Welcome to the third part of my ever growing Werewolf tale. I must say I'm pleased at the response, since I basically started writing this story more as an experiment to create a Werewolf story then as any true plan to work for long with these characters. However they do seem to have run off with me somewhat, and hopefully this chapter will contain more of whatever it is you all enjoy about this story. I'll let you know that this chapter contains not only the name of the main character, but also brings back Puck. She was originally slated only for the opening, but FuryS Forge's comments helped me remember why I liked her character so much. Thus she has muscled her way back into the narrative...especially due to an odd little toy from the days of yore I spotted recently in the department store:) In any case, please read on and enjoy.
Fall of the Heroes: A Tale of Detroit
Chapter Three: Gusts of Change
"The dread and debased monstrosities are even now walking unhindered through our city!" The court was in an uproar, and for once she hadn't been the source of the anger. Puck quietly stood in the corner and watched the nobles fret and froth. She hadn't been too surprised when this emergency night council had been called. After all, she'd tried to warn them about the possibly resurgence of Spiral activity. Was it her fault if they thought she had been lying? It's not like she lied much...really about less then half of what she said were lies...really! Lady Ayloshia sat quietly on her throne. Her gossamer wings twitched slightly in agitation as she watched Lord Byris Gwyndion growing angrier. Arienkel suddenly steeped forward, his golden staff of office flaring slightly as he raised it.
"Calm thyself Byris. You shall speak with respect to your Lady!" The sage's eyes darted amongst the nobles. His stern glower quieting many of them. "You shall allow Lady Ayloshia to examine this problem fully. It is not something to be decided on without due consideration."
"You ask us to respect our Lady? You ask us to approve of her choices when all they do is weaken us. Perhaps next she would like to have us invite the leeches in for tea?" Puck glanced over as Lord Cruss stood. The young sidhe had been fairly vocal of late about his low opinions of Lady Ayloshia. He disapproved of her lax control of the commoners, and her peaceful policies towards the Unseelie court of Detroit. Some of his supporters, all fellow young hotheads, muttered in agreement. Puck scowled as even Arienkel withdrew before the young blowhard. Where they just going to let him rip into the Lady like that? "Action is what is needed. The Dancers could harm many innocents if left alone. What Lady is it who would allow this to pass unaddressed?"
"My what a dirty mind. Can't you see that Lady Ayloshia is addressed? And, if I may say so, I really think the bits of gold in the dress compliment her eyes!" Lord Cruss twisted to glare over at Puck as she spoke. Arienkel drew pale, shocked at the breach of court etiquette. Lady Ayloshia's lips lifted ever so slightly at the corners. Puck quickly scampered forward and hopped onto the council table. The various lords gasped in shock as she pulled out a pile of tiddlywinks and scattered them across the polished wood of the court heirloom.
"What idiocy is this," snapped Lord Cruss. "Arienkel, control this meeting!"
"Hey Cruss, look here." Puck dug her hand again into her pocket and produced a small red rubber ball. She began to bounce it about the table. "Those tiddlywinks can represent the lives of the innocents I'm sure you're worried about. This ball represents the Black Spirals!"
"Puck," said Arienkel in a voice that was already filled with resignation. "You do realize that precedence states that you may not speak until..."
"Hold." The soft musical voice quieted all protests. Puck glanced up with a wide grin as Ayloshia lifted one gleaming hand and waved it slightly. "Allow Puck to finish. She is occasionally wiser then even she suspects." Puck's multihued eyes blinked a few times as she considered the words. Finally she just figured them as a compliment.
"Thanks Aylo." She turned to look at Cruss. "Aylo, that's what I call her since we're such good friends." The sidhe sitting around the table glared silently back at her. Puck sighed and looked back at the ball she was still bouncing. "Well. You see, this ball here is the Spirals. Is it dangerous to my poor widdly tiddlywinks? You bet'cha!" Puck quickly bounced the ball down and popped a tiddlywink into the air. "Ooooh, that was bad. We don't want that to happen to our tiddlywinks, do we? Now...let's say we send out some warriors to stop the ball." Puck dug her hands through her deep pockets as she glanced over at Cruss, her other hand keeping the first ball bouncing. "So how many warriors should we send?"
"Uh...well, I didn't really," Cruss glanced around in confusion, wondering where this was going. His fellow supporters all avoided his glance. None of them daring to try and predict Puck's point. "Let's suppose we send out one per Spiral?"
"Got'cha. I don't know how many Spirals there are...let's say ten, just for the argument!" Her hand suddenly came out of her pocket and tossed nine more balls into the air. "Whoah, hey now!" Puck started capering about the table. Her eyes glued upward in concentration as she began to juggle them. Her feet nimbly dancing about the scattered tiddlywinks. "So we have our ten big, nasty, tough Spirals. And now you want to send out ten warriors? Jeez Cruss, talk about overkill." Her hand suddenly reached into her pocket again and started to toss up more balls. However these were blue ones.
"Does this have a point," hissed Cruss in frustration. Puck grinned at him as suddenly she began bouncing the balls along the table as well as juggling. The red and blue spheres bounced high and fast. There quickly grew a sharp staccato of beats as the balls rebounded off the wooden table.
"Uh-oh Cruss! Looks like we started to fight! Look out tiddlywinks, look out!" The balls began to move faster. Suddenly tiddlywinks were being bounced around and off the table. The small silvery pieces of metal arcing into the air and sailing past startled council member's faces. "Oh no! My tiddlywinks. My iddly, biddly, tiddlywinks!" Cruss cursed in annoyance as one of the bits ricocheted off the table and into his forehead. "Look out middly, widdly, diddly, tiddlywinks!"
