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Double-Edged Legends XV

Deviation Actions

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DEATH VALLEY, CA


Trudging across the dunes of the hottest area in the world, even for an almighty being such as Tahera, wasn't the easiest of tasks. Normally her intimidating and tall stature and Olympian surpassing physique would help the Great Wolf Mother with any terrain, but even the mother of all wolf tribes couldn't help but complain to herself as her purely white coat failed to shield her from the heat. There was absolutely no water source for nearly twenty miles in any direction, today was a record high, and there hadn't been the smallest cloud in the sky to supply shade for any bellow. When considering that this was naturally the hottest place on the face of the planet, locals still didn't expect for temperatures to reach over a hundred and forty. Regardless, Tahera was aware of what the cause.

As the giant and panting wolfess moved on she could feel her short temper getting all the more diminutive in this abusive and unforgiving climate. Of all the places her leader had chosen as a council assembly, this certainly had to be the worst. It almost made her wish he was back ruling the Egyptians; at least they had the Nile as opposed to the remnants of a salty lake. Reaching the top of a dune she could finally see her destination below as three other individuals were waiting for her. The first to catch her eye was a giant of a brown male bear sitting down in the hot sand. His massive, bulky frame bordered on the excessive side of musculature. However, when one took into account how he wore a great deal of armor with nicks and dents, his build seemed necessary. In the heat his armor was undeniably hot as the air around it wavered like a a brick oven.

Standing next to him was a very atypical woman wrapped in light thin, elegant clothing. Her size and shape passed for ordinary, but she did have a frightening beauty about her. A scar stretched over her right eye, partially covered by her long and green highlighted hair. Her head leaned forward with a quite, mellow expression, though her cold eyes spoke up with unwavering decisiveness.

Lastly was the one who stood out from them all. Wearing Egyptian style robes, he had a human body of decent athletic build, all supporting the head of an eagle. Unlike the woman, he didn't keep his head down or hold a placid expression to lightly veil a cold nature. Instead he faced straight forward, his chest out with pride in his dominance.

"There better be a damn good reason why we're meeting here," Tahera almost snarled as she stood before her three companions, turning to the woman looking angrier yet, "and why you are breaking heat records in Death Valley."

"I asked Occura to encourage this ungodly heat, Tahera," the eagle man spoke, "in order to discourage anyone from coming in ear shot while we discuss the natures of our situation."

"I'm unable to see why we couldn't simply have gathered somewhere nice like we usually do," the bear grumbled, "I can't remember the last time I actually wanted to take off my armor during one of your briefings."

"We can't risk the wrong people learning about this. I knew that even the most audacious of humans would lack the desire to explore this place in such poor conditions. That and any water source has the potential to act as an open door to our backs." Tahera and the armored beast only looked at him, not following. The eagle man let out a sigh. "There's no easy way to say this so I'll just come out with it: there's a being that threatens the balance we look over, and we don't know how to stop him." There was a long pause, as if anything being unknown to them was incomprehensible.

"Where is he?" Tahera asked, breaking the silence.

"We don't know."

"What exactly is it that he's planning?"

"We don't know that either."

"Can you tell us anything that 'we' supposedly do know about him?" The bear sat up straight and crossed his arms, showing his full attention was directed towards what was at hand. "You wouldn't bring us all the way out here to tell us there was a problem we had no chance of solving ourselves."

"You're right, Ursus, I wouldn't. Which is why I chose to wait for Tahera to arrive before I told you what Occura and I have in mind."

"Are you going to ask me to find and eliminate this threat?" Tahera asked hopefully, but her leader just shook his head. "Then what do you need me for?"

"There's a young man, more specifically a werewolf of sorts, who goes by the name of David Hemming; I need you to find and bring him before us."

"None of my children go by that name, Ra." Tahera leered at him. "Are you telling me one of a normal species of werewolf is more vital than a superwere?"

"You shouldn't undermine a race just because it is uninvolved with your precious pups." Occura finally spoke up. "The fact of the matter is that this David is of the same species as the one who legitimately worries us. Also, the Tahopka's recent past may not be the most noble or honorable, but they in no way fall under 'normal' as a description... especially this David who Ra speaks of."

"What could he possibly have that the strongest superwere, let alone Alyeska, doesn't possess?" Tahera was becoming more short tempered and running lower on patience in this heat. In addition when Occura spoke up it seemed to frustrate the giant wolfess even further.

"David has become a god of his entire race." Ra interjected. "It might have been against his will and best interests, but he can't change it anymore than we can turn back time. Though he doesn't know it yet, the power he possesses is the only force that can fully extinguish the life of our enemy. I've tried myself to duplicate the exact nature of his power, but it has proven... problematic."

"Why don't you just take it from him?" Ursus suggested. "A young being like that doesn't need such power."

"I honestly thought about that. However, after looking into it I found out that doing so wouldn't be justified. There is great reason why his gods chose him. David has just as much motivation as we do, if not even more, to kill our foe. Also his gods' actions, as surprising as this may sound, have yet to fall into our jurisdiction. Everything they have carried out since their existence began has done nothing to threaten the balance we protect and enforce."

"If that's the case, then why do we even have a problem in the first place?" Tahera demanded.

"The Tohopka, Tokala and their gods have always kept their affairs to themselves. Even when man came and took their land from them they held back contact to a minimum. Some of them have actually allowed themselves to become integrated into modern society without negative impact. Only until recently have we even become aware of this monstrous threat that wasn't instigated by his ancestors or gods. It's along the same lines how you don't punish the production facility of a beer because someone drove while under the influence of their product."

"I suspect there's a story behind this." Occura stated in a way that also suggested that it be told.

