It was possibly suicidal, but so was Mercie's attempts to ward Augustine off.

"Looks like your about as wanted here as we are." Nadine said with a little huff as she looked around for a spot to lay down. She was tired from running and even though all her instincts were screaming to keep running she knew she would be unable to go much further.

Augy looked back at Kenny with an angry confused expression and then turned his head sharply towards Nadine. "Stop fucking talking to me," he warned both of them.

This wolf was an ass and Nadine intended to exploit the situation and exact a little verbal revenge. "You want us to shun and ignore you like the others did?" she asked innocently then looked over at Kenny. "It would be like ignoring a the buzzing of a mosquito but I think we can do it."

Kenny just moved over to Nadine, nuzzling in against her slightly as if comforting her; though which one needed it more he didn't know. He gave her cheek a lick and said softly "We can't let them stay here. Not with pups. Too dangerous, stupid. We've got to convince them."

Arron rolled his eyes and grabbed the carcass, dragging it along with him. He wasn't about to loose the meal to these ones.

Augustine turned at the two wolves, his hair on end. He knew coming back here would be stressful and all manner of painful, but he was willing to face that to save Molly and his kids. He was on the brink of falling apart and these two strangers wouldn't stop pestering him! "Do you speak English...?" he asked them in a quiet snarl, not wanting to alarm the wolves in the den. It was taking all his effort not to yell. "If either of you speak to me again, I'll give you another thing to run from, you understand? As for the puppies," his voice cracked with anger as he looked at Kenny. "They're mine. As long as I'm here, no one's gonna touch them, got it?" He clenched his teeth and turned back towards the den. He was so angry he was shaking. It was abundantly clear he would snap soon.

"He asked not to talk to him, right?" Kenny said softly, his own hair prickling slightly as he licked at Nadine's cheek again lightly, smoothing down her fur. He didn't want to get angry at Augustine, didn't want to cause trouble in another wolves camp, but the self rightous git was REALLY getting on everyone's nerves.

"Yea, but he didnt ask very nicely." Nadine said as she turned away from Augustine and laid down. "He's not any fun anyways."

Augustine ignored them and watched the den. If Molly decided to fight, she'd need him. If she decided to run, he was out of there... again. He didn't know which option he preferred. Coming back was turning out harder than he imagined.

Kenny paced for a moment beside Nadine, but in the end collapsed by her side slowly and nuzzled in against her, closing a pair of very tired eyes. "Do you think others escaped somewhere?" he asked her softly "We... we weren't the only ones right?"

"Im sure someone got away." Nadine said with a sigh and fake sincerity. She didnt believe that anyone else made it out, but she didnt want to tell Kenny that.

Molly walked to the deepest wall of the cave for some quiet moments. She bent her neck down and nuzzled her puppies who weren't even a year old yet. They were clueless to the terror that was going on around them as they jumped up and licked their mom's muzzle. She wanted to wait until Arron and Mercie were inside before she would begin to discuss anything. She looked up and Tabor and said, "You've been quiet."

"Uh... sorry?" said Tabor nervously. He didn't know what to say. Things were getting crazy and he felt horribly lost.

Molly walked up to Tabor and rubbed her forehead on his neck for a moment. She needed some sort of comfort- even if it was only for a few seconds. Poor Molly had a lot on her plate right now...especially with the little puppies. She couldn't just run into a battle when she had to take care of them. She sighed and moved away from Tabor just as quickly as she walked up to him. Sitting, Molly waited for the others and lost herself in thought.

Arron backed in, the carcass in between his teeth. He set it down nearby and looked over at Molly.

Mercie was smart enough not to turn her back on Auggy as she went deeper into the den, but she did keep her teeth bared till he began talking to the others. If he was still pack she'd never be so bold. She put her teeth away when she reached Molly and Tabor and gave both of them a frendly bump with her shoulder before laying down to hear what Molly had to say.

Molly sat and waited for the others to come closer. "What do you guys think?" She had her own ideas, but she wanted to hear from them before making a decision. "Do we fight or do we run?" Her little puppies started to wrestle with one another.

