Ouka nodded mentally to Lyanti. He moved towards the den, sensing no one was with the pups. He figured he's do more good with them for now.

I'll watch the pups. Be careful brother.

Hearing the pup's conversation, he came through the bushes and announced,

"No one is going anywhere."

~~~

Maple quickly examined Fayte, placing a gentle paw on her wounds.  Nodding gravely she looked at Medina and said,

"We'll need to get these bullets out, but overall, she's not too hurt. I could take care of this easily."

~~~

Aeren saw Lyanti's determination and felt a wave of adrenaline.

"If you're going after them, I'm coming."

Ouka looked down at Kirano, and, seeing his confused look, punched himself in the gut for having forgotten that the poor pup couldn't hear.

I told the others not to go anywhere. Sorry.

Aurora glared at her Uncle, shooting mental icicles at him, and saying,

"I don't care what you say, I'm going to go help my sister!"

Without waiting for a reply from Ouka, she dashed away, her dark fur making her practically melt into the forest.

----

Kurano relayed Aurora's words to his brother and said,

She's right you know, we can't just sit here and do nothing.

----

Lyanti glanced at Aeren and nodded, putting on another burst of speed. The rumbling truck was only about twenty yard ahead, gaining speed as the driver noticed his persuers.

----

Medina nodded and stared off into the forest, looking for Ouka's comforting form but not finding him. He was long gone, back at the den with the pups she had forgotten. It sent a pang of guilt through her chest but she swallowed it down, returnign her attention to Maple and Fayte. She muttered,

"I'll keep guard, you just do what you have to."

Aeren sped along with Lyanti, forcing wind into the front of the truck in an attempt to slow it down.  He had another wind blow behind the two wolves running after the truck, helping their speed.

~~~

Ouka growled slightly.

"Aurora!!! Come back!!"

He took off after her, following her mind's trace and mentally ordering the other pups,

Don't go anywhere!!

~~~

Maple nodded and closed her eyes, trying to concentrate on the point of each wound where the most damage appeared to be. This would be where the bullet lay. Then, taking a deep breath, she grabbed a forked stick and stuck it into the wound, herself wincing at it.  Moving it for a moment, she felt it catch the bullet. Instantly, she pulled it out, healing the flesh behind it.

Ouka cursed as Aurora shut him out of her mind.  He stopped dead in his tracks, frustrated to be reduced to simple, basic means of finding her.  He smelled the air, trying to get her scent. Finding it, he followed a small trail that lead straight in front of him. Continuing on, he followed it to a small nook. Shoving his head in he barked,

"What did I say Aurora?!"

It was only after the skunk had half-blinded that he remembered his tracking skills were zero to none.

((Oh no!))

Fayte, having slightly woken up, winced as the bullet was removed. She felt the pain, and yet she didn't. She realized that, once again, she laid in the awareness between unconsious and consious.

Kirano watched as Ouka ran after his sister, smiling that she had the guts.

Kurano noticed the thought Kirano had and snorted, saying,

This is Aurora we're talking about, of course she has the guts.

---

Medina noticed Fayte's movement and glanced over. She asked,

"How do you feel?"

"Aurora!! Where'd you go?!! Aurora!"

Ouka blinked, wandering around without truly seeing where he was going, searching for her the best he could. He thought about his options and, seeking out his aid, he menatlly called at Medina woriedly,

Aurora's looking for her mother! I couldn't stop her!

~~~

Maple took in a deep breath and followed the same routine, seeking out the bullet and then removing it from Fayte's shoulders.  Placing a paw on Fayte's shouldner, she closed her eyes and healed up the wound. Bending down she looked at Fayte who had apparently partially woken up.

"Fayte?"

Medina's eyes went wide when she heard Ouka's message. She muttered,

"Oh no..."

Not wanting to make Fayte worry in her current state, Medina said,

"Ouka just called me, he said he needs help looking after the pups, they're a bit rowdy right now."

Without waiting for an answer, she took off.... heading in the opposite direction of the den. She cursed her lack of foresight but pressed on anyways, it's wasn't as if Maple could chase after her. She sniffed at the air, commanding the wind to help her search for the renegade pup's scent.

Fayte was still barely awake, and only vaugly heard the voices around her. She wasn't quite awake enough to talk, but when the second bullet was removed, she winced again.

Kirano nodded.
I guess you have a point, there.

Maple watched Medina go in silence. She knew she needed to stay with Fayte. Glancing at her, she knew that it was just a matter of time until she would wake up. Fayte would regain conciousness when she was ready, there was nothing else for Maple to do now but watch over her. Geting up for a moment, she went and brought the pup she had left behind towards her mother.

"I'm so sorry sweety..."

~~~

Ouka, capable of sight now, looked around for any sign of Aurora. He couldn't smell a thing past the skunk.  He kept contact with Medina, tracking her path.

Can you smell her?

Medina caught the scent after a while and turned to follow it. She replied to Ouka,

i have it... follow me.

----

Aurora gasped for breath as she continued to run through the bushes in order to hide herself. Her mother's scent was growing stronger as she proceeded and she sped up just a bit more.... just enough to shorten her reaction time as a ditch appeared in front of her. Unable to stop in time, she slipped in, tumbling head over heels into the muck below. She pawed at the edges of the ditch but was unable to gain any purchase. Tears welling at her eyes, she ran down the entire length, only to reach a dead end. she reversed direction and went the other way. All she found was the jagged edge of a cliff. The wind ripped at her fur and she backed up into the protection of the ditch, sitting down in the mud and squeaking.... *cough cough* um howling for help.

-----

Lyanti crossed the final distance between him and the truck, flash-stepping into the bed. He roared through the back window, startling the driver and sending the truck off-road and into a tree.

Medina nodded before flying on, following Aurora's scent. After a while, she didn't have to, she could hear the pup's cried for help comming from not too far ahead. Once she reached the ditch, however, she almost fell out of the sky. All around Aurora were spikes made out of ice, surrounding the pup in a kind of defensive barrier.

----

Once Aurora's tear had started to flow, there was no stopping them. Every tear that hit the ground grew into another icy spike. When she saw Medina and Ouka appear, she shakily asked them,

"What's happening to me?"

She didn't expect them to know.

----

Kurano's ears pricked up as he felt an energy surge off in the direction Aurora had gone. He told Kirano,

You feel that?

----

Lyanti pounced on the driver as he stumbled out of his truck, dazed. He knew humans couldn't understand wolfspeak, but his growl got the message across better than any words could have. He snarled to Aeren,

"Rip this hunk of metal to pieces, we'll let this meatbag walk to whatever hellhole he came from."

Kirano nodded, and a shiver ran down his spine.
It is more than just all of the adults using their power. It is something....stronger.

Kioko laid baside Fayte, not wanting to be too far apart from her.