"When the brothers Manabozho, form shifting rabbit god of trickery and shape, and Chibiabos, wolf lord of their spiritual realm, asked the mother goddess of creation to bring forth powerful beings who could help guide the approaching race of man into a future filled with peace and harmony, she granted them their wish by molding Tahopka in the image of the wolf and Tokala from that of the fox. These two races are the reason that those who now call themselves Native Americans became such a thriving peoples before the come of white man into this land.

"Later an event, which I'm not entirely clear on, took place that caused generations of confrontation. It was resolved, but ultimately native man removed himself and never spoke of their guardians. I'm not sure how but the one we're after had something to do with it and has been active under our noses ever since. Until now that is."

"You're saying that throughout all that mess and what has led up to today has completely left us and our purpose unaffected?" Tahera leered in slight disappointment.

"That is correct, but that doesn't matter right now. What does matter is that you complete the task I've assigned to you without unnecessary incident. You should also be aware David is in the company of Launa a large amount of time, and given our history with her it would be wise to not make your move while she's around. She'd see us coming from a mile away and warn him."

"Then what do you suggest?" Tahera inquired with a hint of anxiety, wanting for this gathering to be over.

"Right now he's on his toes and keeping his senses sharp, believing that the enemy could be around any corner, which I honestly respect in him. However, like any creature that was once human, he has his limits. Wait until he lets down his guard and the stress of the situation starts to take hold."

Neither wanting to hear anymore nor stay in this heat any longer, Tahera turned around and ran toward the horizon. When she was out of sight Ursus was about to leave but Ra grabbed him by a plate of armor, his hand not doing so much as turning red from touching such hot metal.

"I'll need for you to go as a back up." The eagle man let go. "I don't intend for her to fail, but Tahera does have a tendency to let her anger get the best of her." Ursus paused and thought about it for a second. Nodding in agreement he slowly headed in Tahera's direction. Now with just the two, Occura and Ra, she felt the need to ask him something.

"What exactly do you plan to do when David is brought before us? Do you intend to simply tell him what he already knows: that there's an unknown force out there that must be stopped." Occura waved her hands towards the sky, allowing heat to slowly decrease, now that the meeting was over.

"To give him all the motivation he can take." He then looked to Occura directly. "Keep an eye on the Tokala who raised him, I don't want anything happening to my leverage just yet."


CHURCHILL, MANITOBA


"Launa had told me this was a quaint and lovely little town," Sabrina smiled as she walked along the streets of the closest thing David ever had to a hometown, "but I never figured it would be to this extent."

"Yeah, it's a nice town." David let out a sigh of nostalgia. Granted they had to get back to Amsterdam, but since Launa's plane was so fast and the flight path was not far off there was no harm in paying a quick visit. It also gave him a break from flying. "Though it's strange: I never really considered this my 'native soil', and yet I have such a homey feeling. Maybe I felt like this when I left, but I guess I was too busy with my letter to notice"

"Your letter?" Anz was constantly scratching himself.

"Long story, I'll tell you some other time." David reached over and grabbed the hand Anz was using to scratch so furiously. "Would you please stop? People will think that you've broken out in hives caused by a food allergy."

"I can't help it." Anz yanked his hand free and continued as he pleased, though was a bit more discrete. "Last time I was ever in clothes, let alone as a human, was decades ago." The new addition to David's unofficial and small "pack" was a bit on edge. Anz had agreed to follow David into whatever conflict was to come, but it felt awkward being back in civilization and having to hide his true nature. "I don't mean to be a stick in the mud, but how long are we going to be here?"

Before David could answer a group of small kids ran up to them and held out their hands. "Mister, may we have some money for some candy?" Sabrina and David looked at each other, then back at the small lads with a look of curiosity. Getting down on one knee, David brought himself to their level.

"Do you guys walk up to random strangers and ask for money often?" They answered him with nodding. "What I would give for this town to be that friendly when I lived here." David took out a few extra dollars and gave it to them. "Save some for when you get home to your parents."

"We don't have any, sir." One of the kids responded. "Lady Rose takes care of us. Thank you for the money." Before David could ask them what they meant they were already running in the opposite direction to the convenient store. However, in the distance he could see something he hadn't seen in a very long time.

"David," Sabrina looked at the old lady being helped by a few young men in loading the back of a school bus with food and boxes, "is that who I think it is?"

"Yeah, that's her," David let out a sigh, half smiling, "she looks much happier than the last time I saw her."

"That's Ms. Proulx?" Anz asked. "Didn't the kids say that they were looked over by a Lady Rose?"

"Rose is her first name." David let out a chuckle. "I guess the twins gave her the good news after all." Looking down the street to his first guardian, David took a pause then turned back around the other way. "Let's go."

"Wait, don't you want to at least talk to her?" Sabrina looked a bit confused.

"Of course I want to," David shrugged his shoulders, "but her safety isn't about what I may or may not want. She's happy, and I don't plan on risking that and the wellbeing of her orphans by involving her in my affairs more than I already have."

"Do you seriously believe that a simple 'Hi, how have you been for the past decade?' will..."

"In the 'past decade'?" David stopped walking and turned to her with a stern and yet calm expression. "Sabrina, in the past year alone I've had the closest person I've had to a father die in my arms thanks to my biological mother, stowed away on a cargo ship across the Atlantic over the course of two weeks, and impaled someone with my arm when I went into a rage. Skipping a month or so in dealings, I was forced to leave the Tokala after becoming a god when I never even wanted to be. I lost sight of any reason to continue my existence, which lead into me to nearly killing myself. My actions with Hirage got Anz here exiled from his pack that gave him purpose after loosing his family. So in light of these and unmentioned events, I'm going keep anything from getting worse than it has to by doing what I can to prevent my misfortunes from rubbing off on the woman who clothed, bathed, housed and fed me for most of my miserable and pathetic excuse for a childhood." He took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. Sabrina looked at him for a bit, surprised at his speech. As dark as his words may sound to her, she knew they made perfect sense. Leaving it at that they continued back to where they had their rental car parked.

