Sorry my updates are taking longer than normal ^^; on top of working on this story, I've also got several other stories in the works (ones that probably wont be published until M&M is complete) and on that note, I should probably let you know that Monsters and Men will be ending in one or two more chapters... *cowers* please don't hate me
Anyway~! Enjoy the chapter!
The young she-wolf's tail swayed gently behind her, thumping against the ground every so often and creating a sweeping pattern in the snow as she crouched before the two younger of the humans the feline had brought along. A happy grin parted her lips, showing off her fangs but it wasn't an aggressive expression and her shining, inhuman eyes only reflected the curiosity of the young and inexperienced. She sniffed at the hand offered her, much the way a human's pet dog would as the Caster introduced himself.
Ichigo smiled despite himself as he sat cross legged beside his twin on a fallen log protruding from the snow near the entrance of the Pack's den. He held out his hand to the young wolf, expecting a handshake in return, much how he had witnessed the Alpha and Grimmjow call an agreement, but when the she-pup sniffed at him curiously, he couldn't help but giggle through speaking his name.
Beside him, Shiro snorted a laugh as well, a wide smirk on his ashen features. When the canine pulled away from Ichigo, the Undead let her sniff at him as well, confident that he and his brother were in no danger from the young wolf. Warm breath tickled at his fingers and Shiro couldn't help himself as he reached forward just a bit more and ran his hand over the top of the werecreature's muzzle.
Lilynette pulled back in surprise, her pinkish hued eyes widening slightly before she regarded the human curiously, head tilting to the side slightly and long ears perked forward. The young wolf only dared short glances at the pale man's inverted and strange eyes. She was curious, but careful not to show anything that could be construed as aggression, seeing that these men were supposed to be allies of her older brother's and therefore, friends to her. Even though she held high standing in the Pack, being of the same blood as the Alpha, she didn't dare to make enemies of these unique and apparently powerful humans.
The two young men chuckled at her reaction, happy expressions settling on their features before Ichigo elbowed his colorless copy gently and spoke up in a soft and careful voice, not wanting to startle or upset the wolf. He didn't know how werewolf customs went, and so was just as careful as Lilynette to refrain from doing anything that could be construed as negative. "Sorry... did he offend you?"
A piercing blue gaze settled on the three, watching as Lilynette shook her head slightly and leaned back in toward his humans, her intrigue showing openly on her canine features. Grimmjow was happy to see his Ichi and Shiro smiling. Even though news of the upcoming war had only just reached them, it had been a stress and urgency filled time. No one could guess exactly when the traitorous mutt planned to initiate his battle but Starrk knew the old male better than anyone else and his best guess was that it would be sooner rather than later.
Grimmjow wished with every fiber of his being that he could hide the two young men away until the dangerous battle was over. He had entertained the idea of locking the two, along with there new and equally young friend, up in their fortress like home with it's magical barrier and make them wait out the war, but he knew he could never keep them from following him. Ichigo and Shiro were very nearly children compared to him, yet they held the maturity and inner strength of someone that had lived more than twice as long. Even being of the frail human race, they were stronger than most he had known in his long life and he had little doubt that no one would ever be able to match that inner strength for what was bound to be centuries to come. That was provided he ever bothered to show himself again after these two.
"Grimmjow..." The Alpha pinned the feline with his gaze, his tone sombre enough to quiet the ever talkative Urahara and draw the attention of his second and the man named Kenpachi, whom had unofficially set themselves up as sentries around the colorful and unique gathering. "It would seem history ever repeats it's self... I feared Baraggan had more advanced plans than simply taking my mantle." Starrk shook his head slowly, sadly, his grey eyes clouded in thought and memory.
The time was long gone, the memories dulled and colorless by hundreds of years but the scars were always there and Grimmjow shivered where he knelt beside Starrk, the very wolf that had helped to set him free so long ago. The tip of his tail flicked and he curled his upper lip slightly before pushing his seething and indignant anger down. The human responsible was dead, his strange friend gone as well, even if he had lived to be a very old man. There was no point to his potent rage so long after the event had taken place and ended.
"Can you and your mutts track him to where he's hiding? Perhaps we can end this before it truly begins this time." The feline asked, his cold gaze reflecting only the snow laden and darkening landscape.
"No...Nnoi and I tried tracking him down and were met with a hunting party readied for our confrontation. He of course escaped before we had the chance to finish them off." Starrk told the cat and the human that stood nearby, his odd green cloak pulled tight about his body in an effort to ward off the cold.
