I apologize ahead of time for any mistakes that may be in this. Shadow has been battling a very unhappy stomach and rather mean headache for the passed couple days and I'm not feeling up to par. I may go back later, once feeling better to make corrections
But for now, try to enjoy~
Small hands pulled the cowl of a hooded cloak tighter about a slim figure as she entered an ally way and rounded another building. The forest now stood directly before her; black, ominous and deadly. She watched as the shadowed figure she had been trailing hesitated ever so slightly and seemed to turn fractionally, as if too look back over his shoulder before crossing the tree line and instantly blending with the leafless trunks.
She feared she had been caught at first, but he hadn't seemed inclined to make her stop following him if he knew, so she darted forward, determined not to be left behind or loose sight of her goal. Renji was at home, probably sleeping by now. He believed her to be visiting her brother and his family again this night, she had told him she would be home tomorrow afternoon and so had plenty of time for her search.
She ducked closer to the ground, hiding behind the brush and watched as the man paused amongst the trees. He pulled something from a pocket in his long coat and the faint tinkling of bells reached her ears. The giant of a man stooped slightly and she watched as he erected wicked looking spikes into his black hair, the small, silver bells attached to the ends.
The man continued forward with all the ease in the world, as if he had a specific destination in mind and wasn't strolling through a dangerous forest in the middle of the night. After several more minutes of traveling through the silence, he came to a halt and his deep, gravely tone trailed back to her. She couldn't tell what he said, only hear the tone of his words and fear began to raise in the woman. None of it sounded too friendly.
Another voice reached her, slightly louder and holding an amused tone but she only caught parts of what was being said. "...of course...potential ally..."
She watched the tall man nod slightly "We'll find out" He said to the shadowed figure before him.
The second speaker moved, the feeble light of the near full moon catching his features. Rukia covered her mouth with her hands, suppressing the gasp of surprise and fear that wanted to escape as her violet eyes widened with shock.
Before the man she had been following stood a monster, but what really made her heart pound in her chest was the small bundle held in one of it's powerful arms. Blood and dirt smeared the canvas colored cloth, the object within hung limply in the wolf's grasp. Violet eyes widened even further as the tiny, swaddled bundle wiggled and a very human whimper of pain and fear escaped from a tiny, damaged body.
••••••
Grimmjow rolled over and slowly sat up, dropping his bare feet over the edge of the bed and to the cool floor. He stretched, really just straightening his torso a bit as he refrained from actually stretching his arms too high and pull the flesh of his abdomen too tight. Running a hand carefully back through his mess of blue hair, he slowly twisted his upper body to look behind himself at the bed he sat on.
Both of his humans still slept soundly, their limbs intertwined with each other and a thick, dark colored blanket pulled over their bared chests to ward off the cool air. The trademark, light scowl that the Caster normally held was missing, as was Shiro's usual slightly deranged smirk. Replacing the waking expressions of both men was a soft, serene look of comfort and ease.
A slight smile stretched across handsome, angular features and Grimmjow took his time in standing up. He was pleased when the tear in his chest and stomach didn't hurt nearly as much as it had the previous day, though there was still a dull throb and the stiffness associated with the knitting of skin and scar tissue.
The werepanther eased the wrapped bandage off the gash as he left the room, careful not to let it pull at the scabbed over sections. He gently traced a hand down the mark; starting from his collar bone and ending nearly at the opposite hip. The new skin covering the sword slash was thin and smooth, almost having a slippery texture to it. He would have to take it easy as to not rip the fresh flesh and minimize permanent scarring. It would also go a long way to speed the healing process if he didn't put any unneeded stress on the area.
The bluenette eased his way down the stairs, quite mindful of the aches caused by his wound and the rough play of the night before. Smile turned to grin as he reached the bottom of the stairs, thoughts of the previous night's escapade drifting through his mind's eye. He might have to let the near-albino top him more often.
Back in the bedroom, Ichigo stirred at the loss of a warm, solid body at his back. He shivered and tightened his arms around his twin's waist, burying his face and snuggling closer to the pale chest before him.
"hmmm... Mornin' King" Shiro mumbled tiredly, folding his arms around Ichigo's shoulders and tangling his fingers in silky, orange locks.
"Good morning" Ichigo said, yawning as he did. He felt Shiro smirk against the top of his head and a smile found it's way to his lips as well.
They lay together a while longer, enjoying each other's warmth and comfort before finally deciding to crawl out of bed and head down stairs to find their companion.
Grimmjow was predictably sitting at the island counter, a chunk of raw and bloody meat sitting on the plate in front of him. The twins had given up trying to cook his food for him and made sure they kept enough fresh meat stocked in their fridge, much of which the feline must have hunted down himself as they never seemed to run low. Though they weren't about to ask him how or when he went and they had yet to see a carcass laying anywhere near the house.
The Caster paused as he glanced over the bluenette, taking in the sight of his now unbandaged abdomen while ignoring the red that stained his lips and finger tips. The feline smirked.
"See something you like?" His deep voice purred out, dripping with sin and filling the space like the finest of melodies.
