Morgan:

Wuff looked around and saw that no one had followed them. He hoped that they had at least gone to warn the Unis. He was running after Ally, but she was still ahead. His own adrenaline suddenly kicked in when he realized what would happen to Ally if he didn't get to her right away. He caught up with her just as she reached Hod. Hod was surrounded by the High Guard. Wuff noticed that Ally didn't care. But Wuff did. He knew that if Ally tried to attack Hod now, she would die. He knew only one way to stop her. He wanted to have no regrets. "Ally! NO!" He threw himself between the High Guard and Ally. He was cut down almost instantly by the High Guard, and lay limply on the ground in a growing puddle of blood. He was bleeding. Ally checked for a pulse, and felt none.

Meanwhile, Ally had had no thoughts in her head. She was in Blood Lust. She had to kill, no matter what the cost. She had to kill Hod, and that was all she could think about. Until she saw Wuff die to save her. That brought her back immediately. "WUFF! NO! YOU MONSTERS! I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL AVENGE WUFF, MY MATE! HE STUCK WITH ME EVEN WHEN I WAS A UNI! YOU WILL DIE!!!" Ally cried loud enough for even Kauvara to have heard. She howled the saddest howl of grief that she could, then, crying her eyes out, she attacked Hod and the High Guard. She felt no pain, as her heart was broken too much for her to feel any more. She succeeded in killing some of the High Guard, but she couldn't reach Hod yet, so she continued attacking.

Wuff couldn't move. He wasn't dead, or even unconscious. He was paralyzed, however. He saw Ally launch the attack, and tried to stop her, but his mouth was frozen. He could only stare in horror as she was wounded time after time. A single tear drifted over his cheek. 'Ally... No... Stop... You must...' he thought, but he barely had the energy to stay conscious, so he could only sit there thinking the same thing so often that it eventually vanished, and he could do nothing but lay there motionless, and feel the terror that was building inside of him.

((A/N, Ally felt no pulse because she is inept at that. He wasn't breathing because the wind was knocked out of him. Hope that clears everything up.))

Tasia:

"You fools! Get that crazed lupe!"

She was insane. Here she took down three, now four. They had never seen a lupe so angry. One pack mate bolted, as did another. Soon, lupes were leaving left and right. Hod turned on his high guard "Stop them!" he snarled. But it was ridiculous. The high guard left Hod. He growled "Come back and defend your alpha!" he saw the white lupe in front of him, and also ran.

The lupes jumped at Lumino, and began at his wings.

Uni:

Lumino saw Gipha nuzzle his daughter. He smiled. Suddenly, his nose caught an incredibly distant, yet dangerous smell. The stallion flashed his horn three times, and all of the mares responded by diving, in a great silver splash, into the water. Fratylia and Orora lit their horns before taking a deep breath and throwing themselves into the lake.
Lupes' fur will either sink them, or either annoy them when diving, making the escape route for the Unis wide open.

But Lumino stayed in the air, spinning faster and faster around himself. Lumino was named after an ability of his - creating illusions out of thin air, by manipulating the light. As he finally stopped spinning in the air, several dozens of Unis were hovering with him, all having his exact likeness.

They could talk, fly, drink, graze ... perfect for confusing the Lupes.

At his mental command, all of the false-Lumino (and himself) started to fly over the lake in big circles, so that Lumino was no longer differenced from the false-Lumino.

Try to get me this way, Hod, Lumino thought, try to make the difference between me and these fifty illusions ... we'll see if you're so clever!

TLT:

Anita listened closely for any reply. From her lookout, she could see the fierce battle below. She came at a horrible time. Her ears pricked as she heard something. A deep howl that was a response.

I am aware of an assassination attack on me. How do I know that you are not one of those, playing a trick on me? I suppose if you really want to prove yourself, I can put you through a test. Kill the runt lupe Komoshiko, and bring me his body.

Anita listened closely and swore. She didn't like the thought of killing lupes. And he did have a valid point. She wanted, needed a pack, but was it worth killing another lupe? As she pondered her ethics, she realized it was the same thing of killing Unis. They were both just as smart and just as sentient as the other. One she looked on as prey, the other friends. Yet she had made a friend of Very. Perhaps it was time to stop killing entirely? If she went back to the herd of Unis in the lake, she would hav eot defend them and how was that different? She supposed she could figure out a way to just disable the lupes.

She shook her head. All this thinking was confusing her. She had come at an awful time. It was pointless. There was a battle down there. That white lupe had attacked what appeared to be the leader. There probably would be a reason for thier hatred of the pack. She was too tired to ask why. She sighed. Perhaps it would be best to go stay with the Unis.

She sat up and howled a short note.

I respectfully decline your offer

Then, Anita got up and trotted down toward the lake. She passed near the battle, ignoring them. She stopped at the waters edge and watched them. The white lupe was full of spirit, but obviously lacked practice. She would get herself killed if she didn't calm down and take her time planning her attacks. She bent down and lapped at the water, then immediately spat it out. It was red, thick with blood. She trotted around he lake, to get a drink of fresh water, then to watch the battle, entertaining herself by criticizing their techniques.

Very found himself in the middle of a frenzy. The water was tainted with blood. The lupes were attacking. Lumino, a great stallion, was being attacked most ferociously. Lupes covered him, shredding his wings. In his mind, the great gold stallion was turning dark green. The water evaporated and turned into grass. The unis around him also transformed. Orora turned a dark blue.

