Chapter Two: The Lycans

"Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up."

-Anne Lamott

"The Mau's don't have a weakness but they can be harmed. In Mau form they can withstand harsh punishment. If bitten, they have to slumber for 24 hours before the venom can burn out completely from their system. If beaten harshly, they cannot de-transform to heal faster on their human form due to exhaustion and could possibly die."

Midnight blue eyes re-read the paragraph. The eyes sparkled with such intelligence and intrigue, one would think the carrier of these eyes was a scholar. The eyes roamed the next page and scuffed.

"The women are bigger than that of the males. Only queens can command their people as Mau's are known more to be of a woman race than males. Females only carry the crescent moon not males."

"Why are you scuffing Endy?"

Midnight blue eyes looked up from the book. He looked straight at violet eyes that held such fire in them when they were angry. A strong will and spirit behind those violet embers.

"I was just reading a paragraph of the Mau race, Rei."

"Really? What does it say?"

Rei ran and sat down next to him. Eager to learn as ever about everything. It was such of the young to be so curious of the world. Endy re-read the paragraph to her and closed the book.

"Wow," she breathed.

"Indeed. Though I cannot see a queen rule… males have always ruled in our race."

Rei scuffed as she crossed her arms over her chest. For a child, she seemed to disagree with a lot of their culture.

"I don't see what is so wrong with that. At least the men respect their women." Rei snapped. Her chubby cheeks growing red with anger.

"And we don't dear?"

Endy and Rei looked at the door.

"DADDY!" Squealed Rei as she ran to her father at the door.

"Father!"Putting the book down, Endy ran to his father at the door.

Their father picked up his daughter and ruffled his son's hair. They both had his black raven hair. Rei had a purple tint to her hair when the light would shine in the right angle. It matched her blazing violet eyes.

Endy's hair, in the right light, would twinkle. It look like stars were in his hair.

The man chuckled. "I see you are still, fascinated as ever to learn of the Mau race," he put down Rei and looked at his son.

"They are an interesting race. Its unfortunate that they are extinct."

"True. I remember their queen. Very fair and just," he had a far away look in his eye. The same color as Rei.

"You met her?" Endy's eyes widen in awe.

"Yes he did Endymion. She was quite enchanting."

"Hello mother," his eyes turned to look at her. Same colored eyes as his stared at him with amusement.

She had curly, fiery red hair and tan skin color.

"Mommy! You met them too?" Rei ran to her mother.

"Yes I have," her smile vanished to be replaced with a sad frown.

"You must have been close," commented Endymion.

"Rosalie and I have been friends with Selenia and Izar, their queen and king, for as long as we can remember," said his father as he led them to the couch where Endymion was earlier sitting, reading his book.

"Selenia, their queen, and I were friends. She would come and visit with their daughter, Mina," the queen threaded her fingers through Rei's hair as she snuggled in her mother's embrace.

"I don't ever remember seeing them," Endymion frowned. A thoughtful expression.

"Because you were still but a pup. A newborn," his father ruffled his hair.

"Lucian, remember the time when you tripped the queen and she fell into the lake?" Rosalie started to laugh.

"Cats naturally hate water. The Mau race are no different. She growled at me," Lucian laughed along with his wife.

"I wish I would have met them," Endymion smiled hearing his parents laughter.

"She would hold you and cradle you. Sometimes, Rosalie would get highly upset because you fell instantly asleep when Selenia held you."

Rosalie scuffed. "I used to call you a traitor," she giggled. "I would do the same with Mina. I loved that child."

"HEY! You love me more right?!" Rei pouted.

"Mina was the reason I wanted another child and hoped to the spirits and the moon goddess that I have a daughter, and poof, here you are! So of course I love you more!" Rosalie hugged her daughter fiercely. Rei returning it just as strong.

"What about the king?" Endymion looked at his father.

"He was a fierce man. He had a talent like no other. Why, he showed some of our soldiers how to fight. He taught Malachite's father more of the way they would fight and let me tell you, their tactics have worked and still continue to work. That's why so many still come back from the war," his eyes held that far away look again.

"For such a magnificent race, it's hard to believe they are long gone," Endymion voiced sadly.

Lucian tensed and got up, walking towards the window. He put an arm up on the wall as he leaned on the window, looking up at the moon. The moon seemed to dim in its shine these past few centuries. His eyes held such sadness, such sorrow.

"Its my fault…" his hands balled into fists.

"Lucian… no it's not love," Rosalie put Rei next to Endymion and went to her husband.

Endymion looked at his parents. He hoped one day he would find true love like them. They had a bond called The Sacred Imprint. A sacred bond of imprinting and a melding of minds and souls. Every wolf had a mate. A mate was something that was to be treasured. Female's in the Lycan race were dwindling. To find a mate within the pack was something to celebrate.

"What do you mean father?" Asked Endymion as he held Rei.

"I let them down. The Accursed massacred them. They never stood a chance," he whispered the last part.

"We received word of their... "Rosalie swallowed. "Demise, too late. They didn't see it coming and were unprepared…" Rosalie added as she rubbed her husband's back, in show of comfort.

"Everyone died… including Selenia and Izar… and by the looks of the two cubs near them… Mina died and a newborn cub, probably not even a day or two old…"

Endymion's eyes widen and held tightly to his sister. He looked down to see Rei looking at him with such sadness. She was ready to cry from the sad story. Lucian turned around and had a small, sad smile.

"Come. Let's tuck you both in."

Rosalie smiled as well and the whole family transformed into giant wolves. Rosalie was a fiery red wolf, Lucian was an all black wolf with silver streaks from old age, Endymion was an all black wolf, and Rei was an all black wolf with violet streaks.

The color of the wolves come from the hair color they have as humans.

Rosalie laid down and Endymion snuggled in front of her. Lucian soon followed and Rei snuggled into his embrace. The two parents licked their children and butted their heads softly. It was an equivalent to saying 'I love you'. Endymion looked at his parents. His father was bigger and looked stronger. His mother was a size smaller and not as strong looking, but never let looks deceive you, as his mother told him once. She was strong in her own right. Her temper was the same as Rei's.

Soon Endymion and Rei fell asleep. Rosalie and Lucian looked tenderly at their children before they both looked at each other.

'I love you Rosalie. I leave tomorrow. Please take care of yourself and our children.'

He communicated through their Mind-speak. A mind link, wolves used in their wolf form. Only kings or the "Alpha" can command their people through something called Mind-speak where they are able to telepathically speak with everyone.

'You know I will. You better come back!' She hissed.

She heard him chuckle in her mind.

'I rather die than not see you ever again my sweet.'

She softly huffed and laid her head on her son, keeping him warm. Lucian snuggled closely and laid his head on top of his little girl's form to keep her warm.

He really hoped to Gaia and the moon goddess, Selene, that he would come back from the dangers of war. He hardly got to be with them since the peace treaty was signed five centuries ago. He had to go to war and attend meeting after meeting in the new world. He sighed in dread. He didn't want to wake up. In fact he didn't want tomorrow to come.

He looked at nothing in particular but looking around the room of his children, steeled his resolve. He was fighting for his people and for peace but most of all for a future his children can grow up and find happiness the way he did with his mate/wife. With that thought, he soon fell asleep, relishing in the only time he was with his family.


I do not own any Sailor Moon stuff.