Bottom of the valley

"Which exactly why I'm here." Daybreak said coldly. Featherkite huddled against her father.

Cynder sniffed. "And now we're leaving."


As soon as the message was sent, a swirling, purple vortex opened.

"Good." Daybreak said emotionlessly.

The purple vortex was quite suddenly engulfed in a bright blue light. A bright salmon-coloured pink streak leaped through, aiming for one of the valley wolves. It landed in it neatly, posessing it within seconds, its eyes glazing over and replacing themselves with glowing mint-turquoise orbs.
"Success. HOW WONDERFUL." a voice grated out from the unsuspecting victim.

Shadow fell to one side, and Cout'av sprang to block him.
"What the hell...?" He looked up to Cynder in confusion.

"What the hell. INDEED."
The posessed valley wolf moved round from its pack to stand with the others.
"it was a mistake. OPENING THAT PORTAL. You know?"

"A computer glitch." Cout'av remarked dryly, looking away from Shadow to the valley wolf.
"Someone else dosen't like you." Daybreak adressed Cynder, his mouth twitching.

Cynder gave a great sigh.

"Now what?"

"The great original has nothing to say? Shadow sneered. Chessru's ears flickered at that. It seemed out of character for him. Featherkite still had her head in his fur, and he tried to comfort her, and clean her wounds.
"If I may, Captain..." Cout'av started, addressing Cynder, "We still have the phase pistols."

"I have plenty to say." Cynder said. "I just kept it short and simple."

"But you're asking others what to do." Shadow rolled his eyes, "That isn't great, now is it?"

"I said 'what now' as to say 'what else do I have to endure before I go home'" Cynder threw Cout'av a "do I sound insane?" look.

"He's trying to annoy you." Cout'av responded, glaring at Shadow with irritation obvious on his features.

"That's obvious, Cout'av." Cynder said simply.

"We could launch a torpedo..." He suggested.

"That won't work."

"How will it not? You don't even know where I planned to shoot it at." Cout'av said sternly.

"And you can't, because I seem to have a security breach." She glanced at Einn.

"I'm not in charge of securing the systems." Cout'av replied coolly, gazing an Einn with cold eyes.

"Who is? One of the drones, right?" Then a thought. "Einn must have accessed that drone. That drone.... the security drone."

[Grey pool D<]

"I told you security was too lax." Cout'av commented.

"Shut it, Cout'av. You're not helping." Cynder felt sparks in the back of her head- a mind-numbing headache was forming.

Inn, in the drone's body, leapt without warning, realising what Cynder was trying to do.
"I WILL NOT LET YOU REPROGRAM ME. It is not something you must do. STOP."

Cout'av ignored Inn, letting his gaze drift across the dusk wolves.

Cynder pushed harder, pushing agains Einn. "You will NOT destroy us. You will not destroy ME." She noted a little code- Apose, she mused. Then pushed harder.