Whew! Sorry that took me so long. I just haven't been as enthusiastic about writing as I have been entertaining my brain with other fanfics. The next chapter of Quest for the Ardoneh is almost ready. And will someone PLEASE R&R my Heaven to Hell stories before I yank both of them. It may not seem too bad to those who don't like it... but read my updated bio. (bottom note) You'll see.

Disclaimer: I don't own MKR or the age old folklore of werewolves, vampires, witches, etc.

chapter 3: Clashes of Fang and Claw

Sometimes I think the peace is only a decoy. A trap to lower our defenses. I better enjoy it while I can. The one who formed this fragile truce is dying. Imagine, a vampire about to die of old age. I don't see how it's possible, but at least that's the story I've been told. And also according to word-of-mouth, Hikaru will be the clan leader when the old leche finally turns to dust. If that's true... we better be far away before she comes to reclaim "lost territory" her predecessor was too weak to hold on to. Wonder what other bullshit the older males expect me to believe. Come on you crazy fucks! I may only be in high school, but I ain't stupid! Least Caldina got all the facts from Lafarga, then it was just a simple matter of waiting to ask the right questions at the right time. She once compared me to Lafarga, after a patient leading her on my part. After what she said I knew all I had to do was smile and I could ask her anything. Man I'm good! Still... I can't help but compare her to mom. Caldina's exactly like mom used to be before dad got knifed.

That blood sucker Presea lured him into a public area where he had to assume human form. I was there, but I was only a pup myself so I couldn't do a damn thing except keep mom out of the crowd. His howl rang in my ears. Presea thought she got away with it. And for years she did, until Eagle and I decided to put aside our rivalry to trap her. But she was smart, I gotta give her that. It took us hours before we finally separated her from Hikaru and Nova (the other two of the 3 sisters) and got her into the park. She pulled out the same knife and fought me with it. I lost control... while Eagle bided his time. Just when she thought she had me beat, a clawed hand ripped out her heart from behind. Eagle twisted her head clean off. One down, two to go. But we both knew neither of us were ready for Nova, never mind Hikaru. Ironically, Eagle and I have been best friends ever since.

But the past is history. Save for last Monday. Monday's have always been hell since mom got her new job. Mornings were okay, if you got out of the house before she guzzled down a pot of coffee or two.

I usually swung by Eagle's place before I headed on home. Least that way no blood would get on my homework when mom took the liberty of tearing the ass out of me. But Ascot was in more of a hurry as usual. Why did he have to have the long legs? Bloody bastard's too fast when he wants to move. Too bad he doesn't know he could come close to outrunning me.

I ran up to Ascot, "You wanna tell me what that was all about?"

He didn't answer. He just walked faster.

"Listen, I don't give a shit that you want to date her." He slowed. "Really! I couldn't give a rat's ass." He walked normally. "Just be careful. You've seen what mom's done to me on a regular basis. You wouldn't be tough enough to take real abuse if she had a reason."

"Anything else preach?" he sighed.

"Yeah," I said with a smirk. "One last thing." I looked over and gave him a toothy grin.

He knew immediately what was on my mind. "You hound!"

I laughed then broke into a sprint, Ascot hot on my tail.

"CLEF TENAGA!!!"

I stopped dead and Ascot came barreling into me. "Ascot listen," I whispered. "Take my stuff and get your ass over to Eagle's flat. I'll meet you there when I can."

Ascot nodded and took my bag.

I walked into the house. The smell of cigarette smoke made my eyes water. My stomach coiled and screamed "RUN!" I took a deep breath and let the fear wash off my face. I walked to the kitchen.

Mom sat lounging in a chair by the table, a burning cigarette hanging limp between her fingers. A bottle of her favorite liquor sat empty next to the cluttered ashtray. I sat down beside her and bowed my head. Her yellow eyes noted I didn't have anything with me. "Where's your stuff?" she asked in her scratchy voice. "Leave it at school again did ya?"

"Yeah."

"It's a wonder you ever get anything done."

"Yes'm."

"Donchou 'yes'm' me," she hissed. "You're just like your father, and your grandmother before him. Ya think they're reliable," she said as she snuffed out her latest cigarette. I watched her flick the package of Virginia Slims and pop out another cigarette then pick up her lighter.

How many cigarettes had she had? I usually gauged the oncoming damage by that. Three: I'd get off with a few trenches down my back, on a good day. Four: I'd have to reconstruct my face. Five:... I'd rather not say. If she'd had six, heh(!), I'd be dragging my broken legs out the back with one arm. Then throw on top of that, she's already had an entire bottle of liquor. That's worse than two packs of cigarettes! You guessed it.

