A/N: Hi guys, sorry this took so long, but you'll love the length of this chapter it's much better than most of my chapters. If you enjoy this back story on Cutlass let me know, I'm thinking of doing one for all my werewolf pack leaders. ^_^
Chapter 28
~*~*~Seventeenth Century, Lycan Territory Boarder~*~*~*~
A crescent moon hung over the dark lands of the Lycan territory. A squad was making its way around the outer lying boundaries. The four of them were watching the trees. This section of terrain was one of the worst to patrol. It was said among all the ranks that a mad werewolf roamed here. The leader of the squad looked from side to side as he checked on his followers. "Try not to look like frightened lambs you three." He growled. "We're almost finished here."
One looked up. "Do you think it's true? That there's a werewolf who's caught in full moon rage?"
The second was much more green and had obviously not been on many patrols yet. "But it's not even a full moon."
"Ignore him," The leader told the younger Lycan. "Those are just stories the older rank members make up to scare the new meat." He said as he narrowed his eyes on the one who brought up the werewolf. "Besides even if those tales were true, there are four of us."
"Which puts you at a real disadvantage." The four of them tensed as they heard a voice from beyond the trees. "Because there are only four of you." They jerked their vision from side to side as they heard the quick sounds of movement jumping all around them. The four pushed in back to back as they looked for the owner of the voice. The younger Lycan swallowed a lump in his throat as he watched the darkness between the trees, he could tell by the sounds that the two legged werewolf that had been surrounding them was now a for legged one. Two icy blue eyes glared out at him, and slowly he saw a wolf emerging from the shadows of the woods, his lips curled back in a snarl as he glared at the four of them.
"Stop cowering!" The leader barked as he stepped forward, with new found courage. "He's a single mad wolf, he is nothing!" He leapt at him and mid leap he changed. He became a wolf and tackled the blue eye intruder. The two rolled over and over in a locked fight. One of the others jumped into the fray. It only took one kick from the werewolf's back feet to finally throw the Lycan off of him and into the oncoming one. He lowered his head and leapt at the leader again and landed on his ribs. It only took one swift blow from his giant front paws to break three ribs and puncture the Lycans lung. He turned to the second Lycan. This one ran straight at him, but to no avail as the werewolf lowered his stance and slid under the oncoming paws as he quickly spun around and jumped atop the Lycan slamming his head into a rock.
He turned swiftly to the remaining two Lycans. He growl was low and his eyes bright with fury. The older Lycan suddenly burst forward running at the werewolf. He transformed into his for legged form and charged forward in nothing but blind fear. The werewolf stood still as he as he watched the panicky Lycan galloped toward him, another second passed and the werewolf leapt forward tackling him and pinning him down. The Lycan didn't even have time to react before his attackers fang sliced his jugular. The youngest Lycan, the only one left, stood quivering as he watched blood pool around his friend's body.
The werewolf turned his glowing eyes on the only target left. Oh so slowly and ominously did he begin to make his way towards his final victim. The Lycan stood stock still his fear had overwhelmed him and he was like a deer in the headlights as the werewolf held up one bloody claw extended paw, but it stopped half way through its blow as the werewolf heard the sudden howl of its kind ring through the night air.
In the few moments that he was distracted by the howling, the young Lycan changed into his wolf form and took off running. The wolf growled and stomped his paw in the dirt as he watched the Lycan run. He crouched as if ready to take off in pursuit. "Let him run." The angry wolf looked up to see who had spoken. He was leaning against a tree, a dark hedgehog with a pair of crimson eyes. "In fights like these always leave one alive." He said standing up straight. "It makes your story spread like wildfire, and with it, fear."
The blood stained werewolf transformed back into his two legged form, he was now a tall blue eyed coyote. "I know you," He said standing before the new comer his body still soaked with the blood of his recent victims. "You're the leader of the werewolf clan on the other side of the city."
"I'm Shadow." He was watching the coyote very closely. "Do you posses a name?"
"Cutlass." The coyote said with seemingly little interest in the werewolf leader.
"My sources tell me you're much more than just a lone wolf." He surveyed the carnage of the Lycan patrol. "You wield great power, even for a werewolf." He eyed the bodies once more, "but you lack control."
"I have plenty of control." Cutlass's eyes narrowed. "I simply do not implement it."
Shadow turned and began taking a few steps, he was leaving. "You have your own ideas about what should fate should befall the Lycans, I do not wish to interfere, but I do offer you aid." He said still walking away.
"Aid," Cutlass had a low growl in his throat as if offended. "What aid would I have need of from you?"
"You hid it well from the Lycan patrol, but I can smell the festering wound in your left foot." He paused in his movements. "By the smell of it, I guessed it's a gash from one of your previous Lycan victims that did not wish to depart this world so easily." His tone was matter of fact, and he did not usher Cutlass in the least. It was as if he could care less what happened at this point. "Some Lycans carry a venom within their salvia. It is a great misfortune that one such as you should find yourself bitten by such a rare Lycan. Your werewolf blood is all that keeps you alive, but even its strength has weakened to the poison. Soon the cut will cause septicemia and you will die. Your work will end and there will be no one left to carry out your dream for the Lycan hoards."
Cutlass stepped forward a determined look in his eye. "What aid have you that can cure me." He demanded.
"I offer it only on one condition." Shadow looked over his shoulder.
"Name it." Cutlass growled.
"You will stay with my clan."
