Sierra nodded, it was time to get ready. She and Heidi walked up the stairs into the communications room. The shewolves were already setting things in motion. Three wolves were checking their weapons with a calm detailed eye. Two more at the monitors, images flashing across their eyes. nothing...above ground.
We know they're in the sewers. One of the shewolves spoke, changing the settings. Problem is only a third of the sewers are wired.
She was coming from the underground city...Heidi spoke. That's the problem...she answered that area is not wired yet...best we can do is check the other areas and work our way to school district 22.
Perhaps we can alert the others? Have them...
We don't want to draw suspicion on ourselves...contact them quietly, tell them to seal up all the entrances and exits. Heidi said. The shewolf nodded. She put her arms over her chest, sighed, pulling her lower lip into her mouth, her white tuft tipped ears drooped. She ran the scenarios through her mind. Wish the elder wolves were here? Sierra whispered. Heidi nodded, it would be helpful.
(Why?) elder wolves are stronger, more wolf like in cunning and predatory senses. And many had experience concerning throwback wolves. A throwback wolf, whether it was male or female, was bred for a specific mission or need, to say the least. The strongest females were bred with the strongest males. That offspring was trained and bred with the strongest male or female. This process handed down through the many breeding cycles. With one specific purpose, to kill a Queen Vampire. especially one that was knowledgeable and experienced in battle. The throwback wolf was not guaranteed but... given the usual odds it was close enough. Despite the ranks of other wolves taking on a throwback male or female was risky.
Sierra, you inform the rest that we are closing for the afternoon... maybe longer. She sighed a long annoyed disappointed sigh. Today's sales are going to take a hit...shit.
Business as usual. Sierra said with a mischievous grin. Heidi chuckled, her ears stiffen to points. You'll think business as usual...smart ass...when you see your paycheck.
Ehhhhhhh?! Sierra raised her head high, her silver white ears pricked so tight ithurt. She closed her eyes, shaking her head, cheapskate!
Yep... Heidi said, getting ready to leave the communication room when one of the wolves at the communication desk, gotta problem...
What now? Heidi spoke and sighed. Seems district Ten is missing a few shewolves and human females She said. Heidi's eyes went still, showing no emotion, her right ear twitched, her stomached twisted into knots, this can't be happening she thought. She let her mouth open slowly before asking, how many? And how long?
District Ten is bordered by School District 7, 22 and 18 to the north, School District 11 to the east and School District 2 to the west. While it contains a few facilities and establishments. It carried a certain social stigma towards people. Its main industries such as nuclear facilities and the graveyard and having poor public order. But that had changed since the wolves claimed much of the area, creating more businesses and maintain public order. So much so that many of the delivery man no longer avoided the area.
She listened, clenching her teeth, closed her eyes, Sierra tell everyone we'll be closing early today...and...she paused, shook her head, no never mind...tell them everything is on the honor system...but I want you to tell them something...she said, turned her head to Sierra.
Sierra, a tall slender silver white shewolf with light brown skin, walked silently out of the communication room, leaving Heidi to bark out orders. She passed the storage room. shewolves were cleaning up, putting away items such as pots, pans, flour, sugar to name a few. Others were silently undressing, slipping into their armor. The happy smiles that usually accompanied them while they worked, had disappeared. Worry, concern and determination took its place. Every wolf, despite holding jobs was trained in combat
She nodded her head, walked into the dish room. Two shewolves dressed in white, wearing aprons were finishing the dishes, hand drying them and stacking them neatly in place. Not saying a word.
She entered the kitchen, the last batches of baked goods were being pulled from the ovens and sat on the cooling tables, other items were being wrapped in clear plastic wrap stored in plastic container, Labeled and put into one of the many refrigerators. The silence in the normally busy and loud kitchen was deafening.
She pushed her way through the doors, going into the lobby. Shewolves around the counter were still taking orders with bright flirtatious smiles, business as usual. She nodded at one of the shewolves taking money from one of the academy city students. A young girl with light blonde hair, around thirteen or fourteen. Sierra swallowed, her stomach queasy at the thought of the earlier conversation in the communication room. Seems district Ten is missing a few shewolves and human females. She knew what happens to young girls like her. Beaten, broken, traded and bred. She'd seen it many times in her long life. Certain parts of wolf society believed females served one purpose. And that purpose was males. That is the way of things in nature and around the world they'd tell them over and over. She'd held many human females dying in her arms. Unlike human females, Shewolves are bred, even otaku types, to give birth to wolves. A human female do not survive a third birth. Giving birth to wolf pups put enormous strain on their bodies. Their health suffered after each birth. And the third birth was always the bloodiest. They would die of severe blood loss. And the bodies disposed of as if they were trash.
She swallowed hard, her eyes glistening. The young girl turned, eyes fixated on the large piece of cheesecake, drowning in fresh strawberries, for a moment she caught Sierra's silver blue eyes. She blushed, smiled a big smile as she moved quickly past her and out the door in anticipation like a pup given a part of the kill. She softly exhaled, knowing Heidi's words were right on the mark. Outside on the Patio, just to the right from the door, three young women were sitting. Three familiar faces. Wannai Kinuho and Awatsuki Maaya and Kongou Mitsuko. The three of them, a pack to themselves were regulars.
A warming breeze slipped through the trees, cars, trucks and people oblivious to the previous events continued their day. But the students who'd seen Sierra leap from the roof and smother the running ball of flames sat waiting, the entire patio and the line for the bakery café waited, anticipation dripping from their expressions. And noses slightly crinkled from the slight lingering smell of burnt flesh.
