AN 1: Next chapter, we will be skipping ahead a few years into the story. This is an early update and might be the only update this week.

Review Answers:

Zero: Glad you like the story. Also, I am working on Ionad slowly but surely.

cyril: I'm going to assume you are a bot. I am also pretty sure you can't publish fanfiction and pass it off 'as original work', despite my owning JOF. I'm going to ignore any future comments. Please do not continue to post reviews on my stories. This is hardly a book, given it's only three chapters so far. Thank you.

AN 2: Updates to stories will be done when I have time. I'm focusing on several different ones and alternate as my muse hits so please don't ask for reviews. Thank you. If you leave a review, first be nice. I don't particularly like constructive criticism or flames...they make me not waste my time writing anything or posting it onto fanfiction.

AN 3: If you would like to see the Peon that were with Remus in the last chapter, you must go to deviantart dot com /stormwolves and click on 'Gallery' then scroll sideways until you hit the folder Miscellaneous, then you can view 'Peon'.

Talon and Seal apparently didn't like being away from papa, for the oldest and youngest of the Peon's pups attempted to get out. Unfortunately, neither were fast and didn't make it far before one of the Caretakers caught Talon by his neck and using a paw, nudged the Seal back the way they had come to the center of the nursery. As for the other pups, given they were human, they naturally couldn't go anywhere as they hadn't learned to crawl yet, which their father was grateful for. Regarding the two human infants, a couple of Caretakers were uncertain about them being within the pack at all, given humans were food occasionally and might potentially create future problems for the pack. Not only could they bring hunters to the pack, they might also become hunters and easily kill the wolves' as they grew older.

Remus paced the den he had been put into, waiting for dinner. "What's the eating order here?"

A few wolves growled at the newcomer for his question, however one of the Peon did speak up. "The eating order varies pack to pack. Usually, the alpha or alpha pair eat first and then down to the omegas. The high class of wolves are the alphas, beta and their mate, gamma male and female and the four deltas. The noble ranks are the Knowledge Keepers and their apprentices, the Epsilon, Pursuers, and Condottiere. The mid-ranked wolves are the main body of the pack. They make up the Medics, Xi, Guardians, Sentinels and Custodians. The lower ranks are the Caretakers, Dams, Acolytes, Peon, Eta, Omegas and Pups. Pups are the lowest rank in the pack. Here in Grimcrown, the dams and elders eat first along with any pups that are old enough to eat meat. Then the high and noble ranks eat, then the middle ranks and down to the omegas and eta who get the leftovers. Sometimes the elders may not get fed during lean times, like if there's a famine or a really bad Fuyu. The eta and omegas always eat with each other, as they're the weakest and most submissive wolves in the pack though Eta have a higher standing than the omegas as they are a less dominant rank of the pack."

"What's an omega?"

"Submissive wolves, prisoners, those who break the rules and for those who fail their assessment as an acolyte and choose not to be a Custodian," said the Peon. "They're wolves who have no real skills to serve the pack at all. Omegas usually go hungry if there's a food shortage."

"That's cruel," said Remus.

"You must not have packs where you're from. Or you were never in a pack despite being a werewolf. Really your sire should have taught thou this when they turned you."

"Sire?"

The Peon looked at each other in disbelief, speaking mentally with each other. Remus couldn't hear as he wasn't fully introduced to the pack yet. A silver peon spoke up. "Are you a werewolf by birth or bite?"

"Bite," said Remus, shuddering as he remembered Fenrir biting him when he had been outside looking through a telescope. "I don't want to be a werewolf though. They're nothing but monsters and I wish my pups were not werewolves."

"Then ye sire is the wolf who turned you," said the silver peon. It was only now that Remus realized most of the members in this den were in were form and some in wolf form. "They did not take ye in?"

Remus shook his head. "My sire was a monster of a man who went around biting children. He bit me because my father insulted him," he said.

"When were ye bitten?"

"When I was very young, around four years old," said Remus. "I lived with my parents and was locked in the basement when I turned. I wasn't allowed to have friends for fear that I might hurt them and only went to school because of Headmaster Dumbledore hid my condition from the wizarding government of my country. I made three friends there and they became my pack."

"Were they wolves?"

Remus shook his head. "What does it matter if they are wolves or not?"

"That's a no then," muttered a red werewolf.

