Vampire: (Evilly) What are you looking at?

Sig: Umm....n-nothing. So..err...can I come in?

The vampire looked at him in a very evil way, but then turned around and opened the huge gates. Sig let out a breath of relief.

Vampire: Bring the dumb bird inside and follow me.

Sig did as he was told. Soon enough, more vampires came into view. Reluctantly, Sig handed them the rein of his Flut-Flut steed, then proceeded to follow his guide inside the large mansion. Once inside, Sig looked around curiously at the numerous vampiric murals that lined the walls like some colossal painting. Doors of dark ebony leading to countless different rooms lined the long corridor, and the high ceiling had several silver chandeliers where midnight-blue candles burned. Sig's heart especially skipped a beat when he saw a small drinking-fountain of blood in the corridor. The coppery smell of fresh red blood made Sig feel sick and shaken deeply.

Once out of the corridor, Sig was led through a huge living room filled with old, but richly furnished furniture. There was no fireplace, so it was dead freezing. There were a few vampires lounging around here as well, all dressed in dark and forbidding colours sipping glasses of blood. As Sig and his guide passed, their evil bright eyes looked up at him. Sig tried not to meet their fiery gazes.

Soon enough, his guide ushered him into a large room, dimly lit room. It wasn't necessary a very tidy place- ebony tables and chairs arranged roughly in a corner with countless pieces of papers scattered on them in untidy stacks. A two whole cupboards of wine-bottles filled with a dreadful translucent red liquid lined the dark walls. There were several paintings, and the whole room was lighted by a single silver chandelier along with a few standing torch-stands lighted by some strange blue crystal. As Sig focused his eyes to the dimness, he noticed that there was a person standing at the far end of a corner. From the looks of it, he was talking to someone.

In a coffin.

Sig: (gawks)

He stood quietly next to his guide, but the vampire pushed him forwards with the butt of his gun. As Sig neared, he could make out the feathures of the person standing over the black, ebony coffin, and was even more surprised to see that it was his old friend, Fenris. He was shocked at how dreadful he suddenly looked: Fenris was always tall, handsome with trimmed hair and a lean body. But now he looked wasted, skin covered with a few deep scratch scars and his hair was left untrimmed and tied into a hasty ponytail. Like Proteus he had grown more muscular, but there was no hiding that he was thin and rather undernourished.

Sig went up to them slowly, catching their conversation:

Fenris: Please, Raven, I'm begging you for the last time. Give me some of your weapons, just some good ones to help fend off those Metalheads in my city.

Sig looked around to see who he was talking to, and his mouth dropped when he saw who it was. Lying in a lazy and relaxed posture inside the ebony coffin was a young vampire—or at least he looked young, by undead standards. But he was quite a tall person, with a handsome, porcelain white face and shoulder-length, ebony black hair which gleamed iridescently like a raven's wing. His eyes were a vivid, electric blue- and were brighter than all the other vampire eyes he had seen. He was very lean- Sig could see his bulging muscles under his tight black shirt. Though he looked young, he carried the aura of a fallen king whom still held great power in his hands. His eyes told an ageless tale of hardship, torture and trials, and a dark dormant anger seemed to hang around him.

Raven, Sig guessed that to be his name, replied Fenris quietly:

Raven: For the last time, Fenris—I'm really sorry, but I can't.

Fenris: How can you not care, Raven? My people are dying and they're-

Raven: So are mine, Fenris...and let me tell you again how difficult it is trying to get those weapons from Haven City's stores. We steal some everynight, trying our best to keep the Metalheads away from my coven. And believe me, Fenris, we've got bigger issues than to worry about than you Hura-Lycans do.

Fenris: Raven....

Raven: It is not dignified for a leader to beg, Fenris.

Fenris: Can you at least help me find a person, perhaps in Haven City, to help us with this problem.

Raven: (Sighs) You can ask the rebels, but they're a stingy lot. You can't even get an proper audience from their so-called leader, the Shadow. I steal my stuff from some of Haven City's factories, but that task alone is impossible unless you're beloved by the night (and apparently we vampires are). I'm sorry, Fenris...but I can't help you.

Fenris opened his mouth to argue, but he overlooked it. He turned away and went out of the door, hardly noticing that Sig was standing at the doorway. He noticed that Fenris was limping, and that brought shivers to his spine. Things have changed terribly since he left.

Suddenly Fenris stumbled and Sig could see why- his foot was missing and replacing it was a wooden stump, which badly needed fixing. He ran up to his old friend and caught him under the shoulder.

Sig: Becareful...

Fenris: Thank you, kind-

Their gazes met, and Fenris stared.

Fenris: Oh, by the Precursors....Sigfried?

Sig: The one and only.

Fenris stared at him, his eyes filled with shock.

Fenris: You...you came back..

Sig: I had to. It's a long story.

Fenris: Sad that you should come in such terrible days- I'm afraid that the days of the Hura-Lycans is slowly going to a fall. We need more weapons- better arsenals to defend our gates- we just don't have that anymore.

Sig: And these Vamps won't help you?

Fenris: No.

Sig: Let me pound that pale bastard...

Fenris: No, Sig! What's the use? Look, what are you doing here? I haven't seen you for years and now poof! You're here next to me. Tell me why you're here first.

Sig: I came to escort you back to the City.

Fenris: What? You came here all by yourself??

Sig: Yeah, now come on, pal. We'd better get back soon- I promised Proteus that I'd bring you back in two days. He didn't look like he believed me, but I might as well surprise him.