Very's mind spun, and when it stopped Very found himself in the middle of a valley, surrounded by lupes, the smell of blood and death thick in the air. Screams, scared whinnies, shot through the air. A victorious howl rose up here and there. He couldn't tell whether they were in the lake battle, or the battle of his home. The deep forest green stallion collapsed as the lupes shredded his wings. They ripped off large chunks of skin and left him to die a slow and painful death. A black lupe stood on him and howled. Their objective was done. It was a free massacre now. Leave no unis alive! The lupes had paused to hear their leader speak. Very, in the body of a young colt, nearly collapsed. He found himself leaning against the dark blue Uni, who steadied him. Then she pushed him along telling him to run as fast as he could. Very could hear her cry as a lupe leaped upon her back. Instinctively, he flapped his wings and flew above the massacre. An old brown mare was already flying and when she saw him, tucked him under her wing and brought him to a safe landing, where he collapsed and began his life as an orphan, living in fear of lupes.

Very was brought back to reality by his strength fading. He found himself underwater. He panicked, churning the water with his powerful hooves, struggling to get to the surface. His strength was nearly gone and is feet slowed, twitching instinctively. His eyes were open in fear, his nostrils flared but he didn't dare to breath. His lungs burned and the world turned black.

Anita watched the whole scene with interest. When the battle between lupes became boring, she turned her attention to the Unis. The great golden stallion who could only be Lumino was being attacked by lupes, as well as several others. She turned her head again and watched the frenzied unis swim and panic. She looked absent mindedly toward VeryVain. She saw him panic more than the Unis around him. He thrashed in the water. His wings flapped uncontrollably and he was airborne for a moment then he crashed back into the water.

He was still, then he began to sink. Anita realized this with a shock. He would drown! She bounded into the water and leaped toward him. She swam faster than ever before. By the time she got to him, he was sinking, under the water. His feet stopped their kicking and thrashing. Anita took a deep breath and dived under. She had no idea what she would do. She grabbed his mane and tugged, trying to pull him up. It did nothing but slow his sinking. She went beneath him and pushed. More progress. Her lungs were burning. She pushed him up, until his head broke the surface, and took a deep breath once there herself. She struggled to keep him above the waters surface. She had to get him to the shore. She pulled and pushed, until she was panting with exertion as Very lay on the shore. She shook her fur to dry. She put her head down close to his heart to try and find a pulse. There was a soft thumping that was continually growing louder.

Anita barked in joy, certain he would make it. Now she just had to make sure the lupes didn't see him. A nearly dead, wet, tired Unis would be easy prey, even if he did come back to consciousness. And if he didn't come to soon... Well, Anita thought, I will just stay right here. She sat on the beach, watching the battle unfold before her, glad she had decided to stay out of it, hoping that she would remain unseen and unbothered. Hoping...

Morgan:

Ally's blood lust had been slightly dimmed as the pack scattered. She turned to chase after Hod. 'He will pay for what he did to Wuff', she thought viciously, her bloody jaws already preparing for the attack, but that thought awoke something in her mind. 'Wuff? Oh no... I'd forgotten about...' she thought sadly as a tear rolled down her cheek. She turned to her beloved Wuff and her heart broke again. She had to avenge him. She looked closer though, and saw Wuff's chest rise slowly and painfully up and down. He was still alive. He had seen her kill those Lupes. "Wuff? Are you..." she trailed off, staring at him. 'I need to get him to Kauvara and the rest of the pack!' she thought desperately. She howled out a message. "Packmates! It is I, Ally! I live! Wuff may make it if you help me! Anita? I know that you declined our invite, but please help us! Everyone who can help, please do! Wuff will die if you don't!! I'm going after Hod as soon as you come! HURRY!!"

Wuff saw Ally stick her nose against his and howl for help. "Get Hod, Ally! I'll live, but don't let him escape! Remember all that he has done... Please Ally. Don't get yourself killed, but he is weak. You inflicted a lot of damage onto him! Get him while he is still weak! But, Ally, don't die on me... If it's too dangerous, promise you'll leave. Promise!" Wuff whispered, and Ally heard.

"I promise!" Ally said, and scratched a message into the dirt. I'm going after Hod. Get Wuff to Kauvara! HURRY!! She dashed off, and easily got her bloodlust back by remembering Wuff being wounded, imagining what Hod had done to those innocent Lupes, and smelling the blood around her. She caught up with Hod, and turned on him, baring her teeth and claws and growling in a deadly way. Hod was finished. There was one way left to escape, Ally had made sure of that, because she wanted to see how clever Hod was. "So, Hod. We meet again. Any last words?" she growled as she advanced upon him, leaving just one opening for escape. 'Heheheh... Hod'll never find the way out... He'll pay dearly for his mistakes... VERY dearly...'

Tasia:

The uni fell apart under his teeth. It was so easy! Every chunk came away with ease. Phunis though, the gold uni had let himself go.

Soon enough, the gold uni lay in pieces and the lupes looked at each other. They grinned large and carnivorous. They had completed their goal! Soon, their alpha would come and congratulate them...no. That was the old way. That was before. Now all they would expect was getting yelled at, maybe a beating. But that was the way it was. If they wanted to survive, they had to be strong, and the times of acceptance was over.

"Come on. Let's go find Hod."

He howled as if he had an ulcer "Morons! Come back and protect your leader!"

And then realization hit him. His pack had deserted him. Now, this white lupe was going to kill him, and that was it.

He ran in the opposite direction, every one of his muscles pulled taught. As he ran, it was as if the medicine that comes before death had hit him. Hod came back. Slowly, the old lupe realized that he had killed a third of his pack, and tried to go after the unis. He had reverted to the old way. He had become exactly what he hated. He howled even more anguished.

Phunis and his lupes sat on a ledge, watching their former leader run like a scared puppy from the white lupe. They could see the gray lupe was gaining ground on the white lupe. Hate built inside Phunis, and when he looked at the other lupes he saw it too. He nodded, their thoughts were shared.

Hod spotted some of his lupes, four packmates and two high guard "I'm glad your here! Now kill that lupe!" He hated the idea of killing, but he hated the idea of dying too.

The lupes bared their teeth. Hod jumped back "What are you doing? Obey your alpha!"

They stepped forward in line.