Beside the Caster, Shiro snorted, a wide grin marring his ashen features. Ichigo rolled his eyes but walked right up to the sitting feline to take a closer look at the wound. An idea struck him and he hid a smirk of his own as he looked into vivid blue, noting the various flecks and rings of indigo and a silver color that made the crystalline pools dance and swirl.
"Actually, I do..." He let his voice take on a husky edge, dipping to let his lips brush against the feline's sensitive ear as he spoke. Two could play that game. He trailed his fingertips carefully down the man's chest, feeling the fresh skin covering his wound. Muscle twitched slightly under his light caress and he saw as much as heard the bluenette suck in a quick breath. "I'm glad to see you seem to be healing incredibly well." With that, the Caster turned around and walked to the fridge, a wide smile plastered to his face as he passed his brother.
Shiro's laughter startled Grimmjow from his frozen state and his wide eyes narrowed slightly before he went back to his meal, ignoring as his lower regions tried to stir to life. "Fucking tease..." He mumbled around a bite but he didn't bother to hide the smirk that stretched his full lips.
••••••
Enraged snarling and near desperate howling ripped the wolf from his slumber. Grey eyes snapped open as his head shot up, sleep instantly pushed away from his conscience. His brain processed the meaning of the distant sounds, forcing his body into motion by instinct, before another sound caught his attention; something all too familiar.
Starrk leapt to his feet, long, powerful legs carrying him across the room and into the corridor. He nearly collided with a frightened Lilynette in his doorway and the larger Alpha grabbed her shoulders to hold her on her feet as he slid to a halt, claws digging into the earthen floor.
He looked down into wide, terrified eyes. The she wolf cowered against him as another irate, senseless roar shattered the distant silence. His ears instinctively swiveled backward against the sheer wave of implacable anger that radiated from the deep voice. It was nearly unrecognizable.
Starrk lowered to be at eye level with his smaller sibling. She stared wide eyed toward the entrance of the den, as if she expected the combatants to enter at any moment even though it was clear they were miles away.
"Lilynette." Starrk said quietly, shaking her gently to gain her attention. Frightened eyes were turned his way as the young she-wolf clutched at his muscled arm. "Stay put, do you understand? Nnoitra and I will figure out what's going on."
The she-wolf nodded at him, her eyes darting from Starrk to look down the corridor that lead to the main entrance and back again. The Alpha gently pushed her toward his personal chambers where she would be safe before standing back to his full hight.
The enraged growls and roaring was unnerving. Even from this distance, nothing more than pure hatred and grievous outrage sounded in the calls, like a furious storm that tore apart the very earth, destroying everything in it's path. Never had he heard something so...lost in overwhelming anger, yet the rage had a bitter, tainted flavor to it. Starrk flicked his ears, a motion that seemed as though he was trying to rid the disturbing sounds from his hearing, and padded down the corridor in all haste.
What remained of his dwindled Pack, loyal beasts hand selected by Starrk to survive his necessary purge, was stirring, most of the members making their way to the corridor with the sounds. All of them waited to see what their leader would do, what action he would take, and what commands he would give. They looked at him with expectations and trust born of hard times.
Starrk motioned forward one of his runners; a lean and swift wolf. "Find Nnoitra. Bring him to me." The Alpha werewolf dismissed the messenger, knowing that the summons would be unnecessary. The ever present shadow that was his second was no doubt already trotting down the corridors, headed in his direction. The command had been more for show, something for his testy Pack to hear and hopefully set their minds at ease, something to reassure the members that he would not fail them.
The Alpha continued down the hall, the furious, bellowing roars echoing throughout his forest, and pulled certain wolves aside, building his hunting party as he went. He chose his closest and most trust worthy wolves; nearly the same group that he had selected to be his enforcers while he had weeded out the traitorous wolf's followers.
Whatever the threat, it was too near the den, too near their territory and too aggressive to be ignored, lest he yet again jeopardized his hold on and standing in the Pack. This would be seen as a test. The first real trial that had occurred since the Pack had sundered to test his ability and worth as the Pack leader.
And he would not fail.
Starrk emerged from the sheltered den, his posture and attitude showing calm confidence while a storm roiled in his dusky grey eyes. His sentries stood with tense bodies, one to either side of the entrance and a third out in front, as they listened to the furious clash, ears facing forward and heads turned in the direction of the slaughter.
That's what was happening; not a battle, not anymore at least, but a slaughter. Now that he had left the earthy confines of his den, Starrk could smell the spilt blood in the air. The bitter scent filled his flared nostrils, tainted and mixing with the sheer terror and desperation riding the breeze.
A large, lanky shadow passed by him before Nnoitra stepped into view. The second too was facing the sounds that echoed through the forest, his lone eye wide in what must have been disbelief. Starrk glanced up at him; a silent understanding born of decades of companionship danced between them. The black wolf nodded slightly, his dark eye darting to his Alpha before returning to the forest. He and Starrk took off in a swift, loping pace into their territory; the rest of his hunting faction following close behind, padded feet making hardly a sound.