Tabor's eyes fluttered shut happily as Moll brushed against him, and then opened sadly when she walked off. As he watched her staring off, he began to feel guilty. All this time, he had been thinking about getting her ex out of there for more than selfish reasons. he hadn't considered how much pain she was in, and how well she was handling it. She was truly the strongest wolf there, Augustine included. She handled pain with such grace. Tabor couldn't help but be in awe of her. When she addressed the group, Tabor cleared his throat and said, "Earlier... you said the humans would keep coming. You said we have to fight."

"I did. But- is there anyone here who objects?" Molly looked from Tabor to Mercie and Arron. She was secretly hoping someone wouldn't want to go in the back of her mind. The issue of her puppies was weighing heavily on her mind. If someone wanted to not fight- they could watch over the puppies for her. But honestly- Molly knew that the others were strong and would follow her orders to fight. If she couldn't find anyone to watch over the pups- she would have to abandon them for her pack. Even though it would tear her apart from the inside out, she knew she had to.

Mercie pondered a moment before answering "You know how I feel about the pups... If you decide to go to war I'll do whatever you say, but not at the expense of the pups."

Arron looked at Molly. "You know I'll follow you." He sat down and stretched slightly. "And I agree with Mercie. Pups are too rare to put in danger right now."

Molly couldn't help but smile at how loyal her pack was. She really wouldn't have survived all of this without them. She looked over at Tabor, "What about you? Are you willing to retaliate with us?" Molly didn't say anything about the puppies yet.

Tabor initially hesitated but then made up his mind to seem tough. He put on a serious expression. "Yeah, I'm in," he said confidently.

"Alright-" Molly took a deep breath. "So it seems we have a few options with the puppies. If those two wolves Kenny and Nadine are going to run, I'm willing to leave the pups with them. If they fight or refuse, they are going to have to be left here...."

"We don't even know them." Mercie said "And I don't think Nadiene could even nurse them and they wont be taking meat for another three weeks." Mercie didn't want to let the pack down by not fighting for this place but she'd be damned if they just gave the pups to some stranger with no milk.

"I don't have much of a choice." Molly explained. She was finding it harder to put on a strong face as she spoke. "As I promised you all a year ago- if I were to ever have puppies and something like this happened... I would put my pack before them if necessary."

"But-" Tabor interjected."Why should we leave them here to die? Lots of us were abandoned or orphaned, but, we all were picked up by humans. Why not find a nice human family and leave them there?"

"A- a human family?" Molly repeated, having never thought of that. At first, she was skeptical, but the more she thought of her Mother and how much she loved her, the more she opened up to the idea. "We would have to be sure that they wouldn't hurt them." she added. "But when all this is said and done, I need to be sure that I can get them back."

"I don't like it." Mercie said "Sure my parents where human and they where grate but it would be like finding a needle in a haystack trying to find someone to trust them with."

"There's a small town not far from here," said Tabor, excited to be the one coming up with ideas. "And it shouldn't be too hard to find people who love puppies. Everybody loves puppies. I hung out there a little while, before I sniffed out you guys. They're nice people, really."

"But puppies not wolf puppies." Mercie said not exactly liking the idea "How do we know once they find out they are wolves, they won't drown them or something?"

"Who's to say they'll find out? It took my human family a year before they figured out what was going on with me," said Tabor.

"We could pose as human and offer them money to watch over the pups." Molly thought out loud. "Even if we try, it's better then leaving them in the den all alone."

Mercie had gotten used to being a wolf, dawning jeans and sneakers again made her feel uncomfortable, Not to mention having to talk to humans. "I hate town." She lowered her ears and laid her head on her paws, trying not to think of the last time she'd gone to town.

Tabor looked at Mercie, then Molly, his ears perked excitedly, wondering if his idea had saved the day.

"So it's settled then." Molly said before glancing at the den exit. "So what do you guys think of those two?" she asked, regarding Kenny and Nadine.

"They should learn to respect the territories of others." Mercie told Molly.

"And take some chill pills..." Tabor added.

"Well- if they chose to fight, it would probably be beneficial for all of us if we banded together." Molly paused and held a 'not too pleasant' expression on her face, "I'm afraid...Augustine might be included in that grouping too." She stood up and rustled her fur, "I just don't understand why the hell that bastard would come back to warn us."

"Maybe he's realized how hard it is for us on our own." Mercie said "And he thinks he can just saunter back in like it was nothing."