Hod felt sick. He wheeled, now running from seven lupes. Then, over the ridge appeared more lupes, all looking spiteful. Hod went in another direction- more lupes! He understood what they were doing now. His pack wasn't attacking, they were herding him, slowly, to the white lupe. He howled and fought, but the lupes kept him back at each turn.

And finally, and slowly, he came head to head with his fate.

Very was struggling the in the water above her. Gipha wanted to tell him to stop it, but she had to hold her breath. The white uni took into the air, then came twirling down again with a smash. Gipha's heart was icy. Then, and lupe came- the lupe that Very had befriended, what was her name? and with difficulty, took Very out of the water.

Gipha waited a few moments, before she thought her lungs would burst. Then she surfaced. The lupe was guarding Very's body like pray- Gipha shivered at the thought. Then, in one quick movement, she thrust her sharp horn in front of the lupe's face "Get away from him."

She heard something. She stopped Shiko "Shh!" there was a howl arching across the sky. It was low and full of remorse. Fay felt a shock, and looked to Shiko, but he did not need it translated "Wuff...no..."

Fay tried to read him. Never before had she cared about another person this much, how did it feel? She asked weakly "Was he ya friend?"

"Yes. Back when Hod was good. He protected me from the larger lupes, and when he was banished I spoke up for him..." he motioned to a long cut across his shoulder. Probably a battle scar when he had tried to speak up for Wuff. Fay shivered. These lupes out here were serious "Now, he wouldn't be dead if only I wasn't such a goddamn coward!"

"Don't say that!" she snapped

"No Fay, you don't get it. I'm an omega. My life isn't even worth living. I'll never lead a pack and I'll never even have a mate. All this time, I've been trying to preserve my life, but it's Wuff's life that deserves to be preserved!" he raised his head and spoke an anguished note. Another sound came, and Fay had to bite Shiko to get him to stop.

"What is it? Did Hod kill Ally too?"

"Nah, just that lupe Hod called too. She declines his offah."

"Oh," he snorted "well now I don't have to worry about getting killed."

Fay gave him a sharp bite.

"What was that for?"

"You. Ya suchah downah. Ya can't change what alriddy happened."

There was another howl. Shiko was looking glum, but as Fay listened her face brightened "Shiko! Wuff's alive!"

"Wuff's alive?!" his face seemed to change entirely "Oh Wuff! Wuff's alive! That's wonderful!"

"Wait Shiko!"

"What?"

"He needs ah help. Ally says to come ta him."

"What's wrong?"

"She didn't say. Com'on."

As they ran back, they heard too more howls- both from the lupe Shiko had identified earlier as Hod. One was afraid, the other was the most terrible hatred of one self and the most terrible pain of the heart. She looked at Shiko's eyes. He turned away.

"It makes me feel sah'y for him."

"Well, he was a good lupe once."

They ran.

Morgan:

Ally smiled viciously. Now was the time for vengeance! Hod should never have started that massacre. It had made his loyal comrades lead him to his doom. It had made Ally want to kill him. She would enjoy this. "So Hod... Are you now feeling what all of those Lupes you murdered felt just before you took away their lives? Now do you understand? I will now give you a taste of your own medicine. You will pay for all of the evil you have caused, and I know that you regret it now, but it's a tad too late Hod. Being sorry won't bring back the pack." She wanted to cause him pain, like the pain he had caused her to have. Wuff might not make it because of him! He would pay! She advanced on him, still wearing an evil and bloodthirsty grin on her bloodstained muzzle. She moved slowly, relishing the moment. She stopped suddenly, and gawked at something above Hod. He took the bait and twisted around to see what she was staring at. She lunged. She was biting him, scratching him, head butting him, anything to cause him pain. It was not enough. Not for what he had done. All the while she told him all of the evil he had committed, all of the reasons that he deserved this. She moved fast, Hod couldn't block her blows. She ran around him in circles, shouting curses at him, making him dizzy from the white circle around him. She lunged repeatedly from the blur, leaving trails with her speed. "Goodbye Hod. It has been my utmost DISpleasure to have met you!" She made the final blow, biting his neck and snapping it in half. Hod was dead. Ally was full of energy from the adrenaline rush. She paced in circles around Hod's body, no guilt at what she had done. He had deserved it. She thanked the Lupes for helping her, and asked if they would like to join her pack. "There won't be any Uni hunting, but I can guarantee that I won't kill you and you won't starve. Follow me if you want to join." Without waiting for a response, she ran off to go find Wuff. He was still in the clearing, judging by the smell, so she ran there. She saw Fay and Shiko enter as she came in. Ally glowed, "Hod is dead. He will trouble us no more. But, c'mon! We need to get Wuff to Kauvara so that she can heal him!" She ran over to Wuff and lifted him up with her teeth, as she had seen many Lupe mothers do to their pups. She carried him off, heading toward Kauvara's. She reached it by sunset.

Tasia:

The blue gray lupe walked with white alpha, and the two turn turns hoisting shadow lupe's body. Out of those in Hod's blood pack, nine traveled with them. The rest had suffered a disease, brought by war and hate, and ran away into icolation. Among those who joined Ally's pack was Phunis.

As the lupes walked, he moved to a pretty scarlet lupe had had never seen before. He came slowly, so not to startle her, then loosened at the shoulders "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Madame."

"Maddum?" she countered, but she giggled. Judging her face, she surprised herself. "Please, call me Fay." she said.

TLT:

Anita stood over Very nervously. He was alive obviously, but she knew nothing of how to help him. She sat next to him and whimpered. She turned and watched the battle. The leader was no more. He was running away, chased by the white lupe. More lupes confronted him, chasing him into her and even more. Cornered, it was easy for even the white pup to kill him.

She turned back toward Very. What had happened to him to cause him to flounder so?

She didn't have time to ponder this long, before a red uni's horn thrust in between her and Very, pushing her away. She heard a faint "Get away from him."