••••••
"You can't be serious" Ichigo stared at the naked man still seated in his kitchen and crossed his arms over his chest, cocking a hip. The werecat had finished his meal and promptly announced he was going to hunt down the leader of the werewolves to deliver word of the wolf that would attempt to over throw him.
"I am." Grimmjow said firmly, his tone showing that he would not back down. He held little doubt that Starrk knew of the traitorous wolf. The Lobos leader wasn't stupid by any means, but he tended to let things come to him first and the knowledge that the attack was more than likely going to be sooner rather than later could prove the difference between his living and dying. Grimmjow owed Starrk that much.
Shiro watched the two, locked in their battle of wills, his gold on black eyes shining with his amusement. He could see the unwillingness to relent hardening the lines of both mens' features and knew King had met his match. The feline had a stubborn streak that wouldn't allow for defeat.
"Well, while ya argue 'bout it, I'm ganna go feed the horses." Shiro said, mostly talking to himself as he doubted either would acknowledge him. He rolled his eyes and walked past his more colorful copy and entered the hallway, grabbing his hooded cloak as he went to fend off the season's cool air.
"Your wound needs more time to heal, what happens when you find the wolves?" Ichigo asked with concern. The sword slash from the day before wasn't bleeding and was on it's way to healing quite nicely with the cat's unnaturally fast regeneration, but it was far from top shape and wouldn't take much to reopen it.
Shiro's words vaguely registered in the Caster's mind and he absently nodded, not realizing that the albino had already walked out of the room. The sound of door locks turning and the handle unlatching carried softly down the hall as his twin opened the new door to leave the house. The chilly breeze that signaled the coming of winter whistled quietly through the opened portal and Ichigo shivered as it's icy fingers curled into the kitchen.
"I'm counting on running into the mutts to..." Grimmjow cut his sentence short, his lips still parted for a moment before his jaw snapped shut with an audible click and his head tilted up slightly. Blue eyes took on a glacial tint as his nostrils flared, taking in the scents that rode the slight breeze that had been let in from outside momentarily. A growl emanated from deep in his throat as the breath snorted from his lungs and the feline shot to his feet. The stool he had been seated on slid back, catching on one of the tiles and falling to the floor with a loud clatter.
Ichigo jumped at Grimmjow's swift movement and the sound of the chair as it bounced off the tile once before rolling to a stop, his chocolaty eyes wide as he watched the bluenette. "Grimm?" He asked tentatively, rotating where he stood to watch the cat stalk passed him with the silence and fluid grace of a skilled predator.
Their previous conversation was forgotten as the feline padded down the hall and to the door. The unmistakeable scent of blood struck him as familiar for more than one reason and something clicked into place as his mind finally settled on where he had smelled this particular human's blood before. He threw the door open, the heavy metal that made up the new door made little difference in the face of his strength and urgency. The werecat leapt down the front landing, his bare feet sliding on wet grass.
"Grimmjow?" Ichigo ran down the hall after him, snatching the customary robes that were hanging behind the now open portal as he rushed out the door after the man. He watched Grimmjow slide a few feet across the wet ground before catching himself and taking off again.
Shiro turned at the sound of King's voice calling after the cat, just in time to see said feline rush passed him, headed for the tree line. Ashen brows furrowed as Ichigo joined him near the stables and they watched the man slow to stop.
Head raised, Grimmjow tested the air again before altering his course and treading carefully toward a large oak tree that stood just inside of the barrier. He edged around to the other side of the tree, his movements cautious and slow as if he was trying not to scare a smaller animal. His chest heaved, but not from exertion as his sharp eyes landed on a small bundle of canvas fixed part way up the trunk.
Throwing a brief glance at one another, Shiro and Ichigo trotted toward the strangely acting cat, something in the back of their minds screamed through their shared confusion. They slowed to a walk as they watched emotions play across Grimmjow's face and his eyes widen as he looked up at something on the other side of the old oak tree. Rounding the tree and taking a place beside the feline, a few steps back, the twins looked up at the small object seemingly clinging to their tree. Orange and white brows simultaneously furrowed as they studied it, before their brows shot up as they both realized the rust color smeared across the canvas surface wasn't dirt, but blood.
A slight, strangled sound rose from Grimmjow's throat as the what lay beneath the tarp rose and fell in a shallow motion. Ichigo's hand shot to cover his gaping mouth before he was pushing passed the frozen cat, the first to react to the haunting sight before them. A strong hand reached out and grabbed his shoulder, jerking his reaching hand away from the rough fabric before he could pull it free. The Caster looked back up at the man. Blue eyes never left the object as Grimmjow stepped around the Caster, gently pushing him back toward his pale copy.
The cloth rose and fell again in a slow, shallow motion and blue brows pulled together even tighter as the cat watched. Ever so slowly and carefully, Grimmjow reached up, letting his fingers brush the object. He already knew what lay under the covering but his mind was unwilling to believe it, unable to wrap around what his senses told him. The object flinched slightly under his touch and a barely audible whimper left his throat to match the one that left the body below the suspended cloth.
