Burn & Boil *Pack*

[*Gem*]

***

Keely dismembered three of them before they sharp tip of the needle was forced between her ribs. It made her gag, the feeling, the darkness that slipped into her veins. She knew this feeling all too well, the blocking of her powers, the stripping of her defenses.

It was so well timed. The circlet had a midnight training session, they'd been having them for the last three nights. Twice Eli had come home bloody and bruised and once shitfaced and drunk. She'd found it funny on all three occassions, tonight didnt seem like such a laugh.

"I wouldnt do that." She cooed, eyes dark, voice silty, as her assailant drew a knife along her jaw, down her chest, cutting into her skin. She didnt hear his reply, as he exploded into a hundred tiny little peices. There were perks to being a hellion, after all.

Keely smiked up at Autumn, and got pulled unsteadily to her feet. Then there pair of them blinked to the manor, to the safety of the Pack- no one would dare enter that strong hold, not even Josh and his merry men.

***

"You need to go back up to the house now, Cis." Danny had told her. He'd appeared when she'd been in the park with the triplets and Torrin. Frowning, she'd questioned him, but he'd insisted and Cissy did as she was told.... Five hours later it was clear why. Fuck.

Gaia was a river of blood and Cissy was in a bit of a guilty mess. This was her fault. With Cal at the castle, she'd bust in on Perrin- dragging him away from Freya, Autumn and Keely. "This is my fault-" and she explained in a rabble that she'd talked to Danny about Gaia, they'd had lunch, and he'd questioned her and she didn't think twice- she just didn't think.... "I don't even remember what I said Per, I don't think I said much, but what if I did? What if- oh this is all my fault." She was pale and trembling.

Her big brother took her by the shoulders, and kissed her forhead. "Go be the second your suppose to be." He told her, confidently. Neither of them had seen Logan since the attack begun, and part of Perrin knew it wasn't Cissy at all to blame. He feared this was rebellion from his brother; after all why not come to the manor; and the gun shots didn't echo with the resin of silver... they weren't here for the wolves. Perrin smelt a deal in the air, be he didn't know how to work out how.

"Go on, round everyone into the living room- I'll get the boys from the mountain down, and then fetch Cal and Ben-"

"And Hayden." Cissy told him. "He'll be safer here amongst us." And biting her lip she went to lead their family. Nothing was mad better by the fact Cal wasn't here and Aunt J was away....

Once or twice she could of swarn she'd seen Danny's reflextion through the window.

[Cal Brackner]

Callum was at the castle sitting in a room of influential men who all happened to be his closest friends and allies. They were pensive and scared but none would show them. Gaia wasn't just a country- It was their family, their wives and loved ones. The fact that their families had been attacked wasn't just a matter of land but of heart. Why couldn't the humans see that?

Snarling in frustration, he stood and went to the window. "They haven't moved to the pack yet. If they do, we'll be prepared. We have the lads down from the mountains and have moved most of the woman and children up there." He cracked his knuckles, "The Snares, Ben and Parker are scouting the forest." That had been set into play moments before he'd gone to the castle. "Freya and JC are in the mountains. Frey, well I have faith she could do some real damage if they get up there and JC's quick with her bow."

[Apollo Christos]

Pol had been sat listening to the reports, they'd come thick and fast as soon as people realised what was going on. It seemed every second Hayden had a new peice of information to take in and digest. "Freya will look after them, and Autumn too-" He added, with a nod to Cal. Autumn's power had 'bleeped' on his radar as soon as she came to Keely's defence, he knew she was with the pack and wondered how her parents would apprecaite that.

Brad had gone, Aaron was away with the elfin troops and Ben was on Cals orders, that put them at only four remaining Circlet Knights, and himself. "What can I do to help Hades?"

Hayden had been very thoughtful, but he'd sent each report off with a set of instructions, and it was clear he head instructions for the men remaining in this room. Looking at his blood filled glass he said; "Lets get the women and children to the strong holds- the castle, the school and the manor if Cal has no objections. Those places are easy to defend from the inside."

"Can we get some reinforments from the Spanish, Eli?" He asked, sipping from the goblet. "We need a little help driving these bastards out"

[Eli Andalusia]

"No objections here-" The wolf leader said firmly with a nod of his blond curls. "Our home is open to all of those who need sanctuary at this time."

Eli simarly nodded. "I've already dispatched our Spainish soldiers. They're arriving in the village fifty strong. I advised them to meet in the market and fan out. They've been given orders to kill on sight, if that is alright with you, my King." He defered to Hayden officially of course. In these circumstances, they were all high strung and there was no room for their normally playfully behavior.

Time in Spain had been good for the Vampire's leader. Unlike before, he now carried an air of constant confidence. Perhaps it was because without Greg there, he was finally emerging out of his family's shadow and was coming into his own as a ruler.

[Hayden Black]

Hades nodded, eyes on Cal then on the rest in the room. He met their eyes one by one. "Then Eli go to your vampires in the market- keep them from getting too carried away. Let the vampires be our main line of attack. Cal-" He smiled softly. "As always lead with your heart for my, friend, can we use your wolves as herders? Get as many people as we can to safety and then sit as guards?"

His eyes went lastly to Aram. "I wish your brother in law was here." He muttered, shaking his head, hadyden rose. "Find yourself a party o healthy and weary- healers, doctors, whoever you can find hat knows how to stick a bandage on. Go to the school and set up scantary there." It was the first time Hayden had ever trusted Aram with anything other than walking in a straight line.

His final instruction was to Pol. "Find my sister."

+

Pol laughed. "She's with Cal's lot- and I can't stop her being there Hayden you know that. Don't you have something more useful for me to do?"

+

"Get me another drink?"

And there was the playful air. Hayden as dark as he could be, needed his friends now, as leaders and as lads. Gaia needed them.

[Bails]

Lucretia returned to the castle a few hours later. Reports had come back that the mortals had been driven out or killed. Now she came to report to the King, her little brother. Shaking out her long, dark hair, she came in. A force of nature as always. The guards bowed, unnoticed as she came into the throne room. There, she found her husband and brother, drinks in hand, discussing.

"Lazy bastards." She teased, sitting on Pol's lap and sipping his brandy. "I'd hate to think of you two stuck in here while the rest of us did the hard work." Of course it was in jest as she knew Hayden wouldn't have been allowed out- It would be dangerous. What would Gaia do without her King? Not to mention, with her son still marked as heir, she wanted him to be around for as long as possible.

[Hayden Black]

Hayden rolled his eyes. "If you came here to taunt, Luc- when you now I'd rather be out there with everyone else - then just leave." His mood was not light anymore.

[Bails]

She shook her head, "I'm actually here to bring you word on the Mountain pack. We hearded the woman and children up there with a couple of the lads. They're all safe. You'd be really proud of JC, Hay, she was really good out there. Didn't flinch once." Lu wrapped Pol's arms around her waist to steady herself.