Fall of the Heroes: A Tale of Detroit
Chapter 2: The Breeze of War
"Dominic is damn sexy," whispered "Leona" Throatripper as she eyed the dark shape of the Shadow Lord. Charlie glanced over at his packmate and rolled his eyes. She'd been commenting on that fact for about the last hour.
"You're in heat again," he sighed to her. She smirked and tossed her head slightly. Her long mane of blonde hair fell away from her strong and wildly arousing face. She grinned, her teeth bright and sharp seeming. Charlie tried not to pay attention to her obvious charms. He knew the growl inside him had far more to do with his wolf nature then anything about his feelings.
"Is that such a terrible thing," she grinned wider. He was unsure whether the smile aroused more passion in him. Or fear. He tried to shake off the feeling and smirked back at her.
"Hmph, I just don't think he'd be interested. He's probably a stickler for that whole, Garou shall not mate with Garou rule." Leona growled slightly at the comment.
"Who said I wished to make pups with him." She leaned back and watched the dark and gloomy visage of the famous Philodox. "Maybe I just want to lie with him a little." Her tongue slipped a little out of her mouth at the words as she brushed it along her teeth. Charlie again wished he'd been lucky enough to get Snapback's position, or even Sees-Like-An-Eagle's. At the thought of his other packmates Charlie peered over at the dark park. Snapback lay upon a bench, appearing like a dozing beggar. The skilled Ahroun had joined their relatively inexperienced pack only because no others would take him. This was because he was metis, a Garou born of two other Garou. As a result he had been terribly deformed upon his birth, like all metis. In Snapback's case it was his large hunchback that left him constantly bent forward slightly. "Just because you humans deny your urges doesn't mean we all should," growled Leona, not willing to let the argument go.
"I ain't exactly human y'know. I'm about as normal a human as you are a wolf." Charlie grinned smugly at his retort. It always made him feel better when he proved himself more skilled at anything then his other packmates. After all, even Sees-Like-An-Eagle who was only twelve years old tended to show Charlie up on a regular basis. If only the little snot wasn't so clever all the time. Leona of course had her whole wolfish nature to fall back on, and even Snapback seemed to be more accepted. After all, at least he had been born into Garou society and hadn't had to learn it so suddenly. Charlie sighed, then again, he had been a bit of a loser his whole life. Why should becoming a foot soldier in the service of mother earth make him any better?
"Aww, shut it." Leona glared towards him, locking her eyes with his. As was usual Charlie glanced away before too long. Leona chuckled as he yet again submitted to her dominance. Charlie cursed silently to himself. Lousy lupus, just cause she was born a wolf didn't mean she knew any more about being a Garou then he did! Besides, this was her first real hunt too, she didn't have any more claim to battle experience. He'd show her, he'd show them all. He'd prove he could do it! He stared out the window glumly, feeling more then a little depressed. He paused as he spotted a small figure step out of the shadows and start to speak with Dominic.
"Hey, who's that?"
"Who?" Leona glanced up and eyed the slim dark haired woman. "Oh, that's Josephine Corven. She was one of the great heroes who descended into The Maw to destroy the Black Crystal." Charlie nodded slightly in surprise. Of course, he felt stupid now. He glanced over at the smug grin on Leona's face and quickly looked away again. He had heard the story often enough, he should have known. The tales back about eight years ago when the forces of the Wyrm had swelled strong and powerful in the city of Detroit. Charlie tried to recall all of the eight brave warriors who had walked into the black heart of the Wyrm's power, and who had won a great victory in the name of Gaia.
If he recalled correctly Josephine Corven had been the scout who had first learned about the danger. She had also been the only non-Garou of the group. For she was a Corax, one of the werecrows. Able to transform between human and bird as easily as Charlie could man and wolf. He smiled as he remembered the stories that were told around the campfires whenever one of the heroes was mentioned. Wasn't there a poem about it? He tried to recall it too, but then lost his train of thought as his eyes suddenly widened. He watched the large black truck pull around the corner and down the street.
"Hey Leona, it's on! It's going down!" She glanced up at his surprised shout as the truck pulled into the park. Dominic slowly strolled across the street towards the rig. Charlie slipped open his door and stepped out into the chill night air. The breeze ruffled his long brown hair as he began to follow Dominic in. Behind him he heard a soft growl from Leona as she followed. The cab of the truck had opened and both the driver and his passenger had exited. Both men wore black leather jackets and jeans, both of them were built like professional football players. Neither of them seemed to care about the three people approaching. Instead they turned their attention to walking to the back of the rig and starting to unlock the trailer door.