"Puck! That's enough!" Arienkel glowered at her as he tapped his staff sharply on the ground. The metallic clang ringing through the beats of the balls. Puck quickly nodded and froze. The balls bounced wildly about the table and then bounced off onto the floor. A few surprised troll guards found themselves dodging the little projectiles.
"Sorry about that guys," called Puck as she dropped to a sitting position. She grabbed up one of the blue rubber balls and glanced up at the trolls. The large blue-skinned knights watched her curiously. "But...you knew there were gonna be casualties if we send out anyone to stop the Spirals." She turned her head to smile at Cruss. "So, what do you think about saving my niddly, piddly, tiddlywinks now?"
"I understand what you're trying to say," said Cruss as he shook a tiddlywink out of his hair. "But if we need to save the tiddl...the innocent people, we have to do something!"
"I agree," said Puck. She looked down at the table and bounced the ball on it a few times. "If my tiddlywinks had been under the table, I bet none of that would have happened."
"No," gasped Cruss in exasperation, "no it wouldn't have!"
"Wow! What a great idea," giggled Puck as she suddenly rolled forward and tumbled off the table. "I think I totally agree with you!" She clasped him in a quick hug. Cruss hissed in annoyance as he shoved the small pooka off. Puck merrily skipped back over to her corner. Arienkel watched her leave. He reached up and plucked a tiddlywink from his beard and glanced up at Lady Ayloshia.
"So my Lady. What is thy will?"
It wasn't long before he found the alley that Jo had mentioned. He cautiously walked up and poked his head into it. He looked around but spotted nothing, he sniffed the air but could only smell the stench of the large trash dumpster. He frowned as he walked into the alley, he swore that if this had all been some joke on her part...
"About damn time," hissed Jo as her head suddenly popped out of the dumpster. He jerked back in surprise at her sudden appearance and watched quietly as she scrambled over the edge and dropped back onto the pavement. "C'mon damnit, we need help." She turned and pointed into the dumpster. He sighed and walked forward. A young man poked his head out of the dumpster. His long brown hair was damp and dirty, matted to his face. A face that seemed far too young to be sporting the jagged wound that ran across it and down onto his throat. There had apparently been an attempt to bandage it, but blood was still seeping from the garish cut. The man pulled himself upwards with a grunt and eyed the newcomer warily. He glanced at Jo.
"Who the hell is this?" He was about to answer when Jo cut him off.
"Just a friend, don't worry about it." The young man eyed him up and down, then shrugged.
"Whatever, come help me get Dominic out of here." He bent down and issued a hiss of pain as he dragged the pale faced Shadow Lord up from the recesses of the dumpster.
"Go on, give him a hand. Literally, I think he could use a hand or two helping." He didn't go to help, he simply turned to glance at Jo.
"What's going on here? What happened?"
"Dancer ambush," growled the young man, "they knew exactly where we'd be. Almost wiped us out too." Jo shook her head as she rushed forward to help the young man lift Dominic out of the dumpster. The Shadow Lord's angular and stern face was now slack and pale. His black eyebrows and the dribble of red on his lips stood out in sharp contrast to the pallid skin.
"Are you gonna help us or not," snapped Jo angrily as she glared over her shoulder at him while struggling desperately to support Dominic. He nodded and stepped forward in annoyance, one of his large arms reaching out and easily accepting the burden she had been laboring with. His other hand reached up and effortlessly plucked the limp body from the young man's grasp. The youth nodded in thanks as he weakly pulled himself over the lip and gingerly dropped to the ground.
"Thanks man," he gasped as he clutched at his gut in obvious pain.
"Don't consider it," he said softly as he glanced over at Jo. "So where is it I'm helping you go?"
"Weeeeell," she said as she looked down and scuffed her shoe a few times on the pavement. "We've sorta got some Dancers still hunting us, and as you can see Dominic and Charlie are all ripped up, literally that is." He nodded impatiently as he listened. "And the only safe house I know of is on the other side of town, and obviously we'll never make it. So...I was thinking...since you lived so close by..."
"Jo," he growled menacingly.
"Hey look, the Dancers are probably on their way here right now. So we can sit and discuss this here...or at least get moving. Moving and talking seem like a real good idea to me right now. Really good. And really now." She turned and motioned for them to follow as she rushed back out onto the street. Charlie hissed in pain as he gamely followed. He stood there and glanced down at Dominic and back after the other two. He jerked his head slightly, ticking his jaw upwards.
"Oh Gaia preserve," he muttered as he followed.
Stinkface and his pack made their way through the nighttime streets of Detroit. Treeshaker and Rockcrusher trailed along after him, eagerly whispering to each other about what they would do to the Garou when they caught them. Around them were the other members of the hunt, all of them in the homid or lupus form. They appeared like a motley collection of beggars and their mangy dogs. Those in the lupus sniffed the air as they walked along, keeping careful track of the blood scent despite the myriad other aromas swirling throughout the city.
The human cattle of the city allowed the hunting pack to pass amongst them unnoticed. A few of the more perceptive felt a vague sense of unease as the beggars passed them by. But most dismissed it as only being concerned of the large and angry looking dogs accompanying the group. They couldn't allow themselves to believe that what they saw was the pure personification of the predator. There was a nervous shifting in the ranks as Kendar appeared. He motioned to the group and they quickly slid off the sidewalk and trudged into an alley.
