(Next update is here. Hope you all enjoy it. Oh, forgot to say at the end of the last chapter: who do you think should be on strike teams? Also, a large point of this chapter and the werewolf/therianthrope powers is inspired by the book series Wereworld by Curtis Jobling.)

Death Fury: Thanks.

: Well with some of the supernatural/paranormal and those who kill (even for understandable/good reasons), the League and the team fight against it. Though I think I may have nerfed the League some I fear. That's a mistake on my part.

Chapter 31: The Power Within

(Unknown location, a week or so later)

Drew sat in lotus position, inhaling and exhaling slowly. Ulva stood before him.

"Concentrate, feel the magic around you and within. As a therian, your connection to the Red and the Clear is of the physical and spiritual planes."

The young shifter cleared his mind, letting his senses connect to the world around him. Ulva waited, arms crossed. His spirit and mind focused on the animals he was connected with, so many. The werewolves had said that each therian was connected to one animal and even with that, they held the respect of other creatures.

His mind focused upon images of beasts, while his spirit let their nature and their spiritual powers flow. There were so many that Ulva had told him to concentrate on a few at a time. He felt the eagle take flight, its eyes on everything as it boldly flew wherever its wings carried it. All creatures on the land looked small from the heights the bird of prey flew, giving the eagle a perspective few could match or understand.

Then the jaguar stalks through the rainforest, he who kills in one leap. The prowling power moves through the jungle often unseen until the time comes to leap. His paws move through the trees, claws waiting to emerge and strike. His roar is believed to be like thunder, echoing through the rainforest for all to hear.

Then comes the great white shark. The prehistoric predator swims through the seas, all scents come to him. The depths hide the beast as he stalks through the waters. Always moving, never stopping, the shark hunts the water and those within it. When it comes to the kill, the beast leaps out of the water with its prey in its jaws in a display of terrifying power.

On the ground, within the grass, slithered the serpent. Moving slowly, carefully to avoid detection from those all around. It senses the heat from those it hunts in view, ready to strike when the time comes. Slithering in silence, eyes on target and fangs ready. Then the serpent strikes without warning with deadly speed and accuracy.

Prowling where its paws take them, the lion. A dominant social predator that strides through its domain wherever they desire. Their bonds with one another builds the importance of a strong and healthy family, their pride. And their roars carry over the land, filled with power to all those who hear their call.

Drew opened his eyes, which glowed. Ulva smiled, nodding. The young shifter sighed as he stood up, the eldest therianthrope motioning for him to follow her. They walked through the pack's land, through forests and onto a mountain overlooking a valley surrounded by a great woodland. Ulva turned to Drew.

"Your connection to the beast within and those around you speaks to the power of the bond you have with the magic that has blessed you and your bond with the physical and spiritual forms of nature all around you."

"You said I was connected to more than just the wolf. Yet it was werewolf blood that gives me more powers and I don't know if I connect to the source of what and who I am."

Ulva gave him a sad smile.

"I do not expect you to connect to your spiritual self easily. You are connected to the web of life as all are therians, what was done to you altered yourself. You are of our blood and you are progressing well."

She put a reassuring hand on Drew's shoulder.

"There is power and magic within you in more than shapeshifting. Not just your strength, speed, agility, and senses."

"What do you mean?"

"Your voice."

"My voice?"

"Do you remember the battle between my family and your friends?"

Drew nodded, grimly.

"You heard us roar and howl, but did you see what it did to many of your friends? Did you feel it?"

Drew tried not to remember that battle, though it was still fresh in his mind and heart. But he did remember. He heard the howls and roars of the werewolves, he saw the fear and terror in many of the heroes gathered. He also remembered the effect it had on him despite his focus on the battle. He felt the power, like a rallying call to the other werewolves and a war cry that deafened and terrified those against them. Ulva nodded, seeing the realization on Drew's face.

"Our voices can be a rallying call to one another and to our friends and allies or also a cry that strikes fear and terror into our enemies, not just a call to find one another. The wolf's howl is a cry to broadcast their location, call out to find others, a warning to others, or a call of triumph. Like with our animal kin, our voices have power."

Drew rubbed his chin. He recalled times in and out of animal form when he growled, roared, or howled and saw the shock and fear of those he battled or hunted. Those with him, or some at least, showed renewed strength or will when they stood and fought together.

"I think I've had the effect on others in the past, though not to the degree you all have."