"And that bastard made it sound like he had plenty of those monstrosities to throw away." Nnoitra added, his violet eye flicking toward the gathering before resuming it's scan of the area.
Starrk nodded his agreement, a quiet hum coming from his throat. "I'm under the assumption these strays were not present when you came to Lily's aid, meaning he must have quick and complete access and control over them."
Grimmjow's gaze flicked toward Ichigo and Shiro where they sat with said pup, the two men now intently looking back at him while the she-wolf looked between he and the twins. He huffed a silent sigh, only know realizing he had completely forgotten to tell them about the event or the strange dreams that it had triggered.
"Ahh, I see they were unaware of you saving her." Starrk chuckled, not at all surprised the proud and stubborn feline wouldn't have told his companions he had saved a wolf. Even Starrk, whom had known Grimmjow longer than any other living entity had been a bit surprised.
"Oh! I'll tell them!" Lilynette exclaimed happily, launching into her grand telling for her new friends.
The werepanther shook his head and rolled his eyes but didn't protest and directed his attention back to Starrk and Urahara. They had a battle to plan for, a war to prepare for and Grimmjow had a grudge to settle.
••••••
Hood pulled forward to help protect his face from the cold and the small snow flakes that fluttered lazily through the air, Renji leaned forward against the chilly breeze where he sat astride his horse. The beast trudged through the snow, more shallow along the path that was used by travelers but still well on it's way to deepening.
One hand grasped the reins to keep control of the trotting animal while Renji's other disappeared inside his thick coat, fingers wrapped around the gun he had bought weeks ago without knowing whom it was he was buying it from, the weapon loaded with silver shells to ward against the beasts he feared stalked the forest. He hoped desperately that he wouldn't end up in a situation where he had to use it, but one never knew and he warily eyed the shadowed and seemingly lifeless trees that lined either side of his path as the shadows lengthened with the disappearing sun.
He had run home from Urahara's weapons shop, weaving between the few people that had dared the cold evening air in his haste to find Rukia. Panting in the cold air by the time he had arrived, he had thrown the front door to their home open and called out her name. There had been no answer, as he somehow knew there wouldn't be. Upon searching his entire abode, he found his suspicions confirmed. There was no sign that the small, raven haired woman had yet to return. None of her things were out of place, no note left behind, all the animals had been stabled in their stalls and none of the tack had been touched. There was no Rukia to be found anywhere.
Panic beginning to well up in his mind, Renji readied their sturdiest horse, almost wishing he could borrow Shiro's feisty stallion. Surely the near-albino's aggressive beast would have been better to have if he ran into a wolf on his way. Pushing the thought aside and doing his best not to think about the wolves, Renji had readied his own things, snagging his gun on his way out of the house again.
Mounting up, he had kicked the horse into motion and took up a fast trot toward the edge of the village and beyond, receiving a few curious looks from the people that had braved the cold to finish the day's business and chores. Passing by the weapon's shop mere moments before his friends had exited the unassuming looking building, he failed to notice the set of small foot prints that led in the opposite direction of the Kuchiki manor. The very same set that didn't lead far, rounding a corner to disappear behind a building and lay in wait for those within and those around to leave.
Renji pulled his coat closer about him, blowing hot air into his hands before grasping the reins once more and prodding his horse back into a faster gallop as the large home came into view near the darkening horizon. The animal high stepped through the snow and stretched out it's neck as the rider gave it more lead, his breaths visible and foggy as they billowed from it's nostrils to crystallize in the cold air.
Making the last stretch in short order, Renji pulled back and slowed his mount as he approached the front entrance. He swung his leg over the saddle and the animals back and vaulted to the ground before the horse had even fully halted, draping the lead rein over a fence post. Sprinting up the slick, snow covered front staircase with all haste, he slipped a bit, catching hold of the railing before sliding across the porch to stand before the door.
The red head banged on the door before quickly straightening his jacket out and pushing some of the loose strands of his wild mane out of his face in an attempt to look at least semi presentable. A butler opened the door, bowing before stepping aside and quietly telling the familiar, tattooed man that he would fetch Master Kuchiki before disappearing down a hallway.
As Byakuya swept around the corner of the hall, his pace regal and relaxed, Renji quickly ran to his side, unable to wait as his urgency made it's self known. "Byakuya, have you seen Rukia? Is she here?"
Dark brows furrowed just slightly before one arched as the older Kuchiki glanced at Renji. "No, Abarai, she is not here. I was led to believe she was staying with you."