Slight murmurs rippled through the packs, why had the war leader come? Kendar pulled Endelon aside. The two leaders spoke in quick hushed whispers. Endelon calmly describing the entirety of the battle and the purpose of their hunt. Kendar growled in agreement. He mentioned that their spy had reported as much to him and that he had been sent to ensure Dominic's destruction. Endelon nodded and motioned to the trackers to return to their business. Once again the strange collection walked out onto the streets and marched down the sidewalks. People stepped out of their way, peering curiously at the odd progression.
Stinkface wasn't paying attention. He was too embarrassed over his performance earlier tonight. He had reached the primary prey. He had been given a chance to slay Dominic and gain glory for himself and his pack. But the Shadow Lord had dismissed him as though he were nothing. Stinkface ran a hand over his sore shoulder where Dominic's claws had torn into his flesh. He growled as he recalled the simple effortlessness of Dominic shoving him aside. He recalled his shame as he slid across the ice like some fool. Slid away across the ice, and lost his chance at glory.
"You are troubled whelp," snarled a voice over his shoulder. Stinkface looked up in shock at the looming shape of Kendar, his yellows eyes glinting as the peered out from under the brim of his fedora.
"No lord," Stinkface quickly said as he shook his head. "I think only of the hunt."
"I heard you were bested by Dominic when you faced him tonight." Stinkface's head sank as he yet again recalled his lunge and push across the ice. "I heard you were tossed aside as a man brushes away an insect." He heard the low chuckle from Kendar and felt his temper flare. He glared over at the dangerous warrior and growled.
"We shall see who swats who when next I find him!" Kendar chuckled further at this comment. One of his arms snapped out as he smashed it into Stinkface's back in a powerful pat across his shoulders. Stinkface hissed in pain as the blow aggravated his shoulder injury, sending lances of pain down his arm and back. He looked up in rage at Kendar, but paused as the mighty Ahroun nodded at him.
"You were the youngest to attack him. Worry not, you shall have your chance at Dominic yet." Kendar turned and started to head towards Endelon. "Just make sure you don't fail again." Stinkface nodded eagerly as he watched the famed warrior walk forward in the group. He looked back at Treeshaker and Rockcrusher, both had snarling envy and shocked amazement scrawled across their faces. They couldn't believe that he had earned Kendar's approval. Stinkface snarled as he grinned wickedly. Oh yes, he had earned that, and soon he would earn much more. He would make the war leader proud of him. Even if he had to wade through a sea of his foe's blood to do so.
"So who is he, really?" Asked Charlie as he walked alongside Jo. He glanced over his shoulder nervously, but the stranger was too far back to be able to overhear them. He walked along grimly, supporting Dominic in his arms while he followed. Jo didn't look up, her face remained bleak as she lead them down the back alleys towards the apartment of the stranger. Charlie walked along quietly, waiting for her answer. In the brief time he had known her he realized that silence was not Jo's usual reaction to anything. "Well," he prompted.
"A friend...an old friend." She jammed her hands in her jacket and hunched her shoulders. Her pace quickened slightly as she slipped ahead of him a few steps. Charlie glanced back again at the stranger. The man caught him looking and their gazes locked. Charlie's soft brown eyes widened slightly as he stared into the dead and emotionless gaze of the stranger. Charlie felt the old primal call of the wolf, ordering him not to look away, to prove his dominance. But the dead gleam of the stranger's eyes, they promised death. Charlie felt a tingle of chill dread crawl up his spine, overwhelming his instincts and ordering him to drop his gaze. Though the look seemed to him to have lasted for ages their eyes had only locked for an instant. But before he could even react the stranger seemed to sigh and quickly glanced away. Charlie frowned as he looked back at the bobbing dark shape of Jo walking briskly in front of him.
"There's more to it then that isn't there? Is he kinfolk or Garou?" He forced himself to pick up the pace despite the sharp pain of his gut wound. He came up alongside her and glared down, she didn't meet his gaze. "Well, what is he?"
"A Garou."
"Garou eh?" Charlie recalled how quickly he had broken their stare. He had never won a stare-down with any other Garou. Ever. There was more to this then he knew yet. "What tribe is he, what auspice?" Jo said nothing she simply turned a corner and started down a narrow path between two chain-link fences. Charlie growled slightly as he pursued, he reached out and clamped his hand down on her shoulder. "Is he Bone Gnawer?" Charlie had never met one of the city dwelling Garou, though he had heard stories. They lived amongst the slum and squalor of the urban areas. They were widely considered the weakest and most cowardly of the Garou. They were also widely disparaged and disrespected by the other tribes. That this strange man with no bravery or fire in his soul was one of them made sense to Charlie.
"No, he's not a Gnawer," said Jo as she glanced up in annoyance at the hand gripping her thin scrawny shoulder tightly. Charlie didn't bother to release her at this subtle hint. She cursed and shook her arm. "Leggo, you jerk. He's not got any damn tribe." Charlie did let go then, but more in shock then satisfaction with her answer. Jo quickly turned and kept walking, he kept after her.
"No tribe?"
"That's right," she snapped, "he's a ronin."
"A ronin," said Charlie in surprise. He quickly glanced over his shoulder again and saw the ronin enter the alley and walk after them. He glanced back at Jo as she doggedly kept walking. He stayed close to her as he considered her words. He had heard of the ronin, but never dreamed he would ever see one. They were the lone wolfs, those without a tribe or pack. He had heard some stories that romanticized the ronin's lifestyle. Tales of butchered packs and lone quests of justice and vengeance. But Charlie knew these held about as much truth as tales of Robin Hood and gentlemen pirates. The ronin were disgraced outcasts. Expelled from their tribes or packs for crimes or reasons that didn't warrant their death, but were unforgivable by the tribes. "Do you know him well? What did he do?"