He heard the two men behind him gasp at the noise and closed his eyes for a moment before steeling himself and pulling the top edge of the cloth down.
Long, dirty and blood stained blond hair tumbled into view. Wide, light green eyes; glossed over and dulled from being near death, slowly rolled to focus on his face. The angry, red and puckered tracks of half healed wounds stood out starkly against the pale face. Tear streaks had washed rivulets through the dried blood she was coated in, striping her face in a sallow pattern. The little girl's mouth fell open, dried blood cracking around near colorless lips, as she tried to speak.
"k...kit...ty..." Grimmjow's wide eyes filled with unshed tears as he stared up at the small human child he had saved nearly a week ago. He didn't know how she could have recognized him as the werecat that had fought the wolves but it hardly crossed his mind. Her frail body shivered slightly and sent him into motion.
Carefully pulling down the rest of the rough fabric covering her body, he was granted with the sickening sight of the wooden spikes that had been driven through her thin limbs to hold her in place against the tree. Blood seeped in a thick, turgid trickle down her arms as she shivered again, her once pink dress fluttering in the slight breeze.
Grimmjow could see that her mind was beyond feeling the pain of what had been done, numbed by the cold and blood loss. He carefully reached up and wrapped a strong arm around her tiny waist to support her as he grasped the first of the spikes in the opposite hand. Muscles bunched as he slowly pulled the wooden stake from the tree, leaving it to impale her limb lest she finish bleeding out.
He took his time. Pulling the spikes from the tree one by one before the girl was finally loose and he pulled her close to his bare chest. He bent slightly to grab the canvas cloth from the ground, wrapping it around her shivering form before slowly turning to face the human men once more. His face was composed, calm even, but his expressive azure eyes gave away his inner turmoil.
Ichigo and Shiro stood in a state of shock, the Caster's pallor near a match to his colorless twin's. The men took a step toward the bluenette, neither set of eyes leaving the small form in his arms.
"Is...is that...?" Shiro could barely force words passed his dry mouth as he watched the small child shiver and Grimmjow tighten his hold around her protectively. The feline nodded, unable to form words of his own and his much larger form quivered slightly, his muscles filled with tension. "Le's get her inside..." The pale man whispered, tightening his hand around King's and giving a slight tug.
They started to make their way to house, intent on getting the frail child inside and warmed up. In the back of their minds, all three of them already knew the girl was dead. There was very little they could do for her in the condition she was in, but at least they could try to warm her up and hope that she wouldn't be so scared and alone.
As they reached the front stairs, Shiro holding the door open, a slight, breathy gasp shuddered from the toddler and her small chest failed to raise. A quiet, strangled whimper escaped Grimmjow as he looked down at her pale face and sightless eyes as he cradled the tiny body in his arms with great care. The feline dropped to a sitting position on the front porch, his legs crossed under him as he looked down at the little girl. He brushed his fingers down the side of her face, flashes of a different era playing before his eyes as he closed her unseeing ones; another body to add to his forest territory.
The heavy door slid from Shiro's grasp, swinging closed slowly on silent hinges, as he watched the werepanther gently close the child's eyes. His heart felt heavy even as anger lit a fire in his chest. Looking at the silent cat, he could see his feelings reflected tenfold in the man's eyes.
Grimmjow looked up at the Caster and his twin, his face calm and unfeeling while an outraged inferno danced behind his eyes, making them seemingly glow with a malevolent light. Slowly, calmly, he stood to his full hight, the small figure still clutched tightly to his chest in his thickly corded arms. He turned about and carefully descended the stairs. Sure strides carried him across the yard and over the barrier.
The twin's followed behind him, confused and not understanding. "Grimm?" Ichigo asked softly, his voice cracking slightly with a million different emotions, most of which he couldn't name. That little girl didn't deserve to die, especially in the way she had. He couldn't push away the feeling that this was what her killers had intended to happen; they had wanted the girl to die in front of them. They had known that Grimmjow would find her early with the next morning. "Grimmjow, where are you going?" He asked softly, grabbing his brother's pale hand as they walked side by side behind the seemingly driven cat.
The werepanther remained quiet as he padded through the forest, his bare human form never registering the cold or the light drizzle of rain that pattered the dead leaves on the forest floor. The Caster's question was answered when the decrepit, shadowed structure of the feline's temple came into view.
Without hesitation, Grimmjow strode through the overgrown courtyard, passing between the rows of sentry like statues and up the large tiers. He crossed the threshold, striding directly to his pristine throne where he finally stopped. Tilting his head to the side slightly, the feline regarded the small body in his arms for a moment, then he set the dead child down in his throne. The tiny form lay across the seat of it, not even filling the large structure. Grimmjow pulled the tarp like cloth over her still, pale face and turned back to face the men that had followed him there.
Before their eyes, the werecat's rounded pupils lengthened as the blue iris took on a more feral, chilling look. His heavily muscled body seemed to elongate before tan skin disappeared beneath shimmering, blue black fur. He bared his teeth in the first hints of the enraged anguish he was feeling and calmly strode passed Shiro and Ichigo.
