Kol moved like silken shadow through the darkness of the night. Her wolf form was far more discreet and slippery than her war-ready half form, let alone her larger two-legged one. Her fur was absent of its normal silvery decorations, the only adornment she chose to keep on her were the small slave-type earring in her right ear and the redtailed hawk feather that dangled behind her left. Her violet eyes glittered in the faint moonlight, and her steps were soft and silent. Part of her felt she was betraying her pack, but the other part screamed at her that the whole idea of the war with Inferni this time around was wrong. In truth, Kol was beginning to doubt the legitimacy of the first war as well. She would never regret protecting her pack, and she would give her life to that end if the need arose this time, but she questioned very deeply the motives behind the first conflict.


The Dahlian's destination this night was somewhere near the borders of her pack's arch enemy. She sought Anselm, an influential Inferni male she'd grown to respect and even call friend. Doubtless he already knew of Haku's official declaration of war against the hybrid pack, but Kol wanted Anselm's own opinion. There had to be a way to solve everything without bloodshed; Kol was so damned tired of losing family and friends to senseless violence. Souls was now proving to be no better off than Solbjorg when it came to pack grudges and hatred, and the Stormbringer's amethyst eyes were weary with the weight of war.


It would seem, however, that fate had a different course in store for Kol this night. As she came upon a small clearing centered around a babbling creek, the crumpled form that stared into the running water had a slightly familiar look to it. Sticking to the shadows, Kol hesitated a bit, until the form itself and the scent that accompanied it finally registered in her mind. "Firefly? Is that you? What the hell happened?" The black shewolf knew the celtic woman was regarded by Haku as an enemy now, but Kol had never harbored the Sadira woman any ill will at all. She hadn't approved of what had happened with Firefly and her sons, but the logical part of her mind could even understand those actions.

The fiery woman's reply caught the shadowy female off guard. The venom in her tone was one thing, but it was the words themselves that caused the shock in Kol's eyes. She didn't step back, not quite, but she did jump a bit at the outburst, stopping dead in her approach toward the other woman. "What?! Who the hell was it?! Why would they attack you? I know how Haku feels about you but..." The fact that some of her packmates could have left Firefly in such a state made the hackles along the black wolf's neck bristle. Months ago, Kol would have sworn there had to be some misunderstanding. But lately, she knew much, much better. Haku needed no excuse any longer to simply cast his pawns where he wished, to hurt whomever he chose.



As Firefly relaxed again, so too did her former packmate. Kol made no move to come closer, for it was clear that the Sadira wolf was in no mood for the company of a Dahlian. She merely pulled her haunches beneath her and sat where she'd stopped at the female's outburst: far enough to give her her space, but close enough that their voices would be kept low in the still of the night. Firefly's question caused Kol to ponder for awhile. Should she reveal her true intent to Firefly, who was no friend to Haku and may just as well make his subordinate's intentions known? Or should she stay quiet and make up some excuse? It was a gamble either way, but the woman's instincts told her that perhaps in this Firefly could be trusted. Packmother above knew the Stormbringer felt like she had no one else to truly turn to. Besides, Kol thought she detected the faintest scent of her Inferni friend on the woman's fiery pelt. "I was on my way to see someone, actually. I love Dahlia de Mai, and I would give my life to do what's best for them. Unfortunately, though I followed him unquestioningly through the last war, I no longer believe that Haku is the best person to lead the pack. Nor do I believe his very presence is healthy for them, to be honest. I've seen the grip of demons on those of my own blood, enough to recognize it in someone else. And Haku's been swallowed whole by his own, of that I'm sure." There, she'd said it. She hadn't voiced her complete thoughts on the subject to anyone before, and all Kol could do now was hope her traitorous words had been granted to the right wolf. She was dead if she was wrong.

Kol listened intently as Firefly explained what had happened. A low, irritated growl rumbled in the woman's chest, still angry with the attack regardless of the reason. Two against one was never fair odds, and Kol had no respect for those who would throw their weight around so. The Dahlian's eyes widened in shocked disbelief as her former packmate went so far as to say the pair knew full well she was pregnant. They knew, and yet they attacked anyway? The thought made the blood in her body boil, and her eyes darkened with anger. "I'm so sorry Firefly. Wolves like that disgust me, especially having lost a litter of my own. Dahlia is falling farther and farther into a sanctuary for the cruel, it seems." The words were spoken with regret and longing. There would be no going back to Kol's early days among Dahlia de Mai now, nor ever again it would seem.



