Exton

Stoney jolts awake. Pain lances through his body and he just barely stifles a scream. He pants, shaking, realizing it is Ike's pain he feels. Blocking her pain from his mind, he opens to all his sibs.

Ob's mind has gone still. All Stoney hears is the repeated refrains of an Arabic song. He hears an echo and sees through Ob's eyes. The Tavern is under attack. He watches the battle, seeing newfound friends, and Kith and Kin, in a bloody fray.

Tori rides the back of a large wolf, clawed hands closed around its throat, teeth sunk into its neck, as it twists and snaps. Ike is grappling with a red-furred halfling, female from the look of it, as it bats others out of the way. A shot rings out and a wolf goes down, writhing in pain. A shifter with the shotgun steps closer and takes another shot. The wolf lies still.

There is another shot from another direction, and Tori jumps free of her beast as it goes down. She salutes a female crouched on the bar. With a nod, the woman sights on another target.

Stoney disengages, tears slipping down his cheeks. Blood red stones twinkle in Alises' honeygold mane. He feels her soft caress in his mind, the horror and pride she feels mingling with his own.

"Morrighan bless their aim and protect our people."

He feels a pulse of Power, a surge of strength. Suddenly there is a feeling of serenity. He feels Ob touch it, Tori and Ike stroked by it, tempering their bloodlust.

Kitty Kat raises her head and snuffs moments before there is a tap on Stoney's shoulder. He turns his head slowly and a gnome holds out a tuft of burnt wolf hair. His voice is grinding as he tells Stoney

"Big Jerks sent little jerk against the wards. Little jerk made it in, but not far. ZAP, ZAP." The gnome jerks like electrified. It grins. "Two more trying to get in. One big. One big, but not so much. Big One looking for Our Lady. Mortuis not here, we come to you. Stoneman want to come play?'