I'm terribly sorry for the long (?) wait for this chapter to be out... It's been a rough week, but I think I've finally managed to push through it
Thank you for bearing with me~
Oh, and if you haven't checked out Monsters and Men: Bound yet, please do and let me know what you think! You may find it interesting!
Anyway, I'll shut up now~ Enjoy!
The traitorous male's stray followers were mindless in every way, driven by nothing other than an all-consuming, unquenchable and insatiable hunger. They fought for nothing other than the chance to feed, their overwhelmed brains able to focus on nothing but their hunger as their unnaturally heightened instincts and senses drove them forward. Even in their superior numbers, they didn't stand a chance against the Alpha and his second. There was no cohesion or working together, no tactical grouping or attacking. The deranged beasts simply lunged, just as happy sinking their cruel fangs into each-other's hides as their opponent's.
Another mindless stray fell to the ground, it's intestines spilling below it to steam and churn in the cold, no longer white snow. The brutish beast desperately tried to scramble to it's feet, hardly caring that it dragged it's insides with it. The beast's hunger was too strong for it to register the pain it should have been crippled by. It's pitiful, dying cries mixed with it's maddened snarling in a sick cacophony of guttural noise as it attempted to lunge at Nnoitra once again.
The large black wolf snarled, baring his massive, curved fangs in threat as the creature fell short and back to the ground at his feet. Nnoitra stooped low, swiftly grasping hold of the beast's snout to keep it's jaws still and planted one foot on it's chest to hold the writhing abomination steady. The beast struggled, it's jaws straining to open in the black wolf's clawed hand and it's own blood drenched hands clutching at Nnoitra's leg, clawing in an effort to remove the weight from it's chest and unpin it's self. The Original easily over powered it's pathetic attempts. Nnoitra jerked the hapless creature's head up and twisted it around, ignoring the protest of muscle and sinew as he drove the beast's head around beyond it's natural range of mobility. The sick crack of bone's and snapping cartilage echoed dully off the dead trees around the site of the small battle.
Nnoitra released his hold on the dead beast's muzzle, letting the large body fall back to the frozen ground with little remorse. The stray twitched, it's brain still firing signals to it's body even as it's severed spinal cord failed to relay the message that it was dead.
These creatures were true monsters in the guise of werewolves, the nightmares that haunted the dreams of human children. They were pitiful and unnatural, humans that hadn't deserved the fate Baraggan had bestowed upon them. Killing them was a mercy and the two Originals kept track of the number of monsters they destroyed, adding their bodies to the count on the traitor's head. Baraggan would pay their toll for them, as well as his own.
Starrk snarled around the throat he clenched under his teeth, the sound muffled but no less menacing as it vibrated through the stray's body. The creature kicked weakly in the tainted snow and slush, claws digging furrows through the deep crimson that stained the no longer pure white. The beast's breaths came in wheezing pants as it's body slowed and it's struggling grew weaker. The Alpha squeezed his powerful jaws shut until he felt his fangs sink past fur and into flesh. Ears laid back and lips curled, Starrk jerked backward, his hands braced against the wolf below him so that it wouldn't move and prolong it's pained existence. He wasn't a cruel creature and held no desire to see these pitiful abominations suffer. Death was the best thing he could give them.
Blood poured to stain the snow anew from the gaping opening in the monster's throat. It gurgled as it tried to draw breath, never ceasing it's hungered snarling as warm liquids bubbled from it's mangled trachea as if from a boiling pot to mix with the frothy drool that dripped from it's fangs. Even as it's body twitched with it's death throes, the dying stray snapped it's saliva coated jaws in hunger at Starrk's towering form before falling still, sickly yellow eyes rolling up into it's head and tongue lulling.
Starrk looked up to watch as Nnoitra finished off a monster that had been crippled and left to suffer in the snow. The beast didn't bother to even so much as whine as it's personal reaper neared it. It simply stared up at the hulking black wolf with dead, fevered eyes as it's head lay in a puddle of it's own slobber and blood. The beast huffed and bared it's teeth as Nnoitra descended upon it.
The Alpha shook his head in a subtle, slow motion, pity and outrage shimmering in his usually sleepy looking eyes. This had to end. Enough people had suffered already; human and werecreature alike. Starrk let his grey eyes wander the now desolate landscape, searching for signs of more strays or that any of the ones laying around he and his second were still clinging to life.
Nnoitra was soon to join him, his task of ending the still living monstrosity's suffering completed. No words needed to be exchanged between them for one to know what the other was thinking about. They had worked closely together for decades, centuries even, and understood the value silence could hold and all that it could tell.
Together, the Alpha and his second took off toward the den at an easy loping pace, unhurried as they lost themselves in their thoughts. Each replaying the short skirmish with Baraggan's strays and thinking about what the old rogue had said. Nothing about this encounter had bode well and it left an ill feeling in the pit of the werewolves' stomachs.
It seemed history always had a way of repeating it's self in the worst of ways.
••••••
Sitting behind the counter of the small arm's shop, the dark haired woman put her head in her hand, elbow propped on the counter top, and absently stared out the window on the other side of the aisles. Urahara and that brute he called a partner, Kenpachi, had been gone for most of the day and she had agreed to look over the shop so long as they didn't mention her name anywhere within their conversations with the Caster and his little, growing group of oddities. She had been forced to explain, of course, but she managed to hide her true relationship with Renji and the odd blond seemed to understand that she didn't particularly care for the Caster's Undead twin or the cat without her outright saying it.