With the snap of her colorful fan, Kongou Mitsuko broke the silence, clearing her throat. Wwwhat? Happened? Her nervous eyes blinked curiously, peering over the edge of the fluttering fan. Wannai Kinuho and Awatsuki Maaya both looked at her, curiosity building behind the young women's eyes. They waited, full of anticipation and concern. Sierra knelt to the table and whispered. It's a wolf thing...she said, with a smirk...
Bbut tthat was a vampire, Kongou Mitsuko said, bringing her other hand to her throat, feeling where she'd been bitten during the Barons attack. The fluttering of the fan slowed, slipped lower showing more of her face and throat.
Sierra reached out, gently took Mitsuko trembling hand away from her neck, brought it to her own cheek. Kongou Mitsuko blushed at the warmth flowing from the shewolf. The only vampires here are those who live in the building next to us...and they are not our enemy. But yes, there is something going on. i...we need you to be wary of your surroundings. Stay away from areas that could be dangerous, walk out of reach of the dark alleys, always be in groups, never stray from each other... Sierra saw their faces fret at her words. And it bothered her for delivering such dark and dreadful advice. Even if your destination is just a breath away, watch yourselves. But... Kongou hesitantly spoke. Sierra shook her head, the bakery café is going to understaffed for a while but know that you are safe here. She said. Mitsuko, Kinuho and Maaya looked around the patio café.
A small pack of four shewolves were on the roof, checking and rechecking, talking to the previous pack. Everything, their expression, Aura said danger. At the small shrine, a group of ten shewolves stood together, heads bowed, hands clasped, praying. Even the air hung heavy and dangerous.
If your gut says something is wrong, Sierra spoke, then turn around and run. She let Mitsuko's hand slip from hers as she stood up, smiled, tell your friends, the bakery café is their sanctuary. The three of them quickly nodded, took out their phones and called. She felt eyes staring at her intently. A wolf's intuition. A small sigh, she closed her eyes, blushed slightly.
Sierra looked over to the table next to them. The young girl she'd seen inside was sitting with three others. They were watching and obviously listening. Sierra smiled mischievously at them. Two of the girls were already texting their friends. She knelt to the table, easy dropping? She said grinning. The young girl nodded, looking like a chipmunk storing food for the winter. Her cheeks puffed out, with a mouthful of cheesecake. Espers? Sierra asked. She slowly nodded. Her puffy cheeks pushed up from the growing smile.
The other sitting next to her spoke, we were here when they attacked...she said, a little pride and fear mixed together in her expression. We helped with the barrier, she said, taking a drink of tea. She held the plate underneath her cup as she drank. The plate tremble just a little, but easy for a wolf to see it. Ellie is a generator... the girl said after swallowing her cheesecake, taking a quick drink of milk.
A generator? Sierra creased her brow, what's...?
She can create energy from her body and the surrounding air... - she puffed out her chest- I can make barriers...so can they. She pointed to the other two girls texting away. They both cocked their heads in a well practice move and grinned big enough to show their teeth. We are a pack...she said with a big smile. It was a ploy used by many young shewolves. Smart ass and Coy, is a trait developed by the young wolves. And it seems to have taken root with many of the young Academy City students.
Hang around shewolves a lot... Sierra could see the smartass behind their actions. They wiggled their eyebrows. She stood up, smiled and repeated, tell your friends, the bakery café is their sanctuary.
Emelia, Angela, Amanda, Stephanie stood around the tub of blood. Ava was sleeping, more like in a coma, as she healed. It would be a week at the least before she would be healed. The other vampires sat around waiting to be told what to do. Emelia, the alpha of the vampires of the house of Mikoto readied herself.
I called in Eva and Selena from their posts...
Angela closed her eyes, shaking her head, we can't leave her unprotected...she's our...
If Mikoto finds out...you know she'll insist ... Emelia growled, and she might order us to let her...
Angela pulled her lower lips into her mouth, blood trickled from the corner, I know I know I just don't feel...
She is wounded...and weak...it is our duty to protect and if need be, die for her...
Amanda groaned her response. she did make us promise not to die. .this is a throwback and we all know what the means.
We might break out promise to our Mistress...Stephanie spoke, looking around the room. the others remained silent. the young vampires and older ones knew. But their eyes shined, and their smiles opened wide, showing their fangs. Some even blushed and giggled.
I will patrol from the underground city...Stephanie spoke first. her thinned blue eyes and smirk said she'd get first crack at them. they'd been seen there. Emelia nodded. Angela...?
We'll start here work out way to Stephanie.
Amanda? Same...no point in spreading ourselves thin... we know where they are not... from the monitors...
Angela agreed.
Emelia chest swelled with pride, she'd been given to Mikoto Misaka by Anastasia. An alpha who'd server the new queen. To develop and hone the new pack for a new queen. the new queen who'd defeated a more powerful foe and taken the remaining vampires as her own. Emelia was descendant of an old lineage. While being human served a royal house of vampires. At the age of thirty she was given a choice. Continue serving as a human, or as a vampire. she'd chosen the life of a vampire. working her way from underling to Alpha. And now thanks to the blood of her Mistress, she and the other alphas served at the rank of Hellion. The underling around them also benefitted from the queens' blood. While their telling scent screamed underling, the queen blood flowing through their bodies allowed them to fight at another level or three.
We will go into the sewers and search for the vile wolf and kill it...Emilia glared, looking around the room. before our Mistress knows. She clenched her fist tightly, blood seeped through her fingers. The others raised their fists in the air and yelled.