One of the other wolves, an acolyte of twelve years, picked up on the information on magic and whined curiously before turning to human form. The child shook his head and spoke up. "What do ye mean 'wizarding government'? Werewolves can't use magic."

"Yes, they can."

"Nay, they can't," said the twelve-year-old. "Magic be harmful to us werewolves. Why do you think thy she-wolf over there be wild? That collar be harming her and trapping her in wolf form."

Remus looked to the she-wolf that had been captured to nurse his pups. He hadn't thought about the collar the wolf had been wearing. "What is that collar she wore? I caught her to nurse my pups."

"It's a silver and moonstone collar," said the child. "Hunters use it to trap werewolves in wolf form and the silver burns. The moonstone, for some reason, acts as a barrier to the wolf's transformation, rendering it unable to turn into its were form or back into its humanoid form. A trapped werewolf cannot speak or communicate telepathically, gradually losing sense of time. It causes the wolf to become tame, and they're used to hunt other werewolves and dangerous races down like vampires and demons where they are executed by the hunters."

When Wane Fire arrived, the custodians brought food to the Dams and pups while the omegas carried food to the elders for it was the job of the omegas to take care of the elders within the pack and this was true in all werewolf packs that had the same ranking system though some wolves had a secret rank know as Mors Custodes. Those within the second den had to wait until it was their turn to eat and the food, they got was surprisingly good. "What…is…this," Remus questioned between gulps of food.

"Qalapi," came a grunted reply from one of the Peon as they ate from one of the raw carcasses. "Your body will adjust quickly half-blood as ye adapt to thou wolven body and life as a wolf."

Remus blinked and looked down at his meat that was cooked thankfully. "That's…you can get sick from that!"

"We're canines. Our bodies are made to eat raw meat though because of what us half-bloods may have been we can also stomach cooked meat as well. I believe it is the same with the werecats and werebears."

"How do you know I'm a half-blood?"

"Only a half-blood or a child born of impregnation would question the lifestyle of a wolf."

Remus stopped eating, confusion flitting across his face. Some of the acolytes and peon looked at him in curiously, but none spoke up nor bothered to explain anything to the new peon. He looked down at the Qalapi, thinking of the Qalapi he had seen for the first time that had been ridden by the runimagi. Were these the same Qalapi that Nobu had described to him? He suddenly felt sick to his stomach and stumbled back from the food, causing some members to stare at him. Around him, the few omegas patiently waited for the Peon to be done so they could be let out to eat with the Eta. After an hour and a half when the food was confirmed gone by all who were higher ranked, the omegas were allowed out to get what was left along with the Eta for they, as the weakest and most submissive of the pack, were fed last and got what scraps and leftovers remained. It was the order that was in every pack…the eta and omegas eating last.

There was a knock on the door and a werewolf covered in black fur appeared, his green eyes staring out of his skull. "The alpha wishes to see the new peon that arrived along with the two unmatched," spoke the wolf out loud and Remus found himself being shoved forward, two other wolves stepping forward at the black wolf's call though the silver she-wolf was pushed forward as well. The wolf led them along the path and towards the old bar where the alpha was sitting outside, sipping from a mug of ale.

"You four are the newest rogues to join my pack and therefore are Peon. You will be introduced tomorrow at the pack gathering. For now, introduce yourselves for the benefit of the others."

A wolf with beige fur and black carnage marking, though Remus knew not the black carnage markings stepped forward. The wolf shifted their body into their were form, violet eyes glancing at the other two Peon before speaking, however the wolf instinctively lowered himself to the ground before the alpha, averting his eyes. "My name is Mariston. I'm a half-blood by bite," said Mariston.

"Next," said the alpha.

The silver she-wolf stepped forward, emaciated and fur tangled in knots from a life on the run. There was a fearless in the she-wolf's eyes that hadn't gone away. Still, the wolf seemed to understand subservience…at least towards the creature that had used her to hunt down her own kind. "Ki…vela. Mar…Marsha...dow." The alpha's eyes rose at that information and Remus wondered why that was. "P…Pureblood of Marshadow House."

"Marshadow," said the alpha to himself before looking to Remus, gesturing with his free hand.

"Remus John Lupin," said Remus. "Ummm…well I was bitten by a monster named Fenrir."

"Half-blood then," grunted the alpha. "You also brought pups along, didn't you?"