Rukia leaned against the counter, still trying to figure out if she actually believed what these strange people had told her; a war, or at the very least, a great battle between the werewolves and humans. It was a tough pill to swallow. She couldn't deny the existence of the monsters the way most people she knew tried to do, her ignorance had long ago been erased, but still. The notion that these beasts would attempt to eradicate the human race, or at the very least severely hinder it as if they were nothing more than vermin or pests seemed ridiculous if not wholly terrifying to her. Her first thought and gut feeling told her to leave, to flee to somewhere safe like a frightened rabbit and hole up until it's over.
To think that this had been attempted, and nearly successfully, once before was mind wrenching. And the monsters weren't stupid; they would learn from the mistakes they had made with the last war. The werewolves may have fallen from the spot light generations ago but she had witnessed first hand what a single beast was capable of. What could an entire army of the monsters do? She shuttered at the thought.
The young woman was startled from her musings and thoughts by a familiar figure clad in a dark green cloak, odd wooden sandals clacking on the snow covered gravel, walking toward the front of the shop from the near deserted streets. While the man's normal little amused smirk adorned his face, Urahara's calm grey eyes seemed to look directly at her, through the store front windows. He tipped his stripped hat back a bit, further showing his face, like he was trying to convey something to her in that single look, a look that told one thing even as his lips moved in words to someone else about something else entirely. She locked eyes with the man for an instant before another familiar figure walked into view from around one of the surrounding buildings. Then another, and another.
Rukia cursed under her breath and jumped over the counter, the feat not nearly as easy as it sounded with her short stature. She ducked low as she scrambled toward one of the aisles away from view of the front door. She caught Urahara hide a grin behind the fan he pulled from nowhere as she peeked around the corner, his grey eyes twinkling with amusement and mischief, obviously enjoying the tricky situation she was in.
The little bell on the front door jingled cheerfully to signal the arrival of a guest, followed by the blond's sing-song voice as he had way too much fun toying with the people around him, both the hiding female and the men he led into his domain. "Welcome to my humble shop"
Rukia could practically hear the cheeky smile in his voice, taunting on multiple levels of ridiculousness. A deep, rumbling voice murmured, the words impossible for her to make out and sounding none to pleased or friendly. The dark haired woman recognized unhappy tone as the werepanther's and she couldn't help but smirk as she realized that all the silver and weapons must have made the beast rather uncomfortable. Something as simple as a silver fork had been enough to give him pause, though she hadn't understood at the time, her and Renji had quickly learned the reasoning. It only made sense, really.
The small woman peered out from around the shelf she hid behind, peeking at the small group of men. The ease with which the more normal of the group interacted with the monster in their midst disgusted her. He may have looked human at the moment, he even acted rather human at times, but he couldn't hide what he truly was from her; a monster. She was sure the werepanther, no different from the werewolves that attacked and raided human homes and families, would be the death of the people she had once called friends, the people she once cared about. The creature had already corrupted Ichigo further than he had corrupted himself, Shirosaki was already dead to her. Even Renji was falling under the monster's spell, her Renji.
A bitterness rose in the small woman and Rukia clenched her hands into fists at her sides. Perhaps there was still time to save Renji if only she could convince him the feline-like demon wasn't as harmless as he seemed, that he was evil and would only end up hurting them in the end.
As the group of men, led by the blond shop keep, entered the store, Rukia scurried down the aisle, making sure to stay out of sight and keep her footsteps as silent as she could, suddenly fearful the feline's unnaturally keen senses would pick up on her presence. She wasn't prepared for what she must do quite yet, and couldn't risk being caught by the monster.
Urahara diligently led them toward the counter and Rukia sneaked around behind one of the shelves where she would safely be out of sight until the men had disappeared into the lower, hidden portion of the shop and she would be able to sneak away.
Four sets of footsteps announced as the men were led down the short, dark hallway toward the underground entrance. She knew the feline, making five, was following after them, even though she couldn't seem to distinguish the sound of his movements like she could the others, even the giant Kenpachi and Shiro made at least a little noise while they moved about, and both of them were rather odd and unnaturally stealthy and predatory for a human. But the cat...he made not a sound, he gave nothing of his presence away when he didn't want too. Even out in the open, it seemed he could simply vanish when the urge or need arose.
The monster's inhuman silence and killer's ease had a shiver running the length of Rukia's spine. She listened for the thump of the heavy portal located in the flooring to close before she darted toward the door, yanking her hood over her head as she went. She held no desire to be in that shop any longer, knowing that the beast was there and could easily destroy everyone in the room with him. She reached up and held the small bell still while she opened the door and slipped through, out into the cool evening to disappear once again.
••••••
Grimmjow stiffened, his nostrils flared and his shoulders hunched a little more than usual as he trudged behind the strange blond man, Shiro to his left and Ichigo to his right. He could feel both his humans look up at him as he breathed in the ever potent scent of silver, snorting in an attempt to expunge the overwhelming, unwelcome smell from his inhuman senses.
