I walk a lonley road....

Angie watched Raven for any sign of alarm, but none came. They traipsed through the brush and came upon a pool of water headed by a small, bubbling waterfall. Tiny fish scattered as Angie plunged her paws into the silty depths, cooling the hotness of the desert sand they had traveled on. She turned to her companion. "Now what?" she asked. Raven knew more of Tyrone than she did. Angie could also smell the pigs, their sweet scent rising above the dusty earth. She flicked her tail, impatient since they had been moving so much and everything that had happened in the past few days, but Raven was the one leading them this time.

Angie swallowed. Raven wanted her to just... run? After all that she had helped her through? She swallowed some of the water and raised her head, her yellow eyes as hot as the desert sands. "No," she said, closing the distance between them, her eyes locked with Raven's. "I'm not going to let him catch you, and I'm not going to run away if he does. I'm going to fight him. I think the one thing you have yet to learn about me is that I don't give up, no matter what the situation. I've had brutes come onto me before, and you'll find that they turn into weak whelps when you take a snap at their balls. And you know what? This is my problem too. He's the father I never had, and if things with Aku-Aku work out, you can bet that I have plenty of questions to ask him. We're in this together now." She stood still, letting her words sink in. She was tense; no matter what, she wasn't going to turn away this time. She had ran away when things were unbearable, but right now was not the time. It was as if destiny had been calling her all along - she couldn't just turn tail and run from something that would be begging for her presence forever.

She had raised her voice, but until her message was clear, the hunt was on hold in Angie's mind. There were plenty of creatures in the oasis, but there were only so many hours in the day where they'd be able to talk without interruption. She held her tail taller, ears alert, and was ready for some sort of retort from her friend. Raven was older than her, but not by much. She wouldn't be treated like a pup, especially if she wasn't even Raven's blood-daughter. Angie had learned the hard ways in life, and wasn't afraid of the next challenge.

Raven's calmness at the end of her proclamation surprised her. She had half expected the fem to not tolerate her foul mouth, as many others had done. But Angie took it to heart when Raven said that she didn't want her to go through the same thing she had, and Angie could respect that. She tipped her dial in response to hunting, her stomach growling. Angie fled to the left and slunk low beneath the little brush that there was; there wouldn't be much of a sneak attack, what with the shifting winds and minuscule cover. Raven charged the family of pigs towards her and Angie had a split second to dodge a male's sharp tusks, wanting to dig into her side and gore her guts out. She instead jumped and sunk her teeth into the large sow, jaws crunching around her backbone and making her stagger to the ground in an instant.

The wild boar shrieked and the others charged back at her, as pigs were known to do, but Angie turned her head, one paw pinning the sow down, snarling with the ferocity of a bear, teeth dripping with blood, tri-hued fur standing on end so that she looked much larger than she actually was. Raven surged beside her with her appearance, and the family turned heel now, squealing in fright. Angie turned back to the sow and snapped her fangs near her ear, clipping her head down, and then biting into her neck and ripping her jugular out, killing her instantly. Crimson stained Angie's jaws and paws, but it was all over now.

"I don't know about you, but I'm starving," Angie said, moving aside for Raven to join her. She took the initiave and ripped off a hunk of meat from the pig's shoulder muscle, the fat melting in her mouth and the meat as juicy as ever, further quenching her thirst from their hot desert run. She knew that in a few hours, though, that Raven would send up her call, and then things would really begin. Angie would have to stock up all of her energy until that time came.

Angie's tail wagged at Raven's comment. "Thanks," she replied in between bites. "She was easier to take down than I thought. I don't know if you've ever hunted pig before, but they tend to be fighters, especially ones in the desert. Maybe it's a sign." Angie continued to dig into the meal until her belly was warm and her thirst quenched, and was enough to give her all of the energy she needed without being lethargic. Seeing Raven finish, Angie turned and dug deep into the sand underneath a flowering bush, making a cache for them. There was still plenty of the pig to go around, and while little lizards and things could eat off the carcass, neither of them knew how long they would be there. They were crunched for time, yes, but just because Raven sent up her call tonight, didn't mean that Tyrone would come running. He could come at any time, really. They wouldn't want to miss him if they were hunting. Angie pulled the leg of the pig, the juices dripping into her mouth, and she dropped it into the hole. She covered it up with the sand that she had dug out, promptly covering it with her paws and allowing her scent to seep into the sand.

She walked back over to Raven and laid down in the shade, her lithe form bedded on the soft sand. She glanced at the horizon, where the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky orange. The time that Raven would call would come soon; she knew that she needed to be ready as soon as that happened, but for now, she also knew she needed rest. For all they knew, they could either be here for many more hours, or ten minutes. Raven was looking into the west as if it were her last day on earth. "So tell me, then, Raven... What was he like? What was... my father... like?" she asked, curious. All she had heard of Tyrone so far was the evil soul that plagued him, and that Raven had indeed loved him, but she had no idea what sort of character he was. She wondered if they were anything alike, even...