"Yes," said Remus. "I had her…Kivela …nursing them while being brought here," he said.

"Names."

"Seal is the oldest, but he was born premature. He's from my alpha's mate."

"Your mate cheated on her alpha?" The question came from the wolf who had yet to introduce himself.

"She cheated twice technically," said Remus, thinking of Snape being a single parent just like he himself was now. "My mate and I had…we had six pups, but Talon's twin didn't survive the surgery."

"Surgery?" Again, the wolf that had yet to introduce theirself spoke up, seemingly ignoring or oblivious to the fact that they weren't to speak unless spoken to or given leave by the alpha. The alpha let it slide, only because this half-blood was apparently from a different world with its pups and human infants it had brought into his pack and they knew not the rules.

"It's something done when you're badly injured or have broken bones," said Remus.

The two male Peon just stared at Remus in confusion, and he sighed. They don't know anything. "Talon was born…conjoined," said Remus, unsure if that was a thing here in this world. "His twin was smaller than he was, but he was still the runt. My daughter Oriole was the firstborn of my litter with my mate and then there were my sons Delta and Finch. My daughter Quartz was born before Talon was."

"And the human infants?"

"One is Seal's half-brother…that's Cedar. The pudgy toddler, Neville, he's the son of some former classmates of mine. I was bab…pupsitting…when a bad wizard tried to kill the infants because of a prophecy. Snape…he pushed me into the portal that appeared on my world in the nursery and sent the children in with me. We were found in Zalas Wood by Fazzoth."

The alpha said nothing, just gestured for Remus to step back, which he did, and then motioned the last wolf to step up and speak. He had orange eyes and too shifted into his were form to speak, his body a lighter color than Remus's own fur. "Rukheim, alpha sir," said the wolf. "I'm a half-blood due to my mother being a human and my father being a wolf."

"Thou be new to the pack, including thee pups," said the alpha. "I am Ordovic Cotynghin but thou will address me as 'alpha'. This goes for ye pups and thee human infants as well," he said looking towards Remus. "You will be matched with a Custodian, as all wolves are. But the rank of Peon is something you should probably know about. This is an assessment rank for rogues…those being wolves who join from another house, wolves who have left a pack, wolves who have left the pack and rejoin it later, and rarely exiles that wish to join a pack. You will serve in this rank for eighteen moons and be given a mentor of the Custodian rank. Peon are watched very closely and not allowed to leave the territory nor visit other territories. Any rule breaking of rules which will be taught to you by your Custodian mentor will be punishable as is appropriate for the crime and can include demotion to omega, banishment or death should the crime warrant it. You will eat when it is your turn and as far as the hierarchy goes, Peon are a low-tier rank. This includes the following roles: Caretaker, Dams, Acolytes, Elders, Peon, Eta, Omegas, Rogues and Exiles. You will not help an exile or befriend it in any way. If a female," he looked at Kivela, "mates with an exiled male, they will be punished, and their pups can suffer the consequence of being killed at birth. Or, if the female attempts to hide her pregnancy, one of the Knowledge Keepers will cause the mother to miscarry and she will be punished regardless." The alpha then summoned four wolves who had been watching the interaction from the shadows and they walked forward, bowing their heads to the alpha as they approached.

"Kivela. You are required to seek help for thou past. I will not have a wild wolf among my pack. Failure to do so will cause you to be punished."

"Yes, alpha."

"Your mentor is Arissa," said the alpha, nodding to a woman with strawberry blond hair and brown eyes. He matched up Rukheim with a male werewolf covered in brown and tan fur named Inyoni, Maristone was matched with a silver dappled male named Calius and Remus himself, was matched with a male named Cox, a small wolf with amber fur coupled with cream socks and a gray mantle, his claws being white. "Dismissed," said the alpha and the mentors took their charges with them. The wolf beside him, Cox, led him away from the others and headed towards a small adobe house where the wolf scratched at the door, another werewolf coming to the door and opening it to see Remus and Cox standing there. The were stepped aside, huffing at Remus in greeting and Cox rushed within the house, Remus hesitantly following.