"I guarantee that won't happen." Molly told Mercie. "If he sincerely apologizes for leaving m-" she paused, "-his pack...I'll think about it. Maybe... probably not."

That seemed sufficient for Mercie she lowered her head again, signaling that she would continue to stand by any of Moll's decisions.

"Tabor, you know where that town is right? Can you take me and the puppies there tonight?" Molly asked, going over to her babies and nuzzling them with her nose.

"Yeah, sure," Tabor said, a bit distracted by her comment about letting her ex back in. "I remember a cute little family there. They'd probably love puppies."

"That's perfect. This might just work." Molly said, extremely relieved that there was a light at the end of the tunnel for her little ones. Even if their plan fell through and something happened to her or her pack during this next mission....her puppies would be safe. In human hands... but still safe. "Come on- let's go talk to the other two." Molly stepped out with her little ones right behind her. Stepping out into the sunlight, she went up to Kenny and Nadine. "Have you made a decision?"

Kenny nuzzled his head up against Nadine slightly, looking away "I want to run... keep on running and they'll never catch us. I'll find a different place to settle down." He couldn't speak for Nadine of course.

"The smart thing would be to run and get away from these things, but I have a feeling thats not going to be the case with you guys." Nadine said as a way of diverting the question. She hadnt fully decided what would be better.

"What have you decided?" Augustine asked Molly, not giving a hit what these kids did.

"We have to fight." Molly replied. "There really isn't anywhere else to go. The humans won't stop tearing forests down until there isn't anything left...in which case we would have to live undercover like before." she paused, "And I don't think any of us can go back to that life."

Nadine honestly didnt care whether she had to live as a wolf or a human. As long as she was alive and had food in her stomach it didnt bother her to wear the human skin.

"Not gonna live as a human" Kenny muttered almost to himself "But can't fight, not strong enough... Run, find new place in woods, start new family..."

"I think thats what they were trying to do here in the first place Kenny." Nadine said referring to the puppies.

Mercie dodn't feel the need to interject so she sat herself slightly behind Molly to distinguish who's side she was on. Obviously, she was a one trick wolf.

"And going to throw that all away. I wish you luck anyway" Kenny said, bobbing slightly in respect to Molly "What will happen to the puppies? You can't keep them here, even if you want to fight."

"We have a plan for them, don't worry." Molly said, appreciating that this stranger cared. "Unless of course your willing t- nevermind." If the puppies were in the hands of humans, they would probably be safer then in the woods.

Augustine's head perked up at Molly mentioning they had a plan for the puppies. "What are you gonna do?" He asked somewhat urgently. "What's the plan?"

"Now what would it matter to a rogue like you?" Molly asked in a somewhat bitchy tone.
The puppies clumsily ran up to the Kenny and Nadine and started sniffing at their ankles.

"H-hey there little things" Kenny chuckled, trying to grin at the puppies even though his tail and ears were almost totally flat. There had been puppies back at their old camp. Had they made it? They were so small... how fast can they run?

"Hey!" Augustine barked angrily. "They are mine!"

"No. They're Molly's," said Tabor boldly and out of the blue. He stood behind Molly with a sorta smug look. After all, he had just saved the day. He was feeling a bit cocky.

Molly puffed up her chest and barked right back. "You've never been there for them...they are NOT yours! How dare you even think that?!" She barred her teeth a bit, "Then again- maybe you leaving was the best thing for them. I'de never let someone like you raise MY puppies." Clearly she was still sour that Augustine just left without a word when she needed him the most.

Nadine didnt like puppies. She backed up a few steps, lifting her paws defensively every time one got near it. When she noticed that Kenny wasnt freaking out she gently pushed them over to him.

Mercie's hackals raised gradually as Molly's tone did. She was much more keen at the thought of accepting Nadiene and Kenny over Auggy.

Augustine was about to snarl at Tabor when he recoiled slightly from Molly's yelling. He tried to think up something bad ass to say, but truthfully, her comments stung quite a bit. "You're just... not gonna tell me anything?" he asked.

"You don't deserve to know anything." Mercie wasn't particularly vocal, especially around Auggy, but his abandonment of the pack and pups had really affected her.