"Your power was always there, but you had no guidance for it. The experimentation done to you hampered your mystic powers and so while you were able to transform into animals and have powers in human form, you did not have the level of transformation and powers we have."

"You mean that human wolf hybrid form? And how you were able to defeat the League and the team with ease."

"Yes. Though being the oldest of the therians, our powers are greater than those you might meet randomly. Unfortunately, our breeds and allies have been hunted for at least a thousand years. Many were killed during the waning lunar phases."

"Your power drains?"

"In a manner of speaking. When the moon wanes, the younger generations weaken and during the new moon and lunar eclipse are unable to transform and have no strength outside of shapeshifting. Though our connection to the Red and Clear is still present in other ways."

"You don't weaken at all?"

"We do, though not to the degree you would and will."

"And how would I still be connected to the Red and Clear when I'm powerless?"

"Animals still recognize you, or those you are bonded with, as kin."

Drew nodded. He had felt his powers weaken at times, but he never thought the moon's phases were connected to it. Though until recently, he didn't know he had lycanthrope blood. Those unknown changes in his abilities were becoming clear now.

"You said that our voices have power…I've heard and…used a tiger's roar…it kinda paralyzes people."

"Correct. The therians that roar have this effect as well. Though, to another extent. Like with our howling."

"How so?"

Ulva inhaled and exhaled, eyes closed. Then she opened her eyes and roared. The sound heard and felt earthshaking, the sound spreading for miles. In the distance, the howls of the werewolf pack were heard in response and also the howls of wolves in the distance. Drew's eyes widened and he lost his balance, almost tripping off the edge of the mountain. Ulva grabbed his hand and helped him back onto his feet. The young shifter's eyes went wide.

"Whoa."

Ulva chuckled.

"Though, obviously it's more powerful in our wolf forms, strongest in our 'hybrid form' if you will. Now you try."

Drew nodded after a moment of surprise. He closed his eyes, inhaled slowly, then exhaled slowly. His eyes opened and he opened his mouth and roared. While nowhere near as powerful and deafening as Ulva's, he felt power in his roar unlike he'd felt in any of his roars before. The werewolves and wolves cried out in response. He felt as if it was seemingly a sonic blast that erupted from his mouth. Ulva smiled, nodding. Drew's eyes were still wide.

"There's so much I never realized."

"There's more."

Drew raised an eyebrow. Ulva motioned him to follow. They made it down the mountain and into a cave not far from where the werewolves lived. Neither needed a light to see in the dark. On a wall were the first pack in human, wolf, and werewolf forms. They were painted at a small distance from herd animals. Then another part showed them chasing the animals. Drew noticed that something surrounded or emerged from the animals.

"What is that around the animals?"

"That is their souls, their spirits."

"What do you mean?"

"As a therian, we not only detect and track the physical form but the soul as well."

"Wait, is this like the aura thing?"

Ulva chuckled.

"Correct, it's one's aura. We can sense who someone truly is by it. Like with the rest of your untapped power, you will learn it with us and beyond."

"Beyond?"

"Yes, there are other things going on in the world that need your attention. Like with the spirit quest, you must discover yourself in your own way."

Drew nodded.

"Now with seeing's one's aura you must concentrate."

Ulva sat on the ground and took the lotus position, Drew followed her lead.

"Focus your mind and spirit."

Drew nodded and closed his eyes. As he had before, he focused his energies upon the spiritual plane. He felt the power in the room on a greater level which extended to the home of the first pack. The magic was unlike anything he'd ever felt, as nature had created a protective shield to mask her guardians. But then his focus returned to Ulva, he felt her power. The immense ferocity and will of the first werewolf and therian was overpowering. This wasn't surprising to Drew though, given how she effortlessly defeated Superman and stood against Wonder Woman. Still he honed in on her spirit, he could feel the wolf within her.

"Open your eyes, Drew."

The young shifter inhaled then exhaled. Then he opened his eyes. From Ulva and around her was a black and red aura. It moved around her like how the Northern Lights danced in the sky. Her greener than green eyes stared back at him.

"Yes, you see it. You feel it. Good. Very good."

Drew's eyes filled with wonder as he watched as Ulva's aura danced.

"Your aura is so beautiful."

Ulva smiled.

"Thank you, Drew. Now you see and feel more than you ever have before. And there is still more for you to learn and discover."

Drew nodded and bowed.

To be continued…

(Hope you all enjoyed the chapter.)