He had been forced back into full human clothing, at least until they were safely hidden within the walls of the shop, and each step closer in that direction only made the werepanther realize just how much silver the blond shopkeeper really had. The feline's every instinct screamed for him to go in the opposite direction of the dangerous metal, especially realizing as it was stocked in such a large quantity. The man hadn't been exaggerating when he had said he had nearly enough to arm the entire village. It made him feel vulnerable and exposed, something he wasn't used to and didn't appreciate. In all, Grimmjow was very uncomfortable and he had yet to even set foot into the odd human's base of operations, nor did he have the want to do so.
His posture showed a bit of his trepidation for those who knew what to look for and the Caster's hand inevitably found it's way into his in an attempt to calm the agitated feline. The gesture was an innocent, almost child like one, but the werepanther was beyond grateful for it and couldn't help but gently squeeze back as he forced his steps to stay steady and not veer or bristle in a very inhuman way. On the werepanther's opposite side, Shiro's face held his customary smirk but he looked up at the bluenette every so often to make sure the man was alright. Practically feeding off the cat's unease, the near-albino kept a wary and alert eye on the two men leading the way. It was quite understandable why Grimmjow would be nervous and it was bound to only get worse once they actually made it into the shop, enclosed in a small space with the cat's bane.
The blond paused in front of a small, unassuming shop. The front held large, open picture windows and looked like any other shop but Grimmjow could already feel the pulse of silver from within like the building had it's own toxic heartbeat and malicious intentions. No doubt a werewolf would never dare set foot near this place.
He bared his teeth as he studied the location, reaching with his senses and investigating and almost wishing he could just wait outside, but he would never leave Shiro, Ichigo or Renji alone with the strange blond and his crazy, sword wielding companion. Grimmjow huffed a quiet sigh, these humans were really spoiling him to the pleasures of a mortal and making him soft. Before he had met Ichigo and Shiro, he more than likely would have simply tore into a man that carried so much silver, eliminating him before he had the chance to become a danger.
A high pitched jingle announced that the blond had opened the door, gaining the undivided attention of otherworldly blue eyes. Urahara smirked behind his fan, able to see the subtle signs of the blue haired creature's unease even if he didn't exactly know the cause. He could easily enough guess it was the unnatural amount of silver hidden within, he knew full well how the material affected a werewolf, however he was unsure if it held the same killing power over the feline. Surely if that were the case the creature wouldn't have been willing to enter the shop. "Welcome to my humble shop" He announced in his cheery way, holding the door open for the other's to proceed him.
"I can't believe I let you guys talk me into this" Grimmjow growled under his breath as he followed after Shiro and Ichigo. Behind him, Renji snorted a quiet chuckle but no one commented on the bluenette's uncharacteristic lack of boldness or nervousness. It seemed he inherited at least a little of a cat's natural skittishness as well as his other feline traits.
"So...I must ask, you see, I am so very curious. Does silver affect you the same way it does the werewolves?" Urahara asked, his normally calm eyes glittering intelligently and curiously below the rim of his hat as he led them around the counter and down the hall toward the entrance to his underground area. He watched the bluenette's nostrils flare in an animalistic way, his upper lip curling slightly to show off teeth that were a bit too sharp for a human's, and feared he had caught a whiff of the hiding Rukia before realizing the man was too focused on the surrounding silver to take notice.
Grimmjow let out a rumbling growl, snorting again in another failed attempt to rid his senses of the overpowering scent. It permeated everything in the most unpleasant of ways. "Not quite." He said a little distracted as he glanced around and took in his surroundings.
Curious as a cat, Urahara noted with a smirk, overly pleased at being so close to the powerful being he had only dreamed of meeting for so long, a creature he had been convinced had died that day so very long ago.
"It can't actually kill me like it does the wolves. Simply halts my natural regeneration and healing. I can still touch it, hold it should I choose, so long as it doesn't pierce my skin it's really just an annoyance more than anything."
Urahara hummed in thought, excitedly filing away the new information in his mind so that he could record it on paper later. There was so very much he didn't know about the very creature he had been seeking out for most of his adult life and he had a million questions he wished he could just throw at the once-deidad.
The blond led the way down the staircase, to the lower level and where his real establishment was housed. He couldn't help but continue his questioning, letting his own curiosity get the better of him. "Does it hurt?"
Grimmjow hesitated to answer so many questions from a human he knew almost nothing about. All he and the twins really knew about the man was that he had an extensive collection of silver and a pair of insane partners; nothing that really made trusting him an easy task. Yet the feline knew that he would have to fight beside these unique humans and it would be safer and more than likely come in handy that they know these things so that they understood his limits. "Touching it burns, but nothing terribly unbearable. Easily enough ignored should the need arise."
"I see...and what about when it pierces your flesh?"
"Yes." Grimmjow growled out, his answer short and fast. He clearly did not plan on going much further with that line of questioning. The werepanther shed the human jacket and shoes, already feeling better once his range of motion wasn't quite so hindered. He could feel the odd blond watching him carefully, curiously and he turned to raise a single blue brow at the man.
The blond seemed to pause and think about his response before turning and heading toward a shelf full of rather old looking, but well taken care of books. As he ran his index finger over the various spines, reading through the titles, some of them not even in his own language, the blond finally spoke up. "I'm terribly sorry, just very curious. You see, I've been searching for proof of La Pantera for a very long time and here you stand before me now..."