"I will not become one of your wolves." He clenched his fists. "You were right when you called me a lone wolf. I don't belong to any clan or legion. I will follow my own design for the Lycan legions, and a clan or anyone else for that matter only gets in the way."
"You misunderstand my demand." Shadow said turning only slightly. "I do not wish you to stay permanently. Once you are fully healed I want you to stay two weeks."
"Why?" Cutlass asked with mistrust in his voice.
"Your fighting skills are more than that of any other werewolf I've seen. I want you to train some of my wolves. I shall not make you train them all, only a few of my elite, and they shall pass on what you teach them on to the others. This is my condition if you wish to keep your life."
The anger in Cutlass's eyes was unhidden as he growled. "Done."
Shadow turned. "Follow me." He transformed into a giant black wolf, the only color in his pelt were two red streaks in his tail. Cutlass transformed as well, he took the form of a large black wolf with sandy brown paws and ears. Shadow took off into an unforgiving run. He ran with great speed. Cutlass, being wounded, found it difficult to keep up, but his pride would not allow him to slow. He felt as though this was Shadow's way of punishing his impudence. The run became so painful that Cutlass was unable to keep track of the miles or the time that had passed as he followed Shadow. In the last twenty minutes the pain had caused his vision to blur he was following by scent now.
A voice rang through the stinging cold air as Cutlass became aware of an array of different scents flooding his nose. He didn't realize it at first, but he had fallen onto his side and he could only make out shapes and colors as he watched his vision fade and the scent of three other wolves surrounding him before he blacked out.
x-x-x
"Um..." Cutlass's eyes cracked open. His body was racked with soreness and he felt very groggy.
"It's about time you woke up." A soft yet vibrant voice said.
He squinted as he waited for his sleepy blurred vision to clear. "What's going on...where am I?"
"I wouldn't be surprised if you really did forget where you are. Shadow nearly ran you to death, the brute." It was a female, this much he knew. "What's the last thing you remember?"
"I was following him...I remember running." He rubbed his eyes. "All the scents..."
"I guess for someone who was running only by smell would of been overwhelmed with all of us coming to you at once." She was close to him now. "Let me clean your eyes, it'll help you see better." He lowered his hands and allowed her to use a wet cloth to wipe his eyes.
Cutlass sniffed the air taking in her scent and when he did his heart suddenly skipped a beat. "RAH!" He jumped away from her his fangs bared and eyes glowing. He was angry and his rage could cause him to transform at any moment. "Surely Shadow has not knowingly allowed a Lycan to enter his province."
"I was wondering when you'd realize." Cutlass's vision had cleared and he could see a tall slender bat sitting against the back of the cave wall. "The reason you couldn't tell right away was because my scent is overpowered at a distance by the werewolves. I live with them so you can't really get my scent unless I'm in very close proximity." She didn't move.
"Do you know why I'm here?" He growled. "To teach werewolves how to kill Lycans." His eyes were narrowed with hatred. "You'll make a fine example."
Rouge's expression didn't change. "I know why you're here," Her hands rested softly on the tops of her legs. "I'll be one of the ones learning from you."
"Over my dead body." He snarled. "The only thing you will learn from me is what you take to your grave after I have slain you."
"You really hate Lycans don't you." Her eyes were unchanging as she stared at him sympathetically. "I've heard why you're hate is so strong."
"You dare to presume to understand anything about me." His ears were sharply perked and he his fangs were growing a bit. "You're the embodiment of evil you represent all that is bad in the world, you're a monster, a disgusting parasite in need of extermination."
She tilted her head upward a bit. "Maybe so, but I'm also on part of this clan, and your aid."
"You're nothing." He was unmoving in his tense stance. "I will not be touched or handled by the hands of a Lycan."
"This is included in Shadows terms." She said standing, which only seem to agitate him further. "If you want to live then you will have to allow me to help you."
"Never." He suddenly changed into his wolf form. He charged at Rouge.
Although he came at her with murderous intent, Rouge did not change. She stayed in her two legged form as she threw up her arms in defense. When he impacted he was surprised to find his open jaws held back by one hand on his upper snout and the second on his lower jaw. Rouge grimaced in pain as she struggled to hold the thrashing werewolf at bay. He was unrelenting as he squirmed and forced forward trying to push his fangs to her throat, but she would not give up as she clenched her teeth tightly and continued to hold back his oncoming jaws.
She was slowly sliding backwards as she tightened her hold. She could see the wall of the cave coming closer as he forced her back. "Is this really the way you want to go out?" She asked through her clenched teeth. She saw no change in him as his glowing eyes matched the seething growls and wrath coming from his open jaws. "You will have killed another Lycan, but for this you would give up your life, for a single Lycan, when there is still an entire Legion to be fought?" His angered brow seem to ruffle with thought as he stared into his victims eyes. She met his stare with one of her own. "You will die and all you've ever done to stop them will be gone. The stories of you will wither on the vine and their fear will fade and your time will be remembered as nothing more than a streak of bad luck with an escaped werewolf." Cutlass retracted his open jaws. He still had a heavy underlying growl rumbling in his chest. "Please," She lowered her head in a submissive stance to show she meant no harm. "You have every reason to despise me, but I know you hate the idea of the Legion even more than your hatred for any one Lycan." She bent down in front of him so she was on her knees and her hands palms down on the floor. "Just let me heal your wound and you can keep your bargain with Shadow, then you can leave and you never have to come back. Just please, don't allow yourself to die like this."
