Let's Go. Meur. Jaaku.

[LAD]

Meurtrier: Orpheus, Ali, Alistair, Asesinato, Darian, Darius, DarkMoon, DarkStar, Devyn, Ebony, Finn, Fiona, Iris, Jade, Jesse, Jocelyn, Jupiter, Kadence, Kenya, Kyali, Leonardo, Malluce, Neraine, Oscar, Samara, Shaw, Shinku, Vespera, Vitanali, Zoria

Jaaku: Aidan, Nixen, Kairos, Orion, Azalea, Iona, Raxon


Aidan and Nixen had taken well into the role that had been bestowed upon their joint leadership. They had been approved by those necessary, and had decided that the first thing to do was to begin to work on their young ones skilled. Isaer proved that they weren't trained properly, and Aidan and Nixen had taken it upon themselves to set up training sessions and begin sending out regular patrols. This was their land as much as it was Meurtrier and they needed to step up too. Orpheus found himself sitting with the two Demonic Lions, speaking with them as the morning rays hit Shadow Veldt and the prides began to wake up.

Kairos moved from her den, stretching her limbs thoroughly with little Azalea following shortly after. Orion met up with Raxon to continue their sparring session from the previous night, Iona sitting down and watching from a short distance. DarkMoon, lay beside her two daughters, Fiona and Kadence, laughing at the conversation taking place, even as her mind remained on her twin boys. DarkStar was not far from her, with Shaw standing on his hind legs as he faced his father, pressing his paws against his father's chest. Vespera stood with Neraine and Vitanali for the first time in a long time, speaking softly to one another as they come to terms with something before Vitanali turned her head to look for Cross. She wanted him to meet her two friends. To really meet them.

Ali, Samara, and Malluce relaxed off to the side, watching Ebony, Finn, Jesse, Kenya, and Leonardo mess around with training and stuff. Kenya would sometimes push a little bit to hard - and Ebony would immediately derail her. Iris and Devyn were curled into each other, watching their children - teens by now - and simply looking among the pride. Zoria was not far from her own father, and Shinku not far from them, with his own sons, daughter, and mate near by.

Everything was at peace as the sun climbed high into the skies. Not a hair out of place - until the birds shot into the sky with loud cries. Seconds after, they felt it, the felines that graced this land. They felt the rumbling of the ground before said ground savagely split through camp, the water in the small pond there disappearing in an instant. The crack continued outside of camp, in front of the throne, and across the lands, the grounds parting where they were.

Shrieks of terror erupted from them all and immediately action took place. But that action wasn't soon enough. Orion had been in the midst of dodging a blow from Raxon with a grin on his face before the ground split apart - straight underneath his paws. Fear filled him and he lunged for the closest side, but it wasn't enough. He clawed desperately at the edge, and his sister Kairos screamed and lunged for him, yet she didn't make it. Iona was lucky to be close by and grasped Kairos by the scruff of her neck and jerked her back before she could fall to the same fate - and Orion would be the first casualty. Raxon starred in horror - he'd been the one to push Orion to that spot! But Iona, fearful of a mother as she was, rushed towards him after shoving Kairos back more and jerked her own child further away. Aidan and Nixen had watched from afar with horror before they began moving away - they would never have made it to them all, that much was clear.

In camp, the cubs were grasped and jerked towards other adults, and even adults pushed adults further away from the edge. Several seconds later that seemed like hours - the land stilled. Adrenaline was high, heartbeats pounding. Aidan, Nixen and Orpheus were on their paws before they shared a look. "Everyone grab a cub and pair up with a someone who can fly." Orpheus shouted. "That's an order! We are not staying here!" He roared out.

Aidan and Nixen called to Jaaku only a heartbeat later. "Follow the cracks out of the Veldt lands - it must end somewhere. We move now!" She didn't wait for Meurtrier to assemble as she began a light jog along the crack outwards, Nixen following closely behind. Kairos was once more shoved by Iona as she snapped out of it herself. "Your daughter needs you Kairos. We've got to move. Mourn later." Iona murmured quickly and harshly to the other demonic 'ess before she turned and called to her and her sister's children, to Teegan, Lundov as they were the only ones around these days. She would not have one of them out of her sights.

And by then, it was as if the earth deemed it long enough of a pause as it rumbled once more, just as violently as before, yet it was only a heartbeat later did the loudest explosion occur, forcing them down onto their bellies and their ears shoved against their skulls, more cries, screams, filling the air. Orpheus winced before he pushed himself up and roared as loud as he could. "TO ME, MEURTRIER. LETS GO!" Aidan and Nixen immediately followed his example.

"JAAKU, LETS GO. KEEP MOVING!" They roared out. But it wouldn't be much longer until a large whistle-like sound curved through the air and Shinku roared over everyone else. "MOVE!" The sight of a red ball was making it's way straight for them, forcing the pride and Clan to scatter - and behind them, another large boom resounded. If one looked behind them, they'd see the place they knew as grotto erupting violently in near reply to its parent Volcano.

[Blair]

Warning: If you don't want to read a death scene, skip the two paragraphs that are between the dotted lines.

Casca Da'ei-Donovan, Darcise Suvure-Donovan, Kalifa Dakasa-Donovan, Masquerade Donovan, Merihem Xeiroz, Mirth Sulliveri-Kunne, Mute, Necrotic Rossa-Donovan, Valeriya Crimson-Donovan(?), Concussion Choiseul, Apostle Crimson-Faire

Mirth awoke early, hoping to get a head start on her daily routine of collecting various herbs- never the same plant each day, however. Darci lounged around near her twin sister, Decipher; and Kalifa lounged on her sister Vespera. The cubs and teens stayed with their respective guardians; Mute- never one for words, hence the name she had been given- stared at a daisy that had sprouted up outside the medic's den. Meri lounged on the outskirts of the camp, still trying to adjust to the pride.

