The Normal Life
By Didi
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters that are recognizable and I certainly don't own the show. Don't sue me cause all you're going to get is lent, and not much of that either.
Note: I apologize for the long delays and the slow updates, things are a little crazy. This particular chapter took a rather strange turn for me...I blame it on Sapphira and her wonderful writing that makes me aspire to be worthy. I didn't expect to be writing this long of a story but I do hope that you are all enjoying the ride. I should be concluding this soon... three or four more chapters to go. Thanks for reading!!!
Rating: R for restricted under 17.
~~~~~~~~~~
-Ruby's POV-
I cursed.
I cursed the gods. I cursed my father. I cursed his father. And what's more, I cursed the fates that seemed to enjoy their little sadistic games.
All my life, there was this big hole somewhere in my soul just waiting... waiting for something to come along and fill it. Then, when I finally screwed up enough courage to run off for a while, I find this beautiful man, this perfect completion to that emptiness inside of me. My past, my life, came back and took that perfection away for a while and I thought I would just shrivel up and die. And just when it seemed like its there wasn't going to be light at the end of the dark tunnel, he walked through the shadows carrying a mega watt maglite and bring such unbelievable splendor back into my heart.
But the fates are cruel, playing these games of life and death, joy and sorrow, with me. Just when I thought I had won, that I could be happy and complete and... normal, they threw me this curve ball that I can do almost nothing to overcome.
I wrap my body around his, feeling his convulsions. *John.*
His hand tightened over mine, elongated nails unconsciously cutting through my skin. I felt no pain but his. *It's okay, I'll be okay.*
"Of course," my voice felt loud in a whisper, even to me and I was startled by how it shook. "Was there an alternative solution that I was suppose to know about?"
Something deep and dark erupted from his throat as his eyes opened to see nothing, glowing with the power from within. He body jerked, almost throwing me off of him in the process. The animalistic strength that came with the change was beginning to show itself. For a moment there was silence as he held on to the inner pain, letting it ride over him. His tense body was solid, like a rock, every muscle tightening against the agony.
When the wave subsided, he turned to me, eyes glazed with aguish. He was suffering, not because of the pain, but because I was watching him suffer. Reaching up, he touched my cheek with a hand that no longer resembled anything human. But either of us noticed. *I love you, Ruby.*
Those three little words that live and die for, tore out my heart now. It was as if he was saying goodbye to me, letting me know that it was all worth it. The absolution was in his eyes, his tone, telling that when he was gone, he wanted me happy. I shook my head at him, refusing his silent acknowledgement of the grave situation at hand.
Crushing his mouth against my own, I didn't answer him for a moment, letting him taste the answer on my lips. The growl started deep in my throat, forcing its way to the surface. *You are a survivor, John Kanin. You are going to beat this and let the rest of this town know that you are one of us. No one, nothing, not even fate, is going to keep us apart. I won't let it. You have to hold on. You just have to hold on.*
His paw, claw and all, tangled into my hair. His human voice was all but gone. "I want to stay with you."
My breath caught in my throat. "Then do it. Stay with me. Fight for me. For us." Brushing back a lock of his rapidly receding hair and growing fur, "You have to move with the flow of the change. Don't fight the urge no matter what it is, just let it happen. Feel your inner self merge with your human rational. Don't try to separate the two."
The hair across his shoulders and face were already beginning to form at a reassuringly rapid pace. *I don't know how.* The pain wave hit him before he had a chance to hear my answer. His cry ripped across the silent plains of my mind, pulling me into his agony.
The tears hit my hand before I felt them on my face. I cry cause I knew there was nothing I can do.
~~~~~~~~~~
-Vivian's POV-
"Ahh...." His voice was hoarse from the cries now. Human cries gave away to wolven howls of pain intermittently.
It was tempting, oh so tempted, to go in there to see. The howling is becoming almost too painful to listen to. The agony of the first time is immeasurable, even for those of us that have lived through it. With each gut-wrenching cry wrought sympathy pains.
I can close my eyes and still remember the sheering of the flesh from the first transformation. So cocky, so young, so sure I would have no problems going through the transformation, all of fourteen with my life ahead of me. By midnight, I was begging for death.
