Title: Justÿce
Rated for: T
Genre: Friendship, Family, Supernatural, Romance,
Fandom/Universe: Wolfblood
Characters: The K's / Jimi Chen/ Liam Hunter/ Sam / Maddy Smith / Shannon Kelly / Tom Okinawa / Rhydian Morris / OC's - Fæble Justÿce and Steel Justÿce.
Pairings: Rhydian/Fæble
Spoilers/Warning: AU so don't worry. I've only seen a few episodes of the show anyway.
Disclaimer: Wolfblood and all related characters are copyright Debbie Moon. No infringement intended.
Summary: Just a 'what if' version of two little wolfs answering to the call of the moon and their wild side.
Status: In-Progress
Author's Note: Okay, okay, there's way too many hints in these chapters. I hope I answer some of those questions but fear not, more will be revealed in the next chapter.
Chapter: Takes place towards the end of S3. And here's some of those liberties explained. Hope you all enjoy the cameos coming up.
The Twist In My Story
"Yeah, but I've never seen her get like this." Shannon's concern mirrors Tom's. "Not even with Jana."
"Yeah," Tom agrees because Maddy's reaction to the new wolves in school is beyond the initial snarl and bark she presented to Jana. "Maybe they'll become friends…" but even as he says it, Tom doesn't think that's going to happen.
"What's wrong with Rhydian?" Shannon asks him, frowning. They've both noticed his absentmindedness the past few days. "Staring off like…" she glances sharply at Tom but they've both had the same idea.
"You think he's…you know, looking." Tom doesn't really understand how that works but his friend has been spending more time in the woods than he had before.
"Maybe." Shannon shrugs. "But why?" she glances at him as they head across the yard. "Look," she just her chin in Rhydian's direction. "I'll be going in."
Tom nods and veers off to where Rhydian is sitting on the stone fence, staring at the road. He's been doing that all week. Since the short lunch conversation between the Wolfbloods.
"You gonna wait for her again?" Tom asks as he leans on the wall. "Man, I'm not saying she's not a looker but this is getting embarrassing, mate."
Rhydian growls softly but that's all the answer Tom is getting.
W
Maddy isn't talking. She can't stand the trespassing wolf. She doesn't belong.
"You're muttering. Again." Shannon points out as she drops her bag in the empty seat. "And growling." She adds, turning to face her friend.
"Am not." Maddy grumbles but she sets the camera on the shelf and begins to pace.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Shannon isn't sure she wants to know why Maddy is so upset about the new wolves but if she did know then maybe it would help the next time her friend began to wolf-out.
"About what?" Maddy snaps.
"Her." Shannon knows better than to say the name. "What is it? Because this time its different, Maddy. You wolf-out…"
"She doesn't belong here!" Maddy yells and then she's got to clench her hands and start counting because she can't wolf-out in school. Her parents already warned her and they've had enough close calls with Liam and his story about werewolves.
"Jana didn't either and you didn't react like this." Shannon points out. "Jana's our friend, now. But she wasn't before. Why is this time different?"
Maddy growls and she hates to even say it. "Because she's changing things. She's coming here, to my territory, and she's- she's-. Aarhg!" its unfortunate the chair ends up kindling. Especially when Maddy doesn't feel any better.
"What's going on here?" Tom is wary as he walks into the photo room. The door closes behind him and Rhydian.
"Nothing." Maddy snaps. "We'll be late." She brushes past them both, ignoring Rhydian and shoves the door open.
At Tom's questioning look, Shannon only shrugs.
W
By the end of the week and Fæble is going nuts trying to keep away from Rhydian. He doesn't make it easy when he keeps trying to 'find' her. And its not like he's stealthy about it nor does he care what time he's intruding. He's woken her up in the middle of the night all week!
'How long can I keep pushing this back?'
She feels that pull, like a magnet and it hurts to fight against it but she's not giving in. Fæble just can't go down that road when she knows what could happen. She saw it with her Mother…
'I can't.'
There's a gaggle of kids in the hall. Everyone keeps getting in her way but she's been in a bad mood since 'it' happened. And her Dad has noticed. Fæble's avoiding him too-.