Masquerade had just made her way to Shadow Veldt, hoping to rejoin the pride and see how her mother and siblings were doing, when the ground beneath her started to break. Fear spread through them all; Masquerade headed toward the camp without even announcing herself as she was frantic with worry for the safety of her family, Darci and Kalifa jumped up and yelled in panic, Mirth immediately ran back to the medic's den and snatched the mute cub, Casca yowled in fear, Necrotic looked around in panic as the camp seemed to literally split in half, and Meri stared in shock at the damage. Everything was falling apart before their very eyes! Dread filled them all, and as Masquerade came into the camp, she stopped in her tracks as shock widened her eyes.

As Mirth stepped forward, looking at the damage being done, the ground started to crumble and split beneath her. Her eyes widened in terror as she felt her self fall. She threw Mute in an attempt to save her just as she reached her forelegs forward, scrambling for something to grab ahold of. Mute, hit the ground hard and rolled a bit before she was able to sit up, upon catching sight of the paws that belonged to her savior, she opened her mouth but no voice came out. Not even a squeak. Why?! Tears started to well in her eyes, unsure what to do. However, when the land finally calmed, Mirth was able to pull herself out. She panted hard, her heart hammering against her chest. Hearing Orpheus's words, she quickly came up to Mute, gave her a soft nudge and a lick to calm her before picking her up again.

Masquerade rushed to her mother as soon as she spotted her, which would likely come as a surprise to the old feline. "Mother! I-" She shook her head, she could explain things later, there was simply no time for it right now. "Let's go!" Meri grabbed the closest winged creature she saw, which ended up being Darcise. The two would pick up any cubs they saw around. Necro remained with his sister Primrose since she had wings. Kalifa would group up with whoever needed her wings.

They all yowled in pain and fell flat against the ground as the explosion rang in their ears, however. The whistling of the air caused several to look up, and other simply heard Shinku's words to move. Regardless of what they heard or saw, they all moved out of the way in panic. It wasn't the last one, either. Several more fireballs came reigning down on them, and hysteria rose up within many of them. Many simply ran in the direction they deemed safest, others stuck close to family and friends.

- - - -

Concussion had fallen off balance and been thrown around as the earth split beneath him. He ran in a random direction, too scared to pay attention. The explosion caused both of his eardrums to burst and he screamed in pain- but he couldn't hear anything. Mere seconds later, absolute dread filled his very being as he looked upon the volcano directly in front of him. He was going to die. That was it. This was where he was going to die. Lava poured out of the volcano, rushing down the side as if it were hunting him down, balls of fire sailed past overhead.

He ran fast and hard, not even bothering to look back. But the heat! The heat was unbearable!! SO UNBEARABLE! His breathing quickened and it wasn't long before he was panting with his tongue lolling out of his mouth. His eyes were wide with fear and did he smell something burning? He glanced back, the lava had caught up with him and the hair on his tail had caught on fire simply from the immense heat. He pushed himself harder, faster..but he was tired...so tired. Then, he tripped, rolling forward a few feet... he didn't even have time to scream.

- - - -

Apostle ran for her life as well, though not from lava. The ground had started to split and it had raced toward her. So, logically, she ran away from it. Until finally, it stopped and so did she to catch her breath. She was somewhere near Meurtrier, or at least she had been before. The explosion caused her to shriek in terror yet again and she ducked down. As the sky darkened, her ears fell flat against her skull and eyes grew wide.

Fire spewed from the volcano in the distance and watched as several sailed over her, some looked as if they were coming right at her, and others still didn't seem to reach the great distance that the others had. However, she ran, looking in the sky doing her best to avoid the fireballs.

[TheWG]

Circa had never felt an earthquake before, not in her whole life had she ever experienced the ground moving beneath. So when it shook her from sleep and had her cubs getting tossed around a crumbling den, she leaped up and yowled in horror for Osic. Iris. Libra. Zamani. Anyone! But she didn't stay calling for long at all. The den was crumbling around her and her children, there was no time for her to sit around and tremble, she quickly started catching and grabbing any cub that she could and pushing them quickly out of the den. Romeo was first, rolling outside with a fearful yelp.

Both Torrer and Xena had heard the commander's call first hand, and each went for a cub as they tumbled into the open. Torrer yanked up Romeo and Xena grabbed Casca. Osic and Circa would grab the other two.

Shade had been urging his daughter to go, and was now in the skies rounding up his own brood. He swooped down and picked up Rosetta, and Katil quickly joined him with Jade in tow. Although she still looked around and called furiously for her daughter to group back with her.

Kazbek was doing the same, grabbing his children and ushering them towards Orpheus. Cross was finding and shoving every one of his younger siblings to run, father or not. Gatsby was moving Tane and his teenage children out as well. Even Edmund had already made sure his children were on their way out.

But in the confusion, someone had been left out... Knockout, the daughter of Emerson who had been left in Meurtrier with her siblings, had been playing when the earth shattered and rolled her off of her short branch she'd been climbing. She was out cold... And Lava was approaching her fast. One soul did see her though, and Edmund was pounding his feet to get to her in time. He scooped her up just as the lava was starting to reach her, and he quickly climbed the tree that she's been playing on. At the top, he breathed heavily, looking around in sheer terror when he saw the lava begin to engulf the tree.

And the bottom caught on fire. His green eyes were as wide as they could go, but he frantically began looking for an escape. Above them was a ledge! He quickly climbed higher to put the passed out cub on it, but just as he dropped her weight from his maw, the branch snapped. Sending Edmund tumbling into the lava below with a horrible wail.

It slowly shuddered out, and in mere moments the lava had ate through him. He was gone.

Luckily for the unconscious cub, Tombstone had seen this all happen first hand- but was too late to even reach for Edmund. She grabbed the cub from the ledge and spared a rather pitiful look into the lava where the young male had disappeared, before flying away towards the leaders- and to find her mother.

Meanwhile, in Iarri's den, Nephridia was crying out to be saved. She could hardly walk, and had no idea what was even going on. The only thing she knew to do was let out long and loud cries as she made a quick waddle toward the entrance of the den.

Fracture, Shard's daughter, was running at quick pace with her mother, refusing to leave her side and tuning the rest of the world out in order to keep up.

As for Jaaku's members, Cheryl had been running and very nearly slipped into a pool of lava that was sliding right for her, but Nero had pulled her out of the way. In the panic, they ended up running together- but not in the direction of the leaders. They just ran. Later they would realize their mistake.