"Coffee?" Sherman stood in the dark shadow of the porch, hands around the steaming mug that threw tendrils around his aged and lined face. I can remember him just this way, wise and wily, when I was just a teen. "Might make the wait easier."
"It is never easy," and turned back to stare into the night.
Violence hung heavy in the air, so thick now that I could taste it with the tip of my tongue. Creed's following may not be as big as he wanted it to be, or needed it to be, but they were young enough, vicious enough and sadistic enough to cause a world of trouble. Matt's people are good, very good, and they're willing to die to preserve the pack. The two things in Matt's favor right night are both indisposed. Ruby with her new husband and Sophia... well, Sophia was his daughter. Matt's first priority will always be to her. Unlike Willard, I don't see Matthew Donner sacrificing his family for the clan. Not his precious little girl.
"Is it me or is he getting worse?"
I turned to watch Sherman for a moment. His eyes were the same pale brown, almost golden but not quite. There as something in them that gave me cause. "It's always worse before it gets any better."
"Maybe."
Another cry ripped through the silence of the night ... but this time, it came from within. Every member within ten miles should have heard that.
"Hum..." Sherman's head turned to the door as a howl, a female one, echoed though the night, high pitched and urgent. "He's crossing over."
"What are his chances? And don't skirt around the history, give it to me straight," I needed to know. Ruby was going to be one dangerous woman if Kanin doesn't make it through. Her wrath could very well tear the clan apart. There wasn't going to be anywhere Creed and his followers can hide from her. And knowing Donner, he'll do what is necessary to keep the peace, even if it meant bringing Ruby down. "I need to know how to deal with it."
"Relax, not your job to deal with any of this. You're not Alpha, nor are you Alpha's wife, this isn't your responsibility."
I know logically that Sherman didn't set out to hurt me with those words, but nevertheless it did hurt to hear them. But he was right. I am neither Alpha nor Alpha's wife anymore. And while I'm sure I still have my own following among the pack, my powers have diminished, especially with the return of Ruby and the emergence of Sophia as a white.
The next howl was purely male and tasted powerful in the winds. It was less pain and more confusion in it. Like coming awake after a horrible nightmare and not knowing where you were. "Is that..."
Sherman's teeth gleamed in the pale moonlight just as the clouds passed over, throwing the world into the shadows once more. "You know what I love about being me? I get to see all sorts of strange and ..." The door flew open, crashing against the wall, forcing Sherman to back up a step.
Ruby stood in the frame, her gray dress torn and stained, her eyes glowing with the kind of power that you feel from deep down, drawing those around her into the primal state of being. I could feel the call of the wild from her, beckoning me with soft voices and gentle hands. It wasn't until now that I realize just why white wolves are so revered.
She turned slowly, feeling her the area with her senses, tracking movements in the shadows and getting her bearing. When her eyes finally rested on Sherman, he grinned. "Well?"
Lips that had only earlier been painted a vibrant red, moved without sound for a moment. Her eyes were full of awareness yet seem to see nothing. For a moment, she was somewhere else. Then, "You're going to want to see this." Turning without waiting for a response, she disappeared into the gloom of the cabin.
I followed Sherman in, trampling the shiver of fear in my spine. There wasn't anything in here to hurt me... not really. So why did I feel like my world was about to be to turned upside down.
Sherman stopped in the doorway to the bedroom; his wide shoulders all but blocked the entrance and view. I prodded him gently with my fingertip and he turned to me with wide eyes. For the first time, I think Sherman was stunned to silence.
Crossing the room, Ruby had sat herself on the edge of the bed, her body turning, curling toward the figure in the middle of the mattress. Large black body lay there, panting with exhaustion and energy spent, its head rested against the pillow, muzzle lightly being stroked by his wife.
I didn't understand, didn't know why Kanin turning out to be a mountain black wolf would be such a stunning revelation. Richard had been a black, solid and strong, his son would naturally take after him. I walked into the room to get a better look at the newest member of our family.
And then John Kanin lifted his head and turned toward me, silvery gray eyes pinning me to the wall. Shock ran threw me... and I understood.
Head to toe black, John Kanin had one very particular marking and set him apart from the rest of us. Sitting dead center on his brow was a diamond, four corner and solid white.
Taylor Creed wasn't going to be the one to split the pack... that particular honor would be John Kanin's.
TBC....of course.