The twins turned to follow him, knowing he was out for blood but unable to bring themselves to try to stop him. Ichigo looked back over his shoulder at the small figure swathed in blood and dirt stained cloth, laying across the throne of twisted bone and grimaced. It seemed a bad omen for the stray wolves that had murdered the child.
Grimmjow paused at the arched door way of his temple while the humans quickly caught up to him. Not trusting his voice at the moment, he took a deep whiff of the scents around him and nodded slightly as he caught wind of the silver gun and ammo the near-albino always carried with him.
The resurrected werepanther took off with long strides that quickly devoured the ground before him. His keen ears picked up the soft curses of the humans he left behind as they ran after him. Grimmjow quickly out paced them, knowing that they would be safe enough in his territory and armed with Shiro's silver and Ichigo's magic. They weren't defenseless like the child had been, the pathetic wolves wouldn't dare to touch them.
Glacial eyes scanned the seemingly barren forest as his nostrils flared, taking in the scents around him. A fresh trail reeking of mutt wafted to him and the feline sped off in the direction it came from, uncaring of how many wolves could be attached to the scent trail. His silent, swift sprint carried him to the other end of his territory, bordering with Lobos territory. The scent grew stronger, more pungent as he quickly neared the source, driving him forward with a deep need to taste canine blood.
A wolf came into view; a decent sized stray with a mangy brown coat and yellow eyes. Then another entered his line of sight, bigger than the first and still Grimmjow raced toward them. Soon, he counted a half dozen and didn't bother to slow his charge. With a snarling roar that shattered the calm of the morning air around him, the werepanther lunged at the first wolf.
His momentum and smaller weight was enough to send the hapless monster to the ground. It's companions stared in motionless, stunned shock and horror as Grimmjow tore into the beast. His fangs sank deep into the soft flesh around the mutt's throat as his claws dug furrows through it's muscled chest and abdomen. Squeezing his jaws, Grimmjow snarled his fury and jerked his head back. The wolf hadn't even had time to whimper and now gurgled and wheezed below him as he swung crazed eyes to the next closest beast. Blood bubbled and dripped down his chin as he climbed to his feet and launched himself again.
The group of mongrels finally gathered their wits enough to stir as he struck the second wolf. The beast had turned toward him as the werepanther had attacked and it staggered backward under the sheer force of his charge.
It grappled with the cat, baring curved fangs and flattening it's ears in threat, but it's yellow eyes showed it's fear and Grimmjow fed upon that fear. In his enraged state, he hardly realized it was his roaring and snarling that drowned out the cries of the wolf before him, not that he cared.
La Pantera had a far reaching and well earned reputation for being a destructive force of fury and power. And this morning, Grimmjow would once again live up to his name. It was a silent promise to a dead child, brought forth in every sound of seething anger he forced passed the canine blood filling mouth.
The wolf's snarling quickly shifted to a yelp as feline fangs sank deep into the forearm it had tried blocking the cat with. Sharp and cruel; those fangs cut through muscle like a knife and scraped against bone before Grimmjow pulled back, tearing a good chunk with him. The chuck of flesh fell from his maw as he snapped his jaws closed at the mangy muzzle in front of him.
••••••
Ichigo and Shiro trotted in the direction their feline housemate had gone, listening and looking for signs of where he had gone but Grimmjow was as silent as the creature he took the form of. They neared their mansion like home but continued on. Grimmjow had been in his resurrection and after wolf blood. Common sense told them they wouldn't find him there.
As the twins ran by the clearing that their house sat in, a disturbing, hate filled roar shattered the sky, the light rain doing nothing to dampen the seething anger in the growling. The deep voice was unmistakably feline. The rage Grimmjow's voice carried was palpable and the humans pushed their pace into an all out run.
Seconds ticked by like hours and the forest came to life with the panicked yipping and snarling of werewolves. Still, enraged howls sang through the chorus of other sounds.
The creatures came into view as Grimmjow grappled with his third wolf and the brothers slowed to a halt as they stared after the enraged feline and his victims. Already, two wolves lay dead on the ground and they watched as Grimmjow sank his claws into the wolf he was now grappling with.
Another wolf leapt into the fray, coming to the aid of it's companion. The wolf landed a heavy blow to the werecat's exposed ribcage under the arm that he had the other wolf pinned with.
Grimmjow grunted and bared his red stained teeth as he spun in response to the attack, flinging the wolf he was holding onto away. Large, hooked talon like claws swiped across the mutt's snout and down the side of it's thick neck. The beast jerked away from the assault but snarled and dove back in at the werepanther.
Grimmjow dodged to the side, avoiding the larger beast's attack. He quickly had his feet under him and sprang at the already injured wolf he had been working on. The creature was taken by surprise, still trying to catch it's breath, and was driven to the ground under the furious werecat.
Dark eyes watched the mayhem unfold as the feline deidad decimated his ranks with a brutal, wild abandon. It became clear the strays of his still forming pack were no match for the feline and Baraggan took a careful step backward, not wanting to alarm the cat of his presence.