"That and you probably won't like it." is all Molly said on the matter. She looked at Mercie and glanced back at Tabor and Arron for a moment. Molly loved her pack so much and would've been lost without them. Moving back to a casual stance, she spoke in a calm tone once more. "So you're going." She said, looking at Kenny briefly before looking at Nadine, "What about you?" she asked, secretly hoping that at least one of these wolves would stay and fight.

"Damn!" Nadine thought when it was turned back to her. Thankfully she had made some progress towards an answer. She wanted to run away with Kenny since it was the smart thing to do, but if their pack was dead then they would be left alone. If they stayed with this pack then they could use their resources and large number to keep safe and alive till another opportunity presented itself. "I think we should stay Kenny. Help them get back at those bastards that killed our friends."

"Get back at them by dying just like they did?" Kenny asked softly, licking slowly across the puppies soft fuzzed faces as he spoke "They're still brave because they haven't seen the machines... haven't seen what they can do to a wolf skull... I don't want to stay Nadine. I suppose I'm going on alone."

Nadine leaned in close to Kenny. "Dont leave me alone, we lost our entire pack I dont want to lose you too." She didnt like manipulating Kenny in this way, but she knew that it would most likely work.

Mercie listened to their exchange. She may not be fond of these two but she did understand the strategic advantage of having more wolves in the pack. If everyone could be civil with one another then maybe someone could do a little recon while Molly, Tabor and she found a temporary home for the pups.

Kenny let out a whimper, nuzzling a small pup's belly as it rolled onto it's back and batted at his face "B-but... you won't be alone. You'll have these wolves beside you. For a while... Why don't you come with me?"

As Kenny nuzzled Toby, Abigail and Jude chased one another around the legs of the standing adults. The little brown pup, Jude, wasn't looking where he was going and ran right into Augustine's hind leg. He yipped a bit and fell back ward. Abigail, the one with black fur, ran over and sniffed at her brother to make sure he was ok.

Augustine looked a bit freaked at the 'won't like it' remark. He shifted his weight awkwardly as his frustration grew. He didn't really pay attention to the conversation following. He just wanted to talk to Molly. He flinched when the puppy ran into him and looked down. He had no idea how to deal with the puppies, especially on an emotional level. To be honest, he felt panicked when they were around him.

Kenny wasnt making this easy for Nadine. "Well if not for our last pack then at least help them out so they stand a bit of a chance and wont end up like our dead comrades."

Kenny had no interest in making this easy for Nadine, but he also had no interest in being without one familiar face around... "Alright" he whispered softly "I'll stay... if they'll let me."

"Of course." Molly piped in. "There is food just inside the den. Please...help yourselves." She said with the best kind of smirk a wolf could muster.

"So who's staying behind while we go take the pups into town?" Mercie asked Molly.

"What?..." said Augustine, his fur rising. "What?! Molly, what did she just fucking say?!"

"Language!" The puppies couldn't speak or shift yet, but they knew when someone was mad. Abigail and Jude whimpered at Augustine and backed away from him. They figured the yelling was directed at them. Before Augustine even said anything, Molly knew that shit was going to fly. Glaring at Mercie for a second, she looked at Augustine. "It's the only way I can be sure they are safe! It's better then the alternative of leaving them in the den completely defenseless! At least if they are in a human town, I can have some piece of mind." At this point, she wasn't yelling but her voice was a bit louder then before.

Mercie lowered her head, visibly apologetic for letting her tongue slip.

"You're gonna turn our kids into fucking dogs?!" Augustine was clearly extremely upset. Dangerously so. "No! I'm not gonna let you!"

Tabor looked at Molly nervously. The last thing they needed to happen was anyone getting hurt.

"I said- watch your fucking mouth!" Molly growled. She hesitated, realizing that she too was now swearing in front of her pups. It made her even up upset that Augustine was already negatively influencing her. "I don't have any other choice, Augustine." Molly tried to calm herself, though her tone was still very irritated. "And I will get them back after this war is won."

"Stop trying to change what isn't yours to change" Kenny said softly but clearly, his words aimed at Augustine but not actually giving any indication. He yipped softly at the pups, trying to get their attention away from the argument; he was also trying to get Augustine's attention away from Molly, he couldn't let the mother get hurt, and he could see she was having trouble with Augustine.