By Didi
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters that are recognizable and I certainly don't own the show. Don't sue me cause all you're going to get is lent, and not much of that either.
Note: I apologize for the long delays and the slow updates, things are a little crazy. This particular chapter took a rather strange turn for me...I blame it on Sapphira and her wonderful writing that makes me aspire to be worthy. I didn't expect to be writing this long of a story but I do hope that you are all enjoying the ride. I should be concluding this soon... three or four more chapters to go. Thanks for reading!!!
Rating: R for restricted under 17.
~~~~~~~~~~
-Ruby's POV-
I cursed.
I cursed the gods. I cursed my father. I cursed his father. And what's more, I cursed the fates that seemed to enjoy their little sadistic games.
All my life, there was this big hole somewhere in my soul just waiting... waiting for something to come along and fill it. Then, when I finally screwed up enough courage to run off for a while, I find this beautiful man, this perfect completion to that emptiness inside of me. My past, my life, came back and took that perfection away for a while and I thought I would just shrivel up and die. And just when it seemed like its there wasn't going to be light at the end of the dark tunnel, he walked through the shadows carrying a mega watt maglite and bring such unbelievable splendor back into my heart.
But the fates are cruel, playing these games of life and death, joy and sorrow, with me. Just when I thought I had won, that I could be happy and complete and... normal, they threw me this curve ball that I can do almost nothing to overcome.
I wrap my body around his, feeling his convulsions. *John.*
His hand tightened over mine, elongated nails unconsciously cutting through my skin. I felt no pain but his. *It's okay, I'll be okay.*
"Of course," my voice felt loud in a whisper, even to me and I was startled by how it shook. "Was there an alternative solution that I was suppose to know about?"
Something deep and dark erupted from his throat as his eyes opened to see nothing, glowing with the power from within. He body jerked, almost throwing me off of him in the process. The animalistic strength that came with the change was beginning to show itself. For a moment there was silence as he held on to the inner pain, letting it ride over him. His tense body was solid, like a rock, every muscle tightening against the agony.
When the wave subsided, he turned to me, eyes glazed with aguish. He was suffering, not because of the pain, but because I was watching him suffer. Reaching up, he touched my cheek with a hand that no longer resembled anything human. But either of us noticed. *I love you, Ruby.*
Those three little words that live and die for, tore out my heart now. It was as if he was saying goodbye to me, letting me know that it was all worth it. The absolution was in his eyes, his tone, telling that when he was gone, he wanted me happy. I shook my head at him, refusing his silent acknowledgement of the grave situation at hand.
Crushing his mouth against my own, I didn't answer him for a moment, letting him taste the answer on my lips. The growl started deep in my throat, forcing its way to the surface. *You are a survivor, John Kanin. You are going to beat this and let the rest of this town know that you are one of us. No one, nothing, not even fate, is going to keep us apart. I won't let it. You have to hold on. You just have to hold on.*
His paw, claw and all, tangled into my hair. His human voice was all but gone. "I want to stay with you."
My breath caught in my throat. "Then do it. Stay with me. Fight for me. For us." Brushing back a lock of his rapidly receding hair and growing fur, "You have to move with the flow of the change. Don't fight the urge no matter what it is, just let it happen. Feel your inner self merge with your human rational. Don't try to separate the two."
The hair across his shoulders and face were already beginning to form at a reassuringly rapid pace. *I don't know how.* The pain wave hit him before he had a chance to hear my answer. His cry ripped across the silent plains of my mind, pulling me into his agony.
The tears hit my hand before I felt them on my face. I cry cause I knew there was nothing I can do.
~~~~~~~~~~
-Vivian's POV-
"Ahh...." His voice was hoarse from the cries now. Human cries gave away to wolven howls of pain intermittently.
It was tempting, oh so tempted, to go in there to see. The howling is becoming almost too painful to listen to. The agony of the first time is immeasurable, even for those of us that have lived through it. With each gut-wrenching cry wrought sympathy pains.
I can close my eyes and still remember the sheering of the flesh from the first transformation. So cocky, so young, so sure I would have no problems going through the transformation, all of fourteen with my life ahead of me. By midnight, I was begging for death.
