62

Time moved so slowly down there in the half-light, children weeping to sleep as fear filled the space more than the cloying stench of sweat, more than one man going to the doors and listening like the things might be right outside it.

"They are moving" Toshiko said with surprise, "Not away… circling the house."

Ianto did not like that one little bit, slipping out the door and heading up with Jack and John following in thermal wear, even as Ianto walked without anything to shield his body heat from those things out there.

Deep down Jack knew there was no need to worry. Ianto's cold feet not the only part of him that was cool to the touch. Ianto walked slowly around the walkway looking down as more and more of those things circled, like crud going down a drain but of course… there was no drain.

"What are they doing?" John whispered.

"Deciding if they are going to tear the pace apart to find me" Ianto replied with alarm, "Fuck. Lisa's fall means they want to eradicate not only her leadership, her pack but her bloodline. They know her child is in here. No doubt all the kids in here must make their mouths water."

"So… they have made their treaties with one another?" John canted his head as one stopped to scent the air "Yeah… look at that. They are working together now."

"Yeah. Now we are in deep shit" Jack muttered.

"Get back to the room and barricade the doors" Ianto said as he turned to Jack and took his face in his hands "I love you Jack Harkness, Captain of my heart."

"What are you doing?" Jack asked with growing alarm as Ianto seemed so damned calm.

"I am about to release the Kraken" Ianto replied sagely.

"What?"

"Come on… I have to go down further than you, we can go to the doors together" Ianto held out his hand and Jack reluctantly let Ianto lead him down to the room where he paused, taking Jack's face again and this kiss was so gentle, so loving that Jack felt real fear now.

"Ianto…"

"It's OK. Get in there. Protect my babies" Ianto pushed him in and Jack turned to speak only to find the doors swinging closed on him and to his horror the sound of the bolts engaging from the outside.

"Ianto!" Ianto struggled as John pulled him back and held him.

"Stop it, the kids. Think of the kids. Calm down" John whispered, "Come on."

Jack moved to the chair, slid behind Toshi as she looked at the screens. One of the Others had moved to the front porch and was pushing it's body against the door. Trying it out.

"Shit" Jack said softly.

.

.

..

"Hey" Ianto said as he entered the basement level, closing the door behind him to lean aginast "Can you hear them up there?"

Something moved in the darkness.

"I know we agreed that this was not your fight and that you are happiest here but… something is happening that I've not seen before. They are joining forces to take a crack at this place and it is only a matter of time before they remember how to pyramid their bodies like they did that winter attack." Ianto sighed and rubbed his face, tired already as he knew why he had to come "I have the entire township huddled in these walls seeking shelter from this storm. I never thought I would ask this of you and I know you live to serve, will gladly do this thing for me whatever the consequences so… I ask you now. Show your loyalty. Show your fealty to me, rise and defend my castle!"

Movement as something looked down at him and the darkness moved around the walls like an oil spill, taking up the black, moving towards the small touch Ianto held pointed at his feet and a huge clawed foot crunched into the dirt near Ianto, the claw digging into the dirt the size of his foot.

"I give you leave my lovely girl, go and show them why this place shall stand forever" Ianto said with pride as his beautiful girl started to move away from him, heading for the funnel that leads away from the house, under the open land currently covered in a furry mass of fury towards the tree line where she knew the thinner crust of soil and outcrop of rocks waited for her to erupt from it.

Ianto turned and ran up through the levels and he burst out onto the walkway, panting as he looked to the tree line and he counted in his head as he knew how fast she can move when excited. And by the gods she was excited as she finally got to show her moxie.

One of the Others saw him, barking to the others who all stopped moving to look up at Ianto, his silhouette in the moonlight stark as he stood proudly, seen and unafraid. Heads lowered menacingly as they started to move slowly towards the house, determined to taste the rare flesh on offer and Ianto glanced again at the tree line, now swallowing down fear.

Then came a distant bellow, the sound of rocks crashing as she smashed her way up thought he ground to meet the Others.

The Others all swung to watch as the mightily beast flew up into the night sky, her wings billowing out as she caught air for the first time in many years and she blocked out the moonlight, plunging them all into darkness as she roared her challenge.

Then the huge red dragon swooped down to attack.