Hebe was asleep on Torah's lap as she stroked her hair with sisterly affection. Hebe could sleep under any circumstances and in any location, a trait Torah was envious of at times such as these. Both blindfolded, they sat in the back of a leopard vehicle being driven to the pack's lair. The journey had been long and bumpy, she would have felt carsick but she hadn't eaten a proper meal in over 3 days. The IceChaser pack had been decimated by a rival pack; OrangeMist with only Hebe and Torah surviving through sheer luck. The Tiger pack had infiltrated IceChaser territory, purposefully alarming the soldiers and drawing them out of the Lair, unknown to IceChaser, the tigers had been using their clumsy infiltration as a ploy to distract the soldiers, leaving the cubs and weaker members unprotected. Hebe and Torah had been on the other side of IceChaser territory on a run unaware of what was happening. Being the pack's most lethal weapons their missing was no doubt one of the reasons IceChaser fell as quickly as it had, something neither of the girls would ever forgive themselves for. IceChaser were a Snow Leopard pack that isolated themselves to the Northern Canada for self-explanatory reasons. The OrangeMist had ruled most of Southern Canada alongside a Bear pack known as BlackWood and had always shown an interest in conquering the rest of the land mass. IceChasers being weaker than BlackWood simply due to their smaller numbers; Snow leopards were as rare in changelings as they were as animals; thus they fell victims of OrangeMist's greed.

When Torah and Hebe had caught scent of OrangeMist they raced back to the lair, to find most of their pack decimated. With the few soldiers left standing they killed what tigers they could, both girls too raged to remember how many tigers they slaughtered but it was assumed around the low 30s. They ran into the forest admitting that no matter how many they killed more would come and they had no hope in restoring IceChaser. They were tracked, but Hebe being expert in evading and remaining invisible and near impossible to track they escaped Canada, remaining in animal form the entire way. The attack had by now been heard of by most changeling packs and eventually they were discovered by a peaceful Deer pack in Oregon whom contacted DarkRiver.

"How much further?" Torah called to the driver, kept in darkness the journey had seemed days.
She could sense the leopard look to his comrade riding shotgun as if wondering whether that piece of information would divulge too much about the location of their lair. Of course it would not.
"About an hour, maybe less if we're lucky"
"I'm starving"
"You'll be fed once we're there"
"I should hope so"
"How's your sister"
"She's not my sister" Torah's sister had been slaughtered trying to protect her cubs, but indeed Hebe was a sister to her in everything except blood. "She's fine" Hebe's long caramel hair still laced between Torah's fingers she woke her up so she could prepare to enter DarkRiver territory.

To the leopard's due they helped Hebe and Torah out of the car, acts of chivalry never went unnoticed by Snow Leopard women. Their blindfolds were removed and they blinked and shielded their eyes to the light they'd been denied for entirety of their journey from Oregon to California, at least that's where the leopard's number plates said they were. Quickly adjusting to the light, before them appeared to be the infamous Lucas Hunter. He was as gorgeous as they'd been told; black mane, glowing green eyes and scars across his face that did not ruin his looks, only enhanced them. The two male leopards who'd accompanied them on their journey were also attractive, one blonde with golden eyes who'd they'd come to know as Dorian and the other had deep auburn hair that complimented his emerald eyes, Gabe.
"Hebe, Torah." Lucas nodded to us. "Firstly, I want to give you my condolences" He seemed sincere. A woman with deep ebony hair walked forward and held his waist. Hebe and Torah instantly recognised the eyes of a Cardinal Psy. Hebe entered a defensive stance and Torah once of aggression. Hebe always the healer, defence and shadow, Torah the attack, hunter and killer, together they were deadly, their deadliness was amplified by the mysterious psychic link between them.
"Calm down, ladies" a mild threat from the leopards' alpha. "This is my mate, Sascha Duncan, an E-Psy"
"E?" Torah cocked her head, but not relaxing.
"Empath" Hebe answered, who was no longer in her defensive position, always the most relaxed of the pair.
"Yes" Sascha replied "I defected from the Psy net after I discovered my designation, obviously due to Silence I could never flourish"
"Impossible" Torah accused "Psy die if they leave the Psy net." Everyone looked surprised, particularly the Psy.
"How do you know that?"
"Last time we were this close to a Psy it didn't end well for them" Torah didn't mean for it to come across as a threat but even though she'd begun to relax her eyes had gone cat and new she appeared a very real threat.
"Calm down" Hebe hissed. It was then Torah felt a wave of tranquillity roll over her, she purred involuntarily. Realising however, it was the Psy, she attempted to fight it, the calm pulled away, and Torah looked at Sascha accusingly.
"Stay out of my head"
"I apologise, it happens involuntarily." She said truthfully. Torah nodded, she knew what it was like having lack of control and being accused for it.
"I suppose you girls are starving" Lucas chimed "Tamsyn our healer has cooked up a meal for you." At that their mouths watered and Torah became much more compliant.

