The hunter flies through the brush and plains, his companion at his side. The family has prepared, the family is ready. They all must be ready for this, this day which they will at last reclaim their freedom. Knox knows naught of his eldest brother's child with their tormentor, he knows only the scent Manhattan begs him to follow and the burn of the hunt calling sharply to him, resonating in eight clear minds until it focuses together in one, ultimate reaction that propels him forward.

He is a rocket, he is a star. He is unstoppable, leaving in his wake thick hoofprints and the faint sense that something wicked has passed the world by. Like a deck of cards his appearance swiftly shuffles through eight bodies, each unique, each designed to reflect his family's past. His bridle slaps against his face and chest as its different reincarnations shift swiftly in time with the changing portraits of ancestors. He leaps into the air on the smooth black daggers of Anaan and lands and lands upon the chipped, weak hooves that had once belonged to Janos. He passes through woods, entering with a brush of Huric's bloody shoulder against the bark and leaving with a square cropped tail flying in the wake of the slender, muscled bay form of Zekiah.

It is Roanne the Sentinel's body who halts at the edge of the scene; his golden eyes that flicker first to a fading blue and then land, at last, on the black orbs of Dovev. The murderer has arrived, just in time. Manhattan growls at his feet, her hackles raised and poison spilling indiscriminately from her spit-coated lips. She is ready to kill the mare that has corrupted the child within her master. She has always been ready.

His eyes settle over the scene and he sees instantly the glowing form of a new child. Wilder's positioning at his side, and their mother's black body curled close to the colt, is a clear indication. It appears the family is yet another soul larger. The hunter's mind, fueled by the murderer's rage, listens intently to every word spoken. Darwin, his eldest brother names the child. But Wilder is foolish for thinking his mother might agree. Were Mandrake given the chance to respond, Knox knows she would insist on anything but what her eldest had suggested.

Luckily for Darwin, Mandrake hadn't had a say for quite some time now. "EVERS!" neighs the deep and violent voice of Dovev, who snaps his body to face the blue boy that stands so far beneath him now. "Take Darwin from this place, he need not see his mother die," Knox speaks out, his own features taking the place of Dovev's for a fleeting moment. Knox watches his eldest brother's features, sees his eyes grow wide in understanding and his body fall to protect Mandrake.

The mare does not need protecting. The mare needs only for death to find her as it has found so many before her. Wilder will find himself hurt as he refuses to leave her side, but.. dead? Only time will tell if their foolish brother will meet the same fate. Dovev's black eyes snap from the gaze of one brother to another. His brethren are strong today, he can sense their confidence. They are all ready for this.

With a chilling hunter's cry, Knox sprang forth in a body built to kill. Silver found its way from his eyes to Mandrake's blinding her instantly. Manhattan, faster than ever before, flew forth to sink her venomous fangs into the body of a beast. Together they attacked, curving around Wilder and instead bearing down on she who had oppressed them, tormented them, and chained them to this life. She was their curse- together, the sons would tear her down.


[[Take your best shot! Wilder and Drake are just punching bags at this point, though no one really wants to hurt wilder, just get him out of the way. If anyone feels particularly kind they might hold the old guy back. Now that Darwin's adopted we really need to finish this up, so post quickly and don't feel the need to wait for everyone! Once you guys have posted I'll finish it up with Drake.]]