Chapter 28

A/N: Finally the chapter I've been wanting to write for months. Epic battle ahead.

The next morning the sky was overcast with a bit of a purple hue and though she didn't smell rain in the forecast, Kali knew that Makai weather was wildly unpredictable. Despite the lack of any real precipitation there was the occasional rumble of thunder and distant spike of lightning that drive home the ominous feeling of the day.

The mood at the Tribe hideout was a somber one. Breakfasts were hurriedly eaten while the encampment was broken down and made ready. Depending on the outcome of today's events they would either be returning home tonight or fleeing for their lives to escape the Ookami's retaliation.

"We should get the others soon, Kurama said he'd need time to set up," Malcolm said.

"Clayton's already gone to retrieve them," Kali said reassuringly, "I'm hoping that by letting him help now he'll actually do as he's told and stay away from the actual battle."

"Hopefully," Malcolm said though his expression suggested he believed otherwise.

"We should get ready too," Kali said, running her hands through her hair.

"You sure about this?" Malcolm asked, picking up a pair of his medical scissors.

"It's either this or you grow yours out real quick," She said, turning to sit on the log in front of him.

She had already swapped her borrowed blue tunic for one of Mal's red ones. One which he had specifically rolled around and changed forms in several times to make sure it was thick with his scent. All that was left was to trim her hair to match his and they would be nearly indistinguishable in their wolf forms.

"Or, funny thought, instead of you pretending to be me I could just be me," Mal said holding the scissors at the ready, but still giving her the option of backing down.

"Who's going to stitch us all back up afterwards then?" Kali asked, knowing she had won the argument already, "Besides, he's more likely to underestimate you, that gives me a clear advantage."

"Alright, but don't come crying to me when you realize how hard I work to make this look work for me," Malcolm said letting the scissors close on a length of the brown hair. Kali just snorted at her brother's attempt at humor.


Clayton bounded over the rocky shore his eyes scanning the coast line for any sign of the cave he was supposed to be looking for. He wouldn't have been surprised if Kali had sent him on a fools errand just to keep him out of the way. He didn't understand adults one bit.

Jervis had held a meeting last night by the bonfire and filled them all in on the plan and what parts they would play. He'd told them all how important it was that everyone do what they could to ensure victory. Then when Clayton had asked what he needed to do Jervis had just patted him on the head and told him he'd be protecting the women and smaller kids. It really wasn't fair. Elle was going to be helping Mal tend the wounded and she was only a little older then him.

So absorbed was he in his mental grumblings that Clayton almost missed the cave entrance and only realized his mistake when he caught the movement of Hiei standing.

"There you are," Clayton said excitedly rushing over to the yokai, "Kali says it's time."

Hiei just nodded and stepped outside, Kurama coming out behind him.

"Hi Kurama," Clayton bubbled, he'd not had a chance to really see the fox since the day they'd met.

"Hello Clay, you haven't been talking to any strange foxes lately have you?" Kurama asked, a hint of teasing in his voice.

"Nope, look at all the trouble that happened cuz of last time," Clayton replied grinning. Hiei sighed impatiently.

"Alright lets get going, we don't got all day you know," Clayton snapped suddenly remembering that he was on an important mission.

"Yes, why don't we get this over with," Hiei mumbled. Kurama smiled at his short tempered teammate as they both fell instep behind the young tribe wolf.


By mid-afternoon the stage was set. The tribe warriors were holding their positions. They had assembled shortly after hearing the hunting calls of the Ookami wolves blasting through the woods.

Jervis stood at attention, ready to lead his men on the charge. Behind him Malcolm and Kurama waited for their cues. Everything had to be perfectly synchronized. After ensuring that everything that could be prepared had been and that the troops and team was as ready as possible Kali finally consented that she could do nothing further and retreated back to the hiding place she and Hiei were sharing.