"Well...she was, but she got upset and disappeared yesterday..." Renji stumbled through a quick explanation. "She hasn't come back yet and I didn't know where else she may have gone."
"Hmm..." Byakuya hummed ever so quietly, a thoughtful sound that let Renji know he was paying attention to the red head even if he didn't look like it. "Her last visit was about a week ago."
"A week ago..." Renji searched his mind for when she could have possibly found time to leave without his knowledge. Though it seemed like it had been so much longer, it had been right around that time that he had visited the twins and their then new friend. She must have visited while he had been at Ichigo and Shiro's castle like house, hunting wolves with the near-albino and the werecat.
"Yes." Byakuya assured him, his calm voice sounding unworried even with the news that his youngest, adoptive sister had gone missing. "She stayed for a few hours and left with some of her things the same night."
When Renji didn't act as though he would respond, frowning in thought, Byakuya continued, completely changing the subject as though he was unworried by Rukia's disappearance. The girl had always been a bit wild and knew how to take care of herself, after all. He had no doubts that she would be fine. "How are your lessons going, Abarai?"
"My...lessons?" Renji asked hesitantly, looking back to the older man, his confusion evident on his tattooed features and scrunched brows.
"Yes, your sword technique practice. Rukia brought with her some of my spare training equipment and her sword." Byakuya all but dismissed the red head entirely as he swept passed the man and entered his study, letting Renji trail behind him.
"I...I didn't know she brought any of that back." Renji said as he followed the elder Kuchiki into a room that held a large desk and a few shelves. The walls were lined with old and antique weapons, swords and the like that would have been used hundreds of years ago. Some of them were long and heavy, some short and made for quick movement, some were made of iron, others of silver, still others included decorative handles and hilts with gold and jewel inlays, all shone with the polish of a diligent caretaker. It was easy to see where Rukia had gotten her interest to learn how to use such weapons.
"Hmmm." Byakuya sat at his desk, pulling a stack of papers toward him as he lowered himself into the chair, leaving Renji to stand awkwardly in front of it.
"So you don't know where she could have gone?" Renji dropped his hands onto the top of the desk, his slight panic beginning to the get the better of him as the cold, elder Kuchiki dismissed Rukia's disappearance.
Cold grey eyes looked up from whatever Byakuya had been preparing to work on as the red head slammed his palms down on the sturdy, intricately carved, wooden desk. "No, Abarai, I do not know where she could have gone. Perhaps if you had..."
Renji practically snarled as he spun about, storming from the older man's office before he could finish his thought. The red head all but ran down the hall and out the door, letting it slam shut behind him and leaving a slightly flustered and confused butler in his wake. He had better things to do than be chastised by the elder Kuchiki.
His first thought was to search for Rukia, of course, but he knew he wouldn't be able to find her if she didn't want to be found and his next thought was instantly shot down as well. Even had he known where the werewolf den that Grimmjow had spoken of was, it would have suicide to run off into the forest alone at this time of the year and in the middle of the night.
The red head vaulted back into the saddle of his horse, turning the beast around and spurring it into a gallop back toward the village, his mind only able to focus on the hope that Rukia would return home before the enemy werewolves invaded.
Miles away, as the sun finally dipped completely to hide below the horizon and the citizens of the village retreated into their homes to sleep in warm beds for the night, their business done for the day, dark eyes scanned the surrounding area, glittering in the dark as they looked for signs of any last lingering people. Snow skittered across the street, blowing between alleyways and whistling with the breeze as it picked up with the coming of night, as if mother nature was determined to see the world coated in a clean blanket before all was soiled with the blood of her creatures.
Upon finding no one and hearing nothing but the chill breeze race through the streets, small hands went to work. Thick, fur lined gloves were pulled off and tucked away into coat pockets. Thin fingers slipped a pin into the lock of the local arms shop, a small and unassuming business run by a slightly off balanced but pleasant man. A second pin quickly followed the first.
Working with a practiced speed and precision and a single minded diligence, the pins were spun about and pushed around, playing with the locking pins that the teeth of a key would normally trigger and set into place. In no time at all, a nearly silent click announced as the locking mechanism caught and unlatched. With a smile of triumph that held only dark intent to match the dark night, the culprit took one last look about before pushing the door open, reaching up to quiet the annoying little bell before it could jingle about in the quiet night.