Finally he backed out of his offensive stance, though he still had the same growl echoing through his shut jaws. He moved passed her and laid down against the cave wall. Rouge saw that he was laying on his left side so his right leg was exposed; this was the leg that was infected with the Lycan bite. She took a breath and got to her feet. She saw his body tense, but this did not stop her approach. She knelt down by his injured leg. She could tell the infection had spread to his entire leg. She sighed as she looked up at his glowing eyes. "The wound has to be opened, would you rather do it or let me?"
He growled as he leaned over his own leg and with his right fang cleaved open the long gash of a bite. Rouge admired his nerve. She pulled a small pouch from the inner lining of her left glove, and then proceeded to remove the entire glove from her hand. She opened the pouch and inside were what looked to be dried herbs. She crushed them and sprinkled the mixture over his oozing wound. Cutlass kept a close eye on her watching her every move, and what she did next surprised him. She picked up a sharp rock from the cave floor and on her ungloved arm cut her upper forearm. The cut was deep and she was bleeding somewhat quickly. "I'm sorry this going to sting." She winced as she moved her bleeding wound over his and allowed her blood to drip into his open gash. He let out a heavy growl and he could see she was not enjoying it anymore than he was as she gritted her teeth and grunted with pain. He found it hard to believe that a Lycan would endure this much pain in order to save a werewolf.
She looked up at him. "Just a little more." Finally after a bit more blood, she began to put pressure on his wound to stop the bleeding. Cutlass would never admit it, but he was perplexed at this Lycan. Never had he known a Lycan to spill blood for its own kind let alone for a werewolf. He wondered if this was some kind of trick, maybe this would only kill him faster, but then again why would she risk her own life like this. He knew Lycans were strongest in their wolf forms because they could regenerate faster, meaning wounds healed quicker. This form she was in was weaker and more vulnerable to things like stab wounds and blood loss, and yet she would not transform into a wolf. She didn't even show any concern for her own wound. She used some torn cloth that she has brought with her and wrapped his leg. She looked weak as she stood up. "That should do for now," She turned and made her way to the door. "I'll be back later, try not to move too much." She began to run to the exit. He could tell that she was transforming, but she held it until she disappeared around the corner and all he could see was the shadow of a wolf disappearing into the night.
x-x-x
Cutlass's eyes slowly opened up. After Rouge had left the night before he had been too tired from the combination of blood loss and venom infection to do anything but sleep. The sun that was pouring into the den opening told him it was around nine in the morning. He realized that someone else was in the den. He wasn't surprised when he saw the bat from the night before. She was changing the wrappings from his wound. He noticed she was showing all the signs of anima, he knew now that all that had happened previous evening was real. He sighed as he sat up. Rouge looked up at him. "Sorry," She bowed her head slightly, again a sign of respect and submission. "You were sleeping so soundly I didn't want to wake you."
Cutlass didn't like this, mostly because he couldn't understand it. Kindness from a Lycan, it was something he couldn't comprehend. But what could he do, he had hated Lycans for so long. What was he to do with one that could make no mistakes. He had no reason to go after her. Cutlass couldn't make himself go after her and if he wasn't going to attack her he knew there was no reason to keep the wolf form. At last he sighed and transformed. He was leaning against the stone wall of the den, a two legged coyote again. Rouge sighed. "Now I have to redo your bandages."
"Finally."
She looked up. This was the first time he'd spoken to her since he found out she was a Lycan. "Finally what?" she blinked.
"A compliant." He said as he stretched out his leg for her to work on. "It's the first time you've complained about anything since I've been here."
"Oh, I'm sorry." She said as she began tightening the now loose bandages.
"Being a Lycan, I expected there to be no end to your complaining of healing a werewolf. You're a prisoner here are you not?" He said trying to come up with a reasonable excuse for her presences in this werewolf clan.
"Sorry to disappoint, but I'm a member of the clan." she said softly as she continued to work on his wound.
"You're telling me you stay here by choice and the werewolves of this clan allow you to do so?"
"That's what I'm telling you." She said finally finishing the bandages. She looked up at him. "Are you sure you want to keep asking questions?" She said looking up at him. "Surely you know the answers are only going to enrage you."
"Maybe I'm looking for a reason to be enraged." He said resting his arm across his arched uninjured leg.
"I wouldn't doubt it, it's only natural that you would want me dead. You're not the only werewolf that does." She pulled back when she was done. She looked up at him. "What made you transform back?"
"If I'm not going to dismember you, I don't see the point in wasting my energy in my true form." He said looking away.
"This is your true form." She said her sympathetic eyes trying to meet his.
"What would you know about it, Lycan." He said with a bit of growl.
"I bet I know more than you think." She didn't seem to respond to his temper.
"You are a Lycan." He said turning from her. "You will never understand a werewolf." He got up. He was walking toward the cave entrance.
"You know, Lycans transform too, and this is our true form, just like you." She didn't look at him as she spoke. He didn't stop he just kept walking. His eyes squinted a bit as he came into the sunlight. He was still angry, but the warm rays on his fur seem to give him a small comfort.
"I see Rouge's treatment is healing you rather quickly." He turned to his left and saw a red echidna standing there.
Cutlass snorted at the mention of the bat. "So you know the Lycan I take it."
"Yeah you could say that." Knuckles smiled. "She's-"
"Knuckles." The voice belonged to Shadow. He was standing a few yards away. It looked as if he had just come from a very long patrol. "Versai and Zepher have news of a hunting gag out for blood." Cutlass was new to werewolf clan terms, but he knew enough to understand that a hunting gag was a group of Lycans. "I want you to take a look at their information and see if you can make up a suitable counter measure for these noisy Lycans."
