The rest of the Murmosa pack found their way to the territory that was formally Light Legion's. Each Feral moved with haste as they ran closer to their destination: Volknair.
Before their Sunset, Pearl struck a deal with Marian, the Alpha Female of the Murmosa Ferals. She offered her assistance after the Sunset if the pack promised to ally with the new Legion.
And she agreed.
Way off in the distance, Pearl stood outside Volknair's walls. She was refusing to leave without fulfilling her deal. Her navy-blue eyes scanned the grass of the hills and the sands of the beaches.
Not just for the Murmosa pack, but also because news of the Light Legion performing a Wild Hunt for the Infinus Legion spread like a wildfire.
A familiar shadow loomed over Pearl. The footsteps echoed a name into her mind, Risk.
He was there to greet his Ferals and establish their responsibility along the shore until more elites were promoted or discovered.
"Have you seen any Ferals?" Risk's raspy voice asked.
Pearl shook her head. "Sadly, no. I've been blankly staring into the horizon since the early rays of dawn."
Risk stepped forward, his head reached high above the nearly adult Thawed. He sniffed the air for any signs of Ferals being nearby.
"The wind isn't in my favor," Risk melancholy said. "If it was, I could be able to locate my Ferals."
"Is that how Ferals do it?" Pearl looked over her shoulder. "Do they smell a certain scent or something?"
Risk nodded. "Mothers lick the foreheads of their young until a scent sticks. That's how we find each other during hunts and chases."
As Pearl looked forward, six Ferals came into view. Each one wore long white and gold pants, but didn't have a mark tied around their waist.
"Those are mine!" Risk cheerfully announced. "Ferals born of risk and reward! They took the risk of escaping the Light Legion, and now you will reward them."
The two watched the Ferals sprint closer to them. They leapt up high, and played with one another as they ran by pushing each other and even tackling the one in the lead.
Whenever one fell, they used the fall as an entrance to a roll so they could exit with the same momentum.
Not long after, they got closer to the Feral and Thawed. Risk instantly recognized them as being one of his various teams of hunters. He loved this time the most because of their playfulness.
It made their pack feel alive with them around. Especially after they scouted for food or resources when outside of the Light Legion's protection.
All six abruptly stopped in front of Risk. In unison, they let out sudden roars to notify their Alpha Male. But he was already aware of them.
Risk got on one knee and opened his arms. The welcoming gesture assured the Ferals they were acknowledged and remembered.
One by one, each Feral walked up to Risk and allowed him to welcome them with a fatherly hug. Before he let them go, Risk would confirm their backgrounds by sniffing their foreheads.
"Imlon Vels Tarqannavok deh yonmk vreh novosch! (The Alpha Female is inside the outpost!)" one informed Risk.
He got up from his knee, then turned to look at Pearl. "You are free to let Hedix take control of Volknair. My Ferals are back with me."
Risk and the Ferals took off running towards the outpost, leaving Pearl behind. She watched them run out of sight.
Now alone, she turned around and walked inside. Hedix waited for her beside her Sky Beast.
The Zegus carefully examined the Mountain Ascent Sky Beast. His eyes shifted from feather to feather, making sure he caught every slight detail.
"Hedix, I'm ready to hand over the leadership position to you," Pearl said as she walked closer. "Before I go, do you think you'll be fine with the Light Legion looking for us?"
He calmly turned around while keeping his hand on the Sky Beast. "Ferals always seek their next meal. And they often pick the easiest meal too. A simple offering could bribe them."
Pearl sighed. "I guess I won't know for sure since I'm not as smart as you... or are you playing a character?"
"Playing?" Hedix repeated. "No. This all came from learning through Alise's extensive library. I won't be able to play a weak yet smart character if I wanted to. I'm way beyond that."
"Got it," Pearl said while she mounted the Sky Beast. "Well, take care. Of not just yourself, but these people too."
The Sky Beast opened all four of its wings and leapt skywards. Kicking up dust as it disappeared into the skies above.