Without another word exchanged on the way, the trio arrived and got in the car. After missing the feeling of a car for so long, Anz happily took the keys from Sabrina. Unfortunately the excitement delivered from being behind a wheel didn't go past ignition, as they couldn't move.

"How about getting a move on there, hives." David leaned forward from the back seat, checking to see if the car was even in drive. Surprisingly enough it was, and the hand brake was disengaged as well. "What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything, there's gotta be..." Anz grumbled as he looked up from the dashboard to see a "no parking" sign right next to the car's front wheel. Not to mention they were parked right outside the sheriff's department. "Huh... I could've sworn that wasn't there when I parked." Getting out of the front passenger seat, Sabrina looked back to see a clamp on the rear wheel.

"This'll only take a second, guys." Standing before the metal clamp, Sabrina squatted down and placed her hands on the frame, ready to literally bend it to her will. That's when she heard a set of familiar clicking sounds she only remembered in the movies not five feet behind her.

"Down on the ground," a young man in a sheriff uniform was pointing a revolver right at the back of Sabrina's head, "you and your escorts are under arrest." Sabrina slowly turned around seeing that barrel aimed right between her eyes, held by a man with both an alarmed and heated expression. She couldn't deny the fear her situation presented.

"Hey, wait," David and Anz climbed out of the car on the side opposite of Sabrina, keeping their hands up and bodies behind the car, "since when does illegal parking justify an armed arrest, officer?" Anz's face was twitching from not being able to scratch his body wide itch.

"You know damn well I'm taking you guys in for a much bigger reason than that." The officer started to take out what looked to be Kevlar straps with a locking mechanism. "I would read you your rights, but those who get a rush out of beating people into the ICU don't have any rights in this town of ours." He tossed David the straps. "Now put these on her and I'll have the pleasure of locking the three of you in here."

"You're making a big mistake here, officer." Sabrina, holding up her own hands, slowly turned around to face the sheriff.

"One more word out of you, and I'll put a hole in both of the hands you used to break all those seventeen bones in my friend's body." The fire in his eyes made it clear he meant what he said.

"Wow, hold the phone, everybody, hold the phone." David had heard enough nonsense. "Let's just get some things straight here. I'm the only one revisiting this place after a decade, so there's no way Sabrina here could've met your friend. The three of us landed at the airport not two hours ago, and I swear to god if you don't put that thing down and let this guy scratch himself, then he is going to explode." The officer looked at David and Anz for a bit, and then to Sabrina as if unsure what he should do. The sweat from his palms and adrenaline rushing through his system made it harder to keep a fixed aim on Sabrina's forehead.

"Calm down, deputy." A tall and slightly over weight middle-aged man walked up behind his partner and slowly lowered his weapon for him. "If this was who you say it is then you'd be worse off than your buddy Howard before you could pull the trigger. So why don't you go back inside and get the key to unlock the clasp on their car." The frantic young sheriff looked to Sabrina. Guilt filled him for pulling his weapon on an innocent woman, dictating that he say something. Instead he holstered his side arm and walked back into the sheriff's department with his head hanging low.

"You'll have to excuse him, miss." The sheriff looked extremely embarrassed.

"I will certainly not excuse him." Sabrina walked up to the man with her fists clenched at her side, standing over half a foot taller than him. "He can't just accuse an innocent lady of all those things while pointing a gun at her head, expecting to get away with it." Her face was turning red with anger.

"Pfffft, she called herself a 'lady'." David directed at Anz as they both shared a chuckle.

"Shut up, you!" Sabrina growled at them, keeping her eyes on the sheriff. "Now, you're going to have to do more than just give me a 'sorry' after that. That is if you don't want the local Mounties, or whoever you answer to, finding out I was threatened with a hole shot into my hands."

"How about I give you an explanation over a big, juicy and tender angus beef steak taken out of my deputy's paycheck?"

"Hmmm," Sabrina raised a brow, thinking how she could sweeten the deal, "while those two bozos enjoy their salads and watch me eat every bite?" Hearing her request, David just laughed as he was reaching into his pocket for the card Launa gave them. Regrettably, he realized Sabrina had it when he only managed to pull out no more than a couple useless Dutch Euros. Thus ending David and Anz's little celebration as their mouths watered for the steak they weren't going to savor.

"Of course," the sheriff chuckled, "the steak house is right down the road. I'm sheriff Richie, by the way."

Soon the group of four was seated at a table in the place with the best food David and Sabrina had had for weeks... over a decade for Anz. David tried to sneak a bite off of Sabrina's juicy hunk of sizzling meat, but failed at the threat of a fork in his hand after his "lady" comment earlier. Loving it, Sabrina teasingly took every bite slowly into her mouth while the boys chewed on a delicious yet unsatisfying salad.

"So what exactly can you explain to us, Richie?" David asked to take his mind off of food.

"Ah, right," Richie shifted in his seat while trying to put the situation into words, "for starters, the reason why my sheriff-in-training was so on edge was because of the problem this little town of ours has on its hands."

"What problem could illicit having a gun in my face?" asked Sabrina.

"For the few years there has been an underground fighting ring in the docks. Before then it was all legal and controlled. It was only a way for young lads, and sometimes women, to blow off steam and have fun. Though as time went on crewmembers from foreign ships found out about it and decided to join the party. I don't know what it is about the seamen on those boats, but they're extremely violent when all rules of fighting are ignored. Today it's not uncommon for people to end up in the hospital badly beaten, claiming not to remember a thing or that it was an accident. Of course everyone knows it's the fighting, but none are willing to step up."

"Hold on a second here," David interjected, "what reason could these people possibly have for doing this?"

