Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh
Update schedule: Hopefully biweekly
Chapter Warnings: Discussions of War and Death, Mentions of Suicide/Sacrifice, MILD Cult Mentality, Ambush, Violence, Bloodshed, Death, Superstition, Attempted Forced Murder/Sacrifice
This chapter and the next are on the shorter side so hopefully I can get edits done and have the next one out sooner than I did this one. It's been a long month though, so my apologies for the lateness.
Chapter LXXI: Paranoia
Work Log Entry LXIV (Part I): April, 2008
April 14
We are celebrating Atem's birthday again. It is just another random day chosen on a whim by the boss. No one knows why he is choosing days such as this. And Atem does not seem to care about the celebration in the slightest.
It is not as if we are giving him a birthday cake and candles and singing to him.
He's strapped to another machine to monitor his heartbeat and brain waves.
And the boss has instructed us not to call him by his code name.
I think the boss is attempting to see if he recognizes the inconsistencies at the point.
April 20
Regardless of his birthday, Atem is twelve years old.
Yet he looks no older than eight.
I cannot determine if it is his lycanthropy and the ability to reproduce cells so rapidly or if it is from the neglect that we showed him when he was younger.
"Do you think we can even win this war?"
The question came out of the blue. Yugi was sitting across from him, chewing on a granola bar and staring blankly at the television screen as if it might somehow give him guidance. And Yami was studiously looking at a manga as if it might actually give him a sense of excitement to read it. Their earlier conversation had drained him entirely of any desire to talk, but this new question was enough to pique his interest and make him turn to stare at him in open bewilderment, confused and perhaps more than slightly startled by the puzzled and terrified tone he had used to ask it.
Yami blinked, long and slow, and shook his head with a curious expression. "I do not know," he answered in a measured tone. He did not want to say anything that might alarm or potentially scare Yugi more than he seemingly already was. He frowned and tilted his head, thinking for a long moment of what it was he might say or do. Then he drew in a deep breath and looked at the manga in his hands again. It was some kind of vampire story, a love triangle of sorts which made him wrinkle his nose and shake his head. It was hardly worth the read, but it was distracting at the very least. "I do not know how one goes about winning a war, Yugi. I do not know how it is that anyone has ever performed such a feat. It is not with one but with a great many that it happens. And it is not the death of one that dictates the odds, but the murder of many. And I do not know how to measure death against life anymore. I lost that ability a long time ago, when I escaped the labs or perhaps even before then."
Yugi was peering at him now. He could feel his eyes on him but he did not wish to look up.
"So you don't think that Atem is the final deciding factor in this?"
"I don't know how he might be. In truth, war is bloody and messy. It cannot be calculated or measured properly. You cannot account for everything. I think the gods were foolish to think that one Pure-Blood, regardless of their heritage or their experiences, could do such a thing. The pack is right to consider that they are ready to lay their lives down as they know it is what will be necessary. But it is not possible that they will be the only solution either."
"Are you saying that there will need to be more wolves or something else entirely? You're kind of losing me right now."
Yami smiled faintly, shaking his head, and closed the manga to turn to him with a small tilt of his head. "A war cannot be controlled, Yugi. If it cannot be controlled, it cannot be measured and prepared for. If that is the truth of it, one cannot expect that this will save them no matter the accommodations that are made in an attempt to minimize deaths." He shrugged. "What I am saying is that I think more wolves are bound to get involved, victory is the short-sighted solution to it, and that death is inevitable. I do not see many lives being spared, especially with how many wolves tend to think this will be the cure-all for all troubles which ail the werewolf species as a whole."
Yugi nodded after a moment, looking sick. His cheeks had taken on a slightly pink hue and he looked almost feverish in the way his eyes bore into his for a moment. He lowered his gaze after a moment, licking his lips, and stared at the carpet blankly for a long handful of heartbeats. Then he nodded again, drew in a deep breath, and turned to him once more.
"Then what do you think the casualties will come out to be?"
Yami blinked and shook his head. "I cannot tell you that. I don't even think I could come up with a number that might encompass it in the slightest. Yugi, I know that you want to think that you can fix this and help the lycanthropes, but I don't see that being what the solution of this war will truly be."
"Well… What do you think the odds of all of this getting out of hand will be?"
The red-eyed teen stared at him for a moment. He was either missing the point or truly desperate to hear him give him some kind of numbers. So he blinked, tilted his head, and played with the idea of the latter. "A hundred percent."
Yugi nodded again, nibbling his bottom lip. There was something which flashed in his eyes and Yami wondered if perhaps things were already out of control and Yugi was just trying to convince himself that they weren't. He felt bad then that he had not played the part he'd desired of him at that moment. "I, uh, had a different question I wanted to ask you, by the way," the smaller boy continued as if this new line of conversation might correlate with this statement as well. He chewed on his bottom lip again and stared at Yami as if he might find answers in him that he could nowhere else.
And Yami wished he could tell him to search elsewhere. He wished more than ever that he was brave enough to tell him he did not have the answers he wanted and what little he could offer were of no consequence. But there was something in the way that Yugi stared at him that he knew the smaller teen knew the answers resided in him. And he hated himself and Yugi for it more than he could possibly put into words.
"What do you think the odds are that half of the wolves in that pack were experimented on?"
"The pack from the mountains? The one that calls you their alpha now? Or the combined packs as a whole?" Yami asked, furrowing his brows. "Because if it is the former, I would say I doubt very much so that many of them were experimented on. They act as a family unit too easily and none of them seem to hold any mental scarring of any kind. None of them seem so incredibly paranoid as I would assume other wolves from the escape to be."
"You aren't paranoid."
"I am. I just do not show it as easily."
Yugi snorted softly, then shook his head. "If you say so, Yami." He rolled his eyes after a moment and turned away again. "Anyways, do you think that Annie was experimented on? I mean, her being the daughter of Slifer, I would think that would be a pretty big thing for them to want to harness, right?"
Yami stared at him blankly for a moment, thinking hard about the question. What were the odds of Annie being experimented on? He did not believe them to be too incredibly high. He had the feeling that she had not been the one to suffer such horrors. He thought she had suffered a great many others, but not the horrors of which the labs produced. She had seemed more warped mentally in the fact that she had wanted to give her pack to Yugi so simply. But it had not been as if she had ever proclaimed herself to be Atem as Marik had formerly. It made him bristle for a brief second before he shook this thought off rather angrily.
"I do not think that she was experimented on, no."
"Okay, so if you don't think she was experimented on, why do you think she was so eager to give me the pack like that? I mean, she had to have been a little…um…suicidal to go through with a plan like that. She even killed herself—"
"No, she did not kill herself. She asked another of her pack to. And they did so in order to ensure that you gained control of the pack. She could not have killed herself. It was one of her daughters but I do not know which and I have no idea how to tell apart their scents nor do I quite remember which ones I came across in her den that day."
But something about the way that Yugi stared at him after saying such a thing made him wonder if the smaller teen might have an idea. He blinked, however, and the look passed from his blue-violet eyes in an instant. He smiled faintly, then shook his head at Yami as if he were waiting for him to catch up but did not truly care if he did. It was something inconsequential, but he still seemed to be teasing him with the bit of knowledge that Yami himself did not perhaps know.