When the feline snorted a derisive sound, Urahara chuckled quietly. "Well, a long time for someone with a human lifespan" He pulled a book from the shelf and spun back to face the diverse group of men in his underground facility, a cheerful smile stretching his lips once again.
Grimmjow smirked a bit at the blond's quick realization of what he had said, at least the man that knew of his existence was an intelligent one, not the power hungry kind that would attempt hunting him down. He watched with a wary eye as the shopkeeper, gently cradling an old, leather bound book to his chest, approached the Caster with almost timid steps. The werepanther realized the man was purposefully being cautious as to not make any sudden move that could be mistaken as aggression toward either of the young men the cat was so obviously protective over. This Urahara character truly seemed an intelligent and observational man, an increasingly rare thing in the human race.
Satisfied the man wouldn't be a threat to his humans, the feline finally allowed his natural curiosity to lead him over to the extensive shelves that lined the walls and made avenues through a large section of the visible area. He sniffed about, curling his lip slightly as he found that nearly everything in the blond man's possession reeked of silver, even below where the actual weapons shop was located. As he worked his way further back on silent feet, the murmurs of his humans and the ones they had just met earlier that day drifting through the still air, Grimmjow came upon a work table. Vials full of various colored liquids, tools and equipment, papers and hand written notes littered the surface. He glanced at some of the notes, but avoided the strange vials, having no desire to test his theory about what was inside. He assumed this was the strange scientist's work area; the man Urahara had said developed new kinds of weapons and such for combating werecreatures. The human himself seemed to be absent, however.
Grimmjow made his way back toward where Ichigo, Shiro and Renji were now crowded around a small table. Shiro and Renji looked curiously and expectantly at the Caster, even the shopkeeper was watching the orange haired young man as he peered down at an open book.
"Well, wha' da ya think, King?" Shiro asked, his watery voice curious and slightly amused, already expecting that he wouldn't get an answer. Ichigo continued to stare down at the book, his expressive, warm eyes wide as he scanned line after line of text, completely absorbed in what he was reading and oblivious to the world around him. The Undead chuckled softly and gently, lovingly toyed with a lock of bright orange hair before turning around and leaning against the edge of the table so that he could look after King while the man did his thing. Now that he was concentrated, he would probably be lost in his book for hours.
"Cat."
Grimmjow bared his teeth at the giant of a man as he began erecting his raven hair into the recognizable, sadistic spikes he had worn the first time they had clashed.
"Why don't ya show us that monster you're hiding, eh?" The man's gravely, normally bored drawl showed a bit of excitement as he addressed the feline. Kenpachi let a twisted smile slash his scarred features in half, looking overly pleased and baiting the bluenette on with the mere look that sat upon his face. It was an over wide grin that promised a good fight and enough blood to satisfy both participants.
A grin of his own grew across the werepanther turned man's angular face. He tilted his head slightly, the simple motion pointing out his feline nature but certainly doing nothing to lessen his air of predatory danger. Rounded pupils started to slit and Grimmjow started to grasp the bottom edge of the tight fitting shirt he had been forced to wear.
"Oh dear." Urahara mumbled under his breath. "You two are on the same side now, no fighting" He announced, his voice just as cheery yet mysterious as always. He looked back and forth between the two predatory men, unable to stop himself from studying the werecreature's every move and reaction. His fan came out and hid his lower features and he almost wished he could let the two go at each other just so that he could observe the feline in his natural form. However, he guessed neither man would be satisfied until there was a clear winner and no doubt his underground facility would be destroyed in the process, perhaps even the shop above. They also couldn't afford to loose a combatant of the on coming war.
As Grimmjow pulled the shirt off, all too glad to have an excuse to strip out of the uncomfortable, constricting human clothing, he glanced over to see Ichigo and Shiro studying him rather intently. The Caster had paused in his reading and looked up at him with open concern and mistrust for the taller man Grimmjow was preparing to pit himself against. The paler twin had a hand hovering over one of his guns, ready to draw as he curled his lip at the raven haired man. The red headed friend beside the twins looked a little confusedly from the bluenette to the taller, equally as aggressive man. Having missed the entire episode involving the mangled child Grimmjow had recently buried in his forest territory, Renji was a little lost as to why they were so hostile toward each other.
The werepanther let his excited grin tone down to a softer smirk and let his tensed body relax. Pupils rounded back out and sharp eyes panned over to glance at Kenpachi and back before speaking. "Later, we have more important things to worry about right now."
He watched relieved expressions settle onto the faces of the three young men he had accompanied, even Urahara seemed to relax a bit, though the intrigue and curiosity still shown in the shopkeeper's sparkling grey eyes.
Ichigo went back to his book, scanning page after page of text concerning the nature of magic. The small smile tilting his lips showed he was pleased with the feline's decision to forgo any unnecessary violence with the giant of a man. The expression was quickly reversed as he continued reading however, replaced by a concentrated scowl that creased his brow as he fell back into his book. He read about things he had never even heard of, yet somehow knew what they were, like he had some inborn knowledge gifted to him for being born a natural Caster. It was intriguing and he quickly lost himself in what he was doing.
The orange haired young man vaguely registered the watery tone coming from beside him, but dismissed it and continued tuning out the people around him as he realized his twin had been addressing someone else. Around him in the shadowed, hidden section of the shop, a discussion was struck up.