"What is this?" Rhydian corners Fæble in the almost empty hallway. She takes a step back from him and he follows until she's against the wall and he's towering over her.
"…its nothing…" she's breathless and panics but he steps in her way when she tries to duck around him. "Mph!" Fæble tries not to touch him and Rhydian takes another step towards her. "…don't…" the hand she reaches up to push him back is quickly forced down because touching would only makes this worse.
"You're different, aren't you?" Rhydian already senses she is. "You're not like other Wolfbloods; wild or tame."
"…the… I'm… yeah, I'm one of…wolf…" Fæble can't get her brain to co-ordinate with her mouth. She sounds like some frail southern belle, which is what happens to wolves in her predicament. 'Steel!' its almost a relief and she mentally calls to her brother; 'I really need your help. Right now!'
The reply is immediate. 'What?! Where are you? Are you ok? Is it the wolf girl and her friends?'
Fæble almost wants to laugh. The girl and her friends would be easier than this, right now. 'Not even close. Just hurry!
Rhydian trails his fingers lightly over her cheek. He can feel the heat radiating from her skin and the softness…
Fæble leans into his touch, eyes slightly closing but then she pulls away and makes to doge around him again. All she wants it to get away. Only he puts his arm in the way. He leans in and sniffs her, his free hand threading into her lose hair.
W
They're in the woods, far enough away from the school and town to be surprised by people.
What almost happened at the school is exactly what their Father warned them of. Both sides know how dangerous it is to be discovered, what that would mean to their packs, to their kind.
Maddy hadn't been able to control the rush of anger at seeing them together. The way Rhydian had been holding the trespassing wolf… Its exactly what Maddy hadn't wanted to say out loud.
Steel had been running full speed, right past Shannon and Tom who chased after him. Only they couldn't keep up. But they heard it.
Her brother's warning had barely broken through the thrall. The snarling wolf barreling at them did get Rhydian's attention and then Steel had shifted mid leap. His clothes shredded, littering the hall and then Fæble had focused on the Wolfblood trying to get past the big wolf in her way.
"So…" Tom glances at all of them. The discomfort is easy to see, especially when his gaze rests on Maddy.
"Hey," Steel steps out from behind the tree. "Thanks for the loan. I'll get them back to you." He tugs on the t-shirt, his easy smile in place. And Fæble just wants to smack him.
"Right…." Tom has a question, its written on his expression and body language. "What happened to his clothes?"
The silence among the group stretches uncomfortably, yet again.
'Should we tell them?'
'And break the law?' Fæble scowls at him.
'They already know what we are.'
'So why not start telling random humans about our history. Are you stupid?' she turns to face him.
Tom and Shannon share a look.
'Come on, Fæble… Dad sent us here to get information. We give a little to get a lot more.'
'No.' she turns away and ignores his huff of breath.
"What?" Shannon demands. "That, what was that?" she points to the siblings.
'I told you-.'
"Shut up." Fæble snaps and then she grits her teeth because she spoke out loud.
"He didn't say anything." Shannon grabs Tom's arm, though her eyes are glued to Steel. "He didn't, right?"
"Stop smiling at her." Fæble growls. Steel glances down at his bare feet. He knows exactly what he's doing and encouraging the human, who practically has it figured out, is fun.
"I haven't seen other Wolfbloods change like that." Rhydian sniffs again but the scent is still as strange as it had been the first time.
"We have." Steel pipes up.
"What did happen to your clothes?" Shannon's gaze travels the length of the wolf boy wearing Tom's gym uniform. Except for shoes.
"I sort of… tore them." Steel shifts his gaze towards his sister who glares at the ground.
'I swear, Steel…'
Fæble huffs. "All lycanthropes share these basic traits; enhanced speed, strength, resilience and senses." She glances between Tom and Shannon, ignoring Maddy and refusing to look at Rhydian. She's not about to admit her brother has a point. But they need to get information which means she's going to have to make nice with the local wolves. "To include a heightened sense of smell, to see farther than a human and to see in the dark. And our healing factor, though it varies among individual wolfs and species."
"What do you mean, species?" Shannon jumps in, her curiosity drawing her a step closer to the siblings.
