The lights are so beautiful.

[Talen]

Tamyran was resting, curled up against the cold that had crept in for the night, when her eyes suddenly peeked open and for no apparent reason at all. Perhaps it was her sense of alone-ness, for she didn't spy all of her pack mates around. Paxton was eager to search when she sent him out.

There was a small break of time where Tamyran sat waiting for Paxton to return, hoping nobody had fallen somewhere and noone was lost. She truly cared for her pack members, knowing that their choice to live in the mountains would lead to a hard yet rewarding life. The type of life she herself thought best., but not for everyone. She gazed up at the amazingly clear sky, where the moon shone somniferously, almost lulling her back to sleep. But then Paxton returned in a heap of energy and began to lead her immeadiately.

"You tell me if something's wrong now, Paxton." she mumbled warningly (even though we all know she can't do anything to him if she wanted). Tamyran sensed a certain mood that she was familliar with in him. One of his more childish moods. Paxton only said that whether it was wrong or not would be up to her decision, and kept moving. "Tammy, we're going here," he said, and an image of an icy area near the mountain top came into her mind. Tamyran went on as though sleep walking, and eventually she closed her eyes because Paxton would guide her foot steps.

Finally stopping, the female's eyes opened. She'd heard the voice of one of her Queros. She smelled the scent of her Beta along side her, and wondered. Paxton, did you enter their minds? Did you invade privacy? She thought almost angrily- it was a worried sort of anger. Because She had lived in fear of Paxton for part of her life, and some of that fear still remained. Tamyran cleared her throat. She wanted to make the two aware of her presence as politely as possible. She didn't know why she was led here, and Paxton was eager to show her. She felt a sensation in the air that revealed some tension, and something else. Tamyran knew of their feeling right then.

She had been looking right in Reverend's eyes, and she cast her eyes to the ground for a second. But looking down wasn't alpha-like. So she looked at Aksha instead. Reverend must know that she had invaded their privacy, she thought. They'd been talking about something private, and they must think she knew that too, she also thought. But she might be wrong. In her mind, Paxton chuckled at the stress he'd put on her. The alpha's eyes weren't a all readable, but her old friend probably could read her body language.

"Excuse me. I wasn't sure if you were alright," she said slightly scolding, but not really. Her eyes danced between them. Tamyran knew that Reverend was a very compassionate soul. Aksha, who was hurt emotionally and very private, could easily fall for him. She knew this even before stumbling upon them.

[Lanie]

Aksha smiled, an almost pup-like laugh escaping her. She batted at his front paws in mock fury, and would've said something had it not been for the voice behind them. "Excuse me. I wasn't sure if you were alright."
Her eyes widened in surprise, if not full shock. She sat up and turned her head, only just stopping her shoulders from pivoting and tumbling head-first through the ice. She pulled herself up before she'd even begun to fall, though, and turned more carefully. She wasn't sure if the statement was more directed at her or Reverend - both, more likely, but she was still cautious. She ducked her head in a respectful manner and blinked twice, darting her eyes to Reverend. "Tamyran," she said, feeling rather stupid in the one word. 'Of course it's Tamyran,' she thought. 'She is the alpha.' "We were just talking," she said, watching the alpha carefully. She saw nothing in her eyes - a deliberate sort of nothing, the type she'd seen before. "Suppose you'd like to join us?"
She didn't mean for the question to sound doubtful, really, not even the tiny bit that it did. She cast her eyes down slightly, holding in a shiver.

[Eastern]

Reverend nearly leaped out of his skin when he heard the second female voice. He flushed with embarrassment. He fought the urge to lay back his ears in shame. He wasn't embarrassed at being caught with Aksha, he was embarrassed for being caught playing with her.
"Hello there Tamyran." He said smiling. He could see from her posture that she was under stress. 'uh oh.' He thought putting space between him and Tamyran. It didn't help, the powerful emotion hit him like a boulder. He staggered back, gasping in pain. He had been able to block out Aksha's emotions up until now easily, since they were not as strong as an emotion as stress. With his defenses down, everyone's emotions came rushing in, and filled his head with a collage of feelings. A dull ache started in between his eyes, and moved up his skull and turned into a throbbing pain.
"Ah..." He sighed squeezing his eyes together. Underneath all the turmoil he sensed the lighter emotion of amusement. At first he thought it was Aksha, but it wasn't her. He growled when he realized who it was.
"Paxton." It came out as a threat. "What did you do this time?" He said, slowly shaking his head. "Please stop misbehaving,,,Tamyran really doesn't deserve it."