[Reylan's Imp]

Woe, what shock, the rumbling of the ground. Gaius A. Alkaev dropped down on his snout. But, its gust an earthquake! Muttered the youth to himself as the warnings were given... A split second later he spotted the glowing lava move down the hillside, smoke huffing and puffing, stones running faster and faster down the slopes.

The forest demonic mutt sprang back up to his feet, taking off after his pridemembers...

[drifter]

Osic Donovan | Zalui Xemvoi | Project Caliver | Iarri Kannon | Corona Sulliveri | Xaphan Crimson - Xemvoi | Naberius Donovan - Crimson | Torrin Crimson - Caliver | Lydia Xemvoi - Donovan | Finnegan Caliver - Helios


Osic had left his mate and children to sleep. He had woken unusually early that day. Zalui had been in the beginnings of organizing a patrol; Xaphan at his side. Osic and Project had gone to join.
The group, with any other members that had planned on departing with them, didn't make it completely out of the camp before the first tremor hit. Zalui halted his group in that instant. He demanded for silence as some began to converse with one another about what they had just felt. Yet just as the silence fell, the quakes came again, this time much more violent.
Zalui lowered to the ground, claws dug into the ground to anchor him down. His eyes fell between his paws as a small crack began to form. His heart leapt into his throat as he could only guess what was happening below him.
"SCATTER!" He roared, leaping to the side and barreling into the nearest creature to get them out of the way. Milliseconds later did the crack grow into a seemingly bottomless pit. Before he could give another order, Orpheus' booming voice reached them.
Zal's group was already nearest the border, though still not too far from camp. He moved to safer ground, raising himself onto a high enough hill and roaring to the Pride, alerting them of a safe passage for those close enough.

Osic and Project both bolted out of the way. But once they were safe, both had only one thing on their minds. And it was by no means about their own safety. Project dashed the opposite direction of safety. He ran as hard as he could back into camp, back towards danger. Osic as well took off, taking to the air. His adrenaline was too high to feel the pain that radiated from his shoulder. Zalui gave them a glance, not opening his mouth to stop them. Perhaps mostly because he knew where Osic would go and Zalui himself could not abandon the whole of the Pride's safety for his own family. Though he desperately wanted too.
He roared again, so others could find their way to him. So his family could find their way to him.

Osic landed at the family den, taking no time to catch his breath. He snatched up a child and looked around for his eldest. In his search he did spot Lydia, dashing around in utter confusion and terror. He ran to her, shouldering her towards Circa.

Project found Cross, running up and beside him. He said nothing fore there was no time for discussion. He looked his present children up and down. Pro head butted Torrin right in the ass as the boy began to slow down.

Iarri stood in the entrance of the healer's den. She stood stone still, rooted with fear. Her blue eyes were opened as wide as they could possibly go, her pupils so large they engulfed her irises. Then the fire balls came. One landed relatively close to the Den and she fell to her belly, a terrified mewl escaping her.
From the central dens raced out Corona. She had called to her children and ushered out others, now it was her turn to flee.
As she ran she caught sight of the Red Healer. Corra halted, eyes wide as a ball of flame landed so close to her friend. "ARRI!" Corona quickly switched gears racing towards the Healer's Den.
The two females made eye contact. But just before Corra made it all the way to her childhood friend, a fire ball came down, fast, sizable and burning. Even in her frozen and absent state she witnessed as the object collided right into Corona's skull. The feline hit the ground face first. There was no time for her to have reacted. The blow had caused instant death. More than likely her life was ended before her body touched ground.
Tears swelled in Iarri's eyes. Mentally she willed herself to move, to do something. But no matter what she tried to do, she was utterly paralyzed.

From the Donovan-Crimson Den, Naberius had been quick to rouse his sister Morgan and try to get the both of them out to safety.

[ashbaer]

Libra had never ventured to far from her home, and with new siblings around she rarely left, interested in the fact that she had more brothers and sisters. The teenager hadn't been up to much that day, simply lounging around in the sun close by to the family den. She was thinking about how nice a nap would be, then maybe she would go bother her cousins, see if any of them would be interested in a game of something.

Her eyes had been closed, though peaked open with the rumble of the soil beneath her, though she was quick to her paws as everything began to shake and quiver around her. Circa had called to everyone seconds later and Libra was quick to respond, her balance was off as she tried to get closer to the den, the earth jerking her around from left to right.

Everything was happening so fast, before she was even able to move to help, the cubs had been ushered out of their den, her mother was out and soon others came to gather up the cubs. Osic wasn't to far behind, landing and drawing closer. Libra wanted to go to either of them in this moment of panic and complete horror, but her legs had yet to stop shaking with the earth.

Across the way Scorpius was experiencing the same trouble, the moment the ground shook he moved closer to his parents, eyes wide with shook. There was so much shouting and scrabbling for one another, and if the ground wasn't enough there loud booms that followed soon after. Stumbling closer to his parents he would circle them in his panic, waiting for them to gather their own sense and get moving, he was still a child and wouldn't leave without them.

[kahara]

ISAER, HAGAN, LUNDOV, BENEDICT, DEXTER, TEAR, LUCIFER [Jaaku] / ODYSSEIA, ABYSSIA, VINCENT, CARNAL, MORGAN, KADIN, KADYN

[/i] Odysseia's roar called to them, specifically. She couldn't lose them, but they couldn't lose her. The council woman, who'd said so little since her return, let out another cry for her children- any spotted and she'd nudge them on to run. Run, for your lives depend on it. And then she, too, would run; alongside her children, with them in her sights. But a mother can only do so much, for her children and for the lives of those she's come to call friends...

Vincent and Abyssia saw Odysseia and went straight for her, keeping up with her pace as best they could. Vincent occasionally shoving Abyssia until Odysseia noticed and she picked her daughter up and they ran. As they ran, it was as if time began to slow. She noticed Morgan with Naberius, Carnal with Kazbek and their children. Kadin and Kadyn running side by side.

And she saw the death count begin to rise. Isaer had been running ahead of her, off to the side, when without warning he was hit by one of the many balls of fire raining from the sky. Karma? Perhaps, but Odysseia couldn't consider it fair. There were no battle cries. No screams for help.