.:..:..:..:..:.

The storm came out of nowhere. Giant, menacing gales of sand stung his eyes and invaded his lungs, but the large brute pressed on, his path set. "Dammit," Umbulali cursed, his big paws sinking into the rising piles of sands, traversing the dunes and at agonizingly slow pace. He didn't bother to look behind him to see if Shayde was following at this point; though interesting, he didn't care what the fem did, because there was another kill to be made. Killing Lenzelle had given him the first taste of blood in years and slaughtering Darrel had given him the rush to kill, and he couldn't wait to do it again. There was something about the sheer power of it all that gave him a tremendous high, and it was also the need to curb that that kept him on track.

Where would he go first? He closed his eyes, walking through the storm, and looked into the depths of himself. "Tyrone. Tyroooonnnneee..." he called through the darkness. Beckoned, a broken and bloody form came shambling towards him, about as small and weak as whelp. Umbulali chuckled, the pathetic thing not even reaching his knees. He flipped it over onto its back with his paw. "Good to see you again, Tyrone. Now. Before you disappear into everlasting darkness, can you tell your good friend Umbulali where you think Raven would be?" he asked the pup in a sickeningly sweet tone.

The pup coughed in reply. Umbulali knelt down next to him, an ear perked. "What was that, rat-face? You're going to have to talk louder for Umbulali to hear you..." The whelp rolled over and picked himself up, his legs like sticks beneath him, his skin hanging off his bones. "...I said... as far... away... from you as... she can," the little Tyrone replied, his deep vocals stolen away from him and replaced with a whelp's as well. Anger betrayed Umbulali's features and he snarled, his paw slashing Tyrone's belly and sending him sliding across the invisible, black floor. "You will tell me where she is, boy! You will tell me, or I will scour the earth until her bones crunch in my jaws and her blood runs into my belly!"

"Never..." Tyrone croaked, and Umbulali jumped over, picked him up by the scruff, tossed him in the air, caught him with his mouth, and brought his teeth down upon him, gnashing him into meaty bits. Tyrone whimpered and screamed as the teeth pierced right through him, but his bones did not break, as his soul was not a physical thing to be broken. Beaten, and now even more bloody, Umbulali spat him out with a violent retch. Dripping in Umbulali's venom, Tyrone couldn't even move. Umbulali slunk up to him, a whisper in his ear. "Tell me now, Tyrone... Where is she?" he cooed, licking the whelp. Tyrone moaned, feeling his body slip into darkness once again. He never wanted to give in to Umbulali, but he knew it was a losing battle. The most he could do was protect Raven with what little strength he had. "Tell me where she is, and I will let you go."

The offer was tempting. Very tempting. But Tyrone knew that if what Umbulali said was true - which he doubted, being the trickster he was - that he would only be released after Raven was dead. There was no point in living if Raven was dead, and by his very own jaws. He thought of the first time he had seen the beautiful fem... Walking through the desert, the sun glimmering on her purplish-black form, slender as a crane, yet strong as a bull... Their first meeting had been so long ago, and so much had happened, and somehow, along the way, he had wanted to know more about Raven than just her sex. It was a miraculous thing for them, really, especially in the middle of the desert. It was then that he realized his own thoughts, and tried to banish them from his mind as he felt Umbulali turn and leave him. The monster could read his thoughts, however vague...

"Well then," Umbulali said aloud, turning in the direction of the sandstorm, discovering a new course. "The oasis, is it? How romantic. And ironic." It would be the first place Raven had met Tyrone, and it would also be the last. He knew that without Raven in the picture, Tyrone would be completely gone, and then he would have full reign over the body in which he walked...

The description of the wolf Raven knew was... different. Angie didn't know what she had been expecting, but it was enough to give her an idea of what he was like. "Reminds me of a bru I knew growing up," she said, thinking back before the days that each wolf had been thrown into war. It wasn't her brother, but she remember that it had felt like it. "He's dead now. But he made the days brighter when they seemed so dark." There wasn't much to say on the matter, and yet for some reason, it tugged on her heartstrings and she felt tears well in her eyes. It was a silly thing to cry over. She wiped her face with a paw and instead looked up at the moon rising in the east. Raven tilted her head up and sang a most beautiful song, one that made tears come to her eyes again, but this time, she held them back.

She stood up. "Where should we go? Should we hide? Do we want to ambush him or something?" she asked, looking around the area. There would be scant a place for them to hide. From what Raven described, Tyrone was a big fellow, and tackling him head-on didn't seem like a good idea. Maybe if they were to use a little strategy, they would be able to capture him without much of a fight... Though, a fight certainly was expected.