"Hey boys, how's it going," said Dominic in his usual cold sneer. The two turned around as Dominic flashed them the badge in his wallet. "I'm Agent Winford," he gestured to Leona and Charlie, "these are my associates. If you don't mind I'd like to ask your business here." The two truckers glanced at each other and then back at Dominic.
"We're with Allied Chemical and Plastics," one of them grudgingly admitted.
"Of course," sneered Dominic. He turned and motioned to the park, and most especially the large frozen lake that sat serenely in the center of it. "I'm sure you just came to take in the beauty of nature." Charlie grinned to himself, here it comes, time to kick a few polluting punkasses. Next to him Leona tensed, also allowing a small smile onto her lips. Dominic had discovered that there had been a spate of illegal dumping at this sight, and had been allowed to take a pack out and deal with it. Charlie waited expectantly, eager to show the famous Shadow Lord Philodox exactly what he could do.
"Look man," said the driver nervously, "I think there's been a mistake."
"No mistake, open the truck," barked Dominic. The driver turned to comply, only at the last second did Charlie realize the man was grinning. With a steel snarl the trailer door swished up to reveal the dark interior of the truck. Charlie tensed as he spotted the swarm of dark figures lurking within, their eyes narrowed as they raised their guns. Dominic simply laughed, his commands simple. "Take them down!" Charlie growled and fell into the inner primal call of his being, in moments his body was changing, transforming into a creature of unimaginable speed and power. His perceptions shifted as he grew, growing sharper and more defined. The truckers appeared less menacing now, their height of little matter to his eight and a half foot frame. Thick brown hair sprouted from his skin as his clothes shredded away. His hands curled into massive paws, his face elongated into a ferocious muzzle. He howled, his warm breath misting around his wide jaw and gleaming fangs.
The dark shapes inside the truck began to fire, their shotguns sounding sharp and loud in the relative silence of the park. Charlie leaped back, surprised at the sudden attack, his powerful muscles easily carrying him away from the wild fire of the gunmen. Even before he could congratulate himself on his escape he was cursing his cowardice. Both Dominic and Leona had leaped straight into the truck, and even now he could see them tearing into their foes. He hissed in annoyance as he again charged. He saw the truck driver turning to run, Charlie growled as he twisted and pounded after the lone coward. His claws flexed as he prepared to leap for his foe. But then it was too late, a second large form sprang from nowhere to rip the driver's head from his body. Charlie cursed and slid to a stop in the snow as he looked at the massive hunchbacked form of Snapback. The metis Ahroun grinned at Charlie with rows of razor sharp teeth as he pointed back to the truck.
"Fight that way. Stupid!" Snapback seemed to somehow manage a sneer with his muzzle. Charlie growled but ignored the jab as he spun back towards the truck and rushed to help. But yet again he was too late. There was a terrible scream as a large man leapt from the trailer and collapsed into the snow. No sooner had he scrambled to his hands and knees then a massive tawny furred wolf sprang from within and slammed into him. The wolf's gaping maw clamped easily around the man's neck and ripped it apart as though it were naught but tissue paper. Blood sprayed from the gruesome wound and coated the snow around him. Charlie paused, rather disturbed by the whole sight. Leona added to his unease by simply tilting her head back and swallowing the torn remains of the throat whole.
"That it?" Charlie managed to slur in surprise, his yellow gleaming eyes widening in shock at the brutal speed of Dominic and Leona. He walked over and peered into the darkness of the inside of the truck. Snapback thudded up next to him, his fangs barred and ready for action. The bodies of the other five men lay scattered about within, blood leaking from their terrible and brutal wounds. Dominic stood quietly amongst the carnage, one of his black gloved hands reached up and gently brushed some of his dark hair back into place. Charlie's eyes widened yet further, had Dominic entered combat without even bothering to shift? The dark eyes of the elder glanced over at the three of them standing outside, there was a brief flash of white as he grinned slightly
"You did well, I am proud of you all," he turned to look at the collection of large steel drums that filled the back of the truck. "Now let us see what present these scum planned for Gaia." Dominic strode forward and grabbed up one of the fallen shotguns laying on the floor. He grunted slightly as he slammed the stock of the gun against the rim of the yellow barrel, breaking the seal. He dropped the gun as his fingers dug into the gap and pried it open. The lid opened with a hollow pop. Almost immediately Charlie noticed Dominic's back tense. The young Garou shuffled nervously, wondering what was wrong. Leona didn't bother with such quiet worry and instead growled noisily, Charlie easily understanding her wolf-speak.
