Full Moon Hangs Heavy

Brady Hawkes · The Gambler

Full Moon Hangs Heavy

DropsofRaine · Fierce Huntress

Raine had been a ghost, more or less, since she had arrived in Rome. There were still things in her head, abilities to sharpen, and inner demons that she had to battle. She tried to pretend she didn't need the other tigers around, tried to feign hatred for Jane, but somewhere along the way .. perhaps on that very day in which she'd first caught a glimpse of Brady .. or perhaps it was in her despondency in knowing that Gilly was gone. Gone, as she had been. Or, maybe not so much as she had been. Raine hadn't had a choice in her lengthy stay in Montana. Gillian appeared to have just left without a word. And yet, Raine had mourned the disappearance of her favorite English rose, knew that Adam must have been beside himself. And maybe that was the true turning point in all of this. She supposed it didn't really matter at that point at all, only that there had been a point in time in which she had begun to come around. And in coming around, Raine had made the decision to slowly open her heart again.

That was the precise reason that she would answer the call of the new male. Though she knew she could fight him for leadership, she also knew that she was in no position to lead these tigers, not mentally anyway. She still had too much pain built up within her to trust that she wouldn't lead them down some dark alley. And as much as Raine knew that she would answer the call of Brady's tiger, she knew, in her heart, that Adam would as well. She took comfort in knowing that, in knowing that the familiarity of her family would undoubtedly still be there.

She stood at the edge of the Horde's land, quietly contemplating for a moment. After that brief pause, she dropped her shields completely, her own power coursing out through her, emanating a kind of glowing warmth. Though she still denied the fact that she was ever a doctor, a healer, her power came from that very healing nature of hers, no matter how deeply buried it was. Once her shields were down, she ran. Barefooted, she ran until she arrived at the edge of the clearing. With her shields down, surely Brady would be able to sense her presence. Hell, he'd probably sensed it before she'd gotten that close. Her physical presence, that is.

Shedding her clothes, she stepped out into the clearing. The moon's light felt good against impossibly smooth skin, brought out the different shades of brown and red that were flecked in her hair. And when it touched upon those deep green eyes of hers, they glowed. She was almost too much tiger and not enough human when the moon hit her eyes in that way. Her beast, in all of its black and white fur, darted towards his own, glad to be around its kind again. Raine's heart ached knowing that she'd deprived her beast too much of its comforts. That was in the past, though. Clearly, Raine was here for the future. She glanced around the clearing, noting that she was the first among the others visibly present. That surprised her, but not all too much.

In her second (the first obviously having been answering his call in the first place) gesture of recognizing him as a leader, Raine approached him. There was a felinesque grace to each and every movement she made. Upon reaching him, she leaned in and pressed her cheek lightly against his in a sign of greeting. Leaning back, her lips curved into a small smile. "I don't believe we've formally met." No, the one time she had met Brady, she'd been on her way to passing out in the Horde house. Which she'd done. There had been a weariness within her that day, one that still lingered, but the wariness, it seemed, was gone. "I'm Raine," she nodded towards him, taking a step back to give him space. She figured Adam had told him her name, but it was polite, nonetheless.

Jasons Song · Brothers Morrison

Jason had tried working as best he could. Being a born tiger made it a little more possible. Though not as much as he wanted. All day he shut himself in his room soldering away at hard drives and gadgets. He almost had the robotic dog complete. The AI was the only thing giving Jason trouble. Every time he gave the robotic dog a command of sit, it rolled onto its back. It was the curious thing. Had to be the wiring. Normally Jason couldn't tell when the moon hung in the sky. Normally through out the month he forgot what time it was working through the night into the early morning.

Tonight was not a normal night for Jason. His head rose looking towards the window in his room. The moon was full 100% full. The lure of her call was hard to ignore. Hard for a fully born tiger even. Paired now with the new male in their mists. His calling for the tigers had Jason moving silently. Shirt and shoes were kicked off. He walked from his room forgetting the work he had been doing. Barefeet hit the grass of the yard. Looking for Jude he knew his brother would be behind him. Raine's smell was close by.

Hunting grounds were straight before Jason. Brady within hands reach. Once Jason was close he rubbed his cheek along Brady's in recognition of being Alpha and of claiming the spot as Khan. Falling to his knees Jason shifted. His body breaking to release the beast within. It was not a completely fluid shift, even being born a true were-tiger. Bones braking and reforming to that of a tiger. A sleek Indochinese took shape from the human that had been Jason. The same blue eyes staring up at Brady's still human figure. A large head moved to bump at Brady's hand wanting the attention of its new leader.

