Dark Horizons
This is my fifth fan fic using the Elder Brothers, but its set in an alternate universe and I don't own any of the Marvel X-Men, Fantastic Four, or Avenger characters. This version of them is purely fictional. No profit is being made on this fan fiction and I don't own anything anyway. In my movie verse, Victor and James never worked for Stryker. Scott, Jean, Deathstrike, John Wraith, and the Professor are all alive and well. This is the sequel to A Blast from the Past. This is part of the Packs and Clans Universe.
I would also like to give a special thanks to GypsyWitchBaby for letting me borrow her Lupa character. She is a bit different here, but it's the same Lupa you'll all know and love from The Feral and The Dreaming Animal.
The Marvel and OC role call for this story. All of the OC characters, Packs, and Clans are creations of my crazy little mind.
The Elders: Sabertooth (AKA: Victor) – Mated to Wolf Girl (AKA: Lupa), Wolverine (AKA: James) – Mated to Deathstrike (AKA: Yuriko) , Black Bear (AKA: Old Man)– Mated to White Bear (AKA: Pinky) , Dragon Fly (AKA: Helena) – Mated to TBD, T-Rex (AKA: Rex) – Mated to Portal (AKA – Odessa), Medusa (AKA: Snakes – a Split Beast) – Mated to Fang, Tigress (AKA: Aria) – Mated to TBD, Witch Doctor (AKA: Haggar – a Split Beast) – Mated to TBD, Seer (AKA: Mahvep) – Mated to TBD, Wild Thing (AKA: Hannock) – Mated to TBD, Hammer Head (AKA: Hanse) – Mated to TBD, Grizzly (AKA: Gary) – Mated to TBD, and Mad Dog (AKA: Banger) – Mated to Shimmer (AKA: Luna)
The Hunters in this story: Switchblade, Snake Eyes, Mace, Mirage, Dupper, Taz and Jaz (identical twins and jokesters), Ghost, Scanner, Fire Fox, and Gateway
The Humans' in Project Wideawake: Dr. Deborah Hines, Oliver Trasker, and Dr. Watts.
Other Ferals at the School: Crawler (AKA: Charlotte) - Mated to Beast (AKA: Hank), Thunder Cat (AKA: Ditu) – Mated to Storm (AKA: Ororo), Oracle (AKA: Narcissi – Charlotte's older Sister and the only tri-animal Split Beast around), Merlin – former Elder now deceased (Witch Doctor leads this Pack now) – Mated to Mirror – also deceased, Falcona – former Elder, Traitor, and deceased (Seer now leads this Pack) – Mated to Hawk, Tabitha or Tabby (11 year feral rescued from Stryker's facility now a member of Black Bear's Pack), Battering Ram: (AKA: Murdock – 14 year old male feral from Hammer Head's), Lion-o: (AKA: Cedric – 13 year old male feral from Hammer Head's Pack). Three more Feral children are at the school. They are all TBD at the moment.
For a complete list of my ever growing Feral community please check out my profile page. I will be updating it as new additions pop into the story.
I'm in the process of finding a beta reader. This is does not have a beta reader. There will be spelling, grammatical, and context errors. I'm writing these stories for pure pleasure and my own brand of therapy from the real world. I am Dyslexic and truly can't "see" some of the glaring errors that offend some readers. If you can't stand spelling mistakes, grammatical error, and words used in the wrong context – my stories might not be for you. If you are interested in being a beta reader, please let me know.
Summary: Trouble has arrived. Will the Clans, Packs, and the X-Men survive? Or will project Wideawake destroy them all? This is the sequel to Blast from the Past. This is part of The Clans and Packs Series.
Chapter 4: Merlin's Scroll
Victor was heading to see Haggar with Medusa in tow. They hadn't finished their conversation and she clearly knew something about what was going on with Jimmy. Jimmy had actually gone to Merlin when the headaches and nose bleeds wouldn't stop. He didn't know what the old wizard had told Jimmy. Victor had been told in no uncertain terms to get lost or get cursed. Pissing off a wizard was a bad idea. Plus Merlin's Mate Mirror was a witch, so he usually abided by what the couple said.