He had expected some form of retaliation. One didn't nail a child to a tree in someone's front yard and think they could just get away with it. Especially not when a powerful being was involved. But Baraggan hadn't expected...this. If he were being honest, he hadn't expected the feline to do anything at all for at least a few days. The old male knew of the cat's past and knew how seeing a human child die like that would effect him, he had been counting on quick, burning despair to push Grimmjow over the edge. It seemed that the werecat had disregarded his warning.
Movement amongst the trees drew the old wolf's attention and he looked passed the battle quickly turning to a massacre to where the feline's human pets had finally made an appearance. As much as he despised admitting to being out done, Baraggan had no desire to end his life just yet. He may have been tempted to dish out punishment to the cat and deliver his warning in less words, but throw in a rare Caster of unknown but seemingly powerful ability and an Undead that carried silver and the older male knew when to throw in his cards.
"Come, Kenpachi. I think it would be best to leave now." He said in a low voice, glancing over at the big man.
A crazed grin was smeared across Kenpachi's face, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword as he watched the enraged werepanther he had been wanting a rematch against. "I don't know, this looks too good to pass up" The human said, mirth in his tone.
"Yes, if you want to be shot again" The increasingly nervous werewolf said, backing further away as the overcast sun glinted off twin, silver hand guns on the other side of the battle.
Kenpachi sneered but nodded in agreement as he watched skilled hands pull the guns from their holsters at the pale man's sides. Together, they slowly backed away and disappeared into the shadowy forest, the patter of rain covering the sounds of their retreat.
Grimmjow's chest heaved as he spun toward the sound of yet another snarling wolf. A different mutt came at him while he had his back turned, throwing his smaller form to the ground. The beast landed atop him, knocking the air from his lungs but he hardly cared. He lashed out, snarling and snapping his fury and hatred as blood welled to the surface on the wolf as well as on himself. Grimmjow locked his jaws around the snout of the wolf above him, keeping the creature from inflicting damage with it's fangs. He tore at the beast with his claws as it tried desperately to pull away from him.
The scent riding the air told the feline more wolves were on their way, but he didn't have time to process the smells and didn't know how much time he had. He hardly realized they were there and only really picked up on them out of instinct driven habit. The sword slash from the previous day stung as the thin, new skin split under the abuse he was dealing to his healing body but even that went unnoticed.
Grimmjow didn't know how long had passed, but the wolf above him shuttered before collapsing fully and stilling. Blood pooled below him, most of it the wolf's but not all. A sickening, wet thump announced the cause of death as the disemboweled monster's entreals fell to the leaf littered ground.
The werepanther pulled himself out from under the carcass, grunting with the effort. He quickly climbed to his feet, adrenalin and rage fueling him and keeping the weariness out of his limbs. Grimmjow readied himself in a defensive crouch, but was met with silence. He slowly spun about, finding a hapless, injured werewolf that was attempting to drag it's self away on what had to be a shattered leg and pelvis.
"Grimm"
Grimmjow attacked. He landed on the wolf, closing merciless and unforgiving teeth around the back of the beast's neck. It whimpered and howled in pain and fear but would find no pity. The feline shredded it's back and shoulder muscles while the deadly jaws continued to squeeze and work around to the front of it's throat, where they finally sank into softer flesh.
"Grimmjow!" A hand reached out and touched his heaving shoulder and the cat released his hold on the dying wolf and spun around, his cold eyes filled with an unquenchable anger.
Ichigo and Shiro stood beside him, their eyes wide as they stared at the blood and gore covered werepanther. The slight fear that swirled in gold and brown finally brought Grimmjow back to the present and broke his rage. His muscles began trembling from exertion and the hatred in his cool gaze died away, replaced by something softer, something sad and apologetic.
He opened his mouth to speak. What he was going to say was a mystery to even himself, but his jaw snapped shut and he bared his red tinted fangs as the smell of the coming wolves filled his nostrils again. He pushed the human twins behind him, nearly knocking them to the ground with the quickness and strength of the protective gesture, and took up another crouch as several large and hulking figures came into view.
His tail lashed back in forth in jerky, irritated motions, making his agitation plain and obvious for all to see. Ears pinned back to lay flat against his skull, Grimmjow let a deep hissing growl reverberate the air around them.
••••••
Starrk signaled for his hunting party to slow their pace. The sounds of battle were dying off. The blood of stray werewolves and the smell of fear tainted the air in a thick, metallic scent. The Alpha wolf wondered at what could have incurred the werepanther's wrath. This would serve as a strong reminder to himself and his pack; Grimmjow may lay dormant at most times, but he was still far from tame and more powerful than most would believe a fallen to be.
The signature smell of a Caster sifted through the cloying scent of blood to his nose and Starrk cringed slightly. He spared a glance to his left, where is second padded by his side.
Nnoitra curled his lip at the sound of the human's voice calling the feline's name. He was at once relieved and filled with trepidation to know that the man had survived whatever had just occurred. He had no desire to tangle with the powerful Caster or the other human Grimmjow had befriended, and yet he knew this massacre would be far from over if either man had been killed.