Hey Jude · Brothers Morrison

~That call echoed through his body and hit him at his very core. Unlike most of the others he had no other option but to answer. Jude wasn't strong enough to resist. Wasn't even strong enough to want to try. So he went out to the Horde Lands barefooted and tossing off his clothes willy nilly as he broke into a run. Darn near fell on his face trying to get out of his socks.~

~Stumbling into the clearing he dropped to his knees at Bradys side across from his brother. Raine's naked body was noticed and for a second Jude's personality shown in his eyes as he grinned big and bright. Then he was grabbing Bradys hand and leaning in to lick the back of it in submission.~

~Once his tongue hit the mans skin he felt that power burst through his body and Jude was gone. In a burst of gooey clear fluid his tiger had been ripped out of him by the call of the new Khan and the power of the full moon. An Indochinese tiger stood there, matching the one on Brady's other side.~

~The brothers beasts were nearly identical. Thin framed and smaller than most other tigers with faintly pointed ears and thick muzzles. As the lanky beast licked its own muzzle its whiskers twitched and glowing blue eyes looked around. Lips peeled back in a snarl as the beast lowered itself down to the ground at Bradys feet. Not in the way of any others who might come, but staying close to the Khan for protection.~

Lucien · Stripped Demon

The full moon was always a time of celebration for he and his mate. As the two of them shared love so their beasts shared a connection that was beyond understanding, and when the moon called to their blood they embraced that call. As the lovers walked hand in hand beneath the stars they felt the world around them expand to encompass the brightness of their souls union. Fingers twined together the heat of their power coiled around one another into a nimbus of warmth and muted hunger. Nadia's fierceness mingling with Luciens calm to make their stripped counterparts brush the surface with eagerness.

When the call came from Brady Lucien could feel Nadia stiffen at his side. He knew that she wished to follow Adam, but Adam had stepped down. Unless one of the Alpha's challenged Brady then he would claim that place of leadership. Lucien understood these things, also he understood that he could not kill this man. Literally he was not strong enough. Holding onto Nadia's hand he pulled her in against them, their naked bodies pressing together in a warm line. Both tall and lean, both pale as moonlight, both covered in tattoos that were true works of arts. They were a perfect pair.

"Where we go. We go together."

"Forever."

Nadia added in her own smooth voice as he felt her grow calmer beneath his hands where they caressed her back. Taking her by the hand he led her towards the origin of that call, seeing the brothers and Raine already there. The mates moved in sync with one another, going to Brady unashamed of their own nakedness. Keeping their hands linked they each reached out a hand to him, to take one of his hands in each of theirs. Lifting Bradys hand they each kissed the back of it as a priest might to the popes ring, letting him know there would be no challenge here.

Luciens violet eyes surveyed the others and a thrill went through his spine, his own power straining to hold on to his human form. As they stepped back he felt Nadia go, slip her skin smoothly and fall to four velvety paws on the packed earth. Her beast as familiar to him as her human half. Once more his violet eyes looked to the others and he gave a nod to Brady before he let go of his hold on humanity and shifted to join his wife. Not because he couldn't refrain, but because he wanted to be where she was, what she was, with her at all times.

Now they would wait to see who else would come....and then they would hunt.

Lillian Bradshaw · Technicolor Strips

At the present moment, Lillian Bradshaw was standing in the kitchen of her itty bitty studio apartment with more flour on her tiny frame than on the cake she was constructing. It was a new order for a small wedding but the wife had been very specific with her design – something along the lines of Elvis Presley meets the Power Puff Girls. Oh! And she would also like a matching Grooms cake with a poker table theme. Some Italians are just beyond her thought process. You see, the youngest Bradshaw had decided to open her own baking company. However, since the funds for this little company had yet to reach maximum potential, Lili was stuck baking over forty cakes a week in her tiny kitchen. But the customers had yet to complain and there was always a smile on their faces.

However, as Lillian stood there before the Puff King’s (own title she gave to this creation, a combo of Power Puff and The King) cake she couldn’t help but let all the small contributing factors that brought her to this particular point in time flash before her. There was the youth in which she spent many years overweight and working in her Grandmother’s kitchen learning all sorts of secrets to the most delicious of Bradshaw recipes. Then the unbelievable amount of insecurities and self-esteem issues that brought her down despite her immense weight loss and which she still battles today. Then there was Peter; the college boyfriend that further proved that she was worth nothing. But even with these crazy negativities weighing down on this petite tigress’ mind there were also the pluses to life. The ever shining smile of her older sister, the warm hugs of her mother, the comforting yet awkward advice from her brother… Then in a flash she was thrown into Salem’s crazy history with Marcus at the helm, driving all sorts of negativity away. To this day it was he that made her love, even if he had no idea. There was Collin of course; but Lili was too consumed with her insecurities to let him in. Another flash of bright vivid colors and she remembered Gideon. Oh, her heart skipped a beat even now. Gid with his charming, broken self… How she could ever get enough of that impossibly difficult man. Then with a sad smile on her face she remembered July 4 and the hazy days that followed. Had it not been for her sister’s meddling hands, Lili would probably be living somewhere with third degree burns so intense it would make her life living hell. Yet…