"Coffee?" Sherman stood in the dark shadow of the porch, hands around the steaming mug that threw tendrils around his aged and lined face. I can remember him just this way, wise and wily, when I was just a teen. "Might make the wait easier."
"It is never easy," and turned back to stare into the night.
Violence hung heavy in the air, so thick now that I could taste it with the tip of my tongue. Creed's following may not be as big as he wanted it to be, or needed it to be, but they were young enough, vicious enough and sadistic enough to cause a world of trouble. Matt's people are good, very good, and they're willing to die to preserve the pack. The two things in Matt's favor right night are both indisposed. Ruby with her new husband and Sophia... well, Sophia was his daughter. Matt's first priority will always be to her. Unlike Willard, I don't see Matthew Donner sacrificing his family for the clan. Not his precious little girl.
"Is it me or is he getting worse?"
I turned to watch Sherman for a moment. His eyes were the same pale brown, almost golden but not quite. There as something in them that gave me cause. "It's always worse before it gets any better."
"Maybe."
Another cry ripped through the silence of the night ... but this time, it came from within. Every member within ten miles should have heard that.
"Hum..." Sherman's head turned to the door as a howl, a female one, echoed though the night, high pitched and urgent. "He's crossing over."
"What are his chances? And don't skirt around the history, give it to me straight," I needed to know. Ruby was going to be one dangerous woman if Kanin doesn't make it through. Her wrath could very well tear the clan apart. There wasn't going to be anywhere Creed and his followers can hide from her. And knowing Donner, he'll do what is necessary to keep the peace, even if it meant bringing Ruby down. "I need to know how to deal with it."
"Relax, not your job to deal with any of this. You're not Alpha, nor are you Alpha's wife, this isn't your responsibility."
I know logically that Sherman didn't set out to hurt me with those words, but nevertheless it did hurt to hear them. But he was right. I am neither Alpha nor Alpha's wife anymore. And while I'm sure I still have my own following among the pack, my powers have diminished, especially with the return of Ruby and the emergence of Sophia as a white.
The next howl was purely male and tasted powerful in the winds. It was less pain and more confusion in it. Like coming awake after a horrible nightmare and not knowing where you were. "Is that..."
Sherman's teeth gleamed in the pale moonlight just as the clouds passed over, throwing the world into the shadows once more. "You know what I love about being me? I get to see all sorts of strange and ..." The door flew open, crashing against the wall, forcing Sherman to back up a step.
Ruby stood in the frame, her gray dress torn and stained, her eyes glowing with the kind of power that you feel from deep down, drawing those around her into the primal state of being. I could feel the call of the wild from her, beckoning me with soft voices and gentle hands. It wasn't until now that I realize just why white wolves are so revered.
She turned slowly, feeling her the area with her senses, tracking movements in the shadows and getting her bearing. When her eyes finally rested on Sherman, he grinned. "Well?"
Lips that had only earlier been painted a vibrant red, moved without sound for a moment. Her eyes were full of awareness yet seem to see nothing. For a moment, she was somewhere else. Then, "You're going to want to see this." Turning without waiting for a response, she disappeared into the gloom of the cabin.
I followed Sherman in, trampling the shiver of fear in my spine. There wasn't anything in here to hurt me... not really. So why did I feel like my world was about to be to turned upside down.
Sherman stopped in the doorway to the bedroom; his wide shoulders all but blocked the entrance and view. I prodded him gently with my fingertip and he turned to me with wide eyes. For the first time, I think Sherman was stunned to silence.
Crossing the room, Ruby had sat herself on the edge of the bed, her body turning, curling toward the figure in the middle of the mattress. Large black body lay there, panting with exhaustion and energy spent, its head rested against the pillow, muzzle lightly being stroked by his wife.
I didn't understand, didn't know why Kanin turning out to be a mountain black wolf would be such a stunning revelation. Richard had been a black, solid and strong, his son would naturally take after him. I walked into the room to get a better look at the newest member of our family.
And then John Kanin lifted his head and turned toward me, silvery gray eyes pinning me to the wall. Shock ran threw me... and I understood.
Head to toe black, John Kanin had one very particular marking and set him apart from the rest of us. Sitting dead center on his brow was a diamond, four corner and solid white.
Taylor Creed wasn't going to be the one to split the pack... that particular honor would be John Kanin's.
TBC....of course.
