Alone, she sat alone in her chamber. The darkness was a welcoming blanket, the silence a soothing lullaby. Her thoughts were what she dreamed about. However when she slept, she dreamt about real dreams, dreams of conquest and glory. They had stayed hidden, even back when she was a puppy, the days when her father ruled the Clan. Her father, now there was a Grandmaster.

Names were unimportant to Grandmasters, once you took up the mantle, the old you was dead. You had to embrace your right to rule and let that be your identity. What was her old name? She had forgotten, so much had she let her title absorb her. Many were growing impatient. Those who had been in the Clan long enough had been drilled about their ideals since birth. She could most especially see this impatience with Cain.

Cain was a different story altogether. He wasn't a high ranking general, but she had made him her personal errand boy so to speak. His own mother had no strength after she birthed him, dying only a few second afterwards. There he was, so small and alone. Something inside her sparked the moment she saw him. Perhaps it was a yearning? In her younger days, a few years after she had take on the mantle, she had sought to birth an heir. Many of the clan males were eager to sire the next Grandmaster, but complication arose.

Sickness struck her, crippling for weeks. When it was done she was healthy save for one thing- she was unable to bear. That was it, the end of the Grandmaster line. The Conclave needed to inhabit a body, so as to keep the power and wisdom of countless generations alive. Parent to child that was the way it had been. Without a successor, there would be no way. Adopting Cain seemed to be to fill that void to a certain degree, but there was still the matter of passing the torch.

That's where the matter came to Setsu.

A perfect container had been hard to find. Satsu was the first attempt, but she resulted in failure. From the initial tests Setsu passed with flying colors. Her body had been able to handle a fraction of the spirits. Yet she still needed the proper training. They had given her luxury only befitting those of the highest breeding. Of course there were training exercises and ritual rights. Those may have been less strenuous then the soldiers went through, nevertheless they were still important.

"Just a little while longer." She said reassuringly. Whom she spoke to was unknown only to her. The only indication she referred to being the way she ran her paw down her chest.

Suddenly a spike of what seemed like pain etched up to her face.

"Yes, yes I know."

The matter of Cain came up again. She could see the lustful eye in her ward, the lust all males had at some point or another. Yet the lust wasn't directed toward the one she wanted. That in itself became a problem. Only one she felt would suitably pair with Cain and she would make certain to arrange that. Anything else would just be unacceptable. A plan had been saved, save in case the scenario didn't plan out accordingly. The pained spike came up again.

"I know what I'm doing." She argued.

The pain came again, this time not seeming, but real. "You'd better whelp!" The Conclave demanded. The voice of her father always at the forefront, she would make him proud of her, just this once.

XXX

With thud, the puppy was rammed against a tree. "NO! NO! I'M SORRY, I PROMISE I WON'T DO IT, I PROMISE, I PROMIS-"

"Shut up!" His punisher snarled. "You skipped training for nothing. You lay in your bed, hiding. Did you expect none of the officers would see you?"

"I-I d-didn't… I DIDN'T MEAN IT, I DIDN'T MEAN-"

With one swift motion, the young female Border Collie pressed her paw over the screaming puppy's windpipe and pressed down. Its breath and howling were abruptly cut off, making it choke horribly. Kicking out and thrashing, it desperately attempted to break free from its torturer's oppressive hold. She didn't let go. Only when the puppy was frothing at the mouth, eyes rolling back into its tiny head, limbs flailing with weakening strength, did she bother to say anything.

"I will never repeat an order. I will never repeat any information I've given your pitiful body. I expect you to follow then and NOT afterward." Her voice was barely a whisper, but the puppy's silencing body made it quite clear what she was saying. With every emphasized word, she'd drive her paw in a little harder. "Got it?"

The puppy didn't respond. From the way it looked, it seemed either dead or passed out. But the Border Collie knew the difference between the two. From the pup's still foaming mouth and barely moving chest, she could tell it was still barely conscious. Normally, the honey-furred dog would have continued pressing on his throat till he was unconscious. However, the puppy had to make up for training classes it had missed.