"I tell ya," she said as she cackled. She pointed at me, "The only person you can really count on-"

"Is yourself," I said.

Big mistake.

"Boy! Don't you interrupt me!"

I didn't have time to blink I was already on the floor, trying to shield my face from her claws. Shards of glass grinded against my skull and scrapped my eye, snickering as my mother's savage strikes burrowed them deeper. Already her long, red hair had grown into a shaggy beige pelt. Her talons were full length and coated with blood.

I just sat there for twenty minutes as she sheered the flesh off my back. Painful you think? Not really. Sure it hurt like hell but it was a vague sense of pain. My knees and palms bitched at me for crawling through the last pieces of the broken bottle (the rest were in my face). I drug my useless legs to the stairs and hauled my ass up to my room. All the while mom stalked me on all fours, teeth glistening, throat rumbling. She traced her claws down my stomach, grinning with the intent to gut me.

She never did. As always I made it to my room and she slunk toward her room as I closed the door. I laid on my back and tested every muscle. How could I move? I'd gotten up here, but what really worked? Left arm? Check. Legs? Nope! Don't move those... Right arm? Shit! Not really. Functional but unfavorable. I reach over my head for the bed post and drag my body toward the night stand. I narrowed my good eye at the cordless phone before rattling the stand and making it topple down on my bloody face! Fuck that hurts! At least it was well within reach.

Mom scratched my door, growled, and made the frame shake.

"Goodnight ma!" I called. I could still hear her ragged breathing through the door. "I'll head over to Eagle's and get my stuff. I'll have Ascot kill something for dinner. Okay?"

The breathing stopped and I heard her naked feet walking back across the hall. "You do that," she hissed. Her door slammed.

Normally I'd call Eagle right now. His folks were awesome when it came to stitching. And what I didn't have to mess with, I didn't. But if I tried to change and heal myself, instincts would automatically heal my face, trapping the glass in it and possibly rendering me blind. Nah, go ahead and rule that out. I know! It's a Monday after all and he's gonna be out of town anyway. I hoped she was on her bike. Just picturing her in that black leather suit made heat surge through... for the sake of those who blush easily, I'll leave that out.

I dialed the number for the built in cell phone in her helmet. I hated to ask HER for favors, but I wasn't going to have anybody else see me like this. The guys would never let me forget that my own mother(!) knocked the shit outta me. But then again, they'd piss their fur if she leered at them like she does at me.

Ring... Ring... Click!

"Sup?"

"Not me."

"Clef? That you?"

I grinned, "You riddin' my dream?"

She laughed, "Yep!"

"Mm... I feel better already."

She howled then bit her tongue. "You not feeling good hun?"

I smirked at the hint of mischief in her tone. "You'll see," I struggled to spit the words: "I kinda need a favor."

This phrase had almost become code for "Mom clawed me good" between us. Almost. "Hang on there, I'm comin'." I could hear her rev the engine and spin in a 180.

"Thanks Caldina, I owe you."

"Nonsense Clef! I've been keepin' score you know," she said in her usual southern drawl.

"So have I."

She laughed, "Work on those little white lies of yours will ya?"

"Yeah, alright."

Already I could hear her motorcycle roaring from the other side of the window. "Tell me real quick-"

"Whole bottle of boos and at least half a pack, maybe a pack and a half."

"Damn... and that woman can still outrun me!"

I laughed then dropped the phone and wrapped my arm gently around my throbbing ribs. Her voice shouted my name through the receiver. The engine died outside and the front door burst open followed shortly by the sound of mom tearing out of her room.

"Get out of my house bitch!" mom howled, her voice teetering on the edge of an incoherent growl.

Caldina didn't answer.

I could see the whole scene in my mind. Mom's clawed hand reached for the first thing she always threw, the last remaining picture of dad. Caldina, being the most flexible of the pack, retained her human form while feeding off of her other half. Mom collides with the wall and here comes Caldina's footsteps. She sprinted through my door and slammed it right in mom's muzzle. She scooped me up in her arms before I got a clear look at her as mom came barreling through the door. Mom dove for her but Caldina leapt over her and ran out to her bike. I was seated securely in front of her and the engine roared when mom's silhouette stopped at the threshold. "I wouldn't if I were you," Caldina said casually then guided her helmet down over my face. "I'll drop him off at Eagle's so you can have the night to yourself Katie."