"He did too much," came Jo's reply as she shook her head. "And he did too little." Charlie frowned, unsure what she could possibly mean by this.
"But you do know him?"
"I...I..." Jo paused and finally glanced over her shoulder to look at the isolated shape that followed them down the alley. His face obscured in shadows from the lone street-lamp shining behind him as it cast his shadow long and dark across the path in front of him. Charlie watched as her face seemed to grow sad, a strange sense of melancholy slipping into her usually shining eyes. She twitched her lips a few times, as if her mind was searching for some sort of way to convey what she was thinking about her strange friend. "I...knew him," she finally decided.
"Then who is he?" Pressed Charlie curiously. She looked up at him, her face half lit by the light and half dark.
"Nobody."
The music of darkness echoed and beat through the room. Water dripped freely from the leaking pipes to create a symphony that mixed easily with the murmured chanting that reverberated off the walls. Fer-guath shook one of his hands softly above one of the few calm and motionless pools of water within the room. There was a slight clacking from the small leather pouch he clutched in his hand. His lone green eye narrowed as it peered into the dark depths of the pool. Finally he looked up with a scowl, his narrow leathery lips peeling back from narrow fangs and black gums.
"They have failed," he snarled. "He who rends the darkness managed to escape them with a fool's trick. A childish ploy!" Spittle flung from his mouth as he snapped the words in anger. The dark shadow that had been standing quietly against a nearby wall chuckled.
"So...you know what your packs are capable of." Fer-guath shook in impotent rage at the insult, his tattered ears falling back against scattered black hair on his skull.
"They hunt them even now. They are having trouble with the scent, but they shall find them. Both Dominic and the other are wounded. Endelon cut them both before they could escape. They are tired and wounded and alone in the city without escape. My packs shall find them, and destroy them."
"I realize that this whole removal of dear Dominic was your idea," said the dark shape with a narrow grin. His cold voice sounded strange. It, for some reason, failed to echo in the least within the chamber. Instead it sounded cold and flat, a hiss of unearthliness that even Fer-guath could sense. "But I do think that once it has been begun it would be unwise to leave unfinished. I doubt Dominic will overlook this attack, he could start digging deeper. That could become a problem. Perhaps you would like me to contact a few of my friends? I'm sure they would be willing to help you."
"That is...not necessary, lord," hissed Fer-guath as he bowed his head slightly. "Kendar and his packs will sweep the city. And Endelon is with them, he never gives up, and has never failed in a hunt. Give them time and I will soon present you with Dominic's head!" Fer-guath snarled in glee as he spoke the last, but his fanged grin quickly fell away when the dark shape laughed at him some more.
"Oh Fer-guath. What makes you think I have the time to give you? Need I remind you of the plan? Need I remind you of the schedule? Need I remind you!" Each question was asked with more and more venom, until by the last the dark shadow bellowed the words. Though there remained no echo the room itself seemed to vibrate with the powerful shout. Fer-guath cringed and quickly nodded and bowed his head to the floor.
"Forgiveness master. I know well that your time is vital. My men will have Dominic's head for you before the new moon, this I swear!"
"Forgive me for doubting you my dear friend," said the shadow, his voice once more a controlled purr of laughter. "But I believe I shall speak to my friends. They are so much better prepared in the ways of the city. And you owe them anyway for your little 'distraction' earlier. Have your packs contact them for instructions." Fer-guath bowed again, he knew he would have to sacrifice his chance to claim all the glory for Dominic's destruction now. But better that then to risk angering the master. He knew well what could happen to those who crossed him, and Fer-guath did not wish to share their fate.
Charlie watched as they lay Dominic down gently upon the worn mattress. He looked around with a scowl of distaste at the rest of the apartment. Jo quickly slipped over to Dominic's side and began fussily worrying over him. Her thin bony fingers peeling back his shirt and cleaning the wound. The ronin quickly retreated and slipped into the corner farthest from the injured Shadow Lord. He crouched down and leaned against the wall, seeming to be trying to forget any of them were even there. Charlie walked up and stood over him, he tried to smile slightly as the ronin glanced up at him.
"My name is Charlie 'Black Muzzle'. Galliard of the Get of Fenris. I am a servant of Bull, protector of the Raging Falls and nephew of Marn the One Eyed. I owe you my life and wish to thank you for your aid." Charlie finished the ritualistic speaking of his name and waited for the classic reply. Instead the ronin glanced up at Charlie, his eyes narrowing.
"You are related to Marn?"
"Yes," Charlie replied quickly. He was used to having to deal with the amazement of others in learning that he was kin to the famous and powerful leader of the Get tribes of the area. He waited again, expecting some sort of proper reply. Instead the ronin chuckled and shook his head.
"Figures," he said bitterly. He looked away again, ignoring Charlie's presence. Charlie forced himself to turn away, and tried to ignore the tightness his anger was creating in his muscles.
"Hey," called Jo, her cry breaking the quiet tension. "I'm beat, who's gonna watch over Dominic?" She looked straight at the ronin. He didn't even look up. Charlie walked forward.
"I will."
"But you could do with some rest too..."