"Lord, what's wrong?" Dominic turned to glance over at them and shoved the barrel over. Charlie and Leona both jumped in nervous surprise, fully expecting a foul chemical to come spraying towards them. Instead there was only a vacant clang as the drum fell over. Empty. Charlie stared in dumbfounded confusion at the barrel even as a large black raven swung by overhead, cawing into the night. Its cackling call seeming to chill the cold air even more. Dominic turned and sprang out of the truck to land softly on the snowy ground. His eyes darted around as he sniffed the air, a low growl started in the back of his throat. Charlie spun around, just now spotting the dark shadows that seemed to creep out of the alleys and hidden alcoves of the street. Dominic quickly motioned the young pups back as he hissed the words that Charlie had already feared.
"It's a trap!"
"Whip-whip-whip-pooooor-will!!!" The haunting cry echoed across the street, issuing from the snarling mouths of the ancient foe. Sinking like shards of frozen terror into the hearts of the Chosen of Gaia. Dominic spun and pointed back towards the open park near the lake, and beyond it the concealing safety of the trees. Leona turned and took off, her sleek tawny body dashing over the snow like a fragment of daylight fleeing the coming of night. Snapback growled and also started a slow retreat, his hackles raised at the indignity of it all. Charlie stood frozen in fear, his mind attempting to come to terms with the dark shapes that even now dashed across the street and into the parking lot. He watched as they shifted, their bodies growing into large and lanky beasts covered with spotty patches of coarse gray fur. He felt his legs lock in terror as the cry or the whippoorwill again hissed through the night. His eyes locked in fear upon the flashing teeth and shining claws.
"Fool!" Dominic's hand tugged on Charlie's massive forepaw, he glanced down in surprise into the angered face of the elder. "Move your sorry carcass! Now!!!" Snapped back into the reality of the situation Charlie spun and ran after the others. The chill wind whistled across his senses as he ran, behind him he heard the crunching of the snow as Dominic followed. Behind that...death came for them.
"Whip-whip-whip-pooooor-will!!!" The cry seemed to give him a new strength, and a new speed
"Whip-whip-whip-pooooor-will!!!" The cry seemed to give him a new strength, and a new speed. Stinkface slipped forward through the dark trees of the park. He could hear the cries of the Garou fools whom they had caught in their trap. The others would be driving them this way, right into the killing zone. Around him six other Black Spiral Dancers lurked in the darkness. Both Rockcrusher and Treeshaker crouched near him, their fanged maws split in eager grins. Stinkface glanced yet again at the lone figure who lead them. Standing quietly motionless, his black robe hiding him from easy view, Endelon watched the fleeing Garou through the trees. His thin mouth remained twisted up in a small smile, his dark blue eyes watched with dispassion as the figures fled the first wave of the attack.
"They wait in the trees! It's a trap! Run to the west!" The cries broke through the stillness, shaking Stinkface from his careful watching of their coming foes. He stood up in surprise. Someone had just warned the fools! The trap had been ruined! But how? Stinkface looked around helplessly, nearby him the others did as well. Their baleful red gleaming eyes searching the area for the source of that accursed yell. Endelon had remained unmoving, but now he slowly turned to his left towards Stinkface. The Dancer paused in fear, worried that Endelon thought he had done it. But then the assassin's eyes lifted upward, into the trees. Stinkface looked up as well, and spotted their ambush's betrayer. Perched in the tree was a young boy, his features frightened as he realized he had been spotted. He turned and sprang from the massive oak, even as he fell his body shifted and grew. Bulking up into the bestial crinos war-form he slammed hard into the thick snow below. Immediately the young werewolf was up, and desperately running for his friends.
"Strike now," came Endelon's soft command. Though it was little more then a whisper it seemed to clearly carry to all of the eager Dancers. Stinkface growled as he lunged forward, his gaze burning red as he eyed the fleeing back of the youngster in front of him. The youth ran desperately along the edge of the frozen lake, his feet kicking up white tufts of snow as he sprinted. Across the way Stinkface spotted the others shifting course, actually running out onto the frozen over lake. They ran now, trying to catch up with their friend and evade the twin pincers of Dancers that were attempting to crush them between each other. A dark shadow suddenly rushed past Stinkface, its black robes billowing around it as it ran. The ragged black bandages that wrapped his body fluttered as Endelon sprinted over the snow like an angel of death.