Just the background noise, the white static of the living scrambling to survive, and the silence of the unsuspecting victims of Novis's worst natural disaster.

In the distance, where the Grotto had exploded, was where Dexter had been last. And it was where he would remain forever, his body covered in lava.[/ul][/blockquote]

[/div][/div]

[superfeesh]

Abha

I should have never left the Savannah! Is the demonic female's first thought as she feels and sees the ground break apart, followed soon by the eruption of the volcanoes. Her heart momentarily longs for family. Then the fear settles in. Abha races along the crack with the rest of her clan mates and allies, safety her first concern.

[Soli]

Residue Donovan-Xeiroz • Massacre Dakasa-Donovan

---

Massacre was dosing when all hell broke lose. The quake roused her, she didn't seem too perturbed despite the shouts and screams. She sneered, grumpy to have been awakened from her nap. But seeing everyone scatter, she realized something was much worse than she thought. A crack opened beneath her paws, and she had no time to react. She fell, but she was able to grasp onto the earth, her hind legs clawing the opening as she tried to push herself back up. Her bright green eyes were wide with terror, and she finally pulled herself to safety despite the rocking of the world. She heard her mother roar, and she instinctively roared back and dashed to where she was. She swept her eyes over her family, ignoring the pain in her paws, her pads cut from the effort to escape the jaws of the earth. "We must hurry." She said, trying hard to keep the trembling out of her voice. She was Massacre, fearless, though terrified out of her fur.

Residue was sleeping peacefully, having put herself near Shinku and his cubs. Her father was best friends with him, after all, and so his own children was good friends with she. When the quake came, she was frozen in fear, eyes wide. She mewled loudly, "DADDY!" She was silenced, hearing Shinku order his cubs to move. She looked around wildly for her father, but she turned and followed Shinku and cubs instead, knowing that if she stayed with them, she'd find her father.

[FJ]

Erebus Crimson

So much movement, so fast. Few things could shake the young male, though this one quite literally--and emotionally--did. "Shit..." He'd utter the curse to himself and seek out any sign of family. It seemed Meurtrier and Jaaku were working together on this, though some groups had gotten separated. Unfortunate but unavoidable. This was when the scent of burnt hair and flesh greeted him, tangible above the scent of sulfur and the other burning materials. Yes, to say fear had met his heart for the first time was quite accurate. "Father!" He'd call out as he rose into the air, trying to look for Jasper if Jasper had not already seen him.

[Jason]

Throughout the entire morning, Jasper had felt uneasy. He had even gone on a very short hunt, killing a large buck and practically inhaling it, in preparation for whatever horror he sensed may be on the horizon. It was along the lines of a premonition. And while others had felt fine and peaceful, his fur had bristled frequently. He had flown to one of the peaks, watching over everything like a hawk.

Zehael had noticed the agitation of the behemoth, but was not terribly fazed by it and had continued with his morning exercises. He had caught two does which were laid for the rest of the pride to feast on as he performed his meditations. As he fell deeper into the earth's energy, he began to detect something as well, as if the being was agitated. Then... He felt the fury as the earth shook. And the spy fell. The downside of his locations he chose to meditate were that they were nearly impossible to reach if one could not fly, thus the fall was impossible to stop. Claws outstretched, trying to slow his descent by cling to the occasion rock that protruded, but it did nothing as he hurtled from the cliff face. He saw no other option and closed his eyes, letting the peace of his inevitable fate settle over him.

As he neared the jagged rocks below, the air compressed. Yellow eyes cracked open as darkness engulfed him. The shadow swallowed him and he thought to step... Until two thick trunks wrapped around him and the world passed by even faster. He head was yank and his neck felt like it had crashed as he got whiplash from his rescue. Zehael looked up and saw the horned male, Jasper had caught him. They glided over the grotto with incredible speed and magma spewed toward them. Jasper flipped over and it splashed against his back and Zehael found himself staring at the sky. The two males were soon near where most were. Jasper lowered to some degree and released the shadowed demon, who hit the ground running, moving toward the edge, willing to carry anyone who seemed a bit slower. His size played to an advantage here, not to mention his shadow stepping.

Jasper circled back, banking hard, toward the dens and his children. He spotted Erebus rising from the ground and folded his wings somewhat to pick up speed. A flaming sphere descended upon the back of his neck, but the rock and fire simply rolled over the giant, though he did need to correct his flight path. "Stay with me," he called as he passed over Erebus. So long as his family stayed with him, he could protect them. He had no regard for his own safety in this situation. He did in fact enjoy chaos, causing it, being in it... Just not when it was a direct threat to his family. Control was more alike an illusion, but he could still influence events. He landed by Naberius and Morgan and the ground stabilized once he touched it. His wing spread, providing a very large shield. Unlike usual, he was willing to use every and all of his abilities, even to the point that this body would not be able to handle it and call apart as it had in the past. He remained calm and walked over the ground, ushering his children with him. Right now, he was only keeping the ground in a hundred foot radius stable, which was notable, as everything under his influence shimmered lightly to show that it was safe.

Jasper tossed his head back and let out a roar of his own, but still moving. He could expand it, but right now he kept it small as he walked until he could locate others. He could perhaps stabilize the Veldt... But it would not be for long and he would fall unconscious directly after his control released.

Alfwin had felt the rumble and automatically begun to run. He had heard stories of earthquakes and a look to the sky showed him that it was not that alone. He knew of the death that was soon to come and was off to find the others, making sure no one fell behind.

[OnyxOryx]

DISCLAIMER: Shard's post contains death. Read at your own risk.

Dirge Donovan

Dirge was still a bit new to the pride but had taken well to them. Her brother was king and she'd damn sure see to it that his pride would be a good pride! Not that she could do much. She just wanted to be loyal to her brother. A lazy boring day it seemed. But that changed so suddenly. All hell broke loose and soon the ground tore beneath them. Dirge was still unable to fly well so she refrained from grabbing any cubs. The added weight would ground her. Instead she took to the sky near Orpheus and scanned the area. The cracks seemed so unending.

"Where do we go, Orph?!"