Lillian was living and breathing and moving with such grace she could be mistaken for a ballerina. It was Jane’s kind mind that breathed life into Lillian… with the help of a rather indifferent tiger; the same large beast loomed within Lili’s small cage, jade eyes staring nonchalantly into the middle distance. This week had flown by with a good ten cakes behind Lillian and about another five or so more to go, the moon’s feast had gone unnoticed by the tiny dancer. Then there was that undeniable sound, so deep and piercing it caused the idle tiger to jump to attention and before Lili had much time to register what was going on she was ripping off the hot pink apron and tearing out of her apartment like a bat out of hell. Truth, she forgot her shoes but in reality she wouldn’t need them. There was a smile on the small woman’s face as she raced through Rome toward the clearing – it felt too good to run like this. And in almost no time she arrived at the clearing, ample amounts of flour decorating otherwise pale skin, bright smile still decorating those full tiers. Lili seemed to glow what with the white light of the moon, the white powder of the flour and the ethereal appearance of her pale skin. And even with the heavenly glow, or perhaps because of it, she seemed to emit a most pleasing warmth. It was innocent and light and far too bubbly to be considered anything but pure happiness. She most definitely needed a pink bow.

Lili bounded through the shrubbery and such, with a few twigs and leaves tucked into her hair and other places; she picked at them as she walked to the very center of the call –a tall handsome man that she recognized at once. On the way she nodded to the others who had joined Brady on this evening though the faces and names were a bit hazy at the moment. Once reaching Brady she bit her bottom lip and smiled, a mischievous twinkle in those bright blue eyes.

``Janey was right about you, you are quite a hunk.``

Lillian gave the man a rather informal wink. She was a grand total of five foot two and a source of neverending light, yet when she greeted the Khan with a brush to his cheek and crumbled to the floor in a heap of white goo the tiger that took Lillian’s place could not have been more different. The large Bengal tiger with its green eyes was a shadow of a presence. True you could see her, but she did emit any sort of happiness – just a grand nonchalance that could be mistaken for arrogance or insecurity. But, she would follow orders, she didn’t care enough not to.

Lucien · Stripped Demon

Lucien watched the others, always keeping his wife close to his side. The two of them circled the group like sentinels set out at a prize ring to monitor what happened. Until all of the Horde had gathered this wasn't over. Even in his primaly driven animal mind he could conceive of that. Knew that the new leaders place would not be taken until all had accepted. If a challenge came then the outcome could turn a very different way very quickly.

Lillian was a new face among the Horde, and when she entered their sacred ground he and Nadia stopped a moment in their circling to watch her carefully. She was young, like the brothers, but unlike the Morrison boys her tiger was so new that he was surprised she hadn't shifted earlier. With the weak sense of smell that tigers had he didn't waste time by way of scent oriented introductions and instead he and Nadia's beasts padded towards this new arrival to brush their sides against hers in tandem, sweeping past her by way of introduction and showing a united force of dominance to the young stripped one.

Next Mayra entered the clearing, the Spanish maidens red hair in wild disarray from the run to the clearing. She looked beautiful in her fatigue, but also like a heavy weight was on her shoulders. Mayra had spent a long time running, and that was bound to weigh on anyone. As his Bengals eyes tracked her movements he saw her accept Brady, and then slip her skin as all the rest but Raine had done. Once again he and his wife went to her and greeted her in a similar manner. Their velveteen pelts brushing hers and Lucien even took a friendly nip at her tail as it lashed past his face.

Things were almost in order, nearly all had come to the sacred ground. As he felt the hunger of the beasts around him and their eagerness for the hunt hoped that Adam and Jane would come quickly. That they could once again unite as a group under this man and find a way to stay together.

Adam Hunter · Man of Peace

-: The feel of that call coming for him wasn't something he was used to. It had been awhile since his beast had been called by anyone. Adam was sitting in the kitchen when it happened. Quietly enjoying a cup of tea to take off the edge that the full moon always brought with it. When he felt Brady's call his lips moved into a soft smile. One of those smiles of his that came off looking far more cryptic than the man wearing it. Adam had been expecting this in one way or another. All the late night conversations between him and Brady had been leading up to this so the smile was genuine.-

-: He could have fought the call, and might even have managed to succeed, but he had no desire to. What he wanted was the unity and safety of the tigers. Whether Brady could offer that or not had yet to be seen, but he had a better shot at it than Adam. So Adam would support that. Setting aside the cup of tea he stood from the kitchen table and left the comfort of that household kitchen to head out towards the tigers sacred circle. The only thing missing for him in that moment was the presence of his english rose at his side. As peaceful as Adam was he couldn't help but feel lacking after Gillian had left. Lacking because he felt that it was something in him she had run from. :-

-: Moving towards the feel of power he passed Nadia and Lucien in their tiger forms and let his calloused hands brush roughly over their heads. Coming to Brady he met the man with that smile still on his face and leaned in to brush his cheek to Bradys in greeting. Voice low as he said :- "Be good to them my Khan."

