_{Interactions/Mentions: VV, Le Frey-@Estylwen, Val @Herald}

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Wren used the hours to show Ebony the basics of using a pistol, even offering one of his own to the kid; in case they needed to use it.
Occasionally the older male looked out the windows of the convoy to see the trees, instinctively glancing down to Mimi, who was curled on the ground, resting with their eyes closed; but they were tense.

Ferz understood why the other Wild would be tense, but he wasn't going to bring it up.

The drive spoke through to them that there was an obstacle, Wren tilted his head in slight confusion before the Convoy all but screamed to a halt.
"What in the-" Wren asked as he looked outside, furrowing his brow as he heard Savio call out. "Shit." He whispered before he looked around to listen to what everyone else thought to do.

Ebony gave a squeak when Val gave them his rifle, gripping it gently as to not drop the weapon. They hesitated with a bit of a nod when told not to use it unless they needed to.

Stalker gave a rumble as Val stepped towards him, baring his teeth with a snarl when they referred to as 'cute'; but his attention turned to the convoy as the door let out the scent he wasn't expecting.
"Traitor." He snarled loudly, turning away from Val and stepping towards the Convoy, "Do not think of fleeing; I will have Roose chase you down and snap your pathetic neck."

Mimi had lifted their head when the convoy jolted to a halt and listened to the words being spoken, before their feathers prickled aggressively at Stalkers voice.
"Stalker." They hissed, they looked to Wren and then to Ebony, "Little, stay here. These are dangerous." They said before they moved to slip from the truck.

Wren moved and grabbed her midsection just before he hind legs, stopping Mimi from moving for a moment; causing the raptor to give a small honk-like sound in confusion.
"I'm not letting you die." He said sternly, "They're not going to harm you while I'm here."
He moved quickly, slipping out from the convoy vehicle and placed Mimi back into the vehicle. "You stay." He said, almost an order.

When Wren came into view, as the man walked up to the front of the vehicle slowly, no weapons in hand; Stalker gave what sounded almost like a laugh. He found the wild-fused man laughable.
"Ferz, you poor fool; paired to one of the lost feeds?" He rumbled, his attention pulled from Mimi. "The King will find this humorous."

Ehlm City, Outside the Central Spectral Woods

_{@Herald, @SporkoBug, @Qia}

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”Hey, I can hear you, asshole!” Vin called out from the back of the convoy. Savio merely snorted through his mask, and called over Val.

”I need quiet while the adults are talking, Vin, or I'm tying you down for the night!”

Vin responded by throwing a slurry of slurs at Savio, who only reacted with a huffed chuckle, hands on his hips. His eyes finally landed on Val.

”You son o’ the Dust, Val. What are you doing, wandering around with the likes of them?” Savio said, nodding to the Umbrans cowering in the front vehicle.

He then glanced at Wren, ”Hm… Got Ghost Corp with you too. I imagine the rest of the men are their boots?”

Savio's arms moved back to hold the rifle hanging off him. He nudged the downward tip in the direction of Stalker.

”I'd be hands on with all y'all's black hearts by now, but I'm willing to wait my turn. These… Wilds-” He said it like a slur. “-Said they're from the King himself, and interfering with their business would cause another war. Not that I believe ‘em much, but… a full-on war with Wilds, we just ain't set up for he'll like that. So,”[/b]

Savio took a step back, gesturing for Stalker to step forward. ”Whatever message you gotta tell ‘em, go for it. Won't change much, you know they'll say no. Then we get those hearts, like we agreed.”

Roose wagged their tail a little, looking at Stalker expectantly.

***

Meanwhile, VV looked back at A as they sat together in the back of the jeep. ”If things go south, we can wipe them out together. They won't even know what hit them.” She said as confidently as she could. It was true, they couldn't do much against RPGs, but they still had an element of surprise - these men didn't know their complete power set.

VV pursed her lips, before glancing at Mimi and Ebony. ”I don't want you two moving from the vehicle if things go south. It's… for your own safety. Mimi, you're fierce, but I think you're better suited to scouting, right? We will need that when we start going on foot in the Woods.