"They just like fighting, boy." Richie took a sip of his beer. "That and the winner gets a lot of money."

"Have you asked anybody for help?" Anz suggested. "What about the companies who own these cargo ships or our government."

"A representative from Ottawa came to investigate it, but he said that if there's nobody to testify from experience or some kind of interaction with fighters then there's nothing we can do. We can't get a warrant to set foot on private property during 'work hours'. I pointed out that there's no reason for the docks to be that active, let alone in one warehouse at a time, but the jackass just wouldn't listen. He said the fact alone it involved international trade is good enough reason to let it go, and he's right. Without that much going on for this town there isn't much other reason that campers and explorers to come here and that's not much of a basis for a stable and self supporting community. At least not for not one this small with no way paved roads outside of the area."

"So," Sabrina paused thinking the situation over, "your boy thought that we were professional fighters or something?"

"No, just you."

"Me? Why me?" Sabrina stopped in the middle of her last piece of steak, meaning he had her full attention now.

"Well..." Rickie leaned forward with his hands together on the table, looking at all three of them. "There's this one boat that comes in every month or so. I don't know who it is, but there's some crewmember on that one boat who always manages to add a few extra people into the hospital during their visit. If I had to make a call, I'd say that she is the main reason nobody wants to provide any evidence or testimony." Richie paused to look at the look on their faces. Even one so strong and powerful as Sabrina found it shocking that a woman was the queen of the ring. "The man who my rookie said you put in the hospital was the guy we asked to sneak into the warehouse during 'the night shift'."

"How did he get caught?" Anz asked, even still scratching himself. "Did he stand out that badly?"

"Not at all. Howard said, and I quote, 'She sniffed me out of the crowd.' At first I thought he was joking, but he was serious. I don't know whether or not it is actually true, but Howard legitimately and genuinely believes this woman knew from his scent alone that he wasn't there for the same reason as everyone else." Hearing that raised a red flag for all three of them, it was impossible for any human to pick someone out of a large group of people solely from smell. "So she picked him to fight... now the poor kid has two screws in his jaw and is nursing a punctured lung."

"Do you know anything about this woman other than her gender?"

"The only thing Howard was willing to give was that she was tall and muscular. He also admitted to finding her quite attractive in a terrifying sort of way."

"So is that boat in town tonight?" David leaned forward. "Is that why your student assumed Sabrina was this woman you mention?" Strangely, there seemed to be a shade of hope in his questions.

"If you're thinking about going to the docks tonight, then all I can do is recommend against it." Richie pointed at David as if lecturing him. "The only ones who win are those who end up putting the other in the ER, and you seem like too nice to live with that on your conscience." Taking the last sip of his drink, Richie got up and paid for the meal. "Now, seeing as I gave you all the explanation I promised and you've finished your dinners I'll be getting back to work. Just don't get involved in this, for your own sake." Walking out the door, the helpful sheriff left them to their choices.

"David," Anz took the last bite of his salad, "you're not honestly thinking about going, are you?"

"Damn straight I am." David almost seemed excited. "I know it sounds risky, but a werewolf with that amount of ferocity would be a most valuable asset."

"You can't be serious." Sabrina leaned in and kept her voice down, but with a stern tone. "There's no telling if there are other werewolves there or how strong they may be."

"Trust me on this, Sabrina. I know almost exactly what I'm doing." David couldn't help but have a slight smirk. Sabrina and Anz knew he was fully capable of being unpredictable at times, but he would need more than that in order to get what he wanted out of this unusual situation.

Driving down to the harbor, David was looking more anxious the closer they got. A strange sensation flowed over him as they pulled into the visitor's parking lot. The air was ripe with anxiety, though he was uncertain whether it was his own or... something else. Either way, the feeling only intensified as they walked through the front entrance to see a man at the front desk.

"Hey," he didn't remove his eyes from his playboy magazine, "how may I help you?"

"Excuse me, sir," David hunched over the desk, "I've been told that this place can give me a quick fix for a bit of extra cash. We ran into some mishaps and can't leave town until..."

"Listen, kid. I sit at this desk all day for minimum wage so that I can sit here and do nothing, not so I can listen to people's life stories that I couldn't care less about. That and I'm in no mood to listen to bullshit from a couple of visitors, there's no way to make quick money here, and if there was I certainly wouldn't be sitting here."

"All we want is to meet... her. I promise we're good for it." David was anxiously biting his lower lip, subtracting from his persuasion level.

"Her, huh?" The man looked up from his magazine for the first time, his eyes drawn to Sabrina most. Moving his gaze to Anz made him laugh a bit. "You think just because your girlfriend is also big and strong that she can take the queen of the ring? I've seen her send steroid popping men slowly dragging themselves to tap out. She never looses and never shows any mercy."

"And I've thrown a man into a rack of glass bottles and put him in the hospital." Even though that was only half true, David soon realized he might have overcompensated.

"And Harrison Ford asked me to be his best man. Let me do you this favor and go home. In a fight where anything goes I have no doubt H could take down all three of you on her own at the same time."

"Do what we tell you, old man." Having enough of beating around the bush, David grabbed him by the collar and pulled him so they were face-to-face. "I've tried asking you nicely, but now that it boils down to this you leave me no choice. If you think I'm going to let a sawed off bastard like you stand in my way, then I'll shove this porno magazine so far up your ass you'll be coughing up papier-mâché. Now go do your job and set up a brawl between this H and me." David threw the jerk face back into his chair.

"I'll take pleasure in buying a nice ribeye steak dinner tonight while you breath through a plastic pipe in the ER." As he walked away, Sabrina and Anz looked at David.

"Wasn't that a bit extreme, David?" Anz asked.

"You think a slime like that who profits from others' pain and suffering deserves to be asked as nicely as I did?" David shrugged. "No man on 'minimum wage' wears a brand new Rolex, let alone during a job like this."

