Creeper's Captive

Chapter 20

/

Kitsune felt as if the hunt had gone extremely well. His pack were loyal and efficient, and whatever squabbles they had were quickly ended with a well-placed nip to the haunches or a growl if anyone was caught sneaking a mouthful. None of this meat could be eaten now anyhow, it was for the queen and their master.

Master. Could it be true, that he would return? Dinarius had been gone so long, and yet Kitsune could still remember his long white mane and deep blue eyes. He had been a kind master but also a strong and determined one. It had seemed all so unfair when humans had forced him into hiding. The starving...the starving had been so painful and unsettling to watch...

Shaking the thoughts from his mind with a great toss of his furry head, Kitsune barked at the others who stuffed big hunks of the bloody deer meat between their jaws and with tails high bounded back to the hidden cave. He lingered behind for quite some time with his own piece however, padding slowly forward and with head low. The other name...Goliathus...his kind were the cause of their problems. Human-eaters never fared well...and that went for wolves too. If they ever did attack humans, they were shot and killed or as in the old days, stuck with arrows or beaten with clubs. Kitsune learned long ago that men were quick to control their world and destroy whatever they didn't like. It was better to keep a sound distance from them. Besides the forest provided all they needed...for now. When times were lean he had considered approaching the human farms for chickens or sheep, but humans had a way of finding out when one of their captive animals had been taken, and wolves were always blamed...whether it was their fault or not. Having witnessed other wild wolves be killed...even those he had tried to welcome into his pack...for he had no females...no, he would not take the risk again.

For him and his pack, starvation was unpleasant but not an end. A curse or a blessing, it was hard to say...but he knew they were a Ring. It was different. To Kitsune trying to understand why men had made magical wolves or any magical creature was too much for his canine limits, even the word magic was confusing. All he did know was that he had been alive a very long time, and was always free to howl at the moon or eat his fill of meat day in and day out. Being free and alive and keeping his pack safe was all that mattered to him...and as far as he was concerned, the queen heradus and their master were part of their pack.

And Puvo...the little bat who guided them...how amazing it had been to see his little form come alive from the blood of the queen. It entranced him so, to see such wonders. How did she have such ability to renew life? Even now he could think to the little bat and receive a response. It was a wonderful return of a sensation in his mind he had missed for so long. The bat was nearing some old house, made of bricks...and there was another cave nearby. Then he saw an image of a new human female he had not seen before holding a young child. This must be Ami, and for a moment his spirits soared.

Puvo, however, was alarmed. There was yet another human female who was in the cave. She smelled of fear and hatred. A victim? Did the heradus human-eater wish to eat her? Puvo was not sure. Kitsune chuffed and growled low to himself around the mouthful of meat as he picked up his pace. He now understood the queen's urgings and why she needed the master. It was vastly important that her son be stopped before he could eat any other humans, or all of the work Barabas had accomplished would be undone. He would have failed in his mission, and Kitsune did not want that for him.

He began to run and quickly caught up with the others. As he did so he began to feel another very familiar energy bristling around him.

Master.

/

Alonus fought the intense hunger flowing through her body. All of the meat was already gone...and yet still she hungered. The blood she had shed was great, and yet it seemed Dinarius would not return easily. Bones...it really was nothing but bones. She herself when in this state had retained some of her black leathery hide and even her hair, due to mummification. But Dinarius had merely been lying there, in a shallow ditch. Her lower lip quivered, he had apparently starved for a very long time until he finally withered into nothing but these ancient remains. Dinarius would rather suffer this than eat any human...or one of his wolves. She put a hand to her mouth, choking down a sob. There was so much pain in her heart, and in all honesty sometimes she simply wanted to just break down and cry as loudly as she could, just to release all of it if such things were possible. It was a deep rivulet that went far back into time...from the loss of her son's sanity to the death of her beloved. She had hoped for the blood exchange back then...she would have done it, but it was never to be so, as hard as it was to accept. Having Barabas as a ghost was better than losing him forever...and soon he would be gone permanently...

