The Matrix: Legacy
Twenty-Four
New Moon

Morgain couldn't help but smile at Abel's very boyish way of trying to tell her that he liked her. Pitying the poor man, she put her fingers to his lips to shut him up, then signed, 'I love you too, you idiot.' He broke out in a lopsided grin which made him look even younger, reaching out to cup her cheek in one hand.

"Avvy, I-" He broke off as a familiar pain shot through him. What? Abel looked up at the moon and froze. It was gone.

New moon.

But, how- Luna!

"C-C-Cain," he growled angrily as he suddenly realised what had happened. Avalon was beside him, looking worried.

No!

He couldn't control himself in forced transformations; he could kill her!

"Avvy," he groaned, "r-run! I c-can't stop it, I c-could hurt you! Run!"

Damn it, why wasn't she running!?

He could feel the fur sprouting over his body as pain ripped through him again, tearing a scream from his mouth that changed into a howl as his face elongated into a muzzle.

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Alex, Joe, and Maverick all heard the howl and ran outside to look at the moon. "Oh, fuck," Maverick whispered. "Someone's hacked the moon...."

"Avalon," Joe said.

"I'll get her," the mercenary said, running off.

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"Do you see now, O sister of Trinity?" Cain mocked her. The girl whirled to stare at him as he approached her. "You now see my cousin as he truly is - as we truly are." Another step and he was beside her, dispassionately watching the change complete. "We are shape-changers, Miss Davidson. Werewolves. Monsters."

He looked to her to see her reaction, she was glaring at him. 'You're the only monster I see!' she signed furiously.

Cain laughed harshly, grabbing her by the arms and yanking her off the ground so they were face-to-face. "I'm only trying to save him future pain, girlie," he snarled, giving her a shake. "You will die, but we will not. We can not. It's both our blessing and our curse. What do you think your death, as imminent as it is," he grinned wolfishly at her, "would do to him? This is nothing more than an infatuation."

She hung her head as Cain yanked her closer, whispering the last sentence near her ear. Nothing for a moment, then she jerked her head upright so that the top of her head struck his nose hard enough to break it. He cried out, jerking away from her as he raised a hand to staunch the blood flowing from his nose. "You little bitch!" he snarled angrily, fur starting to sprout on his body. Her eyes widened, and she ran.

No way in Hell was some little human bitch going to get away from him. Cain took off after her.

How ironic that it's Halloween, Morgain thought as she ran. Jesus Christ, this is straight out of one of those horror flicks those two like to watch! She looked over her shoulder and increased her pace. Good God, he was fast!

Tree!

Morgain didn't stop to think, she just jumped, wrapping her arms around a branch and pulling herself up, scrambling quickly to the next level.

"You think a tree will stop me?" she heard Cain growl before his hand closed around her ankle and yanked hard, pulling the young woman down. She hit the ground hard enough that the air was forced from her lungs, then Cain was there, his left hand wrapping around her throat. Morgain struggled, but Cain was actually intelligent and held her down with a knee on her stomach. She was able to kick his back, but Cain took no notice of her blows.

There was a snarl, then a wolf slammed into Cain, its jaws clamping tightly around his arm, knocking the werewolf down. "Abel!?" Cain cried, staring in shock at the growling wolf which had released him. The wolf lunged for Cain's throat, but Cain got his arm in the way, then kicked the wolf off.

Abel, if that was who the wolf was, landed on its feet and lunged once more; Cain leapt away, transforming all the way to do battle with his cousin. A terrified Morgain sat where Cain had pulled her, watching the ensuing dogfight with wide eyes.

A hand grabbed her shoulder, and she opened her mouth in a silent cry and jerked away. "Hey, kid, calm down, it's just me!" a voice cried as she was turned to face the owner.

Maverick!

Crying, she threw herself in the mercenary's arms, afraid that Abel might be hurt or worse, killed.

Maverick held her, watching the wolves battle. I've never seen him that lucid under a new moon, he thought. It's almost like he's in his right mind... but that's impossible, the price the werewolves pay for changing shapes is a once-a-month forced transformation and loss of their minds for the duration of the change!

Avalon was in danger here. "C'mon, kid," he said, gently drawing her away from the battle, "let's get you somewhere safe." She shook her head and pulled free, her eyes locked on the wolf fight. Damn it. She did love him back.

Merv's gonna love this one.

At last, Cain ran, tail between his legs and wounded badly. Growling, Abel turned to Maverick and Avalon. Oh, shit. He began to stalk towards them, and Maverick pulled out his Beretta 92 FS, prepared to shoot the werewolf if necessary. He did not anticipate Avalon getting directly in his line of fire and holding out her hand to the snarling wolf.

Reckless girl.

Abel sniffed her hand, still growling... then crouched in front of her with a doglike whine, nuzzling her palm. Maverick let out the breath he hadn't realised he was holding and holstered the silver bullet-stocked pistol. Perhaps he recognised her scent? Maverick mused. How much would the werewolf remember of this?

Avalon rose to her feet and walked back to him, Abel tagging along at her heels. 'I want to go home,' she signed. "All right," Maverick said. He led the odd couple to his car, helping the aching Avalon get in (Abel leapt in her lap), and drove them back to the apartment building.

Avalon kissed Maverick's cheek and thanked him for the ride home, then crawled tiredly out of the car, Abel following like an obedient puppy. This was an odd development. Programs falling for humans? Maverick smiled as he thought of his own human love. Thank God for this new, more tolerant Cycle.

Morgain let herself into the apartment and didn't even bother to make for her room. She just kicked off her boots and collapsed onto the sofa, vinyl and all. After a moment, Abel leapt onto the couch after her and curled up at her side. Smiling, the young woman fell asleep stroking his coarse fur.

The Matrix shuddered for a moment as Luna hacked the moon once more, changing it from new to waxing crescent. Abel had had enough for one night. Smiling, the lunar program watched as Abel changed back into a man in his sleep and unconsciously wrapped his arms around his woman.

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Awwww, fluff.

Current music: Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better) from Annie Get Your Gun.