Cutlass just snorted as he watched the echidna bow and walk away. "Why don't you just kill them." He folded his arms with a brutish smug. "It's a quick and easy 'counter measure'."
Shadow looked at the new werewolf. "Perhaps that would be a suitable response if it was nothing but a patrol or a few scouts, but this a hunting gag. Their a special forces group the Legion sends out when there's trouble. They're not only trained to kill, but most of them are kamikazes. They'll take you down even if it means killing themselves in the process." His eyes narrowed. "Ever since your escape from the Legion, there's been more than a few of those gags running around these parts." He seemed to be sizing Cutlass up, as if looking right through him.
His tail lashed from side to side with anger. "Easy for a soft werewolf to say, especially one that's afraid to fight."
"Shut up." Cutlass's ears perked as he recognized Rouge's voice. He turned angry as he saw her standing there with an equal look of resentment. "You have no right to say a single thing about him. You're a loose cannon, you don't follow any kind of code, you do what you want with no regard for anyone but yourself." She looked the werewolf right in the eye. "You're the weak one."
"Rah!" He yelled as his glowing eyes lit up and stood face to face with her ready to transform and tare her to shreds.
Rouge met his eyes with a glare of her. "I'm not afraid of you."
His anger was boiling over as he clenched his fists. "You know why that is?" He said as his eyes only seem to glow brighter. "Because you're afraid of yourself. You're a Lycan, a beast that creeps in the night killing and destroying everything you touch. Lycans murder and enslave innocence, and then turn its reminisce to ashes. You destroy hope and love and you bring despair wherever you go and pain to every life that falls into your shadow. You might not be afraid of me, but you damn sure are afraid of something, and it doesn't matter how well you play the role of reformed do-gooder Lycan, nothing you do will ever change what you are what've done. You were born a monster and you'll die a monster!"
It was evident that his words had hurt her, but she didn't get angry or show sadness. She held her ground and glared back at him. "Bark and snarl all you want, it doesn't make you right."
"You're right." He snapped. "Being right makes me right."
"Enough." Shadow said stepping in front of Rouge. "I brought you hear to train wolves not preach to my Lycan."
"As you wish." Cutlass grunted as he jerked away from Rouge.
x-x-x
Three days past and Cutlass had loathed them all. He'd made life for Rouge unbearable, but on day four she finally approved him for training. Shadow had wanted him to start sooner, but oddly enough only Rouge's word held him back for so long, and that made no sense to Cutlass, being as she was no healer, only a Lycan who knew how to cure a Lycan inflicted wound.
The sun was high and the coyote was pacing up and down a field. He felt a bit restless, it'd been a solid three days since he made a transformation. It was almost painful to him, he was use to being in his wolf form more than his human one. He couldn't understand why it would cause him pain though. His ears perked as he heard the approach of several wolves. He turned to see four werewolves and Rouge coming into view. He sighed irritably as he watched the bat take to the field in front of him.
"This all?" He said as he looked at her. "The way Shadow talked, I expected he would of wanted to train more than this."
Rouge stood there with the others. "We are not yet a large clan, most of our pack is out fending off intruders."
"You mean Lycans." He said, obviously trying to dig a rift between her and the four werewolves. When she didn't react he turned from her and stood before all five of them. "Alright, you want learn how to fight Lycans I'll show you." He point at Rouge. "You know it would help if I had a volunteer to be my dummy, the real thing would be the best aid." Rouge stepped forward and stood beside him. "Change." He said folding his arms.
Rouge sighed. Transformation was one of the worst things for her. She began to grow larger and her fangs began to drop. She hated transforming because it singled her out more than anything to be the solid black pelt in a sea of colors and mixed pelts. She dropped to all fours as a long slender muzzle filled with white fangs took its position on her face. She stood there, an enormous black wolf looming over Cutlass. He didn't seem at all affected by her change, it was almost as if he preferred her this way. "First, never be put off by a Lycan's size." He suddenly snapped his leg under her front paws and caused her to fall over onto her side. "The bigger they are the harder they fall." Rouge's brow furrowed with irritation as she began to get back up onto her feet.
"When your enemy is most vulnerable, strike." he went to run his leg under her paws again, but this time Rouge's jaws clamped over his leg and in that split second their eyes met just before she lifted her great head and tossed him several yards. She climbed back onto her feet with a smug look on her face. It didn't last long, she saw that as Cutlass was lifting himself up, he was changing and rabid growls were coming from him. He turned and met her eyes with glowing murderous intent. In the next moment she saw him blitz toward her. The two great giants clashed in a furry of tooth and claw. They rolled over and over as Cutlass snapped his jaws at Rouge sinking his teeth into her shoulder. He ripped and tore at her despite her attempts to block his attacks. The four on-lookers were in shock, none of them had ever seen a fight like this, each turned and ran.
Rouge turned offense and threw him off of her. She leapt onto him taking a chunk out of him. The two locked jaws and bit at each other fiercely. There didn't seem to be an end in sight for this brawl, it was a quick move by Cutlass that turn the tables at last. One powerful kick from his back legs sent Rouge flying ; she slammed her head into a tree. The sudden rush to her head caused her to fall to her side and in a few moments she lost her wolf form and she was suddenly her human self again. Cutlass pined her in a heartbeat, her eyes snapped open as she realized what was happening, but it was too late. His free paw slashed at her and though she struggled one claw stuck down her eye and cheek. He was going to have another go at her, but he realized that she wasn't struggling anymore. His paw stopped mid strike as she locked eyes with him.