I winced, preparing for mom to charge. She hated being called Katie. It was like whoever said it was saying "kitty." Kittens were weak and vulnerable, just like humans. And, of course, Katherine was too proper and ladylike. Mom hadn't minded so much before dad died. But back then things were pretty much perfect.

Caldina drove me to her house, cautiously evading every pothole.

Once settled in her living room she disappeared for a few moments then came back in a skimpy halter top and short, low-rise shorts. She drew the blinds and locked the doors. She paused to take another look at me before disappearing into the kitchen. "I swear," she said as she shook her head. She sighed, "Did you do something this time? Or do I get two guesses what was twisting her tail and the first don't count?"

I didn't answer. Nothing needed to be said.

As usual, I heard the faucet run while the water went from cold, to lukewarm, to hot, to almost scalding. Caldina came back holding a pan of steaming water, a bottle of peroxide tucked under her arm, and a soft, pink washcloth over her shoulder; the sewing box was already on the table next to me. "I just don't get that bitch," Caldina said as she rung the washcloth then started dabbing at the dried blood on my face, being careful of the glass shards. "How long has it been since your pop died?"

I held up five fingers and flashed them twice.

"Really? I thought it was less than that." She smiled then leaned in and licked a clean spot on my forehead, "You grew up too fast."

I arched an eyebrow then winced.

"Donchou move now. I still got to go fishin' for that glass Katie slapped in. Then you'll be on your own."

I gave her the thumb's up then tried not to clench my teeth too tight as the rag got closer and closer to the glass. Then came the needle to chase after the smallest splinters she couldn't get out with her talons. After all eighteen- OUCH!!- make that nineteen, shards were out she wiped off the last of the blood then helped me get my shirt off. My jeans were pretty much ruined, too stained to do a damn thing about, but the belt had to go. Caldina helped me get down on the floor, onto the rug she'd been trying to convince Lafarga to get rid of, then stepped back but remained at the ready. This sort of shit had become almost routine for us. Heh... I was practically putting her through medical school. Last week it was the leg of a chair through my calf. Two days after that it had been all the forks in the kitchen drawer in my back, thank the moon we don't have many utensils. The joke between us is what's mom gonna put up my ass first.

I laid on my back, panting hard. Nothing happened.

"Come on Clef," Caldina urged. She glanced at the clock in the kitchen, "Your boys are waiting for you and my man's coming home."

"I thought he was out of town this week," I wheezed.

She shrugged then shook her head, "Naw, Lafarga ain't headin' out till tomorrah."

My body jerked. There was the split second of incisive pain when my bones snapped back into place then snapped again as they twisted into a different shape. I could feel my tail squirming under the skin of my back like a worm on a hook. Pressure, everywhere my jeans hit. I whimpered then snarled and used my good arm to rip long lines down the front of my jeans. Caldina laughed as I flopped around, trying to get the shreds off my feet. I curled into a ball and watched my hands change as I stretched my jaws. It was at this point that I realized how much I reveled in the process of change. The sweet feeling so many describe as familiar power surges through the body.

I could hear Caldina almost purr as she rolled me on my stomach and ran her nails through my gray fur. "You did good," she cooed. "You did good." She looked at the clock again, "Come to think of it, Lafarga's not gonna be home for 'bout another hour." I raised my head then rose up to crouch on all fours. She ran her fingers down my arm, feeling the increase in my muscles. She turned her eyes to me. I almost shivered (just a male's natural reaction to a female feeling her calling) at the fire in her eyes.

Her eyes faded to a light blue as blonde streaks ran from her scalp to the end of her hair. She closed her eyes and arched her back as she raised her arms up over her head. I immediately pushed myself between her thighs and wrapped my arm around her waist while my other hand slid up her abdomen, pushing the rim of her top up over her breasts then down the length of her arms. I watched her blonde pelt smooth itself after my hand passed over. She opened her mouth and moaned as a ripple ripped down her spine, making her quiver. The vibration crashed into me. Whatever she wanted after that... she got the best I had to give. She knew how to get me hooked.

An hour later Lafarga's car pulled up in the driveway and I scrambled through the bedroom window and out into the forests surrounding Caldina's home. Lafarga's voice called out after me, "You forgot something!" My shirt landed softly on the grass. I screwed my eyes shut and crawled back to the backdoor. Taking my shirt in my teeth, I turned when Lafarga's growl rumbled out from the bedroom window. His light brown eyes trying to shoot lazars at me, or some other useless shit like that, from overtop his bared teeth.