Details were given and knowledge shared. Grimmjow divulged what he could of the battle that had taken place centuries ago, telling Urahara of how the war came to be and how it had been orchestrated. He described the tactics that had been used, the blond all to eager to ask questions and listen to his words. In return, Urahara gave the feline all the details he could of what he and his associates had been able to gather from their meetings with the stray wolf that didn't know he was being spied on. They discussed various ideas and strategies, but in the end, it all circled back around to Starrk and the Pack's willingness to participate. While each person in the room was powerful in their own right, they were still only six humans and a single werepanther. They would be nothing against the much larger number of werewolves they would be going against.
Grimmjow stared disdainfully down at the jacket in his hands, wishing almost desperately that he could find an excuse not to put it back on, but he knew he would need to blend with the humans until he got to the edge of the village at least and he would look more than a little suspicious going out in the harsh winter weather in nothing but a pair of jeans. He curled his lip as he realized he would have to put shoes back on too.
Urahara stood in front of him, still intrigued by the man that seemed to be the Fallen deidad. He couldn't refute the man's unquestionable and extensive knowledge on the matter, and so could no longer bring himself to doubt what and who the blue haired man was. However, he still desperately wanted to see the man in his resurrection. He must have painted a grand picture. And the temple...The once mighty creature's temple and throne must have been something. He would have given almost anything to see them.
As Grimmjow dropped to the floor, easing into a sitting position with almost too much grace for such a simple action, Shiro's lilting voice caught the bluenette's attention with ease. "Where ya goin'?"
"To find Starrk. The quicker this is discussed, the better" Grimmjow answered, not looking up as he pulled the shoes back on, a very unhappy sneer plastered to his handsome features.
Shiro couldn't help the chuckle that escaped and he only laughed harder at the glare sent his way. Patting the air in a placating way, the near-albino hid his smile easily as he focused back on the topic at hand. "King an' I'll go wit ya." He placed a gentle hand on Ichigo's shoulder, not really taking notice as the orange haired twin read aloud under his breath, still very absorbed in what he was reading.
Grimmjow hopped back to his feet in a single, fluid motion. He contemplated making his humans stay here, in the village. He was about to go stalking through Lobos territory and even though they were on friendly terms with the mutts, he wasn't about to trust the mangy beasts. In his opinion, Starrk was the only wretch in the lot that was worth it's weight and trust worthy. On the other hand, he wasn't quite ready to leave the twins or Renji unguarded around these men either. He felt that they were trust worthy, his instincts allowed him to be relatively at ease around them, all things considered, but he would never be willing to risk being wrong when it came to his humans. As he continued trying to make a decision, figuring out which option was likely the more dangerous, a curse falling from a set of familiar lips had his head whipping around to look at his humans.
A split second later, something pulsed in the bluenette's feline mind; painful and sharp, though it only lasted a second. He flinched, ducking away from the source from which it had come by instinct as he bared his teeth and a quiet hiss crawled up his throat.
"Ow, King, what the hell?" Shiro shook his hand where he had touched Ichigo while the man had been immersed in his book. His palm stung as if he had slapped his open hand against a counter as hard as he could to kill a wasp, which he had learned long ago was never a good idea. It throbbed with his pulse, making the white haired man grimace as he looked down at the seated and equally stunned Caster.
At nearly the same time, Ichigo jumped and glared up at his colorless copy. "What did you do?" He questioned, glad that the initial jolt he had felt run the length of his arm didn't persist. It had certainly been enough to startle him, though.
"How was I supposed to know ya were castin'? Ya didn't make it too obvious." Shiro huffed, ignoring the looks he and his brother were getting from the rest of the people surrounding them. It was an odd but comedic situation, an amateur's mistake on both Shiro and Ichigo's part, but it was only going to get more confusing as they continued to think about it.
"I wasn't, I was only reading." Ichigo said, the slight confusion showing on his brow as he glanced back down at his book briefly. "I didn't think I was anyway..." In reality, it was entirely possible he was doing something unconsciously, it wouldn't have been the first time it had happened and that possibility scared him. The last time he had unintentionally casted, what seemed like a lifetime ago now, had ended in the worst of ways.
"And you felt it as well?" Urahara's sing song voice spoke up as the odd blond looked over at the feline standing before him. He had been witness to Grimmjow's little not so subtle reaction to whatever had just transpired between the rather unique twins. It was intriguing to say the least and he was practically giddy over the possibilities that swan through his head.
The once-deidad gave a quick nod, a storm beginning to roil and churn in his blue gaze as he attempted to sort out just what had happened. He had lived a long time and had known several Casters over the centuries. He had a decent knowledge of how magic worked, though Ichigo wasn't a typical type, he was a necromancer; something completely different from the norm and even more rare. He shook his head slightly, snorting lightly before he spoke up, dismissing the event all together. It more than likely wasn't a big deal, Ichigo would continue learning and developing his skills and control over his magic. "Let's get going before night falls and the wolves wake up."
"Good idea." Ichigo mumbled, flipping his book closed after glancing down at the page number so that he would be able to pick up where he left off later. The Caster pulled on his heavy winter jacket, watching as Grimmjow pulled his own borrowed one on unhappily, completely forgoing the shirt he had originally been wearing under it.