And Ebby? Is it okay if I call you Ebby?” She said, smiling a little at the kid. ”I need you to stick with Mimi, and don't let them run off, mm? And don't be scared, A and I will protect you.”

Before VV turned to glance back at A, reaching out to hold her arm, trying to keep herself focused. A would notice VV's hand trembled slightly.

”A, if things get out of hand, I think our Guardian and Captain Wren have Savio handled. We'll hop out and take care of Vin. Remember what he did to D. Remember what we had to leave behind.”

Her gaze hardened. ”Vin needs to pay.”

---

Stalker listened to the humans speak between each other; bickering, arguing, annoying. Stalker rolled his eyes as he watched the vehicle carefully; would Mimi make an appearance?

He swayed his tail in annoyance, he didn’t like working with humans; even if it’s said that Wild’s were supposed to only be ‘whole’ when bonded to such an arrogant, annoying creature. Bah.
But the tension of the entire area fueled him, it lingered like an intoxicating musk to the larger beast; which made him less likely to snap towards the humans he had to work alongside.

Of course, he’d have to continue on the Kings plan; he had a role to play. And he was going to play said role as perfectly as he could.
”I have a message to you Ghost Corp members, but moreso the Skyfallen ones.” Stalker said, stepping away from Savio towards the convoy, ”The King has a proposition for the Skyfallen; Leave the mission to slay him behind, do not bring the King harm.” He started, instinctively checking if Mimi was going to show their face before he turned back towards Val and Wren.

”We are all subjects of the King.” He spoke to the wilds within Wren and Val; ”We strive to help him, to listen to him; to ensure his safety. Umbra seek to destroy us all; to use our hearts - Bonded or not - to fuel their super soldiers.

The King wishes to extend his mighty hand to you, Skyfallen Umbrians; and my extension your protectors - Your guardian and your…” He gave a look to Wren, tilting his head for a moment, thinking for the right word to describe the man in front of him, ”Your hunter. Begrudgingly we’ll extend that curtesy to Mimi and the orphan they are bonded with. Yes, I can smell you in there.”

Mimi flinched, cowering closer to Ebony; trying to cover them with more of their body as they listened quietly, looking towards V and AA. ”Should we take them up on it?” Mimi heard Ebony whisper, looking down to the teen before moving to curl their tail around them carefully.
“We will stay put.” Mimi said with a small nod, their clawed hands gently gripped around Ebony carefully. “If things turn sour, we will wait here; or if we need to, we will hide among the trees - I will use my camouflage.”

Ebony listened to V as she spoke, giving a small nod to her words; they didn’t move as Mimi seemed to try and drape themselves over them, like a support blanket.
“Stay put, keep a hold of Vals’ rifle.” Ebony said with a nod, looking down to the gun in their grip before looking up to V and nodded. “Please be safe.”

”What do you say, Umbrians?” Stalkers’ voice boomed through the air again, he kept his eyes on Wren and Val as he spoke, ”Guardians?” He looked back to Roose, swaying his tail slightly.
She’d move when he gave the word, if things went smoothly.
If the Umbrians and the Ghost Corps would take him up on the offer; side themselves with the WIld King himself, he’d help them tear down these humans without a second thought. It would be a way to show them that he was strong with his words.

He knew the two human leaders weren’t bonded yet, so the likelihood of them understanding the Wilds’ language was slim, which only helped him for what would happen next.
He spoke solely in the Wild Language for the next message. ”So, my offer to you is; Join the King in his crusade and we will spare you, even lending a hand, tooth and claw against these mortals here. He doesn't wish to harm you, truly - You are his subjects, even the Umbrians, tied by the Black Hearts.” _{(ChatGPT didn’t want to translate at ALL)}

