Chapter 24

"Faster Marcos." Maria growled as she trudged forward. The two of them were well into werewolf territory.

"I want to hunt." Marcos said not changing his pace.

"You know there's no human flesh in werewolf country. They hunt outside their territory." She said in an irritated tone.

"We need to eat." He said as he came to a stop.

"No," She turned quickly. "We need to find those vermin and take back the Wolfs Maiden!"

"You think you could do that in this state?" He asked arching one eyebrow. "You're battered, tired, and hungry. The werewolves would use your pelt to line their dens."

"We have to get her back!" She yelled, now directly in his face. "Without her we're banished forever!" She pointed to the scar on her face. "And this! This horrible ugly thing will be with us forever! We'll be marked as traitors, we'll disgrace our mother!"

"Who gives a damn." Marcos pushed passed her.

"What?" She said in a high pitch of confusion. "How can you say that?"

"Because I'll live either way." He said sniffing the air.

"You can't be serious. You would live the rest of your life with the scar of a traitor and as an outcast of your own kind? You could so easily forget the pride that you owe to our mother?" She demanded.

"I followed her because she is the Lycan queen, now that I am no longer of the Lycan legion what incentive is there to do her bidding?" He asked as he was still sniffing for any signs of prey.

"I can't believe what I'm hearing. My brother, in the elite arms of the Lycan legion, speaking against our mother, against our queen." Her fists tightened. "You can't do this!"

He turned to her the same calm expression as before. "Dearest sister," He leaned against a tree. "You're so full of shit."

"What," She said with a confused yet still irritated look on her face.

"I've known you your whole life, and I also know that you don't give a damn about what I do." He crossed his arms. "The only reason you're so worried about my 'Lycan pride' and my loyalty to our dearest mother, is the same simple reason as to why you're still here. It is because you know you can't do this on your own." He saw the scowl on her face and knew that it was true. "Even if you were at the top of your game you couldn't just walk into a werewolf den and demand the Wolfs Maiden. You, my dear sister, keep your claws battle ready, but what really needs sharpening is your mind. You're smart, but you're not cleaver."

She narrowed her eyes. "What do I have to do for you to help me?"

He just smiled as he rolled his shoulders. "All you had to say was that you need my help." He knew how much his sister hated asking anyone for help. He was indifferent to the situation, his decisions and actions were all based on what suited him at the moment. She was smoldering with annoyance as she glared at him. He only smirked. "That will do. Now come my sister, we've work to do if we're going to survive in this territory." He stood from the tree he had been leaning against and began heading deeper into the werewolves' land. He looked over his shoulder. "And if you're going to get back to your precious queen mother."

x-x-x-x-x

The sun was just beginning to peak out over the horizon as Shadow and his two followers appeared over a hill looking down on the den of the FMP pack. Amy was asleep on Shadow's back. He turned his large wolf head to each side letting out a soft growl. Each of the wolves nodded their heads and the two began the decent down the hill and into their home. Shadow took a long deep breath. He knew he had much to atone for due to his long absence.

"Raha!" two cubs were play fighting in their human forms as they growled and circled each other. The Eastern pack had made a journey to the FMP territory. They were the first of the packs to arrive. The werewolf clans were gathering, not for council, not for battle, but for a much more joyful occasion.

"Knock it off you two." Marine was leaning against a tree with her arms folded. She was usually happy and go lucky, but with Shadow's leave she and the others had taken up more responsibility and she'd been pulling some late nights, making her a tad grumpy.

"You're not an alpha Marine, you're not even a Beta yet!" The first one pointed at her.

"Yeah you're only a pup! You haven't even had your ceremony." The other one said crossing his arms.

"Now now," Mina smiled as she came up on the three of them. She pushed a stray hair from her face. "There's no need to bicker." She bent down hugging the two pups to her sides. She looked up to Marine. "Now Marine, you know you were once a cub too. Play is a healthy part of their development." She grinned. "And a pups too."

Marine saw that grin and her ears perked. "Oh no, no, no, no." She began to back up.

"Let's get her boys." The three grinned before jumping up and changing into their wolf forms as they began to chase Marine across the middle of the camp. Some of the other older werewolves laughed as they watched the funny spectacle.

Marine looked over her shoulder, the three were about to be on top of her. She saw the smirk in the eyes of the two small wolves that were about to jump her. Her lips finally found a smile of their own. "I don't think so." In that moment she changed into her wolf form and just as they pounced she darted to the left with the speed of a wolf. She looked over her broad shoulder and snorted with what would be a wolfs laugh. She looked forward again and her eyes widened.