Zamani Da'ei-Donovan

The boy was lazing about as usual. Enjoying his life. Not a care in the world, a trait he got from his father. But his world would soon come crashing down, literally. As the ground shook he jolted up, only to fall back down. What was that!? Suddenly the ground tore and an ungodly roar echoed throughout the lands. Only it never died down. It was near deafening. But Zamani heard the cries of his frantic mother.

"Mom! Dad!"

He cried out in response. But a loud crack was heard very very close to him. He turned to see the tree he was near was breaking apart under the force of the earthquakes. He tried to move but the tree collapsed on him, pinning him to the ground. It didn't crush any vitals. But his leg was not going to be okay. A loud pained roar let loose and he tried to push the trunk off his body. But to no avail.

"Mom!! I'm stuck!"

Nirasa Donovan-Kannon

After her mother's disappearance, Nirasa found herself staying close by her father. Today would be no different. She awoke early in the morning, before the sun had risen. She had a terrible dream. The sky opened and swallowed the world. She shuddered. Nirasa sighed and moved about to clear her mind. A hunt! Yea and early morning hunt would do.

Just as the others started to wake and the sun began to peek over the mountains, Nirasa moved away from the camp a bit. She was just about to leave the territory when the ground shook. Suddenly, the ground gave way below her. Nirasa fell. But she didn't land in the core of Novis. Claws grasped desperately to the side of the chasm.

"Daddy!"

She cried out without even caring that she wasn't a cub anymore. She was scared and she didn't want to die. She scrambled up the steep wall as best she could, able to bring her paws near the surface. Her wings were useless to her right now. Mostly because she was in such a panic that she forgot she could actually fly.

Hatari Dakasa-Donovan

All hell was breaking loose. The usually quiet and calm male was frantic and worried. He could hear his mother's roar and like lightning, he took off to where she was. He already lost his father.. he'd be damned if he'd lose his mother too!

"Mother!"

He spoke as he saw her. So worried. He knew things were serious then. When she gave the command to run, he'd run, but he would NOT lose her! He would stay by her side as the family ran, making sure she was with them.. with him.

Decipher Donovan

Decipher was, of course, with her mate Shinku. They seemed to have an 'intruder' with their little brood today. One of Dark's cubs. She yawned and nudged each of the cubs to wake them. Today would be a good day to take them on a walk about. Or so she'd hoped.

Suddenly terror swept across the land. The quake caused the worried ess to snarl. What was going on?! The very ground seemed to be breaking under the sudden anger of Novis. Decipher quickly moved to count her cubs and usher them into a ball beneath her.

"Shinku!"

She cried out as the King ordered them to pair off and grab a cub. She had more than just two cubs ((Blade thinks.. fml I'm bad..)) to carry. She grabbed Siphon and waited for Shinku. She'd stay by his side in this. Decipher lost one mate already.. Shinku would not be the second.

Siphon Crimson

Terrified but with her mother.

Shard Xeiroz & Sheir Xeiroz-Donovan

Shard was unaware of the dangers today would bring. Shard was awaken by the horrible rumble. She had been napping near the steam pool. Less afraid of the pride these days, she would venture further into the territory.

Shard yowled as the ground tore in front of them. Sheir mewed and backed away from the sudden split. She was terrified. She didn't understand what was going on. The rumbling never seemed to stop. Then.. something far worse happened then 'just a big ol' ground crack'. The Grotto erupted. Magma soon cut off theit passage deeper into the mountains.

"Sheir! Run!"

Shard roared as she began to usher Sheir toward the camp. Another crack in the land. Right infront of them. It cut off their path to camp. Damnit! They'd have to backtrack and go around the larger fissure. Shard grabbed her cub and turned to face what was behind her. Flying balls of magma, flowing magma, debris.. Superheated rocks.. Sheir squirmed at the sight of it all.

"Mama!"

With a growl, Shard dashed ahead. Luckily, the splits in the land were funneling the lava into them. Keeping her path relatively safe. But all it took was a singly misstep. A failed dodge. A very hot rock was hurtled straight for Shard. She moved but not enough. The stone struck her shoulder, breaking it and burning into her skin. It wasn't a huge boulder, but it wasn't a pebble either. It threw her down and instinctively she roared out in pain. Sheir was flung and yowled as she was thrown. Shard's eyes widened as the cub landed only a few meters away. Bruised, but alright.

"Mama!!"

Sheir cried as she slowly got up. Shard whined to her cub to try to coax her back over. Sheir couldn't see it.. but Shard could.

"SHEIR!"

SPOILER: Click to show

Shard screamed as she watched another rock hurtle towards them. This one was larger and covered in smoke and ash. Sheir did not move in time. The rock came down and struck the cub in the spine. Sheir fell with the rock and was pinned under it. Her spine shattered and ribs crushed. Blood bubbled out of Sheir's mouth as she took her last pained breath.

Sheir was dead.. Shard yowled in greif as as the world around her continued to descend into hell. Shard couldn't move. Her shoulder was broken and she had a very substantial burn wound on it. For now the lava was kept at bay, but for how much longer?

"Dark.. I'm.. I'm sorry.."

[LAD]

Meurtrier: Orpheus, Ali, Alistair, Asesinato, Darian, Darius, DarkMoon, DarkStar, Devyn, Ebony, Finn, Fiona, Iris, Jade, Jesse, Jocelyn, Jupiter, Kadence, Kenya, Kyali, Leonardo, Malluce, Neraine, Oscar, Samara, Shaw, Shinku, Vespera, Vitanali, Zoria

Jaaku: Aidan, Nixen, Kairos, Azalea, Iona, Raxon


The moment things exploded it was as if the death tolls began rising. Orpheus, Aidan and Nixen realized instantly the position they were put in - how they were pinned between too many different things and for a moment, they were frozen as they looked around. Things began to slow down and they saw... The worst thing in their lives. This was no battle. There was nothing to fight. There was no enemy to visibly face. Nothing but the Earth itself and even then, they could do nothing about it. Corona was slammed in the head - Orion fell to his death, Isaer gone in an instant to name but a few... And then slowly, the world began to speed up once more. Jaaku needed someone with them. Not away from them. Aidan couldn't make it, so... Nixen took off at a sprint towards the crack - and lunged straight across it. He almost slipped, but pulled himself up with a slight struggle before he was running once more.