"You can replace me when you wake up," he said as he sat down next to the bed. Jo sighed and nodded as she climbed up and walked over to the closet. She dug out a dusty and mangy blanket from it and slunk into the kitchen. Charlie looked over as he heard a small plip. He watched the drop of water roll across Dominic's pale face and down the side of his forehead. He curiously looked up at the leaking AC unit and the wild shapes of the water stains above the bed.
"Don't look at them too long," said the ronin as he stood up and trailed after Jo into the kitchen. "If you do they'll start to show you things best forgotten." So saying he swung the kitchen door shut and left Charlie alone with Dominic. The young Galliard watched the soft and shallow breathing of the man who had once seemed an invincible hero. He watched as another drop fell and slowly rolled down Dominic's face. He swallowed nervously and began to quietly sing one of the oldest songs he knew. The Lament of The Fallen...
Gaia, oh Gaia, come looking for me.
I'm here in the meadow, by the dead maple tree.
Gaia, hey Gaia, look sharp here I be.
Hey. Hey. Gaia, look sharp...
Their silver burned like fire, Oh Gaia, did we run.
But then we turned round, and the battle begun.
Then I went under, Oh Gaia, am I done?
Hey. Hey. Gaia, look sharp...
My eyes are wide open, my face to the sky,
Is that you I'm hearing in the tall grass nearby?
Gaia, come find me. Before I do die.
Hey. Hey. Gaia, look sharp...
Now close your eyes my brave wolf.
Them eyes that cannot see.
And I'll bury ye, my brave wolf.
Beneath the maple tree.
And never again will you whisper to me.
Hey. Hey. Oh Gaia...look sharp...
Charlie's soft crooning carried through the thin wooden door to the kitchen. Jo sat curled up on the floor in front of the fridge. The ronin sat against the opposite wall, his head resting against the window frame of the glass that was letting in the soft light of the waning crescent moon outside. He watched her carefully, his mind puzzling out the problem presented to him. How to get a beer out of the fridge without waking her. Blast it if she hadn't placed herself there on purpose! The only other possible alcohol was scattered around the bed that Dominic and Marn's nephew were occupying. He frowned as he tucked his legs up underneath him and rested his hands on his knees.
Concentrate, focus, meditate. He didn't need the alcohol, he could forget by himself. Forget the flash of her sparkling eyes. Forget the heady smell that was hers and hers alone. Forget the long silky white hair. Forget the soft twist of her lips when she was upset. Forget the flash of claws. Forget the torn throat. Forget the plummet into darkness. Forget. Forget! FORGET! His eyes snapped open, his breath rushed through his nostrils in quick short gasps. He shook his head as he quickly sprang to his feet. It was no good...no good. He ran his shaking hands across his face.
He was unsure how long he had spent in his trance, but the song from the living room had stopped. He looked up curiously and walked over to the door. He pressed his ear to it and listened. From the other side he could hear Charlie hurriedly describing where they were and how they had gotten here. Then he heard the soft growling of Dominic as he asked another question. He asked who owned the apartment. He sighed, he had known this would happen. He reached out and pushed the door open. Dominic sat propped up on the mattress. He and Charlie both turned to look at him as he stepped through the doorway. The ronin crossed his arms over his chest and looked bleakly at Dominic's scowling face.
"What idiocy is this? Too busy to help us but you'd grant us the right of cowering in your den?" Dominic forced himself to sit up fully, his face twisting in pain as he did so. The ronin's eyes narrowed.
"Too busy to help you," he said curiously, echoing Dominic's words. The Shadow Lord snarled as he stood up, his movements tearing open his wound again and releasing a trickle of blood down his side.
"Sir," gasped Charlie as he too hopped to his feet. His face looking worriedly at Dominic's injury.
"You are as great an incompetent fool as ever you were," Dominic sneered coldly as he started to re-button his shirt. "I agree to your begging request and am rewarded with a slap to the face. Your cowardice and lies impress me no more. I shall not spend time in any wretched place you call home."
"My begging? My cowardice?" The ronin's voice had dropped to an even softer tone. "I have never broken my word in my life. You should be thankful I was willing to help you at all."
"Thankful? Me? You blasted fool, what nonsense do you prattle?" Dominic walked forward to stand before the ronin, his hands curling into fists. Charlie followed after him, nervously watching the two argue. "Perhaps you have forgotten your place urrah?" Charlie winced at the severe word. The ronin's eyes narrowed in anger.
"You consider me one of the tainted," he asked in a harsh whisper. "Why then is it you who needs me? Why then is it you who constantly interrupts my solitude and begs for aid?" Dominic froze, his snarling face suddenly going dead calm. Charlie stepped forward, fearful that the Shadow Lord might collapse again. But Dominic waved him off, his eyes never leaving the ronin's.
"I didn't ask you for help," said Dominic suspiciously. "Whoever told you that."
"Who told you that I wished to aid you," replied the ronin with a soft snarl. Suddenly both of them froze. The ronin turned slowly and peered back into the kitchen, Dominic followed his gaze. Charlie peeked between their shoulders as they both glared at a scrawny little body wrapped up tightly in a worn blanket in front of the refrigerator.
"I believe the lesson of the table protecting the...tiddlywinks, is a good one." The obvious trace of laughter he had noticed in Ayloshia's tone should have warned him of what was to come. "Yes, what we need is a small shield. Something to keep the balls from hurting the ...tiddlywinks." She had smiled every time she had said the word. He had felt his face grow hot in annoyance. He decided then and there that he hated...those things. "Thus I decree that we shall send a small, yet capable force out to observe the Spirals. Watch them, stay hidden. Only interfere to save an innocence, or a...tiddlywink. Try to let the Spirals and whoever they are hunting settle their differences themselves. We cannot afford this conflict."
