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 Rector Scale (AKA: Frank), T-Rex (AKA: Rex) – Mated to Portal (AKA – Odessa), Medusa (AKA: Snakes – a Split Beast) – Mated to Fang, Tigress (AKA: Aria) – Mated to Glitch (AKA: Eli), 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 Shockwave (AKA: Lilo), 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, Drop Zone, Dupper, Seaweed, Pile Driver, Frogger, 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 or in the Packs: Night Wing (AKA: Malcolm – Rex's old son, a Split Beast, and a Hunter), Neala (A Flasher), Emma (Neala's Mother), Red Wing (AKA: Sonja or Sony – a Split Beast and Tony's Twin), Black Wing (AKA: Anthony or Tony – a Split Beast and Sony's Twin), 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 and Liza (both 11 years old and the two feral female children 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). Two 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 10: Accounts and Consequences

Medusa, Banger, Hanse, Victor, and Hank ended up installing the medical machines with Haggar. The all arrived via Drop Zone and walked to the Beach House. Rogue had the overnight bags and food. They could see Narcissi in her Human form on the front deck watching them approach. When they arrived, she said. "Yuriko is in a very foul mood and still wishes Sonja's blood."

Rogue and Haggar went into the House to greet Yuriko and Charlotte, and check on James. The others installed the machines. Hank went in to greet his Mate. The other four Elders remained outside. Medusa had a question of her Sister and Victor, Banger, and Hanse all wanted to hear the answer.

"Sister? I need an full Account from you on what happened today at the Pier. Your telepathy is very strong and the Little Hatchling has little control. I must know if she intentionally drowned my Father or if it was an accident?"

Narcissi regarded the Ocean, but then faced the Elders. She had known someone would ask her this question eventually. "Sonja panicked once she realized we were trapped my James' powers. He knew somehow that Sonja was the source of the Hunter's actions and wanted to break her concentration. The problem was, the strength he was using would have crushed her, so I got in his way. He refocused on all of us and Gateway. I had to use all my strength to keep his power from crushing us. I wasn't strong enough to do that and stop Sonja's telepathic influence on the vine Hunter. After James had sliced off one of the Hunter's arms to stop that Hunter from pulling him further down, Sonja and I saw some of his flashbacks from the Lab. James was projecting his fears. We felt his terror at being in the water and felt his rage at being helpless again building. He was going to kill us when Victor pulled us out of his range. He was no longer on the Pier; he was in Stryker's Lab. We were now soldiers to him that needed killing. Sonja had tried to stop him by having the vine Hunter tie him underwater and drown him. She made the decision to drown him verse release him from the water to save her own hide."

Narcissi bowed her head in shame. "I share some of the blame in this as well. I knew she was up to no good when I felt her shielding the three Hunters from me under the Pier. I didn't stop her before things got out of hand. James didn't mind getting wet; after all we all had gotten wet that day except him. Once he realized they were dragging him down deeper, he started to struggle to free himself. I should have teleported him out of the water, but didn't think of it until it was far too late."

Two sets of Feral Black eyes, one pair of Amber eyes and one pair of Feral Black with Amber dotted eyes were now looking at her with a burning rage. The Little Hatchling was in some serious trouble.

An Amber eyed Medusa spoke. "No, Sister. You have no shame in these events. If you hadn't used your telekinetic powers to stop James' actions, we would have a lot of dead bodies. The blame is our Little Sister's. We are going to teach the Little Hatchling a few very important lessons and the rules of being a Split Beast in particular. James has already instilled most of these lessons in you. Sonja is going to learn them the hard way, while all of us Split Beast rebuild the Pier save My Father. Will you help us teach our insolent brat of a Little Sister? She is GOING to learn respect for her Elders before I am done with her education. She will also know pain for hurting My Father intentionally. What say you?"

Narcissi's own eyes turned Amber. "I will help you with pleasure Sister. It is time she learned that she has responsibilities in this life as a Split Beast. It's time she learned what it means to be a member of our Split Beast Family."

In side the Beach House (same time):

Yuri had fallen asleep behind James, so Charlotte was sitting in the living area of the Beach house. It had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a main living area.