He roared, loudly, "JAAKU!" They needed to pull themselves together - now - or they'd never make it. With Nixen on their side closer to where the heart of them were, Kairos and Iona rushed to his side, Raxon and Azalea near them - it was then that Kairos realized she was missing a daughter. Cheryl.. "CHERYL!" She screamed for her but Iona didn't give her a moments pause as she shoved the girl forward. "Keep running!" It would be too late anyway. Cheryl along with Nero were far out of reach. Iona did however, turn her head to yell once more for Teegan, Lundov, and the rest of her family. Aidan watched helplessly for a moment before Orpheus shoved her into moving. She couldn't help Jaaku, but Nixen had that covered. She could, however, help Meurtrier. Jaaku didn't have any cubs - Meurtrier had plenty. Aidan rushed to help and found herself grasping Jesse - a cub she knew belonged to her family through Nori.

But Orpheus felt himself pulled past Aidan to where Corona fell, he'd seen the whole thing, and he moved automatically. His wings boosted him faster over the lands and he moved sharply to grasp Iarri in his arms and jerk her from the ground and out of harms path just as another lava bomb pierced near by. "Iarri!" He growled out, "Iarri, stay with me!" His gaze flickered around the camp and he saw Mirth grasp one of the cubs she'd been caring for - and not far behind was Nephridia. Kenya's cry reached his ear but his eyes were on the cub at the den entrance. His head jerked down and he grasped the little bundle before thrusting it at Iarri. "You stay with me you hear? Don't you dare leave my side!" He watched Iarri for a moment to make sure she understood what he was saying before he turned to face his pride once more. Kenya had been near and was now hunched over Corona's body, but he lunged towards her and jerked her up by the scruff, shoving her towards where Mirth had gone. "Go! Keep your sister strong!" Another shove and she went running. Gatsby and Tane were rounding their teenagers and running, Odysseia gathered her children and Vespera was by her side immediately after hearing the protective way her mother called - but not before grasping a lonely Jupiter who didn't know a thing of what was going on.

Fiona had been running desperately beside her sister Kadence, trying to catch up to Kadin and Kadyn when they both realized something... There were still several cubs running about. The two females skidded to a halt and both reached out to grasp a cub - Fiona grasping Leonardo as Kadence reached to grasp another. DarkMoon had been running behind them studiously until they both turned suddenly - and she skidded to a halt, calling out to them sharply... When her vision suddenly went blank. Asesinato cringed and flinched away - seconds away from pulling the distracted DarkMoon to him when she'd been struck in the head by a lava bomb that had hurtled towards her. Fiona and Kadence had been saved by moving to grab cubs - but DarkMoon had unintentionally taken their place. He'd watched it happened - he was a foot away from her.

Jocelyn didn't give her brother time to think as she shoved him - having seen what occurred and she pulled at him sharply to keep running. He turned away from her though and instead, ran for DarkMoon's kids. Understanding filled Jocelyn and she turned to Kyali whom was at her side and pushed the lass to run towards Shade and Katil - whom was holding Jade. Asesinato continued on his path however, wings spread and blocking the kids view from their mother as he ushered them in a new direction - hopefully, he would keep them from finding out.

Vitanali found herself rushing towards Cross, whom was herding his siblings with Project joining him, and rushed towards his side immediately, shoving herself into Finn's shoulder to help Cross and Project move them along. Iris and Devyn, with Scorpius at their side, rushed to Circa and Osic to help out just as Osic shoulder Lydia towards Circa. They would always stick together - it was in their blood. Oscar was snatched up by Osic in a heartbeat. Ebony had been wandering about - and she'd seen her father's heroics. But the only thing she could think of was having seen him fall into the lava below. A wail escaped her maw and she would have stayed there if not for a harsh shove from Malluce. But just as they'd begun to run - with Ali and Samara at their sides, the ground opened up beneath their paws. Ali's wings snapped open and she grasped the one nearest to her - Samara. But Malluce and Ebony... A scream for Malluce escaped her mouth - and would have continued if another hadn't swooped downwards past her and grasped him. Vitanali had seen what was going on just moments before the four disappeared, she'd taken to the air. But she in no way realized that two had fallen down that darkness. And instead of the scream being for Malluce from Ali's mouth - it was for Ebony as Vitanali watched one of her old friends fall. She would forever be haunted at the expression that was upon Ebony's face as the girl hit cliff after cliff on her way down...

DarkStar glanced around, catching sight of his daughter Residue with Shinku and he shoved Shaw in that direction. "Go, go with Shinku!" Because as he saw the lava beginning to land and slowly ooze towards them, his mind flickered to his mate and two girls that were with her. Shaw rushed to Residue's side and Shinku met DarkStar's gaze for a brief moment before nodding and he pushed Shaw to run as well with Darius and Darian. Decipher was right beside them and her twin sister - a shock to Shinku really - was near as well. With speed that he hadn't really used since he'd been younger - much younger, DarkStar traveled the length between the camp and grotto in moments where he saw Shard and his daughters, one in her maw, one running along side her... And Shard being hit. What?

What on this screwed up world would torture him like this? He snapped his wings close to his body and dove, "SHARD!" His roar would echo loudly - because he could see the lava from the grotto inching up on them at a pace that he was not okay with. He watched the rock slam into Sheir and a choked cry escaped his maw - but seeing Shard and seeing Fracture right beside her way to close to that blasted heat - it was not okay. And so he had to push Sheir from his mind for now. He had to save them too. His drop was harsh, and the snap of his wings opening would prove to be painful, but his mind was on neither of those thoughts as he landed with a harsh 'thud' snatched Fracture into his jaws and then snapped his wings open once more, the heat was unbearable, but he grasped his injured mate and slammed his wings down with all the force he could, shoving himself into the air with several powerful beats and just barely making it out of the way of the lava - and dodging another lava bomb in the process. As he flew back towards the rest of the pride, he would soon learn that Sheir was not the only daughter he lost today.

