Ascendance
The range she arrived at was still dark, but not as dark and dead as those deeper below. Light-rocks dimly glowed between mushrooms, trees, and flowers in shades of purple, blue, and green. Thorny vines wove around the trees and mushrooms. Tiny bugs, birds, and crawling things flitted through the forest, making a faint buzzing and chirping sound all throughout.
Seeing signs of life and normality was still a relief.
She landed and looked back over her tail, listening for any sounds of pursuit from the dark. There were none so far. The distant Cleansers were not near behind, though she had passed by some of them which Omega probably had far away from her chamber.
She continued into the range while remaining alert for any signs of kin, hunter or otherwise. An upward-sloping cavern at the end of the range was her path, but there were other caverns leading in different directions. Both of the other two caverns were dark with no visible light within them.
She considered the Cleanser's memories. One of those two different paths led to a range filled with burned, flowing rocks and a pawful of the kin which lived around such melted rocks and which could not be prey. The other path was known only as one which led to fear because of large spiders and dangerous webs in it. Exploring either path was unnecessary.
Higher. Always higher.
The cave sloped higher and widened into a chamber with a rushing river flowing down from a passage. The chamber had mushrooms growing near the river, and there were several side-caves leading in other directions. Nothing was special about the chamber itself except that the light wing pack lived directly above, up the path the river was flowing from. The river had to come from the waterfall which flowed down the large, round depression where most of the pack lived in caves assigned to their own pack-roles.
The living-range was close.
Faded, she landed behind an outcropping of rock and crept around it to get a better view at the path leading higher. There were no light wing Fighters or Far-Fliers visible. If she recalled correctly, the ones on guard would be inside at the bottom of the chamber or occasionally in this cave itself if they saw something or heard an approaching kin.
Almost there.
However, being hasty was risky. There was no rush to show herself and begin the fight right now when she was tired after much flying. Get rest and go challenge him afterward.
She dashed aside, found a place to hide among a thick patch of mushrooms, and settled down for rest and real sleep. None of the Cleansers would dare enter this range so close to the light wing pack. Further, her fade would last a while longer.
She woke up, checked that she was alone, walked through the plan in her thoughts, and took care of the waking routine. All was silent, save for the constant noises of the waterfall and related echoing.
There was no fear. If she could kill Omega and one of her thrall dark wing killers, the foul Alpha would be easy. He could not refuse a challenge in front of the entire pack, especially coming from someone who was forced from the pack and returned from certain death. To refuse a challenge from anyone to his status would be to lose status.
There was no need to test her power-light here. There was no panic such as had forced her actions the last time. This was not fleeing from a trap and being chased by Fighters loyal to him or just obeying their orders.
Her prior defiance, though that had ended in failure, had to have changed much within the pack. Everyone saw at least one example of resistance. The first Fighters on guard would reveal what had changed in her time lost below. If nothing had changed, she could try to force them to forget about her or think they had scared off another type of kin. Sneaking into the range while faded would be easy in that situation.
She took a deep breath and faced the cave with the stream. There was no reason to wait any longer.
She walked alongside the stream as long as possible and flew the rest of the way. The path twisted a couple times, always sloping higher. The light from the light-rocks behind faded, leaving the passage darker. No noise sounded except that from the rushing water.
The air gained the distinctive scent of light wings. The path grew brighter ahead, widening until it became clear there was a big range above. She emerged at the base of a very big range which she had seen many times before and-
Two light wings barked, announcing themselves. These had to be the Fighters on guard.
She landed on the nearest rock and waited for the two Fighters, both of which she recognized but did not know well, to approach. They landed on boulders before her and stared in obvious recognition and confusion, neither of them finding their words.
She calmly stared directly at them while feeling their life-fires. They knew only confusion, disbelief, and surprise.
"Eleventh-Fighter. Ninth-Fighter," she calmly said.
"You?" "What? How?"
"Good. You remember me."
"How are you alive?" "What happened?"
She chuckled, slightly showing her teeth, "What happened? Your twisted and rotted Alpha tried to kill me. He failed."