"There's others out there." Steel points out. "You think Wolfbloods are it? Tame and wild?" he glances at Rhydian and Maddy.
"There's a whole caste system, an entire world of lycanthropes." Fæble adds.
"You're not a Wolfblood then? One of us?" Maddy glances at Rhydian, but he doesn't look away from Fæble. She looks… expensive. It's the only word Maddy can think of that describes the sleek clothes and designer shoes. Even her hair is perfectly styled-.
"Sort of." Steel shrugs. "Fæble is a fourth Wolfblood."
"What do you mean?" Shannon demands. "I thought the Wolfblood gene is dominant."
"The lycanthrope gene is dominant, yes." Fæble agrees. "Wolfblood, lycan, were, shifter, spirit walker, canidae, whatever the lycanthrope species."
"But you're different." Rhydian knows it. Her scent isn't like the familiar ones of the Wolfbloods he's met. There's a softer scent, like fresh rain or … he can't quite figure out what she is.
"My Mother was half Wolfblood." Fæble admits. "Her Mother was a wild. But my grandfather was … something else. Native Americans have their own wolf legends. Another species…"
"His scent isn't like yours." Rhydian nods towards Steel. Of course they have a similar scent, they're siblings but its not the same and Steel's is still different from other Wolfbloods.
"My Mom's human." Steel explains. "Dad is full lycan, born not made. The family goes back to before the Roman empire-."
'Enough.' Fæble frowns at him in warning. She doesn't want him to tell them their family history, she didn't want to tell them anything to begin with.
"What? You're talking to each other aren't you?" Maddy demands. She can see the siblings share a look.
"It's a pack thing." Steel says though he doesn't look away from his glaring sister.
"Well they don't." Shannon points to Maddy and Rhydian. "You don't, do you?" she asks them, almost accusing, as if they'd be keeping that from her.
"No." Rhydian denies.
"We can communicate telepathically." Fæble sighs with annoyance. "I get it from my grandfather."
"It only works with us, though." Steel adds. "Dad, Fæble and I."
"Why?" Shannon frowns.
"Its… a pack thing." Fæble hesitates to explain more but her eyes wander to Rhydian again and its like her mouth forgot how to shut up. "I've met a few other lycanthropes with the same ability. They've been Alpha's or … I could talk to my Mom." She can't help the slight change in her tone. "It makes coordinating easier, we can move as one, in perfect unity."
"So… you read minds?" Tom takes a wary step away from them.
"No." Fæble shakes her head. "Not at all. That's not a lycan gift."
"What else can you do?" Shannon's curiosity once again wins out.
"We heal. I've broken a few bones, cuts here and there." Steel shrugs. "Usual stuff. And each time I change it heals, not even a scar."
"Some are hurt by silver. Steel doesn't like it much, gives him a rash." She pulls up her sleeve and shows them her bracelet. "I don't have that problem."
"Then there's the other poisons. Like-."
'Will you stop giving them ideas on how to kill us.' Fæble demands.
"Uh, we burn off alcohol so getting drunk inst easy. I tried." Steel shoves both hands into the shorts and rocks on his heels.
"And the poison?" Shannon demands. She can see Fæble grow more annoyed but information is like catnip to her.
"Some lycanthropes can manipulate their antibodies to fight off poisons or contaminants." Fæble expels a frustrated breath. "Again, it varies by species. I'm immune to most toxins. Steel hasn't been sick, ever. Not even a cold. We're also able to control our body temperature."
"Fæble is hotter." Steel blushes at the looks he gets, realizing how that had sounded. "I mean, body temperature, she runs hotter than Dad or I."
"And the moon?" Shannon restrains herself from pulling out her notebook. "Do you change-?"
"We're not governed by the moon." Fæble adds. "We shift whenever we want."
"Your wolf is bigger." Maddy grudgingly admits.
"You'd think its because she's older but really, that's part of her grandfathers lycan gene." Steel smirks. He likes to tease his sister about her wolf.
"I don't normally shift to full wolf. I'd draw too much attention and it speeds my aging." Fæble explains before Shannon can demand it.
"What do you mean? Aren't you like us, I mean you're in our year." Tom still looks uncomfortable.