"But my Lady," Arienkel had asked, "whom shall you send?"
"I trust you are proud of yourself," said Lord Cruss as stood on the rooftop. He wore a shirt of gleaming mithril mail. The light as cloth metal was hidden under his blue silk tunic. His silvered sword was strapped to his side. The wind caught at his long black cape and swirled it about his thin and muscular body. His golden honey hair was tied back into a ponytail. His sharp silver eyes glinted with slight menace as he looked at his companion. The pooka was reclining on the edge of the roof. Her arms folded behind her head as she looked at the stars. She was wearing a pair of bright orange overalls that cut off just below her knees, dark red socks that were pulled up over her calves, sparkle covered tennis sneakers, and an oversized lime green long sleeved shirt. A small plastic yellow pipe was clutched between her small teeth. A few bubbles lazily floated out of it as she spoke.
"All I did was agree with you. It was your plan."
"My plan?" Cruss felt the tips of his pointed ears flush with heat. His face twisted into an angry snarl. "At what accursed point in the universe did this madness become my plan? Was it I who decided that only the two of us should go out to stop the whole horde of foul beasts?"
"No, that was Lady Ayloshia. Are you mad at her plan?"
"It wasn't Ayloshia's plan either you insufferable twit!" Cruss waved his finger at Puck angrily. "I'm sure I would have recalled if the Lady had hopped about a table and started to play with..." He growled as he finally spat the word. "Tiddlywinks!"
"I recall it," said Puck innocently. Lord Cruss threw up his hands in frustration. Puck glanced over at him with her multicolored eyes and grinned slightly. "If it's any consolation I didn't think she'd send me too."
"Oh." Cruss slowly nodded his head as he placed his hands on his hips. He smiled slightly at her as he spoke. "I see. How foolish! Surely I can't be upset at you." He shook his head and shrugged with a wide grin. "After all...you were only trying to screw up my life. How sad it is that you were somehow caught up in your own little plot. It must really be upsetting. I'm so sorry for you."
"Glad to know you understand." Cruss's grin faded suddenly as he stalked forward. He stood over her as he glared down at Puck's contented grin.
"Know that I swear this pooka, by all that I hold dear, I shall have a reckoning, and my honor shall be satisfied. I swear that you shall regret your actions at council tonight.
"What if I already do?"
"Get up meddler!" Dominic's loud shout was accompanied by a sharp kick into Jo's side. Charlie winced in sympathetic pain as Jo started to sit up and was kicked again. She yelped in surprise as she scrambled to her feet. She struggled and twisted as she tried to shake the tightly wrapped blanket off her. Her chore was not made any easier by Dominic's continued blows. "What did you think! Were your lies all for the greater good! Was it wise to meddle in my affairs!" The ronin shook his head at the sight as he walked over and opened his fridge.
"Hold on Dominic! Hold on!" She finally tossed off the blanket and turned to look at him. Dominic's hand snapped out and clamped around her throat as he snarled at her. Jo gasped and struggled against his solid grasp. "I didn't mean literally, not literally to hold on!" Charlie backed off and stood near the doorway, not wanting to step into the middle of this argument. The ronin pulled out a bottle of beer from the fridge and popped it open as he watched Dominic shake Jo about by her throat.
"What were you hoping to do? Dishonor us both? Fool us! Lie to us!"
"I was just trying to get you guys to talk or something," she gasped out between shakes.
"Talk," snapped Dominic. "Why should we talk if we don't want to. Who are you to dictate to us what we should or shouldn't do. How could this plan even begin to help us?"
"Well," said Jo as Dominic paused in his throttling of her to listen. "I've got to say that," she breathed in a bit then smiled up at him. "At least I got you to refer to him as 'us' and 'we' instead of 'that damned urrah'! You guys are bonding again already!" Dominic eyes narrowed as he tightened his grip around her throat again. Jo squeaked as she began to turn an odd shade of bluish. The ronin polished off his bottle of booze and tossed it away as he watched her.
"You shouldn't have bothered Jo," he said with a sigh. "You must have realized we would have talked and figured it out."
"Yes," she gagged, her voice sounding strained. "I know, but at least ... you ... would ... have ... talked!" Dominic growled in her face, which was now turning purplish. Charlie glanced worriedly at the ronin, hoping for some support on getting Dominic to back off. But the ronin didn't even seem to be watching the struggle anymore, instead he was staring out the nearby window. Charlie nervously coughed.
"Uh, sir. Don't you think you should let her go now?" Dominic snarled as he glanced up. Charlie quickly retreated back a few steps. Dominic glanced over at the choking and wriggling form of Jo, her bony hands prying ineffectually against his strong grip. He sighed as the anger seemed to flow out of him, he released his hold of her throat. Jo dropped to her knees and clutched at her throat. Her chest heaved as she gasped for air. Dominic crossed his arms and glared down at her. Charlie sighed in relief. The ronin suddenly growled.
"What is it," asked Dominic as he looked up. Jo collapsed weakly backwards, still gasping heavily. The ronin stepped back from the window and spun towards them.
"They're here!" Dominic snarled and whirled around to leap into the living room. The ronin quickly tore open one of the kitchen cabinets and pulled out a wooden case from inside it. Jo wheezed softly as she massaged her throat. Charlie ran over to look out the window, the street below seemed empty and innocuous. He turned to watch as Dominic burst back into the kitchen, his coat on and his klaive in hand.
"Who's here," Charlie asked desperately.