Angie nodded, turning away as Raven left her scent for Tyrone to follow. Looking westward, she could see large swaths of sand tossed in the air and spun about, like a tornado of sorts, but less refined. "Raven..." she said with a bit of height in her voice. "We might have to come up with a different strategy. It looks like a sandstorm's on the way." The sand had already begun to swirl around her paws, the wind picking up and rustling her tri-hued fur. Even the moon had a copper tint to its silvery glow. The sandstorm would not only toss them about with getting back to the doctor, but Angie had no doubt that it would cover up any scent or tracks they were to leave behind for Tyrone to follow.


.:..:..:..:..:.

Something musical floated above his head. Umbulali chuckled, recognizing it immediately. "Do you hear that, Tyrone?" he said to the captured soul within himself. "That's your Raven, calling your name. She thinks you're the one coming to her. She doesn't know how wrong she is. Isn't that hilarious? I think so. Of course I think so." His pace quickened through the rising dunes of sand. He didn't let the storm slow him down. It wasn't long until he found the edge and broke out of the swirling chaos, emerging on a plane where there hung a harvest moon and a darkened sky.

The first thing Umbulali did was lick his nose and raise it to the air. He inhaled deeply, mostly the dry air, but... Oh yes, Raven was there. And someone else, too, that he couldn't quite put a paw on. She smelled familiar, and yet... Well, whatever the case, she would be his as well. It was just a matter of time before he reached them. Running as if he had all of the energy in the world, Umbulali bounded over the desert sand, his form like that of a charging bear's, slowing down for nothing until he killed.

There. He could see them. Just on the horizon, hidden by the copper glow of the moon. He was coming downwind of them, his scent cloaked by the sandstorm, and it was... perfect. Absolutely perfect. Umbulali couldn't have asked for a better kill.

His large paws were silent on the sand. He closed his mouth to avoid making any noise at all, and put on a burst of speed, spying the other fem that was with Raven. She looked like a mighty prize to king as well. He grinned to himself, orange eyes red and wild, and jumped at her. Angie had but a split second to see the shadow behind her and she dodged away as the heavy form hit the earth, causing a small wave of sand to fly in her direction. "Good to see you've made it," she quipped in a snarl, her tail raised and everything about her ready to fight. Umbulali chuckled, bass vocals rolling. "I don't know who you are, but if you're looking for a fight, it's already over," he said, and lunged at her again.

Angie, as quick as a whip, dodged out of the way again. Though she was of the same blood as the brute before her, she didn't carry his heavier, slower form. She was ready to run at first moment's notice, but in the mean time, she didn't plan on giving Umbulali any bit of leeway. The sandstorm was coming upon them now, and if Raven didn't decide now what they would do, she could bet that none of it would end pretty.

Something knocked him away from his target. Umbulali stumbled and tripped in the sand, the storm catching up with them. He stood and shook his head to find a sharp, cobalt gaze piercing through him. The wind drifted in his favor and he recognized it instantly - Raven. A wicked smile broke out over his leathers. It was as if she had lead him here, and for what? She had been calling him to her death. It was too perfect. She stood between him and the younger fae, as if she were some kind of warrior. "There you are, my sweet Raven," he said with a dark chuckle, his eyes red with bloodlust. "I have been looking all over this desert for you, and now, I have found you. Along with a little present. How kind of you to bring her to me, as well. Now, come with me. We were going to own the world together, remember?" He could see her snarl, vicious and ready to strike him if he placed a paw out of line. So he stood still, his form relaxing and his tassel swaying. He kept an eye trained on the young fem behind her in case she decided to attack him. He could take both of them down, he knew it...

Umbulali's sinister grin did not fade. "Yes... Yes, you're right, Raven," he said slowly, taking a step towards her, his heavy form swaying, though he knew she was likely to lash out. "I'm not the wolf you were to court. And yet, we did court, remember? In that tunnel on the way out of the basin. I had you beneath me... And I will have you beneath me again!" With a vicious snarl he attacked, throwing his heavy, colossal body at hers, talons outstretched and fangs bared. He knew that he had a chance of being off-target because of the sandstorm, but he did not doubt that he would be able to make it.

Angie stood behind Raven, fear rippling through her, her paws itching to run away. But no. She couldn't keep running away from everything, especially now, when Raven may need her. She saw the big wolf leap at Raven and she surged forward to Raven's aid, in case she needed it...