"Just be careful David," Sabrina place a hand on his shoulder, "I've come across groups like this before and they're not as nice as officer Richie made them out to be. That and when you add a werewolf into the equation..."

"It'll be fine, Sabrina, I promise. I have a good feeling about this." The fact was that David had no idea where this good feeling came from. He hated fighting in such a violent spirit, and yet he couldn't wait to extend an invitation to this H.

Surprisingly, the wait wasn't very long. The man from the front desk opened the door into the anteroom and peaked in to make sure they were still there. When the door opened all the way, the person behind it had to bend down to keep their head from hitting the frame. Standing before them was the largest woman any of them had ever seen. She was easily six foot nine, if not ten. Her muscles were indeed impressive and clearly took a lot of hard work to develop, but they didn't meet the criteria of excessive. Although she certainly qualified as a giant of a woman, her predatory glare ruled her out as a gentle one. Despite all of these qualities she had a terrible beauty about her. Maybe it had something to do with her being Native American with long black hair and fair complexion. Not to mention she still managed to keep her dangerously alluring curves. Regardless of which ever way one looked at her, it would take a very thick headed fool to be anywhere near her without the fear of having her smash their face in.

"Which one of you wants to spar?" Her voice wasn't the stereotypical deep and boomy one would expect from such a huge individual. "I haven't had a good clash in a long time, so how about I take on the three of you together." The dismissive tone she had made a poor facade, clearly just wanting the best challenge she can ask for of the situation.

"Sorry," David stepped forward, trying to keep his cool, "but I'm all the challenge you need."

"That won't... ACK!" Before he knew it, the man who went to fetch this woman took a firm backhand to the side of his head, knocking him onto the ground, breaking his nice watch as he made contact with the cold concrete.

"If you ever try and fight my battles for me ever again," she leered at him with nostrils flared, "then I'll break more than your precious watch. Your job is to introduce me and nothing else. Got it?"

"Yes, yes, I understand." He quickly got up with a bit of blood coming out of his mouth, probably having bit his cheek, and left H with David and the others.

"I hate it when people do that." H turned back towards David and shrugged with a curious look, taking a breath in through her nose. "Normally I wouldn't consider someone like you, but anybody with scars like the ones on your face has been either in deep shit or done something really stupid."

"Uuuuh," David raised a brow, "thanks...? Anyways, what does 'H' stand for?"

"What makes you think you know me well enough to ask that question?" She almost snarled at him. "If you came here to make friends, then I suggest you pay that impostor from two weeks ago a visit."

"Okay, okay. Can I at least ask you why you like fighting and hurting others so damn much?"

"Because it's fun and easy." She said without missing a single beat. "Any other stupid questions?"

"I can't help but wondering, since anything goes, are you going to change forms at all?" David felt a bit foolish when she looked at him like he was the village idiot. "You know... shift?" H raised a brow, clearly not understanding what he working towards.

"We're going hand-to-hand here, moron, not bumper-to-bumper if you're referring to shifting gears. Come back here later when the sun has set. It's too risky in broad daylight."

"I'll be here."

"You better," H poked him in the chest, "If you don't, I don't care where you are I'll find you and step on your neck." Everything set up, H went back the way she came and David lead Sabrina and Anz back outside.

"David," Anz firmly grasped onto his shoulder, "you've gotta be nuckin' futs to consider going through with this. A werewolf that violent can't be tamed."

"I have to agree with Anz on this one," Sabrina exclaimed, "I've met some crazy bitches through my experiences, and that monster takes the cake."

"What you say is very true and I couldn't agree more, but there's one thing." David turned to them reassuringly. "H doesn't even know she's has werewolf blood flowing through her veins. I doubt she even considers werewolves to be real."

"What could possibly bring you to that conclusion?" Sabrina asked. "She reeks of primal instinct and wild animal."

"The fact that she didn't even acknowledge she was one when I blatantly asked her if she intends to change forms. Any werewolf with half a brain won't bother to deny their true nature when three others call them out it. Not to mention her 'reason' for loving to fight. I bet you my firstborn that she couldn't care less if fighting came hard for her. Also, what kind of werewolf like that," he pointed back towards the front entrance, "wouldn't take someone up on her an offer to brawl at full strength?" Sabrina and Anz looked at each other, thinking about what he said.

"Think of it this way: Someone that screwed up definitely has a lot of unresolved issues and a shady past at best. If a god of a species of werewolves that draws its power from pain and suffering were to give H her first full moon, then there's no telling how unstoppable she would be."

"You're playing with fire, little wolf." Sabrina crossed her arms.

"Trust me on this, big girl." David smiled and gave her a wink. "I know almost exactly what I'm doing." Actually, David didn't have a clue what he was doing, but his instincts were so strong that he would be a fool not to follow them on this one.

Not having much to do other than wait for the sun to set, David waited outside the parking lot while Sabrina took Anz shopping for some clothes that wouldn't irritate his skin so much.

"Who would've thought that a type of wool would've been what I needed?" Anz was happy to finally be itch free. "God bless the person who first bred merino sheep."

"And the owners the brand." Sabrina got a very nice jacket made from the same material. "It feels like I'm being wrapped in a cloud. I can't wait to tell Launa and Azzy about this stuff."

"Speaking of which, can you tell me a bit about them before I meet them?"

"Oh, what would you like to know?"

"Anything I should look out for while around them? Do they have any pet peeves or quirks I should know about?"

"Huh," Sabrina paused, "I love them like my sisters, but I've never made an effort to think about that. Gun to my head though, I'd say that both Launa and Azzy have hearts of gold. Azzy's a bit on the reserved and quiet side, but when Launa and I have our little disagreements that raven knows how to make things right. Truthfully she's the angel on the group's shoulder, especially after what she did for David a few months ago."

