~ Defiance ~
LYKOS
At long last, does Lykos face his former king who has yet to transform himself again. That all-too familiar, scowling face and that rancid smell of his cloak of uncured furs brings back visions of the past that Lykos would have rather left forgotten. Years upon years of him constantly berating Lykos, encouraging the Pack to harass and torment him, trying to force him to do horrible things… to become something that he is not.
He hates Lycaon with every fiber of his being. The anger he feels towards him far outweighs his fear, something which had long since been the opposite until now.
"Boy," Lycaon growls, straightening his posture as if to assert his dominance. "Stand down this instant."
Lykos narrows his eyes into a cold, defiant glare and plants his paws firmly in the snow. He will not move aside. He will not allow harm to come to Saphira, who lies in the snow behind him. This action only infuriates Lycaon even more.
"You dare to disobey me? Your king?" he snarls.
Lykos snarls right back, curling his lip to bare his fangs. He can hear a shuffle in the snow behind him and casts a brief glance back to see Chloe at Saphira's side, dragging the dazed Hunter further away from harm. Chloe is the one who had cut him free. He knows that the girl is a healer and is likely intending to tend to Saphira's wounds. Good. As long as no Wolves attack them, they will be okay.
The thought has him returning his focus to Lycaon and he notices that the battle has come to a standstill. Dozens of pairs of eyes are now focused on the standoff between him and Lycaon. The Wolves simply stare as if they're astonished that any one of their own would dare to challenge Lycaon's command. Then Lykos remembers one of the olden ways of the Pack, something that has never been put into practice as not a single one of them before ever stood against the Wolf King.
To defy Lycaon this way, is to challenge him for his place as King of the Wolves.
Lykos unleashes a powerful, thunderous snarl, and Lycaon's response is a stunned, enraged expression.
"So, that's how it is." He clenches his fists, loudly crackling his knuckles. "I save your life, I give you great power, immortality! And this is how you choose to repay me… clearly, I have been too lenient with you. I see now that harsher discipline is required to put you back in your place."
Lykos continues his snarls.
"Still cannot speak, can you? A shame. I would have wanted to hear your screams as I tear you apart!" Lycaon roars before he rapidly transforms and rears up with a bellowing snarl. Lykos snarls in reply as he charges through the snow, fur bristling, ears flattened, and fangs snapping.
Lycaon opens his maw, ready to come bearing down on Lykos with his teeth, but Lykos doesn't bother with meeting him fang for fang. Instead, he puts his head down and rams his rival in the jaw, turning Lycaon's head to the side before he shoulder-slams the larger Wolf and nearly topples him. Lycaon grunts but he retains his balance, shaking his head to clear the daze from the slam as Lykos then lunges at his neck, just barely missing thanks to Lycaon's quick reaction to lean away and give him his shoulder. Still, he sinks his teeth and thrashes his head, trying to rip away a piece of the Wolf King's shoulder before dipping away to avoid the slashing fangs. Lycaon pursues him and lashes out with his claws, scraping them down Lykos' muzzle and snapping at his face, but Lykos slips just past his bite and turns his head to attack the flank… a horrible mistake.
Lycaon turns his head as well and slams his jaws over Lykos' back, his much larger mouth holding a grip like a bear-trap. Lykos releases a screaming yelp, feeling the teeth and the pressure behind them with a searing pain that fires throughout his body. He snaps and tears at Lycaon's shoulder and flank, but the Wolf King is able to easily flip him over onto his back with a hard thud. Lykos quickly brings his limbs up into defense, clawing and pushing with his forelimbs at Lycaon's head and chest to keep him out of reach of his throat, while kicking and scraping his hind-claws into his belly. Lycaon suddenly pivots his body to get around the claws and dives in, but only manages to chomp at the side of Lykos' neck before Lykos twists himself about to rake his dewclaws over Lycaon's face, making him release. He then kicks out again to throw him off and rolls to his feet.
As they charge each other once again, both Wolves rear up on their hind-legs, with Lycaon towering almost two feet over him. Lykos slams his paws into Lycaon's chest, shoving him back several steps, following the shove with a downward slash of his claws that grazes his face. Both of them briefly drop back onto all fours, only to immediately rear up and clash again, this time with their fangs slashing at each other's neck and shoulder.
Lycaon uses his size advantage to the fullest, clenching his forelimbs around Lykos' upper torso to throw him onto the snow, but Lykos is quick to regain his footing and lunges with open jaws. He doesn't bother to rear up this time, simply attacking his rival's chest and using his entire body to trash and rip while Lycaon struggles to find his neck to grab and tear him off his chest. Lykos lets go and dips right underneath him to swing his entire body around and slam himself through Lycaon's hind-legs, flipping him over.