Neraine was frozen. Vespera and Vitanali had split from her sides... So easily... And the world around her was falling apart as she knew it. But she couldn't help but watch with something akin to horror at the deaths that were exploding around her... And a bit of glee... If it was this bad here.. Perhaps the Calivers, up in their awful mountains, would suffer just as greatly. And yet it wasn't long before she realized if she didn't do something and help - someone would get suspicious of her... But more than anything, her eyes landed on Jasper Crimson. Among the chaos it almost seemed as if she was the only one whom noticed. Almost. Zoria slammed into her side only a second after that thought crossed her mind and growled sharply. "Move." The two females glared at one another for a long moment before a lava bomb fell just before them, startling both out of their reprieve - and they took off, running side by side. "We all know you can use magic-"

"Not well." Neraine snapped before Zoria could finish. "I am not a Crimson. I am not Neo or Jasper. Do not compare me to them." She hissed in anger.

Zoria glared at her, "You may not be a Crimson but it looks like you don't want to help either." Neither female understood how they could be so calm in this situation but together they ran and Neraine, in further anger, attempted something she'd never attempted before. Her eyes snapped forward and lay upon each lava bomb hurtling in the direction of the pride... And each time one seemed to aim for the prides generic direction - she attempted to redirect it else where. The force that it was going through the air at however was far more than she realized and her first attempt, while successful as it slammed into the mountain side, drained her. Zoria noticed immediately as Neraine faltered and snorted. "Oh for God's sake." She reached over, jerked Neraine up by her scruff, and pulled her onto her back. "Focus!" She growled, and Neraine did just that, focusing more on the balls of fire and redirecting them if she could.

Orpheus was not lost in noticing this as Zoria, carrying Neraine got closer... An idea struck. "MEURTRIER, LETS GO" He called to his pride once more, pulling at Iarri to run with him, ran for Zoria and Neraine. The smaller the area of protection, the better for them all.

Blair is next poster,

Then WG, Vessan, Drifter, Aly, Aaron, Onowl, Soli, FJ, Blade.

[Blair]

Apostle Crimson-Faire, Casca Da'ei-Donovan, Darcise Suvure-Donovan, Kalifa Dakasa-Donovan, Masquerade Donovan, Merihem Xeiroz, Mirth Sulliveri-Kunne, Mute, Necrotic Rossa-Donovan

When Casca was grabbed by the female named Xena, she was still panicking. Watching balls of fire sail passed overhead did nothing to comfort her. Her world was crumbling right before her eyes- that den was all she knew! Tears started to well in her eyes and before she knew it they poured over onto her cheeks.

She had found her own path through the chaos; since the volcano was at her back now, she had to look back and make sure fireballs weren't heading straight for her. Apostle kept running, wondering where the rest of her family was at this very moment. Were they safe? She had lost track of everything ever since she decided to see the world. Now look at her...running for her life, pushing herself to her limits.

Mirth was trying to keep her cool, she had a cub to look after, too. Mixed in with panic was worry: for her family, friends, teachers, and fellow students studying to be a healer. However, she was busy trying to dodge fireballs and make sure no sparks hit the cub she held. So far, some sparks and simply singed her fur- no pain, just the smell of burnt hair, since the sparks quickly died out. Unfortunately, she couldn't hear her mother's call due to the commotion surrounding her. As she was running, quickly looking over individuals to see if it was her mother, father, or siblings when she saw a flash of tan fur in her peripherals. Could it be her mother? She skidded to a halt and looked in the direction it had gone. She stared in shock, seeing that it was her mother and furthermore, she had gone to help Iarri. In her panic, she had forgotten to make sure her teacher had made it out of the healer's den. In that moment, she was mad at herself for not paying more attention- she had been right there when she picked Mute up. Still, she was glad to see that her mother was fi-

Her jaw grew slack and she could feel her grip on Mute slipping. She stared blankly... What just happened? There was a thump on the ground, but she didn't look down to see what it was- unfortunately Mute didn't give any indication that it had been Mirth dropping her. Her foreleg felt sore and it hurt to move it, but she looked up at Mirth. The cub had seen it too, but was not quite sure how to feel. She had not known the female. For Mirth, however, it shook her to her very core. One minute, she had been fine- running to the aid of her friend- and now.... now.... Her eyes burned with tears, and she couldn't find her voice. She wanted to scream out and curse the world, but it was stuck in her throat. However, she heard her sister and it only made the feeling worse. Her legs felt as if the strength had been sapped from them, but she continued to stand- tears streaming down her face, maw agape, eyes wide with both shock and terror. Mute pawed at the female that had been carrying her. Even the cub knew they needed to keep running, and standing around just increased the chances of getting hit just like Corona. Finally, Mute got fed up with trying to shove the female and simply bit into her foreleg as hard as she could.

Mirth gave a light yelp of pain and finally looked down, seeing Mute- when had she put her down? She picked her back up, but she didn't move. She couldn't. Her mother-! Was dead. She knew this, but she didn't accept it- even though she had seen the whole thing. It hurt..so..so much. It felt as if her heart would give out! Mirth blamed herself..if she had just paid attention and gotten Iarri out of there..her mother wouldn't be dead. It was all her fault... Her mother's death was her fault. Little did she know a decently sized rock ablaze with fire had her name on it.

However, another had noticed for her and ignoring her mother's call had instead and turned and raced for the medic. Kalifa felt herself lift off the ground, wings pumping furiously as she grabbed a hold of the female named Mirth and pulled her, just as the medium-sized flaming rock exploded right where she had been standing. Her heart raced and she watched as the rock broke off into smaller pieces and sailed outward- they hadn't completely cleared the area. A yowl- though muffled due to the cub in the mouth- escaped from Mirth. Kalifa pumped her wings up and down, but green orbs couldn't help but look down and see the damage. Mirth had unintentionally become her shield.

She thought she was dead when she turned around to see the ball of fire sailing for her, but she had been grabbed just in time- or so she believed. When the rock erupted into several smaller pieces, flying off in many directions, she knew that some would reach her and Mute. She turned her head away, hoping to effectively keep Mute out of the danger zone. They were barely off the ground, and she was sure Kalifa was putting in her best effort.. but it wasn't in time. Several pieces of the rock slammed into her chest and others whizzed passed her left side, but did not have the force behind it to puncture the skin. Still, they had been aflame, and the fire did enough damage on its own. There was one piece that sailed high enough to smack her in the face, which was when she screamed and reflexively tightened her grip on the cub. It felt as if her whole body was on fire, the heat- even after the flames died out- was still there. She was burned in several places and the likelihood of recovering without scars..was highly unlikely.