Mina was standing there, her wolf shoulders flexed as she took a grip in the ground as Marine was running to fast to stop in time and she crashed right into her. The two rolled over and over and when they finally came to a stop Mina was laying on top of Marine. The two looked at each other and growled in a sweet laughing manner. They were suddenly pounced on by the two cubs, and all four of them began to play wrestle.

Espio was standing to the side, his arms folded and a rare smile was on his face as he watched his mate playing with the younglings. Suddenly his body tensed as a scent crossed him. He looked up and saw Rouge and Knuckles trotting into the camp still in the wolf forms. All the others suddenly stopped and began watching the Lycan and the werewolf enter into the middle of the liar.

"Rouge, Knuckles!" Marine had been the first to scramble to her paws and take to her human form and approach them as they were just finishing their own transformation back to their two legged forms. "Where's Master Shadow?"

"He's just at the top of the hill." Rouge answered.

"What of the Wolfs Maiden?" Espio asked as he and Mina joined Marine.

"She is with him." She assured as she jumped onto a rock to speak aloud to all who were present. "Master is returning with his prize, it is his wish that all remain as they are. He is warn from the fight to retrieve what rightfully belongs to the werewolf clan. We shall honor his wishes." She jumped down. "Go about your business as usual until he is ready to address the pack." She moved through the crowd and Knuckles followed her.

Those that had gathered were now splitting to make a path as their leader was just making his way through the camp. He didn't stop to speak or look at anyone he went right to his den. Truth be told Shadow was still very tired. He hadn't rested well in a month. Once inside his own den he leaned to the side so a sleeping Amy could roll of his back onto his bed of pelts. He then transformed into his human form and fell face first into the bed as well.

x-x-x That Evening x-x-x

Leeta was standing on the edge of the hill that led down into the valley of the Lycans. She was on centre duty. She suddenly heard the sound of pebbles moving. It was footsteps. She turned quickly, her heart beat quickening. A pair of glowing eyes met hers. "My dear sister, you make a pore watchman." Leeta took a breath when she realized it was Lyco.

"Lyco, you scared me." She said with a relived sigh.

"Yes and hell only knows what you would of done had I been a real threat." She said with a bit of glare as she crossed her arms.

"I'm sorry. I'm doing my best Lyco." She said shrinking a bit at her sisters course words.

"I know," Lyco began pacing a little. "And that's the problem."

"What?" Leeta look over her shoulder as she watched her sister pacing.

"This whole thing with you and I being joined at the hip. It's been going on for a long time, much too long. I made it into the top ranks on my own blood and fang." She looked harshly at her sister. "You are here only because you are my sister."

"B-But Lyco." She trembled.

"What kind of message to do you think that sends to the others? How do you think it makes our queen look when Lycans, who can't even hold their own in a battle, are given high ranks, but those who have bravely shed blood and flesh to uphold the honor of Lycans, must remain at the bottom of the order?"

"Lyco," Her eyes were filling with tears.

"I've thought about this for a while now, and I'm finally sure of my decision." She turned on her heels. "You will be sent back into the general regimen."

Leeta took her arm. "Lyco please," She had a tear running down her face. "Please don't leave me. You're my sister, I love you, you're the only family I have, don't do this."

Lyco jerked from her grip and shoved her back toward the bottom of the hill so that Leeta was now looking up at her. "The only way you will ever be in this rank again is if you earn it." She snorted. "And I wouldn't pin any hopes on that." Leeta shook her head as she cried and then turned ran down the hill into the valley.

Lyco watched as her sister disappeared from sight. Another pair of eyes appeared from the opposite side of the hill. "I am certain now where you loyalty lies, you are truly a Lycan among Lycans my dear." Lupe's voice was like that of a mother praising her child. "You know I've always thought of you as a daughter. You serve me better than my own flesh and blood." she smiled. "You are now ranked as one of my lieutenants, you've earned it Lyco my dear."

She bowed her head as she knelt before her queen. "You honor me my queen."

x-x-x

Amy awoke to the sound of wolves howling. Her eyes fluttered open as heard the sound, it was like no howl she'd ever heard. It was smooth and silky, nothing like the howls she'd heard in the past. She sat up slowly. She realized that there was an arm across her. She looked to her side and saw Shadow sleeping still. She smiled as she leaned down and kissed his temple and then began to nuzzle him. After a few moments she heard the howling again. She gently moved off the bed and recovered Shadow with a pelt. She then quietly made her way to the opening of Shadow's den.