"Right, one of her daughters did it. You're right. There's no way she could have done that in her wolf form. Her throat was cleanly torn out. I remember now. Not a hair was out of place and it didn't even look like it was violent at all. I was amazed." He nodded again, then sighed softly and shook his head. "Anyways, if she wasn't experimented on, why do you think that she or the rest of the pack was willing to just follow along like they did?"
"Because she was raised knowing that one day Atem would find his way to her. And she raised her daughters to believe the same thing. I think that Slifer told her it first and told her to step aside for him the moment that she suspected he was among them. And I think that from then on the wolves knew only that as their truth and purpose."
"You think it's as simple as that?"
"I think there truly is no other explanation for their behavior. But if Slifer were to tell them that their purpose was this and they were able to simply make this their end goal in life that, yes, this is in fact the solution that they all came across. It's basically brainwashing, I suppose."
"Yeah, it reminds me of cults on television."
"Then why might that be so surprising to you?"
Yugi shrugged and looked away. "I guess I was hoping that you might have a different idea about it than I did." He pursed his lips after a moment, then turned back and searched his eyes. Yami blinked and considered him, wondering at the notion that he might have somehow come across a different thought than him and narrowed his eyes into slits. "Speaking of, which of the three of them do you think was the first Pure-Blood? Ra, Slifer or Obelisk?"
Yami was silent for a moment, suspicion making his body cold as he shook his head and looked away. "I think that Slifer was the first Pure-Blood. I think she is the oldest and I think she is the first to be given immortality." He shook his head after a moment. "But then, I might also somehow be wrong, no? Perhaps it is as simple as Ra was born first as she is the guardian of life and so Slifer was the last."
"I kind of feel like it had to be that way, you know?"
"That Ra was first and Slifer last? Then Obelisk is the middle child?"
"I think so. I mean, you have to have life before you can have war and war breeds death."
"I suppose I see your logic there. But you forget that Lupa already existed and so did Fenrir. Fenrir is considered death incarnate for many and Lupa life."
Yugi blinked, then frowned. "That's true. I guess then that way you can at least say any of them was the first." He sighed and shook his head. "Then again, it doesn't really matter, does it? I was just curious about it. So I guess it makes sense that it could go any way with who's oldest or not."
Yami shrugged. "I suppose so, yes."
Yugi hesitated for a long moment, then he turned to face Yami completely. His eyes were searching his and Yami wondered at the sight, nearly bristling with alarm at the way he stared at him. But then Yugi seemed to relax again, instead turning away with something of a small smile.
"Do you know what upset the pack so badly that day that they'd been attacked? I mean, besides the fact that we weren't there when it happened. I mean, do you remember the way they kept looking at you and all that? I want to know what it was that upset them so much. Any idea?"
Yami blinked at him, then narrowed his eyes into slits. "Is that a trick question?"
Yugi startled, eyes snapping to his and growing profusely wide with growing confusion. "No! I mean…s-should it be?" he asked after a moment. He tilted his head and peered at him in open bewilderment. "I don't understand how it would be?"
Yami blinked again, then swallowed thickly and looked away. "It is my eye color," he finally mumbled. "It is the fact that I have red eyes. It is a hellhound trait. And it is not as if my fur is gray and speckled or multiple shades. It is entirely black, like the night sky. Because of this I look much like a hellhound, and they have no reason to believe anything different when they one time thought this formerly. Do you not remember their protests that I was the traitor? It did not only stem from the fact that I had run across them before. Annie had been watching me for a while and Aki had put it in her head when I first arrived there that I could not be Atem because I was a hellhound."
Yugi stared at him as if he had grown a second head. "You can't be serious."
"I am very serious right now, Yugi. It is the fact that I have black fur and red eyes that they assume me to be another subspecies entirely. And it is not as if they are entirely wrong. I should never have been born with such a combination as a lycanthrope. It's strange and unnatural in every way." He shrugged after a moment, staring at the manga cover and wondering if it would be easier to ignore Yugi if he pretended to flip through it again. He licked his lips, considering this, but pushed it away after a moment. It was not wise of him to do such a thing. It would only cause Yugi pain… "And they had just been attacked by hellhounds as it was."
"You can't be serious," he insisted, annoyed and shaking his head. "Yami, I've told them several times that I'm the one who bit you, remember? So how would that translate into you being a hellhound when I'm a lycanthrope?"
"I don't think any of them believe that story any longer. I think they were all rather suspicious of it to begin with. I don't think that any of them came to care past that. I think all of them have had their doubts about it for a while now." He faltered after a moment, narrowing his eyes into slits and shaking his head after a long moment. "But I do not think it would be very wise of me to be among them anytime soon either. They're still scared after what happened and even with that pack hunt I do not see them being happy with me in the slightest."
Yugi blinked, staring at him again as if he had just grown a second head. His eyes stretched wide, horrified, and he stared at him in clear disbelief for a split second. Then he shook his head slowly, the shock still on his face before he abruptly snorted. "Okay, sure, so I go to the camp alone from now on, right? Is that seriously what you're telling me right now, Yami?"
"No, I am saying that it would be perhaps smarter to take Jonouchi with you rather than me from now on."
"Jonouchi is not my beta."
"Did you just sneer at me?"
Yugi flushed a bright, startled and ashamed red. Then he awkwardly cleared his throat and looked away, running a hand through his hair and shaking his head. "I didn't mean to. I just…" He huffed again. "That's so stupid. These wolves are so fucking…clueless."
Yami stared at him for a moment, then shook his head. "Perhaps," he answered, "but that does not mean that you need to be so worried about it. The truth of it is simple. It will happen as it is meant to. They are scared and that's fine. You are overreacting."
"Oh, so sorry I might be upset about that. My beta is being basically pushed out of the pack because they're all paranoid morons. And here he is telling me not to be upset."
"I had thought you to be more sensible than this. You are far too emotional right now. You need to remember that the pack comes first before an individual wolf."
"Since when?" Yugi spat, spinning on him. "That sure doesn't seem to apply whenever it comes to me!"
"You are Atem. I am not."
"But you're my beta. You're in charge of those wolves when I'm not there."
"And I am never there when you are not. The rank is all but unfulfilled and used in only name, Yugi. You do not heed me when I say such a thing, but I am telling you so now." He shook his head and narrowed his eyes. "You do not seem to be considering it as the others are. They survived an attack from the very beast that their beta looks so much alike."
"I don't…"
When Yugi trailed off, Yami could not help but snicker in delight, shaking his head. "You do care," he stated, smiling faintly. "You can't even say you don't. That would be incredibly unfair of you, don't you think?"
He huffed. "Shut up."
Yugi pressed through the snow, nose to the ground and head tilted. His ears flicked back and forth endlessly, listening intently for movement within the trees. It had taken him only a short amount of time to find the scent he had been looking for. And he had darted out after it as quickly as he could. He had to make this fast, before Yami woke up and potentially followed him or something else happened. He did not want to be responsible for Yami's anger. They had just barely gotten back to speaking again more easily when they'd eaten. But Yami had soon passed out mid-conversation with him as he was playing video games. And when he'd looked over his shoulder, the red-eyed lycanthrope had been curled up on his side fast asleep before Yugi had even gotten the idea to ask if he was okay.