She was getting very concerned. She still couldn't sense James mentally. This was very bad. Sonja had triggered a flashback in James. She turned when she heard the others enter.

Haggar and Rogue came in first and she told them there was no change. Haggar put the sensors on both James and Yuriko. She also checked the bandages on James hands with powers without waking either of them. His wounds were not healing well, which meant some other internal injuries were taking priority. The Little Cat was exhausted. She was scared for her Mate and wasn't sleeping well.

Haggar was frowning at the reading as she studied the machine output. It was on a tablet so there was no printer to disturb James or Yuriko. She had Hank recalibrate the machine. The readings remained unchanged. When the other Elders entered, she told Victor.

"We need to decide who is going into his Mind now. These reading show he has fled his Body. I've never seen it to this degree before for a non telepath."

Victor was growling. He was gonna kill the Little Hatchling. "Banger, yur the fastest. Grab Drop Zone and have her bring ya and Scanner back here NOW."

Banger was gone. Victor turned to Narcissi. "Jimmy had ta be projecting before he drowned. Do ya have any idea where he went in his head?"

Narcissi was starting at the ground. "No, but he said mentally, 'No! Never again. I'll take ya ta Hell myself. Forgive me Beautiful,' before he blasted all the water out of the Lake and drowned."

Now everyone was a bit alarmed. Jimmy only called Yuri 'Beautiful' and that had kinda sounded like a goodbye.

Drop Zone returned with Scanner and Banger. Victor rounded on both Scanner and Charlotte. "Both of ya have been in Yuri's head and I know she saw some of the Shit that was done ta Jimmy. Since he has retreated inta his own head, who would he come out fur?"

Charlotte said quietly. "I'm not sure he would come out for anyone. He refuses to speak of the Lab. They did horrible things to them in there. Stryker wanted to break James and James cooping mechanism was to go into his own Mind and sketch a peaceful view until his physical body was returned to his cell. Mostly of the woods from his childhood. It was a dangerous thing to do since if he didn't return to his body in time he would die."

Scanner's opinion was a little different. "I believe what triggered his return of his Mind was his Mate not the return to the cage. He scented her in his space. He has the ability to move into different areas in his Mind. It is not a common ability for a non telepath, but his Flashes have given him much more mental discipline than most. If he doesn't come back in five hours, then we should enter his mind. What I saw from Stryker's Lab suggested he 'checked' in every four to six hours in the real world for Yuriko's scent."

Haggar objected. "That is very risky."

Scanner replied. "I understand that Elder, but the Elder Wolverine is very stubborn in the mental realm. If he doesn't want to be found, we will not find him. To enter his mind uninvited while he is sketching verse in distress will be to know death. He can use all of his powers and jump time and space in the mental realm. Based on Yuriko's memories, all of the telepaths they tried to use on him to brainwash him ended up dying while trying to warp his mind. The Elder had killed all six of Stryker's controlled Mutant telepaths. Stryker resorted to torture to keep him controlled. It didn't work, the Elder adapted and can now leave his physical body behind to protect his mind and soul."

Charlotte added. "Scanner is correct. James has mental defenses that he shouldn't as a non telepath. Also both he and Yuri are invisible to a telepath unless they are in direct physical contact and they allow the telepath into their minds. Hank, Charles, and I believe it's the Adamantium covering their brains and James' unique mental defenses. Jean actually wouldn't have been able to psi-blast Yuriko in the Lab. Scanner got lucky when he put her to sleep."

He knew from personal experience exactly how stubborn Jimmy could be when he sunk his teeth into something. He sighed. If Jimmy got outta this mess alive, he and his Brother were gonna hash out what had happened in the Labs in great detail. Scanner was also gonna 'show' him everything he had 'seen' in Stryker's Lab.

"OK, we wait six hours. If he ain't up by then Scanner ya and I are going in his head."

Witch Doctor said. "No, Victor. You will not under any circumstance be allowed in James' mind. I'll go with Scanner. Pain of .."

Victor cut her off. "If Jimmy dies, we're all dead. He ain't gonna come out and have ya, or any Female fur that matter, 'see' something that shames him. I already know some of the story from looking at Lupa's data feeds from the creation room and cage cameras. There are some very good reasons all of those files are sealed."