The pups cowered away from Augustine as he growled at their mom. Their attention was stolen briefly to Kenny, but immediately went back to Augustine. Bravely, the little puppies started to bark from all the noise, directing their cries at Augustine.

"You lost your right to call them yours when you left us." Mercie said, again acting against her nature to shut up and let the big wolves handle it.

"Shut up!" Augustine barked at Kenny and Mercie. "I don't give a shit whether I have a right to them, you're not making them dogs!"

"Of course I'm not!" Molly stepped in front of Kenny and Mercie so that there was no one else between herself and Augustine. "It's only temporarily until the machines are defeated. They wouldn't be safer anywhere else but in a humans home! Unless you have a better suggestion, I've made my mind up!"

Mercie was distinctly displeased that Auggy thought he could order any of them aground. Her throat rumbled lightly behind Molly.

Kenny raised his head slightly so Augustine would be able to see him over Molly's back. He didn't think it was wise of Molly to step in front of Augustine; the wolf seemed violent and block headed, if he attacked Kenny would have to act quickly.

Nadine had started to grow nervous. The way this pack argued they would all be dead by the time they got anything done, this was starting to look like a bad idea. She started to dance alittle before she spoke. "Hey, how about we get this shit on the road! Let the lady take her pups to town so they wont be killed while we go and get rid of those tree-cutting things."

Augustine was to angry to think up a better suggestion. He was so pissed it was surprising he could form complete sentences. "You really think they're gonna be safe with humans? It's gonna be your fault when we find them in a dumpster behind some pound!"

This was making Tabor very anxious. He wanted the pups to be safe, and this moron was getting in the way of that. Plus, it had been his idea, so it offended him on a personal level. "Molly..." Tabor said. "Let's just ignore him. He's not going to understand."

"You're right... I know he's not." Molly said, keeping her eyes locked on Augustine. She turned away and motioned for the new wolves to follow. There was still meat left on the carcass that they were welcome to have.

Augustine had never felt so helpless. If he attacked, it would be him vs everyone. His rage coma wasn't deep enough for him not to realize how retarded that would be. Panic replaced his anger and he ran up beside Molly. "There's gotta be another way, right? I mean...." he looked around desperately, hoping some idea would walk up and introduce itself.

And Kenny did, walking up the other side of Molly and rolling his tongue slowly in his mouth as he thought "If we leave them with humans he might not fight... and he is obviously violent enough to be worth having in a fight. I am not a fighter, I am a runner. If I find somewhere safe, take the pups far from here, so they'll be with a wolf and not humans..."

"That thought occurred to me as well." Molly told Kenny. "I would be for it if it wasn't only temporarily. See- if something happens to myself or my pack...the machines are probably going to keep moving. There won't be anywhere for you to run. As dogs, they will be untouchable." She headed back towards the den. Even though this was excruciatingly difficult for Molly, she kept a calm exterior. The subject was a sensitive one and she already made her choice, Molly didn't want to talk about it anymore. "Augustine, I would rather them not live in a human home either...but with this situation, there isn't much of a choice." It seemed that even though he wasn't there for the puppies, he cared...even just a little bit. Molly accepted that fact even if she was still mad at him.

Nadine walked behind them she could smell the carcass as she grew closer and her hunger began to overpower her anxiety. She couldnt remember when she had eaten last as thinking back just produced thoughts of running, ducking, and death.

"Molly-" Augustine cut off and looked around at all the annoying brats. He wanted to talk to her without them interrupting for once. "Can we talk? Alone?"

Molly glanced at him, "Sure." She looked back to Mercie and Tabor, "Make sure those two are comfortable." Molly said referring to Nadine and Kenny. "Don't worry, we'll be right back." Turning, she followed Augustine towards the treeline. Her clueless little puppies followed behind.

Mercie nodded to Molly "Yip if you need us." Her face was full of concern for Molly and she didn't like the idea of her being alone with Auggy.

Augy wanted for them to be just out of earshot. He wasn't going to attack her, but he predicted there'd be yelling, and he didn't want the pack rushing out to the rescue. He was very uncomfortable with the pups there. "You should send them back..." he said, glancing at the pups every now and then as he walked.