Sighing she mentally chided herself and crawled back out of the pits of her negative thinking. "I am sorry nephew. Here I am getting distracted when there is an important task at hand..." The wounds she had sliced onto her wrists with her own claws were healing now and she had to reopen them. Wincing she did so, and each time it was more painful. The blood had welled into a small pool beneath the bones, and yet very little was happening.

"Come back to me, nephew. Please...what hope do I have now without you?"

More food, my queen.

Alonus turned around sharply, having been so distracted she had not seen nor heard Kitsune and the others arrive. They ceremoniously piled all the meat close to her and she dove into it greedily.

Some of them watched eagerly as if begging dogs at a human table, but Kitsune bared his teeth at them. We can always hunt for us later. Go get more!

Whimpering the offending wolves tucked their tails and dashed back out of the cave.

Alonus chuckled, patting his huge head. Kitsune's ears perked at the feel of her claws going through his thick fur.

Petting. Forgot this. Is nice.

She laughed, giving him a big hug around his muscular neck. You silly old beast. Deep inside, you're just a puppy.

He snorted, and laid down with his head on his paws. Is working?

I don't know...it seems very slow-going. Has Puvo contacted you?

Yes. He is there. Two human females. One is very upset, afraid.

Hmm. Patricia Jenner. She is very hateful because my son killed her brother.

Kitsune snarled. If brother wolf died, I would also be angry! Very.

Alonus nodded, petting him now down his back. Kitsune spoke of the darkest wolf of the pack, with grey-black fur.

Aladar? Is that his name?

Yes. Brother.

It is too bad he cannot speak to me, Kitsune. It has always just been you.

No need to. Brother is happy. Brother loves you. Queen. Good friend. All the wolves follow you. And master.

Alonus gave a warm smile and another hug before going back to her work. Go join the others now. You must keep bringing food.

Getting up onto his four massive paws Kitsune licked her face before turning and dashing out quickly.

Alonus wiped the tears from her eyes. No human could ever know the joy and wonder of communication with wolves. They were noble and loyal creatures unlike any she had ever known.

/

Ami was pacing around her little house, having little else to do in the moment. The tirade of anger before had left her exhausted, but also she was very concerned for Trisha. Despite their differences she knew the woman never deserved any of this, and was now being forced to be part of this world whether she wanted it or not. Solarus was in bed sleeping now, giving her time to think. What was she going to do? Barabas was not answering her calls. Goliathus lately seemed in a dangerous sort of mood, and she felt it best to avoid his company. Besides she was angry at him. He had ripped a piece of her heart out and he didn't need claws to do it, either.

Finally she stopped pacing and sat down heavily on the log. Maybe she could start a fire, it was getting chilly. Marshmallows roasted over said fire sounded really nice about now; she remembered there were still some remaining back at the house...probably stale by now, but who cared? Resolving herself to the task she started to collect sticks and branches for the fire pit, tossing them in. As she went back to the house to get the confections she hoped she'd find a match or two while she was in there.

Ami stopped short once she reached the doorway. Goliathus was in the house, sitting in the rocking chair. He had started a fire in the hearth and warmth was already spreading throughout. Carefully she stepped in and sat on a makeshift "rug" (which was really just old towels) near him.

Cold?

I came to get some matches to start a fire outside. And maybe eat some marshmallows. But I see you're a step ahead of me.

Ami got up and searched for the bag, finding it finally in one of the other rooms. She used a stick from outside and skewered one on the end before hovering it near the fire to brown.

You like to eat those things?

Well yes I do. Is that a problem?

He looked away from her, staring at the dancing flames as they crackled.

Solarus? All is well with him?

He's sleeping upstairs.

Silence reigned for a few minutes.

I am sorry, Ami. I do not wish for you to hate me.

Ami said nothing, turning her marshmallow over the fire.

I fear for the new little one. It came about in the wrong way, but she...

Finally Ami looked at him, her lips tight.