Scanner said. "The Elder T-Rex would be of assistance if we go into the Elder Wolverine's mind." Victor looked sharply at the Hunter. Scanner knew something he wasn't saying, but Victor accepted the recommendation.

Five Hours Later

Charlotte was still trying to talk her way into the mental link with Jimmy. She correctly pointed out that she was trained to deal with this and she already knew most of the tale from Yuri, but Victor's mind was made up. No females would be in the link if one was needed. That meant Haggar, Medusa and Narcissi were currently not happy with him. If they had to go into Jimmy's head, it would be Scanner, Rex, and himself.

Victor now suspected Rex already knew something on the subject of Jimmy's time in the Lab. The rage in the big man's Feral Black eyes as he got the Account of Sonja's actions spoke volumes. Rex agreed to join the Link when Drop Zone brought him to the Beach House. He was Jimmy's best friend in the Packs and Clans. He also wasn't a violent male, but had been more than willing to ash Sonja after her explanation earlier. His reaction actually made a bit more sense now.

Banger and Hank had also been arguing their respective cases for coming, but Victor knew the less people in Jimmy's head the better. If they got into trouble, Narcissi would be the one to get them out. She was the strongest known telepath in the world. She was much stronger than Xavier and he had trained her well while she had been at the School. It had been another reason, Jimmy wanted her at the School.

The sensors showed when Jimmy came back to his body so to speak. Scanner had been correct. He did check the here and now every four to six hours. The machine now just showed him as unconscious but with his Tri-Link in tack. His healing factor was now more active as well.

Victor agreed with Haggar; he didn't like that Jimmy did this as a cooping mechanism it was extremely dangerous. It did however settle any questions on if Yuri was ever gonna be denied access to her Mate. If Yuri wasn't in Jimmy's space he wouldn't come out of his own head. A Feral's Tri-Link could only be broken for a week before it killed them.

Witch Doctor wanted to clear the Beach House now that he was about to wake up. There was still the real possibility that he was going to blast a Band when he woke up. Drop Zone left with Hanse, Medusa, Rogue, and Banger. They would share the news with the rest of the Clans Council. Scanner met up with Mace and Tank outside. Narcissi teleported Charlotte and Hank back to F7.

The only folks left were Yuri, Rex, Victor, Haggar and Jimmy. Victor was getting concerned regarding how much Yuri was sleeping. Haggar didn't know why the Little Cat was sleeping so much either, which was never a good thing. The monitors were hooked up to both of them for safety, so they started to review them. Rex noticed the pattern in the read out. Yuri was helping Jimmy's body heal and she shouldn't be able to do that since she was under the age of majority for a Feral with extended life. After Yuri ate and fell asleep behind Jimmy again, Jimmy's healing factor would speed up for a few hours. Haggar had documented it with the muscle groups he used to shift into his half wolf half man form.

Haggar was now reviewing all if the sensor information they had on both Jimmy and Yuri. She had done this for her Mate before at the School. Jimmy had also done it for Yuri, but he didn't need to be asleep to do it. Both of them required extra food to do it.

Rex asked. "How? He is not a telepath nor is Yuriko. Even a high grade telepath would have trouble maintaining this type of bond. The energy transfer alone that allows for the healing between them shouldn't be possible."

Haggar replied honestly. "I don't know how he's doing it. This defies the basic rules of Feral biology. While James can apparently reconnect his own Tri-Link, the Little Cat can not do that trick. It does explain how she has survived some of James' high body count Flashes. James was shielding her thru this unique bond."

Haggar snorted and looked at Victor. "That being said this isn't the first 'bond' he has that we can't explain medically. The Elder Bond is something that shouldn't exist between two of you. James controls that bond as well. We had originally believed it only existed since you are both quad animals; that is clearly not the case. James is an enigma from a medical perspective. He can create mental bond that defy the a Feral's genetic powers and has now done it twice. The Feral Fury shouldn't exist. This bond he has with Yuriko shouldn't be able to do what it does and yet it exists. He can 'see' a Feral, Mutant, or Human on sight and tell their character by 'looking' into the light of a person's Soul. He can sense the coming of death and sometimes cheat it. He is the only double Split Beast that we know of in the world. My Papa called him a walking contradiction. I would have to agree with his assessment."