They winced and looked away.
"You should not talk like that about him. You should leave or you will get in trouble," Eleventh-Fighter said.
She shrugged, gently sliding one of her sharp claws against the rock underpaw, "I doubt it. What has happened in your pack while I have been away? How many waking-cycles have I been gone? You want to tell me everything you know."
They knew a deep and overwhelming need to appease her and tell her the full truth. They had to obey. They had to comply with an Alpha's command.
Eleventh-Fighter bent his head, staring at his paws, "You have been away about four-tens of waking-cycles. The pack is disturbed in many ways."
Four-tens? Had it been that many? The flight of time had been completely unclear down there.
"How is the pack disturbed?"
Ninth-Fighter explained, "Alpha and his kin are watching everyone very closely. His guards walk among us. More pack-ceremonies are happening to correct twisted-thoughts and keep peace. He made new rules."
"New rules? What about?"
Ninth-Fighter looked away from her, "Anyone who says your name becomes packless. Packmates are being beaten for asking questions. He moved more males out of being Far-Fliers and into being new Fighters."
"Interesting. Has anyone acted against him? Look at me."
Eleventh-Fighter faced her, his eyes unfocused, "We cannot talk about that… but for you… yes, you should know. There was a problem with the Hunters. Alpha was given a fish filled with death-plants. No one knew which Hunter or Hunter-Helper did that, so he picked a Hunter-Helper and killed her when no one confessed."
He had killed a random Hunter-Helper just to make a point and threaten others into obedience? That was not a good idea. Killing a packmate would surely push the others away from only fearing him and toward hating him. Hate had to motivate them to act further whereas fear alone would prevent action. While the death of one who was probably an ally was not good, this had surely weakened him.
"What happened next?"
"Nothing. Alpha has the right to punish any who break the peace," Eleventh-Fighter reluctantly said.
"He did not know that she was guilty of anything."
"She was guilty. Alpha said so."
Eleventh-Fighter was disturbed as he spoke. He knew his words were false, but he said them anyway.
"Has anyone else acted against him? Are there problems in the pack?" she asked.
Ninth-Fighter shuddered, "Not that this one knows about. But… far more are not obeying. Helpers are breaking rules in such numbers that they cannot all be punished. There is not enough food from the Hunters for everyone. All is disturbed."
She growled, "It sounds like you need a new Alpha."
"What?" Eleventh-Fighter gasped in shock.
She closed her eyes and touched the power burning within her life-fire. There was no doubt in her liver as to who she was or what she could do. Confidence and trust. The outcome was already decided, and all she had to do was let it happen.
Their gazes were narrowed in awe and fear as her power-light showed itself again, burning from her wings and soft spines.
"I am here to challenge your Alpha for his place. Ninth, you will tell him to meet me at the hungry water-hole."
"But you cannot… yes, this one will tell him," Ninth-Fighter mumbled before flying off.
She stretched her wings to take flight.
"You should not go in there," Eleventh-Fighter whined.
"Why not? Do not say you are worried for me."
He stiffened and blinked, "This one is not worried for you. This one will be punished for letting you past."
"No, you will not. Your Alpha will be dead."
"But… yes, you should go."
She added, "You want to tell as many packmates as you can that I am here to challenge the Alpha and take his place. You will break the no-self words-rule."
"Yes, I will tell them and break that rule."
He spun around and flew off. She waited a few wingbeats and took flight, ascending higher up the massive depression. Past ledges with caves covered over by long vines, past light wings staring at her in open surprise, and up along the loud waterfall, the spray of mist covering her wings.
Many voices were raised, roaring and shouting in surprise and disbelief. A pawful of Fighters, over ten Far-Fliers and Hunters, and even more females had taken flight and were following her, many of them ones she recognized from prior talks.
Curious what they were really thinking, she closed her eyes and felt for the mood in the light wings flying with her. Confusion, relief, fear, surprise, anger, and the sparks of hope were all mixed together.