Wren hesitated, he was listening to Val talk to Savio; but what Stalker said was… tempting, saving the Wilds from the worry of being hunted down by Umbra?
Like hell he’d be able to turn that down.
He glanced to Val, what would he think? He wasn’t tied to Ghost Corps, nor was he anyone that Umbra had tormented. Wren took a moment to look back towards the convoy; The girls, Mimi and Ebony-

Would they really carry through on their promise if they agreed? He looked back to the Wilds’ in front of him. They were all easily bigger than Mimi - Stalker standing easily two times the size of her, this would be stupid to refuse…
Would they turn on Mimi as soon as their mission was complete, though? He didn’t know the laws of the Mimicraptors, he believed only they really knew their own rules; and who was he to try to push different rules on such dangerous creatures in front of him.

What do you say? Wren thought inward, Ferz stayed silent for a moment before he spoke.
I don’t fully trust them.
Of course, you hunted alongside them; are they not trustworthy?
It’s hard to tell. Stalker could be lying; but he’s prideful and would never lie about helping the King. Nor would he lie about killing either.
Wren nodded slightly, he trusted Ferzs’ words on things like this; he only hoped that he was correct.

_{Interactions/Mentions: VV-@Estylwen}

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[color=003471][/color]Val bit the inside of his cheek, measuring the situation carefully. The Ghost Corps had their orders, he could trust them to get the fallaways out if push came to shove or to do their damnedest at least. Still, they needed more of an edge. The balance of power was just slightly in Savio's favor from what he could tell. Val's group had more Wilds on their side, but they also couldn't afford to lose any of their group to the rpgs pointed at them.

When the strange Wild began to speak in their language, Mercy rumbled a rough translation for him, tinged with irritation at this offer of 'peace'. Val's brow furrowed at the creature's attempt to disguise such a turncoat act and realized perhaps it didn't know that some humans did understand their tongue at least enough to get the gist of what was being said.

Could he trust this little Wild? Taking Savio out quickly might dissuade the bears and his own men from firing too hastily. From the change in Savio's body language, it seemed like that the man was also aware something strange was going on.

"You should have picked your allies better Savio. The chatty one is trying to cut me the same deal I imagine he tried to cut you and Vinny," Val called out, "now, I've never been one to take the word of someone who bites their new friends in the ass... but I gotta admit it is tempting. Don't suppose you'd be willing to let us pass on by if we made the same offer and gave you the hearts of those two, right?" Val was buying just a few more seconds, hammering away at what he believed to be a wedge in their alliance. If this turned into a three way battle then all the better for him and the Umbrans.

Mercy, any chance those Wilds are going to play nice?

They serve the King. They will do his bidding or suffer his wrath. It would be better to devour them all.

Noted. Are you ready then? Gloves off.

The rumbling laughter and push against his psyche was all the answer Val needed.

"Wren, buddy, I can't really give you orders, but try and protect the vehicles from those rpgs. -We- will handle Savio and the Wilds if necessary," Val whispered, just loud enough for Wren to hear him.

"You know what, I think I've decided actually," Val called out, taking another step forward and rolling his neck. Val turned his eyes on Savio with a wide grin, "Savio old buddy, you win the jackpot."

Val's eyes flashed to a molten mix of red and blue, swirling into purple as he felt the change start to take hold over his body. His voice dropped to the deep primal rumbling as he spoke, "We Will Show You MERCY!"

Val's body warped, the transformation far faster since his duel with the general. Learning to go along with the change helped to accelerate it, made it less painful though the exhaustion would never truly fade. He went down on all fours, his form surging in size rapidly as dark armored plates slid into place over flesh reddened by the molten blood flowing through his veins. He let out a primal roar, a challenge to all who would seek to stop Mercy from feeding as he was finally due. Only his eyes gave any hint that Val was still inside this new monster, intelligent purple irises flicking between all parties to discover the first threat.

"Cabhrú linn nó fan amach de ár bealach dá leat mian an dubh croí chun stad a gcuid post. Do amháin eile rogha tá chun bheith ith le an scíthe!", Mercyval screamed out as it leapt to the attack. Mercy might never need to tell a lie, but Val had no issue lying to an enemy if it meant removing them from the board.