Now the white wolf flicked his ears again, keeping his nose steadily twitching as he breathed in and out. It was weird that he had caught this scent so quickly, however. He'd assumed it would take longer than it had, something that slightly unnerved him but also left him excited. The sooner he got this done, the quicker he could go back and make sure that Yami remained asleep.
No doubt he would wake soon for a pee break and then he would see that Yugi was gone and he did not know what might happen after that. He might change and come after him or he might stay in his room and possibly go back to sleep. He hoped the latter was what he did. Truthfully, now that Yami had proven he was capable of taking on his human form again, he did not want to see his wolf one for the moment. It would be more helpful for Yami to remain human for a little while. He wouldn't lose any body fat or risk harming himself if he was to remain in his human form instead of change into a wolf again.
He drew in a deep breath, then paused and looked about himself. Something was different. The scent he was following had merged with several others. And none of them were recognizable to him. He blinked, tilting his head, and tipped his ears forward. A new sound arose, of multiple paws passing through the snow. He did not recognize them either, but they did not make him bristle for the moment. So he simply turned towards them and focused for a moment.
His nose wriggled and he thought he knew the smells coming to him now to be somewhat regular to him. His mind seemed to know them for the most part, something that he had not considered before. But he knew them to be wolves within his pack, even if he could not identify them by name. He pricked his ears further forward, thinking for a moment to reconsider his plan and perhaps turn and run the other way. But there was also something simply…
Wrong at the moment…
There was something incredibly wrong, actually.
And he could not pinpoint it for the moment. But he could feel it in his bones as his blood began to grow as cold as ice and his thoughts seemed to slow in his head. His fur rose into a bristle against his command and he backed up a step, ears flicking. The snow seemed to crunch too loud beneath his weight and he bristled further. His heart was in his throat abruptly and he flattened his ears against his skull for a moment.
Atem? a voice called, startling him. He blinked and turned his head towards the trees, in the direction of the sound of the paw steps approaching him. And then he blinked and looked away from them, alarm making his blood rush faster. Something was incredibly wrong… He bristled further as the small patrol came closer. He recognized Aki and Mai, though the others were a stunning blank to him. He furrowed his brows and looked at them in confusion. But then he blinked.
The two of them—he knew their names. Slifer had mentioned them before. Ayukawa, staring at him with those fathomless cold and distant eyes and Brooke Walker, who he had seen get between Aki and Yusei during arguments more than once. Ayukawa sulked more than anything, but Brooke tended to the yearlings most often, playing with them and keeping them stimulated. He had seen her with Yusei more than the others, though Yuya and Syrus were quick to follow. He had never seen her with Chazz, however, but he thought that was more because of the beta's persistence in showing himself to be stronger than the rest of them.
What are you doing here?
Yugi blinked and looked at Mai with a confused expression. What's that smell? he demanded instead, feeling breathless as he shook his head. There's something not right over here. What the hell is that smell?
He'd been chasing a scent and he'd known that where it led was far too close to the camp, but he had not expected it to be crossed so many times with other ones. What the hell was going on right now? He blinked and looked around, bristling and snarling low in his throat. There was something wrong. There was something terribly wrong—
Hellhounds, Aki snarled suddenly, spinning on the four wolves behind her. Take a flanking form—
But her words were cut off immediately. Something came from beneath the snow nearby. It was a dark, hideous shape, and its eyes glowed like coals. It hit Ayukawa so violently that the she-wolf flew through the air. She hit the snow in a tumble, staggering to her feet again. But there was blood falling from her throat. And she looked dizzy. Yugi gaped at her, horrified, and then looked at the darker-furred wolf a few feet away from him. It was staring at Brooke with a wagging tail, snarling low in its throat. And the golden eyes seemed to be burning.
Yugi would have expected it to be Valon had it not been for the long, whippet-like tail and sloping chest. He blinked, horrified, and then looked to Ayukawa. Are you all right? Can you fight? he demanded, though he spun quickly on the newest source of noise. There was a single shift of weight. And then he sprang back. Another wolf shot into the air, barely missing him by an inch. Teeth snapped shut where his throat had been. He snarled and lowered his head. They had taken to covering themselves in the snow? They had truly…?
He spun on the newcomer, snarling and snapping his jaws. And then he stiffened. He knew that face. He knew the expression in those eyes. The yellow of them was strange, like the headlights of a car. But they looked disturbingly flat, almost empty. And he remembered briefly how they had reminded him of fall leaves a long time ago. Yugi felt unsteady, confused.
Amelda? he muttered, unsure of what more to do. He knew him. He had been introduced to him that day after the library incident with Valon. Valon had been the one to perform introductions. So…then…did that mean Valon was involved in this? It made no sense. Valon had made it rather clear that he wanted nothing to do with the war. He had made it rather clear that he did not want to aid nor harm Yugi in any way. He had helped him for the sake of avoiding detection for his little sister and insuring that she did not get caught in the backlash of it all.
Who?
Yugi bristled, unsure of himself now. Aki was staring at him. Mai was sizing up the other hellhound. And Amelda—oh yes, it was definitely him; his eyes lit up with laughter upon seeing his face—stared back at Yugi. Ayukawa was still struggling for her footing. And Brooke was frozen in place, bristling and snarling softly. She had backed up a step and was closer to Aki and Mai. And Yugi had the startling thought that she attempting to use them for cover. She seemed more scared than anything, as if she had never fought before and had no true understanding of how to do so.
He bristled, turning back to Amelda. How many of them were there? There were only five of his wolves. So how many were in this little ambush he'd set up? And how had they been so smart as to hide under the snow first? Yugi could not breathe for a moment. Who had suggested such a thing? Had one of them known that he had done the same with Yami that night when Espa and Panik were hunting them? He could not recall seeing another wolf. He could not recall seeing another person. Perhaps they had realized after they'd escaped? Maybe it had gotten back to the wolves in the labs and—
But Amelda was not from the labs.
He was simply a hellhound.
And friends with Valon.
He bore his teeth and stalked forward, tail raised. Amelda met the action with a wag of his tail. He was a smaller, more slender build. He was like a large poodle in shape, with the long coat of a wolf and the tail of a pit bull. He peeled his lips further back, snarling.
Oh, so you're Atem? Amelda purred at him. I would never have thought. You were so alone and confused when we met.
Then allow me to change that memory some, Yugi snapped, lunging at him. It forced the hellhound back a step. He pricked his ears forward and stalked after him. I don't know about you, Amelda, but I don't think it's too smart to be baiting someone stronger than you.
Stronger? Than me? If you were you wouldn't have fallen for such a simple trick.
You used Valon's scent to make it harder to distinguish yours. Who the hell is your bitch over there?
Don't be so mean. You don't have to call her a bitch. She's actually quite sweet. Maybe when you get reborn you can fuck her a little too.