He wastes no time, pouncing on his toppled enemy and dipping in for the throat, but Lycaon manages to slap him aside with his paws and roll back onto his feet. Lykos shakes his head to clear away the daze, and suddenly finds his neck in the jaws of his rival. He snarls at the sharp, stabbing pain and bucks to try to break free, but Lycaon's jaws are strong and vice-like. He uses his grip to shove him down into the snow and swiftly readjust his bite to yank Lykos into the air as he rears up, whipping his entire upper body to throw him back down. Lykos slams into the snow, the impact knocking out his breath for a moment before he's beset upon again by Lycaon.
With a single huge paw, Lycaon pins him down by his neck and dives in to clamp his teeth into the soft flesh of Lykos' hip, right above his hind-leg. Lykos gasps and thrashes, clawing at the snow and at his rival, but to no avail. Lycaon growls and shifts his jaws, tugging and pulling as if his intent is to tear off his entire leg!
Lykos pits in all his strength to lean up and sink his fangs into the flesh beneath Lycaon's arm, causing the older Wolf to release him with a scream of pained fury and scrambles away, ripping himself free. He struggles to get to his feet, but the pain of his hip is too much for to manage it quickly, and he stumbles in his attempts, something his rival takes full advantage of and lunges to slam his shoulder and throw him down again. Lycaon clamps down hard on his neck again and shakes him like a rag doll. Lykos cries out, a screaming yelp of pain that he tries to turn into a snarl and fight back, but his jaws cannot reach Lycaon.
Suddenly, he feels himself being lifted high into the air and whipped around, getting flung with ease into a tree with such force that the bark is splintered and sent flying in all directions.
"Give up, runt! You cannot win!" Lycaon growls, stalking towards him as he struggles to reorient himself. "Give up, and I promise that I will send you to Tartarus swiftly."
Lykos can't help the whimper that escapes him, still shakily getting to his feet as his blood drips from his neck, hip, and shoulder. The snow beneath him turns crimson quickly, yet he manages to stand on all four legs, despite their quivering. He's in excruciating pain… but he can't give up. Not now.
Refusing to give in to his former king's command, Lykos glares at him with all the defiance he can muster into his eyes, managing a growl. Normally, when Lycaon casts the stare of the alpha at any of his subordinates, they would immediately submit and fall into line, so this action seems to enrage him even more. He lunges with an open maw, but Lykos is just quick enough dip low beneath the jaws and ram his shoulder into Lycaon's throat and sink his teeth into his foreleg. His rival gasps and releases a choked snarl, scrabbling about to try to wrench his leg free while slashing his fangs at Lykos' back.
Suddenly opening his jaws to let him go, Lykos swiftly thrusts upward with his shoulders and head from beneath, bumping Lycaon upward over his body before pivoting himself around to swing the entire back half of his body around, slamming through Lycaon's hind legs and flipping him off his feet. The larger Wolf flops onto his side with a heavy thud, but he's quick to roll back upright and regard Lykos with a look of surprise.
"I see. Your time in the Pit has greatly improved your fighting skills," he remarks, though his tone drips more with contempt rather than approval. "However, it is still nothing compared to my experience. I am hundreds of years older than you. I have fought and killed countless enemies. You will simply be another corpse among them, and when I send you back to the Pit, I'll make sure that all who reside there know who you are. All of Tartarus will rain hell upon you for eternity!"
Lykos only replies with a growl, having not a care in the world for anything he has to say. Lycaon seems to sense his feelings and responds with a growl of his own. The two Wolves circle each other, preparing for another clash. Expecting him to make the first move, Lykos holds back, but it takes only a second for his suspicion to prove true as Lycaon lunges forth. Lykos recoils with his head drawn back, evading the bite and retaliating with a snap in return, his fangs only grazing the tip of Lycaon's nose. The Wolf King snarls and strikes back to bowl him over with his superior weight and pinning him down on his back.
The exchange of snarls, slashing fangs, and kicking claws quickly leaves Lykos decorated with more bleeding gashes that spill his blood on the snow. He writhes, bites, and scratches, doing anything he can to get Lycaon to back off, but the Wolf King seems to care little for the injuries he's receiving as he dives in again and again, tearing at his shoulders, neck, and chest. Finally, he manages to score a firm bite on his nose, and Lycaon yelps, quickly scrambling back and dragging Lykos over the snow in his attempt to pull his nose free.