They padded through the trees until the feline and his companions came into view, where Starrk signaled for the rest to halt and wait for his commands.
The two men stood before the cat, looking up at him, their body posture showing submission; fear even. As he watched, Grimmjow's seething anger seemed to drain from his being and face as he looked down at them and he began to visibly relax until Starrk and his group's presence were noticed. The feline almost forcefully pushed the two men behind him, instantly going into a protective and battle ready crouch that showed he wasn't in the mood to play.
Starrk took a few strides toward the menacing feline, his faction stayed still and at the ready like he had bid them, trusting his judgement and commands. He let his stormy grey eyes roam over the surrounding battle field for a moment before returning his attention back to the cat in front of him.
He quickly counted seven dead wolves scattered about. Each lay in a pool of it's own life blood, grievous wounds showing on all. Grimmjow had not been kind or swift with the death he had delivered.
Grimmjow stood off to the side of where the main slaughter had occurred, near the most recent of his kills. The dead wolf lay still twitching and body still cooling in the chill rain at his feet. Cuts and gashes marred the feline, covering his chest and arms. A particularly large slash ran the entire length of his abdomen in a diagonal sweep, it wept and seeped with each breath he took. His chest heaved, though he did well to hide his fatigue and still looked to have plenty of energy to enter battle.
Ferocity and threat showed in every hard line of muscle upon the cat but the truth swirled in deep, azure pools. Grimmjow's rage had been played out, he was out of fight no matter how aggressive he looked and Starrk nodded, dropping his own battle ready stance in favor of something a little friendlier looking.
The feline's ears swiveled to face forward and he hid his bared fangs behind blood stained lips but didn't leave his ready stance. Curiosity played across feline features for a moment, but was gone in an instant when the two humans behind him shifted in their own nervousness. The werewolf leader felt power being drawn from the air and the tell tale scent of magic tinted the air ever so slightly as the Caster drew his power closer to his person, readying to attack or defend if need be.
"Starrk." The greeting was growled out between clenched teeth, making the feline's unhappy disposition obvious to all around.
The Alpha heard his small group shift about, tensing and readying to react to any move the agitated cat made. He watched Grimmjow's eyes flick passed his form, assessing his hunting faction and their level of threat to himself and his humans before settling back on Starrk's figure.
"Grimmjow." Starrk carefully greeted back with a slight nod of his head. Before he had a chance to question what had happened, the feline cut him off.
"There is a rogue plotting to over throw you."
Starrk's second growled and stepped forward, taking his place by his leaders side at the admission of the conspiracy. "I knew ya should have let me kill the traitor." Nnoitra growled out.
"It's not news to me that the traitor had plans to attempt taking my throne." Starrk said, ignoring what his second had said. He watched as Grimmjow sneered in response.
"Perhaps you'd like to know he attempted to enlist my help." Grimmjow told the wolf leader, his eyes never straying from the unpredictable second at his side. "He also found a formidable human to help him."
Starrk was quiet a moment as he wrapped his mind around what the cat told him. Obviously Grimmjow had declined the offer. Starrk was in no way stupid, he quickly put the pieces together and realized that this killing had to have been associated with the cat's refusal to help the traitorous male. He was curious as to why the feline would take his answer to this extreme though and wanted to know about this human that sided with Baraggan.
"Another Caster?" He asked, his grey eyes drifting over the humans still standing a few feet behind their feline companion. Beside him, he saw as Nnoitra tense up and his lips peel away from glistening fangs.
Grimmjow stiffened as well, baring his own teeth toward the hulking second in warning before he answered Starrk. "No." A slight grimace passed over the cat's features, hardly noticeable to those not looking for it. "But he does use a very...odd silver and a sword. Strange human. Watch yourself, Starrk."
The werepanther took a step back, watching the black wolf at Starrk's side before he turned to leave. He nudged Ichigo and Shiro, keeping them in front of him while they had their backs to the wolves.
"Grimmjow." Starrk's deep voice called out to halt the retreating werepanther. Grimmjow turned to look at him with a questioning glance. The Caster and the Undead looked over their shoulders at him; warm, brown eyes were wide and odd, gold on black ones were narrowed with suspicion. He cautiously approached the feline and his humans, making sure Nnoitra stayed behind.
"I would like to thank you for the warning...and dealing with...these" Starrk waved a hand carelessly through the air toward the dead strays littering the area.
Grimmjow nodded and made to leave again.
"I would also like to make you and your" The Alpha looked to the humans standing slightly behind the werepanther. "companions an offer." He made sure to keep his words loud enough for the group of wolves accompanying him to hear. Starrk wanted to show his confidence as well as his sincerity in what he was going to ask of the cat and his allies. "I would like to call a truce, at the very least. Preferably an alliance."
Grimmjow seemed to hesitate, a look of incredulity flashing on feline features.
"I do not wish to pull you, any of you, into my personal war. However, in this era, I don't see any reason for us to continue being enemies." Starrk knew of Grimmjow's instinctive hate of wolves, he understood that well enough, but he knew the feline was intelligent and would choose what made the most logical sense. They had been rivals for years untold but only in word. In action and person, they had ceased being enemies long ago. All that was left was for one of them to voice it aloud for the rest of his Pack to hear. Now that the Pack was truly his again, he planned to make sure it stayed that way and things would be run as he wanted them to be. The wolves and the feline could only gain from an official pact.