She still deserves to exist, does she not? It is not her fault for what has happened. You will raise her? He shifted, uncomfortable, and still not meeting her gaze. Have you thought about it?

I've had a lot to think about lately, Goliathus. A lot.

He put a clawed hand on her shoulder, and she sucked in a breath, stiffening.

Don't even. Don't even think you-

I am not here to commit another rape. He sighed, loudly and highly unusual for him. I am actually here to tell you...to admit to you...that my feelings for you are much like I had for father's daughter. You understand? It was her death that caused me to fall. I cared about her too much. And mother. I had to witness mother being tortured. I knew not how to cope with all of that. I did not understand what I was or the powers I had. I only knew how to turn to wrath and anger. As you say,perhaps some demonic creature has taken advantage of that. Or perhaps it is just my own failures. Whatever the reason-I ask for you to forgive me, because I cannot lose you. When I said you were different, I meant that. No one has accepted me as you have. Why it took such a long time to fully realize this I do not know. Perhaps it is because I simply believed it could not be true.

He stopped there. Ami lost all interest in her marshmallow and let it burn in the fire. She put both hands to her face, sank to her knees, and sobbed.

Goliathus did not know what to make of it, was she sad? Angry? Did what he say to her only make it worse? He shifted his wings against his back a little, yearning to know what to say. Communicating had never been his thing and he was more at a loss now than he had been before. He did know he had hurt Ami both physically and mentally, and it bothered him. For once it had really and truly bothered him.

He waited for a while, hoping she would say something, but when she didn't he got up from the chair and headed for the doorway.

You know where to find me.

He had almost left when he felt Ami slip her arms around him from behind. Turning slowly he looked into her glassy eyes.

I don't know how to respond to that, you stupid idiot...

Goliathus stroked her hair, but wasn't sure what else to do. Before she had made it quite clear not to touch her.

I don't know anymore with you! She leaned her head against his chest and this time he clung to her.

I do love you, Ami.

How can you say that?! Her eyes were fixed on him. How can you rape me one day, then say you love me the next? In fact you-

She stopped, for a sense of wonderment suddenly flooded her.

Wait, what? Did you just say you loved me? You've never said that before.

He nodded. I know. And yes I said it. Because it is true.

How can you love me? How? Are you sure you do? Or are you just horny and hoping to appease me?

Goliathus chuffed and let her go, walking away towards his cave, but she followed him.

Goliathus. Don't walk away. Tell me.

For a while she was staring at his back but he finally looked over his shoulder. I believe I love you. More so than I even did Aelia. He climbed up onto his favorite rock and once again...Ami followed.

Oh. She sat huddled next to him, gazing back down at the ground at the huge shadows they cast from the moonlight.

You don't believe me?

She looked up at him again as a claw traced lines in her neck.

He leaned down, almost as if he would kiss her but instead lingered there for a moment. Ami turned away, shivering all over.

It is cold tonight. Winter nears. May be a strong one, many storms.

As if in response a cold wind blew over them. Goliathus lifted a wing and wrapped it about her small body.

It emenated incredible warmth and she huddled closer.

Admittedly...he started, after a long while. Perhaps I am...

What? She said, leaning more heavily into his side.

Horny. But we have not been together for a very long time.

Ami gave a snort and sat back up straight, peering at him from the corner of her eye. She couldn't help it and started laughing at his sly grin.

You are something else, you know that? Really indescribable, Goliathus.

Still grinning he pushed her a little as if trying to knock her off the rock. For a few minutes they played this way, until Ami stopped and shook her head.

What is going to happen with Trisha, hm? You tell me. Are you going to chain her up, threaten her with torture...what?

Goliathus frowned, all of the mirth evaporating from his face. That one hates me. And I have earned her hatred.

Yeah? We know that, Goliathus. Everyone knows it. Except what are you going to do about it, that is the question.

I cannot just let her go. She will kill the baby. I have no choice but to hold her captive.

Until it's born?

Yes.