-: A simple way of accepting Bradys position as well as asking for his hearts desire. Once he had done that he stepped back to stand beside Raine. His face was serene as he stood there, not fighting the change but not giving into it either. His beast was not insistent at the moment. He would await the last of the tigers arrivals, and somehow he didn't find it strange that Jane would be last just as he didn't think it was strange that Raine was first. After what he and Brady had discussed he was glad to see Raine there. She belonged there. :-

Brady Hawkes · The Gambler

= One by one the tigers started to arrive in the sacred circle. He could feel them as they gathered near like thunderclouds gathering over the Texas plains. Each having a spark of power that his beast felt and welcomed. When Raine came first into the space she was hard to ignore. Not the smallest reason being that she was a woman who looked mighty good in the form god had given her, but Brady wasn't there for a peep show. It would've been considered rude among lycans to show too much attention to the womans curves so he kept his eyes on hers after she stepped back from brushing her cheek against his. =

"Raine. Ah'm Brady. It's a pleasure ma'am."

=The voice was pure smooth southern, the kind of voice most people equated with stupid. Too bad for them that was the kind of thought that usually preceeded him takin their money at the poker table. Before Raine could move away he reached out with one of those big warm hands and grabbed her by the smooth curve of her shoulder, keeping her close a moment longer. =

"Adam says you know these tigers. That ya been at his side a long time. Ah'd like a second in command fer if things get rough. Someone who knows how to do a little damage control when it's needed. Ah'd like that someone to be you."

= Adam had been talking to Brady a lot late at night. Telling him about Raine and how much he trusted her and thought she needed an active part in the Horde was just one of the things Brady had learned. Once he had Raine's answer he let her shoulder go and make room for the others who were coming. First Jasons cheek brushed his and then Jude licked his hand, and in a jackrabbits hop later he was bookended by a matching pair of lean tiger males. He was glad to have the brothers there. They were good kids. =

= Then they came quickly. Lucien and his mate Nadia. Both loyal to Adam and he hoped they'd be just as loyal to them. They also shifted and he watched as their large beasts circled them all in the darkness. Mayra came and he welcomed her gladly with a kiss to the spanish girls cheek before letting her shift and join the mated couple. When an adorable little fluffy blonde thing came into the clearing Bradys smile widened in that slow creeping way. It had taken him by surprise seein' as he'd never even met this tiger before. What she said though made him realize this was the sister he'd heard people talk about. Keeping that dimpled grin on his face he nodded his head to her and spoke in that molasses slow way. =

"Aww shucks little miss. You're sure a cute thing yourself." = Then he touched her cheek and called her beast just before she crumpled to the floor and became the tiger that she was already on the inside. =

= Now there were four tigers at the perimeter, one on either side of him, and he and Raine standing there in their birthday suits. It was quite a party by the time Adam joined them. There was a moment between the two. Past Khan and present Khan. Brady met Adams eyes and when the man spoke he just nodded and made a hand motion near his head as if he were tipping the brim of a cowboy hat that wasn't there. Green eyes looked from one to the other with the gold flecks dazzling in the moonlight. There was one tiger missing and he wondered if she would be coming. =

Mary Jane · Stripped T-R-O-U-B-L-E

Tap, taptaptaptap.... tap. Shuffle of paper and the sound of a bottle hitting the wire mesh trash can. Rolly seat pushing back from the desk. Jane rose from her office spot in MI. Tonight was the full moon. Even before the moon shown in the night sky, she could feel it. In fact the moon shown even in the clear blue skies over head. Sunglasses were shoved on her face. The offices were nearly empty. Either because of an on going case, namely hers and Frost's, or other cases, or just because of the day. No one in MI had to pretend to be what they weren't. Ash had seen to that when he assembled the team.

Glancing to the board where Jane had tacked up names and possible vampires. Her jaw went tight. Teeth grinding together. It was making her jawline hurt. Turning away quickly. Gloved hand reaching for her leather jacket as she headed out the doors of the office. A key slipping in to lock the main front doors. Boots threaded on the path that lead to her bike. The chrome shimmering under the fading light of the sun. Soon it would start. Soon the moon would shine down in all her brilliance. The Horde would run together. What did this night have in store for them?

Deep within her body in the place where her beast roamed. It felt a shift. The need to get home came over Jane. One hand reaching for the handle of her bike. She frowned. She knew what it was. Her beast urged her on to the hunting grounds. Urged its human counterpart to hurry. Shoving the call from the stripped beast down and away. Not Now! She screamed in a low threatening voice at the animal. It answered back in a growl.