Almost in a bored fashion, she removed her paw from the puppy's throat.

For a few moments, there was no response from the spastically drooling puppy's body. It remained still, simply laying on the ground. At least, until she kicked the puppy in the chest and stomach successively. With a loud gasping noise, the puppy's mouth burst open as it heaved for air. The Collie only waited until it slowly rolled over onto its belly.

"Get up. Now." The pup only waited until it had gotten another breath or two, then immediately obeyed, wide eyed and fearing.

"You will go to class. And you will not miss another one. If so, my commander will deal with you. Leave." Chest still heaving heavily, the puppy skittered off into the camp, moving as fast as possible. Lazarus's daughter Maria grimly smiled. Rule by fear of pain and its wielder. Such an effective way to operate.

She turned around and slipped off, melting into the trees. But as she ran quietly through the woods, her thoughts drifted off to some information she'd gained from her father and overheard.

The clan had started out simply enough. Find, conquer, grow, and repeat. If the conquered tried to fight back, you were to beat them into submission, no questions asked. Training lessons were one giant coliseum, with the puppies and average trainees being the gladiators. The Grandmaster had supervised this action, linking the beaten and the victors with her tainted blood before the fight.

In a way, they were a forced family, and an even more forced alliance. Still, many of the dogs forced into the clan due to hunger and greed often grew shrewd and clever through these beatings, going much further than those with swelled egos. Those whom were cunning less bullies had their fun during puppyhood… and then were promptly destroyed upon entering adulthood by one now crafty dog whom they'd pushed around at one time.

Revenge had been taken on inside the clan's borders more than once. The Grandmaster had turned her head and looked the other way more than once. Particularly when the killer had a beautifully executed revenge. If they'd done well with it, the Grandmaster would watch them, judge their intelligence. Those with fairly low ambitions other than revenge and killing were "somehow found" by the Grandmaster's guards and trained to achieve more difficult and complex goals for her. Anyone whom wished to overthrow the Grandmaster, on the other hand….

Some killings had became legends. None of the puppies would forget about what had happened to Toru.

"He was plotting against the Grandmaster," they'd fearfully whisper. "Almost had an entire rebellion going on with a few stupid lower guards. Stupid, stupid guards!"

At that point, someone accustomed to hearing the horrible story would take their role. "What happened to him?"

"What happened to him? What happened to him? You idiot dog- they found Toru hanging inside a thorn bush, all torn to pieces. And that wasn't the worst part."

"What? What?" the terrified group would ask.

"When they looked at what was left intact of his head, they found a dead crow stuffed inside his throat! A whole crow! Claws, beak, and all!" the teller would furiously whisper, eyes wide or throwing up their paws.

"But who did it?" The group nearly screamed- nearly, because they were trying to keep as quiet as possible while being emphatetic- all eagerling awaiting the answer.

"No one knows- or, at least, no one besides the Grandmaster and her guards- and maybe not even them! But I'll tell you something-" the dog would hollowly whisper, leaning in. "-everyone thinks it was Cain or Lazarus."

And then the entire group would shut up. (Maria couldn't help but feel a small spot of pride here.)

Neither Lazarus nor Cain were dogs you wanted to mess with. Even if Cain was higher up than Lazarus, the majority of the groups secretly agreed it was probably Lazarus who'd done it- and possibly on Cain's orders. Though some were scared of Drake the Child Eater, he didn't wield NEAR as much power or influence over them as Cain and Lazarus did. And power and influence were very important in the clan.

With power and influence, you could chose whom would grow to be an educated dog or whom would be a beat-up fool. You could chose whether you wanted to eat a rabbit or a weasel- …..or a dead pup. And you could chose whom to pick as your mate.

Mates. What a difficult subject in the clan. The Grandmaster was always willing to have new puppies in the clan, particularly ones born of two clan members. But taking care of a pregnant female whom couldn't do much while being pregnant was a big task. "Survival of the fittest" would never stop continuing for the clan, and there were no exceptions- pregnant or not.