Tabor looked tense as Molly walked away. "Maybe..." he said quietly to Mercie. "One of us should go spy on them. Just in case, you know?"

Too deep in thought, Molly hadn't even realized that the little ones were behind her. She turned around and nudged them to go back to the den. "Go on..." Molly encouraged. The clueless pups, listened to their mother and ran back towards the den were they saw Tabor and Mercie. Tripping over his own feet, Toby did a barrel roll and yipped a bit. But he was soon back up and running with his brother and sister. The other wolves could only guess what was going to happen next in Molly and Augustine's little chat.

"Maaaaybe" Kenny said slowly, not wanting to get people angry at the new guy "someone should watch them? Just to make sure they stay all polite. Right?" He glanced around at everyone who was left there.

"Molly wouldn't be alpha if she couldn't take care of herself." Mercie told them "She'll call if she needs us." She truly felt that their advice was worth taking, but molly wanted privacy with Auggy and Mercie wouldn't go against her orders.

Tabor frowned and sat down, looking out towards the forest. He really wanted to know what was up. He was tempted to spy anyway, but he was such a stickler for doing what he was told. He was too anxious to just sit there, waiting in silence though. "So, uh, how did Molly get together with that guy?" The two seemed like total opposites. That, and he couldn't comprehend how anyone could find such a huge jackass attractive. He had wanted to ask about Molly's ex before, but it had been too awkward.

"Apparently so" Kenny mumbled as he moved past towards the den; if he was being made to stay here then he would at least eat some food before they all died. He smelt death, but his wolf nose was too strong to ignore the fact it was meat; he bent down at once and began to eat.

"He's from before." Was all Mercie said. Her tone denoted that she meant the time before they ran across Tabor and found this place. They never really talked much about it, especially Mercie. And Garth's death had been attributed to that time and memories too hard for Mercie to recall.

Nadine followed Kenny's actions and dove into the corpse. It wasnt the best she had since since it had cooled over time and gained the "old kill" taste, but she was so hungry she decided that it wasnt enough to complain about...especially since she hadnt worked for it.

"Yeah... I figured..." said Tabor. That had answered absolutely nothing. He knew there had to be a guy involved in the baby making process, so he figured it out long ago that there was some guy missing in the equation. Plus, there was everyone's reluctance to discuss the pup's father... He had heard the name Augustine tossed around before, but he had never heard anything substantial about him. Considering the recent events, he felt he had an excuse to satisfy his curiosity.

Molly came out from the tree line and headed for the den. Pissed off at how stupid Augustine was being, she didn't say anything immediately to the group. It was already dusk and Molly wanted to get the pups to safety as soon as possible. Walking in, she headed over to her sleeping spot and sat. "How far is this town again, Tabor? Should we go tonight?"

"Like 15 miles. I mean, we could go in the dark, I guess," answered Tabor.

"Then again...perhaps it would be better to leave early tomorrow morning. Everyone will be turning in if we leave now." Molly thought out loud. The pups ran over to her and nuzzled her legs. She leaned down and licked their cheeks, bonding with her little ones for a while.

"Who's staying behind?" Mercie asked, her ears pricking in Molly's direction.

"You." Molly said flat out as if that was her plan the entire time. She nuzzled her pups with her nose before she started to clean each of their fur with her tongue. They needed to look nice for the humans.

Mercie's eyes became rather large and she immediately moved closer to Molly so they could speak slightly more privately "Your not serious?" it was one of the few occasions where Mercie questioned Molly's judgment.

Laying down to better clean the puppies, she looked up at her. "Mercie, I know you can handle it." Molly told her, figuring she felt a bit insecure. "You've proven yourself on several occasions." She didn't want to get into specifics at the moment.

"Yeah, as Omega." Mercie reminded Molly "O-me-ga, means submissive. None of these guys are going to listen to me."

"Not with that attitude they won't. Besides you are the one who gave yourself that title. You've grown ten-fold since then, Mercie." Molly explained truthfully. "Not to mention, I wouldn't trust anyone else to hold down the fort." she said metaphorically.

"I did not!" Mercie rebutted but found no argument after Molly's comment about her growth. She'd been knocked down the social ladder because all the other wolves where more dominant than she, but hearing how much Molly trusted her caused Mercie to rethink the ordeal "You really think that?"