Being locked to Azrael was the reason Jane refused to lead. The thought came to her on the way home. Wind blowing her hair in an array of speed tangling most of the long locks of brown. Sun faded into a wash of reds and purples with a lining of pinks. At her back she felt the heat of the fading sun. It slightly ruined the whole 'riding into the sunset' most people thought about when they thought of cowboys. Shifting gears, Jane increased the speed.

There was an itch between her shoulder blades. She knew the instant Bucky's eyes opened in the dark damp crypt of his. He was hungry. Hungry like all vampires tended to be when they woke. Jane pushed at the bike to get her home. Within her body a battle raged. One hunger feeding on another. She wanted to hunt now more than ever. The need, the want and crave of blood flowing freely down her throat. She wanted to rip into a neck and feast.

A shudder ran down her spine as she finally came to the driveway of her house. The horde house. Everything was done on autopilot. Shutting off the bike, opening the door of the house. Most of the Horde was outside already. The ebb and flow of power was all around and traveling towards one person. Brady Hawkes. Jacket tossed on the couch in the living room. Her shirt followed. Boots were tossed one landing by the table in the kitchen, the other outside nearly missing the glass sliding door as Jane walked out. Socks followed and lastly her jeans. Only in lacy boy shorts of red and the matching red bra was all Jane wore.

Jane would arrive after Adam, though she had heard everything before that. The offering of Second to Raine, the exchange of power from one man to another. Her walk, for she was not going to run to him, was sultry. Feeding on the grace of her master vampire. Each step was perfect to set her hips in a sway. Her own natural grace coming from her beast made Jane's walk completely predatory. The grace of a vampire with the hunter's elegance. It was truly something to watch as she came from the bushes that made a shielding of the hunting grounds. Of their own version of a holy ground.

Her skin didn't glow. It radiated of light. Eyes of Aztec gold looked as if someone had pulled the very sun into them. Her eyes were ablaze with the glow of gold playing behind her long lashes. The way she moved as she got near the circle of people was feral. Wild curls of brown hair cascaded around her shoulders and down her back. Her beast moved within the walls of its fleshy prison wanting to shift and change like the rest of the Horde. Jane slammed power into the beast forcing it to stay inside until she wanted it out.

The marks open to Azrael. She was going to give the vampire a ride tonight. Let him tag along on this hunt. It showed with the way her lips parted flashing straight perfect teeth. Her eyes glanced over all the ones gathered. She knew her sister's tiger form even at a glace. A cub of her making. The brother's in their nearly matching tiger forms. Lucien and Nadia, eyes roamed over Mayra then to Raine still in her human form. Across from Brady was Adam. Having missed the greeting, though hearing the words spoken.

Everyone accepted Brady as Khan. Why wouldn't they? He was damn near perfect. Jane hated to admit it, even to herself, that he would be a good leader. Though Raine as second in command? She didn't agree with. He needed someone stronger, faster and aggressive.

Bare feet glided over the short clipped grass as she made her way to Brady. Jaw clinched in hot anger and in a different sort of heat as she neared him. She moved her chin upwards meeting him eye to eye, spite his intense height. His eyes were the same from her dream and in her dream she had moved to his side. She was not presumptuous to think that she was better than him in leading. His leadership skills would be tested. Not by a fight, but by the tigers and how he could keep them safe.

Long arms lifted as she pressed her fingers to his shoulders. Bare skin to bare skin for the first time. "Keep them safe.... love them... kill for them..." Jane whispered as she moved to brush her cheek with his own. Her beast lurched up knocking her closer to Brady. She frowned, eyes shut for a moment in the uphoria of the feeling. Touching her lips to his cheek she kissed him. "Brady Hawkes Khan of the Shadow Huntah Horde." The last was said breathlessly.

Jane moved back from Brady as she turned to Raine. "Ah challenge ya fo' Second in Command Raine." Already as Jane spoke her arms were changing. The bones breaking shifting swiftly into clawed hands. The fingers looked as if they were made of talons. The long bones extending to look almost like daggers coming from the ends of her hands. Boney long talons. Fur sprouted along her arms, the bright orange and black stripes of her tiger.

Lillian Bradshaw · Technicolor Strips

Lillian liked Brady and saw why her sister liked him as well. The slow turn of his words made the short female feel at home already. But when the rationalizing mind of the human was replaced by the indifference of the Bengal tiger everything seemed to go topsy turvy. No longer was Lillian the friendly face but a ghost of a being… It seemed that tiger was only there because it had to be, not because it wanted to be. The large stripes hung around Brady for a bit, searching for comfort – much like a lone child during recess in the early years of schooling. In a way, Lillian’s tiger could be seen as that same lone child. Her tiger was a brand new cub so to speak, unaware of its surroundings or the other tigers. Thus, it resulted to indifference and nonchalance – a façade of sorts to let the others believe it didn’t care, didn’t need the others’ help or anything like that. But the truth of the matter was, this tiger cub wanted so very much to be accepted by the Horde, wanted to belong. Much too much like its human owner.