<Help us or stay out of our way if you wish the Black Heart to stop their job(mission/task). Your only other option is to be eaten with the rest!>

For the first time, Val let Mercy off of his leash, trusting in the Wild to keep it's rampage to those who deserved it.

Ehlm City, Outside the Central Spectral Woods

_{@Herald, @SporkoBug, @Qia}

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Savio's eyes lit up in pure irritation, a growl emanating from him as he turned to Stalker.

”You little bastard, you really think I don't understand you? Little back-stabbing son of a-” He growled again, gaze tearing itself to focus on Val, now in the throes of his transformation. Savio bared his teeth behind his mask.

”All I see is a Heart in front of me! Boys, kill them all, including the little mimic-whelps!”

While Savio's men opened fire with their AE rifles on Mercyval and Wren, Savio stepped back a bit, getting some space between him and and Mercyval. He turned his attention on the mimicraptors nearby, and raised his hand.

Immediately, fire erupted in a spinning vortex around them, slowly encroaching, aiming to box them in and burn them slow. Roose gave out a squeak, ducking behind Stalker a little as the fire came closer. Her eyes connected with Savio through the flames, and her eyes flared a dark energy.

Savio's eyes matched hers, blinded by dark energy, as he gripped his head. ”Ahhh… You whelp, what did you-” Before he began to hyperventilate, throwing fire this way and that against imaginary foes, some fire touching his own men as Savio became more agitated and confused.

Meanwhile, the driver of the convoy knew he had been told to take off if there was a fight. But when VV leapt out before he could push the gas, he had to stay idle, eyes on the rear view mirror. ”You stupid girl-” he muttered frantically.

The driver wasn't even on VV radar; she had given a meaningful glance to A, ”We're definitely not” Before she stepped out.

RPGs shifted on her position, but before they could let loose, Ghost Corps soldiers stepped out, sniping all four thugs who carried the RPGs. VV was free to charge forward, and so she did. She swiped a hand at Vin, and a wave of darkness took him, suspending him in the air in a hand of darkness.

Vin's men, in response, attempted to open fire on VV, but Ghost Corps were quick to retaliate. Soon enough, it was a fire fight on both sides of the convoy, men on both sides falling.

---

Stalker didn’t seem to care for Savio as he turned to him and started to spit vile towards him, his eyes focused on Val as he twisted into MercyVal.
The head of the Mimicraptors shook his head slightly with a loud huff as he readied himself. He was about to move again before the fire suddenly erupted around them.

Stalker gave a rumble at the flames before Roose seemed to use her own powers against the leader, he gave a rumble of approval before he moved to kick sand towards the flames to see if it was susceptible to being snuffed out.
”Stay close.” He rumbled to Roose, watching the two men in front of the car through the flames.

He noticed the flames wavered at the kick of dust he did, ”Roose.” He growled, nodding towards the ground and motioned to the flames, ”Dig.” He ordered, moving himself slightly lower to the ground and dug deep with a hind leg before kicking dust towards the flames behind them.

He didn’t need to get rid of all of it, as long as he and Roose could get out of the flames.

---

Wren almost let out a small sigh of annoyance as Val chose war, Ferz gave a bit of a laugh before Wren lifted his arm, his eyes glinting deep green as he did so.

The ground around him shifted as Savio’s men started to open fire, a large vine shield twisting out of the ground to block the bullets. Wren knew it wouldn’t hold forever, even with regular bullets it would be shot through; evidently by the whizzing bullets that passed Wren.
Alright then. He thought to himself, Ready? He asked, No holding back, no anchoring. Proper Wendigo bullshit.