Rouge looked at Cutlass as blood trickled down her face. "How much of me do you get to take before you realized you've become the monster you hunt." Cutlass's eyes searched hers; he felt a hardness in his chest break, it was as if something inside had shattered. He backed off of her and turned away. It was obvious he was ready to run. "Stop." Rouge had managed to get to her feet. "You run and you prove everything I've said." She watched him stand there with anger still pulsing through him as she approached his left side. "For once will you please just listen to me." She said moving so she was in front of him. His eyes were fixated on hers as blood ran down her face. "You owe me that much."
Cutlass's body was tight as he suppressed his growls and finally sat down his stare narrowed as he watched the bat in front of him. "You're a good person." She saw the doubt in his eyes as he turned away. She reached out touching his shoulder, and as she did she felt him tense at her touch, but she didn't relent. "You're like a lot of werewolves, you had horrible things done to you. I know that much. But...the Legion didn't just hurt you, they broke you." She felt the throbbing of her wounds but ignored it. "You kill Lycans because they took the ones you love right?" Her eyes closed slightly. "I may of left the legion, but I still have a contact or two on the inside. I know what the Legion did your parents, and I know they made you watch." Cutlass's eyes closed tightly at her words. "When you escaped you started killing Lycans because you wanted them to fill pain, you wanted them to know how your parents felt when they were murdered, and how you felt when they were gone. Your anger and hate for Lycans drove you to becoming what you are. Your thirst for only revenge is turning you into the thing you hate the most." She made him look at her. "The werewolves your parents were, the werewolf you once were would never kill mercilessly or for nothing but revenge." Her eyes were glossed with a since of begging. "Please, don't be like me, don't be like Lycans. Stop killing for sport or revenge, stop hating the people that try to help you...please...just be yourself again."
Cutlass looked to the side and slowly he transformed back into his two legged form. He was beat up, cut, and bruised, but still he didn't look as bad as Rouge. He finally looked at her. "You're wrong." Rouge's head titled to the side. "I should be more like...you." He turned his back to her. "But how can I; it's too late for me."
Rouge put her hand on his shoulder. "Your story may not have the happiest beginning, but it is the rest of your story that determines who you are, and that has yet to be written." She took her hand from his shoulder and she slowly began to take her wolf form.
Cutlass turned and watched her. He'd never seen a transformation look so graceful. He was glad to see her change. When werewolves and Lycans changed to their wolf form , it made it easier and quicker for wounds to heal. Seeing her in this state eased his guilt as her wounds didn't look nearly as bad. He move to stand beside her and he made his transformation as well. He began to walk and Rouge followed at his side. The two walked for hours and miles. Rouge stayed by his side making sure he remained in his clam state. She knew what he was doing, she'd done it herself. Many times for creatures with strength anger like theirs, the only outlet for true rage is motion. The most painful thing for him would of been to stay still, he needed to be moving to be thinking. Sometimes the simplest things can allow one to cope.
x-x-x
It was sunrise, the morning dew had only just formed. As the sweet and sour scent of early morning touched Rouge's nose she began to wake. "Um.." She slowly sat up. She rubbed her head. She realized that she was in her human form once again and beside her, a large black wolf still sleeping. She looked over her body and was happy to find that she had spent enough time as a wolf for all her wounds to start healing, some were even gone completely, one of which, she was glad to see, was the scratch across her face. However the quick the healing was, she still felt her soreness and bruises. She rubbed the back of her neck with a grunt. She looked at the sleeping giant beside her, she knew it had been worth it if she had changed his mind at all about who he was meant to be. Her ears perked as did her nose when she heard movement amongst the surrounding brush. She got to her feet and very carefully made her way to the noise. She lifted her nose and took in the scent. She then stepped into the cove of brush and bowed. "Master."
Shadow shook his head. "Up." He said folding his arms. "What do you think runs through my mind when four werewolves tell me your in a life or death struggle with an out of control psycho wolf and then I find nothing but a trashed blood stained battlefield?" He growled lightly, but it was obvious he was concerned. "We've been looking for you all night."
"I'm sorry." She apologized as she looked up at him.
"The hard part was telling Knuckles." He said raising a brow.
"Please tell him I'm sorry." She bowed her head, her ears slightly drooped. "But I couldn't leave Cutlass, he couldn't be left alone."
"How is he?" Shadow asked. "Is there any hope for him?"
"There is." She finally smiled. "He has a lot of potential, and after yesterday I think he's ready to tap into it."
"Very well." He nodded. "Bring him back when he wakes and we'll make a formal offer."
The look on Rouge's face was lit with happiness. "Yes, I'll bring him as soon as he wakes." She was so excited. "Thank you Shadow." She bowed to him.
"Don't thank me." He took her hand and brought her to her feet. "You saved him, I'm just offering him a home."
x-x-x
"Umm." Knuckles grunted. "When will they be back." he asked. Knuckles tone wasn't that of anger, only worry. The echidna had been in council with Shadow since his return from the outer territory.
"Stop pacing Knuckles." Shadow said looking up. "You're gonna wear a trench in my den."
The two turned as they heard the howl of a scout. "Their back." Knuckles mad his way outside quickly. Shadow followed at a slower pace.