Kalifa kept a tight grip on Mirth as she flew, now heading to her mother Odysseia. She saw Massacre, Vincent, Abyssia, Vespera, Tombstone, and Hatari. She would not be able to hold the female for much longer and fly at the same time, but would she be able to run? As she asked, the female simply nodded and Kalifa started to slow down and get closer to the ground. When Mirth was on the ground, Kalifa landed beside her and was able to fully comprehend what had happened to her. She frowned visibly and her nose crinkled a bit on reflex, the smell of burned flesh pervading her nose. She looked away, "I'm sorry.." Was all she could muster up, but Mirth simply shook her head as if to say it wasn't her fault- she did the best she could. They started to run and the Dakasa-Donovan couldn't help but keep checking on Mirth, making sure she was making it ok. With Orpheus's words, they gathered near him and watched in amazement as fireballs were seemingly deflected.

She picked up any cub that needed to be picked up and stayed with Darcise- who was actually a niece of hers as was the twin sister Decipher. Darci remained near her sister and her family, but when Orpheus's words hit her, she tried to usher everyone in that direction. He moved with his father, sister, and Tane; uneasiness and panic washed over him. However, Necro was determined to come out of this alive, he was determined to get his family out alive, too. When he heard the King, he too tried to usher his family to group up with the rest.

Having just met up with her mother after so very long, even in this chaos, she was relieved her mother was safe. She had been following behind, but wondered if her words had even registered in DarkMoon's ears. When she started to stop, she did too, and her eyes grew wide in terror. Her blood ran cold and it felt as if everything around her went completely still and silent. The only thing she could see was her mother, laying there..gone.. The silence was broken by a bloodcurdling scream, filled with the agony of losing a loved one. She didn't realize that it had been coming from her. Her legs were trembling.. How could her mother be gone? Just like that? She still had so much to say, she wanted to tell DarkMoon about what she had seen of the world, what she had learned. "M-Mo-m.." She choked on her voice, tears streaming down her face. She looked at the ones around, specifically the two that had moved out of the way. Had it been coincidence? Had they seen it coming and decided not to say anything?!

Her eyes burned with hate in that moment. She needed someone to blame for her loss, for her mother's death. She had found two of them. She didn't know their names, but she would. It was simply easier for her to feel hate and anger rather than the pain squeezing her heart. Unfortunately, since the wind did not blow in her direction and she never got close enough to them to catch their scent, she had no idea they were her half-siblings. She gritted her teeth..it was time for her to go..now there wasn't anything in Meurtrier left for her. With one last glance at her mother, then at the other two, she ran off in her own direction.

Next poster is TheWG

Then Vessan, Drifter, Aly, Aaron, Onowl, Soli, FJ, Blade.

[TheWG]

Circa had been focused on running, so in the moment with getting her children out- but the sound of her eldest son had her halting in place and whipping around like lightning. "ZAMANI!" She choked when she saw him, nearly dropping poor Oscar in the process. Torrer and Xena both whipped around too, eyes wide when they heard the commander yell again. Circa looked around desperately for someone, but she waved her paw furiously for Torrer and Xena to keep going. They spared a glance of insecurity, but obeyed reluctantly. Circa was right, they needed to get the cubs out as fast as possible, especially as things began to catch fire from the lava...

Turning back to her den, she caught her eldest daughter too, standing motionless even as the lava crept closer to the den area they were in. Panic quickly enveloped her, but she kept her mind level as she rounded back to her, handing her daughter her younger sibling. "Take your little brother and RUN!" She commanded, shoving her in the process. "GO!" She roared, as furious as she had ever been. She wanted her children to live- and she still had one to account for.

Zamani.

She ran to him as soon as she knew Libra had gotten a running start, and wasted no time putting her paws to that damned tree. She was not the largest of creatures, nor the strongest- but adrenaline gave her the advantage. It would hurt like hell later, but she put all her might into rolling that tree off of her son. She couldn't help but realize the heat around them was growing... It made her push even harder.

Kazbek saw the commander race back in to the danger area and almost started to help, but another call snapped his optics in another direction. "Nirasa!" He boomed, fear clear in his deep voice as he realized one of his own was now in danger too. Swooping down like a hawk, he hardly felt any resistance as he wrapped his paws around her and pulling her up. "Use your wings!" He was not going to loose a child today.

Fragment, who had been near her mother Shard, watched as her little sister perished. She was frozen with fear where she was, and wasn't taking account of the various hot substances gathering around her. Embers, balls of flaming rock, she was too afraid to even notice that the longer the stood there- the more danger she was in. But her father's scream jolted her out of her trance, and she yelped lightly when she was yanked up by him- by otherwise her gaze was absent. As she was lifted off into the air with her mother and father, she could do nothing but stare out at everyone else. She watched people die below her... She began to sob helplessly.

Meanwhile, Iarri still wasn't moving- not enough for little Nephridia. She hadn't seen Corona die, and even if she did- she wouldn't have much cared. All that mattered to her right now was escape, something she could not do effectively with stubby legs. She hobbled straight up to the medic and did just as her brother did with Mirth- bit the hell out of her foot to snap her out of it. 

Cross had noted Vitanali's presence, and was inwardly thankful for her help. But thanks could come later, fire-balls spitting around them didn't warrent time to stop and say really anything. They had to move, and keep moving.

Tombstone was already quite far, high in the sky and gripping Knockout tightly, who still showed no signs of stirring. Thank goodness... She wouldn't have to remember this horrible venture...

Shade was high in the sky with Rosetta, looking down and growing nervously impatient as he watched the aunts below- Katil was feeling the same way. She let out a growl past Jade's fur, willing them to hurry the hell up with whatever they were doing. She did not want to loose her sister or brother, and she damn sure didn't want to loose her daughter again. She would understand what they did later, but now was more focused on getting out of the danger zone alive.