Urahara's shop was the only remaining arms dealer in the area that boasted still selling silver and the intruder wondered the aisles, knowing from experience that she wouldn't find what she wanted on the main floor. Small caliber guns and the various types of ammo they took were easily found, as well as a few knives and other trinkets made of the precious and potent metal, but the weapons of real value were hidden down below, in the level that most held no knowledge of and probably never would.
Scurrying down the hall and to the hatch that opened up into the basement level, the intruder paused to listen, making sure no one was below, before throwing the cellar like door open and swiftly descending the stairs.
Laid out on the long table were all of the crazed scientist's latest projects and experiments but it was the shelf behind it that caught dark, glittering eyes. Everything from heavy caliber guns to bladed weapons to various types of ammo and even explosives made up the groups extensive collection and filled the shelving; weapons that Urahara and his team had specifically engineered and designed to combat, cripple, capture and kill werecreatures that were deemed as a threat to the village and it's citizens.
There was no reason for the small woman to doubt that there would indeed be a battle, and she felt no doubt that the monsters needed to die in order for her race to continue and develop. Nor did she feel any regret or have any objections to participating in killing off the werewolves. The creatures were monsters, unnatural and vile. They indiscriminately hunted and fed on the humans, whether innocent of not and they deserved the fate they bestowed upon themselves for their actions. However, unlike her, there were those that she held dear that didn't believe that all the monsters needed to be destroyed. They felt that some were safe over others, that some posed no threat and would even help them in the upcoming battle. Well, she knew the truth and she would plan accordingly and be prepared if no one else would.
A humorless smile full of malintent stretched soft lips as small hands wrapped around one weapon in particular, a gun that would fire silver in a deadly spray of small pellets and insure that the target was not only easily hit, but couldn't simply dig the burning metal out with ease.
••••••
Dark having descended whilst the odd congregation of various species spoke of battles and plans and how to remove the threat that was Baraggan, the air swirled with a new chill brought on by the lack of the earth warming sun. The scouting party had returned, their shift over as the rest of the Pack awakened. Wolves emerged to begin their nightly hunting and other various activities that required them to leave the den. Many swung curious glances in the humans' and feline's direction, some even aimed subtle signs of aggression but as Starrk shifted his stance and dropped his ears, the more threatening of the creatures obediently scurried off. None would dare go against the Pack Alpha and if he was willing to mark the odd creatures invading their territory as being under his protection, the rest of the Pack would accept them as guests.
Grimmjow's ears laid flat, the tip of his slim, blue black tail flicking as he bared his teeth at one such mutt that dared sniff too closely when Starrk failed to acknowledge it. The wolf laid it's own years flat but backed off and scampered away to join the hunt as a deep hiss worked it's way up the powerful feline's throat to emit from between cruel fangs.
Starrk merely chuckled as he stifled a yawn and watched the way the feline practically oozed threat, his body language nearly daring any of the Pack's wolves to get too close to he or his companions. He called Lilynette to his side as she too yawned where she huddled in the snow beside the feline's humans. The young she-wolf nuzzled at her older sibling before trudging back toward the den to disappear within.
"What about the old keep your humans live in?" Starrk's deep voice asked as the young wolf left his side. They still had need of a place to gather while they rallied their forces and waited for the traitorous male's imminent attack and meeting in Lobos territory would be too dangerous for the humans.
Shivering slightly with the cold, the twins moved closer to their werepanther companion as they entered the conversation once again. With a fond smirk, Grimmjow pulled them even closer, pulling the Caster down into his lap. As Ichigo leaned back against his warm and solid body, Grimmjow nudged the side of the young man's face with his black furred muzzle in a very feline show of affection, wrapping one arm around the Caster while his other snaked around Shiro's waist where the near-albino sat at his side.
"I fear that would be too far from the village. The time it would take to traverse from one to the other would be time we wont have." The feline countered Starrk's suggestion as he glanced back to the wolves and away from the twins. Grimmjow understood Starrk's reasoning for suggesting the castle like home. It stood in the middle of the forest, a place his wolves could easily near if the magical barrier was removed, but it would still offer protection for the more frail humans.
As shinning cyan lifted to look back at Starrk and the Alpha's second, illuminated and flashing in the dark of the forest, the wolves could clearly see the conviction and promise that swirled openly in their depths. They both knew Grimmjow would insure nothing happened to the two humans and, with no more doubt in their minds, they realized it wasn't simply because of the Fallen deidad's affinity for the human race. The once mighty creature had chosen the two human males as his mates and nothing would come to harm them for as long as the feline lived.