Stinkface watched as Endelon reached under his robes and pulled out the twin klaives he hid there. The two silvered knives glinted in the moonlight as they twirled into easy readiness in Endelon's hands. Green fire seemed to leap and dance around them, playing along the madly etched runes scratched onto the blackened surface around the shining sharp edges. The young Garou sensed the danger. He howled as he ran even faster, his legs a blur as he ran for his life. He suddenly turned, cutting sharply onto the lake and rushing for his friends. Endelon and the others followed. Stinkface snarled as he tried to catch up, eager to spill the blood of his foes. The young Garou twisted his head to glance back, eyeing his nearing pursuers with fear. Endelon's face was an emotionless smile as he spun to a stop and hurled one of his klaives towards the fool. The knife hissed through the air, leaving behind it a flashing trail of green balefire. There was a slurping thud and a howl of agony as it slammed into the youth's eye-socket and cast him back onto the ice, to lie unmoving.
"Noooo!" Charlie howled in disbelief as he watched Sees-Like-An-Eagle fall. The brave kid had warned them, told them to change course to avoid the waiting Dancers in the forest. They had quickly followed Dominic's command and turned to sprint across the wide ice coated lake. From the tree line had come the small silver form of Sees-Like-An-Eagle, behind him the dark stream of the Dancers. Charlie had watched his young friend run for his life, helpless to do anything about it. But the kid had always been fast, he had run like the wind and outdistanced all of his pursuers, only one of them even able to stay close. They had almost reached each other, they had almost been able to join up and get out of this madhouse. The images of a trail of green fire, and of a silvered gleam sinking into a red stained sliver furred face flashed repeatedly across Charlie's eyes.
"Whip-whip-whip-pooooor-will!!!" The cry screeched from the two swarms of Dancers as they closed in around their prey. Smelling the fresh tang of blood on the wind. The wild call filling the air with a madness. The mangy black shapes looking to all the world like two predatory swarms of deadly birds. Red eyes flashed and sparked as they closed in, cutting off escape as their howls reverberated within his skull. Charlie felt the mindless rage of loss build within him. The black fur around his mouth curled back as he snarled and prepared to wait and face his foes. But suddenly a voice cut through the wild calls as a figure leaped past him and put itself between him and the charging horde.
"Go! Head to the trees!" Charlie spun to look at Dominic. The Shadow Lord had turned to watch the two groups as they rushed in for them. He pulled open one side of his black coat, it billowed in the breeze as his hand slipped under it and drew forth his klaive. The wind hissed around him as Dominic held up the knife formed of a sharpened bone. A simple leather cord was wrapped tight around the hilt. The curved blade bore two ancient runes, one upon either side. Charlie immediately recognized them as the writing style of the Silver Litany, an ancient form of lettering known to the Garou. The runes were dual symbols that commanded Gaia's chosen in their war. Duty...and Death.
Dominic crouched slightly, his black clothing seeming to fade away into so much smoke as his body bulged outwards. Black fur sprouted across his frame, two stripes of silver streaked away and down his back from his ears. Another patch of silvery-white decorated his breast. Powerful muscles tensed under the dark fur as the aged warrior readied to hold back the flock of Dancers so that the others could escape. Charlie looked the other way, he could see that both Snapback and Leona were still running for their lives, though now Leona glanced back, as if sensing something amiss. Charlie locked eyes with her for an instant, and then turned away. Dominic glanced at him in surprise.
"Leave boy."
"I leave, when you leave," snarled Charlie as he crouched down and readied for combat. Dominic flashed his fangs at the youth, whether in amusement or annoyance Charlie was unsure. But he knew that this felt right. He looked over and suddenly tensed, his eyes growing wide in pained fear. "No..." The word hissed out of him, things were worse then he had thought, his packmate wasn't dead. Across the ice Sees-Like-An-Eagle had started to weakly crawl towards them, blood streaming from his wound as he looked up in anguished terror to Charlie. Behind him the dark shapes of the Dancers howled in glee as they bore down on him. Dominic spun at Charlie's cry, his eyes also widening in surprise at the spectacle. He gripped his klaive in his hands, the rune of duty flashed coldly across his face as he began to move.
"Let's get him," growled Dominic as he charged forward. Charlie quickly fell in behind him, the pair now in a strange race with the dark robed figure who had dropped their comrade. Sees-Like-An-Eagle looked up weakly as they rushed towards him. His face twisted in pain around the dark hilt of the blade embedded into his eye. Charlie and Dominic rushed towards him. "Get him, then get out," howled Dominic as he suddenly sprang forward, launching himself over Sees-Like-An-Eagle and dropping down between the two pups and the charging Dancers. The thin one in the lead drew himself up short, his flashing blue eyes narrowing as he smiled at the large Shadow Lord. Dominic fell into a crouched battle stance, and bared his fangs. Both of them raised their knives menacingly.