"Our hunters," snarled Dominic as he shoved Charlie out of the way and grabbed up Jo by her coat. She whimpered in meek protest. "Josephine! We'll need to get out of here, we'll need a meeting point if we get split up. Where should it be?" The phone started ringing. Charlie turned towards it but the ronin only snarled at him as he shoved Charlie back.
"Leave it, it won't be good news." The ronin glanced up at the ceiling above his mattress then, he seemed to almost laugh at what he saw. Charlie looked up too, all he saw was the leaking AC and the water stains.
"There's the safe spot I was gonna take you," said Jo as she steadied herself. "It's on the corner of Arnold Drive and Benedict Boulevard. A big four story building. It'll have 'Warehouse 8' painted on the side. Just tell whoever you meet that Jo sent you." Dominic nodded and looked around at the rest of them.
"You all have that?" Charlie and the ronin nodded. Dominic released Jo as he rushed into the living room and pressed his ear to the door. "They're coming up now, at least six of them," he snarled. Charlie looked around the tiny apartment.
"What are we going to do?"
"Window exit makes sense," said the ronin as he wrapped up his box in the blanket Jo had dropped. She rushed over to him and grabbed his arm.
"You're gonna meet us at the warehouse right? Don't just slip away man. Don't slip away..." The ronin nodded to her, Jo smiled as she hopped up and ran to the window. Charlie trailed after her as she opened it. He heard Dominic growl, heard the growl grow deeper as the Shadow Lord shifted up to his crinos form. The large black man-wolf stormed back into the kitchen.
"We move. Now!"
"Pups and pissy people first!" Jo motioned towards the window. The ronin frowned at her as he climbed through it and onto the ledge, the bundled up box slung over his shoulder. Charlie climbed through next, and watched as the ronin quickly shimmed down a nearby drainpipe to the sidewalk below. Charlie grabbed the pipe and swung onto it. His descent was hardly as fluid as the ronin's, and ended with him just dropping the last ten feet. He looked up as he heard a loud roar and gunshots in the apartment. He froze, unsure of what to do, till the ronin grabbed his shoulder.
"Dominic can handle himself, let's move!" Charlie nodded as he turned to rush after the ronin. They sprinted down the sidewalk until they took a sharp turn down a side alley. Charlie ran after him, and then into him. Charlie quickly regained his balance, snarling in anger at the ronin's bizarre stop. But then he heard the low hissing cry that softly carried through the stale air of the dark alley.
"Whip-whip-whip-pooooor-will..." Charlie looked forward. Three figures were lurking at the end of the alley. A beggar and his two dogs, however Charlie could spot the dread malevolence of their gazes. He spun around to look back towards the way they had come in. Two large figures dropped off the rooftop to land soundly in the way of any escape. Their dark faces split into jagged toothed grins, their powerful hands curled as their claws glinted in the dim light. He heard the low growls of the dogs as they crept forward. Their lanky gray limbs thickening, their shoulders bunching and spreading apart. Their padded feet lengthening into clawed fingers. The beggar's ragged clothes shredded apart as he too shifted into battle form.
"We don't want any trouble," said the ronin softly. "Please just let us pass. We only wish to avoid confrontation." Charlie's eyes widened in surprise as he spun to look at the ronin's sad and defeated expression. The large dark shapes chuckled to themselves, their gleaming red eyes shining with humor and malice.
"Are you mad," hissed Charlie. "We have to fight!"
"Violence is not the answer," snapped the ronin. "I have fought all my life for nothing. It...it gains nothing," he sighed as he spoke the words. The Dancers' hissing laughter again slithered through the alley. The ronin raised his hands, palms out, towards both groups. "Please, I humbly beg you to let us pass."
"You no fight," asked the Dancer who had been the beggar. His narrow snub-nosed face and drooling fangs clearly showing his own surprise at the concept.
"I do not seek to fight anything. Not anymore."
"Useless coward," snapped Charlie as he shoved the ronin back against the alley wall. He growled as he called upon the inner beast, his body filling with the raw power of the wolf. Charlie bared his fangs as he crouched in the middle of the narrow alley. "I'll fight," he snarled. The Dancers eyed him, looked at the brutal cuts on his face and gut. Their hisses were a mockery to his ears.
"One coward," chortled snub-nose as he pointed at the ronin then to Charlie. "One cripple!" Charlie felt his hackles rise at the comment, his vision blurred. Everything seeming to fade away except for the laughing snub-nosed Dancer. "This Gaia's best," sneered the Dancer. Charlie howled as he sprang forward, his claws slashing through the air to rip into the Dancer's chest. Almost immediately he was blasted back, claws ripping into his arms and flanks as the two dog Dancers tore into him. Snub-nose growled as his own claws snapped out, tearing open part of Charlie's face. He stumbled back and collapsed to the hard ground. He looked up as one of the dog Dancers leapt in, his jaws aiming for Charlie's unprotected throat. He closed his eyes and prepared for the end. Instead he heard a screaming howl of pain.
"Wha?" Charlie opened his eyes again. The ronin stood in-between him and the Dancers. His face was still tired and full of resignation. But his right hand was now coated in a thick layer of blood. The dog Dancer lay crumpled before him, its throat ripped apart, its eyes rolled back in its skull, its tongue lolling from its slack mouth. It slowly reverted to its natural wolf shape, quite dead. The ronin shook his head slowly.
"This is not the way..." Charlie gasped and struggled weakly to his feet. His arm hung dead by his side, he impatiently willed it to heal quicker as he heard the Dancers begin growling again. They were losing their trace of fear, they were growing angry once more.