And then what? You will let her go?

A long silence. I will. I want nothing more to do with her after that. She is a breeder, but there is you. She will never be a willing one as you are.

Ami gave a deep sigh, pressing her hands down on both knees. Goliathus I can't see this ending well. I'm not even so sure you will succeed. That is NINE months you must keep her here, well fed and cared for mind you...until that baby is born and you don't even KNOW how hard it will be. She is not like me at all, and will do everything in her power to abort that baby.

I know. But what other choice is there? I have created this immense problem, and I will have to deal with the consequences. I hope that mother would-

That stopped him dead in this thoughts, and he looked far off. Alonus would surely be stark raving mad when she discovered what had happened.

You sure have caused an immense problem, all right. But-what can I do, but help you? I love you too, Goliathus. Damn me and curse me for saying it, but I love you too and even though any other sane person would run away screaming, here I am still clinging to hope and then you give me that hope! She punched him hard in the shoulder, and while it did little to hurt him it did cause him to blink at her in surprise. Bastard. You make everything so difficult.

The grin returned,obviously he understood her remarks. Urging her closer, Ami relented and allowed him to hold her.

Your forgiveness means the world to me. Purring, he was now taking in her scents and growing in his obvious eagerness.

Goliathus there are going to be ground rules and you are going to follow them, you understand? No more going all tyrannical on me and forcing your way.

Hmm. He caressed and stroked her thighs, causing Ami to gasp in spite of herself, and she tried to fight her own growing arousal.

First no more humans and that is a must...I will help you with this in any way possible but you can't do that anymore...

Yes, I know. His claws were now wandering to much more intimate areas. Ami didn't fight him, but was determined to finish her altamatum.

Second please no more fights with your mother...I couldn't bear to watch that again...

As he leaned down to lick her neck she sighed, closing her eyes.

And Solarus...you need to be a father to him and prove to him that you do have a good heart...he's starting to think of you only as a bad human eater and nothing else. He's afraid of you I think, and you don't want that, do you?

No...

Ami felt his hands groping at her pants, wanting to get them off. You know you can't just say these things, you have to mean it.

I want to mean it...

Well you have to mean it! I don't know if I can trust you if you don't promise me you will at least try with everything you have.

These buttons and zippers you humans insist on wearing...so annoying.

Ami sighed, cupping his face. Promise me, okay? Please...just...promise me.

He huffed. I do despise promising anything...

All I want is for you to promise you will try. That is all I'm saying. I know it's a long road still ahead of you.

He pulled up, staring at her intently. All right then. I promise I will try.

Smiling Ami felt as if a ten-ton weight had been removed off of her shoulders. She hugged him tightly and he clutched her with a great, gripping strength, any tighter and he might start to crack her bones.

Oh Goliathus,not here. Not here.

Where else, little mouse? In the house? The cave? They are occupied.

Growling in that shiver-inducing way he finally succeeded in getting off those pants,exposing her to the chilly night air. He reached down closer to her, but suddenly Ami heard a squeak, and felt something whizz over their heads.

Goliathus did not notice or didn't care, as he pulled her up towards him, eager to join with her.

Again something whizzed by their heads, this time the squeak was louder and Goliathus gave a snarl, something with sharp little claws had struck his forehead.

What in the world is that? Ami blinked at him.

At the third pass, Goliathus in a flash reached up and snatched whatever it was straight of the air. Ami stared in surprise at a small furry bat squeaking furiously and biting his fingers.

A bat? He said. Ami blinked at him helplessly, but then there was a giant green flame which enveloped him and he roared, falling back off the rock and landing on the ground with a painful-sounding thud. Ami shrieked and quickly grabbed her clothes, getting herself dressed as quickly as possible before running over to him. She grabbed water in a bucket near the fireplace but the water did nothing, simply evaporating before it even was able to touch him. Ami saw that the fire was coming from the bat itself.

Stop it, stop it,please! What are you, who are you?!