The adobe house was not much to speak of but compared to the derelict cottage Remus had lived in after graduating from Hogwarts, he was impressed by the cleanliness of the home and the furniture that seemed to be hand carved out of wood. Behind him, the werewolf shut the door and Remus found himself plunged into darkness, but for the carved-out windows that let in light and fresh air, panes of glass in the windows of which he was surprised. Cox disappeared further into the house as the werewolf behind him stared at the back of Remus's head, his gaze drilling into the peon's skull and making him uncomfortable. He examined one of the chairs in main room, finding it to be hand carved and of excellent quality. Behind him, the werewolf moved around him, claws clicking on the floor as it headed towards a wood box, crouching to toss some wood into the oven.

"Christopher," called the wolf who placing wood into the fire. A young wolf scurried out from another room and skidded to a stop before hitting the crouching wolf. Remus looked and saw it seemed to be covered in mud, only it didn't smell like mud. As he looked closer, he saw the wolf was covered in calcite fur with gray claws adoring his paws, violet eyes staring out over a dark brown nose while the 'mud' was brown merle patches. "Shift and get the axe before going out to chop wood."

The adolescent wolf whined in response before heading back into their room and shifting form, changing into some breeches and a gray shirt before coming out and grabbing the axe on his way outside. The door closed behind the Christopher and all seemed otherwise quiet in the home. Remus himself, was unsure what to say or why he was here. The werewolf stood and turned to face Remus, copper eyes staring at the half-blood. "You are Cox's apprentice?"

Remus nodded silently. "Speak Peon or be ye a mute?"

"Yes," said Remus. "The alpha…appointed him as my…mentor."

"Indeed," said the wolf. Copper eyes continued to stare at the peon. "Though like the chair?"

"Yes. I've never…seen something crafted by..."

"'Tis crafted by hand. Cox is a furniture maker in his spare time and makes money off it for himself and the pack," said the werewolf.

Remus blinked stupidly. "The small wolf made this?"

"Yes," said Cox, coming out of the room he had disappeared into. "Maybe I can make some furniture for you, assuming you remain here for your eighteen months of Peon and get to find a home for you and your pups," said Cox. "Papa, thou meet mine apprentice?"

"Aye," said the werewolf. "Ye brother be out chopping wood but we be needing water. Take thee apprentice on a tour or somethin' to get it used to the borders of where it cannot cross."

Cox bowed his head submissively to his father and headed outside, Remus following as there seemed nothing else to do. "I make furniture for a living as father said," said Cox, "and sometimes pottery. They both bring in some coins and souls."

"Souls?"

Cox tilted his head at the peon before fishing in the pocket of his coat and pulled out some paper bills though they appeared somewhat yellowed. "Souls," said Cox. On top was a yellowed papyrus with the number five with a coiled snake in the middle and the words 'five souls' underneath. "Umm…cash?"

Remus nodded though he wasn't sure how he felt about a snake being on the money. "Why a snake?"

"A snake is one of the sacred animals of our world," huffed Cox. "Each of our years has a sacred animal though a snake has no year. We operate on a thirteen-year cycle you see."

I doubt anyone other than Slytherins would be proud of a snake being considered a 'sacred' animal. "What…what other sacred animals are there?"

Cox pocketed the souls and turned to the icehouse, opening the door and letting the dying light of Wane Fire slip down the stairs. "Wait here," said Cox before hurrying down the stairs. When he came back up, he was carrying four buckets and handed two to Remus before shutting the door. After getting a pair of yokes and placing a bucket on either end, Cox headed out of the township. "To get back to the question. Snakes, Owls, Tigers and Phoenixes are sacred animals that don't have their own years dedicated to them. The thirteen sacred animals be wolf, horse, rabbit, dragon, buffalo, raven, fox, otter, jaguar, elephant, bear, wolverine and turtle."

"How big is this territory?"

"The township itself is six miles by six miles in either direction," said Cox, "but the territory itself extends for a total of fifty-six miles," he said. "Fourteen miles in all four directions due to us being a decent sized pack. Larger packs and pureblood houses tend to have larger territories with the council having the largest and then the pureblood houses having the second largest territories."

"Pureblood houses? Council?"

A shudder ran through the Custodian and Remus wondered why Cox suddenly seemed frightened. "There are thirteen pureblood houses," said Cox. "That female you captured…Kivela? She's a member of House Marshadow. There are lesser pureblood houses as well, offshoots of the original thirteen, but no wolf will be as strong or as big as a member of the thirteen houses. They believe blood is pure and that to maintain order, the original thirteen houses must remain pure. Out of the werewolves, werebears, werecats and vampires; the werewolves are the most…strict…and intolerant…about the pureblood houses bringing in half-bloods."