"What did she do?" Anz regretted asking as soon he heard the words escape his mouth. "I'm sorry that's not my business."

"That's okay, Anz." Sabrina chuckled, "even though you shouldn't be specifically asking me that, I'm sure David wouldn't mind answering that for you."

"That's alright. Now what about Launa, what is she like?"

"Launa... I think the better question is where to begin. Being a goddess of trickery she's quite the prankster, which I think is a major bonding point between her and David. They can't get enough of each other. There was this one time when David tied a ball of yarn to my tail, so when I started running laps around the track Launa's inner kitty surfaced. I ended up running circles at full speed for at least a good twenty minutes.

But I digress, if it's being welcomed that you're wondering about there's no need to worry. You'll be welcomed with open arms, which is more than I can say for H. I bet Launa will pay for her own apartment, not that I'll complain." Sabrina gave an exasperated sigh.

"You really think David knows what he's doing like he says?" Anz bit his lower lip from just thinking about his new leader's hopes and plans with H. "I believe what he's going after is logical, and yet I can't help but wonder if the situation is at all what he thinks it's going to be. Am I making sense?"

"David can be an unusual character at times," Sabrina said with a small but genuine smile, "when I first met him I literally wanted to beat him to a pulp. However, looking back I have to admit I saw a good bit of me inside him. After all he had eaten food in the fridge that wasn't his, was using my razor, depleted my shampoo and was wearing my favorite robe." She could tell Anz was feeling a bit awkward knowing that. "Regardless, I know you've been through a lot and don't have the happiest story to tell. Launa, Azzy and I... all three of us have problems, and sometimes we let that get the best of us and allow our past to define who we are. David, on the other hand, has been through shit I wouldn't experience in my worst nightmares. Every day I'm surprised by how he didn't turn out to be a mean and gruff individual filled with angst and hate for the world, proud to call him my friend, and happier than I've ever been knowing he and I are much more than that now."

"Huh," Anz looked forward a bit, taking in the reassurance Sabrina had given him, "those all seem like good points of character. Though I must ask one more thing: what did he mean when he said 'I know almost exactly what I'm doing'?"

"Oh, he was just kidding. I'm sure he's fully confident. Now let's go get you that shower."


BACK AT THE WAREHOUSE


"Dear God," David was pacing back and forward outside the parking lot as the sun was beginning to set, "what the hell am I doing?" The closer his fight with H came, the more he was freaking out over everything that might result. What if H is too much for me to control? Am I ready to give my first bite as a werewolf? If I can keep her in check at all in the first place, then will that be enough to keep her from weakening the group's integrity? Do the possible benefits outweigh the likely costs? It was nearly stressful enough for David to consider bailing.

"Don't you dare even think about ditching," David stopped pacing as he heard that all too familiar voice, "everything lately has been so depressing and lame. I need this action."

"You... last time I saw you was before I tried to..." He couldn't bring himself to finish.

"You what: popped yourself, ended it all, committed Harry Carry?" It chuckled softly inside David's head. "I never got to tell you how much that hurt me when you attempted to end yourself without any thought or regard to how that would affect me. So mean and thoughtless."

"Shut up!" David exclaimed as someone passed by within earshot. The old man looked at him as if crazy. Embarrassed, he pointed to his ear under his hair, giving the impressing he was wearing an earpiece. "Ex-girlfriend." The onlooker nodded and kept on going, leaving David alone with his other self.

"You were always so cleaver, David. Though I'm not sure your cunning and silver tongue will be enough to add this bitch to your little posse."

"If you're trying to bother me it's not working. So just go back into whatever dark corner of my mind you call home."

"Why are you always so quick to judge my intentions?" David didn't bother to answer such a rhetorical query. "For your information, I would love nothing more than to have this H tag along. I can really connect with someone with her pain."

"Connect...? HA!" David laughed. "You can't even connect with the one to whose body you're confined."

"You really think you'll be able to connect with someone who's harmonized with their inner beast to that extent? Your fairy tale of a life is nothing compared to what she's gone through."

"If anybody can connect with someone though a means of relating to their suffering, it's me not you."

"Fuck you!" For the first time, David actually managed to anger his other self. "I've lived my existence far longer than you and your precious kitty combined. Every second of it I've spent trapped inside another, sentenced to watch their lives go on and on and on. Finally when someone decides to keep the power I so happily give to my host, that person locks me in a cage refusing to let me take hold of the body that's rightfully my own."

"You expect me to feel sorry for you?" Frustration filled David's voice as he growled. "On that night of my first full moon you tried to kill Wyanet, you used my hands to rip out Camille's heart, you nearly did the same to Sabrina. When Launa guided me inside my very being to face you off, you tried to kill me."

"If it weren't for me, then you never would have met the Tokala. Your life would be average and would never amount to anything no matter how hard you tried. Everything that's made you happy is because of me. Wyanet didn't help mold you into what you are. You're a goodie goodie asshole because you've done everything you can to avoid becoming anything like me. Without me you're nothing! Fortunately for me, that doesn't matter. Sooner or later you'll let your past dictate what you are, and when that happens you won't be able to tell if you're you or if you're me."

"I will never be like you."

"You say that now, but once they get a hold of you and bend you to their will, everything will change. All you can do is hope you'll notice in time to stop them from sinking a knife into your back."

"My ancestors have already stabbed me in my back, but as you can tell I pulled it out and..."

"You fell on it, that's what you did. You gave up like a little pussy and tried to take the easy way out. That's why I should have this body and why I'm the victim in this crime."