"Of course I do. I can't believe you haven't realized it yet." Molly said finally.

Mercie was quiet for a moment, her eyes affixed to the pups, lolling and wallering their mother affectionately. Tabor knew the way into town and everyone else wasn't pack. Mercie was the only one Molly could trust to keep everyone together till they got back. "What are your orders?"

"Just make sure everyone gets along. Maybe get some food with them since you know the area more. If there is time, try to think of a plan. Maybe those two can tell you some more about the machines?" Molly told Mercie, putting her attention back to the little ones. "From the sound of it, we don't have much time to prepare."

"I'll do my best." Mercie told Molly and from their experience together Molly would know that when those words came from Mercie, she would indeed try her damnedest.

Molly shifted into her human self equipped with her yellow sweater and khaki capris. Her hair was a short orange cut and fluffed up slightly. If the puppies were to stay with humans for a while, they should get used to how they look. The little ones jumped back before slowly creeping towards the mother, sniffing like mad. "Guys, could you?" she asked the others before she noticed Kenny and Nadine still eating, "Well... wait until you're done."

"You want us to come with you?" Nadine asked after swallowing her mouthful. "I mean, I know the town pretty well and, as long as we dont hit any "athorative" figures I should be ok." she said slightly confused by Molly.

"Oh I meant could you shift for me? I need to get them used to seeing humans." Molly explained.

"U-uh... ok" Kenny mumbled, turning away from the carcass and shifting back slowly; he hadn't turned human in a while. When he was finished the 5'10" 19 year old stood in front of her, rubbing his arm firmly through a black basketball shirt that looked like it had been worn so long it had faded to almost see through. He wore slim jeans, tight around his legs which exposed the wirey thin muscle there; he could have been a runner if it wasn't for the thin cardboard like shoes that he wore, tied up with string. "I... I have not" his voice was much more tired in this form, as if just being human wore him out "changed my clothes much... since I joined my first pack. I am sorry I am not... presentable." His green eyes flicked between Molly and the floor, trying very slowly to pick the leaves and branches from his hair now that he had opposable thumbs.

"Presentable? Hun, don't worry about it." Molly started to pet Abigail and Jude much like any human would. They were a little confused at first but warmed up quickly to the opposable thumbs that could scratch behind their ears. Toby's ears perked up when he saw another "human" in the den. He promptly ran over to Kenny and sniffed his ankles.

Tabor was excited to be human again. He had missed climbing trees and doing cartwheels. Both actions had resulted in injury in wolf form. He turned human, stretched and then flinched at the bangs in his face. His hair had gotten extremely shaggy.

Mercie shifted while remaining seated. She was a slightly underdeveloped 16 year old, with hair and eyes the same steel gray as her furry coat. By her diminutive size it was easy to tell why her wolf was so much smaller than everyone else. Her attire consisted only of a tattered yellow t-shirt, tremendously faded and worn blue jeans and a pair of sneakers that looked as if they'd seen much better times.

Molly smiled at their human forms, "Thanks everyone." The male pups were scattered all around the den, exploring these new creatures that smelled like familiar wolves. Abigail chomped down onto Molly's sweater and tugged at it. "Ah-ah! No." Molly tapped her little one's nose. They couldn't behave like that with a real human family.

Nadine watched the others switch and, with a sigh, she switched as well. She was a very odd sight wearing a black tanktop with red and black plaid skirt, torn fishnet stockings, and really worn combat boots with no laces. Her face had a good amount of make-up on it from eyeliner and eyeshadow to lipstick. Her ears had a number of pierces that went well with the ones on her face. Her hair stood out the most as the right side of her head was completely shaved and the other half had hair down to her chin that was dyed black with a red streak running down the front. When she completed her transformation she reached to her neck and adjusted the dog tags that hung around her neck.

It wasn't common to be human in their old clan, so even Kenny was surprised when Nadine turned into... that. He just gave a nervous smile, looking down at his feet at the pupies sniffing around them and trying not to move in case he stood on someone. "F-feels wierd" Kenny muttered as he shuffled his cardboard shoes away from a puppy trying to take the laces out "Being this tall. Probably get used to it.. soon."