Two hours later:

Yuri knew her Mate and it was a good thing he hadn't woke up in the Medical Lab. The Beach House was given a major renovation as James blasted a Feral Fury Band that blew out the back wall in the front bedroom and created an instant patio with a walking path to the ocean. Victor had been able to divert most of the blast so the Beach House was still standing. The Hunters had instructions to stay put as did anyone back in the Pack.

Jimmy had picked up right were he left off before drowning. After he blasted the Band, both he and Yuri were in the air in his yellow light. Yuri was behind Jimmy with her arms and legs wrapped around his torso. She looked like an overgrown crab as she hung on to him.

Haggar, Rex, and Victor's eyes all widen a bit as the Little Cat glowed yellow as well. Victor didn't want Jimmy to hurt Yuri under any circumstances, but she was still purring into Jimmy's neck. He didn't scent any pain from her as she glowed.

Jimmy took in the fact he wasn't underwater or at the Pier. He noted Yuri and all of them in what was left of the Beach House and floated back down to the bed. Only when Jimmy had tapped her arms did Yuri stop purring and let go of him. Jimmy's eyes were still Amber, his head was swinging from side to side, and he was sniffing. He growled a bit in his throat and birds of all types came in the hole in the wall. Several wild boars were sitting in the sand if the beach and everyone could see all the many crabs lining the hole under the birds. Some of the crabs came in the house.

Scanner linked all of them when Victor 'shouted' mentally and formed the requested link with them all. "He's fully Feral. He's deciding if we're friends or not. Don't move he ain't powered down his Bands."

Haggar said mentally, "He's not glowing, what do you mean the Bands are still active?"

Victor said. "I'm telling ya that I can still feel the undercurrent of his power and those Bands are still active. Scanner have Yuri come to us slowly."

Scanner replied. "I can't reach the Little Cat's mind, she is as unreadable as the Elder. It's like they both don't exist."

Victor growled out loud by accident and was immediately focused on by Jimmy's sharp Amber eyes. Jimmy snarled at Victor as a reply and they could all see his teeth were sharp again. Jimmy was off the bed and in Victor's space before they could track his movements. He was faster than normal.

Jimmy at sniffed Victor and did the same thing to Rex and Haggar. He returned to Yuri on the bed. He still wasn't talking.

Victor told Scanner to get Narcissi to bring Charlotte back here ASAP, but have her stay in the tree line with Drop Zone. He wanted to know what Yuri was feeling from Jimmy. He still hadn't spoken and that wasn't a good sign.

Charlotte joined the link and so did Yuri. Victor asked. "Yuri what are ya feeling from him and what is he thinking?"

Yuri said. "Anger, because he thought he was in the Lab. He knows your Blood. He knows Haggar and Rex are friends. He also knows Haggar is the same as him. It's like he's trying to remember how to talk to us using the Human language. The animals are also telling him he is safe and that we are all friends. He knows there are folks outside as well."

Victor used his orange Bands to bring some steaks in from the kitchen. Jimmy's light snatched them in mid air and he put the platte on the bed. He gave his Mate one of the steaks and growled at her until she started to eat it. He then devoured the other five steaks that Rogue had brought.

Rex inquired. "How long can he stay like this?"

Victor said. "I ain't sure, since he only stopped talking once before and that was when he was healing his throat. I know he's Feral by the scent of him, the teeth, and nails. I'm betting his nail are clawed under those bandages. Haggar? Can ya check him without yur eyes going green or making yur green light?"

Haggar said. "No. My eyes would go green and he would notice it."

Scanner added. "There are several wolves running towards the Beach House Elders. The Elder Wild Thing is among them."

Victor quickly said. "Tell Wild Thing ta get outta that Pack. Jimmy will see right through him and it will piss him off. He ain't a kid and knows what a Feral smells like verse a real wolf. Also have Narcissi send Tank, Mace, and Wild Thing back ta the Pack along with herself. The less folks around right now the better."