"Umm..." Renji hesitated as all eyes settled on him. He had been quiet the entire time they had been there, his thoughts swirling around all the information he had taken in since that morning. They whirled around before settling on one thing. Or one person, rather. He didn't know why he still cared, and certainly didn't understand why he was worried. If anywhere was safe from the approaching war, the Kuchiki manor was the place. Or maybe Ichigo and Shiro's old fortress, but that wasn't the point. The point was, he was suddenly worried about Rukia and wondered if she was alright. She had vanished without a word and had yet to return. "I think I'm going to have to skip, I'm going to go see if Rukia has come home yet" He said quietly.
No one noticed the way Urahara's brows rose fractionally, his eyes darting to glance at Kenpachi momentarily. The blond did well in quickly covering his reaction and busied himself with getting his things around for a trip through the forest, acting as if he hadn't heard the red head at all. It really was none of his business, after all.
"Alright" Ichigo offered their red headed friend a small, understanding smile. "We'll meet up with you later, then"
Renji nodded, sending a short wave to everyone before trotting up the stairs they had descended to get to the underground level. A few short moments later, the bell above the door clattered, audible below ground and announcing the red head's departure.
Within minutes, Grimmjow was leading the way out the door, happy to leave the overwhelming scent of silver behind and almost instantly feeling better once outside in the fresh, cool air. He insisted the humans traverse through the forest on horseback, the beasts being much faster and stronger than a human. If something untold should happen the animals would make their escape easier and quicker while Grimmjow held off the threat that would ultimately be werewolves. Urahara and Kenpachi, on horses of their own, escorted the twins to Renji's home, where they would be able to pick up the Caster and Shiro's own animals. They retrieved their horses from the barn, no sign of the red head nor Rukia, though one of Renji's horses was missing, taken by the red head as he left to search for the missing woman.
Grimmjow led the way through the village, staying mostly in the shadows and several meters ahead of the human's on their horses, doing his best not to attract attention to himself. Even though the citizens didn't realize it, the meager instincts they still possessed, manifest as a simple nervousness, told them to avoid the predator in the guise of a man and they parted around him, giving him space and following him with wary eyes. The Caster and Shiro were given their own wide birth by the rest of the village citizens, especially after word had circulated about a crazed, over protective man in their company.
As the small group reached the village edge, followed only by a few whispered words and pointed fingers, and entered the forest, the werepanther paused in the path to take in the sounds and smells of the surrounding area. Everything held the same hushed silence it usually did when he moved about. The only movement to catch his keen eyes was the fall of snowflakes. No threatening scents rode the air and nothing broke the deceivingly peaceful calm.
Satisfied, the werepanther continued down the path until the sights and sounds of the village were lost before once more divesting himself, hardly noticing the cold of the snow below him or the chill in their. He threw the clothing back at the Caster, all too pleased as most of it landed in the orange haired man's lap unnoticed when the man was faced with Grimmjow's nudity. Smirk tugging at the feline's features, he glanced over toward their guests, curious how they would react and wondering why one's natural state seemed to bother the members of the human race so much.
Kenpachi had a sneer on his features, face turned away to casually glance around the forest on the opposite side of the path. The blond simply continued to watch him with calm, curious eyes as if he hardly even realized the man had just stripped in front of them. The bluenette could see the questions and excited curiosity bubbling within the blond but Urahara still refrained from voicing what he so obviously wanted to.
Grimmjow snorted and turned toward the forest, veering seamlessly and smoothly as he walked off into the shadowed trees. Blue black fur shimmered in the feeble, dying sunlight, ruffled slightly to hold onto the werecreature's body heat. His slim tail whipped about behind him, swaying gently while his ears flicked about, continuing to survey the forest around him. He shook out his fur, happy to be back in the body he preferred, and lifted his nose to the sky, inhaling the scent of his forest and enjoying the light bit of snow that fell lazily to steadily deepen the drifts around the trunks of trees.
The winter season held so many memories and emotions for the feline, things that should have been painful for him, and most of them were, but he had always loved the winter. There was something cleansing and free about the cold, harsh season. The snow wiped everything clean, ridding the earth of things too weak to survive and further strengthening those that deserved it. It was brutal, deadly and undeniably beautiful at the same time.
With a slight smile tugging at his lips, Grimmjow easily stretched his strides, quickening his pace to a light trot. His fluid and graceful strides hardly allowed him time to even sink through the crust of the snow with the faster movements, making him look as swift and sure footed as he truly was to the four men following behind him. The horses snorted and brayed as they were spurred into a faster pace to match, their long legs and heavy bodies allowing them to easily enough trot through the deeper snow.
The werepanther glanced toward the horizon, gauging how long they had until night fell and the wolves began to stir. He growled in his throat, a quiet sound of annoyance more than anything and it went unnoticed by those following behind him. With the days of the cold season being shorter, they didn't have an abundance of time. He quickened their pace further, pleased when all four horses seemed to be healthy and conditioned enough to keep up.
The wind and snow whipped around them as they weaved between the trees, hot breaths pluming in the cool air to quickly be left behind. Grimmjow leapt over fallen trees and dried, ice coated brush with ease, never hesitating or slowing as he continued to keep track of his surroundings and make sure they weren't heading into trouble. They were very near Lobo's territory now but the den it's self was located toward the middle of the extensive area, the cave like entrance resting on higher ground that would probably force them to leave the horses behind, or at the very least, force the men to dismount and walk their beasts behind them.