Yugi sprang at him, missing. But now he felt the snow shift beneath him. He scrambled for his footing. His claws scraped on a loose stone. His paw wrenched sideways. But he ducked. The snow exploded over his head. And the canine shot over him. Yugi scrambled back a step, startled. This one was a light gray, almost silver shade. And it made his heart hammer in his chest. Their eyes were a hideous maroon color. And they looked too healthy to be a hellhound from the labs. He backed up, bristling again.
What the fuck was going on?
The hellhound turned on him, wagging his tail. And Amelda, he noticed, darted out of his sight and past him into the trees. Aki and Mai were snarling, teeth snapping. He risked a small sideways glance up the miniscule slope. They were struggling with the female hellhound. She had taken a chunk out of Aki's side and attempted to hamstring Mai. And so now she was simply circling them. Amelda had darted at Ayukawa who was snapping and biting at him in a sluggish manner. The blood loss had clearly become too much. And Brooke was trying to run for it…
You're Code Name Atem, hmm? the new hellhound purred. He stood at Yugi's side, wagging his tail and awaiting his full acknowledgment. And, as Yugi looked over, he felt his heart plummet. The hellhound was far larger than him, with even longer legs than his own. He was bigger in build, in height, with a jaw like that of a great Dane or a mastiff. Yugi bristled further, alarmed and confused. How had he…? Was he from the labs? You look a little confused. Allow me to introduce myself.
Yugi snapped his jaws when he pressed too close.
I am Sartorius, beta in my pack.
Pack? he sneered. You call the three of you a pack?
The three of us? You stupid child, of course not. But I am the one in charge of the other two for this little expedition. And I don't think that you should be scoffing when my pack has already killed a good portion of yours, hmm?
He backed up again, snarling low in his throat. I would suggest that you take Amelda and your little bitch and run while you still have the chance.
Oh? And do you plan to back that threat up or are you just going to stand there and whine at me? Sartorius pressed closer, then snapped his jaws at his face. Yugi backed up just in time to avoid the attack, then snarled lower in his throat, hateful. Just wait until you meet my alpha. I don't think you'll be able to contain your excitement when you see her. She's got the special task of killing you.
A scream made his head snap around. Ayukawa's head was hanging limply from Amelda's jaws, neck snapped. And Brooke was being attacked violently by the female hellhound. Aki and Mai were both standing aside now, judging the situation more than anything else. Yugi stiffened, unsure of what more to do. And then he turned back to Sartorius. He was beta?
Beta was second in command.
If he killed him then the devastation might be short-lived but it would still happen.
It might be just enough to slow the hellhounds down…
We were actually told not to engage you. But we were told to kill any and all of your pack if they were loose in the woods. He gave him a smile that reminded Yugi of the wolves in fairytale books. He was staring at him with violently glowing maroon eyes. And it did not help that his eyes looked unnaturally yellow beyond his irises, and because of this, it almost appeared that he had no pupils at all. I don't see that she'll mind it should I harm you just a little.
Yugi wagged his tail. Try me, he snarled. He braced himself, raising his tail higher, and squared his shoulders. He could hear the fighting over the small ledge growing far more furious. And he realized that Mai and Aki had gotten into the fray again. He could not tell who it was that was screaming now. But one of them was struggling and flailing. He thought he would have recognized them had it been either of his pack mates. It was just instinctive. But he could not be sure. So he would prepare for the worst in a moment.
Yugi snapped at him, grabbing at his neck. The hellhound backed up a step just in time. Fur flew, however, as Yugi shook his head. Sartorius had reared up on his hind legs. And Yugi settled his weight in his haunches. He lunged at him. And the hellhound sprang back again. But Yugi landed a step from him. And he launched himself forward again immediately. His teeth caught his throat this time. But the hold was weak and he was shaken off immediately.
Funny. Pegasus said you didn't fight.
Pegasus is dead.
A travesty, I assure you.
Yugi snarled and backed up a step, aiming more properly. He lunged as if for his neck again. Sartorius backed up on his haunches. And Yugi caught his muzzle. The lip was a loose one, dangling like a large dog's. He snarled, dismayed, but tossed his head regardless. Sartorius snarled, then reared up again. Yugi released him quickly and backed up.
He had the looser skin like a Saint Bernard. With the longer fur on top of that, Yugi was not sure he could get to the jugular properly. The combination was a defense mechanism he wasn't sure how to navigate. He backed up a step again. Then he pricked his ears forward further and snarled low in his throat. Sartorius wagged his tail, a long and plumy thing almost like a scarf.
Yugi narrowed his eyes. Was he part Saint Bernard? Or perhaps he was mastiff? Hellhounds were part dog, after all. He didn't truly need to know the breed. He just had to know how to fight him properly. Because going for the throat was a weak attempt for the moment. And all it was doing was making the hellhound sneer and laugh at him, enjoying his confusion. He had not fought a dog or a wolf with such loose skin before.
He backed up a step, considering. And then he sprang at him. He was not sure where he was aiming, but he looked towards the shoulder. It was possible to crush the bone there and cripple him for the moment. Loose skin on the neck did not mean the same for the rest of the body.
He snarled and caught the hellhound on his scruff. The momentum was enough to knock the larger canine over. And Yugi scrambled for his footing again. He was not prepared for Sartorius to roll over. And it nearly winded him when his back legs kicked upon his belly.
He backed up a step. Then he lunged for his face. But the hellhound tossed his head backwards hard. And it was enough to make Yugi stumble. Teeth grabbed at his throat, but he jerked back. Fur went flying. But there was no sting to proclaim split skin. He backed up again. His ears flicked rapidly. He could see Amelda fighting Aki and losing terribly to the she-wolf. And Mai had gone about keeping the female hellhound at bay.
Yugi wondered if that was his best option as well. Perhaps keeping Sartorius in front of him was enough for the moment. The other wolves had to have heard them. No doubt he was going to see them come running soon. There was no way that they wouldn't. There was absolutely no way. Yet, as he faced him, he could only hear the snarling. And Sartorius was clearly not as amused as he had been before. He was snarling and he looked livid now.
Yugi prepared himself, baring his teeth. When Sartorius sprang, he ducked and backed up. He readied himself to snap his teeth into his face. And he prepared himself even further to find himself trapped by that loose skin. He would have to find a way around it, however. It would have to be done. Maybe if he moved fast enough…
But he doubted speed would do him much. He needed power. And he did not have that same anger he had that night that Bakura had attacked Yami. He did not feel that need to kill. And so he faltered. Brooke and Ayukawa were dead. Slifer had told him those names because she had known they would die soon after. He, however, was not in that group. But both Mai and Aki had been. But the three of them were stronger fighters, weren't they? Aki was a vicious she-wolf in the midst of a fight. And Mai was sharp and cunning, wasn't she? He didn't want to have to admit that the two of them had died on his watch. But he would do so if it meant that he and Mai and Aki got out of this okay.
He backed up a step again. His tail wagged once. He drew his lips back further.
