"We need to go, now." Kiri landed hard, his claws digging into his mind.

D'vala scoffs, "Good luck with that. They're determined."

Kiri settled himself back into his body, his people gathered around him. "Have you explained what's going on?"

"Noooo, why would I do that. Do you think I'm an idiot?"

"D'vala! Please, don't tease. Not like this." He leaned forward, his head rubbing against hers.  "Everything is going wrong. Firestorm is trying to kill Swift, and I can't be there because my pack won't get themselves to safety! Even Frost and Sky are there. I should be there. I need to be there. And I can't because of my people!" He glared at each of them, his lips twitching back. "Come. We need to get off planet. Now." 

Ryker leaned back, his ears flat, "Alpha, respectfully no. We're not going to just abandon her to Firestorm's whims. Not when you have both done so much for us."

Lana tsked at the young male. "And what of the ones who don't have the training or the mentality to fight? What do you expect for them?"

"Actually Lana..." Came a soft voice, "I would rather show up and at least be part of it... It's not like we should really have to fight, right? We're just going for our alpha back. Just like what Firestorm's people would do if Frost took her."

Kiri snarled softly. "No. It's not the same. Because Firestorm doesn't believe you're redeemable. This situation started because alpha Firestorm came after us for doing what we do. To get you guys home safe. "

Ryker growled slightly. "So? Who cares if we pass. Alpha would do it for us. Why shouldn't we do the same for her. Or you."

"I'm acting on her request. I wasn't the one who wanted to get you guys safe. No. I want nothing more then to be by her side." Kiri groaned. "But she asked me. She did. It wasn't my idea. She just wants our pack safe."

Lana growled at Ryker, "Listen to yourself. How many people does Firestorm have? How many of you could resist a command if she ordered you to stop breathing?"

"Don't be such a sleekar Lana, this is far better then running and hiding. We get to show our loyalty! And Illandria has been training with us constantly. I'm sure we are more then ready."

Kiri snarled, "Ryker! Listen to yourselves. Look around you. Our friends. Our family. Our pack. Do you think for a second I would want to lose a single one of you?! Swift has been my partner since day one. Every second you stand here arguing with me is another second that my sister is in more danger!"

"Exactly Kiri. So let's go. Let's walk up to the front gates and tell Alpha Firestorm to give her back!"

Loki chirred, gently rubbing along Ryker's chest. "Rye, don't you remember how it hurt to be cast from your pack? It hurts us too to lose pack members. It frays at our minds, wearing at us, especially if we lose them in a brutal death. You can't tell me you didn't feel Firestorm kill our newest friend, and the way that burned, can you?"

Ryker paused, his head dropping. "We can't just let you go to fight her alone, it's akin to suicide."

Kiri paced, glancing over his shoulder back towards where Swift waited. It would've been so much easier to just go alone. Leave them here, sneak away.

D'vala's paw curled across the back of his head, the thump resonating hard enough to make him duck. He rubbed the spot, glaring at her. "It was just a thought!" 

"A stupid one." 

Kiri blinked hard, forcing his abilities to creep into his voice. It had worked once, it had to work now, didn't it? "Pack." Command rippled, smoothing his voice to perfection. "Come with me. To beyond this land. Wait there until I or Swift return."

Silence hushed the pack, every member focused with rapt attention. They moved with him as one, quiet growls voicing their disapproval.

Ryker slowed for a moment, his legs jerky as he tosses his head, the orders sliding away beneath his rage. "Kiri no! We are going with you, and that is that!"

Tear ran down the bridge of his nose, dripping free to the ground below as his pack turned their back on him. "Please. Please don't do this Ryker. Please don't make this your decision." 

"Alpha Kiri. There is no other ideal decision for us. Let us fight for what we believe. Who we believe." He paced, nuzzling each pack member. "You already gave us that second chance. You already believed in us when all hope was lost. Let us believe in you."

Kiri shook his head mutely, words failing him as his people took up the howl. "Second chance!" 

Loki paused, his tail resting against across Kiri's shoulders. "Kir-"

"Do you trust me?" He whispered, "Because I need you to fight your instincts. I need you to get as many of our people to the island. Through to where you were conceived. You will be their alpha mind. Just you. I couldn't feel or contact Swift when she was there so you won't be able to either. Do. Not. Come. Back. Not until we come for you. We will. I will Loki. I swear to you, oath upon my soul, I will always come back for you." His eyes begged, "But please, get our people to safety." 