Lykos lets go, only to pounce on Lycaon's flank and drive his fangs deep into the flesh and use his head to thrash and rip the skin from the body. Lycaon screams in pain and rage, falling back on the latter to slam his teeth over Lykos' neck and knock him down, before lifting him up again to throw him several meters through the air. The impact momentarily stuns him, but that one second of time gives his rival the opportunity to grab him by the loose skin of his shoulders and whip him around to toss him again.
This time, when he tries to stand up again, his strength fails him and he sinks back down into the snow. His bleeding, torn flanks rise and fall with each heaving breath, unable to stifle the soft whines and whimpers of agony that course through his body. The most he can manage is to roll himself onto his belly and weakly support himself on his elbows. His vision is a little cloudy, the images blurring over and then clearing, only to blur over again and repeat the cycle.
Only when his sight lands on Saphira does his head clear.
She's side-saddled in the snow, staring at him with wide, agonized eyes… like she's about to witness something awful. Chloe is kneeling at her side with leftover bandages and bloodied hands, like she had just finished mending her wounds. Unable to hold her gaze for very long, Lykos weakly shifts his eyes towards the King of the Wolves. To his credit, Lycaon seems to be almost as exhausted as he is, sitting back on his haunches and panting heavily. Blood drips from his neck, shoulders, and flanks, but despite his injuries, he appears to still have the strength to stand.
"Did you really think you could defeat me?"
Lycaon stares down at him with an almost maniacal glint in his eyes. Lykos doesn't know if he is simply losing his stableness by blood loss or if he's simply letting a darker, even more vicious side of him break the surface.
"You may be a strong warrior, but you are a fool if you thought you could match against me. I am Lycaon, runt! King of the Wolves! Compared to me, you are but a whimpering pup!" he bellows, lashing out with a massive paw to strike Lykos on the cheek. The blow throws him over onto his back, rolling him completely over and making stars dance in his vision.
Suddenly, something in Lycaon's gaze shifts; changing from total malice to a light of contempt… the way a father would regard his son who behaved in a manner he disapproved of, even if said father is vile and twisted.
"Despite your disobedience, your betrayal, there is still time to correct your behavior. It would be a waste to destroy you, after centuries of trying to get you see things the right way, especially now that you have become such a capable combatant. I will give you one final chance to keep your life, one last chance to return to the Pack."
Lycaon towers over him, his head and tail held high with confidence, asserting his full height. His ears stand forward and the fur along his spine perks to the sky. Then, with a growl, he speaks his term.
"Yield to me."
At first Lykos' first thought is to defy him immediately, to make it clear that he would rather die than submit to him… but he finds himself unable to do so. Something in Lycaon's voice, that cannot be heard, only felt, compels him towards doing as he's ordered. In an instant, Lykos is terrified, knowing exactly what this is. He has seen the king use this before, and simply being in his presence at the time made him want to cower in submission. Even the other wolves around them can feel it, despite it not being directed to them. Lykos can see it in their body language, how some avert their gaze or step back. It is Lycaon's ultimate weapon over them.
The voice of the alpha.
Against his own will, Lykos finds himself wanting to shrink as small as possible. His ears fight against him, pinning themselves back against his head while his tail curls downward, tucking itself low. As if some unseen force is pressuring over his body, he begins to crouch down, despite trying to go against it. Desperate to fight against this compulsion, he forces a growl from his throat and strains to stare defiantly at Lycaon, to meet his gaze with his own… but his body disobeys his wishes. His eyes divert themselves to the snow, again and again no matter how hard he tries to hold Lycaon's stare.
"Yield. Cease this defiance and yield to your king." Lycaon bears down over him, forcing him lower and lower to the ground as he bares his teeth, snarling over Lykos. "Forget the girl. Forget everything and return to my side."
Lykos manages a feverish growl in reply, but he's losing this battle of wills. Lower he crouches, and his growls slowly give way to whimpers as he is forced to comply, unable to ignore the alpha's command.
"You will submit to me, and you will kill that Hunter bitch. She will die… just like the girl before her. Just like Katarina, and just like before, you are powerless to stop it. So stop fighting it, and give in. It'll be much easier that way."
Those words… they spark something, deep within his subconscious. Images, memories flash through his mind. His home, his family, the Boar… Katarina. Her final words echo themselves in his head.