And Sartorius slammed into him. His teeth clamped into Yugi's shoulder. And the white wolf twisted to catch him in turn. They landed heavily on all four. And Yugi shook his head as he caught the hellhound's shoulder as well. The force of it tossed them both sideways.
And Sartorius flipped.
It was a stunning thing.
Yugi felt his jaws slip from his flesh. And he felt the fur and muscle tear. But he saw Sartorius hit the ground on his back. His legs flailed and Yugi opened his jaws wide as he stared down at him.
He sprang for his throat despite the disadvantage. And Sartorius used the momentum to twist onto his belly. Yugi turned and twisted his body, aligning himself to brace his weight across the other male's shoulders. But the action only slightly stunted the hellhound. He managed to rise up, to thrust his shoulders. And Yugi scrambled for his grip, spitting in fury. But his legs caught themselves, his balance saved. He landed alongside him. And, as Sartorius aimed for his throat, he dodged back. Their teeth snapped shut inches from each other. Yugi backed up a step, snarling and wagging his tail once more.
Yugi sprang at him now. And he caught his scruff. He caught and held it and the hellhound reared up. His jaws opened but they were shorter than Yugi's own. And so they missed his throat where he'd aimed. His teeth snapped shut an inch from his fur. Yugi snarled and tossed his head. And then he jerked his body sideways. Sartorius flailed, snarling, as he hit the ground on his side. Yugi released, then sprang again.
He tasted blood only minutely. And the hellhound rushed at him. His left paw rose and slashed at his shoulder. But he could not push enough weight into the attack without toppling. Yugi knew this well enough.
And so he pressed his weight into his hind legs. He pushed forward and Sartorius was forced back. The gray wolf's head was forced beneath his. He was trying to back up and pulling Yugi instead. And Yugi refused to release. It would be foolish of him to do such a thing. To release him, when he finally had a grip, would have been devastating. So he held firm as the hellhound struggled to knock him off. He shook himself and Yugi simply pressed his weight into his hindquarters. His upper body was pulled off the ground and his neck ached. But he did not lose his balance.
And Sartorius exhausted himself. He was huffing and panting when he stopped, head lowered. But then he reared up. The new change of direction brought Yugi closer to him. And the white wolf barely suppressed a harsh yelp. Teeth had dug into the muscle of his forelimb, right into his shoulder. He could not lower his right leg. And so he shifted his grip. His left leg rose and fell upon his shoulder. And his claws dug into the long fur and soft skin beneath.
Sartorius shook himself violently. And Yugi flailed. He could not keep his balance. His weight was too precarious in its distribution. And so he was flipped. He hit the ground hard enough that it winded him. But his jaws did not loosen their grip. And the hellhound shook harder. Yugi's leg wrenched and popped. But he refused to let go. But it was when Sartorius released his leg and shook himself that Yugi felt his neck pop. The pain made him release, scrambling for air. He swore his vision was dancing with stars. And his neck ached so violently he feared moving.
The hellhound was on him immediately. Yugi kicked and scrambled. And teeth caught his throat, shaking him. Yugi was thrown off his feet, flailing. He twisted his back legs and tried to brace for the ground. The snow was flying. His body ached and pulsed with pain. And then he was abruptly pulled across the snow. He yelped, flailing, and Sartorius released him violently. He flailed again, eyes snapping open and heart pounding. He scrambled for his paws, dizzy as his body screamed with pain. His eyes snapped to his savior, eyes wide.
The she-wolf was heavily wounded. Her right side was bleeding furiously. And her fur was caked there. Her eyes were wild. Her tail was up. And she was struggling with the task of holding the hellhound off. She had pushed him back and was shaking where she pressed her weight into her limbs. And, for a split second, Yugi honestly thought the hellhound would kill her. He saw him snarling, watched him as he started forward with a sneer on his face.
But he never reached her.
Yugi was shaking as reality hit him.
And Aki was so stunned she collapsed. The relief was clear in her eyes, but so was the anger as well.
Sartorius had gotten bulldozed in the side. And he'd flipped once more. He was on his back, teeth in his throat. And he was flailing, kicking desperately. His claws caught a bit of fur and his attacker backed up a step. But he was snarling, looming over him, and his tail was wagging furiously. When the hellhound scrambled for his paws, the other snarled at him. He bunched his muscles and crouched lower. Then he sprang forward. His teeth opened wide, then snapped shut. The hellhound was pulled hard off his feet. The other tossed him a few feet away, standing and wagging his tail again.
He was all raw muscle beneath his smooth pelt. And he looked furious as he peered at the hellhound. His tail wagged faster than ever. And he came forward in a trot, though he hovered a couple of feet away. The wolf hesitated a moment as the hellhound stumbled for his feet. He looked dizzy. And the gash in his throat was by far larger than Yugi had assumed it to be. Against the pale smoky silver of his coat it looked as if he had been gouged violently.
And then the black wolf came at him. The two of them collided in a splash of red and black and gray. And the hellhound screamed. The noise was enough to make Mai and the other two halt. And Yugi saw Amelda tuck his tail between his legs and flee for the trees. Mai and the female hellhound gaped. Mai was bleeding and looked exhausted. And the hellhound appeared almost to be quaking. Her leg had been hideously wounded. Yugi could see the bone poking out. It was a jagged split, one of fractured bones like a broken tree branch. He trembled, relieved, but could not keep his eyes there for long.
The snarling was like a roar. And his head snapped back. Yami had pinned Sartorius on his back. And his teeth were in his eye as he shook his head violently. He refused to let up and the hellhound kicked as he screamed and struggled. He kicked harder, bit at the air as if it might intimidate him. Yami shook him harder, stepping in the same moment. The snow rose and flew into the air. And Yami shook him as rapidly as a dog might their favorite rope toy.
Sartorius looked almost lifeless beneath him. His kicks were far too weak. And his tail kept rising and falling in the air. He was spitting and snarling, however. And he seemed to be perhaps trying to wait the lycanthrope out. But Yugi could see that Yami had gotten his eye. And he'd crushed much of the bone there surrounding it. The black wolf had aimed to kill. And he might have missed but he'd likely permanently crippled him in turn. Sartorius had begun barking. And Yami snarled and shook harder.
The barking noise was deep and quivering. And the wolf shook him again. But he did not follow this time. And Sartorius managed just barely to gain his footing. His face was hideously marred. Blood caked the entire left side of his face. And he snarled, flailing harder. He screamed again and Yami shook him harder. But the effort loosened his grip. And the hellhound slipped out of his jaws. The hellhound stumbled forward a few steps, then turned on Yami again. He charged him with open jaws—
—and missed.
He had feinted at him, then taken off running.
Yami lowered his head to the snow. And then he trembled visibly. When he collapsed, he was panting for air. And the air was rolling with steam. He was shaking and panting. And he looked exhausted. His sides seemed to collapse in upon themselves with the force of his gasping breaths. His eyes were shut tightly and his ears clamped against his head. He lay in the snow, facing away from Yugi.
The white wolf hesitated, then turned to Aki. Are you okay? he demanded. She had to be exhausted. She had not moved from her spot in the snow. She shot him a disdainful look, rose to her paws, and turned to trot over to where Brooke and Ayukawa lay dead. Mai was at her side in an instant. And both of them sniffed and checked on one another. Yugi blinked, then turned immediately back to Yami.