They felt different from last time. The shock and paralyzing fear was not nearly as strong as it was before. Now, there was more anger and spite. Anger and spite properly directed, none of it aimed at her. What had changed, other than the one killing?
She flew slowly to let all the other packmates who wanted to follow fly behind her. Having an audience for the fight was important, both to legitimize the fight and to let them know the result all the sooner.
She was almost out of the living-range and in the skies of the forest-range when four more Fighters appeared from ahead. First-Fighter was among them, and she recognized the others as among Alpha's guards who had been there to protect their Alpha in his worst moments.
"You! You are not allowed to-" First-Fighter roared.
'I challenge your Alpha!' she shouted, interrupting him and announcing her intentions for everyone to hear.
First-Fighter shouted, breaking the silence, "None may challenge him! Especially not-"
She flamed at him, and the explosion fouled his flight. He recovered himself, spun to face her, and paused without flaming at her. Between her simmering power-light and the flock of now over five tens of light wings following her, he and the other three Fighters turned tail and flew with haste the other direction back to where they had flown from.
Amazement began burning within everyone else present. They probably had never seen anyone openly challenge the Alpha or his kin. Could they learn that-
First-Hunter appeared from the side, joyfully roared, and flew closer to her.
"Skadi! You live!" he shouted as he glided beside her.
"And I will kill your Alpha!"
'Are you and everyone else with me?' she added for only him to hear.
"We are. There are far more of us. Much has changed!"
'Be ready to fight this time!'
What did he mean about there being far more? Had more of the pack actually turned against the Alpha? Perhaps the Alpha killing the Hunter-Helper had been what changed everything. Everyone would feel more threatened after one of their own was killed. He made a mistake by striking at one of his own packmates in such an obvious way that everyone knew about it.
She continued over the forest and along the stream which picked up speed, flowing faster and faster until it joined other waters and-
The swirling, hungry water-hole. This would be the place. Nowhere else could be better.
She dove for and landed on the tallest outcropping near the water-hole while the other light wings landed further back or remained aloft at a distance. While waiting, she rolled her claws against the rock.
Her old lessons from Ice-Water-Pack had not been forgotten. She could hold her own against any male in normal combat. He had only dominated her last time because she had not expected his attack. Fighting him one against one would be easy, and her powers would help if he tried to get his Fighters and other allies involved. All she had to do was ensure this was a fight of one against one.
The approaching flight of light wings across the water-hole got her attention. They were Fighters, a pawful of Far-Fliers, several females, and the one kin she hoped to see.
The Alpha flew straight toward her ahead of all the others.
She closely watched as he approached and landed on the clearing beside her perch. His flightmates, which included several of his kin, landed behind him, leaving him and her mostly between the large groups of light wings. The foul light wings held out their wings in display while baring their teeth, as if that could be threatening.
She stared back at him, not even three pounces away from her. His yellow eyes were full of anger and fear as he crouched, tense and ready for combat.
'I challenge you!' she shouted for all to hear.
All muttering and hissing ceased, leaving only the sounds of the crashing waterfall. Many light wings whined and shook their heads in discomfort at the strength of her thought-shout.
"I do not accept your challenge!" he roared.
She flared her wings in display, showing off her power-light even brighter, 'We fight to the death! I do not ask for permission! Me and you!'
"Packmates, capture her! Your Alpha commands it! For the pack!" Alpha roared.
More packmates were constantly arriving, flying in from other ranges. Over thirty light wings were approaching from behind her while his about twenty allies approached from ahead. Almost all of the packmates behind her were Helpers from each of the three main pack-roles. The males included First-Hunter and others whom she knew had secret mates. A neutral crowd stood to the side, looking back and forth between the groups.
Maybe her allies were going to act after all.
The Alpha stared at her and the crowd behind her in surprise and shock.
"Kill her! She threatens the peace!" Alpha shouted, wildly looking around.
More of his Fighters and other allies had arrived, but even more Helpers had bounded out of the neutral crowd to stand by her allies. Shouting and roaring of confusion began. The crowd of idle and neutral packmates was already smaller than the other two groups and was shrinking. Alpha's side had more Fighters, but hers had far more kin.