The pregnant females would be excused from more stressful jobs, yes, but they still had to arrive at the fresh kill pile as fast as possible in order to get the large amount of food they needed- while also carrying out several of their required jobs. A large amount of the slower females realized that carrying pups would make it impossible for them to survive in a situation they were already having trouble with- and resolved not to have pups unless they found a mate whom could help them out.

This "class" of mate came from said mate being a higher up member of the clan, or being high up yourself. This left many of the lower officers completely unable to find mates- something both daughters of Lazarus didn't care for. There'd always be a near endless supply of orphaned and run-away puppies, so why care about creating them yourself?

Still, Maria thought musingly, Since everyone whom enters the clan had a blood fusion from the Grandmaster, making them family, doesn't that technically make finding a mate incest? She paused. No, probably not- I guess I just don't care about it, though I wouldn't mind it either. And with that extremely disturbing thought, Maria left to report to her father and sister.

XXXXX

Cain prowled through the camp, watching other dogs pass by. Momentarily interested in what was being talked about, he flicked his ears to listen in on other's conversations, but didn't pick up anything but the regular garble that usually went on. Interest now waned, he rotated his ears back to the front. It was too bad he didn't have anything to do right now, seeing the Grandmaster had sent him away for a while.

Cain snorted. 'Sent him away for a while.' It sounded like he was a failed guard. He wasn't amused. But the Grandmaster's word was law, and fighting against her order would have just pushed him slightly out of her favor. So Cain had simply replied, "Yes, Grandmaster" and left. Now he was sauntering through the outer middle of the camp, with nothing to do.

Yawning, Cain glanced around. Every now and then a dog would bark his name or hunch down in submission, vying for his approval, but these attempts weren't very extreme, and were generally ignored by the surrounding clan members. Cain went around the several times, trying to make himself look unworried and normal- or at least as normal as he could be. It was rare for him to leave the Grandmaster's side, and if the clan witnessed him away from the Grandmaster and pacing in a seemingly worried way, there would be unrest.

So Cain tried to keep himself occupied in the most natural way possible. He ordered some guards around and ate some freshly killed squirrels. After that he tried to look like he had some interest in the hunting schedules, but he found his mind wandering. The Grandmaster was making him suspicious. Yes, he should remain loyal to her, but he needed to know whom were her spies. When he himself needed to cover up a small rebellion, or have Lazarus "dispose" of someone, he needed to know whom her extended eyes were.

Cain looked around for one more time. He almost went back to the Grandmaster- until something caught his eye. A flash of white fur near the bushes… Cain focused his eyes on it. A Saluki and a short-haired bird dog were walking the border together on the afternoon patrol. There was nothing wrong or suspicious with this- Cain had seen the bird dog before somewhere, and he was pretty sure his name was Pryu. But as the two passed, Cain took in their scents. The bird dog held a slightly musty smell, a dark clingy scent shared with most of the clan members, and a strong but small trace of musk common to the all males, but the Saluki….

There was no musk on it- her. Instead, there was the presence of some blood- no doubt from when she'd eaten recently- and the musky smell was very let up on, she having her own scent which had been mixed with clan members she had been around. But what made Cain interested was a particular smell that hung around closer to her fur.

It was a semi-sweet, semi-bitter smell that enticed him and drew him in. How long had it been since he'd caught wind of a female in heat? The Grandmaster kept him occupied with her consuming job, not leaving any time for females. The majority of the females he could've had wanted mates whom they didn't want to be manipulated by them or anyone close to them- even the dumbest ones knew at least that. But his immediate attraction to her was astounding. It was not fully attraction as it was minor lust- he had been cut off from all female's company other than ordering them around, with the exception the Grandmaster, for so long.

Cain clenched his jaw, forcing the smell out of his system. The Saluki and bird dog has passed along their paths, leaving him be… at least for now. But he knew he'd run into them- particularly the in-heat female- at one point or another. Hopefully, she would be out of heat the next time she caught his attention- because Cain wasn't sure what he'd do if they were left alone and her guard was done otherwise.