The blond man's voice reached him through the quiet that surrounded them, broken by nothing other than the horses snow dampened footsteps. "This wolf, he's the leader of the wereswolves, yes? Just how long have you known him?"
In front of Urahara, the feline's head tilted to the side in thought ever so slightly as he continued to run. "Yes, he's the Alpha. We were...acquainted...just after the first war"
"And that was... several hundred years ago, no?" Urahara asked, urging his seemingly nervous horse to run parallel to the large cat so that he could better study the Fallen deidad's reactions and resurrection. The creature was truly breath taking. It wasn't hard to see why the werepanther had been worshipped as a god. He held a feral quality of power and cunning. Urahara had been waiting for a very long time to see this creature, and the blue haired man turned panther certainly didn't disappoint. The creature once known as La Pantera was everything he had always dreamed he would be.
A nod was his answer, the sleek, black feline running beside him with the ease of honed and well maintained muscle and stamina. The panther's breaths plumed from his nostrils, hardly even panting from the fast pace he had set.
"hmmm...quite a lasting friendship" Urahara mused, still surprised to hear that the feline, once so very powerful and still very formidable, and a canine of seemingly equal power and backed by who knew how many wolves, could be friends. Or even make it passed the introduction stage without tearing into each other. "How old are you, then?" The blond couldn't help but ask. He felt he would never run out of things to ask the werecreature beside him.
Grimmjow shrugged as he traversed the snow covered forest, briefly glancing over at the curious man before he went back to watching the forest role by. His words were easy and level, not at all like someone running the speed of a galloping horse. "Twice that at the very least."
"You don't know how old you are?" Ichigo spoke up, suddenly wondering why he had never thought to ask such a simple question. Not that it really mattered much in the long run. Grimmjow would ultimately have to watch as he and Shiro grew old and would still be around long after they were dead, but the Caster was still curious nonetheless.
"No, not really." Grimmjow said, a slight smirk crossing his features at the Caster's own curiosity. To be honest, he had expected these kinds of questions from the Caster a while ago, when the man had called him by his old title; La Pantera. "A near-immortal hardly has a reason to keep track of age."
"oh."
Grimmjow snorted a short laugh at the Caster's reply. He slowed their pace as they neared the mile mark to the den, surprised that they hadn't run into any sentries so near the Pack's resting grounds. Just as he was getting ready to tell them they were nearly there, the werepanther's keen hearing picked out approaching figures. His head snapped around to face the direction they came from at the same time all four of the humans' horses shied away.
One of the horses, Shiro's more aggressive stallion, reared and voiced a loud cry, pawing the air, as a pale colored wolf came into view. It's body was lowered to the ground, it's long strides bringing it toward them with an incredible speed that could only be interpreted as an attack. The werewolf growled, yipping and snapping it's jaws in threat. It leapt, maw wide and lips pulled back, it's clawed hands outstretched and prepared to maul it's target before the human's had time to react to it's sudden arrival.
Unlike the humans, Grimmjow's weapons were always at the ready, never concealed nor needing the time it took to draw them from where ever they had been placed. He voiced a deep, threatening hiss as he flew into action, his own teeth and talons bared. He leapt toward the wolf, his honed muscle propelling him on a course to intercept the larger creature.
He collided with the beast mid air, the claws of his hands and feet digging into muscle and flesh for purchase as he drove the wolf off it's original course. The two werecreatures tumbled to the ground, cutting a wide furrow in the once flawless snow and sending a white spray into the air about them. Snarling growls, deep hisses and yelps and the sound of vicious and unforgiving teeth snapping shattered the previously calm evening air. It only lasted a brief second before all fell eerily still once again, menace hanging in the pregnant air like ice.
The smaller werepanther snarled and bared his teeth, his ears laid back in clear threat, speaking louder than the noise that rumbled in his throat. Grimmjow's tail lashed angrily at the air, signifying the exact opposite of a wolf's happy waging, but he refrained from further attacking as he took notice of the color of the mongrel's eyes. Green, meaning it was an Original and more than likely one of Starrk's.
The pale wolf's own ears went back and it curled it's lips slightly but it fell still under the cat's lighter weight. As it's companions arrived, bristling with threat and stalking around to surround them, Grimmjow released the wolf and straightened to his full hight, intimidating and surrounded by a swirling air of menacing threat that was much larger than his size. The fur running along his spine rose in true feline fashion as he listened to the humans' horses shift nervously in the presence of so many unnatural predators but his piercing blue eyes never left the wolf before him.
The mutt's pale green eyes shifted from the feline to the humans and their animals behind him. They seemed to study each man in turn, pausing briefly to gauge them before moving onto the next. The wolf looked back to Grimmjow, shifting it's stance to something a little less aggressive but still alert and ready. None of the humans were as they seemed and every Pack member knew of the danger the feline could pose should he choose to. However, they had also been informed that Grimmjow and his odd company were no longer enemies and were to be treated as guests or even as Pack members, like family. It had taken a while, but Starrk had finally called an end to the farce he passed off as a rivalry with the feline.