The normal kin on his side were shuffling on their paws and looking from each other to the growing crowd opposed to them. Some of them bounded away from him and joined the neutral group while others in his group remained in place, not leaving his side but clearly anxious. Two Fighters, both younger ones, even switched sides and joined her allies. No one on her side went over to his.
"Monsters!" "Disloyal!" "No more!" "Kill her!" "Eat waste!" "Get over here!" "For the pack!" "Shove your tail up your-!" "Shaken egg!" "Obey!" "Kill him!"
Both sides were growling, snarling, and shouting insults at the other side. No one had yet moved to attack, but it was only a matter of time as claws were waved, teeth bared, flames prepared, and insults hurled. This was going to end in many dead light wings if nothing changed.
'He cannot fight for you!' she taunted him, her thought-voice louder than all other voices.
All the shouting and noise went silent as everyone turned to her and the Alpha.
"She is not one of us! I do not accept!"
She jumped down from the pillar and stalked toward him, 'You will fight me alone! No one else! Are you too weak? Too small where it matters?'
Chortling of amusement sounded from both males and females behind her. Tails and forepaws slapped the ground in mirth.
"Silence!" he bellowed.
The laughter continued, if anything even louder. The mockery clearly struck at his liver, making him shake with rage. He only needed a little more encouragement.
'Look at him, too afraid to fight! He is no Alpha!'
His control and restraint snapped as he pounced, jaws open with flame and his claws extended. There was no need to kill him quickly, so she leaped and flew out over the water-hole with him in close pursuit. Rather than immediately kill him, it was more important to make this a display of her strength. No one else took flight after him.
He tried blinding her with shots fired at her face, but those were easy to dodge. His anger and greater physical strength were useless. She made a point of not fading, so everyone present could easily watch the fight. The clouds of fire he made were actually helpful. Those which she could fly through were filled with heat, strength, and power, though not nearly as much as when she fought another monster.
He got angrier and wilder in his strikes as more of them missed while he was unable to get close. He did not appreciate that females were faster over short distances or brief flights, probably since he had never needed to fight like this.
She deliberately slowed down to let him get closer. There was no need to look back to see where he was. She flicked out her good claws, backwinged with a roll, and turned around faster than any male possibly could. As he passed under her, her claws raked across his muzzle and neck, making him howl in pain.
With a brief moment to check, she made sure that no one else was rising to interfere. The light wings who were aloft were keeping their distance while watching the fight. Smaller fights appeared to have broken out on the ground, but there were not many of those, and they only appeared to involve a pawful of kin each. Patches of the dirt and grassy areas were smoking or on fire from flaming. Whatever was happening on the ground was distracting his guards, or they were too afraid to fight for him after seeing how many were on her side. Perhaps First-Hunter could explain later what happened on the ground during this fight.
Alpha recovered himself and roared with wrath as he pursued her, apparently forcing her higher above the hungry water-hole. He was not flaming anymore, probably because he had none left. She darted aside to the edge of the water-hole.
The time for teasing and mocking was over. It was time to end this in a way none in the pack would ever forget. None would even consider challenging her after this.
Fury at how he used and manipulated the pack, secretly disposed of anyone who was at all defiant and brave, and forced himself on her. Fury burning brighter and hotter, sparking to life between her spines.
She spun in place, closed her eyes, and threw sky-light. A blinding flash, a deafening crack, and a booming echo followed, bouncing off the walls and echoing throughout the pack's chambers.
He was not dead, but he was hit. A blackened, smoldering mark like a spider's web grew across his upper back and to the base of his wings. Flight clearly pained him as he struggled to fly, trembling and lurching from side to side as he descended.
He heavily crashed and tumbled to a stop on the rocky edge of the clearing between mushroom-trees and the water-hole. The light wings nearest him retreated, bounding away. Good.
Weary from using sky-light, she followed him down to finish it. The small fights looked like they had paused. Everything had paused as all the visible light wings were looking skyward to her. He struggled to move or right himself.