"We've got to get away," he growled to the ronin.
"No," whispered the ronin, "it is too late for that. The winds of war blow and we cannot escape."
"Kill him," howled snub-nose. The other Dancers bellowed in rage as they charged in from behind.
"Whip-whip-whip-pooooor-will!!!" The ronin's arm snapped out, shoving Charlie off balance and knocking him to the ground. In the same instant he sprang into the air and spun around, his wild red hair whipping about his face. His arms snapped out in sharp, quick punches. The two Dancers that had suddenly charged from behind were unprepared for the ronin's unexpected burst of speed. Their claws hissed through the air where he and Charlie had once been, catching nothing but the breeze and the trailing edge of the ronin's coat. Both howled in pain as they reeled away. Their hands clutching at their faces as blood sprayed from fierce wounds around their eyes.
"Damn," muttered Charlie in shock. He glanced at the ronin, small dribbles of blood were falling from the tips of his fingers. He turned back to the last two Dancers. He jerked his jaw upwards slightly as he eyed them, his long rust colored hair falling around his scowling face. The last dog Dancer growled in dumfounded confusion. Snub-nose sprang forward, his teeth snapping as his claws flashed towards the ronin's face. The ronin quickly charged forward to meet the Dancer's charge. He sprang into the air as he ran, his foot snapping forward into snub-nose's face as he did. The Dancer staggered back, his jaw broken by the powerful kick. The ronin landed lightly in front of the Dancer and dropped down as he spun around, his leg lashing out and sweeping snub-nose's feet from under him. Even as the Dancer collapsed the ronin sprang over him and charged the dog Dancer.
The Dancer bellowed and rushed to meet him. Again the ronin sprang into the air. But the dog Dancer had seen what befell his comrade and quickly raised his clawed hands to protect his face. However the ronin had never meant to kick, instead he had jumped so that he would sail past the left side of the Dancer. The ronin's left hand snapped out in a fierce jab to the unprotected side of the Dancer's throat. Charlie gasped as the Dancer gurgled and stumbled forward, blood spraying from his torn open throat. The ronin landed behind him and spun around, his left hand jabbing sharply into the Dancer's back. The towering black beast managed a gurgling whimper of pain as it collapsed. A gaping hole in its back frothed as blood gushed out. The ronin raised his red splattered left hand and frowned at the other Dancers.
"I do not wish further death," he whispered. Snub-nose scrambled to his feet and fled. The other two Dancers scampered after him, still clutching at their bloody faces. Charlie weakly rose to his feet. He stared wide-eyed at the flashing eyes and wild red hair of the ronin. His hands were coated in blood, his movements had been perfect and deadly. Charlie shifted back to homid form as he gasped.
"That was fucking amazing!" Even as he spoke the ronin turned his head slightly to look at him. Charlie grinned, and the ronin's face grew blank. His shoulders slumped, as his hands dropped to his sides, blood still dripping off them.
"That was pointless," sighed the ronin. "More death is not Gaia's will. It helps no one. It serves no purpose but that of the destroyer. That of the Wyrm."
"What the hell are you talking about," growled Charlie as he weakly staggered over. "It pretty well served the purpose of saving our lives! You took care of some things that..."
"We should move," cut in the ronin, ignoring Charlie's words. "We are not out of the killing zone yet, they probably only went for help." So saying he turned and continued down the alley, Charlie rushing after him. They ran for blocks on end, pausing only once for the ronin to rip up his shirt and bandage Charlie's arm and side. They then ran more. Finally the ronin called a stop, they stood in an alley near a busy street corner. Charlie watched the swarms of people and cars streaming by.
"What now?"
"We split up," said the ronin as he crouched and rechecked the wrapping of his box.
"Split up? Why?"
"Just to help confuse scents, don't worry we're very close to the meeting spot." Charlie's eyes narrowed suspiciously as the ronin gave him all the directions he would need.
"You're not going, are you," asked Charlie as the ronin stood again.
"What do you mean, we're just splitting up."
"You don't mean to go to the meeting spot. You're going to run off again, aren't you. That's what Jo was worried about." Charlie watched as the ronin slung his bundle over his shoulder and turned to walk away. Charlie started to follow him, the ronin glanced back in annoyance.
"What are you doing whelp?"
"Following you sir," said Charlie.
"Why?"
"I'm weak, I'm wounded. I'll need help. Besides, you know the best way to the meeting place, and I know you're going there." The ronin turned around to look at him, this time when their eyes met the ronin did not look away. Charlie felt his resolve slipping under that steady dark gaze. The ronin leaned in and growled at him.
"Listen pup, I have to go. I...it's...if..." he suddenly glanced away again, his brow breaking out into a slight sweat. Charlie breathed out a breath he hadn't been aware of holding. He'd just won his second stare-down ever, and both times with a man he knew could probably easily kill him. He watched the ronin shake his head and turn away again. "Don't follow me, no one should follow me. Not again...not the fall..."
"You promised her you'd be there," said Charlie softly. The ronin froze. "You said you've never broken your word before. Is that really true?" The ronin bowed his head, his shoulders sagged.
"It was...once."
"Come with me," he urged, "I think we'll need you to get out of this city alive."
Okay, I fibbed about the name. But I'm holding onto it for my own reasons and shall reveal it in my own time. At the moment you're all supposed to share some of Charlie's confusion and lack of understanding about the ronin and what happened in The Pit. Stay tuned though, all shall be revealed in time.