I heard Caldina sigh and get up from the bed, catching Lafarga's attention. "Honestly Lafarga, he's just a pup! He ain't got nothin' on you anyways."

I grinned. I'd never known Caldina to lie. I sauntered off, thinking of every time I'd made her moan, groan, sigh, and beg.

The only problem with going to Caldina's was the fact that my house was between Caldina's flat and Eagle's. And I mean smack in the middle. I knew that after their fight, I'd not only have to put my door back in the frame but the usual appeasement of two coneys had to be laid on mom's backdoor or I better not come home for the rest of my life.

The skinny ones were always easiest to catch but tacky and were never good in a stir fry, which was mom's specialty. What I found, instead, would be horrifying to your eye but mmm it's tasty! Tying the openings in my shirt I emptied the rabbit den of every last one of the offspring while the mother frantically bit my hand and ate two of her children. All the fatter you become! She was a handful though. I managed to pull the mom out of her den by her foot, she bit my hand, and bolted. But she never got far. I took her throat as payment for catching the little shit and left her and her litter on mom's doorstep. Why did mom have to be staring at me before I got there?! I forced myself to stick my tail between my legs and slowly slunk to her door, only to have her burst out and snatch my shirt, nearly yanking my teeth out with it, and kick my face.

As I scampered away, I took a chance and glanced over my shoulder. She was nowhere to be found. I let out a shuttered sigh. Why did I even bother?

Little did I know mom was on the phone with Eagle. "Take the garbage out will ya," she hissed. "I can smell it all the way over here."

"Yes'm," was Eagle's reply. "Thanks for the head's up."

I was in Eagle's backyard, hidden in the trees, listening to the sounds of the base and lead guitar. Son of a bitch started without me! Still I waited then finally gave up and checked the trash can. As planned, there was the blue plastic sack with jeans, T-shirt, and a black over shirt. It didn't take me long to change or to wash Caldina's scent off of me. Which I had to be careful of or Mr. Vision would be on me about it all night.

I rang the doorbell as I stuffed the sack in my pocket and Mrs. Vision answered, smiling as always. "We were getting worried about you," she said. "Eagle was about ready to come looking for you."

I chuckled, "It's good to know I have a nanny."

She giggled. "Well come on in." She closed the door behind me. "Gabriel's out back on the grill. Are you staying with us for dinner?"

"Probably not."

"Another fight with your mother?" she asked softly, her voice full of sympathy.

I nodded, "Yeah."

"You alright?"

"Yeah, I'm good."

She smiled, "You're welcome here anytime, you know that. And your 'boyz' wanted me to tell you they're waiting for you downstairs."

I saluted, "Thanks Maggie- er, Mrs. Vision."

She waved her hand, "You can call me Maggie anytime you want. This house, is your house too. Just do me a favor, get your brother off the mike!"

I shuddered, "Yes ma'am," then darted for the basement door.

As soon as I opened the door Eagle shut everybody up to try to explain how Ascot was supposed to hit a note. "Dude! For the fifteenth time-"

"Problems?" I called.

"The savior has arrived!" Zazu cried, instantly recognizing my voice.

"Clef?" Eagle called, then came over to the base of the stairs to check. He sighed, "Thank the Moon, now we can get something done around here!"

"Hey! I tried ya know!" Ascot barked.

"And I'm sure you did a mediocre job," I retorted as I tossed my over shirt on the sofa in the corner.

Eagle's basement was every teenager's paradise. There was a pool table in the corner. A bigger TV than I could find a stick to shake at it, mounted against the far wall. Course the best stereo his parents could get once they found we were actually good and took requests. Gabriel (a.k.a. Mr. Vision) even had to come down and make sure it was us playing and not the CD player.

"As always," Zazu spat, as his hands unconsciously went through the drum movements again. "You sure this guy's had lessons?"

"Yeah," I replied as I took my guitar from Ascot. "He just doesn't worship the art. But hey," I said nonchalantly as I checked the chords. "He's alright on the keyboard. We all know that."

Ascot smiled shyly and muttered, "Thanks."

"Now listen, pup, and take some notes."

I hadn't taken the Wish List from Eagle's parents that Eagle handed me when the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Jolts undulated down my spine, rattling my bones with the urge for the change. I put my guitar down before my hands crushed it. The tips of my ears were already pointed, despite my determination to remain in human form. My senses heightened, highlighting the sudden aroma of burning flesh. I turned to Eagle, who was also trembling to hold back the change. "You're pop's grillin' hamburgers right?"

