{Takes place some time after Maelstrom's Breakout}

Puddlering came limping back towards the flock. She fell onto 
the ground covered in cuts, bleeding from nearly all over her 
body. "The. . the," she coughed violently.

 Maelstrom rushed over to her, "Bangaa!...What happened?"  

 "We were attacked," she managed to get out, "he killed my mama...my brother...,
and Mirrilli and her lamb...he attacked Thundergrey and 
Flickle," she said, she coughed up blood this time, "He 
said. . . that. . . . that he. . .was going--" she coughed again, 
her eyes closed tight, "he said. . . . that. . . . he was 
coming. . . . to get. . . . me. . . . " she coughed once more
and finally her body lay at rest.

Maelstrom looked up,
"What ever happened I think we need to move," he said, trying
to keep the fear off his lights. "I'll go up from where 
she came from and scan the area." He nuzzled Pirva and Tiarran, "Go the
opposite direction--now," he said before taking off. A hotness 
and sweat was breaking out through the amp ram's body. "Bangaa." He 
ran at a clip the way that Puddlering had come from. The sun was just setting
behind the trees.

Bluesky snorted,"I'll wait here for him to come back" he said, "you's
go on" he said, he looked at Pirva, "Lead your flock to
safety," he said with a nudge of his head on hers. 

Pirva briefly strobed her lights to Blue, letting him know 
that she had things under control here. "I will. See if you can go up there
and help Maelstrom get anyone still over there to rejoin the flock."

"Äll right." Bluesky turned to Freckle, "Take Curlsprout and yourself in the
opposite direction, I dont want anything to happen to either of you."


"Come on." Freckle raised his head and scented the air before
nuzzling Curlsprout. Curlsprout followed Freckle wondering who had attacked 
the other denryuu.

Pirva daggered a spark upwards from her tail light and bleated 
loudly for Pyris. She called out to Maelstrom. "Be careful, 
and call if you need anything." She wanted to go, but the 
eyomah had to stay with the flock. She took off in the opposite direction,
then stopped and circled around the flock to make sure
everyone made it safely.

Nebula's lights flickered
uncertainly, letting a fizzle of sparks dart down her back.
Nervously, she shook her head, tossing up her heels before
heading toward Pirva with a denryuu's bouncing gait.

~

Maelstrom reached the hilltop on the other side of the woods, 
looking around the new clearing he had come to, he snorted again, 
his eyes darted around.

A large ram stepped out of the tree's "This
is my land," he said, "Get out." He tossed his head
around watching Maelstrom. 

Maelstrom's flippers were shaking. "Why did you do this." 

The ram laughed tossing his head
up haughtily, "Worthless they were, refused to join my
flock, I am looking for Pirva's flock," he said, "I was told
that great spirits have visited them many times before."

Maelstrom ducked his head, ears back, "The *kuros* will visit you
first. Stay away from us." 

"Make me." He leaped, swung his massive tail,
crashing into Maelstrom's leg. Maelstrom squealed out in pain, he
got back up and rammed forward, his head jewel hitting the ram
square in the jaw.

The stranger fell backwards stunned, he charged again 
still dazed. Maelstrom dodged out of his way.

The other ram slapped and punched at him with his flippers. He landed 
a punch on Maelstrom's upper arm. Maelstrom jumped back, balled his own flippers 
into fists, came forward again and swung at him. He hit the other 
ram's own fist. Pain hit him up his whole arm. Separating, the 
two rams charged again.

The stranger leaped first. Maelstrom tried to duck to the side. The 
enemy's teeth clamped down onto Maelstrom's shoulder hard. He lashed out 
drawing blood across Maelstrom's neck...

~

 Cassala looked up
the hill where Maelstrom had gone to, her ears
flicked back and forth. She wanted to see what was happening,
she wanted to know more...wanted to know whether Maelstrom
would come through all right. The ewe turned and left the 
flock, heading alone up the hill and towards the woods.

Freckle continued through the trees, he looked back to see if the rest of
the flock was following them, "Shall i go ahead and look
for a high safe point?" he asked Pirva.

Then turned to
Freckle. "Yes, but please be careful." She slowed slightly
and turned to see what was happening.

Bluesky trotted along, it didnt bother him to much about this
ram threatening the flock, there was too many rams
in this flock to start with.