"I am. Its just…if I shift to wolf I'll age faster, until I hit maturity and then … then I just… don't age. Anymore." Fæble shifts her glance away from Rhydian. She wants to stop talking, wants to get out of there and not have to come back.
"You mean … you're immortal?" Shannon's in awe, the possibilities of it-.
"I can still die. I'm not immortal. It just means I wont age past 25. So when I shift, if I have to, its only a partial change. Extended claws, fangs, my eyes…" Fæble looks to Rhydian because he saw her eyes change in the lunch room. "Or when Steel convinces me to go for a run in the woods."
"I can count 'em with this hand how many times she's run with me in her wolf. Most times she only runs on those." He points to her legs, which draws Rhydian's eyes .
"I'm in no hurry to reach 25." Fæble states firmly.
"She's faster than a car." Steel adds. "Humbert clocked her going 80 just on two legs."
"Well, I guess that's faster than us." Shannon glances at Tom then looks to Maddy. "You can run that many kilometers in your wolf, right?"
"Uh," Steel leans towards them. "I was talking about miles."
"You keep forgetting they don't do miles here." Fæble reminds him.
"Oh, yeah. That's annoying." Steel grumbles. "Why can't everyone just go by miles? Kilometers is so much slower."
"What about…" Rhydian takes a step closer to Fæble. "Can you see?"
"Rhydian." Maddy warns him to stop.
"She's not blind." Steel's amused chuckles don't help lighten the mood.
"No. I mean… we call it Eolas." Rhydian waits. He doesn't know why it matters but he wants her to say that she can, that she has more in common with him.
"He means the extra sensory perception." Fæble says to Steel. Her gaze remains on Rhydian and she nods. "My Mother taught me Eolas. Its different for me than it was for her. I don't need the connection to nature. The sounds of the city don't hurt me and I can … sense further than I can see." She nods towards her brother. "Steel can do it as well, like our Dad."
"We can mask our scent too." Steel adds. "Dad is awesome, he's practically a ghost."
"That's a lesson you haven't learned then." Maddy glowers. She can't stand this, standing around getting to know the trespassing wolves.
"Oh, we've learned it. We're still in the practice stage. Fæble almost has it too." Steel assures.
"I could smell her." Maddy states because she was able to get Fæble's scent on the stairs.
"My brother was surrounded." Fæble turns to face Maddy. The challenge is there and she has to remind herself fighting with the pup is counterproductive. "Masking my scent wasn't the priority."
"I could smell you, too."Rhydian interjects himself into the staring between wolves. "At school. I'd get your scent, faint but …"
"Yeah," Steel pipes up, he points to his sister and continues. "that happens between-."
'Will you stop!'
He flinches and the silence that follows is more than awkward because they can't pretend he wasn't about to reveal something important.
"Between what?" Shannon questions, her eyes bouncing from one to the other.
"You've broken the law, Maddy Smith." Fæble turns to Maddy because she's done giving information. "You've told our secret."
Maddy takes a step forward, growling. "What are you going to do about it?"
Fæble looks at Tom and Shannon. Steel is just standing there and Fæble isn't concerned with Maddy's threatening growls. And what is she going to do about it? She could call the council, turn in the humans and Maddy, likely her parents as well. It wouldn't be difficult to get an accounting of what's been going on in Stoneybridge. Especially with the tales of monsters in the moors and werewolves in the forest.
"They're pack." Rhydian states. He moves in front of Maddy, blocking her from approaching Fæble.
"Yeah, I can see she's claimed them." Fæble nods towards Tom and Shannon. Her brother is right about the girl. She's too curious, asks too many questions and that's dangerous. "They wont be the last humans a lycanthrope has claimed." She says to Maddy. "They are your responsibility. What they do also affects you." She looks to Rhydian, her voice grows softer. "Your pack will reap the consequences of their actions." It worries Fæble because of Rhydian, of what he is to her and what it will mean. She gives in just a little, her hand reaches to his face and skims her fingers over his cheek. He leans into her touch and that's what makes her pull away. She has to force herself to step back, to walk away.
'He knows.'
'Shut up, Steel.'
'I love you, sister. I say this because I really love you.' He reaches to grab her arm and stops them where they are. 'Tell him.'
W