Hedix looked through the open gates and beyond the horizon. Between him and where his sight ended, he knew there was danger at every step.
-Back in Ether's bedroom, 4 hours later-
"...What about if we attacked here?" Jakery pointed at a map that was spread on the floor. "We could hit them from their blind spot!"
Ether looked at the spot Jakery was pointed at. They were planning on dealing with the remaining Legions inside the region.
Oria rested inside Ether's grasp. Her body ached after running around Imbushko with some pack members while creating this map.
"That... looks like a river. Isn't that River Rale?" Ether squinted his eyes. "It's controlled by Ophus, one of the Light Legion's several allies."
Jakery looked at the map once again. His eyes scanned all around Imbushko as he tried looking for a way to attack the Light Legion. A strange urge to look at the shore overtook his mind.
When he saw what was there, his eyes widened. "How about this part here? We can use the outpost to tame Voltaic Weavers when the time comes, and then use the stronghold offensively!"
Oria opened her eyes to look at what Jakery was talking about. "Yeah, I saw a group of Light Legion Ferals there when my group went to scout!"
Ether tightened his grip around Oria, then gently bit the tip of her hair. "Odiii Oriaaaaa! Shushhhh!" he let go of her hair. "Anyway. They are coming for us, so it is expected. Although I bet Kas already knows where our bases are."
Jakery jotted 'maybe' with an arrow pointing at the Light Legion cities. His eyes touched on a Legion named Encur. The name sounded familiar, as if he had a dream about it.
But he didn't know why or how the knowledge got to him. All he knew was it all came to him while he was asleep the night before.
As Jakery continued to think about it, Ether and Oria got bored with the silence. So they began to playfully shove each other.
Ether mimicked Oria's gentle bites on the hair and her belly, while Oria emulated Ether's playful Yonie whispers. This kept going until there was a knock on the door.
It broke caught everyone's attention.
"Come in!" Ether called out.
Pearl opened the door and walked inside. Her face was calm and collected, as if she was waiting to notify Ether of some new Infinus members.
"Risk is reunited with his pack, and they are officially part of the Legion now!" she celebrated. "In case you're wondering: I dragged Murmosa into the Sunset because we made a deal."
"How did you plan this out before betraying those guys anyways?" Oria blurted out.
Pearl looked startled at the unfamiliar face. "Huh? Oh. Uh, hi, maybe you should introduce yourself first?"
"Oh, sorry. My name is Oria Tennan of the Eterra pack!" she politely responded.
"Alright, that's better. My name is Pearl. I don't have a mother mountain because I was born and raised inside the Light Legion's walls," Pearl replied.
Oria got up and walked over to Pearl. "How did you do it?" she said while mimicking Ether's Yonie voice.
"I attended several meetings and events while inside the Light Legion. During those events, I noticed several Primes had a distaste for the leaders. So I offered them help in exchange for loyalty," Pearl answered.
Ether followed Oria's steps. He got close enough to see Pearl's glacially serious face that tried its hardest to seem excited.
"So you bought their loyalty with some of that fine clothing?" Ether admired Pearl's black shirt with blue pants. "Thawed are supposed to look cold and mean, but you look warm and beautiful!"
Jakery flinched as Ether complimented Pearl. He looked over at Oria, who stood between the two Primes. He expected to see jealousy in her eyes, but she seemed normal.
"Thank you!" Pearl responded. "I'm still mad at the fact you got better hair!"
Oria curiously compared their hairs to see if it was true. She shifted her gaze between Ether's black hair and Pearl's icy-blue hair.
"I ammmm bettterrr! Than youuuuu!" Ether playfully commented in his Yonie voice.
Pearl took the taunt with a smile, showing she was happy Ether spoke to her that way.
"Okay, okay, how about the plan?" Jakery interrupted.
Pearl cautiously walked through the room, making sure every step was quiet and respectful. When she reached Jakery, she kneeled and picked up the quill.
"Look at this plan."
She began sketching arrows and instructions over the map. Forging the future actions of the Infinus Legion, and gaining the trust of everyone in the room.