At her urgent request the flames died down immediately. The bat left Goliathus and perched on her shoulder, nose quivering.

Get off me! What are you? Why are you attacking us?

She heard nothing but squeaks, as the little black eyes stared right at her.

Get off! She grabbed the bat who protested loudly, and tried to knock him off, but he flew off first, landing in a nearby tree upside down and still squeaking angrily.

Goliathus had recovered and he stood up, but his duster was nearly burnt to a few clinging shreds and he kept growling, staring at the bat.

What in the world?

Puvo flapped off the tree and came right at Goliathus. Some incredibly bright beam of light came from him and seared the heradus through the chest. That did it. He fell like a stone to the ground in an unmoving heap.

"Goliathus!" Ami ran over to him again, but this time her shaking did not stir him.

"What have you done you wicked little creature?!" Puvo flew around her head and she attempted to grab him but he suddenly went upwards and disappeared into the night sky.

Ami was terrified. The rational part of her brain was failing...seeing ghosts was one thing, but a magical bat with incredible power was another. She didn't like this at all.

Alonus? Alonus! You need to come back very soon!

/

Consciousness was finally returning. Alonus groaned and cradled her head...anymore bloodletting and she may fall into a sleep that could last for days. Gasping for breath she tried to clear her eyes and looked at the bones.

Except the bones were not there anymore. A form was lying there now, although it was pitifully weak-looking and gaunt. Turning she saw that the wolves were back, and they all looked at her hopefully with glowing eyes. An enormous pile of meat was still nearby...they had been working tirelessly all night and their energy was spent.

Alonus gave a weak smile to Kitsune and crawled over to her nephew's body.

"Dinarius? Wake up, wake up."

His lips moved. "Anna..."

The barely whispered name was recognized. Anna was a human girl he had once guarded...all those years ago. Had he been in this cave with her? Truth was, she did not know the story of what had happened to her sister's son. She would soon find out...or so she hoped, when Dinarius was ready to tell her.

"Wake up, please." She shook him harder. His eyelids fluttered and opened, and he blinked at her in silence for quite some time.

Finally he groaned and attempted to push himself out of the shallow pit, and kept staring until he saw the furry forms past her.

"Kit-sune?"

With a loud yelp of excitement the wolf sprang to his face and dashed over to him, yipping and barking in a torrent of emotion, his tail wagging furiously. He flipped onto his back with all four paws in the air and Dinarius chuckled, although the sound was like dust over sandpaper.

"Oh...Dinarius. He has missed you so! He can scarcely believe you are back!"

He grinned. "Yeah, this big wolf with huge teeth is nothing but an overgrown pup-"

He stopped and looked up at her again, but this time the realization sunk in.

"Auntie? Alonus-is that you?!"

Her smile widened and tears streamed down her face. "Yes, yes it's me."

Dinarius was still very weak and was only able to drag himself over a few inches, so that he could envelop her into a hug. For a long time, he would not let go.

"Oh Auntie, I can't even believe you are here! Are the others ok? Where is Ramonus?" He sounded rather anxious as he spoke that name.

She frowned. "He's...he's been gone a long time. My dear it has been many centuries."

"Centuries?"

She nodded solemly. "There is much to tell you. But first...tell me...what is your last memory?"

He scratched the back of his head. "It was...of Anna...and hiding here...she was so little and so scared...they found out about us...I'm not sure how. Your grandfather was on a rampage and the sacrifices the village were giving him were not enough." He paused, crestfallen. "It was just never enough. He started going into people's homes, snatching their children...I knew I had to get Anna away before she fell prey to him as well. So I flew her to this cave, but Kitsune said it still wasn't safe to leave and so we just stayed here. He tried to help and bring us food...but something happened then...something...I can't remember why but suddenly all the wolves stopped coming and the hunger grew...Anna was hungry too, and tired...and chilled by the cold...she...she got sleepy and then I couldn't wake her..."

Dinarius stopped, sniffling. Alonus took one of his hands and tried to comfort him, but words failed her.