Beside the cat, the orange haired Caster gently touched Grimmjow's arm, drawing his attention. The feline tilted his head toward the man, keeping his body angled toward the wolves while he listened to what the man had to say.
Ichigo stood on his tip toes to be closer to Grimmjow's level in his larger werepanther form. "I think we should agree" He said, keeping his voice low enough so that the wolves wouldn't be able to hear him.
Grimmjow's eyes widened slightly and Shiro spoke from his other side. "I think King's right. The monster tha'...killed the little girl already proved he's ganna give us trouble. What could it hurt ta accept?" He shrugged, tucking his guns back into the holsters.
The werecat looked from Ichigo to Shiro before giving in and agreeing with them. He had never needed to fear Starrk, they had always had an understanding. He turned back to Starrk, stepping close to the Pack leader. "You have a deal." He said, extending his clawed hand. "But if any of your mutts touch either of them..."
Starrk clasped the feline's smaller hand in a rather human show of acceptance and understanding. "The Pack will be informed of our new allies and will not harm your humans." Starrk said with a faint smile.
"Oi, we have names ya know!" Shiro spoke up from behind the werecat.
The Alpha's smile grew and his deep baritone chuckle emanated around the trees. "Yes, I suppose you do. I'm Starrk, as I'm sure you've figured out." The leader waved Nnoitra forward. "And this is my second, Nnoitra. When I'm not around, he leads."
The larger wolf curled his lip slightly but nodded his head in a friendly enough gesture to both of the men as he stepped forward and back to Starrk's side.
The cat gave a short laugh, his voice filled with amusement when he spoke. "Still upset over that eye?"
The wolf growled and the Caster elbowed Grimmjow in the ribs. "Grimm, that doesn't help." He said to the cat, then turned his attention back to the werewolves. "I'm Ichigo. This is my brother, Shirosaki."
"Ya can call me Shiro." The near-albino said.
"A pleasure, Ichigo, Shiro." Starrk said politely. He nodded to Grimmjow; an old rival and now a new friend. Unfortunately, he had matters to attend to back at his den and preparations to make for a certain traitorous wolf.
Grimmjow turned around, guiding his human companions with him, and headed back toward their home. Their business was done for now.
••••••
The rain had remained a light, miserable drizzle throughout the whole of the walk back to the ancient temple sanctified in the name of La Pantera. It pattered upon the dried leaves and turned the dirt below them to mud. While only being mid day, the sun rode low in the sky as was normal with the time of year and the clouds shaded everything in a dismal grey befitting the sullen mood.
Grimmjow crossed the threshold of his temple and shook the water from his fur. He heard Ichigo and Shiro follow him into the main chamber but they remained silent. As he knew it would be, the child's body lay untouched where he had rested it on the seat of his throne. Linked as he was to his throne, the werecat had been able to feel her tiny weight upon it while he had been hunting and killing the mutts responsible for her death. He bent to retrieve the wrapped bundle of canvass, cradling the girl as if she were only sleeping. It was only once he could feel her small weight in his arms that the small presence in his mind dissipated.
They couldn't return her body to her family. Grimmjow knew what they would likely find if they tried. A group of stray mongrels had raided her home to send him a message, there would be no one left alive and no one to look for the child.
He left the sheltered dome of the temple, striding out into the rain, Ichigo and Shiro following closely. Finally, the Caster's curiosity got the better of him.
"Where...where are you going to put her?" Ichigo asked, his voice hardly above a whisper as if afraid to brake the silence that had wrapped around them. He pulled his robes tighter to fend off the chill air. It was a long moment before he received an answer.
"I have to find a place" Grimmjow answered quietly as he concentrated on long gone memories. The land around them still remembered those times, still remembered the bodies that had fed it and given it life. There were so many bodies.
"Ya have ta find a place?" Shiro's watery voice asked the question both he and Ichigo had been thinking.
"Yes" The werepanther all but whispered. "A place she'll fit amongst all the others." When he had buried his dead followers, he had buried an entire people. He had been worshiped by many. Thousands had given their lives and their deaths to he and his forest.
The feline stopped walking, water streaming through his fur and dripping from his body, and tilted his head slightly. His tail swayed slowly back and forth behind him as he glanced at the ground surrounding them. He gently lowered the small, frail body to the ground and began digging.
It didn't take him long. The grave didn't need to be very large. Soon, a fresh mound of earth stood out amongst the rest of the mostly flat ground around the area. It sat beneath a small, still growing tree that only stood a few feet taller than Grimmjow himself did. It was the only tree in the forest that still clung to the last of it's leaves and as he finished smoothing the top of the fresh grave a brilliant, red leaf fell to lay across it like a marker.
The feline slowly stood, finally releasing his resurrection and the three of them made their way back through the forest, nothing but their quiet footsteps and the rain to break the silence.
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