Starrk nodded his agreement, his stormy grey eyes filled with thought.
"Perhaps my shop would do well?" Urahara spoke up, his face hidden behind his fan even in the cold and dark. The Alpha glanced to him as he spoke, grey eyes holding the same fiercely wild look the blond shopkeeper found in the werepanther's, though toned down to look much more calm.
"Your shop is in the village? I cannot bring the Pack..."
"What about the villagers?" The Caster stiffened slightly where he sat half cradled against the werepanther as the seemingly obvious thought tugged at his mind. "We have to warn them about the attack."
"King's kinda got a point." Shiro pointed out, snuggling in just a bit closer to his twin and the cat as he shivered in the cold. "There's no way we can hide somethin' like this from the whole village."
"Indeed... Just how do you propose we convince an entire village of people that they are about to be under siege by werewolves?" Urahara asked, looking from the twins snuggled against their unique companion to the wolves they were sharing space and conversation with. It was not a situation he ever envisioned finding himself in. Most of the members of the younger generations didn't even believe in werewolves anymore, yet here he was, in the company of not only wolves, but a were panther as well and discussing how they were going to put an end to an attack by an entire army of werewolves.
"We have been thinking about that..." Grimmjow told them, his deep voice rumbling in his chest and vibrating like a strong and solid presence through the bodies of the humans pressed against him. Nothing had been said aloud between himself and the Pack leader, but Grimmjow was positive they had reached the same conclusion all the same.
"Yes..." Starrk's bored and tired sounding baritone had a slightly uneasy undertone as he spoke. "It will require us to reveal ourselves to the humans; both Grimmjow and the Pack."
"And a little help from you." Grimmjow finished for the wolf, pinning the odd blond man with his intense gaze while he internally grimaced at the thought of revealing himself for what he was for the first time in centuries. He still held onto the desire to be left alone, a desire to stay out of the human race's knowledge.
The shopkeeper lifted a brow but seemed to consider the situation they were in before nodding his acquiescence.
"Oh good, we can distribute weapons while we tell them." Kenpachi said, a hint of mockery and amusement in his gravely voice.
"Do you really have enough silver to arm the entire village?" Ichigo asked, his arms wrapped around himself under Grimmjow's own.
"Very nearly so." At the shopkeeper's words, both Starrk and his second bristled slightly. The tips of white fangs peeked out from below the Alpha's lips as he curled them slightly in distaste.
"That's not going to work." Nnoitra's lone, violet hued eye panned over to his leader, seeing Starrk's agreement without a word needing to be said between them. "If ya want us to fight against these other wolves, then we can't take the chance of your humans mistaking us for them. I'm not about to trust a bunch of humans to understand the difference."
"We are also hoping to keep the humans out of it as much as possible." Starrk added to what his second had said, though not disagreeing with Nnoitra in the slightest.
"We can't just leave them unarmed though." The Caster's concern was easily heard in his voice. "What if some of these...bad wolves get passed us and they're attacked while in their homes?"
A shiver from the cold wracked the Caster's spine, his teeth chattering slightly as he spoke. Grimmjow tightened his hold on the colorful human and bent slightly to rest his feline chin on the man's shoulder, offering what warmth he could.
Shiro was the next to speak, a solution easily found. "What about givin' 'em bladed weapons? Wouldn' it be safe 'nough fer everyone ta have at least a dagger er somethin' made outta silver?"
Ichigo felt his feline companion nod against his shoulder as his twin threw his idea out in the open. "Provided Urahara has that sort of quantity, that seems a decent solution. Then, should a mutt get through us to attack, at least they would be able to defend themselves while not proving a danger to Starrk and his wolves."
"Your not immune to silver either, cat." Nnoitra pointed out, a sneer in his voice. He was ignored and hardly received even a look for his words.
"We could always melt down some a the silver bullets if we gotta." Shiro pointed out, knowing how the process worked since he made his own ammo.
Urahara nodded, lost in thought behind the fan he kept held to hide his features as he mentally took inventory of his supplies and stock. The odd item disappeared somewhere within the confines of the green cloak he wore, a serious expression on his normally jovial face. "I have the necessary means to make silver daggers, however, the sooner I can begin melting down and remolding the bullets, the better. We have no way of knowing how much time we have..."
"I can run home an' grab my tools ta help ya." Shiro offered, also having the necessary items. Haveing two people working would speed things along and save time they didn't have to waste.