She was looking for Rouge. She saw her sitting by a fire with a few other wolves. She was smiling as they all seemed to be talking leisurely. She looked around as she waited for an opportunity to talk to the bat. She notice that there were more wolves than before. Her eyes landed on a purple cat. After a moment of thought, she remembered that the cat was the leader of Shadow's southern followers. She was still wondering why they were all coming together again. Amy watched for a while and then when Rouge lifted and headed toward her tent, Amy quickly made her way to the same place.

Rouge was pulling the sheets to a makeshift bed, she was going to try to catch a few winks. "Rouge." Amy said softly.

"Amy." Rouge smiled as she turned around. "Come in."

"Thanks," Amy entered. "I'm not disturbing you am I? I can come back later."

Rouge shook her head. "No, no. You're fine. You've been asleep for a while, you must be hungry." she went to a bowl sitting on a table, it was full of fruit. She turned to Amy holding the bowl. "Take your pick."

"Thanks," She picked an apple. "I was just wondering," She bit into the fruit. "Why are the Eastern and Southern wolves here?"

"They are the first of the other packs that will be coming as well." She sat down on a small love seat. "They are coming for a rare event in this kind of lifestyle."

"What's that?" Amy took another bite of the apple as she sat down beside her.

"Fun." She smiled. "In few days the gala will start."

"Gala?" Amy tilted her head to the side.

"Once every few years the werewolves gather together to celebrate the creation of the werewolf clans. Though each pack may live in different lands, and are made of many different members, we are all werewolves." She looked at herself. "At least at heart."

"Hey." Amy smiled as she lowered the apple from her lips. "You know, because of Shadow, I believe that it's not what you are on the outside." She reached up tapping her heart. "But who you are on the inside."

"Thanks," She smiled. "You're really going to like the Gala. Everyone always has a wonderful time. The gala is also the only time in which no werewolf eats human flesh."

"Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but why?" Amy couldn't help but ask the Lycan.

"The gala is also a time in which werewolves celebrate their differences from Lycans. Most werewolves share half of their DNA with humans, others only a small portion."

"Born werewolves." Amy said quietly.

Rouge nodded. "Either way, all werewolves are linked with their human counterparts. Many of us believe that unlike most Lycans, who hold no empathy for others, a werewolf's compassion for life is because of their human genes. Though over many years werewolves often forget this bond and see humans as nothing more than food. In light of this, Shadow deemed the gala a remembrance ceremony as well, so that werewolves will always remember their origins."

x-x-x

As the wolves in the camp went about making preparations for the gala, none notice the two figures that were watching the innards of the camp from the thicket surrounding the den. It was a pair of Lycans. Maria and Marcos were covered in mud and grunged up from head to toe. "This is disgraceful." Maria growled. "We might as well be werewolves covered in these filthy pelts.

"Sorry princess," he was looking around the camp. "But without covering our scent we wouldn't of gotten within fifty miles of their den."

Maria's voice was impatient. "What are we waiting for?"

"Don't let your ambition make you foolish Maria. Look closely. There are wolves here from their Eastern pack." He motioned to a wolf with red oak fur sitting on a rock. He was surrounded by several cubs and pups as he seemed to be telling them a story.

Maria looked at the wolf. "Guntiver. He leads the Eastern werewolf scum." She scowled. "There's a perfect opening on Mother's throne for his head."

"To bad about that, I smell Southern wolves too." He said with no anger of his own. "You're going to have to swallow your pride sister."

"As if we weren't low enough as it is." She glared.

"Oh we will be going lower than you could even imagine." He turned to face her fully. "You're going to rub elbows with all the elite, werewolf cubs, pups, Betas, Alphas," He stared at her. "You will have to submit to them all," His eyes were unblinking. "Even Shadow."

"How dare you ask such a thing." She had fire in her eyes as her low voice was dripping with rage.

"It's your choice," He said resting one arm across his knee. "You can whine and bitch about how terrible it is to be in exile or you can pull it together and do what you have to get out of here." His brow furrowed with a scowl. "Despite what you think, your precious pride that makes you so strong holds you back more than you realize." He finally relaxed and rolled his shoulders. "Do what you wish, I could care less either way." He carefully moved away from the thicket and his sister followed him. He looked over his shoulder. "Make up your mind fast Maria, I won't wait forever."