Once outside the two found Rouge and Cutlass standing in the middle of a circle of werewolves. By the looks on their faces it was obvious that Rouge was explaining what had happened and in turn each gave Cutlass words of reassurance. The pain Cutlass felt was something all werewolves could relate too, not one held a grudge against him. Shadow had come to stand before them, Knuckles at his side. "I see you've decided to return." He looked at the werewolf. "Wise decision, and in light of it, I am offering you a chance." He said making full eye contact with Cutlass. "Join our clan, become one of us and never be alone again. Fight the Lycans on our terms and fight for more than yourself." He stepped forward. "There's no room for self loathing here, if you want to join us then you have to give up the wolf that you were and be something more." Shadow's fists were tight, but only in resolve. "Can you do this?"
Cutlass had been looking downward, but now he was locked with Shadow in a serious stare. "Yes. I want to become something more." He said with a nod. "I want my life to mean more."
Shadow nodded. "And so it shall." He looked at the other wolves surrounding them. "Welcome our newest member." All of them broke out into howls of joy.
x-x-x Six Months Later x-x-x
Things had fallen into a state of norm, Cutlass had been fully accepted and trusted by all the members of the clan. Cutlass had worked hard to make up for the mistakes he had made in his past, and it was all paying off. He had found himself in Shadow's inner circle. Shadow often trusted him with important missions and included him on the division of plans. A lot had changed since his days as a lone wolf. More than anything his feelings had changed, he wanted more out of his life than revenge, and more and more he found that he wanted to share his life with someone, and that someone was Rouge. Ever since the day he'd been inducted into the clan Rouge had been by his side to support him. It wasn't long before he found himself in love with her. He never in a million years would of thought he'd find himself in love with a Lycan, but he was. No one else had thought he was truly worth the trouble in the very beginning. She'd bled for him, she'd taken his beating and stayed until he finally changed. Before he could of never believed he'd feel love, but many times he wished he didn't.
When he had first come to the clan Cutlass had thought that Rouge was sweet on Shadow, because of the way she talked about him, but he never forgot his true wake up call. Once he had caught Rouge in a passionate embrace and kiss with Knuckles. He soon learned their story from Shadow and he knew that he could never steal Rouge's heart and he couldn't bring himself to try. He cared to much about her to risk breaking her heart. Though he often felt a pain in own his heart when he was with her, he stayed by her side as he always had.
It was just after sunset, Cutlass had been called to Shadows den along with Knuckles and Rouge. The four of them would be planning a much needed strategy to deal with two hunting gags that had made a camp about fifty miles outside of the werewolf's territory. At this point in time, the werewolf clan was still a single unit and only they knew where their territory started and ended. Lycans had only guesses and clues to go on when hunting them. The werewolves were careful to protect themselves, but also to leave false clues. Knuckles often led two or three werewolves out to lead hunting gags and Lycan patrols away from their true home. With this being the circumstances, it was easy to see why such a group of Lycans would be a serious threat to the werewolf clan.
Cutlass ducked into the den where he saw Rouge, Knuckles, and Shadow sitting cross legged in front of a fire. Shadow looked up. "Report." Cutlass had just finished an assigned border patrol.
The coyote nodded. "None of the Lycans have crossed yet."
"Good," Shadow looked at the others. "That means we will have the element of surprise. Knuckles has checked out their camp and the set up is good for an attack. We'll have two teams, one will come in from the North the other the South. Cutlass and I will take the North team and Knuckles and Rouge the South." Shadow looked to Rouge. "You've been keeping good tabs on them, what does tonight look like?"
"Promising." She answered. "They've spent all day hunting the false trail that Knuckles left. They will be exhausted and will never anticipate the attack."
"Very well." He looked at the fire. "We'll get the wolves together. This gag is too close to the boarder. We can't risk them finding our home. We go tonight, the sooner we take care of this the better." His three followers nodded in agreement.
It took the four of them a total of a half hour to get the wolves together and divided into the two groups. Cutlass had hoped that Shadow would place him by Rouge's side, but this was a rare occurrence. She and Knuckles worked so well together; it was as if they knew what the other was thinking in the middle of a battle. Oh how Cutlass would give anything to share that connection with her.
Cutlass made his way to the head of his and Shadows group. He stood up straight by his master as he listened to him give the mission specs. When he was finally finished Cutlass tried to focus, he was nervous, but he wouldn't let it affect his performance. They'd never faced a hunting gag this large. He was afraid for his clan. He didn't want to see harm befall any one of them. As Shadow began to move out their team he looked to his second. "Cutlass, are you prepared for this?"
Cutlass bowed his head. "I am ready." He looked up. "Let us protect the clan."
Shadow nodded. "Come." He turned and the two began to lead their group toward the North side of the Lycan encampment.
The night air was cold and thin as two camp fires licked against the darkness. The Lycans were sitting by the flames. Their eyes were narrowed and angry. They were all mulling over their inabilities to find the werewolves they'd been tracking for five days. Their frustration was so seething that they even snapped at each other if provoked.
The crescent moon was bright as Knuckles and Rouge crept up the back moors that lead to the South side of the Lycan gag. It took little time for them to make it right to the boarder of the camp. Knuckles looked to Rouge, though they were in their wolf forms, their eyes alone could tell their story. He nodded to her and she returned it as they waited for Shadow and Cutlass's signal.
Shadow was resting against the earth's floor as he watched the Lycans speaking over the fire about their next strategy. Shadow looked at Cutlass, he motioned with his large wolf head for his second to take his half of the team around the left. He then looked over his shoulder and motioned for his half of the team to follow him.
"Um?" One of the Lycans ears twitched and stood up. Upon this the others did the same their ears up and their noses to the air. "Change now!" The gag leader yelled.