Fuck. He missed. Umbulali's large paws sank into the sand, absorbing his weight, his tail raised tall against the fierce desert wind. His claws were speckled red and he licked the blood from his teeth, catching only a glancing blow off her shoulder"I will have you!" he snarled, swinging his body around, avoiding her bite. She danced around him and he aimed for another lunge, when something solid collided with his hindquarters and made him stumble. His gaze turned upon the young wolf, Angie, and he curled his lips. "You little bitch," he growled, and lunged at her, but she skittered backwards and out of the way. Suddenly, instead of charging at him again, Angie bolted past him. Confused, Umbulali swung his head around to find that Raven was running through the desert, with Angie tailing close behind. He raised his head to the sky and released a frustrated howl, and then sprinted after them. He would not lose them, he would not.

Angie's legs pulsed beneath her, catching up so that she was at Raven's side. "It shouldn't be much farther," she said, raising her golden gaze to the mountain in the distance. The storm was clearing up and she could see the night sky, just as dark and speckled with stars as it had been the night before. "We can do this, we're faster than him. C'mon!" Angie put on another burst of speed. She didn't know what Aku-Aku had planned to take the wolf chasing them down, but hopefully, it would work. Otherwise, they were all doomed.

And then, they were out of the storm, and Angie could see the plateau ahead. She glanced over her shoulder to see Raven not far behind, her legs a powerhouse beneath her, but blood streamed from her shoulder and hit the sands, leaving a clear trail for their hunter. He was still in the winds of the sandstorm, but Angie could see his eyes, bright and red with bloodlust. Fear pulsated in Angie's throat, but she turned her gaze ahead. Soon enough, she reached the rocky face of the mountain. "Aku-Aku! Where are you?" she barked, her eyes wide as Raven caught up with her, and Umbulali bursting out of the sandstorm. With Raven hurt and bleeding, Angie stepped in front of her, determined to protect her from whatever charge Umbulali would throw at her. She raised her tail and lowered her body, ready to pounce whenever he did, her ears pinned.

Umbulali grinned. He didn't know why they had stopped at the mountain, but if they thought it would protect them, they were very wrong. It was as if he had run them into a dead end. The scent of Raven's blood flooded his nares and he licked his lips, ready to taste her, when he found a pair of hot yellow eyes burning into his. Oh yes, the young female. He could take her as well. Umbulali sprang and Angie met him mid-air, her jaws finding the underside of his neck as he crashed down on top of her into the soft sands. He snarled and went for her head, forcing her to release her hold, and she struggled beneath him, her hind legs kicking at his stomach. She was fierce, his teeth clipping the side of her face, but her own teeth nipped him as well. Angie wouldn't go down without a fight, even if this fight was against a brute of her own blood.

Kill, kill, kill. These were the words running through Umbulali's mind, placing a heavy paw on Angie's chest, keeping her still. Angie coughed but didn't stop biting him, but he knew that she would have to give up soon to breathe... The sand could only sink her down so much. He raised his head, ready to deliver a deadly blow, when something heavy collided with his neck. He snarled in response as stars popped in front of his crimson eyes, turned red with bloodlust, and as he turned to face Raven, Angie's paws were underneath him, tossing him over and freeing herself. Umbulali fell, Raven's fangs crushing his neck; he could feel blood vessels pop and skin break, and soon enough, the world before him went black.

Angie flipped over onto her stomach, pushing herself up, an ugly cut dripping with blood on her left cheek, just shy of her eye. She was ready to charge in when she saw Raven standing over their enemy's body - Umbulali was still, but breathing... He was passed out. "Don't kill him!" she shouted, running forward, stumbling at first, but was able to get over to her. "We can still save him..."

"I hope for the both of us that I'm right," Angie said, standing over the unconscious body. She looked over her shoulder at the mountain, the full moon cusping the edge. From there, she could see a tiny, fox-like silhouette. "C'mon. Aku-Aku's waiting. He probably has all the supplies up there. We should drag Tyrone's body up, but we'll have to be careful... He's injured, afterall. And I know zilch when it comes to healing," she said, placing her jaws around a chunk of flesh between Tyrone's shoulders, lifting with what remaining strength she had. It was clear that she was exhausted, but she knew that she couldn't rest. Who knew when Tyrone would wake up? She looked to Raven expectantly. She couldn't do this alone...

Umbulali stumbled in the darkness, blood gushing from his neck, his body now littered with scars. He coughed, spitting up blood and old meat, snarling along the way. When he looked up, he found a pair of orange eyes burning into his; slits of hatred. "Now, don't look at me like that, Tyrone. So you got a boo-boo. Would you like your dear mother to kiss it for you?" Umbulali cackled. Tyrone's only response was an audible one - a low, treacherous growl. Umbulali frowned. It was then that he realized that somehow, Tyrone was the same size as him... He was no longer a tiny whelp capable of fitting into his jaws. He raised his head, ready for yet another fight. "Now, this will not do..."