Anita backed off, startled. It was the red uni Very had been with. Gipha. Anita's temper flared. Who did this uni think she was that she thought she could barge in on her attempt to save Very's life?! A hearty growl grew in her throat. Her hackles raised and she approached Gipha slowly, her lips raised to show the gleaming teeth underneath. She subconsciously noticed Gipha's injuries, noting how easy the kill would be. She growled a warning who's meaning was clear, Get away or get killed.

Tasia:

Gipha stumbled, but she ultimately held her place. No, she wouldn't let this lupe scare her off again while Very was unable to function. She didn't want to hurt it, but she reared and showed her hooves and then flicked her horn. Perhaps the lupe would get scared if she knew Gipha's weapons.

Morgan:

Ally finally managed to get Wuff to Kauvara. She wasn't worried any more. Wuff would live. Kauvara would save him! She knew it!

As they entered, Kauvara looked up. "Why, hello, Ally! Did you need something mo-oh!" She had noticed Wuff. "Is he alive?!"

"Yes, but just barely! Please Kauvara! Please save him!" Ally had gotten scared again by Kauvara's reaction.

"I'll do whatever I can!" Kauvara said. She went over and put a "Back in an Hour" sign on her door. She went into her back closet. 'It has to be here somewhere!' she thought desperately, searching for something crucial to Wuff's survival. She found it. A murky brown goop held in a green bottle that reeked of age and dust. This will work. She came out and immediately opened Wuff's mouth. She poured in the foul-smelling goo and stood back.

Wuff blinked groggily and stood up. "Wha? Where am I?" His brain suddenly jolted and he remembered everything. "WHERE'S ALLY?! DID SHE DO IT?! IS SHE ALIVE?! DID HOD K-...?!" He broke off and spun around when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Tap tap! Wuff, hon, maybe you should take a look around for me before you start your mourning. I'm alive. Hod is dead. We have 9 new members in out pack. Yes, 9. I found the other willing members when Hod died. Those are the facts as I know it. You are alive. And healthy, judging by your yelps." Ally said playfully. She was happy. Wuff would live. She was an Alpha. She had a mate. She had done so much in such a short span of time.

"Ally!" Wuff cried. He turned around and nuzzled noses with her. He was almost in tears he was so happy. "Other members? Really? From Hod's pack?!"

"Yup, take a look!" Ally motioned outside. There were the nine pack mates from Hod's pack, Shiko, and Fay. "1...2...3.......11! Plus us, we have thirteen Lupes in our pack, Wuff! 13!"

Wuff was in shock. "13?! B-but, Ally, how...? Why...? Wha?!" He was happy, but then he realized something. "Hey, Ally, how're we gonna feed 13 Lupes? And who KNOWS how many pups will be born this next year... We can't hunt Unis, I know that much. How about... Y'know what? I have no idea. Let's ask the pack!" He turned to face them. "So, mates? What should we eat? It can't be Kaus or Unis, because that would not be kind to those who have helped us. We could take a poll...? What do you think?"

Kauvara interrupted. "Ahem. I have food in here. It's from the Food Shop in Neopia Central. I supply the Chef with Fire Jugs, and he supplies me with food. Come here once a week, and I will feed you on that day. I don't have enough to share more often than that. Whaddya say?"

Wuff liked that idea. "Alright, on Saturdays we will come here and eat, but what can we do on the other days? We need to have some way to survive... We need to eat more than once a week." Kauvara looked sorta sad, so Wuff quickly said, "But thank you for the weekly meal, Kauvara! At least we can't die out with that..." He trailed off. He was wondering what would happen when they had pups. It might be a long while from now, but it was still heavy on his mind. He decided to ask what to do about it, but not now. He would ask about it later, when the pack had settled in together, he decided. "Well, friends? What do YOU think?"

TLT:

Anita advanced. The uni didn't back down. She merely reared and flashed her horn. The hunter in Anita's head carefully calculated her every move. The uni had lost blood, was wet, tired, and her wings were broken, among other thing. Anita's thoughtful, ditzy, spazzy self disappeared and in its wake was a hunter. A sly, sleek, ruthless lupe who loved the taste of blood. A cool calmness entered her eyes. The corners of her mouth lifted in a smirk. She lunged, grabbing a wing and jerking it down. She let go and dodged away, still smirking.

Tasia:

She gasped. This lupe intended to have her as a snack! Well, no use running now, she was disabled anyway.

He snorted, his eyes narrowed. Trab reared, and began down the slope. The lupe was right in his path. There was no stopping him. He just hoped he'd get there in time.

TLT:

The uni was getting frightened. A warning shot off in Anita's head. A scared, cornered uni would be much more dangerous than one that was running on the plains. Yet this one was injured. It should be easy prey... She slowly stalked toward the uni. She leaped again, catching the other wing in her jaws and bringing it down, ripping out several feathers in the process. A few droplets of blood splattered on the ground. Anita quickly dodged away, narrowly avoiding flying hooves. She leapt backwards, and stumbled over the body of Very, who was still unconscious and breathing hard. The hunter told her that this Uni was down, it would be easier prey than if it had no legs! But something else told her no, that wasn't right. She paused to think of why she had that feeling, and it gave her a chance for her true self to shine through.

The ruthless hunter left her eyes and she was once again a scared, innocent pup. The memories of Very shot through her mind. Anita sat down and howled a long remorseful note. She ignored the dark red uni who stood to the side, bewildered. She wandered over to where Very's head lay on the ground. She gently licked away the mud, then laid down her head resting on his massive neck. Her eyes flickered toward the uni, the expression on her face one of terrible sadness and not understanding. Anita closed her eyes, and let the tears run down her face. She had left Very for only a few minutes, but in that time she had tried to kill his good friend and had thought of him as food.

Very, the only sentient being she had trusted since... she was a pup, right before she had seen her first lupe death, she had thought of him as prey. She had made a semi-vow of never killing again, then proceeded to almost murder her friends.