'You're a good person, Lykos. You have a kind heart, full of co-courage and compassion. D-don't ever lose that. Remain as y-you are, because who you are is what everyone else should strive to be. Stay as you are, because one day, it will lead you to find happiness once more. You will find another to care for, who will care for you. When you do, I know that you will protect them.'
In spite of his body fighting against him, Lykos manages to raise his gaze just enough to spot Saphira. She stares at him, horrified, seeming to be frightened… just as Katarina was frightened long ago.
'I know that you will protect them.'
Lycaon's deep, guttural growl brings him back to the present.
"Yield. To. Your. King."
The compulsion runs through his veins again, drawing another whimper from him, but this time it ceases as Lykos' chest vibrates with the return of his growls. Summoning every ounce of strength, both physical and not, he searches deep within himself, clawing for the ability to do something he has not done in over one thousand years.
"Never."
That single word has Lycaon's eyes widening in surprise, and that surprise turns to shock as if he cannot believe it, as if he's unsure if that truly just happened.
"You- you just-" Lycaon stammers, unable to form his words. Lykos, however, has no such difficulty.
"I. Will. Not. Yield." With every word, his willpower returns to him bit by bit. With every word, Lykos' body heeds to his command as he slowly begins to rise, stamping his paw down into the snow while he pushes himself up. "I am not one of your slaves. I am Lykos, and I am no longer a prisoner of your tyranny. I am free."
His ears swivel forward and his tail begins to raise up. His mane bristles and his fangs are bared at his former king who attempts to growl, only for his voice to be drowned by Lykos' own deepening snarls. A glint of fear casts itself through the Wolf King's wide, crimson eyes as he takes a step back while desperately trying to intimidate him, but Lykos is unaffected by it now. Still asserting to his full height, he stares him down, snarling as he takes a step forward and making Lycaon retreat another step in response.
"You were never my savior. You gave me nothing but a curse, and an eternity of pain and suffering. Saphira showed me kindness. She gave me hope! Hope that I can find some semblance of happiness in this world, and I will defend her to my dying breath!" Lykos growls. "She is my pack; my family, and you will not harm her!"
The King of the Wolves finally shifts his expression from shock to fury, even trembling at the rage that is clearly clawing to escape him.
"Y-you insolent little- GRRRAH!" Lycaon roars and lunges at him, jaws gaping and teeth flashing… but Lykos saw this coming.
Even swifter than the Wolf King, Lykos makes his move and darts forward to strike first. Before Lycaon can react and avert his attack, his muzzle becomes trapped between Lykos' fangs, and Lykos is all too eager to deliver pressure through his jaws. Lycaon releases a screaming yelp of pain and immediately begins to struggle, thrashing his body and slashing with his claws, but his efforts are in vain, as Lykos has no intention of letting him go now. Keeping Lycaon's head mostly immobilized, he does his best to ignore the flailing claws and focuses on keeping Lycaon's muzzle in his teeth. Quickly, he shifts his jaws for a firmer grip, something that draws even more yelps from the Wolf King as he's dragged about on the snow. Only a single thought claims Lykos' mind.
It is time for the King to return to the Pit.
With a growl, Lykos clenches the muscles of his jaws as hard as he can, feeling his teeth grind and dig into bone until finally, he hears a sickening crunch and in that instant, he twists his head to violently rip away from Lycaon…
With the upper part of his muzzle still between his fangs.
Where that part of Lycaon's snout had once been, now remains as a spurting faucet that sprays blood from his exposed nasal cavity. Lykos spits out the severed muzzle from his mouth and raises his cold gaze to Lycaon's. The Wolf King falls back on his haunches, total shock overcoming his eyes as he stares right through him, seeming to be lost in the void of his own mind. He remains frozen in place as Lykos stalks around him, right up to the moment that Lykos seizes his neck in his teeth and snaps his head sharply to the right. A loud crack emits from Lycaon's neck, and he begins dissolve into shadow even before Lykos throws his corpse down to the snow.
There is nothing but silence, save for the wind, while the King of the Wolves disappears, seeping into the snow for his essence to return to Tartarus.
He's gone.
Lykos then turns to face the Pack. No other wolf comes forth to challenge him. Each one remains where they are, staring at him with widened eyes and pinned ears. They snarl, but not in aggression. Fear is the cause for their growls. Experimentally, he takes a step forward with a growl of his own and every wolf takes a step back from him in response, their ears and tails lowered. Then, summoning every ounce of breath into his lungs, Lykos unleashes a roaring snarl, sending them a clear message.
Run.