Rosebush smiled and nuzzled him back quickly. "I
know. I'll see you in a little bit." She nudged him
again and then turned away with Milla, jogging into the 
woods away from all flocks involved. 

Nebula stopped, a little ways from the flock, but
in sight, ears pricked forward as she watched. There 
were two large and determined rams fighting. She bleated nervously, 
hoofed feet pacing as she watched, her tail low.

Curlsprout was worried, she was in season now, and a lot
of rams in other flocks would take
advantage of that. She trotted quickly after the rest of
the flock with Freckle.

~
 
The intruding ram pulled back from Maelstrom with blood dripping from his
face, "I will see you die like my other rivals," he said, his eyes glared. 

"No you won't." Maelstrom snorted angrily.

The enemy ram turned and faced Maelstrom again, he leaped high, 
his hooves came crashing down onto Maelstrom's back, Maelstrom
fell to the ground in pain and the other ram began to
run towards Pirva's flock. 

Slowly, ears flicking nervously, Nebula picked her way over 
to Maelstrom, nudging him gently and then stepping back, ears 
back, uncertain. "You okay?"  

Maelstrom jumped at Nebulas touch, his ears went back as
he climbed to his hooved feet, looking at the
ewe his ear pricked forwards again, one flicked back
and forth. "Yes," he said, "Please, get to the
flock," he said, "That ram is dangerous," he said
bobbing his head.

As he got to his feet and ran to the hill he looked down seeing 
the flock move, Bluesky came racing over to the big stranger, he 
reared angrily, he had seen bits of the fight.

He brought a spark out and it connected to the ram's
shoulder, the ram lashed out and squealed in
pain.

 
Soulspark appeared in front of the ram blocking his path to the 
flock. "Back off, you monster," he ordered. The dark 
yellow amp advanced towards the fierce ram, lowering his head. 

The strange ram was ready for the youth. He ducked his head and
aimed for the younger ram's stomach. Soulspark took the hit 
directly on his head jewel. The impact
sent him rolling backwards on the bloody grass.

"Spark! What are you doing here, you'll be killed!" Cas came up 
behind Soulspark, she bent to help him to his feet. Soulspark 
looked up at the stranger ram.

The ram snorted, his ears pinned back, "What are you to
tell me what i can and cant do, *gumaru*?" he asked angrily,
when he spotted Cas he laughed, "Yours is he?" he
asked laughing. 

Soulspark shrugged off Cassala's helping flippers and faced the
ram again, now looking muddy and bruised. 

"Go back to Pirva!" said Cas as the stranger prepared to charge
him again.

Maelstrom reached the stranger and the others. He came running
at the strange ram, slightly limping. As the other ram took off 
after Soulspark, Maelstrom cut in after him.

The other ram saw it coming and dodged. He came at Maelstrom as 
he ran by, hitting Maelstrom on the
neck, Maelstrom's head snapped downwards, he bent his flippers 
and fell to the ground again palms first. He lashed out
getting hold of the ram's leg in his mouth tripping
him over.<br>As soon as the ram hit the ground Maelstrom
stmbled up to his hooves, he leaped, and stomped onto bloodied 
rubbery hide, hitting hard on the ram's back.

~


Freckle nuzzled Curlsprout knowing she was in season, if any
ram did try to take advantage of her he would go for them.

Pirva shifted her gaze in the
direction they had come from at the sound of Maelstrom's shrill
squeal. She took a quick head count. 

Curlsprout nuzzled Freckle, grateful for his protection.

Freckle nuzzled Curlsprout, "Come with me," he
knew she didnt feel safe. He moved on
ahead to look for a clearing for them to stay in.

Curlsprout gratefully bounded after him."Thank you."

Freckle nuzzled Curlsprout again as she ran with him,
"I'm glad you came with me," he said smiling softly at
her. "I didnt want to leave you back there cause i knew
you didnt feel safe with all the other rams" he
said, he knew he was rambling a bit but he didnt care.

"Thanks," she smiled again. "Just instinct I
guess...." Curlsprout's attention
was turned back to Freckle.

Freckle stopped as he came to a clearing, he went around
it to check it was safe, not scenting anything
dangerous he sparked loudly to Pirva to bring the flock
here. Turning to Curlsprout he smiled and nuzzled her, "Instincts are
always good" he said nuzzling her again.