Charlie growled as he reached down to grab his wounded packmate. He heaved Sees-Like-An-Eagle up and cradled him in his arms. He never would have imagined the boy's stout crinos form could be so light. He looked down at the slack silver furred face, and at the stream of red gushing out from around the blackened handle of the klaive. Charlie looked up in surprise as a powerful roar split the night. Dominic and the Dancer had had enough of waiting! An arc of green fire slashed through the black night, it came to an abrupt stop amidst a shower of sparks as Dominic deftly blocked the blow with his own klaive. Charlie gasped in awe at the speed and skill of the great warrior. But then he forced himself to turn away and run back towards the others. He could faintly see Leona waiting anxiously at the distant tree line, silently urging him and Dominic to her.
The robes of the Dancer seemed to swirl around him as he ducked and spun away from Dominic's return slash. Dominic quickly reversed his attack and cut down into the robe, but he had been mislead by the billowing garment and his strike hit nowhere near his opponent. Dominic growled in pain as an excruciating gash was opened up on his unprotected flank. He felt the blade cut deep, spitting its baleful green fires to scorch his insides. He twisted and moved back, trying to get more room to fight with. The Dancer's blade hissed and snapped through the darkness, eerie green tracks of flame crackling through the night as he pressed his advantage. He pushed in close, his twirling and deceiving style only aided by the tight quarters. Dominic howled in anger, his klaive locked blades suddenly with his opponent's, at the same instant his powerful clawed hand raked out and tore into the Dancer's throat. Blood sprayed from the wound as the dark robed shape quickly staggered away.
Dominic growled in victory, but he had no time to follow up and finish the robed creature. Two more Dancers were closing in now, as one they sprang for him. The Shadow Lord twisted and ducked under their wild leaps. His blade slashed in a brutal overhead arc that gutted one of the pair. The black furred beast yelped in pain as he crashed onto the icy covering of the lake. He curled up and clutched at his bloody abdomen. Dominic spun around and leaped towards the back of the second. Even as the Dancer started to regain his feet Dominic's clawed hand wrapped tightly around his throat. Dominic pulled back harshly as he rammed his klaive deep into the shocked Dancer's back. Ribs splintered and snapped as Dominic drove his hand deep into the wound till his blade ruptured the Dancer's heart. He quickly spun the corpse around and hurled it towards the other onrushing Dancers as he once more ran towards the remote safety of the trees.
Charlie glanced over his shoulder at the sudden rush of footfalls. Behind came the robed figure, moving frighteningly quickly across the ice. Charlie was weighed down by his packmate's limp body, and had never been the quickest of runners to begin with. He cursed in frustration as he turned around and prepared to meet the charge. Their was a flutter of black robes and tattered bandages as the spindly Dancer sprang up and sailed over Charlie's head. Charlie spun around in startled surprise, baring his fangs as he lashed his head forward to snap at the Dancer. But the spindly figure moved too quickly, his head weaving sharply to the side to avoid the bite. However his klaive hissed upwards, the blade biting deeply into Charlie's throat and tearing across his chin and across his face.
He howled in pain as he was tossed back. The fires of the blade burning at his flesh and fur, the silver of the blade burning at his very soul. Charlie felt Sees-Like-An-Eagle fall from his grasp as his hands involuntarily snapped up to clutch at his burning face. Charlie growled, forcing his anger up to swell over his pain and block it from his cares. He forced his pain laced eyes to open as he pushed himself back to his feet. The Dancer chuckled at him as he stood over Sees-Like-An-Eagle. He crouched and quickly grabbed his second klaive, jerking it brutally from Sees-Like-An-Eagle's eye-socket. The young pup managed one brief bark of pain before the Dancer's first blade hissed out and slashed his throat apart. Charlie roared in pure anger as he watched his packmate crumple lifelessly upon the ice.
He sprang forward, his claws lashing and hissing through the air as he unloaded in a wild torrent of attacks upon the Dancer. The black robed shape seemed to twist and turn before him like a scrap of cloth on the wind. Charlie's anger only increased as he failed to connect with his hated foe. He felt as though more then just blood coursed through his veins, it felt like pure liquid anger was powering each of his swings. His arms seemed almost a blur of movement as they flailed madly. His claws glinting wickedly as they cut through the air. But the Dancer was too quick, his movements were unpredictable perfection, he was always never where Charlie struck. Matched arcs of fire suddenly streaked through the air and Charlie felt his gut erupt in pain as twin cuts tore through his belly.
Charlie bellowed in rage as he raised both his arms over his head and struck down towards the Dancer with all of his might. But once again the billowing black robe seemed to dance away effortlessly. Charlie's arms smashed down hard onto the ice, shattering it apart and plunging his hands into the freezing water below. Pin pricks of pain lanced through his hands, frozen shards of torment. Fiery bands of agony traced across his belly, and his face was a mask of anguish. Charlie looked up as the Dancer sprang in again, his blades both streaking straight in towards Charlie's eyes.