A smile spread across his face as his eyes deepened to a blood red, before the pupil encompassed the iris. Wren was always cautious of letting Ferz take over, always making sure he had a hold on the beast; but now? No, Ferz was able to do his own thing. Fucking finally

Ferz would normally make the transformation slow as to not injure too much of Wrens’ mentality, but as he was allowed to push the limits today. Wrens’ body twisted, taking a similar form to what everyone had seen back in the collapsing building; but it was much bigger.
Ferz no longer needed the shield of vines that barely covered his hooven feet before he looked towards Savio’s men and let out a bone-chilling roar towards them; moving to slam his fist down to the ground, creating a wave of spikes towards the riflemen, before swinging a fist towards the RPG wielders; making the ground shift under their feet to attempt to knock them off balance before they could shoot.

---

Ebony and Mimi stayed in the Van as VV and A left, they both held their breath as Ebony seemed to cling to Mimi, hearing the sound of bullets echo around them, some of them hitting the convoy - some piercing, some simply bouncing back.

”Ebony.” Mimi whispered softly, ”Trust me?” They asked, Ebony looked up hesitantly before giving a small nod. Mimi’s eyes glimmered before they seemed to suddenly disappear.
Ebony’s form started to shift in the vehicle, moving awkwardly to try and get out in a direction that no one was firing at at that moment.

It felt weird, Ebony could feel their bones snap and warp, their skin harden into scales as they twisted into a more mimicraptor form. It was weirdly… Painless? Much less painful than their bonding.
Ebonimi slowly stood to their full size, shaking their feathered body as their eyes scanned the area.
Where do we go? Ebony asked, unsure how to really control the body.
We’re taking down Stalker. Mimi spoke back, Ebony hesitated.
But he’s… With the King?
He wants us dead. He won’t keep his word on not harming us. His pride is too much, he’s angry I left.
Right, okay. But there’s flames.
Let me lead. Trust me. Mimi took control of their body, Ebony not resisting in any way before Ebonimi slunk along through the shadows, hidden by their camouflage ability.

They continued walking, keeping their body close to the ground as they watched for any hidden men of Savio or Vin; if they tried to run, Ebonimi would take them down in order to help the others while they got closer to their target.

Would they have to take down Roose? Roose and Mimi weren’t on the worst terms, but Roose followed Stalker’s orders, if Stalker told her to kill Mimi - There would likely be no insubordination; but what if Mimi killed Stalker before Roose could kill them?

Fire. Violence. Death.

After being chained up inside of Val for so long, denied again and again his right to feed and only able to take his frustrations out on the man that had become his partner, Mercy reveled in the sweet release as Val's spirit now encouraged their merged form to do what Mercy did best. Fuck. Everything. Up.

The Abyssal Energy rounds bit into his armored plates, interrupting his sweet savoring of the moment. The Wendigo he recognized from their first encounter surging to a size similar to his own. He could sense the Wild's primal savagery, a match for his own. Perhaps another day one of them might devour the other. For now, they had some very foolish men to kill.

Savio's flames licked all around the man as he seemed to battle imaginary foes scattered throughout. Mercyval could barely feel his heat, like an irritating gust of wind as long as he couldn't concentrate it on him. That was fine. If the riflemen wanted to die first, then who was he to tell them no? Mercyval's eyes flashed purple, Val's influence guiding him away from the charge that would have put him in the way of the Wendigo's attacks and towards a different possibility.

He stood up on his hind legs, getting as tall as he possibly could. He was presenting himself as a target, his form tempting them with the easy shots even if they had little prayer of damaging the armored plates without Abyssal Energy. Moving his hands together, he used his own claws to slice open on of his palms, molten blood beginning to pool and bubble. Laughing through the pain, Mercyval reached out and swatted the corner off of part of the towers hard enough to send chunks of concrete, glass, and molten blood scattering among the forces arrayed behind the convoy. His other three limbs dropped into place strategically around the convoy, shielding as many vehicles as possible with his own body as he spat out another insult towards Savio.

"Teacht ar tine eitilt, nó beidh mé agat chun Déan dhéanamh glan mo iníon le... Vinny," Mercyval rumbled, his head turning slowly towards where Vin and his bears were fighting.

<Come on firefly, or will I have to make do cleaning my teeth with... Vinny>