"And Puvo-" he looked around. "Where...where is he? I remember he disappeared too, I can't remember what happened to the animals." He looked over at Kistune, who whined.

No memory, master. No memory. Do not know.

Dinarius nodded and shuddered, looking back to Alonus. "She died...Auntie...she died, but at least Ramonus did not get to...to..." Overcome, he sank down into a fetal position, sobbing. Alonus wrapped her arms around him and cradled him, rocking back and forth.

"Oh my dear...my dear..." She stroked his hair and just held him for many long minutes...she would hold him for as long as he needed. It was all she could do. He had watched over Anna from the very beginning of her life...having always been so excited and eager to take on the role and befriend the humans who loved them.

Those so few humans...leaning her head on his shoulder, she looked to the left and caught sight of a small femur sticking up from the ground close to where he had been.

My dear nephew...the child falling asleep into death was,indeed, far better than any other fate my grandfather would have given her. You did not fail her.

/

"Gollie? Gollie, please wake up!" Ami kept shaking the heradus, but he would not move. She turned every which way, looking for that cursed little bat, but for the time being it seemed to have disappeared. Confused and frightened, Am got up to her feet quickly as she thought of Solarus. What if the bat goes after him, too?!

She all but ran to the house and headed upstairs, nearly tripping and falling down the stairwell as she did so, and found her son awake and giggling as something had his interest.

Ami's eyes went wide as she saw the bat, right in front of Solarus and cascading him with a myriad of squeaking sounds. Solarus squealed, clapping and laughing in glee at the little creature.

Puvo! Puvo silly! Ha ha!

Ami blinked, and slowly walked into the room. "Sollie?"

He met her gaze, and smiled brightly. Momma, new fwiend!

Friend, is it? This "friend" just brought down your father, and I can't wake him up. She trembled, so much was going through her mind and emotions were churning about like a hurricane. At any moment, she was absolutely going to snap.

Solarus frowned, and seemed to be thinking at the little bat. Momma, Puvo say dadda is just asleep, he put him to sleep. Bat say, he will protect you, he was told to.

Ami sat down on the bed, and stared. The bat turned its little head in her direction, emitting high-pitched squeaks that hurt her ears.

Your name is Puvo?

She saw images of the little bat in her mind, and as if hitting a rewind button, other images appeared of the earlier brief battle with Goliathus. Then she realized she was seeing the bat's other memories. There was Alonus, and incredibly, twenty wolves all around some cave hidden somewhere in the forest. She also saw the woman who must be Jezelle, waiting for her outside.

In that moment she realized the bat did not use words, but images and memories to communicate. It was very strange, like closing one's eyes and seeing a theater screen in front of them.

Ami tried this out, showing Puvo her own mental images of being scared and confused of his attack earlier. His response was to fly onto her chest, crawl up, and cuddle against her neck. Then she saw images of another heradus, and he was doing the same thing, clinging there against the back of his neck.

Who is that? Is it Alonus' nephew?

She saw another image of the face and then the body...and Ami gasped, to her it was an incredibly handsome one. He had intense blue eyes which were anything but malicious. A fluffy white mane of hair went all the way down his back and unlike Goliathus or Alonus, he had a long tail.

Wow. Does that mean Alonus found him?

The bat squeaked, and Ami felt the happy emotion. She also felt little licks to her neck, and giggling, pulled him off.

Hey, hey, stop that would you! That tickles.

See, momma? He no bad! Puvo like you. He want to help!

Ami nodded. I'm glad, because I got really scared out there. I had no idea what was going on. But now, it all makes sense. Well, at least as much as this whole crazy situation can make sense, anyhow.

/

End of Chapter 20.

This chapter got held up a bit because I had to rewrite things a few times, and I'm still not 100% sure of this one, but well I'm sick of rewrites at this point. LOL Please leave reviews! More will come shortly! Oh and in case anyone is wondering, Puvo is a Gray bat, check out the species on Wikipedia or Google for images. :3