"No!" With that single bellow Dominic crashed down on the ice between them, his blade twisting in his hand as he locked it tightly with the guards of both of the onrushing klaives. The Dancer snarled in annoyance as he twisted his weapons free. He shoved Dominic's weapon out wide with one as his second blade hissed in towards the Shadow Lord's side. Charlie sprang forward, his claws slashing at the Dancer's arm. The black robed figure howled in pain as Charlie's claws gouged deep into his forearm. He sprang back suddenly, his robes snapping around him as he flew back a dozen yards to land lightly on the icy coating of the lake.
Charlie was suddenly shoved back by Dominic as the Shadow Lord spun around to face the charging rush of more of them. Dominic's arm lashed out as he tore his claws into the shoulder of one of the Dancers. With a contemptuous push Dominic sent the Dancer off balance. The Black Spiral's feet twisted and turned under him as he lost his balance and sprawled onto the ice to slide away helplessly. Dominic quickly cut the next one with his klaive, his blade biting deep into an artery and causing the Dancer to howl in fear as blood began spurting madly from the wound. Charlie started to stagger to his feet when he caught sight of another problem. Apparently the ice covering the lake couldn't cope with the combined weight of a dozen nine foot plus angry werewolves leaping and battling atop it. Sharp and jagged cracks were quickly spreading out from the hole he had smashed into the ice.
The Dancers spotted the danger and quickly halted their rush, scampering back from the dangerously cracked sections. Dominic looked down at the ice and cursed. There was a resounding splintering crack as the ice gave way beneath them. Charlie felt the ice he had been upon tilt crazily, tossing him off it to smash down hard on another section. It crumbled almost instantly, fragmenting into dozens of tiny pieces. Charlie was plunged down into the dark frozen depths of the lake.
Jo watched the battle as she circled overhead. Her black wings twisted as she glided along upon the wind, her thoughts focused on her friends below. Things had at first looked good. She had tried to give Dominic a bit of warning when she first spotted the trap closing in, her warning caw had prevented them from being trapped inside the truck. Then one of them had averted the disaster of them running straight into a second ambush. But then things had gone all wrong. The youngest had been felled by one of the Dancer's klaives and then Dominic had decided to go all stupidly heroic and try to rescue him.
One of the pups had followed him in, both had become entangled in a brutal clash of teeth and claws. The other two pack members had made it to the trees, and after a minor argument had decided to follow Dominic's last order and run for it. As for Dominic and the pup, well, Jo could have told them a ice coated lake was a treacherous place to fight. Literally treacherous. The ice had seemed to have given up on them as it shattered and sent them plunging into the dark depths.
Jo watched as the rest of the lake's icy coating broke down and splintered apart. The Black Spiral Dancers quickly retreated before the crumbling surface. Her dark eyes scanned the darker waters and the bobbing chunks of ice. The Spirals were starting to collect themselves and were also starting to look around for their prey. Suddenly the icy water sprayed upwards as four figures leaped out of the freezing black water to land upon the shore. Four identical images of Dominic snarled at the Dancers, then laughed in mockery as they split up and ran in four separate directions.
"Whip-whip-whip-pooooor-will!!!" The angry cry of the Dancers split the chill night air as they dashed after the fleeing form of Dominic. The Dancers splitting up into various groups, each hunting after one of the multiple Dominics. Their snarling shapes bounded off into the woods, snapping and growling as they chased their prey. Jo chuckled to herself as she kept circling, you'd have thought they'd have remembered the pup... She grinned as two bedraggled shapes pulled themselves out of the water and onto the far shore from where the other Dominics had been. Dominic's arm supported the sagging shape of the pup who had reverted to his natural homid state. Dominic quickly sprinted away from the lake, charging past the truck and back out into the city. Distancing himself from the enraged Dancers as he rushed into a nearby alley. Jo quickly banked downwards and swept in after him.
She arrived in the alley even as Dominic shifted back to his own homid form. His heavy coat and black clothes seemed to simply appear out of thin air around him as his body shrunk down, and his features returned to that of a normal human. Dominic sagged against the wall of the alley, his face was pale and sunken as his breath hissed between his clenched teeth. Weakly drooping on the ground was the pup, he wore only the tattered remains of his jeans. He shivered slightly, still soaked to the bone from his dunking, blood leaking profusely from a pair of cuts on his belly and a garish cut across his face and throat. Jo winced as she dropped from the sky, transforming into her human state as she fell. She landed lightly and looked at the pair of them.