Her anger subsiding, the black Dahlian tilted her head slightly at Firefly's mention of Anselm, and her following comments. "Actually, yes. Anselm and I had met before the first war. I didn't know him well then, but we purposely avoided each other during the encounters between the packs. I admit I was a little shocked when I first learned he belonged to Inferni, and no doubt he felt the same about my loyalties as well. Still, I'm fond of him, and I respect him, and there has got to be some way to avoid any more bloodshed between our packs. I don't know if he has any ideas, but it's worth a try." At the woman's mention of her sons, Kol rose from her seated position and risked drawing a bit closer. "Firefly, I really am sorry about the way things worked out. I haven't seen Emwe myself since I got back a few weeks ago, but I know Conor's doing well. I'm glad he still sees you, at least once in awhile." Silence hung in the air for a moment, before Kol decided to go on. "What did he tell you? Maybe I can give you a little more insight." The dark female offered Firefly a soft smile. The former Dahlian had been through more than Kol wished to think about, and her heart longed to help in some way, even if it were only a little.

Kol sighed softly as Firefly commented on Dahlia's seeming downfall. The black woman harbored no ill feelings toward her packmate, realizing now just what life as the current Rosen's mate must have been like. In Kol's mind, kidnapping her own children and leaving them with a stranger was going a bit too far, but who's to say what anyone else would do in a similar situation. It wasn't Kol's place to pass judgement.


The woman smiled a bit as Firefly came closer, the awkwardness that had hung in the air before dissipating somewhat. The revalation that a few members of Cour des Miracle had taken a personal interest in the Dahlian-Inferni conflict made Kol's head tilt. She could only hope that the fact that they weren't siding with Dahlia didn't mean they were siding instead with Inferni. If the hybrids could rally more allies and no peaceful resolution could be found, it could mean doom for Dahlia. The information was pushed to the back of her mind as Firefly went on.


The black woman could only nod her head in understanding as her companion explained her relationship with her son. It saddened Kol the way things had turned out between them, but there was nothing she could do about it herself. Family conflict was an entirely different ball game, and it was never an outsider's place to step in. All Kol could do was hope that someday old wounds could be mended.


Kol's violet eyes darkened a bit at Firefly's next choice of words. "Yes, I know it would be given to our enemy. That's why I would never tell Anselm anything about our defences, strategies, or anything else that could possibly endanger my packmates. All I want is a chance to find a solution without anyone else suffering." Her voice was rock hard as she spoke. She was sure in her heart that she was doing the right thing in trying. But as Firefly inquired about the missing leaders, Kol's posture slumped a bit as she sighed softly. "Cwmfen disappeared shortly before I returned from Solbjorg. I still don't know the full story behind her departure. Cercelee and Slay left just after Haku assumed the position of Rosen. I'm not sure how he managed to take over, to be honest. Though I think any of us who've been around awhile have our suspicions. Either way, I do know that no harm came to either Cer or Slay. I'm assuming they simply gave up on us. And though part of me is angry over that, another part of me refuses to actually blame them for it." That Dahlia was now led entirely by Haku alone Kol suspected was no secret. She had no qualms about letting a former packmate know of the fates of those she about whom she'd asked.

A chill wind ruffled the black woman's coat as Firefly made her suggestion. In truth, it made sense. Kol had been on her way to a rendevous point to try to get a message to Anselm anyway. If Firefly held some sort of clout with the Inferni clan, it would make seeing him all that much easier. The more Kol mulled the idea over in her head, the more she became convinced that it would be the best way to talk to her Infernian ally without quite as much a risk to her life. After all, she was still a Dahlian, and they were at war. "If you could somehow arrange it, yes, I would trust you. I'd probably stand more of a chance trusting you in this instance than if I had simply tried to sneak in a meeting with Anselm by myself. I'm careful, but I'm not naive enough to believe I'm that good." A tired smile graced her lips with the self-teasing, though there was hardly anything at this point that could lighten the darkness that had begun to settle in the black woman's heart. She was so very tired of war. Between her homeland of Solbjorg and her chosen home in the lands of Souls, it seemed she would never escape its brutal grip.


Kol's expression remained passive as Firefly reacted to the news of Cercelee's departure with her mate, and Cwmfen's as well. The fiery woman's bitterness was more than obvious, and Kol understood that her anger and cynicism weren't directed at her. "No, he didn't give them a choice. He never does. I used to think I understood him to a degree, but that was a long time ago now. He's fallen completely to whatever darkness he harbors inside, and no one can pull him back. Unfortunately, he has enough mindless followers amongst us that those of us with any sanity left don't stand a chance at an outright challenge. I love my pack, my family; I would never abandon Dahlia, but this is madness. If we challenge him, we die. If we try to leave the pack, we die. I'm still surprised he hasn't pursued Coli. I'm assuming it's only because he doesn't want to add yet another pack to his growing list of enemies. He's insane, but far from stupid." As she spoke, Kol was keenly aware that her words were becoming ever more treasonous should a pack member overhear them. But there were different levels of betrayal, and the dark woman was committed to her belief that she was not actually betraying Dahlia herself, but only her madman of a leader. If she lost her life because of her words or her intent, at least she would do so honorably for what she believed was right.


Her violet eyes weary but determined, Kol focused again on Firefly's idea. "When and where did you want to meet?"