"Half-Bloods?"

"Wolves who were either bitten by a werewolf, a child that has a werewolf parent and human parent, both werewolf parents are half-bloods, and through impregnation," breathed out Cox. "The council...they govern all the werewolves and like with the vampires, werecats, and werebears; there is a council of werewolves. They make the rules and laws for our people. Likewise with the bears, cats and vampires. There's also the Grand Council which is full of one chosen member of every race on Xaythea and at the head of the Grand Council is the Grand Overseer. Those who end up before the Grand Council usually don't return. The Grand Overseer is chosen by members of the Grand Council and the Avatars."

"Avatars?"

"The Gods and Goddesses in human or animal form," said Cox. "The other councils aren't important, but the alpha will likely send word to the council about the Peon that were accepted into his pack and word about you having human infants with you in the pack."

"Why are humans in a pack of werewolves a bad thing?"

"They're food for one and we compete with vampires for them, though we tend to eat and hunt vampires. That is why werewolves were made, to hunt vampires," said Cox. "However, humans can end up becoming hunters of werewolves and so it will cause some dissension among the pack of potential future hunters being within Grimcrown." Remus had much to think about as he made his way after Cox, the pair traveling towards the south of the township. As they reached the outskirts of the township, a wolf stopped them. Remus didn't know what it said as the wolf spoke telepathically with Cox but the wolf soon stepped aside, allowing Remus and Cox to continue their trek.

The canyon was windy, and dust kicked up wherever they stepped. It was also huge and Remus soon found himself disoriented in the labyrinth. "Careful," said Cox as he led them around a large crack in the ground. "It's easy to get lost here if you aren't used to it, let alone fall into one of the cracks that can swallow a person within. It's generally impossible to navigate the length of the canyon most of the time." Remus could see a multitude of cracks in the otherwise dry earth, there being no source of water that he could see. "We call this area Gallangami Abyss."

Remus could see why Grimcrown pack had settled within the canyon, despite the barren ground and intense wind. It provided plenty of protection and if this pack knew how to navigate it, then they would be well protected from other packs and…vampires apparently. "How often do hunters come after werewolves?"

"They sometimes come after pups or hit us when we're docile on the new moon," said Cox. "If they have an enslaved werewolf that's trapped in their wolf form, or catch one as a pup, it is sometimes raised to hunt us down and makes it easier to track our kind down. But it's easiest in Fuyu and Haru…Haru because that's when our sentinels are out hunting and scouting and Fuyu due to the lack of food. It may cause the Guardians, Sentinels and Xi to venture further into the territory, leaving the pups and Caretakers defenseless." Seeing Remus's worried look, Cox held a hand up. "Don't worry. The caretakers and dams will do their best to protect the pups and that's why the doors are locked from the inside and we have Xi standing outside as protection. Dams are…rather ferocious when it comes to their young and others under their care. Plus, Eta will be there as well to protect them as well."

"Eta?"

"Full members of the pack but less dominant in nature," said Cox. "Eta help move dams when they drop pups if we're moving. They run errands for higher-ranking wolves and can hunt or patrol if asked. They don't really do any work within the pack otherwise and they care for visitors within the pack as well. Eta can become regular pack members if they show dominance over other wolves."

"What happens if you leave the pack and then return?"

"You're put as a Peon again, should the alpha let you back and have to serve your assessment again. It's to see if there have been any changes in your personality and to get your trust again if you leave and become a rogue," said Cox. "But if you're an exile, you'll have a harder time of being accepted back into the pack you were exiled from."

It seemed that Wane Fire lasted only an hour for it was dark by the time the pair reached their destination. Cox appeared to have no difficulty navigating within the darkness, while Remus struggled with seeing where he was going. His wolf abilities had not yet fully formed and likewise was the same with his litter, though he knew it not. The only thing that had seemed to kick in was the new moon's effects on making the older werewolf and his litter weak and docile. What lay before them was a barren valley made up of rocky outcroppings with short grasses lining the ground in sparse patches. As Remus and Cox crested one such outcropping, he stared below at the expanse of land and noticed that beyond the outcroppings were patches of finger lakes surrounded by rocky fingers and beyond that there were outcroppings on the other side and beyond was an expanse of vast land filed with scrub brush and patches of wildflowers but was altogether otherwise barren. "Where are we?"