Tamsyn, made a huge fuss of the girls, comforting them with touch and food, both which were greatly appreciated. Clearly after Torah's apparent aggression the other leopards had been hesitant to touch her and Hebe, but after their positive response to Tamsyn that hesitance was discarded and all through dinner they were stroked and petted. With only each other to provide touch for over a month the overload of sensation was welcomed.
"How old are you two girls anyway?" Tamsyn asked after putting desert in front of them.
"17 and 18" Lucas answered "I don't know which way round though" He chuckled apologetically.
"Hebe is the older" Torah said stiffly, she may have appreciated the touch and food but she was not ready to smile, her wounds too deep for any outlet of happiness or pleasure. Hebe on the other hand although as equally pained was better at forcing it, probably out of embarrassment, the girls were not used to being taken care of or being pitied, neither really knew how to handle it.
"I would have said it was you" Tamsyn said placing her hand on Torah's.
"I always forget I'm the oldest, I think it's because she's taller than me" Hebe said matter of factly but it had all the leopards at the table in fits of laughter, which brought a fabulous smile on her face, which warmed Torah to see.
"We've got rooms for both of you in the main Den; hopefully you'll both be comfortable there." Lucas said already finishing his desert.
"Hopefully" Torah said unable to eat any more. She couldn't help but turn her mind to her pack, or at least what was her pack, she wanted revenge, changeling code; an eye for an eye. Clearly the leopards had expected the following reaction from the Snows.
"We will discuss matters to do with both of your situations tomorrow, when you're rested." Lucas said soothingly. Hebe nodded but Torah spoke up.
"I hope DarkRiver don't hope we sweep what has happened to our pack and what retribution we deserve under the carpet" She held stern eye contact with the alpha.
"That Torah is not in DarkRiver's nature." Lucas said understanding Torah's need for assurance and clear need for vengeance, after once being in a similar position himself. Tamsyn was thanked and the girls were guided towards their rooms. They were not used to being in separate rooms, IceChasers' only had a small den and sharing with family or friends was common, large empty rooms were intimidating, it was not long until Torah snuck into Hebe's room to sleep beside her. Hebe was her last link to IceChaser, her last surviving friend, the only reason she was still sane, and not feral. Torah swore to herself that night, she would protect Hebe more fiercely than ever from anything or anyone, Hebe was strong but she was innately a healer, but Torah was a killer and for Hebe kill she would.

Hebe whilst asleep sensed Torah's presence and welcomed her. She woke to find Torah curled next to her; she petted her dark chocolate hair, hair that trailed just past her chest, unlike her own hair that was at her waist. Hebe was worried for Torah, she felt her anger and her pain, she shared it, but Torah did not handle such things well, she had a habit of being self-destructive, overly confrontational and ridiculously and unnecessarily protective. Torah didn't like talking though, not about things that mattered, hell no one could shut Torah up usually, but when it came to things Torah cared about, actions to her were far louder than words. Hebe knew she had to help Torah before she hurt herself, knew she had to protect her from herself, they were alone now, no parents to run to, no siblings to confide in, no alpha to look up to, all they had was each other and Hebe would not lose Torah to herself, not matter what the cost.