"You keep very interesting company these days, cat." The light coated wolf's voice was deep and rumbling, but still very feminine. Her ears slowly swiveled to face forward again, her almost golden colored tail swishing slightly. As she became less agitated, so too did the wolves that had accompanied her, allowing Grimmjow to feel a bit more at ease and it showed in his body posture. "What has brought you here?"
"We must speak with Starrk." Grimmjow said, his own voice a deep rumble that left very little room for protest. He stood proud and tall, confident even as he had to look up slightly to meet the larger wolf's eyes. He turned away from the female canine, headed back toward the Pack's den and was pleased when the she-wolf simply followed along beside him while he continued to speak. "It is urgent, we haven't the time to stand here."
"We?" The female questioned quietly as she walked with him, looking back over her shoulder the small group she found herself and her scouting party escorting toward the den and their Alpha, something that no one would have ever believed would happen just months ago.
"Yes, we." Grimmjow said, his lips curling to bare his gleaming fangs as she glance at his humans, a bit of his possessive nature showing through.
The calm she-wolf took notice of this and brought her gaze back ahead of them, seeming to approve of his protective aggression toward the beings he chose to stay around. "Two of the humans carry far too much silver to allow them into the den. But I shall bring you there and find Starrk while you await outside." She compromised. "He can determine whether to meet with you or not."
"Fair enough." Grimmjow said, knowing that Starrk wouldn't deny him audience. He and the she wolf simultaneously took off into a steady, ground devouring trot. It only took minutes to cover the last mile stretch and the she wolf disappeared into the dark, yawning entrance of the cave like structure that served as the Pack's home, leaving her scouting faction to keep watch over the werepanther and his companions.
The horses shifted about nervously, pawing the ground and tossing their manes, but the animals went unnoticed. The three werewolves that were left to watch over their guests, non-Originals that had managed to survive and even thrive as werewolves and female one and all, watched the group wearily. Their caution was well warranted. In past years, even in past months, it wasn't possible to be this near the once-deidad without him tearing into flesh that was vital to survival.
It didn't take long for Starrk to appear at the entrance to his home, flanked by his ever present second and the scout that had escorted the feline and his humans. The seemingly lazy Alpha looked to be in need of rest and worn out like usual. Unlike usual, his shaggy brown coat still sported evidence of splattered blood, dried to darken patches of his fur and stain his maw.
Grimmjow shifted his gaze over to the towering form of Starrk's second. The massive, lanky wolf sported the same evidence of battle and looked nearly as weary as his Alpha. The lone, violet orb that was focused on the werepanther was alert and clear and he didn't seem particularly worried for the Alpha, meaning neither of them could have taken too much damage. Nnoitra wouldn't have tolerated Starrk putting off necessary healing for the sake of meeting with the werecat.
Movement behind the Originals caught Grimmjow's keen eyes and he smirked a bit as a smaller wolf peeked around the corner of the entrance. Lilynette's magenta eyes were wide as she curiously studied the feline before they darted toward the humans and their horses.
The Alpha turned slightly, glancing back to see what had caught Grimmjow's attention. A fond smile presented it's self for a moment as Starrk's younger sibling edged further out the den. He waved her forward and she scurried to his side, nudging the inside of his arm with her muzzle so that he would lift it slightly, draping it around her shorter frame, and she could half hide behind him shyly while she watched, feeling safe in the commanding presence of her older sibling.
Ichigo and Shiro couldn't help the smiles that crossed their features at the young wolf's actions. It was fascinating to see how gently the werewolves interacted with each other, creatures that were supposed to be cruel and brutal, mean and inhumane in every way.
"Hello, Grimmjow" Starrk greeted, his grey eyes swimming over the forms before him as he hugged Lilynette to his side in sibling affection. As he spoke, extending his greeting to the werecat's humans, the light coated she wolf gathered her scouting faction and took off, back into the forest to continue their duties. "And to you, Ichigo and Shiro."
The Alpha glanced over the odd blond man, his nostrils flaring as the warm, musty scent of horse and the pungent scent of silver wafted through the air. Grimmjow certainly had a talent for find interesting humans. Starrk glanced to the other human, taking in the man's odd appearance and the sword strapped at his hip. Chilling, grey eyes narrowed as the werepanther's own words from barely a week ago came filtering back about an odd human that still carried a sword even as firearms had taken dominance as the humans' choice weapon.
Grimmjow watched as the Alpha and his second seemed to register the threat Kenpachi posed at nearly the same time. Both wolves' ears dropped back, Starrk's eyes darting back to Grimmjow's with curiosity and question swirling openly in their depths as his stance became slightly protective around the young she wolf. The larger black wolf's eye remained glued to the threatening humans, watching every subtle move they made as he curled his lips. His tongue flicked out to run along his massive fangs, collecting some of the red that still stained his glistening teeth and doing a hell of a job at looking menacing, something the unusually large, one eyed wolf did well. Nnoitra watched the dangerous humans for his Alpha while Starrk dealt with whatever the cat wanted.
"It's a long story." Grimmjow said with a slight shrug, his inhuman eyes showing a sincerity and urgency that had Starrk's attention without a second thought to the humans or the deadly silver they carried into his territory and so near his den and family. "A story we don't have time for right now."
Well, what do ya guys think? Things should start heating up nicely, yeah?