Hiei had been quiet throughout the set-up of the battlefield. He had given Kurama a quick platonic looking kiss before flitting away to the grove to wait. He and Kali waited in silence until the baying of the Ookami began again. Kali could clearly hear Varden's voice mixed in with the others. The thought of being on opposite ends of the battle bothered her, but she had no time to be concerned about that now.

"It's starting," she breathed.

"How far away are they?" Hiei asked dropping down into a crouch.

"Not far," Kali replied settling in beside him, "They should reach them in a few minutes."

"I should be there," Hiei growled.

Kali shook her head, her short hair bobbing slightly, "He'll be fine."

"How would you know? Can you guarantee his safety?" Hiei snapped.

The howling and barking grew suddenly louder. The Ookami had picked up the scent of the Tribe and were closing in, Brogan's voice snarling and urging them forward.

"Hiei, I asked you once about honor and sacrifice, do you remember?" Kali whispered.

"What does that have to do with anything? Kurama doesn't owe loyalty to any of you," Hiei said, his hand clutching the hilt of his katana as he listened for the first blows of the battle that was about to begin.

"No, but you asked me how I know Kurama will be okay. To answer your question I have to ask you the same thing I asked of you that day. What would you die for?" Kali stared at the fire demon intently. Stormy blue eyes locking with burning red. Hiei didn't look away or roll his eyes they way he usually did, he just looked right back at the wolf and therein lay her answer.

"That's how I know," She told him.

"If you value your life you'll keep your ideas to yourself Wolf," Hiei replied. Kali was about to retort when a savage scream ripped into the air. The final showdown had begun.


Everything was happening too quickly. Clayton cowered behind the bushes hoping nobody noticed him. He was supposed to be hidden away with the other non-fighters at the top of the ridge, but he had managed to sneak off, now he was stranded right in the middle of the fight.

Tribe and Ookami flew against each other on all sides, the air was already thick with the scent of blood. This was not at all how Clayton had imagined it to be. He pulled his knees up under his chin rocking himself the way he had when he was little.

He heard a branch snap and jerked his head up to find himself face to face with one of the Ookami. The big wolf growled and sprang. Clay's world went dark.


Jervis heard another scream and turned to see Tam go down, blood flowing from his throat, a look of shear horror on his face.

"No!" Jervis barked rushing to slam the wolf off of his friend, but he was too late. Tam was already withering in the convulsions that proceed death. His body would fall still in a moment. Tam had never been a fighter, he shouldn't have even been here, and Jervis knew exactly who to blame for his death. Glaring over the crowd he caught sight of Varden. Knocking an oncoming wolf out of his way, Jervis charged his target.


Kurama stood at the ready, his hand twitched in anticipation. His stomach had dropped when he'd seen the face of his tormentor across the battlefield. Brogan was one of the only Ookami to still be in his human form. Preferring to call out orders from the safety of the back line.

Malcolm stood beside the fox, in his wolf form, keeping any would be attackers at bay. He barked sharply catching Brogan's eye. The dark wolf stared at Mal intently, his eyes drifting only once to linger on the body of the red-haired fox beside him. Then Brogan dropped to all fours and charged at them.

Malcolm nipped at Kurama's leg quickly to warn him that the time had come.

"I see him," Kurama said, raising his hand slightly as Brogan crossed the field.

Malcolm ran forward to meet him, as their bodies collided everything began to happen at once. Vines sprung from the ground entangling all the participants who could not dodge quick enough. Seeing that the trap had been sprung Varden tried to spring clear of Jervis, but the Tribe leader wasn't ready to end the fight and caught the wolf in the jaw knocking him down. He raised his fist for another blow, but was snared by a passing vine.

Brogan knew he had the advantage, with Malcolm's bad leg, the fight would not last long and then the fox would belong to him once more. Mal also knew he couldn't win, but he didn't have to. He only had to last long enough to allow Kurama to stop the battle, then he could tend the wounded, assuming he could stay alive long enough.

As soon as he was satisfied that the vines had done their job Kurama turned and ran for the grove. Brogan saw him bolt and kicked Mal hard in the chest, winding him. Mal fell back gasping for breath as the black wolf disappeared from view. All he could do now was hope for the best.