The tears were flowing freely now. She was ashamed of what she had done, yet she could not stop the memory of the thrill of the hunt, taunting her prey and weighing options. Anita slowly stood up again, looked from Very to Gipha, licked Very's face once more, and walked slowly away, her tail tucked between her legs.

Very stirred. Something warm, wet, caressed is face. A pressure on his neck. Darkness.

His eyelids fluttered once more with more gentle licking. He gave a soft moan. Everything hurt. His legs ached, his back was sore, and his neck felt like it was snapped in two. Even small muscle spasms sent waves of pain through his body. He tried to get up, to stand even against the pain. Nothing happened, other than the spikes of pain that shot through his legs. They wouldn't respond. He tried to just move a hoof. It remained still while he gasped from the pain. He panted with exhaustion. He opened an eye, to see if it would still work. It did. He saw Gipha panting, staring over him, her wings hanging terribly. He tried to look in the direction she was, but when he tried to move his neck, it was stabbed with needles of pain. He couldn't see what she was looking at. He sniffed the air. LUPE! Warning bells shot off, compounding his already horrible headache. He tried to get up, but only the pain greeted him. He blacked out again, his body welcoming the false sleep.

Tasia:

Gipha watched the lupe. She nodded slowly, understanding a little. The pup loved Very. Still, part of her mind screamed, how can this be? She's a killer! She tried to subdue it. Gipha nodded, ashamed, and nuzzled the unconscious uni affectionately.

The uni swam across- but what was happening? The mare was helping the aiding to the unconscious uni along with the lupe. How had this happened? Was it a trap?-! He wished he could swim faster "Gipha!" he called

The red mare turned. Trab had an emotion that was ecstasy and fear all at once. It was Gipha- his daughter! "Gipha I'm coming!"

She said something, but Trab didn't hear.

Uni:

Lumino snorted loudly. He had never thought that Lupes would be so stupid. By a wave of his enormous wing, he made the false-Lumino disappear before diving into the lake ...

Orora & and herd

Orora saw light not far above her beautiful head. Her silvery mane floating beside her, the Uni swam faster, kicking on her legs, guided by her ignited horn. She could see the other mares and foals splash to the surface, and caught a glimpse of her mother's lit horn.
She wasn't far now ... just several meters ...

Orora felt her face stroked by the wind as she finally managed to the surface, and breathed deeply the fresh air, as if she had never did that before. Soaked, she saw her mother, Fratylia, smile at her, and she began to progress to the damp earth at the border of the lake, where the rest of the herd was busy drying themselves up ...

TLT:

Very felt a comforting nuzzle. He struggled to open his eyes and saw Gipha standing there. His chest was still heaving, but he was completely out of breath. He opened his mouth, but words didn't come out. He tried to stand again. The waves of pain weakened, and he had some control of his limbs. He rose shakily to his feet, but almost immediately fell down. He gasped for air. His lungs were burning. He glanced over the lake. The rest of the herd was swimming across it to the far shore. The battle with the lupes seemed to be over. It seemed everyone was safe. He mumbled a weak "Thanks" to Gipha, and fell over and asleep.

Anita wandered out in the plains for a while. She found a single slain Uni, the carcass old and mangled. There was still enough meat on it for a decent meal, and Anita relished the taste, but hated herself for it.

Questions ran through her mind. Could she live with the herd? Could she find another lupe pack? If she found a pack, could she live with killing unis, and possibly attacking Very's herd? If she stayed with the herd, could she suppress her hunting instincts? She was scared by what had happened with Gipha. All that had happened was she let her temper get away, and her hunting instincts came in and she went out. She shuddered at the though. It would be simple enough for an unwary uni to get on her nerves and never see the light of day again. She had done it with a lupe, it would be simpler with a startled uni.

She thought of Very. He had been worried about her. He probably still was, if he was conscious at all. She decided, very suddenly, that she should stick with him for as long as he wanted. She had, after all, saved his life. Now with the lupe pack scattered and fragmented, there was a definite possibility that a hungry lupe had spotted the nearly dead Uni. She ran as fast as her legs would take her back to the lake. She wasn't hungry now, and she decided that was the reason she had gone into hunting mode.

She peeked through the bushes, and watched carefully the seen that was taking place. A black Uni had joined Gipha and Very. What was going on?

Morgan:

Wuff heard one Lupe suggest eating petpets. That could work. "Petpets might be good... But some are sentient. I don't want to destroy sentient life. Some aren't, though, so we will take them, if everyone agrees. Are we all agreed then?"

Ally felt a bit sad at the thought of killing petpets to eat, but she knew that there was no other way. Plants did Lupes no good, just wreaking havoc on their health. They had to be carnivorous. She recovered from sadness by the immense hunger overtaking her. "I agree. Kauvara? Today is Saturday, so would you mind..." Kauvara cut her off.

"Of course not, Ally! I'll bring some food right away." 13 Lupes to feed weekly. Oh dear. Oh well, at least Wuff is banning them from eating Kaus. She shuddered involuntarily. That was a disturbing thought. That and the fact that Ally might've had to eat Uni meat otherwise. Kauvara quickly found the food and returned. "Alright, I have a full meal for each of you. You deserve it after your long journey. Here you go, two bottles of water so you can carry one with you and fill it up later, ten Deli Slices, and a milkshake each. That ought to be enough." She handed each Lupe the meal. "That's what you'll get whenever you come."

Ally headed straight over to the food. It had been days since she and Wuff had eaten. She ate all of it and, finally full, curled up and took a nap. She was exhausted! She had had very little sleep, and none since she had become a Lupe! She drifted off to sleep and dreamt a very strange dream... 'There are Lupes everywhere, killing the Unis!! Mother told Lily to run with her, but forgot about me! I'm trapped here, up against a rock wall!!! Oh gosh, is this how I'm going to die?! That black Lupe in front of me is about to lunge! He already broke my wings so badly that I doubt I'll ever fly well again, if I even ever leave this spot! Why won't Mother even help me?! Wha-what's that?! That blur... It's a Lupe! He just knocked the one who was about to kill me out of the way! Oh no! He's coming over here now! He'll kill me! Won't anyone help me?!' Ally's mind is racing. The Shadow Lupe comes up to her.