And so they left together, and almost upon their arrival a council was set up. Fenris told the other members of the Council about Raven's refusal to help them. They looked terribly upset, but somehow they looked as if they expected it.

Proteus: This is getting out of hand. We have to get more weapons soon! My men can't hold them off forever!

Councilman 1: (sigh) Please be aware that we all know that, Captain. What's your status report for the day?

Proteus: Three men died today, and some children were attacked while watching the Eco Bursts down in the mines. We managed to chase the Metalheads off, but it was too late for the kids.

Sig: (grimacing) You mean...they penetrated our borders?

Proteus: Six gates are broken by their persistant attacks- and now most of them are after our Dark Eco. They're killing us slowly, Sig- just for the mere pleasure of it. They know we will crumble sooner or later...

Sig gulped. This is terrible...

Fenris: I suppose I could try again tomorrow...

Councilman 1: No, Fenris- you have done well for the time being. We will all find a way soon...

Soon. The word weighted heavily on Sig.

But then it hit him.

Sig: Wait-

All of the men in the room turned to him.

Sig: I've got an idea...

Proteus: What idea, Sig?

Sig: (getting excited) Oh yes! Of course! Why am I such a jackass!? Proteus!

He turned excitedly to Proteus.

Sig: Tell me there are still some Precursor Pearls in this place.

Proteus: (Looks surprised) Well- of course! They're really useless-

Sig: Tell your men to find all the Precursor Pearls they can find and give them to me!

Proteus: Whatever for??

Sig: Don't ask! Just do it!

Proteus nodded quickly and went off to tell his men. Fenris looked at Sig with shock.

Fenris: What have you got in mind, Sig?

Sig: Just you see. I think I know how to solve all your problems.

Two Days later, in Krew's Bar....

Krew: I can't believe this!!

Erol looked at the fat, enraged man with cool curiousity, sipping some sweet tonic. Krew had been rampaging like this for almost two days now.

Erol: Calm down, Krew- just because things didn't go well-

Krew: I'VE LOST BAZ AND HIS DUMBASS GANG TO SOME FILTHY METALHEAD! What could be worst than that!!?

Erol: (Shrugs) Hmm...losing Sig?

Krew: EXACTLY! I'm ruined! I've lost my best Metalhead hunter! Now how on earth am I gonna make some cash!?

Erol: You could hire some of the ladies.

Krew: Do you think that's enough, you idiot!? There's-

Suddenly the door opened, and Sig stood in the doorway.

Krew: ??? By the Precursors!! I'M SAVED! You're alive, Sigfried!!

Sig: yes, I am sir.

Krew: Now tell me, boy- did you catch the Metalhead I told you to?

Sig: Err...no, sir.

Krew: WHAT!!???

Sig: But I've got something better.

Sig tossed a small pouch onto the bar table and Krew stared at it. He opened up the pouch and gasped.

Precursor Pearls.

Krew: Pre...pre....precursor pearls!!! Why, there's worth millions!!! (turns to Sig immediately) Where did you find these!!?

Sig: Ohhh...somewhere. No big deal.

Krew: No big deal!!!?? Precursor artifacts are rare and exotic-

Erol: And worth a lot-

Krew: And worth a damn lot!!! Now tell me where did you get these?

Sig: The Wastelands.

Krew: Ah! Fine! It's your job to collect them for me, you hear? Collect these and rare Metalheads! Oh I gonna b sooo rich-

Sig: On one condition, though.

Krew: (looks up) What?! What do you mean 'on one condition'?

Sig: Well, getting those babies were tough- so I'd like to make a little deal. I'll continue to work for you...in return of some of the weapons you have in stock that you keep giving to the Underground.

Krew: What?!

Sig: Oh, you know what I mean- I get you rare stuff, you give me the weapons- at precisely the amount I want.

Krew: (suspiciously) Why...?

Sig didn't answer and instead pulled up another Precursor Pearl from his pocket. Krew stopped looking suspicious and stared at it hungrily.

Krew: D'ooohhh....Fine! Fine! I won't ask anymore questions! Just give me the damn thing and I'll give you any weapon you want.

Sig: (Tosses him the pearl, grinning) So it's a deal?

Krew: Yes, yes! Now leave me alone with my babies! (cuddles all the pearls lovingly)

Erol: (Looks up suspiciously at Sig) You're up to something...

Sig: Stick your nose out of this, vampy-boy.

Erol glared at him as Sig went off, screaming, "Will you stop calling me that!!?"

And so, it was settled.

That night, Sig returned to his Metamorphagan home and gave them the weapons that he took from Krew. He laughed at the shocked faces of his councilmen and friends- and whenever they asked him on how on earth he managed such a task, he just told them to keep looking for the Pearls.

It was all done- the Metalheads didn't dare to come any closer to their city now with new weapons, Krew was happy with the deal and the Metamorphagans were safe.

And last, but not least- Sig was happy.

He was happy for himself and his people, of how he made things change for the better. For the first time in his life, the felt like he belonged among these Hura-Lycans, that they were bonded to him- a bond he can't sever no matter how much hate and self-despise he threw at it. For once, he didn't hate himself for being one of them. He didn't hate being a Hura-Lycan anymore.

Finally, at long last- he is in touch with Hura-Lycan Heart.

...................................

And that's it folks!! Took me a while to get this baby done, and I'm glad of how it turned out actually. Oh hell- me hopes you guys likes it!