XXX

"Kana?"

"Nope."

"Rukia?"

"No."

"Julia?"

That answer only received a look that asked "Are you crazy?"

"What about Maria?" Alucard asked.

Once more Mao gave him a look bearing the same expression, this time however he spoke. "Geez why don't you just ask me to jump of a cliff?

Alucard let out a chuckle. "Oh come on they aren't that bad looking."

"No, but they're Lazarus's daughters." Mao answered.

Likewise, Alucard thought deeply. "Yeah who would want o have that chain around your neck."

Since Mayu had beaten them, the two men nursed their wounds while talking. Mayu had gone off for some alone time, or girl time as she put it. Girls were the subject the two were talking about. Many girls lay within the Clan, so many ripe for the taking. Alucard had been the first to spring it up and Mao found himself going along with it. So far each female that was brought up was shot down.

"Come on Mao there's got to be at least one girl you like." Alucard reasoned. They were at that age.

"Alucard I'm just not interested." Mao replied with affirmation.

"Not even for Setsu?"

Another look was delivered in his direction. "Okay I got the message but I'm surprised, most males would be all over getting a mate."

Mao yawned and stretched. "Not me, happy being by myself."

"Yeah but between the two of you I think Mayu has a better chance of being Auntie Mayu."

Mao chuckled upon what his friend just said. "Maybe." The mental image of his sister as an aunt was much easier than her pregnant, big, round and oh god there it was again! The image pressed in his head bouncing up and down. Against his own judgment he put the sagging belly Mayu back into place. That image at least was much more bearable.

"You know it's getting close to that time." Alucard suddenly said.

Mao knew it was a change of subject. Good enough for him as he wanted no more talk of females and love.

"What?" Came his own question.

Alucard scratched one of his ears. A scent of nervous hesitation seemed to radiate from the movement. "Sacrifice."

Sacrifice. There was a reason for that dread. Every year there was one. Mayu and Mao were always present for one. Everyone in the clan would be gathered, everyone. Then again it may have not been everyone, but the sheer amount of dogs that crammed inside was large in volume. The purpose of the sacrifices were never clear, at least to the twins; Alucard seemed to have a better understanding of it but he never really disclosed it. Out of the years they had been in the clan they had seen much. Normally it was a small animal such as a weasel or squirrel, yet sometimes a clan member would "volunteer" to be one. What always disturbed them was the bloodshed, the sacrifices always entailed a lot of blood.

First they would hold the sacrifice down, next they would take a claw of sorts, similar to a human's knife. Taking said claw/knife, it would then carve into the victim's chest cavity. Mao could always remember the look of pain, followed by stillness as the sacrifice breathed their last breaths.

"In a few days they'll probably pick something." Alucard noted.

"You think it'll be prey or a member? Mao asked.

Alucard gave a shrug. "Who knows? I don't think they need a reason to pick anyone in particular." Looking up, he could see the sun painting the sky orange, it would be an otherwise lovely sight if not for the circumstances that loomed. "Whatever bleeds the most."

Mao could understand that. Honestly he hoped it wasn't a Clan member. To be honest he felt a bit in the betrayal category. They were all so loyal to the teachings, only to be slaughtered. There was one look of such betrayal last year. A young male not even past adolescence had been chosen. His eyes looked wide with fright as he looked about the chamber as his fellow clansmen chanted and praised. Those eyes remained fear filled as they drove that blade into him and freed his heart from its flesh prison.

Mao hoped nobody would have to go through with that again.

XXXXX

Hyra wasn't really a bad dog. OK, so maybe he was. The Clan wasn't famed for raising dogs of excellent role model, and seeing Hyra was a decent rank up there, he wasn't exactly an angel. But both he and his mate Shulma were harmless enough when left alone. Maybe it was the Basset Hound gene in him. Hyra had a large tendency to drool, and not the threatening kind of drool either. But all in all, Hyra had the basics you wanted in a dog: loyalty, unwavering faith, and complete obedience. Hyra would ask no questions, believing his superiors to be smarter and more well thought out than himself, and thus just accepted whatever they told him automatically and followed it through. For the most part, he would've made an excellent grunt in the clan, but his sharp nose and eyes where needed for a particular job. Pilling total obedience and humbleness on his keen senses and decent bite strength, his job was a relatively simple one: being a messenger and a look out. It only just so happened that he was the messenger and look out for the sacrifice ritual, and that Cain was seeking a meeting with him.