"Are... You... All... Right...?" He gasped, out of breath, "Zhairk almost killed you! I told him to stop! Why, you're my own age! Barely more than a foal! You poor thing! Here, follow me. I know a safe place. He can't follow us there." the Shadow Lupe goes off in a direction away from the massacre. He leads Ally to a small clearing off in the woods. "They haven't found this place... Yet. They'll come someday, but for now it's the safest place for miles. Your wings... Will you ever be able to fly again? What's you name?"

Ally was shocked. Lupes killed! They didn't help Unis! They ate them! Why was this one so... different? "M-my name's Ally. What's y-yours?" The Lupe spoke one word in reply.

"Wuff." For the rest of the battle, Wuff paced around her, leaving a trail in the grass.

Ally admired him immediately. He moved so fluidly, he was so kind, he was so brave... She was finally sent to sleep with his endless pacing, no longer afraid for her life. 'So this is love... No one has felt it for me, and I have felt it for no one... Until now...'

Wuff looked down on Ally, fast asleep. 'I've vowed to never hunt a Uni again, if only to be sure that she'll live. She is so much like me... I am an orphan and she has no parents who care for her... I'll be sure that she's safe...' he thought, and continued pacing until the dawn broke... Meanwhile, in the present day, Wuff was watching her again.
'I wonder what she's dreaming about...' Wuff thought, but said nothing. At first it seemed she was having a nightmare, but then she seemed to calm and her sleep deepened. Wuff had never noticed it until now. That Uni he had saved... It had been Ally. But she had to have died! She ran away from the herd! And then... She had followed him. Her only friend. Wuff's mind was spinning. Why hadn't he noticed before?! He had decided to inform the pack about his vow the day that she had left. He found out later that Ally was gone and had run off into the woods... He had thought that the pack he decided to make Wuff feel even worse. He didn't know! He hadn't known! Until now. Boy, was he ever confused! "Ally" he whispered softly "I didn't fail you after all, did I? Now... Who would've thought that this would ever happen? Sweet Dreams, Ally, my one true love... Sweet dreams..." He was suddenly peaceful. He realized that had to be fate. A Uni and a Lupe? In these times? What else could it be? Ally's white fur was smudged with dirt and blood. His blood. Ally had had to carry him from where he had been injured. He remembered how viciously she had attacked the Lupes in his name. She had lost her mind. He would've done the same, despite vowing to never kill anything sentient again. 'Love is a powerful thing.' he realized, and found that he had known it all along, but never admitted it. 'What an idiot I am!'

Tasia:

"Where did that lupe go?"

Gipha was surprised by the black stallion's appearance "Not sure," she said.

"Did he hurt you?"

"She" Gipha began "caused no more damage than was already done."

"That's good! You know, I know Lupe defense," he grinned "It's one of the things a free roamer learns. I taught it to your mother, did she teach you?"

"My mother? You knew her?"

"Um, well," he looked nervous. He began to inch away.

"Trab!" Gipha turned, and so did the uni. Thereda was coming out of the water, shaking the water out of her mane. She walked right up to the black uni.

"Rede," he said kindly.

"I thought you were dead."

"Not dead, but almost. My spirit died the day I left you."

"Wait a minute!" the two unis turned to Gipha "Trab?" she questioned "My, father?"

Her parents nodded.

Uni:

Orora looked at Gipha from far away. Thereda, although soaked, had finally found her daughter. The white Uni smiled, the slight wind stroking her wet mane - wait a second. Who's that black Uni beside them? Gipha looked as if she knew him ... Thereda too. Frowning, Orora shook her head, and several silver drops of water glided to the ground.

Just then, a huge burst of white shot into the air. Orora, surprised, jumped, and looked as the huge column of water fell down, creating a gigantic splash. Lumino was flying in the air, but he didn't looked as if he had swum; not a single drop of water clung to his golden coat.
Relieved, the white Uni galloped to her father, and he hugged her tightly.

Fratylia stepped up, and Lumino nuzzled her.

"Hey, look, Lumino, who's that?" Fratylia pointed out. "My, he really looks like Trab, doesn't he?"

The lead stallion frowned, and approached the three Unis ...

The silver-coated Lupe stood there, watching Orora being nuzzled by her parents. Lumino then walked off, towards another little family.
He then stepped forwards, and playfully jumped before the Uni. She was so beautiful! Gradyti knew that, even if he can't be Orora's mate, he had deep feelings for her. Oh how he wished that he could protect her! He wanted to be part of the herd ... and he would do anything to be her mate. Even abandoning his Lupe appearance ...

That's it! He knew about a Kau name Kauvara, who could brew any potion and heal any wound. If he went there, he could become a Uni at last!

"What are you doing, Gradyti?" Orora's soft voice seemed so clear in his mind.

"O - Orora ... " the Lupe stammered, not really looking at her, "I ... I ... I love you!" Gradyti broke off. "Please, Orora ... I really love you ... I - I ... oh, how I wish I could be a Uni ... do you understand ... ?"

"Gradyti!" Orora gasped. "You - you ... I - I ... how to say ... I - oh, I love you too!" Orora sighed. "I - I felt that the very first time I saw you," the Uni smiled. "You were so ... so like me!"

The Lupe blinked. He had thought that she would push him away, but she didn't ... she even said that she loved him!

"Come then, Orora," Gradyti licked the Uni with affection, "we're going to Kauvara's - I need her potions to become a Uni!"

The white Uni nodded silently, and without further words, they sped off ...