The wolves entered the House in pairs of two. Two hopped on the foot of the bed. Four more entered the room and took up positions watching Victor, Rex, and Haggar. Two more sat in front of Victor. Scanner let him know they had four wolves with them in the trees as well.

Jimmy was growling now and his voice was guttural and choppy when he spoke. "Explain...Now...Brother?" His head was swinging slightly from side to side.

Victor provided the Account. Jimmy was snarling as he heard about Sonja's prank.

He growled. "Bring Little Rat Bird to me now?" The scent of his anger was heavy in the room.

Victor was trying to find a good way to tell Jimmy no; he knew that look in Jimmy's eyes. They needed the Hatchling alive to fight Mastermold and he didn't trust Jimmy to leave her breathing at the moment. His Baby Brother was pissed with Sonja and she might not survive what Jimmy had in mind.

Yuri spoke up. "My Mate? Leave Red Wing to me? I wish to have a Word with her regarding her conduct? Is it not my right to avenge this offense?"

Jimmy turned Amber eyes on his Mate. It was her right, so he growled his agreement. Yuri gave him a very Feline smile in return. She looked like a cat that had just been given a mouse for a present. She said. "Thank you Lover. You are still tired and hungry. Why don't I go to the Pack and get more steaks, you can rest? It will give me a chance to speak to Red Wing. It will also allow Haggar to examine you? I'll return shortly?"

Yuri met Victor's eyes and said in the mental link. "Sonja will live but she will regret hurting him. As you or my Mate would say - That's a Fucking promise."

Victor, Rex, and Haggar all smiled as Yuri disappeared via Drop Zone.

Jimmy watched as Yuri disappeared. His Mate would deal with the Hatchling and he was still hungry. He powered down his Bands. He was yawning now. Haggar moved to Jimmy's side and both Rex and Victor dropped into some sitting chairs. The wolves stayed around the room and outside, but most of the birds and crabs left. The boars all left the area.

Down at the Pier:

Sony, Tony, and Malcolm were dragging wooden boards to where the Docks would be rebuilt. James had laid waste to everything, so nothing but the studs could be reused. Oracle and Medusa were holding the glass to the observation deck as Dragon Fly was welding it with her flames. Both Elders and Narcissi noted Yuriko walking towards Sonja as she dropped off more wood in her Dragon form.

Narcissi clicked her pinchers. "The Rat Bird is in some Trouble. The Little Cat means to have a Word with her about what she did to her Mate. Would you both like a better view? The Little Cat is going to kick Sonja's Ass."

Helena finished welding the glass quickly. They would check it after Yuriko had her Word with the Little Hatchling. Narcissi teleported them all down to the trees by the Docks. They were above where Drop Zone was standing with Mace, Tank, Ghost, and the Elder Wild Thing.

Yuriko's two wolves ran to greet her as she was walking. She called out to announce her presents. "Greetings. Malcolm? May I have a Word with Red Wing? I need to address her conduct regarding my Mate?

Malcolm had heard what Yuriko had done in the Medical Lab at the School from his Parents. He bowed to his Godfather's Mate and turned his attention to Tony.

Red Wing flinched when she heard the Female approached. They hadn't been introduced, but she knew this Feral was mated to Wolverine. She wasn't sure what was going to happen, but she was sure she wasn't going to like it. The woman moved like a angry cat.

Malcolm turned to Black Wing. "Tony? Go to the Lumber stores and get some more planks for the Pier." The young Feral was looking at the Female; it just might be time for that Cuffing that Sabertooth had mentioned. Sonja clearly didn't want him to leave, but Night Wing shot a fireball in his direction to get him moving and said. "Now! or the next one will burn off something that might take sometime to grow back Hatchling." Tony left the Pier.

Banger, Black Bear, Tigress, Seer, and Rogue were now at the window of the observation deck. Hammer Head flipped on the newly installed intercom system down at the Pier. This was going to be good. The Little Cat wanted Blood and everyone agreed the Little Hatchling had it coming. They wouldn't interfere. They already knew Yuriko could take care of herself.

Narcissi let Charlotte know and Scanner inquired if he view it from her perspective and share it with everyone at the Beach House. Narcissi agreed and patched in Ghost. Ghost moved from the other Hunters to get a better view for everyone.