And so when the mates came and swept the tiger up in an embrace of dominance and greeting, the tiger could not control itself and threw itself onto the both of them; a cheerful little tackle amongst the two that already acknowledged and welcomed her. Though with the miniature show of affection displayed, the tiger corrected itself and plopped down on the cool earth; far too afraid to approach the other tigers without these two mates (both which she officially saw as her new friends) at her side. Jade eyes watched the fiery red head greet Brady then change into her form just like the rest; the pair that greeted her also greeted the red head… But still, the jade-eyed tiger did not feel comfortable enough to just go say hi to the others and so, like the lone child that it was, the tiger decided to wait.

But there behind the bushes the sun began to rise in the form of her older sister. Lillian’s tiger form jumped up immediately and without abandon ran over to Jane’s human form and rubbed all sorts of love against the woman’s naked legs. Looking up at the brunette the same way a loyal house cat would look up at their owner. The giant beast even went as far as walking (or tried to) in-between Jane’s legs, rubbing its large head on the soft skin. But when the tiger saw the minute shift of arms into talons it quickly backed away, into a corner where the twin tigers were. So frightened was the tiger that it actually hid behind the pair, as if that would do much.

-- Edited by Lillian Bradshaw on Saturday 8th of August 2009 01:35:38 AM

DropsofRaine · Fierce Huntress

Raine had chosen to remain in human form, mostly because all it would take was an instant for her to shift. Fluidly, gracefully, she knew she would become that very beast that currently paced within her. A bit restless, but more restless in awaiting the arrival of the rest of the Horde that she had once helped to lead with Adam as their Khan. Her lips curved into a small smile as she noted the arrival of the Morrison brothers. She had yet to get to know them well enough, but that, hopefully, would come soon. Her smile broadened at the arrival of Lucien and Nadia, then Lillian .. who was still new to her. She resented Jane having turned Lillian, but she had never resented Lillian, and so she was glad to see the youngest tiger there as well. Mayra followed, and then Adam. Adam, her Sun King. Her beacon of light. It had been he who had understood that she'd needed time to heal from the wounds that had been inflicted. They were not physical wounds, by any means, but wounds of the soul. Of the heart. As Adam moved to stand beside her, she reached over, her hand placed against his for a moment. A sign of friendship, of loyalty. But most importantly, a sign of gratitude. Even when she had been that ghost, she had felt Adam's trust and warmth. Whether there was a new Khan or not, Adam would always hold that special place within her heart, as damaged as it was.

As she heard Brady's accented voice giving his name, she nodded, really taking the man in. Her own black and white striped beast padded close to Brady's, metaphysically speaking, and nuzzled. It, too, had accepted its new leader. She was memorizing every feature about Brady as he pulled her in, murmuring to her his request that she act as his second. It was a request that she hadn't expected, and for a moment, she was left speechless. But it was also an honor, and so Raine acknowledged that. "I would be honored to work with you, Brady. I would be honored to act as your second in command." She nodded slowly, wondering if part of this had been Adam's idea. If it was, she was more in debt to the Sun King than she could have imagined. He seemed to know what she'd need more often than she did. And now that she had made her decision, had made her choice to try and heal with family than by herself, it was a blessing that he knew her so well.

She maintained that calm, relaxed demeanor until the arrival of Jane. A woman she was still at odds with, for many reasons, not the least of which was Jane's actions back in Hawaii. Lying to the doctors to turn Lillian. Add to that having been used for Jane's machinations and tossed away like a rag doll, and it wasn't hard to see why there was no love lost between herself and the other woman. But she was surprised that Jane would come into this new circle and dare to make a challenge so soon after accepting the new leader. Did Jane really think that she would be better suited than Raine? She wanted to laugh at the other woman. Jane had no idea. She had been locked in a cell and tortured. For months. And she had withstood the agony, she had found strength in deep hatred. She had gone to someplace no one would have expected her to go and had ridden the waves of insanity like they were nothing.

At Jane's challenge, Raine looked unimpressed when the other tiger began to shift one arm. This was really how the other tiger wanted it? Then so be it. She drew all of her power within, all of that strength and warmth, withdrawing it from the other tigers for a moment. Even as she stood there, her arms shifted fluidly, without consequence, into beautifully striped black and white limbs, fingers forming into long claws. Her eyes, normally green, brightened visibly, animalistically, and she lifted her chin, a muscle ticking as she clenched her jaw. "So be it," she said quietly.