He still remembered when they had met Merlin. Merlin had turned him into a tree. Merlin hadn't taken kindly to Victor trying to make a meal of him. Jimmy had known he was in the area, but the wily wizard was hiding from them in his fully Feral form. Victor had gotten tired and hungry and decided to hunt them up some dinner. Of course the gazelle he selected was the Feral in question. It had taken Jimmy over a day of talking before Victor was returned to his normal form.
Jimmy had laughed his Ass off over the whole thing. Merlin shared Jimmy's Fucked up sense of humor. They got along great. Merlin's was the second Pack they founded. While Merlin was far from being the strongest Feral around his magic could literally do anything he could think of instantaneously. The little Fucker could think of right much Shit when he put his warped mind to it.
Merlin and Mirror had become Haggar's teachers and Parents. While she was a Split Beast, she was magical as well. After Jimmy had found and saved the child. Merlin had actually felt the magic growing in the child and had traveled to Canada to request she be allowed to reside in his Pack. Jimmy had been leaning towards putting her in Black Bear's Pack since Medusa was there and they were both Split Beasts Sisters. They were both literally little Snakes when they wanted to be mischievous. Also, Black Bear's Pack had gotten use to having a Split Beast in the Pack.
After Haggar had spent time with them in Canada, learning the rules so to speak of being a Split Beast and getting her temper under control. Jimmy placed her in Merlin's Pack under his personal supervision. He was protective over the Split Beast Feral. Not because he was one, but because even among the Feral they walked alone. That was a feeling Jimmy knew well. Victor was well aware that Jimmy didn't feel like he belong in some situations; no Jimmy felt like an outsider even in the Packs he had created.
Jimmy was happy to find others like him that were Split Beast. It made him feel less like an outsider. He had once said he felt like a freak among freaks in the Packs. After all, even his own Mama didn't want him in the end? The Packs had also tried to cast him out. That had cut Jimmy pretty badly and while he didn't mention it. He hadn't forgotten it at all.
They headed into the main lodge. Jimmy was still asleep and Yuri wasn't happy. Great. Jimmy's Mate was young and while she handled most things well. Her Mate lying in bed wasn't one of them. Her eyes were Feral Black. Lupa filled him in on the problem. Haggar wasn't telling her what she had asked of the Healer and Yuri was getting pissed. The last thing he needed was a cat fight between them. That wouldn't be pretty and Jimmy wouldn't handle that very well.
Victor said. "Haggar it's time ya told us what Merlin told ya and why did ya put Jimmy ta sleep?"
Now he had Haggar's silted eyes on him verse on Yuri. The Witch Doctor was not happy. That was never a good thing. Getting cursed wasn't high on his fun list. Despite what most folks thought, Haggar's eyes were related to her feline mutation verse her reptilian nature.
Haggar spoke. "The flashes precede the Path coming closer to us that he seeks to avoid in most cases. The more he tries to chase the flashes and manipulate fate the more he will bleed."
Victor was getting frustrated. "Haggar? This I already know. Tell me something I don't know, like what Merlin said that has ya spooked and fussing over Jimmy as if he were yur new Cub?"
Under Victor's gaze, Haggar hissed but answered but didn't meet his eye. "When Merlin knew his time on this Earth was coming to an end, he told me many things. He shared a vision that he called: Dark Horizons - the end of Days."
*FLASH*
Haggar knew her Father was dying, so she wanted to enjoy her time left with him. He wouldn't use his magic to extend his life. No, he was ready to pass from this realm and to be reunited with his Mate. He was giving her several magic scrolls and items this day for her use and to be under her protection.
Merlin stopped and turned to his Daughter. Mirror and he hadn't been blessed with being able to have a biological Child, but their little Haggar had filled that void in their lives.
Merlin picked up his final scroll. He unrolled it and said some magic words. The scroll rose into the air and remained floating. He said. "There will come a day when the Human's desire for our Blood will override their common sense. They will give birth to a Monster that will destroy us all if not challenged. Four Packs will fall and burn. A great Nation will fall by the shameful actions of a few. The Humans will succeed in destroying the World as we know it."