How about you, aibou? Are you all right?
The black wolf remained facing away from him. And then he slowly rose for his paws. He was still shaking. But he was standing at the least. He pricked his ears and peered at Yugi after a moment. Then he drew his lips back and showed his teeth angrily.
Why did you come here?
Yugi blinked, startled. I needed to see if I could find Valon. I was following his scent but—
You should never have come out here.
They would have all been killed if I hadn't!
Yami stared at him as if he were a disgusting creature he did not know. Yugi, you idiot. It was a trap. It was a goddamned trap. Because one of them knew that you knew Valon! he roared, chomping his teeth at him. And what would you have done if Aki had not gotten to you in time? You fool!
Yugi flinched and lowered his head, flattening his ears against his skull. Please, Yami, don't…
Yami shook his head, sneering as his lips curled back violently. Then he looked away again and pricked his ears. His head snapped up again, sniffing at the air. He blinked, bristling, and considered the trees. He got to his feet, looking over his shoulder as if he might flee. But then he trembled again and his head lowered. Gods damn it, he muttered, though Yugi still peered at him in concern. He raised and turned his head as well, then stiffened.
Oh gods, more wolves were coming.
Are you okay? Did he hurt you? he asked after a moment, turning on Yami now. He trembled faintly, unsure of what more to do. He tilted his head again, ran his tongue over his nose, and then flattened his ears. Aibou, I need to know if you're wounded.
I am fine. He clipped me on the shoulder but I'm fine. It's more of a bruise than a bite. He did not manage to even break the skin. Yami shot him an annoyed look, then shifted his weight and peered around at Aki and Mai. Oh…
Yugi blinked, turning around to see what he was looking at, and then faced him again. Yeah, Ayukawa and Brooke didn't make it, he said softly, shaking his head and looking at the snow. I didn't move fast enough to prevent Amelda doing it.
Who? Yami snarled, blinking. You know the hellhound who did it?
I…Amelda is a friend of Valon's. And I met him only once. But I know he goes to school with me. I don't know why he was here or anything like that, though. I have no idea why he decided to do this. He bristled faintly and shook his head slowly, turning away and shaking slightly. He flicked his tongue over his nose again, ears pricked towards him again. Then he shivered again and looked to Yami with a horrified expression. I don't know why he did this. But I'm going to make him pay for this. This was… He's not even from the labs! But he's working with the hellhounds from them!
Yami tilted his head, staring at him. Hellhounds are drawn to chaos. You know that. I have told you such several times. You do not listen to me, is what it is.
Yugi blinked. Yami, you're almost the only one I listen to anymore.
There was a single second of hesitation, and then the red-eyed wolf glanced away entirely. Yes, he mumbled in a grudging tone. Maybe that's the problem more than anything else.
The white wolf turned and stared at him, confused and alarmed by the defeated tone that came over Yami's voice as he finished his statement. He looked as if he wanted nothing more than to lie down and wait the situation out. But he remained seated there, ears flicking, head turning slightly as the sound of their approach grew more prominent. His red eyes flickered to Yugi after a moment and the smaller wolf flattened his ears against his head, still shaken by the way his voice had sounded mere seconds ago.
Are you okay? he pressed, tone becoming slightly flustered as he shook his head. Before they get here, I want to know that you're truly okay, Yami.
The red-eyed male blinked and turned away. I am fine.
The short response was just enough to be delivered upon hearing the steps grow more rapid. Yugi blinked and turned his head as the new patrol of wolves approached. The small group of them came over to the bodies first, sniffing at them before turning to Aki and then Mai. It took them a moment to register that Yugi was even there, or Yami. And, when they did, the she-wolf in the lead snarled and pricked her ears, bristling as she stepped closer.
Looks like you missed one, she growled softly. The other wolves behind her raised and turned their heads. But Yugi noted immediately that they shifted awkwardly and with clear distress. Syrus, Yusei, Chazz, Serena and Zane stood behind her. All of them were flicking their ears, tilting their heads, and looking at him and Yami with clearly unnerved expressions. The she-wolf came over the slight incline and jumped forward into the deeper snow. Her brown eyes were set entirely on Yami, her reddish fur lifted in a bristle. How about I fix that for you?
Fix it for me? Yugi muttered, blinking and glancing at Yami slowly before bristling as he pricked his ears forward and towards her. Excuse me? Are you insinuating that Yami is a hellhound?
Yami flicked an ear beside him, then turned his head away and looked down at the snow as if it might somehow surge upward and swallow him altogether. He shook his head when Yugi glanced at him from the corner of his eye.
He's got the red eyes and black coat of one, the she-wolf said in a dismissive tone. Why anyone would assume him to be a lycanthrope is beyond me, but I can rectify that situation altogether.
Or you can back the fuck off before I rip your throat out.
The other wolves in her patrol all flattened their ears and quickly looked away again. Yusei was digging slightly in the snow. Syrus had lowered himself to the ground and was quivering. Chazz was similar to Zane in the fact that they both pricked their ears forward and quickly looked back to the two. Serena, however, had gone about checking on the other two she-wolves' bodies. Joy, however, simply sniffed at him disdainfully and stepped closer still.
You plan to kill me for the sake of an enemy?
Yami turned his head and looked at her, eyes growing cold and harsh. If you step closer to me, I will deal with you instead, he growled softly, pricking his ears towards her. Yugi watched him for a moment, though he remained focused on the brown-eyed she-wolf. You will not have to worry about Atem.
She snorted and peeled her lips back, glaring at him. Is that so?
Yugi flicked his ears and stepped closer. Yami did not move.
That's so.
The she-wolf wagged her tail slowly. And when she pressed closer still, Yami was on his feet. He did not look as if he were inclined towards attacking, however. He seemed to simply be sizing her up for the moment. And Yugi felt a cold chill run through him for a split second. Would Yami back down if she attacked him?
I've never bought that story that you told the pack, the she-wolf stated, turning to Yugi now. Her eyes were full of disdain and disbelief. She came closer to him now, instead, then pricked his ears forward and stared at him with cold eyes. I don't know how any of them came to believe for even a second that you had bitten him.
Because that's the truth of it.
Lycanthropes don't breed hellhounds.
That's because he's not a hellhound, you idiot.
Is that so? she sneered, eyes flickering briefly towards Yami in turn now. The black male was staring blankly at the she-wolf. Yugi's blue-violet eyes widened briefly, a new thought crossing his mind. His eyes shot immediately to the other wolves who were studiously ignoring them but for Chazz and Zane. When he locked eyes with Zane, the former alpha flattened his ears and looked away. Chazz, however, tilted his head, flattened his ears after a moment or two, and began to dig at the snow in a stressed manner mirroring Yusei beside him. Yugi turned immediately back to Joy, realizing he would find no support from them.
He did not think that Chazz knew exactly how to do it. And he had the feeling Zane was inclined instead to allow others to fumble through their own problems. Yusei was not one for such confrontations. Serena was not willing to intervene. Syrus was too afraid. Aki was not paying them the slightest bit of attention. Mai was playing the part of the spectator, clearly too nervous to aid him in any manner.