"Bloomsevain and beyond lies the expanse," said Cox. "We can get fresh water below." He looked at Remus oddly for a moment and Remus could thankfully make out the other wolf's features in the darkness due to their proximity. "Have your abilities kicked in yet?"

"Abilities?"

Cox nodded, pointing out the trail that would take them down to the bottom of the rocky outcropping. "Watch your step," he said as he began descending. "Yes. Werewolves…vampires…quite a few of us have abilities. Even the food…vampires and humans…have abilities. Humans have night vision for example as an ability and it makes it difficult to hunt them for both of us immortal species."

"How long do humans live here?"

"Two hundred years," said Cox with a shrug of his shoulders which Remus just barely made out as he concentrated on not falling and crashing into Cox as he began his own descent down the steep path. "But yes, we have abilities. Werewolves, for example, have weather immunity and empathy."

"Empathy?"

Cox nodded. "Yes. Because our senses are so strong, we developed the ability to sense other's emotions through touch. With time, as this power grows stronger, one can sense a person's true intentions and can be developed to absorb the pain of others. We even have our own psychic ability called Anla."

Remus didn't ask anymore as they continued down the path, the wolf finding it difficult to navigate in the darkness. As they reached the barren valley, the cub of Fenrir breathed a sigh of relief and set the yoke down to stretch. "Don't get comfortable. We'll have to carry the water back home."

Ava, Flyrum, Year of the Elephant:

Location: Bausbile, West Provence

"You'll end up turning this night into your were form," said Cox as they stood outside. "The full moon forces us to turn as soon as we turn nine-years-old."

Remus's mouth dropped open as he heard this and turned to Cox. "That isn't right! Forcing children to turn so young!"

"That is how things work here for our race," came another voice and both wolves looked to see an auburn-haired man coming towards them, having overheard their conversation. "Our pups turn at nine-years-old due to being close to puberty," he said. "You must be the new Peon under Cox's control."

Remus silently nodded, even Moony sensing that this wolf wasn't someone to upset. He ignored his wolf, as he had always done his best to. "Gamma Siren," said Cox, bowing his head.

"There be no need to address me by mine title," said Siren. "However, perhaps it be appropriate for this peon. I am the Gamma Male of Grimcrown and the third dominant male within the pack. The pups will not turn into werewolves, rather they will turn into wolves forcefully. They will not gain access their were form until they have reached puberty between the ages of eleven to fourteen."

Remus thought Siren was an odd name for a wolf and it must have shown on his face because Siren chuckled. "I realize mine name be odd to hear, given Sirens be nothing but watery tricksters though rather beautiful. My father was part of a crew that crashed into some rocks when he was a sailor. Getting shipwrecked be a dangerous business for one has to deal with the risk of the creatures that live within the seas and oceans as well as pirates and enemy nations but mainly pirates who will pick up stranded sailors and sell them when they get to port."

"I hate being a werewolf. I turn into an monstrous animal. I don't want to turn into a wolf nor do I want my children to be wolves."

"Then perhaps ye should not have mated and sired pups," said Siren, his voice dry and yet non condescending as one might expect when pointing out the obvious. "Whatever issues ye have in the past, ye need to get over them and learn to accept what ye are and thy pups are." Cox was silent, listening to Siren speak to Remus. "When were ye turned?"

"I was four," said Remus. "A monster named Fenrir Greyback, who is notorious in our society for attacking and turning children to raise into his werewolf army, bit me because my father insulted him at the Ministry of Magic."

"You mentioned this 'Ministry of Magic' before and seem to be under the impression that werewolves can use magic."

"They can in my world. We were all wizards once…I suppose some were Muggles and they usually die."

"Muggle? What's that," questioned Cox.

"A person who cannot use magic," said Remus. "For some reason, we have people called Muggleborns, children who were born of non-magical people who can somehow use magic."

Both the gamma male and custodian gave each other dubious looks, mentally communicating with each other. "What was your life like as a werewolf in your 'magical world' like? Perhaps that be while you have issues with what you are," Siren said thoughtfully.