Yuriko approached Sonja. "We haven't been formerly introduced. My name is Yuriko Howlett. You have been training with my Mate, James. By what name may I call you?"

Sonja was relieved this wasn't bad at all. Yuriko seemed very polite in fact. "My full name is Sonja Fa and you may call me Sonja."

Yuriko inclined her head. She noted Ghost's present in the Dock. She new Scanner was watching and recording; it was time to get down to business. She was now within arms reach of Sonja. She cracked her neck and a loud pop was heard. She cracked all of her knuckles and Sonja was looking at her hands in confusion. Yuriko's hands made the same sound as Wolverine's did when he stretched before class.

"Well Sonja - you and I have a little problem. You see - you intentionally DROWNED my Mate. This was after you figured out he had been in a Lab AND feared being underwater. You still didn't free him. There are three things you are not to do around my Mate."

Yuriko did a flying kick and swung up on Sonja back. She was now right by Sonja ear, which she grabbed. She then pulled down by her neck with her body weight and Sonja found herself flat on the Dock face turned to the side firmly under Yuriko's boot. Yuriko used her body weight to pin Sonja to the Dock.

Yuriko anger voice heard and her eyes were Feral Black. "Number 1 - you NEVER pull James underwater for a joke. Number 2 - you NEVER pull James under sand for a trick. Number 3 - if you EVER attempt to 'get my Mate's goat' again and cause him harm - I will have both of your feather wings pegged to my bedroom wall as a Hunting trophy. Do you understand Little Hatchling? Do I need to repeat any part of the three things you will NEVER do to my Mate again?"

Sonja was staring at Yuriko with wide eyes. She had been trying to telepathically get into her head, but she couldn't read her mind at all. Yuriko's foot wouldn't budge. She was heavier and stronger than she looked. Sonja eyes were Amber and she still couldn't move. Sonja nodded to Yuriko's question. Once she was up, she was going to teach her a lesson. The animals wouldn't come to her aid. Even the birds were mocking her at the moment.

Yuriko removed her foot and started to walk away from Sonja. Sonja grumbled "Cat Bitch" under her breath and started to suck in some air to make a fireball. She was going to fry the stuck up Cat Bitch where she stood.

Yuriko turned quick as lighting and planted her elbow right in Sonja's chest doubling the young Feral over. Yuriko then switched her grip and flung the red Dragon over her head and towards the water. She grabbed all of Sonja's tail feathers; planted her foot in Sonja's back pushing her away and ripped all of the tail feathers out at the base and took off a respectable amount of skin in the process.

Sonja screamed bloody murder when Yuriko yanked out her tail feathers. Her scream was abruptly cut short as she fell face first into the water. Sonja could hear the howls of laugher all around her as she went under the water. She came up sputtering and was right at Yuriko's feet.

Yuriko squatted down and ten very long METAL claws extended from both of her hands through her nails right into Sonja's face. One clawed hand stayed in her face and the other one went around her neck. "I'm sorry - Did you say something Sonja? A Rat Bird Feral really shouldn't piss off a Cat Feral. If another word come out of that foolish, immature, and self absorbed mouth of your? I'm going to rip off your Fucking face the way I should for you intentionally hurting my Mate. Now you should be very happy that I'm JUST taking your tail feathers for my bedroom wall. It's completely up to you if this is the end or just the beginning of my feather collection. I will ALWAYS have Blood for the Blood of mine you spill." Yuriko moved her claws closer to Sonja's face and and tightened her grip on her neck.

Yuriko could smell the Sonja's fear and she gave her a very Feline smile. It wasn't a nice smile. "Now, let's try this again. Do you understand Rat Bird what you will never do around my Mate? or do I need to teach you why they call me Deathstrike in addition to removing your face?"

Sonja's Ass was bleeding, stinging, and burning in the water, but she couldn't move with Yuriko's talons at her throat. She squeaked "Yes, I understand" and this time she meant it. Yuriko was serious and she would kill her or worse if she ever hurt James again intentionally.