"…I trust this would be no problem?" The two dogs were sitting away from the rest of the camp, having the meeting under a large ash tree at the eastern end of the camp. Cain had just made a few formalities to Hyra, which, of course, he'd completely ignored. Formalities didn't matter when talking to your master. He was master, and you just had to do whatever he said. (Hyra had a bit of tame dog in him, courtesy of his Basset hound blood, and therefore had latched onto his superiors as if they were friendly human masters.)

"No, M- Cain, sir, no." Hyra licked his nose, mentally whiting out the name "Cain" and replacing it with "Master."

"So you'll make sure to do it, and no slip-ups?"

"No, Cain-" Master. "-Sir, no." Another more enthusiastic lick of the nose, this time slopping on a layer of slobber, which began to drip done. Cain scooted back a few inches.

"…you know, Hyra, if you play your station right, there may a few extra pieces of fresh kill at the pile for you…" He paused to observe the look on Hyra's face at the statement. A blank look with droopy jowls and a reservoir of drool slowly beginning to form in their folds greeted him. Absolutely no effect. Cain didn't trust anyone, not even when the Grandmaster hinted they were trustworthy. He just didn't believe someone would do something for free, unless under a threat. So he tried again. "…or for that mate of yours, Shulma. I hear she's been looking thin lately." Blatant lie. Shulma was just as sturdy and wrinkly as ever. Cain swore she had some bloodhound in her, being a head and half taller than her mate, and half a head taller than anyone else in the clan. But it worked.

"…well, Shulma HAS been saying she's hungry lately…" ….then again, she's gonna have puppies sometime later, but I guess he knows that already, being master. "OK. I wouldn't mind extra food."

Cain heard the sound of a trap snapping shut in his head. Got you! He mentally exclaimed. All Hyra heard was the sound of his own drool rushing from its endless well in his mouth. "So you know what to do, then?" "Right," Hyra responded, bobbing his head up and down in agreement, and unintentionally watering the ground. "When they're picking the sacrifice, you're going to go take a white Saluki for questioning, so she won't be there. I'll just tell everyone else she was plotting against the Grandmaster, or was in on it. At least, you think she is." Hyra completely and fully believed the lie about Mayu without a second thought. "Right." Cain responded. "I'll deliver your fresh kill tomorrow."

Hyra blinked. Getting a treat from master? The domesticated side in him swooned. "Yes, sir , Cain, sir!" He bayed happily, his floppy and dangling jaw skin being jerked up and down. Spit launched out in ropes, only to flop short on the forest floor.

Cain moved out of the way as fast as possible. "Make sure you do it!" He hastily added before running off. Hyra was then left to himself, and, feeling smug yet somewhat bewildered at Cain's run, left to go impart the news to Shulma.

XXXX

Alucard, Mao, and Mayu looked at each other uncomfortably, and not just because the former two were still sore from their beating. Tonight was the time. The whole clan buzzed in a hive of gossip and fearful yet wanting voices. The choice would be made tonight. Even Setsu felt a small pang of unease, and then reassured herself she was safe from it, which only smothered the pang, not ridding herself of it. No one was quite sure what would be said and done. The act itself was not to be done today, oh no. But this was an audition for their gruesome play. And the actors all were thirsting in fear and a sense of strict devotion for the answer. For tonight was special.

Tonight was the night the sacrifice would be chosen.

Alucard scratched his ear. Mao sniffed the air. "Honestly, whom- what- do you think is going to be chosen this year?" His words seemed to be another layer on the whispered gossip.

"I don't know," Mayu admitted.