Her eyes darted from side to side. "Alright." She said closing them tightly. "What do we do?"

x-x-x

Amy went to get another apple from the bowl that Rouge had sat on a table. She saw a vase. It was a flower arrangement similar to the one that she'd seen the first time she was in Rouge's tent. A sudden question crossed her mind. "Rouge, these flowers, they're wolfsbane aren't they?" Rouge nodded. "If you're a Lycan, how can you stand to be around these?"

Rouge's smile seem to hide some kind of memory. "You could say I love it too much to let it hurt me."

"Why do you like it so much?" Amy asked looking back to her.

"Amy," Rouge stood up. "You're one of the best friends I've ever had and I want you to know that I don't want any secrets or half truths between us. I didn't get a chance to tell you before, but Knuckles and I-"

"Rouge." Mina had just poked her head in. "Sleuth and Cutlass are just arriving with their packs , we could really use some help making sure they all have a place to bed down, you know how territorial some of them get." She smiled.

"Especially those showy males." Rouge agreed.

"Go ahead Rouge." Amy smiled. "We can talk later." Rouge nodded and followed Mina out. Amy went to the opening of the tent and was in awe just as she had been the first time she saw all five werewolf clans assembled. It was amazing to see so many of them together at once. Amy was curious about the gala, but more than anything else she wondered what was going to be her place during the three daylong celebration.

x-x-x-x

Leeta was running to the inner walls of which the upper ranks lived, but two Lycans stepped in her way when she went towards the entrance. "You're no longer welcome within the walls." One growled.

The other only grinned. "You're starting at the bottom, just like the rest of us."

"You're sister finally gave you what you deserve." The other scoffed.

"Now," the other motioned her toward the rabble of the lower ranks of the Lycan legion. "Why don't you go fight for a place to sleep." Hundreds of Lycans were scattered everywhere. The only prestige and organization in the Lycan world lay within Lupe's inner sanctum, the lower outside world that surrounded it was good for nothing but blindly following orders. When left with nothing else, most of these lower ranked wolves were no better than animals, dogs that were at Lupe's beckoning.

Leeta timidly made her way through the scores of Lycans. Many of them were fighting over a place to bed down. Some were in two legged form arguing, while others were as wolves and fighting claw and fang for the right to sleep where they wanted. She was still teary eyed as she stepped into a shadowed spot by the outturned wall of a cave opening. She sat in the corner hoping not to be noticed, but that was too much to ask for.

"Hey there girly." A male Lycan approached her. "You're in my spot."

She didn't look him in the eye as she wobbly got to her feet. "I-I'm sorry I didn't know."

"Hey, I haven't seen you around here before." He had two other Lycans watching from behind as he reached out grabbing her hair and pulling her closer as he took a whiff. "You have the scent of high rankers all over you." He was smug now. "Don't tell me you were stupid enough to get demoted."

"Hey wait minute," One of them had been studying her face. "That's Lycos sister."

"Lyco's sister?" the third looked closely. "I thought she got taken with her sister to the inner circle."

"Looks like ol' sis finally gave ya up." The one sniffing her grinned. "How does it feel to be where you really belong? You think their aren't some jealous Lycans out here. Plenty of us know you've been living the highlife all because of your sisters reputation. You can't do anything on your own." He pushed her.

"What are you good for?" The second was now closing in.

The third cut off her only exit. "A useless Lycan is bad for our reputation." They were all preparing to attack her when suddenly they were shoved all at once.

"Who dares?" The leader of the three stood up angrily. He saw a figure standing in front of Leeta. When he saw the glowing eyes of Ash he choked back his words.

"Lay a paw on her and the only useless thing around here will be your dead bodies." He glared.

"Ash," They began to back away. "Hey we didn't know she was yours, we didn't mean to touch your stuff." They all bowed quickly before turning and running.

Ash lost his tense battle stance and turned to look at Leeta. She was crying as she slid down to a sitting position. "A-Ash...Lyco, she-she..."

"I know." He knelt down in front of her. "I heard what happened."

"S-She threw me out...I can't ever go back into the inner walls. I'm stuck out here forever...I've lost the only family I had left...I'll never make it." She cried.

"Don't say that." He took her by the shoulders. She opened her eyes and saw his face, he looked worried, a look she'd never seen on his face before. "I told you before that I'd stay with you. I'll protect you, I'll be there for you." He looked into her eyes. "If you'll let me, I'll love you, and I'll be your family. All you have to do is just let me." He leaned in kissing her forehead.

"Ash..." She whimpered as she put her arms around his neck still scared.

He held her as he rested his head atop hers. "I'll take care of you."