In that single instant, two things happened. The first, that Raine unleashed all of her glorious power against Jane. Not the sweet warmth that Jane might have been used to back in Hawaii, but a power to be reckoned with. A power that said if she had chosen, she could have fought Brady for leader. She didn't want to, but she was certainly powerful enough to. It was a power that slammed at Jane's essence from all sides, riding the waves of fury and even disappointment in the woman she'd once cared about so deeply.

Moving faster than lightning, Raine reached out, drawing clawed hand sharply across Jane's cheek before her other hand curled around the other woman's neck, holding her in place. She let out a low, gutteral growl, much more violent than even Adam had ever seen Raine. She came very close to seeing red in that moment, but in the end, Raine's grip tightened long enough to throw Jane onto the ground, her foot moving to rest against the other tiger's neck. "Do not, for one second, think that you are better than me, Mary Jane. For someone who went against the laws of her own Horde by turning a human without consent, you certainly seem overeager to try and enforce them now." Her words were gutteral still, just above a growl as she leveled a sharp look down at her counterpart. If Jane wanted to go another round, Raine would be happy to put her down. She still felt that anger vibrating through her, through every part of her being.

Mary Jane · Stripped T-R-O-U-B-L-E

Raine’s power was really no match to what her Vampire could do and it paled to what she had felt from Marcus many years ago. The power washed over Jane, making her hair move with an unseen wind. Countering it with the death’s cold elegance of her vampire Azrael. Jane was bathed in the chill of the grave and all things that were not living.

All that power coming from her vampire left Jane blinded. She didn’t see when Raine’s clawed hand came to swipe at her cheek causing to strike first blood. Droplets trickled down Jane's face. Eyes focused and even they did she found herself on the ground. Raine’s foot on her neck. A brow arched. The speech like a monolog of a bad villain. Reaching up with her own clawed hands she grabbed Raine’s leg and threw her off balance.

“Always the fuckin’ drama queen Raine. Ah did what Ah had ta to save mah sister. So fuck ya and ya moral high horse. Ah did what Ah needed ta for family. Like Ah would do for mah horde. Take his side!” Her voice rose an octave then lowered saying; “Ya got first blood. Ya belong there, so stand at his side.”

Pointing to Brady as she said the last. Jane moved to the side. A glance at Brady then looked away. She only let him and Adam see the confusion and hurt in the golden glowing depths. A shake of her hands as both returned to their human form. Kneeling so she could rub her cheek against Lili in her tiger form.

“Sorry for scaring you mah lil Tiger Lili.”

A nickname Jane had given Lili. One hand was kept on Lili as Jane rose. She petted the soft pelt of her sister’s striped body. Her mind was falling back into the dream she had seen when she first was trying to find Azrael. In it she had been at Brady’s side. She was sure he was the tiger with those green and gold flaked eyes. Her beast had moved to his side. Jane had been so sure that she was supposed to be his second. Otherwise she would never have bothered to fight Raine.

In all honesty, Raine would be a good second as she had been with Adam. She highly doubted that she could beat Brady in a fight to rule, but that was kept within Jane’s own mind. It was not Jane being bias. There was something that Brady was hiding. What that something was, Jane didn't know. All she did know was simply that Brady hadn't shown all his cards. There was still an ace up the Gambler's sleeve. Turning her Aztec gold eyes to Brady she frowned a bit. She had lost, and stepped down from the fight soon after.

DropsofRaine · Fierce Huntress

She allowed Jane to throw her leg off -- Raine had been close to moving away anyhow. She had made her point. Stronger, faster, more aggressive. That was what Jane had wanted to test, was it not? Jane might have had the power of a master vampire behind her, but that power was also a weakness. Being bound to two others, at the possible risk of death if one of them died .. it was a price Raine never would have been willing to pay. As she stepped back, she looked down at Jane, her eyes following the other tigress as she righted herself. Closing her eyes, she willed that fury and rage back down within herself to a calm, once again reopening her power to the rest of the Horde, bathing them with light and warmth. Raine was not a tyrant. She hadn't been one at Adam's side, nor would she be one at Brady's. In all honesty, Raine would not have asked to be at Brady's side had he not asked her. She didn't need the power, she didn't need the status. But Adam was right in thinking she needed a purpose. And so, because she intended to give her whole heart to the Horde and their new Khan, she would gladly accept the role of helper, of second-in-command.

At Jane's retort, she lifted one brow, inclining her head towards the other woman as acknowledgement that she heard what Jane said. "You did. But you did so without consulting any of us. You did it by deception, out of desperation, and while I understand that desperation," more than Jane knew. After a moment, she shrugged, trailing off. She wasn't going to beat a dead horse. Raine had drawn first blood, she had shown that she was willing to do what it took to try and help this Horde. After a moment, she moved to Brady's side, her green flickering over to Adam. She wanted to speak to him soon, that was what her eyes were saying. Not tonight, tonight was for the hunt. And not about matters of the beast. But of herself. Raine knew she could learn a lot from the Sun King. She had to learn from him, because even though brute strength and quick action had won her the challenge, she was reminded and even humbled in knowing that violence wasn't always the way.