The second Kurama entered the clearing Hiei grabbed hold of him pulling him up onto a tree branch. Checking him over quickly the yokai determined that his mate was safe and jumped down to wait. Kali fell into her wolf form and paced nervously. She did not have long to wait before Brogan came tearing into the grove.

He faltered a moment when he saw what he believed to be Malcolm standing before him. Then he saw the fox hiding in the tree and barred his teeth in a smile.

"Oh Malcolm, do you really think you can fight me all by yourself? Perhaps you should call upon your band of cripples to assist you, assuming any are left alive," Brogan purred.

"You've got a lot to answer for Brogan, I'm going to make you pay for all you've done," Kali snapped back. If Brogan noticed any difference between her telepathic voice and that of her brother, he showed no indication. She wasn't surprised, her return would be the last thing he'd expect.

The wolves began circling each other.

"I want the fox Malcolm, almost as much as I want to see you dead. Perhaps there is a way I could have both?" Brogan jumped forward expecting an easy hit, his brow furrowed in surprise then anger when the chocolate wolf easily evaded him.

"You have something I want too Brogan, the difference is I'm going to get what I want today," Kali taunted, she snapped forward startling the black wolf who almost lost his footing as he dodged.

"It seems you've been hiding something from me little one, perhaps I should have done a better job of destroying that leg of yours," Brogan said.

"I want the shard Brogan, I know you have it, and you're going to give it to me so I can undo what you've done," Kali said, refusing to let him goad her.

"What a surprise, what other lies has your little fox friend told you?" Brogan snickered, taking another lunge.

"Varden told me the truth," Kali growled returning the blow.

"Ah, so many traitors in my midst. Though I must say I'm not surprised. It does run in your family after all," Brogan said, another attempt to incite Malcolm that unbeknown to him was being wasted on Kali.

"Give me the shard," Kali charged again, Brogan met her and the two twisted together on the ground both biting for the throat of the other. Brogan was completely thrown off-guard when razor sharp teeth tore into his cheek. Kicking free he felt the blood running down his face.

He knew something was wrong. When Varden had come to him saying that Malcolm had been found, Brogan had been overjoyed. Finally he'd have a viable reason to put the little thorn in his side out of his misery. However, the wolf who stood before him now was not the same one he had crippled all those years ago for questioning his judgment. Brogan rubbed his paw against his wound. He could tell the cut was deep and this only confused him further.

"The shard's around his neck," Kurama called down from his perch breaking Brogan's concentration. He glared at the fox menacingly.

Kali gave an acknowledging bark, her eyes catching the glint of the metal chain under Brogan's tunic. She began circling again.

"Fool, do you think you can win so easily?" Brogan growled, "I've only been toying with you, but since you've clearly been hiding something from me I have a little surprise for you now."

Kali charged again, but was flung back by a wave of blinding power. Her head struck the tree where Kurama was waiting and she was momentarily stunned. When her vision cleared her breath caught in her throat.

Brogan, or the beast that he had transformed into, laughed menacingly. He had tripled in size and sprouted two extra tails. His fur had flattened against his body, the tips prickly and sharp.

"The shard's power is amazing, you can't imagine how good it feels. Oh it does drain the abilities of lesser wolves, but that's a small price to pay for unlimited power like mine," Brogan declared.

He advanced on Kali's prone form and snagged her up by her tail shaking his head and slamming her into the tree again. She cried out as bones snapped. Kurama almost lost his balance and had to hold the branch for support. Brogan went to slam Kali again, but Hiei darted in and attempted to drive his sword between the beasts eyes. Brogan roared and dropped Kali's body. The sword was unable to pierce his flesh, but Hiei rolled clear and scaled the tree quickly to get to Kurama.

"Kali!" Malcolm shouted, rushing into the clearing with Varden on his heels. They had seen the flash of light from the transformation and realized something must have gone wrong.

