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Rising Tensions

After fifteen minutes of trotting to the northeast, Wolf began to catch familiar scents. Quietly, he said to Larkin, "Remember what I said. But be ready to act when I tell you."

Nearing a rather large looking tree, Wolf slowed to a walk before sitting on his haunches as several yellow, red, and gray wolves surrounded him and Larkin. Directly in front of Wolf a large black wolf loomed out of the deepening darkness.

"Shomecossee," [1] the large black wolf said, near to snarling. "I thought I banished you when you lost the Fang Trial."

"Lies," Wolf said, speaking to the pack. "Faolan [1] and his omegas jumped me during a hunt for an oke [2] and left me for dead. I can see they clearly have done so for Faolan to obtain Alpha status."

"So claims a mere kalb," [3] Faolan said. Looking at Shalimar and Larkin in disgust. "A kalb that brings with him a mab [4] and a halfbreed."

"They are my aleid," [5] Wolf stated. "And they are more than a mab and a halfbreed. They have the blood of a great suoh [6] in them." When Faolan snorted, Wolf said, "Larkin, set your mother down and show them your true form."

"Gladly," Larkin growled, setting Shalimar down. Transforming into her dragon form, Larkin notice a wave of fear pass over Faolan's eyes. Sneering, she said, "I see you are afraid, Alpha Faolan...though Alpha seems too grand a title for a coward." Glancing around her, Larkin noticed that the wolves who were not loyal to Faolan were edging behind her and Wolf. "It seems, false leader, that the pack has sensed your fear of me."

"Enough Larkin," Wolf said. To Faolan, he said, "I challenge you to a true Fang Trial, here in front of the entire pack. If you win, I shall take my aleid and leave. If I win, you and your omegas shall leave."

"I will not be bulled this way!" Faolan snarled. "Shomecossee--"

"Has challenged you to a battle," an old female white wolf said, stepping forward. "If you choose not to fight, then you automatically will be declared the looser and must follow Shomecossee's wishes as your Alpha."

"Stay out of this, Tayla!" [1] Faolan said.

"I will not!" the white wolf replied. "I am Alpha female to this pack as no other of your females has had the ability to beat me yet and so I have as much say in this as you! The rule of the pack is to fight, be banished, or be killed. If you will not fight, you forfeit your title. If you do not submit to Shomecossee's to leave, then you shall be killed!"

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Introductions

"Why are they not wearing dresses for this place?" Sora asked, commenting on the fact that Xangord and Nogard were still dressed in their normal clothes.

"What the hell do you care about it?" Nogard asked him. "You're not dressed up like a Little Lord Fauntleroy boy."

As Sora floundered for a response to this rebuke, Dragon said, "Riku, Sora, Kari--my younger sister, Nogard. Sora, Kari, I don't think you've had a chance to meet my older sister, Xangord."

"Nice to meet you," Kari said, sketching a simple curtsy. "Xangord is your Nobody and Nogard is your heartless, correct?"

"HEARTLESS!! NOBODY!! YAAAAAH!!" Sora yelled, summoning his keyblade and rushing forward.

Rolling her eyes, Dragon stuck her arm out as Sora ran by--effectively clotheslining him. Picking up the keyblade and placing a foot on Sora's chest, Dragon looked down at him. "No, Sora. These two are our friends."

"That brat has impulse control issues," Nogard said.

"...As much as we want to," Dragon added. Glancing at Xangord and Riku, Dragon let Sora up and handed back his keyblade. To Sora, Kairi, and Nogard, Dragon said, "Sora, perhaps you can show Nogard to the kitchens. She shares a similar joy of food. Kairi, maybe you can help me figure out where my normal clothes were taken. I'm getting tired of this getup."

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Reunion

Hearing her name, Xangord turned to face the door--only freeze as she saw Riku. Despite the flurry of activity from the others, Xangord shared a silent gaze with Riku until the others had left and Dragon quietly shut the door.

After a few moments of silence, Xangord said, "Riku. It's good to see you."

"Y-yeah," Riku said, glancing to the ground. Looking back at Xangord, he said, "Why did you leave?"

"I was called to another world by those two," Xangord said. "And it was time that I finally met my family. I'm sorry I left without word. Why didn't you reply to any of the messages I sent you?"

"Messages?" Riku asked, surprised. "I didn't get anything. You just vanished without word or trace."

"You didn't--I'm going to kill that damn cat," Xangord sighed, closing her eyes and placing one hand on her hip and one on the bridge of her nose. "It was important that at least one of them get through to you."

"You had a child," Riku said, almost accusingly as he walked closer to Xangord. "Is that what one of the messages said?"

Opening one eye to look at Riku for a few moments, Xangord dropped her hands to both sides and opened both of her eyes. "Yes. He--"

A portal suddenly opened up behind Xangord and an arm wrapped around her throat. A second hand appeared and placed a device similar to Dragon's on the base of Xangord's neck directly over the spine.

"XANGORD!" Riku said, rushing forward the last three feet between them as the other screamed in pain.

The owner of the hands [7] stepped through the portal to look Riku full in the face. Before Riku could close the distance, the stranger flicked a hand in Riku's direction--throwing a ball of dark energy at him that sent Riku flying backwards through the air.