Every wolf turns tail and flees, bounding into the woods in retreat with whines and yelps. The Hunters and campers fire arrows and hurl spears after them for good measure, shouting cries of triumph and pumping their weapons into the air.
Lykos ceases his growling, panting heavily and taking a great breath, allowing his lips to conceal his teeth. The adrenaline trickles out of his system and the exhaustion finally begins to set in, however despite this he manages to slowly turn around and face the Hunter who had helped him finally become free of his curse.
Saphira scrambles up from the snow and hurriedly staggers towards him. He limps to meet her halfway, fully accepting her embrace that she throws around his neck. They collapse together into the snow, with her burying her face into the fur of his scruff. Lykos hasn't felt a rush of emotion so powerful as this in centuries; the feeling of thousands of years of pain and despair washing away, replaced by the open gateway to something new.
She cups his face in her palms, brushing her thumbs through his fur.
"You did it," she murmurs softly.
His only response is a soft whine as he rests his head in her lap.
"Saph!"
Chloe's joyful cry reaches his ears and a moment later, the healer is right by their side with a joyful embrace around the Hesperide. Her attack is followed by the charge of Hunters and campers swarming them from all directions, with the campers still releasing whoops and shouts of victory and triumph.
"He's dead! Saph, it's over!" Chloe exclaims. "It's finally over!"
From the crowd, two of her sisters push their way through; Laura and Amaris. They're both banged up, but otherwise seem fine.
"Saph, are you injured?!" Amaris demands.
"I'm okay, Amaris. Chloe beat you to it," she replies with a grateful smile.
Laura and Amaris both look relieved and somewhat sheepish.
"Listen, Saph. We're sorry that we doubted you… and him," Laura says.
"Can you forgive us?" Amaris pleads.
Saphira shakes her head. "There is nothing to forgive. You may have doubted, but you also gave us a chance. That is more than what I could have asked for."
Her sisters smile at her, seeming to be grateful for her understanding and stoop down to join the embrace. Saphira revels in the moment of being reunited finally with her family… for the few seconds that it lasts.
BOOOOM!
The thunderclap was so close that it startles everyone and nearly deafens Lykos. All heads turn up the mountain in time to see a bolt of lightning streaking down from the sky to connect with the peak, causing an explosion of snow and smoke. Saphira curses herself for her own forgetfulness.
"Lady Artemis and Thalia!" she shouts, scrambling up to her feet.
"They must still be fighting Orion!" Chloe cries.
"We have to get to them now!" Saphira declares and then snaps her gaze to Chloe. "Stay here and tend to our wounded. You too, Amaris, and do not argue with me!"
Both healers are clearly not happy with it, but they know better than to protest. Lykos on the other hand, is more stubborn as he begins to rise. Quickly, Saphira goes to him to gently push him back down to the snow.
"You remain here as well. You have done more than enough," she coos. "Rest now. I promise you I will be fine."
Lykos growls in protest, but his exhaustion gets the better of him as his strengths fails against her's, and he slumps back down. Saphira turns to leave, but her arm is caught by Laura.
"I'm coming with you," the trapper girl says.
"So am I!"
The voice of Clarisse La Rue catches her attention. The daughter of war is covered in blood, though her expression tells Lykos that none of it is her own.
Saphira nods to Laura and Clarisse before giving Lykos one final look, a last goodbye before she turns and races away up the mountain, disappearing from sight in only a matter of seconds. Lykos stares after her, longing to follow. He remembers what Orion was like in the Giant War only months ago. He was ruthless, deadly, and relentless, hunting the Seven and then hunting the Praetor transporting the statue of Athena. Even with Artemis, Thalia, Clarisse, and Laura all fighting alongside Saphira, he can't help but stress over her safety, and it's not long before the stress becomes too much.
It is his purpose now to protect her, and no matter how injured and exhausted he is, he will see to it that his purpose is fulfilled.
On trembling legs, Lykos pushes himself to rise, struggling to balance and refrain from falling over again. With one shaky step after the other, he begins to make his way in the direction that Saphira had gone.
"Lykos!"
He turns his head over his shoulder at the sound of Chloe's voice. The healer looks at him in a manner that at first, makes him think she means to stop him. However, reading her expression, he realizes that is not her intent.
"Go. I'll be there as soon as I can."
Lykos gives her a brisk nod and returns his focus to get moving again. Every step brings back some life into his muscles, and soon enough he's able to lope up the slope at a brisk pace. His frosty breath escapes his nostrils in clouds.
Today, this war ends.