Merlin continued. "The Youngest of the Elder Brothers will foretell the coming of this apocalypse. The Goddess has granted him the gift of sight beyond his eyes. He is a Spirit Dreamer my Child. A very sensitive one and capable of changing the future Paths. He had used this gift in the past and will continue to keep Our Kind safe with it. The price of Our safety is paid for in his Blood. This is his way, but you must watch for a time when his Blood will not be enough."
Merlin was speaking but he's eyes had lost focus. "Fear this day my Daughter - When The Seeker has the Spirit Dream flashes in daylight, draws his visions by nightlight and his Blood flows as he sees his visions. It will be different from other times for we will abandon the First Pack. The Dark Horizons will be upon us my Child. The Human's will have begun the End of Days. Millions will die if it isn't stopped. Your birthright my Daughter will be the Blood that will save this World from destruction. How wise was The Seeker to protect your Brothers' and Sisters' Blood; even from foolish Ferals such as myself? His words from long ago will be true, your Birthright my Daughter WILL save all OUR Asses. The Mold-Master is an unholy demon child with a body of metal and the mind of a man. It will kill Our Kind and destroy its creators the Humans. It can only be struck down by James with the aid of all six of your Split Beast Brothers and Sisters. You must protect him until the final battle my Daughter. He will offer his Blood in the dreams to save our Packs. You must stop it as much as possible my Child. If James falls before the final battle and all of the Split Beasts are not present our Kind will fall to dust. Our bones will be crushed beneath its feet."
Merlin laid hands on his Daughter. "I'm sorry my Child, but I can not assure your personal survival in this battle for the future is still not written and the paths change with the sands of time. I know Blood will spill. James will see the final Path before the battle. It will anger the Head of the Clans. Victor will not approve and James will defy him again to save us all. When the time comes, you will have to stop Victor so James can fulfill his destiny. You and your five Brothers and Sisters will clear the path that James must Walk. In the end, James must Walk Alone. It is a Path that is for him only. If others join him on this Path they will only find death and add to his heavy heart. If this Path comes to pass, and James wins his gambit against the Mold-Master - Our Children will live to see another day. Victor will rebuild the Packs and Our Kind will thrive anew. The majority of Humans will leave us in Peace."
Merlin closed the scroll and gave it to her. It included the descriptions of the Split Beasts that had to walk the Path with James. It told of the fall of the Humans and the rise of the Mold-Master. How it would destroy Nations and crush anything in its Path. How one man gave it life in anger and how it would crush that man without a thought. Lastly is showed a picture: four flyers - three of them were carrying three riders. The solo flyer had a head of living snakes and large tail and brought up the back of the Pack. Two of the riders were: a spider with a large tail behind it and a figure in a flowing cloak and long flying dreadlocks. Two flyers were clearly dragons. The last flyer wasn't fully drawn but did have wings and was in the led. This flyer carried a half wolf half man with glowing hands. All of them were flying towards a giant robot head with glowing red eyes. Massive hands seemed to come from darkness trying to grab them from the dark sky.
*End of FLASH*
Haggar finally met Victor's eyes. "Dark Horizons is here and we are missing one of the Split Beast Ferals. We only know of five besides James: the new male, Malcolm, Medusa, Narcissi, and myself. I had hoped it was F7, but it is not."
Victor growled. "Fucking Fantastic! Do ya still have Merlin's scroll and can ya conjure up what our missing Split Beast looks like from the description of him or her? Any lead ya can give us will help us find our missing Split Beast."
Haggar hadn't thought of that possibility, but Coran had done it to find Yuriko. She nodded to Victor. "I can try and create a picture of him or her."
He turned ta the other females in the room. "If any of ya got anything to add, now is the time ta speak up. As a rule, we do better without any secrets." Victor was staring at Medusa.
Medusa hissed. "Sorry to disappoint Victor, but I can't top my Sister's news."
Despite himself, Victor laughed. Medusa was Jimmy's Pup at heart and a smart ass ta boot. "Funny Snakes! Gather the other Elders - we are gonna share the news that Merlin saw this Shit as well and we're missing a Split Beast. Merlin seeing it actually gives me an idea and I want everyone ta start working on it fur tomorrow. We meet in five minutes. Haggar leave Jimmy with Yuri. The rest of us are going ta the meeting. It ain't gonna be a long one so we'll be back real soon."
To be continued..