In the time that it took for the Lycan commanders voice to raise the alarm, the North werewolf team was already upon them. Shadow and Cutlass were the first into the fray as they each leapt onto a Lycan, their followers doing the same as they each jumped for a Lycan still in its two legged form. Shadow rare his head back as he took the throat of his victim. His bloody muzzle turned up to the moon as he let a long howl. less than a minute passed before the South team cut off the Lycans.
Though the werewolves had the element of surprise the Lycans would not give up so easily. Those that had transformed were fighting with all they had. Their fangs and claws tore at their werewolf enemies with rage and hate. These Lycans were chosen for their dis-temperament and fury, it made them dangerous and lethal. Some were so enraged that their attacks were becoming frenzied.
Shadow let out another howl this one was a command for his wolves to take out the Lycans faster. Shadow knew if they didn't lay this down quickly, they were going to lose. He turned quickly to see two of his younger werewolves trying to take on two Lycans. Shadow growled as he leapt onto the back of one of the Lycans and bit harshly into the back of its neck. His two werewolves jumped the other Lycan together.
Knuckles was facing off with a Lycan twice his size as they circled each other. The black and red wolf narrowed his eyes as he watched his Lycan opponent. In the next few seconds the Lycan lunged at Knuckles feet snapping at them. Knuckles jumped, he knew the Lycan was trying to immobilize him. He pounced on the Lycans head and bit into his back bone as hard as he could. It was a perfect bite as he jumped off the Lycan, who now could no longer move. Knuckles growled at him. Lycans weren't the only ones that knew how to immobilize.
The crescent moon's light was now shining over a blood stained battlefield. Shadow, Knuckles, Rouge, and Cutlass were in their human forms as they surveyed the arena. Shadow whipped blood from a cut over his left eye. They were all covered in blood both Lycan and their own. He motioned to the tents that were against the east side of the camp. "They will have supplies, take it all."
Knuckles was standing with his arm around Rouge licking a small cut on her temple. Cutlass sighed as he watched and then finally shook his head and turned away. Knuckles nuzzled her. "I know this is hard for you."
"Yes..." She said with a sigh. "I don't think anyone gets use to killing their own kind." She closed her eyes.
"Knuckles." Shadow called for the echidna. "Get a team together to scope the surrounding area, I want to make sure none of them escaped, and I'm not willing to wait on Versai's body count."
"As you command." Knuckles bowed his head and began shifting through the werewolves to pick one or two wolves that weren't to injured to take a few rounds with the skirting territory of the camp.
Rouge was standing over several dying Lycans, they had been unable to keep their wolf forms. One was bleeding out and too mutilated to speak, the others were immobilized and would soon asphyxiate. She felt a pain in her chest as she stared at them. One looked up at her through her only good eye. "Look upon your work well done, traitor." The hedgehog spat.
"I'm sorry, it had to be this way." She had known this Lycan.
"No, you're not." She sneered. Her eyes of hate seemed to narrow, Rouge didn't notice. "But you will be."
The she wolf was only tearing at Rouge's guilt to hold her attention. She had spotted a Lycan, one was not complelty finished off and had played dead well enough to be over looked. He was sneaking up behind Rouge. The female Lycan Rouge was talking to wanted to see this traitorous Lycan killed in cold blood before her own death.
It was only moments before the Lycan jumped for Rouge that anyone saw him. "Rouge!" Versai yelled and everyone turned quickly. The Lycan had already transformed and there was nothing Rouge could do she held up her arms, but to no avail, the attack never came. "Cutlass no!" Rouge yelled.
Cutlass had turned to a wolf and leapt into the Lycans path and halted the attack. The two rolled over and over, Cutlass was pinned by the Lycan as it raised up and began ripping at Cutlass's chest. Cutlass had taken so much fighting already, and the wind had been knocked from his lungs when he saved Rouge, he lay there as the Lycan continued to rip at his body.
A vicious growl was heard as the Lycan was suddenly tackled off of Cutlass. Shadow's wolf form loomed over him for a few seconds before ruthlessly ripping his throat out and killing the Lycan instantly.
"Cutlass!" Rouge ran to him. He was slowly changing back into his human form. She leaned over him. "No, no, why did you do that you idoit!" She had tears in her eyes. "I could of taken him."
Cutlass looked up at her. "Sometimes your heart acts before your head does." He lifted one hand and placed it on her cheek.
"C-Cutlass..." She blushed. "What are you...saying..." She shook her head.
"I know I could never have you, but that doesn't mean that I can't protect you."
"No...why, why would you do this when...when you know that I..." She couldn't bring herself to tell him how she felt about Knuckles, her feelings for the echidna were obvious but she couldn't put them into words, not to Cutlass.
"Because I've loved you since the day I joined the clan." He said as he struggled with the pain. "I never told you, I knew you could never love me in return, I never meant to be selfish like this, but..." He brushed her cheek with his finger tips. "It's hard to do when you see an angel with the face of the one you love..."
"Cutlass, no you're not gonna die." Rouge shook her head. Several werewolves were surrounding him now, most of which were healers. Rouge looked at Versai. "He's going to be alright isn't he, you can save him right?"
"I don't know Rouge." Versai wasn't a young werewolf, but she wasn't old either. She was a cat with silver fur. She had been with Shadow when the clan first formed. "He's lost a lot of blood."