She pulled up, tucked her wings, and landed fully on his back, her weight driving his breath out as well as cracking bones. Her forepaws stomped on the bases of his wings, breaking both wings at the same time. He could not howl in pain with no breath left, so all he could do was tremble and shudder, his jaws open in a silent howl. She ignored the distant roaring of alarm, confusion, and amazement.
She climbed off him, stalked around him, and held down his head with a forepaw, pushing as hard as she could without killing him.
"I can do anything my sire could do. This pack is mine, you foul monster," she hissed.
He gurgled, perhaps trying to speak but unable.
She reared up, fell on him, and crushed his head under her forepaws.
She heaved in place, stepped back from his ruined body, and caught her breath. His limbs and tail twitched before going still. It was done.
Revenge for his forcing himself on her.
Justice for all he and his kin had killed.
Relief that it was over.
She looked up and saw many tens of light wings approaching while keeping their distance and staring in silent awe, jaws open and eyes wide. They knew he was dead.
Leaving his remains here to rot was appealing, but that would leave the range likely smelling foul after enough waking-cycles. Fighting him here was the plan because it made removing the body easy after the fight was done.
She closed her teeth on the neck and dragged the body step by step to the nearby ledge. Straining, growling, and digging her claws into the dirt, she pulled his body to the edge. With a final shove and hurl, his body fell off the ledge, broke on the rocks below, and was swallowed by the spinning water.
Once he was gone, she flared her wings and roared until she was breathless, her call louder than the waterfall.
She stepped back from the ledge, caught her breath, and looked around, again beholding the rest of the pack gathered around the water-hole. No one else was moving. They were all staring directly at her in amazement.
She cleaned her claws and paws in the dirt and grass, flew back to the tallest outcropping she had first landed on, and stood upon it, holding out her glowing wings.
Everyone began gathering nearby around her in silence. Males and females mixed without regard for pack-roles. She could not see anyone who was greatly hurt from the prior small fighting.
"I challenged your Alpha and defeated him! Under your customs, I am your Alpha! Do any of you object?"
She felt a lot of agreement and some deferential fear. Both were fine. Some fear was appropriate considering what just happened. His guards and kin remained silent at the rear of the crowd.
First-Hunter stepped forward from the crowd and sat on his haunches before the pillar, "Skadi, you are a female! Why should we accept a female as our Alpha?"
He was not asking out of true disagreement. Instead, he had to be asking as a way of letting her answer the question for anyone else who might be reluctant to speak. How clever of him to anticipate the problem.
"Saying a female cannot be an Alpha means we are less than males, which most of you know is false. You should not care what your Alpha is if they can lead you well and help make your life better, which I will!"
"What will you do as our Alpha?" First-Hunter shouted.
She looked out over the mass of light wings eagerly looking up at her, "I will change this pack in many ways to make your life-flights warmer, and I will keep you safe from dangers you do not know about. This pack has many rotted rules, all to control you and make you obey the dead Alpha and his kin! That will change this waking-cycle! Will you bow to me, or not?"
Several wingbeats passed without anyone moving until it started. Helpers bent their heads low. Hunters and Far-Fliers immediately followed. Several Fighters even joined in. Soon, everyone was bowing except for a pawful of light wings all the way behind the others. Alpha's direct kin and several others were, unsurprisingly, not bowing. They were a problem to deal with later after securing her position in the pack. In her pack.
Alpha.
Her pack.
She held her head high as warmth and relief flowed over her like rain from the above-sky or a waterfall. From being packless, to not truly being accepted because of how different she was, to enduring everything since arriving at this twisted pack, to now being their Alpha and in a place where she could change the pack for the better.
"Rise, my pack!" she roared.
They did, looking expectantly to her.
"We must have an all-pack meeting! We meet in the living-range as soon as possible. Go bring anyone else who can come and tell them what happened!"
She remained there, watching as her new packmates flew off in all directions, but most toward the living-range. They had no idea just how much their pack was going to change.