Morgan:

Ally woke up with a start It was dark already. She forgot where and what she was for a moment, still caught up in her nightmare. She remembered why her mother and family had hated her since birth. They had been afraid to get attached to her because they knew that the Lupes would come for her someday. Her horn would not light or sharpen, her wings were weak as a butterfly's, her hooves were dull, and her body held no magic. She was also the smallest Uni anyone had ever seen. She was sure to die at a young age. But she hadn't. Wuff had protected her. She had no chance without him. "WUFF!!" she screamed, and realized what was going on. The pack still slept because of a slumberberry potion Kauvara had given them because they were restless, but Wuff had wanted to be alert. He raced over, heart pounding madly. He had to get to her. He reached her, and she leaned against his shoulder, crying. She told him everything this time, and Wuff wasn't all that surprised.

'I shoulda known' he thought to himself, and comforted Ally back to sleep... She wouldn't have a nightmare any time soon if Wuff watched over her. She finally felt safe. She had never felt safe before this, but that was over. It was a new life, and she had no regrets. She whispered thank you to him and drifted off to sleep. There wasn't a nightmare this time, just dreams of their future together. Ally knew that she should've been born a Lupe, but now everything was ok.

Ally's stomach growled and woke her up. 'Hungry again? I ate a few hours ago! Wha-what?! My stomach MOVED!! It's like I didn't chew my buzzer properly and it's alive and kicking... Only it feels like twelve of 'em! SHEESH! I'd better tell Kauvara and Wuff...' she thought. "Wuff? Honey? My stomach's acting strangely. It's kicking! I'm going to Kauvara."

"You aren't sick, are you?!" Wuff asked worriedly, having woken up the moment Ally needed him. "I'll go with you!" Together they headed for Kauvara's.

A mile or so off... Kauvara was napping when she heard a KNOCK KNOCK on the door. "Darn Restockers! I need to sleep you know!" she muttered and went for the door. The words "Go away" were almost out of her mouth when she saw it was Ally and Wuff. She swallowed her words and said "What's going on? What's happened that you came at two in the morning?!" She was worried.

"Kauvara? Could you take a look at my stomach? I'm gaining weight, eating a lot, and never full. Am I sick?" Ally said. Kauvara examined Ally.

"No, honey, you aren't sick! Far from it! You're uh... Um... How do I say... Pregnant? You have at least five or six pups inside you, maybe up to twelve! No wonder you're hungry!!"

"P-p-p-pregnant?!?!?! B-b-but when? How long?!"

"You have just a day before they're born, Ally. Stay with me tonight. I'll help. Wuff? Go back to the pack and tell them what's happened, then return. Tomorrow you'll be a father." Kauvara took Ally inside and left Wuff standing, shocked, out on the porch. The light went out. He ran off to the pack, howling all the way.

((OOC: Sorry for being so random... Ally was too distracted to notice before, does that work?))

TLT:

Anita crouched behind the bushes while the two Unis talked. A third came over. Apparently they were Trab and Thereda. Anita cocked her head and waited. When they seemed thoroughly engrossed with each other, she snuck around them and burst through the bush next to Very. She was pretty sure they weren't planning on hurting him, but she was there just in case.

She laid down with her head resting on Very's back, her body hidden almost completely by his massive, still form. His leg twitched. A wing flicked, the feathers tickling her nose. She watched Very closely. An eyelid moved. She carefully got up and moved toward his head. She licked his forehead, and arranged his mane neatly. She sat down and looked at him. He opened on eye.

Lupe! Very struggled to get up. He was down and a lupe was there ready to attack! No, not ready. Waiting. Very battled to conquer his instincts. His head hurt. He managed to get upright, though not standing. He shook his head, trying to clear away the pain and the cloud that covered his eyes. It helped only slightly. He recognized the lupe. Anita! He nickered weakly and nuzzled her. She crawled next to him and laid down. He turned his head toward the rest of the unis. He said a meek a shy hello. His voice was scratchy. Anita perked her ears up. She stood up and barked at the unis. "Don't stand there like idiots! Get him some water!" She turned and nuzzled her friend gently, still watching the uni's every move. She was suspicious. She growled to make sure they heard her. She licked Very again reassuringly, then stared pointedly at the unis.

Uni:

Kauvara saw two blurs dashing to her home. Leaving the window, she went to open the door, mumbling something about 'future mothers shouldn't be disturbed ... '.

The two almost smashed into her when she opened the light oak door. It was a pure white Uni and a Silvery Lupe. She let them inside and told them to not do too much noise:

"Please, what can I do for you? Keep quiet, I beg you ... a Lupess is going to have pups!"

Gradyti gasped loudly, before being hushed by Kauvara.

"W - w - what?!" The silver Lupe yelped.

Orora slammed a wing on the Lupe's jaw and inquired to Kauvara:

"He wants a potion to become a Uni."

"Holy ... first the Uni wanted to be a Lupe, then the Lupe wants to become a Uni ... "

The starry Kau walked away, brewing the potion, leaving Orora and Gradyti in outmost shock.

"What did she say?" Orora whispered.

"I dunno," Gradyti pulled Orora's wing off of his mouth.

A while later, the Kau returned with a flask filled with a wonderful and bizarre liquid, as clear as water, which bubbled constantly.

"Here. Drink this, and you will become a Uni. Please wait, I'm going to take care of the Lupess - "

Gradyti impatiently uncorked the bottle, and, without thinking on the matter, let the liquid flow into his throat.

The Lupe immediately felt his paws become hard and resistant hooves, a sharp horn grew on his head, and his tangled fur became a soft and shining coat.

As Gradyti opened his eyes, he saw Orora giving her warm, radiant smile at him.

"I AM A UNI!!!" The former Lupe tested his long, elegant legs as he jumped into the air, and his wings transported him delicately to the ground, where he ran towards his love and hugged her freely.

"Oh, Orora ... my love!"

The white Uni simply smiled and drifted to sleep in Gradyti's wings ...