"How are you guys doing?" The pup looked up bleakly at her, his lips already colored with an unhealthy bluish tinge. Dominic glanced at her and smiled thinly. "Man, you guys got ripped up. Literally, literally you were ripped up."
"Where're the Dancers," hissed Dominic as he stood up straight. Jo noticed the stiffness to his movements, and noted how he kept his hand pressed in tight against his left side.
"They chased off after those fake images you made of yourself, but I don't think it will fool them long. What the hell are you two going to do now?" Dominic looked down at the pup and shook his head.
"I don't think we can make much of a run for it, Charlie's too hurt. And fighting them won't be an option. We need a place to hole up for the rest of the night, somewhere to recover and rest." He looked over at her meaningfully, she nodded.
"We better get moving now, c'mon!" She scampered past them and ran up to the far end of the alley. Dominic leaned down and dragged Charlie to his feet. He scowled as he looked at the pup. He pulled open his coat and quickly slid it off. Jo again noted the careful stiffness of his motions despite his speed. She frowned.
"Here, put this on," snapped Dominic as he slung it around Charlie's shoulders. The pup nodded in thanks as he pulled it tighter about him to hide his disheveled appearance and nasty wounds. Jo tapped her foot impatiently as she waited at the far end of the alley. Dominic grabbed Charlie with his right arm and half supported and half dragged the young man along as he hastened to join her.
"Whip-whip-whip-pooooor-will!!!" The cry was distant. But it was a cry of anger. Dominic's ruse had been discovered.
"Shit," gasped Jo as she turned and rushed along. "Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit." She quickly rushed across the nearly deserted street and scampered into another alley. Behind her Dominic doggedly kept pace with her, his face ashen pale and grim as he listened to the distant cries that were now coming closer again. "Shit, shit, oh shit, shitty shit, shit in a shitbag, we are in so much shit, we're literally in shit!"
"Josephine, calm down," growled Dominic. "You aren't allowed the luxury of losing it. Is that understood?"
"Losing it," muttered Jo as she turned them down the next sidewalk they passed and quickly ushered them up the street. "Why the hell should I be losing anything. I'm as collected as a tax-man, as calm as a yogi, as cool as a rock in the water." She glanced back at Charlie and Dominic, "no offense of course, I didn't mean it literally. Just that I was collected. Literally collected. Collected and calm, that's me. No worries, that's right, not a worry at all. Why if someone was going around collecting worries and they came to me. Hell, I'd say. I'd probably literally say it too. Especially if someone were weird enough to be trying to collect worries..."
"I think she's gone off the deep end," muttered Charlie weakly as he watched the dark haired woman randomly prattle as she quickly lead them through the dark streets.
"Don't worry," sighed Dominic, "for her this is pretty normal." Charlie shook his head as Jo took them down another alley.
"Whip-whip-whip-pooooor-will!!!" The three of them all paused and glanced at one another. The call had been a cry of victory, and of the hunt. Dominic cursed as he looked over at Charlie.
"The wounds," he said darkly, "they caught the scent of blood back in that alley."
"Will they actually enter the city to track us," asked Charlie weakly.
"Oh yes," said Dominic with a nod. "They'll be a bit more subtle, but they'll be hunting us just the same." Dominic paused for a bit, his breath hissing in and out between his teeth. Finally he shook his head and looked over at Jo. "Where the hell is this safe house you're taking us too? How close is it?"
"Other side of the city," she said with an apologetic shrug.
"We best get moving then, right?" Charlie glanced up at Dominic for direction. The Shadow Lord's eyes seemed unfocused as he looked off into the distance. Charlie suddenly staggered as he felt the solid support of Dominic's arm slip away from him. He crashed against a large dumpster as Dominic crumpled to the ground.
"Shit, shit, damn, hell, crap-a-doodle, fuck, damn, poop, stupid stubborn jerg-off!" Jo hissed and cursed as she rushed over and dropped by Dominic's side. Charlie pulled himself to his feet and walked weakly over to her as she quickly popped open Dominic's black business jacket. She peeled it back and looked down at his left side with a curse. Sure enough the dark shirt was damp from more then just the water, there was a large sticky patch of blood.
"Is he okay," asked Charlie as he dropped to his knees and looked at the stain.
"Damnit Jim, I'm a spy not a doctor," she muttered as she started to pull up Dominic's shirt. Charlie growled in worried annoyance as he watched her work. Suddenly Dominic's hand snapped up and latched onto her bony wrist. Jo hissed in pain as his powerful hand clamped down tightly. She looked up as he lifted his head slightly off the pavement and looked at her.