Brogan was shocked to see the real Malcolm show up, but he had only a moment to process this new bit of information before Varden launched himself at the monstrous wolf with total abandon.

Brogan slammed a massive paw down pinning Varden to the ground. He twisted his paw to drive his nails into the captain. He jerked away suddenly when a rose shot from behind catching him in the ear.

Kurama stood ready to fight with Hiei at his side. Both had their weapons drawn. Brogan charged, only to trip as his leg was abruptly snagged by Kurama's rose whip. Hiei leapt forward, katana raised, this time striking for the beasts sensitive eye, but Brogan turned his head at the last second meeting the fire demon with his teeth. Cursing, Hiei dropped to the ground.

Malcolm transformed and charged, but Brogan merely batted him away as he made his way toward Kurama. The fox stood his ground and raised his arms quickly as three carnivorous Makai plants shot into Brogan's chest and underbelly.

The wolf beast roared and fell to a roll, tearing the plants loose. Kali staggered forward, having transformed and pinned a ward to one of Brogan's back legs. As Brogan jerked his head back to rip it off Varden slipped in and tagged another ward on the black wolf's front paw. Brogan stood rooted in place by the two wards, but Kali knew it wouldn't hold long enough.

Kurama pulled Hiei to his feet, the yokai was bleeding from a wound on his chest just opposite his heart where the beast's fang had pierced him.

"What the hell are they doing?" Hiei spat, leaning against Kurama for support.

"Placing spirit wards, we won't be able to help, the wards would work against us as well," Kurama explained.

"Do you have the energy to call up more vines to hold him?" Hiei asked.

"Yes, I think so, but I'll need to get closer," Kurama replied.

"I'll distract him for you, make it count," Hiei ordered, disappearing quickly. Kurama jogged forward reaching into his hair for the seeds he would need.

Varden, Kali, and Malcolm had all shifted to their human form so they could hold the wards and were currently semi-circled around the monster each looking for an opportunity to dive in and plant the last two paws. The tails guarded his back and jagged teeth protected the head.

"I'll kill you all for this, and all those who followed you, their blood is on your hands," Brogan bellowed, shaking his head wildly to try to bite at the ookami swarming him.

Malcolm shot forward and was nearly stamped to death, he clawed his way free and scowled.

"You need to be faster," Hiei challenged, readying his sword.

"Hiei wait," Kali called she pulled him back behind her, blocking him from Brogan's view.

Malcolm tried to attack again and again was kicked back knocking the wind out of him. Then Kali moved and Hiei rushed forward. Brogan moved to block him, but the yokai had already jumped to the other side, he swung his sword, but the bristly fur prevented him from slicing the skin.

The ward on his back leg finally gave out and Brogan focused all his energy on his front paw as he reared up.

"Get back!" Varden ordered, pushing Mal to safety.

Kurama acted fast and tossed a handful of seeds under the beast, calling them forth almost before they had hit the ground. The vines snapped Brogan back to the ground and the wolves rushed towards him planting wards on three of his paws. Brogan roared in rage and began swiping with his tails to try to rip the wards away.

"We need to finish this," Varden warned.

"Mal, change and give Hiei some help, Kurama hang on to him, Varden watch my back," Kali shouted.

Malcolm dropped immediately and ran at Brogan, leaping onto the beasts back. Brogan swayed and growled as the wolf began trying to bite through his fur. Hiei continued slashing and dodging to find an vulnerable opening. Kurama was struggling, sweat breaking out over his face as he fought to feed the vines enough energy to hold the monster. Brogan was still screaming obscenities as he struggled to free himself, his eyes starting to glow red as his anger rose.

Kali waited for her opening then rushed in from the side sliding under the beast and coming up right under his head, she planted a ward on his final paw and rolled free as his teeth came crashing down on her leg ripping it open. Varden grabbed her and pulled her the rest of the way as Kurama's still weakened powers gave and the vines snapped. The kitsune collapsed. Brogan bucked sending Mal flying right into Hiei knocking them both behind the row of trees.