Loki grabbed him, pulling him close in a tight hug. "Kir... You'd better make sure you keep that oath. I don't want to have to keep this pack all for me." 

Kiri pulled away, unable to meet his eyes. "I will." 

Loki smirked, "Lana, Daf, and whoever else is joining me, come on. We are going to explore a new land." He shifted, flapping his wings hard as he gave a couple of experimental hops. 

Kiri watched as Lana grabbed her charge, following Loki away through the shadows. He turned back to his pack with a shake of his head. "Come on then. Let's go." He waited a heartbeat more, connections fizzling as Loki and the other two step off planet. "There's still time... Can't you guys trust me with this?"

Ryker snorted, shoving him aside with his shoulder. "Alpha, come on. This isn't how a pack works. He waited a second, "Will Loki be back, or are we running this?"

Kiri flicked his tail, Shadows thickening, spreading across their home. "I have the shadows tonight." 

They gathered around him, fur brushing each other. Their nerves contagious. Kiri sighed, "You guys, I swear...." He forced his mind to calm, forced himself to exude confidence. "Come on, you all said yourselves. We've got this. There shouldn't be a fight. We are a proper pack. So, let's go prove it."

"Look at you." D'vala smiled, "Your mother would be proud."

"Doesnt mean I like it. We aren't living through it."

"Make them believe. They won't listen to reason. No sense leaving them scared." D'vala pointed out. "That's what your mother did with your pack."

Kiri stepped back, shadows pulling at his skin, shivers running up his spine. "With me!" He pulled himself into a steady run, the thrum of his pack pounding by his side soothing him.

He slowed, his steps faltering as they get close.

Ryker shivered, leaning against Kiri, "I never... I didn't think I'd ever come back here."

"You've been here far more then I ever did." Kiri muttered. "Shield up, hide the fact we exist pack!"

They vanished to scent, sight, and sound, creeping along the forest floor as they stepped up to the entrance.

Trees towered around them, earth shifting under their feet as Dukari gathered around them in swarms. Tripling them in numbers. "Alpha, look... It's my-" Ryker's breath caught in his throat. "It's my brother. He's ok still. And more. Our packs. Our old packs, our families, they're all still here! We could see them. As sane!"

"They won't welcome you, not any of you. Your alpha threw you away to go insane, not because you'd already lost it." Kiri snarled, "Don't trust a thing. They'll betray you with a single command." 

"But Kiri. We did it! Alpha once-" He went silent.

Kiri turned his head, fixing Ryker in a hard stare. "Did. What. Exactly."

"Lived..."

Kiri forced his chin up, forced him to meet his eyes, "You had already when she threw you away. They won't welcome you home Rye."

"I just..." He blinked hard. "It's not fair."

"No shit." Kiri muttered. The throngs of people kept arriving, thousands surrounding his measly pack, barely 500 strong. He grriited his teeth, regretting his lack of cowardness by the second. "D'vala...we're so screwed."

"Time to act like the cocky kid you are Kir!" She teased.

He drew into himself, weaving his own web of lies. He grew in stature, hauling himself up to full size as he stepped up to address the crowds. "Pack. We are pack. We are not rogue. Not in your definition of the word at least." He raised his head, his chin high. "We are SANE! And we are here for our Alpha."

Murmers rang out, fur bristling across the board.

"Hey Kir, might want to say we aren't aggressive." D'vala suggested.

He sat himself down, his fur flat. "We want no harm, friends. We never have. We just want to be safe."

Firestorm leapt down, her paws touching down inches from his. She extended her claws, watching them touch his feet. "Kit. You are not welcome here. Not with those demons at your back. Come back without them, free of your pack bonds, and you can likely join our pack."

Kiri snorted, his laughter escaping him. "Firestorm. Address me correctly. The name is Rian, Alpha Rian. And you're looking at my pack. But, there seems to be something missing." He flicked his tail, his eyes fading to silver white. Frosting slipped down, caressing his tails as they split into 9. "You decided to try to kill my sister, to dispose of one of our Alphas, and quite frankly, we just want her back."

Ryker stepped forward, his face drawing gasps as his pack stepped back, blending with the crowds. He blinked once, his eyes darkening to a dingy orange. "I am me. I have never lost me. Mother... Father... I am still sane."

Firestorm stepped between them, her snarl rumbling deep in her throat. "Enough, you have no relation left to this pack. Alpha, either leave them to the fate they should've had in the first place, or join them in it."

Kiri leaned up, his nose touching hers. "No."