Cutlass held Rouge's hand. "Hey don't worry." He smiled. "You saved me once, I'm just...returning the favor." His vision began to go. All he remembered was seeing Rouge's face as she continued to talk to him, her words were all pushed together in the next few moments he lost consciousness.
x-x-x Six Weeks Later x-x-x
'Um...am I dead...' Cutlass's mind was waking up, 'I feel like I'm dead...' Then he realized that he could hear and smell, his eyes opened. His vision was fuzzy at first, but when it cleared he realized where he was. He was laying in Shadow's den. He was extremely soar and tender. His nose picked up a familiar scent and turned to see Rouge asleep with her head at his side.
"She hasn't left your side since you conked out on us." Cutlass turned to see Shadow entering the cave.
Cutlass rubbed his head as he sat up carefully. "Did you get the name of that Lycan that ran me over."
"He was taken care of the moment he attacked one of my right hand wolves." Shadow sat beside him. "You've been out for six weeks, but that's to be expected. You're human form is weaker and takes longer to heal. You were lucky, we had enough medical supplies from the Lycan camp to help you with your healing, you cheated death by the tip of your fang my friend."
Cutlass looked at Rouge once more. "Why has she been staying with me?"
"I think we both know why." Shadow said with no change in tone. Cutlass's eyes closed slightly as he continued to watch her sleep. "I knew how you felt about her even before you joined us. I allowed you to come into the clan anyway."
"Anyway?" Cutlass looked up at him with somewhat irritated confusion.
"Yes, I knew things would be hard for you at first, but you needed to be here." Shadow nodded to him. "You were chosen by me."
"What do you mean chosen?" Cutlass asked with a grave look in his eye.
"Since you've been here you've come to understand what we do as clan, we're not just a safe haven and we're not rebels out for revenge or blood. A clan like ours needs the best, you are one of the best. You were under surveillance long before I approached you. I wanted you in my clan."
"So you had an agenda the entire time." Cutlass had a somewhat ill look on his face, but he wasn't growling yet.
"I always have an agenda." Shadow said with no rise in his voice. "But that doesn't mean things can't change."
"What?"
"I won't lie to you, no one thought you could be saved. They thought you were too far gone in your own mind to be brought back."
"Even you?" Cutlass murmured.
"Yes." He admitted. "When I brought you back, the deal I first offered you was genuine, the fact that you were dying just happen to play in my favor. I had no intention of adopting you."
"I was a monster, with the way my mind was back then there's no telling what kind of danger I would of put the clan in with my rage." He said with a sigh, he couldn't find it in himself to blame Shadow for anything. He could not argue with a single course of action that Shadow had taken.
"When I brought you here, I ran you ragged. I want you out cold when you got here. But I watched you the entire time. Not once did you stop or give up. You pushed through that pain and followed me no matter what. That's when I knew just passing your skills on to the others wouldn't be enough, I needed you in the clan." He looked at Rouge. "If I was going to make that happen, you would have to face your demons."
"You made Rouge my healer on purpose. You could of just had her give blood to a healer, but you wanted her to do it."
"Yes, I knew if there was ever going to be hope for you that you would have to realize that not all Lycans are evil." He sighed. "Rouge taught me this as well." Shadow could see the look in Cutlass's eyes. "You should know that even in the beginning I didn't force her stay by your side."
"I thought you said you chose her."
"I did, but after you almost ripped her head off the first time, I thought she should pull out for a while. She wouldn't. She said that you needed help and she was going to make sure you got it. I can order my wolves into action, but I can't make them care, she did that on her own."
Cutlass ran his hand across Rouge's cheek. "She's been there for me since day one. She's done everything she can to help me. She pushed me through my own personal hell." He let out another ragged breath. "I loved her, she was all I cared about..." His eyes shifted to his chest where he saw healed claw marks from the attack he'd protected her from.
"And what do you care about now? Is she all that held you here?" Shadow asked without sugar coding the question.
Cutlass was still looking at her as he answered. "No." His eyes seemed searching. "Since I've joined the clan I've realized that there is more to life than revenge. I don't want to continue to just take evil from the world, I want to protect the innocent life still in it." He turned to Shadow. "Even if Rouge hated me and never spoke to me again, I would still believe in you and this clan. I'd give my life to protect what we shelter here. I was then and am now still your fateful servant." He said bowing his head.
"Cutlass, you have potential to do more for the clan. I have a mission for you." Cutlass faced his leader and gave him his attention, however much it might pain him to turn from Rouge. "Our clan has grown stronger and larger in numbers, I've been thinking about this for a long time now. I want to setup a second clan."
"A second clan?" Cutlass blinked, his surprise was obvious.
"Yes, with a second clan we can better protect our territory. If a second pack is set up in the North then that means permeate patrols, no more sending out groups to cover the whole north line on their own, no more exhaustion or struggling for enough food to go around." He stood at the entrance of the den. "I've known for quite some time which wolves I want to send to the North, fighters, healers, but I've been waiting even longer to find a suitable leader."
Cutlass looked up at Shadow. "That's why you've kept me so close. You've been teaching me. Training me."
"The resolve you showed through your time since being brought here and the time you've spent with us has proven to me that you can do this. But you should know, I won't send Rouge with you and you can't be running back and forth between camps to be with her. You have to promise me that your pack will always come first before your personal feelings. So I ask you, will you become leader of my Northern clan?"
Cutlass pushed himself to his feet, though it was painful. Shadow did not stop him, as he took his place beside his master and looked out the den entrance. "I will."
A/N: And the rest is history. Hope you guys like the back story, if you did let me know, cause I'm hoping to do one for all my werewolf pack leaders.