[Talen]

Tmyran felt sorry as soon as Reverend started to feel the emotions. "I'm not sure I should," she replied to Aksha, watching him react. She took a small step forward, wanting to help, but she knew she could only try and clear her own feelings. She took a deep breath and let some of it out. "I'm sorry," she repeated. Tamyran wasn't sure if her being an alpha was a good idea now.

"Did he invade your privacy?" She asked like a mother would inquire about her child's naughty behavior. They would have felt him if he entered their minds. "He didn't tell me details, my friends." She made sure they knew that she didn't know exactly what they were sharing about, that made her feel better. and hopefully them too.

[Lanie]

Aksha drew back slightly at his sudden convulsions, her head lowering slightly. Her own defenses were rearing up in her mind, the habits she'd developed. Run away, self-preservation. Instinct number one. It might not've been necessary here, but she was still herself. And she could not simply throw away five years of relying on only yourself away, not overnight.
Part of her felt guilty, for her own emotions and Reverends' having to endure them. And yet she remembered what he had told her, and it lessened the feeling a bit. But most of her was cautiously observing.

Paxton...the name of the demon inside of Tamyran, without doubt. She didn't fully understand it - but it was clear that Paxton's troubles to Tamyran were more aggressive then her own spirit. "Did he invade your privacy?" she had asked. Again, Aksha got the feeling that she really hadn't scratched the surface of Tamyran, or Paxton, or their relation. But whatever it was, she felt fairly safe just waiting it out for now.

So she backed a few steps away, hovering farther from the peak itself. She watched with strangely gleaming eyes, for a minute looking less like a concerned pack member then a wary onlooker.

[Eastern]

Reverend threw up his defenses finally, after feeling the sudden ease in Tamyran's emotions, but not before feeling the strange emotions from Aksha. He shot her a sad look, but it quickly returned it to his Alpha. "Nonsense." He said to Tamyran. "Of course you should join us, Aksha and I were just watching the stars. And do not worry, Paxton didn't invade my privacy, and if he had, I know that it isn't a reflection of your wishes Tamyran. He wouldn't have found anything that I'm ashamed of anyway." He said, walking forward and licking the side of Tamyrans face, a show of affection, but in a friendly manner, to calm her. "You must stop worrying! It's not good for your health." He said, the always present smile, securely on his lips.
Ah, Kind hearted Reverend, doing everything in his power to get his friends to feel happy again. He pushed Tamyran in the direction of were Aksha and him had been laying before turning to Aksha.
"Now you!" He said in mock anger. "Do not look so!" He said, striding up to her with an air of power, only slightly marred by the fact the he had slipped on the ice alittle, and had cracked a smile. "Come on!" He said, standing before her. Then dropped his voice, so only she could hear. "The days of just walking, of just exsisting... are over. We--" He stopped, and corrected himself. "I want you here." He gently reached forward and grabbed her ruff, and tugged her in the direction of the spot were they had been before.

[Talen]

Tamyran was glad again, and she took a seat to where Reverend had nudged her. Inside her, Paxton was silent. The fact that he didn't have so much control over Tamyran was starting to get him antsy for trouble. But she forgot that easily right now.

No longer so tired, she waited for Aksha to join her at the edge and looked out at the view. "Sometimes," she said, "I need this pack just as the lost souls we've taken in do." She wondered if her pack mates would survive on their own in these mountains, or if they would make their way out into the forests and grasslands beyond to her former co-alphas. Remembering Nevar and Carger, she thought there must be a reason why there were never three alphas of a pack. She smiled at the two of them with every facial feature but her eyes. They never changed.

[Lanie]

Aksha smiled, relenting and sliding over. She felt warmed even in the chilling wind and ice, a special warmth. She took a calming breath and looked over the edge, looking straight ahead. "Wolves are social creatures," she remembered saying. It was true, she supposed, glancing sideways at Tamyran then Reverend. She supposed that everyone wanted to belong, even her.

Her smile broadened. She did, really. "I don't believe we're lost, in a way," she said, shrugging slightly. "I mean, don't you think in a way that we're supposed to be here?" She stretched her neck, and smiled slightly. Looking out at the stars, it was hard for her, at least, to believe otherwise. The land itself...it was alive. The wind was its breath, the animals inside its pulse.

[Eastern]

Reverend laid down behind the two females, watching them. He was already friends with both, well he hoped he was friends with Aksha, so he wanted to let the ladies get to know each other. He smiled as he remembered Aksha's...spirit. Those two are alike, I wonder if they will realize that.

Reverend may have some problems with his packmate's emotions, but he felt happy watching the ladies together, so he lost his doubts for being the beta.