"That would be most helpful." Urahara's sing song voice was back as he smiled at the Undead. Mayuri had been very right when he had said Shirosaki was hardly recognizable as such. Like the scientist had said, only a slight distortion of his voice and his off coloring distinguished him as being different, everything else about him was very much normal and human. It was almost scary to think how powerful his Caster brother had the potential to become, should he be given the time and means to continue learning and improving.
"Then it's settled. Let's get going, it's getting too cold for the four of you to be out here much longer anyway." Grimmjow said, climbing to his feet and pulling the Caster in his lap up with him. He and the wolves hardly felt the bite of the chill, winter night, but the four humans didn't have the same thick fur and shivered even with their heavier, winter clothing.
The four human men seemed more than happy to leave the cold, snow covered forest for the night and wasted little time in retrieving their skittish and wide eyed mounts. As they climbed onto the horses, the two werewolves and Grimmjow trailing slightly behind, Shiro looked to his more colorful copy.
"Ya comin' with me er goin' with Urahara, King?" The near-albino asked, grabbing up the reins of his stallion as he swung his leg over the saddle to sit astride the beast as it tossed it's mane.
"With you, there's something I want to grab before I get back to reading through that book." The Caster told his brother, also climbing onto his horse.
Grimmjow watched as the humans mounted up, Ichigo and Shiro turning their beasts to face the direction that would lead them in the most direct route to their old fortress like home and Urahara and Kenpachi rounding their animals back toward the village. He huffed a nearly silent breath at the situation and knowing how dangerous it was to allow either group of men to ride through the forest on their own, but there was no hesitation in his movements as he neared the twins and prepared to insure their safety through the canine territory.
Starrk seemed to recognize the plight and walked up to the odd shopkeeper and his partner as the two readied to leave. "Nnoi and I shall escort you to the edge of the village."
Urahara bowed slightly, letting his appreciation be known to the Alpha werewolf as he spoke his gratitude. Kenpachi was a beast of a man and Urahara was rather wily himself, but even he had no desire to run into this particular enemy while unprepared and in foreign territory.
The large, black wolf curled his upper lip away from his fangs but didn't resist or complain as his leader and friend set off after the two humans through the forest. The large wolves flanked the horses, staying far enough away to keep the animals relatively calm while staying close enough to still act as a guard should they run into trouble, though the chances were unlikely with the rest of the Pack being out and about.
Grimmjow sent an appreciative look after the wolves he could no longer consider enemies, even if it had been a farce of a rivalry ever since Starrk came into power, before he too took off, the twins on their horses following right behind.
Hidden deep within the shadowed recesses of fallen trees and dried, snow and ice covered underbrush, dark eyes flashed in the feeble moon light. He had dared get no closer, lest one of the several mighty creatures in the small gathering take notice of him, but he hadn't needed to hear what they spoke of to know they were planning a way to counter he and his army.
He would probably never know how they had caught wind of his plans, he had done much to keep it quiet and had dropped the necessary hints to let Starrk continue believing he was still simply after the Alpha's throne, but it hardly mattered. Nor did it matter that that bastard Kenpachi was probably behind their knowledge. He should have known better than to trust someone that was of the human race and while he had managed to skitter around what his true intentions were, he realized now as he looked back, he had probably slipped up somewhere and the man's intelligent, blond partner had probably pieced it together.
If nothing else, trusting the filthy human gave him the proof he needed that La Pantera was indeed still Fallen and reduced to the pathetic creature he was always meant to be. Baraggan had no corrupt and power hungry Caster at the ready this time, but the feline didn't hold the same overwhelming power he had possessed with the last attempt. Baraggan would not fail this time. Starrk would die beside the feline beast he seemed to hold so dearly and when the smoke cleared and the snow retreated for the season, what was left of the dead Alpha's Pack would come crawling to him for survival and leadership and he would see the rise of the werewolf race once again.
Baraggan, along with the few Original born werewolves that had loyally followed him when he was expunged from the Pack snarled silently as they crept away and slunk off into the night. Headed in the direction of the village, they were careful to stay down wind of the wolves and the wretched feline. A confrontation with that undeniably powerful group would only end badly at this point and upset his plans.
His forces were ready and awaited his commands. The first raid was about to commence, a pretext and preview of what was to come. The traitorous male would not be happy until he had destroyed the village and brought down with it the creatures standing in his way. A cruel grin curled scarred, grey lips, flashing yellowed fangs to the last peaceful night the oblivious humans and their unknown protectors would ever see.
Soooo~ What do you think?