"No one does until someone's chosen," Alucard replied. The threesome sat quietly for a moment. The sacrifice would be chosen tonight, only to be killed three days later on the eve of the third day. All of those in their group, and all the adults, really, knew about this tradition and followed it through. There was no complaining, no protesting. Most of them enjoyed the slice of violence and cruel devotion that was displayed on sacrifice day, some even going so far as to want to be the sacrifice. Their wishes went unfulfilled, however, the sacrifice usually being of very young age, aka puppies or cubs being chosen much more frequently than adults. But they wouldn't have to wait much longer to see who'd be chosen. The clan had gathered near the meeting point, a large, flat rock, and they were waiting on the sacrifice pickers to emerge. A sense of impatience filled the air.

Mayu got up. "I'm going to take a short walk. I can't stand this atmosphere any more…"

Mao scrambled up to his feet. "Me too. The uneasiness here is so thick in the air I can almost eat it- then again, it's always like this around sacrifice time."

Mayu took a few steps forward before Mao paused in one of his steps. "Alucard, you coming?"

Alucard shook his head. "I think I'll pass on this round. I'm a little sore." He and Mao shared a knowing look.

Mayu snorted and walked on. "Catch up with me later, Mao." Before he could reply, she took off, trotting away, as Mao turned back to Alucard. But what she didn't see was the dog that casually began following in her footsteps at a distance.

Mao turned his head away from Alucard, arching his ears. "Was that one of the guards?"

XXXXX

Mayu walked around the edge of the trees. It was good to be out of the stressful air of the sacrifice area, though she would have to return to it to hear the sacrifice's name. But there was something uneasy about, and she just couldn't seem to find it… A stick cracked behind her. Someone had been following her. Mayu whirled around. Suddenly, she found herself face-to-face with a long legged mutt.

"You are under arrest. Do not attempt to fight back."

Mayu felt a shock ripple through her fur. "….what?" She bounced back a few inches. The dog stared at her coolly.

"Move back again and I'll make sure you'll be in more trouble in than you know existed."

She couldn't help scoffing, though it wasn't a strong one. "Just you try it." A low growl grew in her chest, and the same from the other dog's. Mayu's fur bristling, she slowly and purposely lifted her front foot and moved it forward, crunching twigs underneath it. The other dog's growl went down the fraction of an octave, and it cautiously edged backwards. Mayu's growl subsided, though it was still a low rumble in her chest. "Who sent you to arrest me?"

"You should know." Mayu leaped around as the voice came from behind her, feeling something ram into her shoulder-

The thick muzzle of an Akita loomed down at her. "You're under arrest for the ultimate crime-" she pushed her foot down into her fur. "-plotting against the Grandmaster!"

Mayu's jaw dropped open in disbelief, and her guard was let down momentarily. It was all the guard needed. With a single deft moment she pounced on her stomach, winding her completely and then setting her teeth into her scruff. In a vicious jerk, she reared and pulled her to her feet, the other guard rushing forward and wedging her between them. Several other dogs near them which had heard the snarled accusation were suddenly caught by two other guards, being forced into submission and having teeth bared at them. They were not to say a word about this scheme and scene, and doing so would guarantee a fate worse than death. But Mayu didn't hear these whispered threats. Still slightly dizzy from the blow to her belly and all that was going on, but swiftly recovering, she was being forced to rapidly walk through the camp.

By the time her thoughts had clicked into place and she'd gotten her breath back, the two guards had taken her to the far end of the camp. Mayu noticed they'd taken a short cut behind the dens. "What are you doing, you furred scu-" The two dogs abruptly shoved toward each other, squeezing Mayu in a vise like grip. For a thin Saluki, this was enough to make her be briefly silenced. The two suddenly relaxed for a moment, allowing Mayu to speak again. "What are you lot doing?" There wasn't as much force in voice as she'd hoped there'd be. The mutt couldn't help but get a cold smirk.

"Cain would like to have a word with you," he hissed.

Mayu felt anger and confusion rise in her chest and turned toward him. "Ca-" The two dogs came to stop, the Akita biting at her shoulder without warning. Mayu gave a stifled yelp, a thin bead of blood running down her shoulder.