He was on his own if he wanted to avoid the potential fight that might break out.
But then, he doubted that anything would allow the situation to simply dissipate its tension. She was pressing too close and his nerves were on fire, his thoughts racing. And Yami even seemed to be regarding her as something of a threat for the moment, if only because of the fact that he had made a threat that had to be kept. He had said he would rip her throat out if she got too close to him, hadn't he? He had threatened to kill her in cold blood if she were to accuse Yami once more. And that was not something that he planned to back down from.
You're barking up the wrong tree, he growled. Yami is just as much a lycanthrope as I am. Whether you believe that or not is inconsequential. But if you step any closer to my beta, I swear to every god you know that I will rip you to pieces. Do you understand me?
Those are some strong words for a wolf who often can't fight his own battles. She looked at Yami now, tilting her head and wagging her tail with a cold sneer on her face. If you're his beta, no wonder you show such weakness as well. He can hardly fight for himself and neither can you at this rate.
I wouldn't say such a thing, a new voice commented. Yugi blinked and flicked his ears, then looked over. Chazz was staring at Yusei as if the gray yearling had grown three heads. The blue-eyed wolf was staring at the she-wolf with a colder expression. Yami is a lot stronger than he looks. You watched him take on Aki that day in the camp, Joy.
Joy? Yami commented, pricking his ears forward. How sad a name for a wolf who clearly does not possess much.
Excuse me? the she-wolf spat, turning on him. The fuck asked you?
Why shouldn't she say such things? Aki sneered abruptly, cutting into the snarling match that was coming of Yami and Joy's confrontation. Yugi turned his head to look at her, startled by the ferocity with which she gazed at him. Hadn't she just helped him a minute ago? Why do that if she was simply going to turn on him now? Why waste the time and put herself in harm's way if that was the end game? He cannot fight on his own. Everyone else has to save him all of the time. So why shouldn't she call him out for being so weak?
I would have thought you'd be smarter than that, Yusei quipped, bristling as she spun on him. But he stood firm, glaring at her in turn with his ears pricked and his lips drawn back slightly. That's Atem you're talking to. Do you not remember that?
Oh, I know damn well who he pretends to be.
Unless you have proof that he is not Atem, I would recommend retracting that statement.
Proof? How about how weak he is? Aki roared, lunging at him. But Yusei simply snarled and chomped his teeth. The two of them glared at each other furiously, tails raised as they bristled. I just saved him from one of the damn hellhounds who attacked us as it—
And they still got away, Joy sneered, turning on her now. So much for the fact that you're stronger than he is.
You should stand down before your throat gets ripped out, the former beta spat, turning on the she-wolf and wagging her tail. Her eyes were full of hatred and she had wrinkled her lips back far enough that the corners of them crinkled. Her teeth were bright and glinting and Yugi swore he still saw the smallest splash of blood across one of her incisors. He might make hollow threats, but I do not.
You're just as weak as he is. Clearly if you couldn't kill one of the damn hellhounds, then you do not deserve your ranking as a beta before now, she sneered. I, on the other hand, have lots of experience killing hellhounds. So why don't you simply back down?
Killing hellhounds? Yugi muttered, glancing at Yami with an unsure expression. For what reason?
Joy turned on him with cold eyes. I don't believe it's any of your business, now is it?
I think as your alpha, it's his concern to know why one of his wolves might run around and declare a personal war on any hellhound that crosses paths with her, Zane sneered, turning on her now. Yugi blinked and turned his head. Yusei was looking at the former alpha now as well. And Chazz was bristling faintly, ears flicking about. I would wish to know such a thing. I would want to know who to blame for the sudden attacks on the pack.
You dare lay blame on me for that? she spat.
You are the only one proclaiming themselves to kill hellhounds as she wants.
Joy snarled and chomped her teeth. And then her eyes flickered towards Yami slowly, as if she could not understand his remaining there. Yugi bristled when he saw the glint in her gaze, but the she-wolf made no move towards him. Instead she focused back on Zane. Is that so? Because I've heard some stories about your charming beta that claim to the contrary.
The gray wolf snorted. And when Chazz was doing that, I beat the insolence out of him. Apparently no one has bothered to do that with you.
I had never considered you an idiot before now.
Mai was clawing at the ground in a nervous fashion, eyes wide. That's enough. Yami isn't a hellhound. And we didn't kill the hellhounds because that's not what we came out here to do. She cast a hesitant glance at Yugi. We came this way because we felt Atem nearby. We didn't realize there were hellhounds here until it was already too late.
And what is that you were doing over here then? Joy growled, turning on him. I assume you had a reason to be here.
Yugi flicked his ears. And everyone turned to him as one, curious and bewildered. None of them had questioned his being there before, he realized. And now his stomach dropped and his heart ached. They'd turn on him for sure now, each and every one of them. I came to—
You recognized one of the hellhounds, Aki snarled, glaring at him. You almost looked at him like you were friends!
That's a wild accusation to make, and a very dire one at that, Yami warned, turning to her with sharp eyes. He goes to school in the city. He knows a great many lycanthropes and hellhounds in the area.
Bullshit! Aki roared. She was trembling with rage, eyes wild with ferocity. He came here mere moments before the attack by some simple coincidence? He was coming to plan with them!
That's treason to accuse him of such a thing, Yusei snarled, snapping his teeth. You disgusting bitch!
The declaration was met with snarls and wide eyes. Chazz looked horrified, Syrus terrified, Zane surprised and Yami stunned. Mai and Serena were frozen in place, staring at him in shock. Aki and Joy had turned on him with their teeth bared and the snarls in their chests rumbling out like a roar.
Enough, Yugi snapped as Aki looked as if she might leap at the yearling. His voice was enough to make Joy glance over. But it was not at him, her eyes training themselves on Yami. Aki snarled at him, chomping her teeth and glaring. I came here to hunt and I realized something was wrong. I didn't even realize there were hellhounds around—
Then who the fuck is Valon and Amelda?
Yugi blinked, startled, then bristled and raised his head. I go to school with them.
And? Are they your friends or not?
…I do not know Amelda. He flicked an ear and then glanced at Yami and back quickly. But I know Valon. He is considered something of a friend, though not a close one.
So you do run with hellhounds, hmm? Joy sneered, lips pulled back into a hideous smirk of laughter. Then she looked at Yami and her eyes seemed to glow with laughter. You run with hellhounds and yet you do not expect us to question that your beta looks like one? Is that truly what you are asking of us at this moment, Atem?
Yugi glanced quickly towards the other wolves. Mai was simply curious, Yusei somewhat startled, Chazz and Zane expressionless, Aki enraged, and Sryus too stunned to realize that he had locked eyes with him for a moment. He looked over at Yami for a moment, considering his cold stare and how he looked back at Joy blankly for the most part. He blinked, raised his head, and then faced her once more.
Yami is not a hellhound. Whether or not you think I run with them is irrelevant. Valon and Amelda go to school with me. And I know Valon from when I escaped the labs. He and I struck up a mild friendship. I just wanted to ask him something.