"Lung punctured," he gasped in annoyance. "You two get moving, I'll rest up and head out on my own...multiple paths may confuse..." he coughed a few times, blood flecking his lips.
"Damnit you pig-brained cow-herder," snapped Jo in annoyance. "Why the hell did you have to keep doing it all yourself when you were hurt the most!" Charlie hung his head in shame, his own wounds were hardly debilitating, just painful. He clenched his hands tightly into fists as Jo continued to curse. "And how the hell are we going to get you to the damned safe spot? I know I can't carry you."
"I could," snarled Charlie as he tried to stand. Jo scowled at him and waved him back.
"Don't be stupid, you're not in great shape yourself." She frowned as she looked down again at Dominic, his face had grown still paler. Charlie sat next to her, his body quaking in helpless anger. Suddenly Jo's eyes widened. "Oh of course," she gasped as she dug into her coat and pulled out her cell-phone. "I just hope he picks up!"
He sat propped up slightly on one arm, his body lounging across the worn and musty mattress. A thin trail of water seeped down the side of his face as another droplet dripped off him. The water stains seemed shapeless to him now, as pointless as his own existence. He raised his arm and clicked on the television. He pressed another button on the remote and scanned through the choices. Over one hundred and forty-seven stations, over half of those porn. He lowered his arm as another drop of water fell on its suicidal path and splashed against his brow. He left the scan function on automatic and just let the images cycle, washing across his retina.
He watched the screen absently. Allowing the brief flashes of light and the hurried snippets of sound to create an abstract creation. He felt his mind slip slightly out of joint as he reached the quiet solitude of his own meditation. He could remember a time when he would have meditated on the stars, on a waterfall, on the sounds of rustling leaves, on the glory of Gaia. Now he reached the state through alcohol, through scrambled images of porn, through quiet despair. He remembered a better time, a time he had been proud to be himself. He remembered, he remembered...
...remembered the putrid green light of the pit flashing across their faces as they fought and battled for their lives and the lives of so many others in that dark place. He looked up in horror as First-To-Find was torn apart, his body ripped asunder by a dark and unholy power. The sorcerer Malise cackled as he swept in towards them, around him the hordes of the corrupt howled in glee and pressed in. He growled as he looked over at Snowflake. Her beautiful white fur was stained red with her blood and the blood of her enemies. She snarled in ferocious agreement to his unspoken question. They turned and leaped into the middle of the approaching swarm.
He and she moved as one, their attacks and defenses melding perfectly into an unstoppable whole. Malise cackled, his magic snapped around him. Beneath them the walkways suddenly splint asunder, the solid stone crumbling around them. The mad beasts of the pit howled in fear as they fell. He leaped and twisted, staying one step ahead of the crumbling stone, avoiding the unending fall into the green damnation below. He rushed for Malise, his claws extended as he hurtled himself into the air. Claws flashed! A throat was torn! A hero fell. He reached out, his hand grasping only air as he stared down into fear filled eyes. He howled in sorrow at the loss. Darkness swarmed in. The end came...
...His eyes snapped open, his body was covered in a thin sheen of sweat as he gasped for breath. He growled as he grabbed up the remote and flipped off the TV. The phone rang again, it had been ringing, it had shaken him out of the memories. He looked around at the discarded bottles laying about him. But none still contained the liquid forgetfulness that he sought. He slowly reached out and picked up the phone. He held it up to his ear and sighed.
"Hey man, that's you isn't it? It's me!" He almost threw the phone away from himself in that instant. But something in her tone forced him to hold his hand, it wasn't like Jo to sound so concerned.
"What is it?"
"We need help, big help, big fast help, big fast desperate help. Literally we need this, don't think this is a trick. It could be our lives...literally!" He ran a hand across his face and rubbed at his temples and stubble covered chin.
"We? We who? What help? What's going on Jo?"
"Listen to me very carefully, I need you to get off your butt. Literally. Get up and come out to the alleyway between the pawnshop and bar down on DeWalt drive. I need you to come quick man. Our lives are at stake here! Will you come? Tell me you'll be there!"
"Well..."
"Great! Hurry up, this is important!" The phone went dead in his hands. He dropped it to the floor and sat there looking at it for a while. She had said it was important. That her life was on the line. He sighed as he forced himself to stand. He at least didn't have to bother getting dressed, he'd been smart enough not to bother taking off his clothes since Jo had dragged him out to that bar. He shoved his hands into his coat and looked up at the ceiling. His face split with a annoyed snarl as he shook his head in frustration. He turned away from the ceiling and to the door. He walked out of his apartment and down the stairs. Behind him the water stains on the ceiling looked like laughing faces.