"We're here." The Akita announced grimly. Mayu turned her head to face forward again, biting down in a grimace of pain, but it was replaced with a new type of grimness when she beheld the thing in front of her. A low slung cave entrance greeted her to the scents of fear, despair, and dried urine and blood. They'd arrived at the torture chamber.

Mayu's gut wrenched. She knew this place. She'd had to escort a poor Terrier here when he disobeyed orders and ran from the clan. He'd been held here two days. When he came out, half of his scruff and tail were gone and he was a quivering wreck. And now she was being shoved into this hellhole over a false accusation on sacrifice selection day. What is going on? With a shove, the two threw her toward the entrance. Mayu dug her claws into the ground, trying to get a purchase. It failed, and with a sudden lurch and hit from behind, she fell forward, tumbling into the cave. The instant she was in, she spun around, snarling a challenge. "Damn it, why am I in here? I don't have anything to do with the Grandmaster!"

"But you do have something to do with me," a voice remarked silkily.

Mayu whirled around for the second time that day. Prowling out of the darkness and into the small window of light in the cave was Cain. "You…!"

"Hello, Mayu," Cain casually remarked. He slowly stalked forward, moving over spots of bloodstained rock. Mayu didn't move. "I see you got the arrest order… nice to have your company here." His voice sounded dangerously deceiving in the small but echoing room. Cain sharply turned his head toward the guards lingering outside. "Go watch the trail here and make sure nobody is coming. I'll be interrogating the prisoner."

"Yes, Cain, sir." The pair ran away. Mayu could still here their vanishing footsteps.

"…what do you want?" There was no sound of respect in her voice. She harbored utter loathing toward Cain, the one whom had dragged her into this twisted replacement for a family. And since she was already being questioned for something she had nothing to do with, she decided to take it all the way.

Cain began to slowly circle her. "…They're almost ready to chose a sacrifice, you know. Such a bloody business."

Mayu's fur bristled. "WHAT DO YOU WANT?" Cain continued to prowl around her.

"It's much safer down here. Would you rather be stuck with the choosers or with me?" He paused, then suddenly lunged toward her. Mayu skidded back into the middle. The floor was worn away into a rough texture from all the dogs that had walked- or thrashed in pain- in it.

"…what the hell are you saying?" Mayu flexed her paws. She suddenly felt nervous and her mouth dry.

Cain's voice dropped to a purr. "…you do know what I'm saying, Mayu. Don't tell me you don't feel it. It's your time of year, after all."

Mayu drew back her lips. "You sick cur. I'd never have you, not even if you were the last dog in this whole place." Mayu also slipped into a circle. She'd tried to hold back the look of shock on her face when Cain had mentioned her time. How had he known she was in heat? She was sure she'd done a good job of hiding the impulses and pressed attitude she received whenever in heat, and she hadn't glimpsed Cain once in her cycle.

With a snarl, he launched toward her, pawing her neck and trying to force her to the ground. Mayu roared in response, biting his paw and slipping out from under his foot. She danced away, sliding across the floor. For a few seconds she looked to the shoulder Cain had shoved down on. There was only a small dark smudge on it, nothing more. Looking up, she turned just in time to dodge out of Cain's way as lunged again. In the small deep room, there was not much area to maneuver, leaving Mayu trapped. Cain, despite all his moving, was keeping close to the entrance. Mayu felt constricted and her panting had forcefully increased. She'd never imagined this would be happening. BAM.

Cain rammed into her side, opening his mouth and latching it around the back of her neck. Mayu kicked and twisted, desperately trying to free herself as Cain shoved her to the floor, she felt his other paw moved to push her body done, barking filled the outside of the cave, or was it the inside? Havoc filled her eyes as her thrashing and attempted biting seemed to have no effect, she could feel Cain trying to tighten his grip on her before doing what he meant to do-

-a flash of white erupted in the corner of her eye, along with two other moving blurs.

A duo of voices screamed her name at the same time.

"MAYU!"