Augustine returned from his solo hunt. He had caught some sort of grouse and there were still a few feathers stuck in his fur. When he walked into the den he froze, shocked to see humans, but then he recognized Molly. "What are you guys doing?!" he asked.

"The pups need to get used to being around humans." Molly explained, not taking a second glance at Augustine. She was still quite pissed off at him. Little Abigail moved away from her mother and ran up to Tabor, sniffing away.

"Hey there pup!" Tabor said, bending down to pet Abigail's head. He had missed tummy rubs and ear scratchies.

The sight of some human petting his kid made Augustine's stomach turn. He looked around at everyone, feeling extremely uncomfortable that he had to look up. He exhaled angrily and shifted into a human as well. He was wearing his usual get up. His torn tight black jeans, faded black wife beater, heavy combat boots and leather jacket. It was debatable which version of him was scarier, the human or the wolf.

"Wow" Kenny said, giving Augustine the once over "That is... exactly what I envisioned you wearing." Other than that he made no comment, pulling his foot away as he felt claws trying to undo his shoes.

Now that the sun had set, it was getting quite cold outside. Thankfully the den was nice and cozy from everyone's body heat and the natural stone insulation. Moving some leaves aside, Molly adjusted in her usual sleeping spot as she watched the pups play around with the 'humans'. She really hoped her and Tabor could find a nice home for the pups temporarily.

Mercie snatched up one of the boys, noting how it had made Auggy flinch. She tasseled his fur and turned him on his back so she could scratch his tummy so his leg twitched.

Even in human form Nadine kept her aversion to the puppies. When one wondered in her direction she would either throw a stick away from her to get him to chase it or gently redirect it. She figured this was more acurate on the way the humans would treat the puppies.

ROA Chapter: Nine

Back to: Run As One
The pack members...

2010-01-31 [Synirria]: *Sticks tongue out and dances around Chel* Hehe

2010-01-31 [Ravenclaw]: It's not completely inconceivable, but generally wolves won't leave a kill untended or move it to a different location. Now if we where playing tigers it would be normal behavior to bury it or jungle cats, to move it/ leave it up a tree, but wolves don't do that. While we're dealing with Auggy can't we just assume that they are guarding the kill?`

2010-01-31 [Chel.]: But these are super intelligent wolves, remember? Just post, Miss Nat Geo... :P

2010-02-01 [Ravenclaw]: Sorry, my animal totem is the raven, a companion of the wolf. There are even documented cases of ravens playing with wolf cubs outside dens.

2010-02-01 [Chel.]: Oh great....we brought out Ms. History Channel too...

2010-02-01 [Ravenclaw]: Excuse me if I know a lot of shit about animals. It's not like I don't play a wolf, an Indian chick who can turn into animals, feral mutants and a 7th level D&D druid. Animals are my thing!

2010-02-01 [Chel.]: Ah.. so you like to do it like they do on the Discovery channel?

2010-02-01 [Ravenclaw]: *sighs at pop culture referance*

2010-02-01 [Chel.]: I got a million of 'em

2010-02-01 [Ravenclaw]: *epic fail*

2010-02-01 [Chel.]: .......:(

2010-02-01 [Ravenclaw]: 733t >P

2010-02-02 [Ravenclaw]: Mercie's head lowered again and she growled when Auggy stepped forward. Molly hadn't told him that he was welcome yet and that meant no matter how big he was Mercie wasn't letting him near the pups.

2010-02-03 [Chel.]: about this size: <img:http://www.outsetmedia.com/images-for-website/puzzles/cobblehill/canadiangeographic/5000-wolf-L.gif>

2010-02-03 [NOOOPE]: D'awww

2010-02-03 [Ravenclaw]: *has a spastic fit brought on by cuteness*

2010-02-04 [NOOOPE]: Ok, soooo, chel, you need to tell me on aim exactly what's happening so augy can explain.

2010-02-04 [Ravenclaw]: Watch Ferngully, same difference I think lol.

2010-02-04 [Chel.]: HEY! How dare you mock where all my inspiration comes from!? XD

2010-02-04 [Ravenclaw]: *reads an open book called: Chel*

2010-02-04 [Chel.]: I'M NOT PREDICTABLE!

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Run As One: Chapter Eight

ROA Chapter: Nine

Run As One:
Chapter Eight