Glancing over to Lilli, Raine pushed more of her power towards the two sisters, mostly towards Lilli. She hadn't meant to frighten the young tiger any more than Jane had. Glancing down for a moment, she thought carefully about her next words. And then she looked over to Brady for a moment, greens thoughtful. "I feel as though I have as much to learn from you as I do the rest of our family." She would never challenge Brady. Whether she knew it or not, she, too, felt something from the new Khan. Something that maybe, combined with Adam's hope and radiance, would help to finally bring her peace, and so bring peace to the rest of their family.

Brady Hawkes · The Gambler

=When the last of the tigers arrived he watched her come towards him, but at the words that came from her mouth his beast replied with a low snarl. Energy pouring off him in waves of warmth as he listened. There was only one tiger fit to give him instructions for the running of the Horde and that one was Adam. Like his daddy used to say, you cain't have a horse free if ya wanna put it on the bit. His tiger let Jane know she was out of line, that she had overstepped her place.=

=Whatever the two warring females might have thought Brady outweighed, outpowered, and could outfight either of them. If that was the way he had wanted this to go then he would have taken out the other Alphas first to prove a point. But he wasn't interested in leading that way, the way he'd seen some tigers rule. But he wasn't opposed to getting rough if it came to that. The fact that Jane and Raine chose to go at each other instead of him was just an added surprise.=

=As Jane's hands started to shift Brady saw Adam move to step in and stop them, but Brady held up a hand to motion the man back. Their eyes met a moment and he saw the pause before Adam stepped away. Brady knew the man was a peaceful one. That he probably didn't approve of such violent challenges, but Brady didn't have those qualms. Sometimes he felt blood was necessary to appease the spirit of the beast. When first blood had been drawn and the fight broke up he waited for Raine to take her place beside him.=

"Ah think we all got a learnin' curve ahead of us."

= So with the assumed buisness of the night complete he let his power slip over the tigers, drawing those in their tiger forms to their feet and at attention. And those who were still in human form would find themselves shifting quickly. Once they were all in their stripped form his beast snarled, scented the air and felt the prey that had been stocked on the Horde Lands. It was time to hunt. And personally his beast was ready. =

Nadia DueVexe · Striped Devil

When the call came....Yes Nadia stiffened...She hadn't been ready for it...No matter how many times she spoke with Adam and Lucien...Nothing prepared her for this. Brady's call, that power that reached out and embraced the beast within with all of it warmth...Even if Nadia could fight the call...She wasn't sure she wanted to. Leaning closer to her mate she would follow Lucien to the end of the world.

Under his ever comforting touch she would be soothed...Moving not as two but as one. Silver and onyx hues watching everything...Greeting the new Kahn ruby red lips pressing against his hand. Acceptance...Loyalty...Those were there...Trust? It would come in time.Soon the shift would come and once it did Nadia was quick to greet the brothers...Who never ceased to amaze her. Those dark eyes moving over all those who gathered...The absence of Gillian was felt and for a moment Nadia forgot her anger towards the Rose. And for a moment she felt sadness...But when Adam arrived...She felt that anger once more.

Though this wasn't the moment to feel any of that...Not when she felt Adams rough hands against her head...That loud happy purr rumbled in her throat as she moved around the circle mirroring her mate as others joined them...Brady proving him self in her eyes even more when he asked Racine to be his second...And that bit of pride in the tattooed tigress burned bright as she accepted...

Then came Lillian...Someone she didn't know...Or did..Something in the back of the beast's mind knew her...But not as a tiger...Once the girl had shifted Nadia moved against the femme tiger greeting her marking her in a way as family as something she would protect and die trying.Then came Mayra...Which sent the happy tigress to greet the red head.

Nadia was truly over whelmed by everything...The new Kahn...The gathering of the family she loved..And now the new tiger...Who Nadia found herself curling around as a mother would her cub.All they needed was Jane, who joined them soon as if on cue.Eyes the color of the midnight sky would move towards the woman who moved and looked differently.

Laying between Lillian and Lucien she watched as Jane greeted Brady....One that she truly didn't like...Which had her growling lowly...But it wasn't the greeting towards Brady that bothered her most but her challenge of Raine.A position the woman more then deserved.Had it not been for the pair of tigers on eighter side she would of...Well she wasn't sure...That tail would flick against the grass in irritation.

So once Jane moved to the scared tigers side Nadia stood and made her way to Raine brushing against the woman's naked leg. Before moving to brush against Brady ready for the hunt eager to welcome their new leaders with blood.