Yuriko brushed off her jeans and began to walk away. Yuriko half turned back to Sonja as she got out of the water. "And Sonja? If you EVER try to flame me again, I'll literally shove your head up your Ass. After I rip out EVERY hair on your pretty little head before doing it. That is a Fucking promise from me to you." Yuriko continued to walk away without another word to Sonja.

Malcolm was shaking with laughter as Yuriko walked past him with her feathers in hand. His Godfather's Mate had style, but he shouldn't be surprised. He had had a few 'conversations' with his Godfather along the way. Now that he was a Father, he knew he had give his Parents a hard way to go with some of his behavior. Yes, some of it had to do with him being a Split Beast and the rest was the immaturity of Youth.

Yuriko said politely "Thank you Malcolm. Sorry to interrupt your work" as she left the Dock.

All of the Elders were howling or hissing with laughter. Medusa's snakes were all hissing and she had tears in her eyes. Helena was howling with laughter and almost fell out of the webbing. Narcissi was clicking her pinchers.

Yuriko nodded to them all as she passed them. A laughing Drop Zone showed Yuriko were she could get some fish and steaks in the town center for her Mate. All the other Hunters at the Pier all were laughing as well.

Seer was breathless from laughing. "Remind me never to piss off Yuriko. She is as bad as James or worse with her 'Word' about what one did wrong."

Hanse turned to Banger. "I really couldn't quite picture the Little Cat kicking your and Victor's Ass in the Medical Lab, but now I can truly visualize it. She is definitely James' Mate. She shares a bit of his temper as well. It's the quiet ones that you must be on guard around. Did you see the look of outrage on the Little Hatchling's face as her tail feathers were ripped out and she landed in an undignified heap in the water."

Lupa laughed. "Sonja was lucky that's all Yuri ripped out. Jimmy trained her very well. Never underestimate a pissed off Female. Victor, Hank, and Banger all learned that the hard way. Yuri has claws and she knows how to use them! She just made her Mate a proud Feral. Jimmy is gonna howl when he sees this from Scanner."

Banger's deep belly laugh was heard. "Medusa is gonna have to come up with some creative Shit ta top what Yuriko just did to the Little Hatchling."

Hanse laughed. "Unfortunately for Sonja, Medusa also means to avenge the wrongs done to James. Medusa is downright scary when she is on the War Path. I believe there will be more laughter at her expense as well as lessons. I also don't envy what James is going to do to that Girl when he's back on his feet."

Black Bear snorted. "Sonja has earned her fate. Victor still hasn't released her from her Cuffing. Some lessons are worth reinforcing multiple times. Her actions could have killed us all if James had been in his Human form or had more control in his Feral form. The power he can wield should never be taken lightly. Toying with his temper or his emotions is a Fool's gambit. There were some very good reasons why the Elder Brothers bound themselves together once upon a time."

The others in the room all got very serious at Black Bear's words. James worked very hard to maintain his control at all times, but until recently they really hadn't understood the calm he alway projected wasn't his true nature and that it cost him something to do it. No, a few of them had foolishly believed, that James didn't have the same struggles they did with his temper and beast. They now all knew that wasn't the case. The destroyed Pier, Dock, and the injured Hunters bore silent testimony to what James was capable of doing if he lost control. No, now they all knew what Victor had learned long ago, James' powers were amplified with his anger and NONE of them could stop him in a fight.

Back at the Beach House:

Victor, Haggar, Rex, Scanner, and Charlotte were all laughing on the deck. Jimmy was sleeping again, but Victor would get Scanner to replay Yuri's 'conversation' with Sonja for him later. Jimmy would be very proud of his Mate.

The Little Cat had just earned her very first story. Despite Jimmy's threat, he hadn't made a story out of Yuri kicking their Asses in the Medical Lab or how he was so crudely ejected from the Mansion . Victor was the Head of the Clans after all and he did have an image to maintain. It was bad enough his 'landing' had been caught on tape. He still hadn't found the little Shit head at the School that has posted "The Nut Cracker" clip to YouTube. It did not show his face, teeth, or claws; he had been given an anime facelift complete with balloon bubble captions. He suspected Jimmy knew which one of the students was responsible, but his Baby Brother just laughed when he saw the video clip. Victor had let it go - for now.

To Be Continued…

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