"We need the last one, or we've failed," Kali panted she tried to stand, but her leg buckled sending her sprawling again waves of pain incapacitating her.

"Give it to me, I'll do it," Varden demanding holding out his hand. Kali hesitated, then pulled the final ward from her pocket and gave it to him. Varden studied it a moment, it was not one he was familiar with.

"Will it work?" he asked.

"Right between his eyes, then pull the shard off of him to end it," Kali replied, trying to hold the cut on her leg closed at the same time as holding her likely broken ribs in place. Varden nodded and turned to face his former alpha. Having nothing else to distract him Brogan set his sights solely on his traitorous second in command.

"You will pay for this," Brogan hissed.

"Only if we meet again in hell," Varden retorted, he roared and threw himself at the black wolf. Brogan laughed and caught hold of the man's arm in his mouth, clamping down on flesh and bone. Varden screamed and swung with his good arm snapping the chain that held the shard of light around Brogan's neck. The shard flew free smashing when it hit the ground beside Kurama.

Brogan roared in rage as he swung his head back and forth ripping and tearing through Varden's body. Blood flew, Kali screamed and Hiei launched himself onto the head of the beast planting his sword right between Brogan's eyes, the ward Kali had placed there earlier lit up burning with blue flames. Brogan hissed sharply and dropped Varden's body in a bloody pool by his feet.

There was an explosion then as all the power Brogan had drawn in was released, multi-colored light and mist blinded all those present, even the ones still digging their way out of the vines on the field snapped to attention at the sight of the lights.

When the air finally cleared all the remained of Brogan was a sword dug firmly into the empty shell that was his corpse. The ward was a modified version of the one Hiei wore that allowed him to travel between the human and demon worlds. Only this version left the bearer stranded between the two worlds. Brogan would suffer an eternity trapped in his own personal hell.

Malcolm stagged, his bad leg certainly hadn't been improved from the fighting. He looked around at all the people who had finally made there way to where the action was. Ookami and Tribe alike had pulled themselves free of the vines and stood watching the remains of their alpha smoke in the cool early evening. Finally the sky broke and rain began to fall.

Hiei held a hand out to Kurama, who smiled and took it pulling himself to his feet. The remains of the shard cupped in his other hand he looked around the shriveled body trying to see where Kali was. Cheers began to ring out through the crowd. Jervis appeared beside Malcolm and lifted the smaller wolf onto his shoulder.

It was as if a spell had broken and all the years of segregation had never happened as the wolves all came together celebrating Brogan's defeat. Even little Clayton came stumbling into the clearing, rubbing the sore spot on his head where Varden had conked him to knock him out, thus keeping him out of the fight.

All this went unnoticed by Kali. Her eyes were locked on Varden's unmoving form. Slowly she began to drag herself toward where he lay. Inch by inch with her injured leg dragging behind her she pulled herself through the forming mud toward the prone figure.

Realizing what she was doing the crowd's din quieted and became subdued. Malcolm climbed down and ran for his med kit, though he wasn't sure it would matter.

Kali took a deep breath and covered the remaining few feet between them. Varden's eyes were close tightly, his right arm was almost completely removed from his body, only held on by gore and tendons. His tunic was ripped away and she could see the deep gashes that covered his abdomen as well as one that ran diagonally across the bridge of his nose.

"Varden," She called, her voice barely a whisper, "Varden please, honey get up."

He made no movement, showed no sign he could even still hear her. She took up his hand on his good side and tried again.

"Come on Varden, you have to get up," tears broke free from her eyes then as she heard the pleading in her own voice, "you said it wasn't too late, remember? You said you'd wait for me."

She knew she wasn't making any sense, but she didn't care, she began to shake him then, calling him, begging him to wake up. Trina stepped forward trying to pull her back, but Kali shrugged her off, her body trembling violently. Involuntarily shifting to her wolf form she lay in the mud next to the man she had wanted to love. When she could hold it in no longer she howled in protest, and deep sorrow.


All that's left, is the end. Stay tuned for the final chapter.