Back at the Herd

Lumino glared dangerously at the intruder Uni and at the tiny Lupe.

"May I ask you who you are, to command us, Unis, peaceful herbivores? Do you know that a kick from any of us could kill you? I do think that I am right, when I say that you are young?" The lead stallion's booming voice caught the attention of all of the herd. "Listen, little one ... " Lumino had to curve down his mighty neck to reach the Lupe's height. "We, Unis, do not kill for no reason. We will look after your Uni, for this herd know not fear as long as I rule over all of these mares and foals. However," Lumino's eyes narrowed in warning, "consider yourself happy that you didn't scare my herd - if one kick is mortal, think about dozens ... at the same time."

With that, Lumino flicked his tail and told some Unis to take care of the newcomer Uni, before snorting, in a very distinct "goodbye" manner to the minuscule Lupe, and climbing up a hill to look for Lupe packs.

Morgan:

Ally had just finished having her pups. She'd heard and smelled some Unis, but she had been too busy to care. '12 pups?! From a Uni?! Now THIS is funny! They're so sweet!' She turned to her pups. They weren't like anything she'd ever seen. They each looked different.

((A/N: Descriptions:

Etsu: Pink Male Lupe with pale Green Wings and Sky Blue Eyes. No intelligence, lots of common sense. Best friends with Nani and Wakarimasen.

Nani: Black Female Lupe with Red Wings and Purple Eyes. No common sense, lots of intelligence. Best friends with Etsu and Wakarimasen.

Wakarimasen: White Male Lupe with White Wings and Pink eyes. No common sense or intelligence. Best friends with Etsu and Nani. Deaf but telepathic.

Lily: Split Black and Orange Female Uni without wings or horn (horse) and Red Eyes. Mega intelligent with decent common sense. Loner.

Rewop: Invisible Male Lupe with glowing wings (all you see are wings). Dark and evil. Loner but pretends to be a ghost to scare people.

Aloyarc: Rainbow Female Lupe with Spotted wings and Yellow eyes. Random. Nuff' said.

Bob: Pastel Rainbow Male Lupe with Invisible Wings and Black eyes. Shy. Quiet.

Mike: Red Female Lupe with Purple Wings and Brown eyes. Insane. Funny. Random. Did I mention Insane?

It: Golden Female Lupe with Diamond Wings and Emerald Green Eyes. Just like Mike.

Moya: Green Female Lupe with Green Wings and Green Eyes. ME!!

Drew: Shadow Male Lupe no wings Black Eyes. Loud, obnoxious, sarcastic, evil.

Amanda: Yellow Female Lupe with orange Wings and Blue Eyes. Dumb, annoying, stalker, jumps to conclusions, obsessed with learning about Neopets.))

Ally watched them stand up and try their wings. Didn't work yet. She would've laughed, but sighed instead. She wanted Wuff to see them.

Meanwhile...

Wuff had gathered the pack and taken them to Kauvara's. He ignored the Unis in the hall and rushed to Ally. He gasped when he saw his pups. "W-w-wings?!" Suddenly he realized it. "They're half Uni! Ohh! How cute!" He ran over to his pups, slightly startled by Rewop, and took them outside. He showed them to the shocked pack. "These are my children! Treat them as you would any other Lupes." But he was worried about Lily. She was defenseless. He resolved to take good care of them all. He loved them like Ally. He was the proudest Lupe on the Plains, and he howled out everything about them to the world. It echoed off down the Plains...

Uni:

Orora and Gradyti stepped quickly aside as a shadow Lupe burst through the entrance and whizzed beside them, right into another room which had its door ajar.

Gradyti shook his head; "Mad restockers ... - "

The Silver Uni was struck dump in mid-sentence by the sight of the same Lupe coming back out - but he was accompanied by a dozen of tiny Lupe-Uni cross creatures! Orora gasped faintly:

"W - what happened to them?"

Gradyti then heard something, and he perked his new Uni ears backwards. Then he jolted back, and saw, to his great surprise, a small pack of Lupes, all staring at the bizarre creatures!

"Holy ... !" Gradyti neighed in shock, before rearing powerfully onto his great hind legs; "Get away!"

The Silver Uni kicked, throwing his hooves forwards and missing a Lupe by an inch or so. Incredible as it seemed, the Lupe didn't budge. Snorting with surprise, Gradyti lifted his legs, fearing a surprise attack; but the Lupe just calmly sat down, staring at him.

"Gradyti," a soft voice murmured into his ear. It was Orora. "Gradyti ... calm down. It's the new Lupe pack, the one that swore that they'll never hurt any Uni."

"Huh?" The Uni let his front hooves hit the ground back again. "Did you say ... 'swore that they'll never hurt any Uni'? That cannot be ... come on, sweetie, you know that it's a lie!"

"Whatever," the White Uni blushed. "Nice to meet you," she added, facing the Lupes.

Morgan:

The pack responded with "Nice to meet you, too. What are you doing here?" They were curious. One Uni smelled like a Lupe... GRADYTI?! They said nothing. Yet.

Wuff was staring at the Uni who had tried to squash him. "Why did you try to kill me? I have done nothing to you and I never will. But stay away from my children or you'll regret it. Deeply. Remember that." Wuff was proud of his pups. He was a father. He just hoped that no one would tease them. If they did, he couldn't be responsible for what his voice did. Most likely the Virtupets Space Station would explode from noise overload.

Ally had finished resting. She had been EXHAUSTED! After having 12 pups (All but one of which had wings, and that one had hooves!) who could blame her! She went out to see her pups and saw some idiot of a Uni trying to stomp her mate. "Keep your stinking hooves off of him!" She growled angrily at the Uni. She noticed that he had a mate also. "That's my mate your about to smush!! Let him alone!" His mate said pleased to meet you, but she didn't trust them any further than she could throw them. And Lupes don't have opposable thumbs.