"Damn it, shut up, shut up shut the fuck up!" David had had enough. "This is the situation: I'm taking control of my life. You're lucky enough to tag along and be a part of it. I don't know what this man behind the curtains is planning, but if you're as smart as you think you are then you'll know that I was chosen to stop it all for a reason. So don't believe for a second I will be coerced into doing anything other than what I know must be done. Not by my ancestors, not by my past, not by you, not by anything or anyone." David stood there panting in anger, waiting for some kind of response. Looking around he saw that thing staring back at him through his reflection in nice old car's side window, grinning and cackling through its long sharp teeth.

"I'm confused. Was that you talking, or me?"

In his anger, David punched through the window as he bellowed. A part of him knew that was the exact response it wanted from him, and another didn't care. There were more important issues at hand than winning a battle of wits with a monster. The street lights had turned on and his two companions hadn't shown up yet from their shopping spree and search for a good shower.

"And that's exactly what H will be doing to you tonight." Turning around, David saw the receptionist from earlier in the day. "Too bad I won't be able to see it happen."

"What, you got some other people to gather for her to beat half to death?" You think David would be used to dealing with scum like this, too bad that wasn't the case.

"I only said I wouldn't observe it taking place," he took out a cigarette and lit it, taking in a long puff and slowly breathing it out, "never told you I wouldn't see how it ends. Follow me." As much as he hated doing something this jerkface told him, David fell in line and got behind him and around the back of the warehouse with the large double doors open wide enough for one person. "Any time someone catches H's interest enough in regards to setting up a fight, she prefers that the brawl take place without anyone watching. I would ask if you accept these conditions, but if you said 'no' then H would just kick your head into your chest."

"Is there a third option?" David raised a hand mockingly.

"Get inside, punk." A few men grabbed him by his shoulders and threw him through the double doors, locking it behind him.

"Hey!" Sabrina and Anz walked up to the group of men standing in their way. "We get to go in with him." Sabrina demanded.

"Back off missy." For the second time in one day, Sabrina had a gun pulled on her. "Nobody goes in until someone comes out." Looking down at the double-barreled shotgun aimed at her gut, Sabrina raised her hands and backed off with a vein in her forehead pulsing above her left eye as it twitched. It was up to David now.

Shaking off the feeling of cold, smooth cement slamming against his face, David got up and brushed himself off. There was a lot of open space in this particular warehouse. A large red circle sat right in the middle, probably the official fighting ring when people were watching. Nothing in the area could reasonably be used as a weapon. All tools were put away and vehicles cleared from the confined space. There wasn't going to be any fighting other than straight hand-to-hand.

"Are you ready," H walked up behind David, having waited for him while leaning on a wall, "or are you one of those idiots who think stretching will make a difference?" Turning around David saw her wearing shorts and tank top with her hair all tight in a bun.

"Actually I was thinking..." catching himself before risking the situation with a joke, David quickly changed attitudes, "are there any rules that I should know about before we get started?"

"Normally I inform my opponents about what happens to those who try to smuggle in a weapon or two, but you're not stupid."

"I'm my own weapon, thank you very much." David said with a slight smirk.

"Don't be queer." H growled.

"When are you ever not a bitch?" David grumbled. "Or has your inner beast influenced you beyond repair?"

H approached David with increasingly wide and fast steps and swung at him, but he dodged. "I am my 'inner beast', or whatever you call it. This is happening now, so shut up and fight." Her swing was strong, as was evident from how fast she moved despite her huge size.

"I talk while I fight, even," David took off his jacket and threw it aside, "if you don't want me to." He started circling her with his arms up and fists balled. H, on the other hand, just came straight for him and grabbed him by his long hair; ignoring the punch he gave to her left kidney, not that he expected it to do anything. Effortlessly lifting him off the ground she threw him to the side. Hitting the ground, David slid into a wall.

"This is a spar, not a dancing class. If you want to fight then come at me."

"What kind of way to fight is that? Don't you want to draw out the experience and enjoy it?" Jumping back on his feet, David readjusted his hair.

"Why do you care?" H advanced again and reached for him, but David jumped and rolled out of the way, walking backwards as he kept his distance. "Fight back!"

"Not until you tell me why you truly like fighting so much." He could see H's muscles bulging up in frustration, and that he wasn't getting through to her. This was going to need a different approach. 'I can't believe I'm gonna do this.'

"No more talking!" Lunging forward, H grabbed the back of his head and pulled him in while extending her elbow, slamming it into his face and breaking his nose. Before he could cough, David took a knee to his torso, knocking the air out and throwing him back. "This is pathetic." Standing before him as he spat blood on the ground, H grabbed him by the front of his shift. As David slowly opened his eyes H paused, holding back her head with a look of confusion. His eyes had changed color.

"Is that how little this phases you? I would think someone so tough would be happy to fight something obviously inhuman."

"Human or not, you can still fight can't you?" H punched him square in the chest, fracturing a couple ribs and his sternum. David grunted and coughed up some blood, but within seconds H could hear his bones mending and see his nose realigning into place by itself. However, instead of freaking out, H just smiled and began to repeatedly slam her fist into anywhere she could on his body. Ending the fist spree by drop kicking him a good twenty feet in front of her

"I've finally found it!" She was obviously joyous, but to an unexpected extent, as if she had come to a moment she had been waiting for her entire life. However, when she saw David sit on the ground with his legs crossed and arms at his side she refused to go any further. "Why won't you get up? Get up and fight back, this is what I've been searching for since my earliest memory and you won't keep it from... nnnnnngggh!" H fell to the ground clutching her knee that was dislocated by a palm to her kneecap.

"Stop talking such bullshit." David didn't know what he was doing, but by the shock in her face it seemed to be working. Not moving from where he was, David grabbed her foot and started to twist her leg. Expectedly, H refused to show any signs of pain. "I knew I had problems facing the truth that I was a werewolf, but never to the degree you've reached. You say that you love fighting because it's easy and fun, but in truth you know that's not the reason." Sitting up, H grabbed David by his neck and pulled him back against her, rolling over so that she was on top of him. Using her free hand she forced her knee back into place.