"It was difficult. My parents were afraid of me and my father knew who had turned me, knew there was only one monster out there that was into biting children. He believed...Fenrir…that if he bit children and raised them away from the wizarding world…raised them in his pack…then he could twist their minds and make them hate wizards. I guess it must have worked but he never got the chance to twist me into hating humans due to my father and mother kept me safe. However, I had to be chained up in my bedroom as a young child and as I grew and became stronger, I had to be chained in the cellar and locked in with spells so I couldn't escape and go on a murderous rampage. Had I done so, I would have rightfully been put down."

Remus took a breath and then continued. "I couldn't go to school and it was difficult to make friends as my parents were afraid if they found out what I was, then the Ministry would destroy me. As it was, I couldn't own a wand or go to school because of what I was. Werewolves don't have any rights in England, and they have to register with the Werewolf Registry which is part of the Beast Division of the Department of Control and Regulation of Magical Creatures. But thanks to Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I was able to go to school and he took precautions to ensure my safety and the safety of other students. A tree called the Whomping Willow was planted the year I attended Hogwarts in my first year and every night on the full moon, Madam Pomfrey who is the matron and responsible for healing, would walk me down to the Whomping Willow where I would go down a tunnel and into the Shrieking Shack, a home built for my use on the outskirts of the wizarding village Hogsmeade which was located near the school.

"Even then, after Hogwarts, I had a difficult time. Werewolves are seen as dark creatures, and nobody wants to work with a werewolf, so I had to take jobs far below my abilities within the Muggle world. I had to move constantly to protect myself as well, lest people become suspicious about my being sick during the full moon, though muggles think of werewolves as being fantasy….made up creatures in books and stories."

"That be while you hate being a werewolf? Because of the experiences thou faced on ye prejudiced world? Or is it because of thy sire who took no responsibility for ye?"

"I want nothing to do with Fenrir! He's a monster and always will be! He ruins children's' lives…the lives of people and the world would be safer if he were destroyed. And so do other werewolves that bite children."

"And what of werewolves that sire children? Should they also be so callously destroyed," Siren questioned. "Should ye be destroyed because ye bred with a female and made pups? And what of thee pups that are sired from birth? The pups that be bitten? Should they be put down as well?"

Remus was silent, not having anything to say to that. "Anyone that turns out like Fenrir should be," he said.

*'Thou apprentice has issues Cox. Do something about it,'* growled Siren telepathically to the younger wolf who bowed his head. *'Should he keep this up, he'll likely find himself in trouble with the alpha and beta.'* It was a simple warning to straighten the peon out, lest it reflect badly on Cox and a whine emitted from Cox in submission. "Thou will turn Peon as will though the young ones will be turning into wolves and not werewolves. They will be made to fend for themselves, with it being the last of heat season. Even those who favor the same sex will seek out the opposite by instinct to pass on their genes and conceive young. It is in our nature to reproduce, as we are animals. Even if some are strange about liking the same sex." It was something the gamma male didn't understand, him not having a mate and being straight himself. "The younger pups will be locked in the nursery, however the older ones to adults will be outside within the village where they will turn, fight and breed. Even you, strange peon, may find yourself searching for a female."

Cox tried getting Remus to open about his life on his own planet as a werewolf and before that, but the peon was not forthcoming about his life. In the end, the Custodian left to tend to other duties, leaving Remus to wallow in his own self misery and self-loathing at that…self-loathing for himself and his wolf which was such an integral part of a werewolf. Cox didn't know why his apprentice was so stubborn and foolish but agreed with Siren that the peon would need to check his temper and get over himself. Whatever had happened in his life on this other planet should not reflect on his choices and beliefs in this new world, otherwise he would find himself in for a rude awakening.

Meeting up with Arissa, the two found themselves discussing their respective apprentices. Both were new to mentoring a peon and thus were out of their depth with how to handle things. The pair did chores around the township and greeting some others around their ages, taking the time to relax before the full moon hit. Those who had mates already were keeping the females away from other males and growing testy as the full moon rose. As Wane Fire dwindled, the older pups were brought out of the nursery and the doors locked to keep the younger ones within and safe. The pups followed obediently after the acolytes who shifted as this would be the first time some of them turned into their were form and none were looking forward to the pain.