And yet you came hunting instead?
Yugi bristled. You know damn well what I'm saying right now.
That you lied to us the first time. She wagged her tail, laughing. And then you assume we owe you our loyalty.
Bullshit, the white wolf snarled. I don't assume anything. I'm telling you right now that I lied. Are you happy about that? Regardless, I came here looking for Valon because I thought I recognized his scent and I wanted to talk to him about something. And I've only ever met Amelda once but I know that I go to school with him because we've crossed paths once or twice in the hallways. It is nothing like what you are accusing me of.
I don't believe that for even a second.
Then don't! Yugi spat. I don't care! What I care about right now is the fact that you're accusing me of things that you've fabricated in your own head and we've got two dead bodies and wounds to take care of—
Funny that you seem not to have any.
The white wolf startled, blinking, but then glanced in the direction she was facing as well. Yami lifted his head a fraction, the challenge clear in his eyes. Then he pricked his ears forward once more and drew his lips back to show off his sharper teeth. They were sizing each other up, he realized. Yami would not answer her because he was done talking. He was willing to simply beat her into submission rather than deal with it all.
Leave him out of this.
Joy turned to him with a dismissive expression. You say that as if I might listen to you. But you've already proven yourself to be unreliable. You're friends with hellhounds. You've brought one among us. You're even willing to protect him in front of all of us. And I would listen to you because…?
Because he's Atem!
Yugi turned his head, startled. Syrus was on his feet, bristling and glaring at the she-wolf in question.
He's Atem and we should be listening to him!
The omega has a voice, hmm? Joy commented, turning to him with brightened eyes full of amusement. And you think that you can tell me anything? You're the lowest ranking wolf in this damn pack and you think for even a second—
I'll rip your throat out, Zane interrupted, moving towards her. If you ever look at him like that again.
Yugi bristled faintly, unsure for a moment. Then he tilted his head and shivered, considering them. Would they go to blows? Was Joy truly that stupid? Zane looked incredibly calm and levelheaded. He looked as much a threat then as Yami had upon pinning Chazz that day…
You know, Joy said abruptly, turning to Yami with that same leering look she had sent to Syrus. Yugi bristled, the glint in her eyes making his heart pound. She looked as if she wanted to eat him alive… There is a way that we can figure out if you're a hellhound or not.
There was a long minute of silence. The wolves had begun to swap looks. Yusei seemed alarmed, Mai confused. Syrus was shaking and staring at Zane who cast him an unreadable glance. Chazz and Aki swapped bewildered looks. And then Yugi looked over at Yami and the black wolf stared at Joy with an expression of pure hatred.
And, it was only as Yugi turned back to Joy that she sent the image to him as well.
Blood streaked the snow. And black fur was cast about the ice. A body lay in the midst of it. Red eyes stared back at him blankly. The body convulsed. Blood swelled outwards and soaked the snow. And, as the wolf convulsed again, Yugi could see the huge tear upon his throat. It was harsh, open flesh, stripped of the fur entirely.
What the fuck is this? he demanded, bristling and raising his head furiously. The others were frozen as well, startled and perhaps as horrified as he was. She'd projected it to all of them, he realized. She had sent it to all of them as if it might prove something to them.
If he comes back to life, she commented slyly, looking to Yami again, then he's clearly not a hellhound, right?
That's shit! Mai burst out. He's a Full-Blood! He can't come back like Atem—
But her words were drowned out.
There was a hideous roar of noise.
And then a harsh thud of snow being crunched.
There was a loud scream.
Snarls tore through the air immediately after.
And all of them froze in place, unable to move.
Yugi had launched himself at the she-wolf. He'd thrown her onto her back and had his teeth in her throat. And he was shaking her violently. She was clawing and kicking, screaming. And Yugi was not letting up in the slightest. Snow was being tossed. Blood was flying. She screamed again.
Yami could not stop staring. The she-wolf was trying desperately to kick him off. And Yugi did not care in the slightest. He was snarling and tossing her. The black wolf pricked his ears, then blinked and turned his head. The others were still frozen, though now Yami noted that they all looked more alarmed than anything. He saw the slightest hint of scorn in Zane's eyes, but beyond that they seemed collective in their shock.
Yami looked away again, then moved forward a step. Atem? he mumbled, trying to get his attention. But Joy was thrashing and Yugi didn't seem to hear him. And so he paused, unsure of whether to approach. If Yugi turned on him, it was fine. But if he somehow triggered a worse response in him and it made Yugi kill her…
Atem. Enough. There was still complete silence where Yugi was involved. The white wolf didn't seem to hear him still. And the shaking continued. Yami heard something pop and thought it had to be something in the she-wolf's neck. There was no other explanation. But he could hear her shoulders grinding in order to take much of the impact. And it startled him only slightly. Atem, enough.
Yugi…
The voice was extremely quiet and isolated and Yami blinked as he raised and turned his head. The gray yearling was a few feet away, though he approached slowly and cautiously. His ears were flat against his head. His nose was lowered to the snow. He kept his eyes from Yami but he could see that he was paying him attention as well.
Yugi, stop.
The white wolf bristled, tail quivering. Clearly he had heard Yusei. Yami blinked, wondering at the way he responded so easily to him. And then he looked at Yugi again. The white wolf had turned his head a fraction. His blue-violet eyes were dilated into black pools. And Yami hated the reflection of himself he saw there. In an instant he looked away, fur rising and falling in a hideous shudder. His mouth ached as if he had clenched his jaw too tightly. But his tongue felt swollen and his mouth was dry.
You don't need to hurt her so much. You've already won.
Yami pricked his ears forward, then looked over at Yusei thoughtfully. Was that how he considered his battles won? He would decide when it was no longer necessary to act upon his anger? He would decide when it was clear that the wolf he was fighting was too hurt and it no longer benefited him to fight? That was a kind of mercy that Yami had never quite implemented but for a handful of times. It was not as constant and clear cut for him as it seemed to be for Yusei at the moment.
No one agrees with hurting Yami. Joy is just a coward. And she thinks she knows more than the rest of us. Yusei cast a glance at Yami and the black wolf tilted his head. His blue eyes were oddly clear, and the black wolf couldn't help but think of what the yearling had overheard before when he'd spoken to Echo in the woods that day. Abruptly Yusei was facing Yugi again. Yami had a cold feeling in his belly, confused and alarmed for a brief moment. And Yami is fine. See? He's fine.
Those black eyes were back on him. Yami lowered his head and wagged his tail a fraction. And, as Yugi peered at him, he could have sworn he saw the dilation leave his pupils. The smallest hint of color returned to his eyes, a ringlet of blue splashed against violet. Then the white wolf released her, muzzle covered in blood, and backed up a few steps.
Yusei looked relieved, though he was eyeing Yami more than watching. Yami flicked an ear and ignored the urge to stare at him until he backed down. Instead he turned to Yugi again, pricking his ears. The white wolf was looking at him, eyes scrutinizing for a moment. And then he wagged his tail lazily, as if he had merely been playing the entire time.