Eagle shook his head, "But it shouldn't smell like that."

Gabriel's voice shouted as the screen door to the patio clanged shut. "What the hell?!"

A young girl's scream shrilled from outside, and Hikaru's laugh echoed. Eagle, Ascot, and Zazu tore upstairs to reinforce Gabriel then the gunshot rang out and Gabriel howled in pain. I set my sights on the basement window and launched myself headfirst through the glass then clawed my way out onto the patio, narrowly dodging the silver bullet from Lantis' pistol. Eagle burst through the screen door, half changed, eyes blazing in a raging fury. I tore off my shirt and somersaulted out of my jeans and tore off after Hikaru and Lantis' crow's nest in the trees. The girl screamed again, more in torment now than fear. I glanced up to make sure I had the right tree in my target sight and saw the girl's arm had been ripped out of socket. I cringed, connecting the new info with what was still simmering on the grill.

"You're doing so well," I heard Hikaru say to the girl. "Now say 'Help me.'"

"Help me," the girl whimpered.

"Say 'Help me Clef."

"Help me Clef!" she cried.

"'Save me! Save me!!'"

"SAVE ME! SAVE ME!!!"

Hikaru roared in laughter as the girl wailed her pleas.

Sick bitch... that was low even for her.

The girl screamed as she saw my lumbering form bolt for the tree she was trapped in. Something was surprisingly familiar about that pitch.

Zazu's voice cried, "Sara!"

Sara... Sara! Now I remember, Sara is Zazu's little sweetheart. Shit. That complicates things. She's seen me and Eagle come out of the house. Not to mention she knows what Hikaru is by now. I can smell Sara's blood wafting from Hikaru's laugh and seeping through two holes in Sara's neck. There's no hope for her now... sorry Zazu...

Fortunately for Gabriel, unfortunately for me, Lantis' sights are on me. The occasional bullet sheers my shoulder and stings like thousands of hornets combine with the bite of peroxide.

"That's enough babe," Hikaru cooed to Lantis. He stows his pistol. "Save your bullets for someone who'll need them."

"Wouldn't we be doing him a favor?" Lantis asked.

They don't react to how close I am, merely meters from tearing the skin from their faces. Then I catch the glint of moonlight on Nova's hair and the silver barrel. She giggles and the bullet explodes, luckily going straight through my shoulder. I howl and drop from the tree and sprint back to the house.

Gabriel's propped up against the wall below the window. Ascot's digging around in the drawers and tossing washrags to Eagle to mop up the blood while Zazu's hunting below Gabriel's collarbone for the wayward bullet. Gabriel's eyes slip shut and Eagle jostled him to keep him awake. I can smell his skin burn to ash around where the bullet lies. Tears moisten my eyes. For the first time, since Presea cornered my father, I'm helpless. Zazu's brow glistened and his hands started to lose their mechanical precision as the hissing grew louder and Gabriel's struggling gasps shallowed. Eagle screamed at his father to keep him awake but the pain's rendered him deaf. Anger glowed behind my eyes and I shoved Zazu aside as I grew the talons on my index, middle, and thumb until they were longer than my stretched digits and dug in forcefully enough to make Gabriel wince and snap back to consciousness. His hand clamped down on my injured shoulder, making me whine and whimper and dig faster making him clench all the harder. The tips of my talons tapped against the edge of the bullet and I jerked it out. Gabriel howled then let out a heaving sigh of relief. Maggie rushed to his side, brushing me away gently, and gathered her mate in her arms. Eagle put his arm around my shoulder and let his head collide with my arm.

The phone rang, making Ascot jump and snatch up the receiver just so it wouldn't chime again. The caller ID read an unknown number but the voice was hideously common, "Tell Clef he better keep better tabs on his females." Then the line went dead.

Ascot absentmindedly relayed the message, "Someone just said you better keep better tabs on your females bro." My eyes widened and Ascot dropped the phone as his face went white. "Mom..."

So? Was it worth the wait? Please R&R and read the last note of my bio. And I mean really read into it. As some of you may have noticed, my style is not to come right out and tell someone what's going on, look into it a bit, that's why so many people got confused with the last chapter of Without the Mask. And, by the way, the namesake of that title comes into full effect in the upcoming epilogue. What? You thought I was done? Shakes head nope, I'm going for at least fifty reviews!!