By Nether, the last of the pack was gathered within a large field outside the township that could house the entire pack. Mates stood close together while the oldest pups chatted nervously with each other or huddled near older relatives while the acolytes remained in their own group. The peon were also huddled within their own group and Remus found himself around others like himself in a way, that was werewolves new to a pack. Out of all them, Kivela seemed the most nervous about transforming, for she had not done so in years. As the moons began to appear in the sky, Remus looked up to watch them. "What are they?"

"The full one and biggest is Xygerk," said Kivela. "It controls the werecats and werewolves. The cats are weak on the full moon while we are strong and vice versa on the new moon which makes us weak and the werecats strong," she said. "The new moon in the sky is Odrapus and the smallest moon is Necalea. Werebears turn twice a month on the quarter moons of Odrapus."

"And the fourth moon? It doesn't look to be full."

"That is Rovao," said Mariston. "It be the second largest moon in the Xygerk system and the only one that scientists believe to support life. It must be a fantastic view to orbit Xygerk and gaze upon it," he said wistfully.

"It's best ye take your clothes off," said Cox as he approached them. "Our clothes will tear otherwise when we turn."

"But there's…there's women and kids here!"

"It's nothing they won't see every month or haven't already seen," said Cox. "Ye be a strange wolf Remus," Cox said with a shake of his head. The custodian was already unbuttoning his shirt, having kicked his shoes off. "We won't be turning back to human tonight anyway." The expression on Remus's face was one of horror. "We stay out here for the protection of the pups that cannot turn and Guardians and Xi will be posted around the entrance of the field leading to the village so nobody can go back into the village to potentially harm our young."

Seeing the look on the younger wolf's face, the Custodian patted Remus on the shoulder. "It'll be fine. Just let your wolf be free and embrace what you are," said Cox before walking off to go speak to some of the pups who seemed frightened of what was to come. As the moons began to rise within the sky, the alpha appeared before them, climbing onto a rock and howling for attention. The rest of the pack turned towards the alpha as he spoke. "We have new members in our pack who you may have seen about," said the alpha as he looked over his pack. "We welcome the wild wolf, Kivela Marshadow, into our pack who was found by one Remus Lupin…supposedly a werewolf from a different planet outside our solar system. Remus brings his litter of six pups to fill future ranks within Grimcrown and…two human infants that I am allowing to remain here within the pack. However, if they choose to become hunters and turn against us, they will be terminated the moment they pose a threat to our pack.

"It is my hope that these human infants will grow up to respect werewolves and perhaps become valuable assets within our pack or at least work as liaisons for us with some of the other races. We also welcome into our pack Mariston, Rukheim, Shadow, Nantucket, Peratha, Ruth, Dirk, Zegrath and Rubella who are all Peon that joined before this month's full moon. This will be their first time transforming and we have new pups who have reached the age of nine that will be turning into wolves this night as well. These pups are Quillard, Balrog, Jericho, Norrix, Sabrione and Tantra, Luana, Yolanda and finally Reniren. The acolytes that will be turning into their werewolf forms tonight for the first time are Christopher and Helewise, Olga, Carthel, Marric, Roniston, and Eoin."

He looked at the pups and acolytes named and then turned to the Peon before speaking again. "As the moons rise within the sky and we begin to turn, remember this is the last month of heat season for werewolves. Acolytes who foolishly breed will be punished and as for our adults within the pack, do attempt to remember that there are pups here. Pups and Acolytes, remember that the adults will be mating, and the males will be territorial over their females. They may even attack you if you get too close. Peon are advised that if they stray from the territory, there will be punishment and Xi will be sent after you in pursuit. Should any rogues or exiles come into our pack, destroy them…by death or chasing them out and any females who attempt to mate with an exile or rogue are to be captured immediately."

Those who were of the Xi nodded at their alpha's orders and headed off to go guard the entrance of the field leading to the township. With those words, the alpha fell silent, and the pack moved off into small groups, leaving the alpha alone on his rock. Remus found some place to sit down, removing his shirt and then removing his shoes as he set them aside. Moony hummed in pleasure at the thought of being able to run free and potentially find a new mate to cuddle with at night, one who could serve as a mother to their pups and potentially bring more pups into the world. Remus watched the moons and the stars, for this was a starry night, and though it was cold, he could appreciate the clear skies with no pollution. And then…as the moons rose within the night sky…came the pain.