Pirva's ears pricked at the sound of Freckle's spark.
She moved ahead of the flock and double checked the
area, not that she didnt trust Freckle, but it never hurt
to be too safe. She flashed light back to the rest of the
flock to follow her to safety. "Is everyone here?" she
breathed heavily looking around. 

Freckle looked around, "Apart from Maelstrom and Blue
everyone is here i think . . . " he trailed off,  he
thought for a moment, "Cas?" he asked. 

"Cas!" called Pirva. She didn't see Cas there, either.

~


Soulspark watched Maelstrom and the ram fight and smirked when the
other ram went down. He glanced back at Cas then looked
back to Maelstrom.

Maelstrom stomped again but missed when the ram rolled over, he 
kicked up onto his feet again. 

Maelstrom ran around and came up behind rearing angrily, his head
hitting the back of the ram hard, Bluesky came at him from the front, kicking
the ram in the face.  He fell to the ground again,
both rams brought their
hooves down hard onto his back and head killing
him.

Sky caught up with the flock
and went to Pirva. "You should know what is happening."
She looked around and spoke quietly so as not to
startle anyone and told Pirva what was happening. Pirya then addressed 
the entire flock. "The ram's been killed, it's going to be ok."

Cassala stood behind Soulspark, her ears pinned back at the big 
strange ram, as he lay dead on the ground she snorted angrily, stamping a
foot she glared down at his dead body. Calming
herself she moved next to Soulspark's side, she nuzzled
him then looked at Maelstrom and Blue.  Maelstrom looked at Cas
with a questioning look.

Cassala turned away from the
four rams and began to walk slowly back to the
flock. Maelstrom watched her go--that ewe was oddly aloof from the
flock {although she clearly cared a lot for this yearling}
 and for some reason she entranced Maelstrom.

Soulspark's ears flattened at the ram's words and he
snorted, watching him be killed. "Have fun in the
netherrealm," he spat. He glanced at Cassala when she nuzzled him. He 
watched her walk off then look back waiting for him to follow. 
He didn't follow though and stayed where he was. 

Rosebush recognized the sound of a skull being shattered.
She walked over to Blue and nudged him gently, to warn him she 
was there, then nuzzled him. "Are you all right?" 

Dillie glanced back towards the hill, then moved on next to AB and 
the others, "I'm glad that's over with," she said with a small 
smile "but now, it's a little -too- quiet."

"What?" Maelstrom glared at her and spit on the ground. He 
was still catching his breath."You prefer watching rams bash each 
other's skulls in?" He looked around, wincing as his 
neck bruise pained him. "And where are Thundergrey and Flickle?"

"He was with Mirilli and Puddlering," said Soulspark as a hurt
look crept over Dillie's face and the two-year-old ewe turned away 
in tears. "The ram went for them first."

Maelstrom called for the other rams with a loud spark. As he loped 
towards the far field where more bloodscent beckoned, everything hurt.

Maelstrom saw dead denryuu as he crossed the hilltop. Mirilli, her lamb,
Nightsigh, Hoarleaf all dead. Thundergrey lay on bloody grass, blood 
smeared over his grey body, making it look black-red. Flickle lay not 
far from him, his head leaking blood. As Maelstrom reached him Thundergrey's 
lights brightened a little. 

"You're alive,"said the grey ram. "You'll be a good *gundah* to this flock."

"That ram is dead, we are safe." Maelstrom leaned over Thundergrey. He bent 
to scoop him up and carry him back to the flock, but Thundergrey was too heavy 
especially for his own battered body. 

Not far away Dillie was bleating in distress. She was crouched over Flickle.

"I can only rise..if Flickle can." Thundergrey's head rolled to the side 
to face Flickle. Bluesky was kneeling over Flickle trying to get some 
response. "He--that big one just came out of the bushes, I saw him coming... 
but I couldn't..."

Bluesky was looking at Flickle and shaking his head while Dillie 
shouted at the youth to wake up. Maelstrom looked at him. Flickle's 
lights were dead and his head had been bashed in. Maelstrom nudged his head, 
which lay limp. "He's gone."

"No..."Thundergrey squirmed, pain all over his contorted face. "No."

"Flickle!" Dillie burst into fresh tears. Her arms went around his thin 
young neck and she sobbed. As Maelstrom watched him, Thundergrey's face 
turned calm. The wounded grey ram closed his eyes, and his lights, 
too, flickered and died in the night.