A/N: Sorry for the wait, got caught up a bit with life and other interests. An' FFN didn't feel like letting me post this for two days. Or it could have just been my computer being grumpy again.

SqueekyPhr33k- Wow, you reviewed fast… Once again, continuing onwards.

Tek- Really? You think it's good? I don't even think I've gotten past the setup of the story and into actual plot yet… Well, I'm glad you like the set-up!

Disclaimer: Jhonen Vasquez owns the Irkens. I guess I somewhat sorta kinda own these early Irkens, but they wouldn't exist without his version. Since this is set in the (very distant) past, I own all the characters and all other species mentioned.

P.S.: Because I was curious, I set up a NationStates account for the pack. It's if you want to create your own nations. The pack account is the first address with /lanork at the end of it. (Grin) I got their economy down to "basket case" in about a day.

P.P.S.: Please note that The Disputed Territories of Lanork is run by five different rulers attempting to run the country their way. Decisions are made by voting and physical violence and the younger alphas seem to be winning. So The D.T. of Lanork is really being poorly represented since it's run by characters not yet introduced.

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The Trail

Moody and absorbed in his own mind as he was, Kintore couldn't ignore the energy in the air. He had been acutely aware of such energies for as long as he could remember but had yet to find an explanation as to where this extra sense had come from. He would admit to himself that it was useful, but energy levels as high as those of the present caused an irksome buzzing in the back of his mind and a sharp, constricting pain on the top of his skull.

Arktos groaned loudly, a drawn out call of longing. A keening whine escaped his mouth along with a gurgling purr. He moved faster, almost trampling Roydon as he crashed through the forest. He bellowed from the new path, yelling at them to follow.

Roydon scowled at the path Arktos had created from the refuge of a tree. He stood vertically on it, claws digging into the trunk. He turned around, fingers splayed to hold the upside-down pose, before he jumped to the ground. Above them, a Pirkku chattered in amusement. It mockingly fell off the branch it was on, only to catch the branch with its long tail. It gracefully flipped its small, fine-feathered body onto another branch as Roydon snarled and moved to go after the potential meal.

The Pirkku paused, ready to bolt, before turning to face Roydon. It settled its weight on its haunches, green tail curling around its plump brown body to stroke thoughtfully at its beak. Enraged, Roydon lunged at the creature. Startled, Kintore pounced on Roydon as the Pirkku whipped its tail around. Green, black, and crimson slashed the air in front of them, just missing Roydon's face.

The Pirkku paused, tail and unsheathed claw poised to strike again. A second bellow sounded from the forest. The Pirkku turned its head to scream dominance at the sound. When another bellowed response reached them, the Pirkku screeched its challenge before charging through the trees.

Roydon growled deeply, a wild snarl escaping his clenched fangs. With a feral roar, Roydon lunged forward, bursting out from underneath Kintore. He pelted off after the Pirkku as Kintore yelped, his face connecting with the ground none too kindly. He scrambled back to his feet to chase after Roydon. He knew all too well how deadly Pirkku really were.

Arktos steadily plowed towards his destination, carving the forest to suit his desires. The fact that Kintore and Roydon were not with him didn't bother the behemoth. The three didn't share a bond that tied them inseparably to each other. They had become only close enough to care for the general well-being of each other, with Kintore being much more sentimental than either he or Roydon.

Of course, Arktos did owe his bulk to the others. While Kintore and Roydon had been birthed almost simultaneously, Arktos had come solidly after them. He had since been content to be last in everything except feeding. While he had been generally apathetic towards everything except food, Kintore and Roydon had been bursting with energy.

They frequently hunted for food, amiably allowing Arktos their toy once it died. Inspired by Dakkurru's song they roamed far and wide, leaving Arktos to the doting care of the pack's females. He had soon grown fat on meat and milk, his inactive lifestyle ensuring his bulk for the rest of his years.

A content purr welled in his throat, covered by a nearby scream. He ignored the call, pushing forward. The forest split around his mass and he purred again.

The forest wall exploded behind him, leaves flying upwards before falling to coat the ground. Chest heavy and eyes flashing, a Pirkku crouched on the ground, regarding the large Archai. Arktos paused, looking back at the small green and brown creature. They stayed like that for a moment, regarding each other. Roydon's enraged snarls sounded not far off.

Arktos grunted softly, lifting his chin slightly. The Pirkku tilted its head to better regard him. The tail that had previously been caressing the air lowered, curving around to stroke the ground before its owner. With the slightest of throaty growls, Arktos turned away to continue on his way.

The Pirkku opened its beak slightly in a cruel grin, eyes slitted as it emitted a dark, pleased coo. The armless creature lifted itself to pad after the larger being. The hunter it had mocked earlier screamed from the forest.

Arktos raised an antenna at the Pirkku as it followed him. He gave it a light, warning growl, lifting his lip to show his teeth. The Pirkku listened to the warning, glanced at the teeth, and dropped back submissively. It trotted by the other's side, eyes narrowing in pleasure as its last victim promised pain from somewhere nearby.

With a soft, adoring coo, the Pirkku ran its tail along the other's side, dipping lower to touch the Archais's stomach. Arktos stiffened at the first touch, wary of it gentleness. As the tail touched unprotected flesh, however, Arktos reacted.

Roydon pounded through the forest, eyes darkened to crimson. He opened his mouth to suck in air, exhaling with a heavy, ragged pant. A growl escaped his throat, deep and dangerous, yet marred by his harsh breaths. Behind him, Kintore continued to shout warning as he panted and struggled to take in enough air to both run and yell.

They burst through the forest's last line, coming out onto the path Arktos had made. Kintore cried his last warning, pleading with Roydon to remember and think. Roydon rumbled a growl, his mouth a firm line. The growl died, tapering off into nothing. His eyes tightened briefly before relaxing from their glare and his antennae slumped backwards. Kintore's warnings petered off and he fell silent.

Arktos stood, body twisted, with his rounded face set into a visage of fury. He treated the others to a rumbling growl, flexing his soiled claws. No sound came from the Pirkku as the claws were plunged deeper into its body. Arktos snarled, teeth bared and eyes shining lines of crimson as he turned heavily to face his destination. As he moved forward, the Pirkku fell from his grasp, only to be impaled again when he stepped purposely on it.

Grunting, Arktos bent his head to retrieve it. Carrying the now very dead Pirkku in his mouth he continued on his way. Behind him, Roydon sighed, abandoning his ire in favor of resignation of the fact that at least the Pirkku was dead.

As the two continued forward, Kintore sighed. His head and antennae lowered as he slowly followed along behind the others. How much longer, he mused, would it take before they were gone too?