"I'll give you fifteen seconds to enlighten me before I..."

"What, what will you do? I could rip out your spine through your belly button if I wanted to right now, I could kill you and every single person in this town. As if you didn't know that already. Still you wanted to fight me, you wanted to end that howling voice from a distant past screaming in the back of your mind. You believed that even if I couldn't end it for you, that I would somehow help you find it in your own way." The two of them stared the other without blinking for the longest time, unflinching.

"How do I know you can give me that?" H tightened her hold on his neck. "All I've remembered for the past five years is hate and rage. Everything before that is a dark and endless void. What is it I have to give you in return?"

"Your loyalty and willingness to do as I ask without question." David liked playing the one in charge for the first time in his life. "You stay with me and I promise I'll give you that final fight that will end your rage and torment. You won't have to give up your sanity to understand who and what you are. Either that or I can leave you behind while fully loose your grip on reality." David slowly felt her fingers loosen around his neck. Slowly she let go and sat up and stood up. The fight being over, David shook his head as his eyes and teeth changed back to normal. "Well H, what's it gonna be?"

"My name is Hehewuti."


NORTHERN QUEBEC


"I can't believe that you talked me into this," Ike was on edge as they walked through the wilderness, "David told us to go tell Ms. Proulx about Megedagik. He never said we had to come back. In fact I'm absolutely sure that if he sees us anywhere near Woonet it'll be our throats."

"First off, her name is Wyanet, not Woonet." Addison was also a bit uneasy with this, but it felt good to be doing something good for their own reasons for the first time. "And secondly, what else can we do? Ever since we were taken into Megedagik's pack of slaves we have no more money or place in modern society than these fox people."

"I'd still rather be in a homeless shelter than find out what they'll do to us."

"Bull shit. I'm not going to an 'adult's orphanage'. Possibly being held prisoner by those who raised David is preferable to being an older version of what we were ten years ago. Besides, we grew up without parents and family, too. Who's to say that won't give them reason to make us one of their own?"

"We're different from him in that sense, and you know it." Ike grabbed his brother's shoulder, turning him around bringing them face-to-face. "Mom and dad, who we don't even remember, died from natural causes, David's mom abandoned him to the clutches of that monster. We could've helped make David's life easier, but instead we only made it worse simply because we were too stupid and cowardly to go against Camille and Ms. Proulx. Even when Pauwau visited us in the hospital after David put us there we still took the coward's way out and..."

"Are you finished?" Addison pushed Ike away. "I was there just as much as you were, wasn't I?"

"Yet I still feel the need to retell you our life story in order to get it through your thick head that we finally have a way out of this. Why can't you see that?" Ike pushed back

"Because all I'm hearing from you is that you want to keep on being a coward and take the easy way out." Addison retaliated with another shove, being a bit more aggressive. "Go ahead and run away if you want to. Mom and dad will still have one son they could've been proud of for once doing the right thing and for their own reasons."

"You take that back, now." Ike growled

"Come over here and make me, coward." Addison waved his brother over tauntingly. It wasn't often that the Girard twins fought, but when Ike saw Addison challenge him he quickly lunged forward and tackled his brother to the ground. Unfortunately, Ike didn't see the slight drop behind his target. Next thing they knew the world was spinning; not that it stopped them from exchanging blows, refusing to let go of one another. However, the rolling brawl was short lived when they both fell off of a ledge into a spring only a few seconds later. Surfacing at the same time, they took a small moment to regain their bearings before they began dunking each other.

"Stop trying to drown me!" Addison yelled as they thrashed about in the water, slowly making their way to the shore where they rolled around in the murky water exchanging weak slaps on each other's face.

"You started this, why don't you finish it?" Ike grabbed a fist fully of mud and shoved it into his brother's face, managing to get some in his mouth. Growling angrily through clenched and dirty teeth, Addison was about to unleash his beastly fury, when suddenly he was pull away from his brother and slammed down on the ground, being fed another bite of mud pie. Before he could get up, something firm and very heavy was sitting on his back and a sharp pain was felt on his back just above his heart.

"Hey, get off my brother!" Ike struggled get up, but ultimately failed when something hard smashed in the back of his head, not knocking him out but certainly incapacitating him. Standing over the limp idiot was a humanoid fox cub holding a rock. He was wearing a black fedora hat with a red strap wrapped around it.

"Sorry, Bidziil," the cub said apologetically, "I didn't mean to hit him that hard, but I was afraid was going to change."

"No, it's okay, Takoda," the heavy thing on Addison spoke deeply, putting a bit more pressure on that spot over his captive's heart, "hit him again if he moves at all." Addison meant to look up, but the big padded hand engulfing his head made sure he got a full meal of tasty wet dirt.

"Have the two of you completely lost your common sense in coming back here," Bidziil growled inches from Addison's face, making him cringe in fear, "or are you even dumber than David made us think you were?"

"Just him." Ike mumbled raising a hand with his head still on the ground. Listening to Bidziil's instructions, Takoda hit him in the head again, knocking him out this time.

"I will give you two seconds to give me a reason I shouldn't do the world a favor by relieving it of ones who served Megedagik." The huge Tokala snarled and pulled on the intruder's hair, allowing him to speak with a mouth full of mud.

"What would David do?" Never before in his life had Addison's mind worked so fast. The words sounded so lame coming out, he was certain he'd die here and now. A grimace of frustration filled his ears as his head was turned to see a huge fur covered fist slam into his face, leaving both twins out cold.
I'm sorry it took me so long to get to writing again, but this is by far the longest chapter i've written so far so i hope that makes up for it haha
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GodzillaD1's avatar

When's the next chapter?