Disclaimer: Not mine.

His Calling

Chapter 54

The Encampment

Remus pulled his shirt off as he ran, cursing himself for waiting until the last possible minute to head up to the ridge. This was his last chance if he was going to make use of the potions that Potter had procured for him and he did not want to miss this third and final opportunity. Throwing the shirt to the ground, he dug in his pocket and found the half-full vial of potion as he tried unsuccessfully to kick off his boots. Swallowing the potion, he fell to the ground, pulling them off as fast as possible, afraid that the change would begin with his feet caught in the leather. With a sigh of relief, he rolled on his back and lifted his hips, pulling off his trousers as the first of the change began.

"Fuck," he muttered, trying to thrust his changing hands into his trouser pockets, at last managing to pull out a flannel that he hastily shoved in his mouth to stifle the screams he still could not control. He positioned himself on his hands and knees until he felt his legs and hips begin to shift. He tried to push his weight forward, letting his arms and shoulders hold him up as he straightened his legs and pushed his feet as flat as he could.

Closing his eyes be fought not to scream as he concentrated instead on his breathing, determined that this time he could control, if not the wolf, at least the speed in which the change occurred. In the end, he let the flannel drop from his mouth as his jaw began to elongate and just as the pain was to the point of being unbearable he heard a sound that chilled even the emerging wolf and silenced him. He recognised the shriek as a scream of anguish and fear, and knew that tonight he would not be alone.

The wolf stood on unsteady legs, needing to walk in a circle and smell the air until it had regained its balance and strength. Remus had learned to use this moment to collect himself and take his own bearings, letting the wolf get its bearings and see where it was. He saw the low hung moon, and the clear sky, the silhouette of the woods beyond the next ridge and could smell the others.

The wolf raised its snout into the air and let out a howl, as if welcoming the night. Turning its head and lowering to the ground it studied the land before it began to run. Remus was confused that the wolf did not go immediately toward the Spencer barn or to the wooded area where they had run before. This time the wolf headed to an open meadow at the bottom of the ridge. He let the wolf have the lead, not attempting to guide or restrict its movements, feeling the instinctive surge of flight and a feral curiosity at the new smells.

Remus stopped, the wolf standing, its front legs ridged, its head lowered as it snarled at two wolves that cowered at the edge of the clearing. The wolf growled, a low rumbling filled Remus' chest as it inched closer to the others. Unsure of what was happening, but feeling the wolf did not mean to attack, Remus watched as the wolf cautiously approached the larger of the two animals and then lowered its mouth biting the muzzle of what was now clearly a female.

The strange wolf whimpered and lay still on the ground as Remus walked to the other and the wolf nuzzled under her belly, then nipped at her muzzle as it had done to the first. Only after the two rolled over, exposing their bellies, did the wolf lift its head and sniffed the air and Remus let out a breath of air, knowing that the females were safe. With a start, the wolf turned to the woods and howled a warning. Remus felt the hair on the back of his spine rise, and his irises grow large to peer into the dark. He began to run again, low to the ground, the new comers following close behind.

He knew that the two that followed him were responsible for the screams he had heard and that their wolf was in complete control. It was the fear he smelled on them that he did not understand. They expressed fear even in their wolf form, but still they followed, as if commanded by his wolf, as if thankful to have a protector. He forced the wolf to stop, and turned back to watch the ridge from where they had came from, a snarl returning to his wolf as it began to pant and taste the air.

Remus lifted the wolf's head and looked back to the ridge as the wolf forced him to circle the two companions. He smelled with the new wolves and growled, realizing that the two were females whom the wolf was accepting into a pack. He fought down the animal urges that bristled over the wolf, lowering his head and biting his front paw until it submitted to him. Once he was firmly in control, he again began to run, this time to the creek, leading his new pack away from the barn where he suspected Greyback to be.

He realized his mistake too late. The night was passing too quickly. He had lost track of time and the fact that Greyback would have had time to feed and leave the barn. He had not thought that they would be at the creek, had not considered the danger he now found himself in.

His wolf stopped, lowering its snout to the ground, smelling the scents of more than Remus could sort out. Only the smell of Greyback registered in his mind as he curled his lip in disgust. Forcing the wolf to leave the main trail and take to the underbrush, he turned his massive head and snapped at the females, knowing somehow that force and cruelty would keep them in line more than persuasion and gentle coaxing. He had to remain an alpha if he was to survive the night, and if he was going to get the females back alive.

He could not overcome the wolf's insistence that they continue. Trying to distract it, he nipped at his legs and tried to hang back, but with each howl, he felt a new resolve that he had to give in to and the determination that they kept going too strong to ignore. Finally, stepping out into the clearing by the creek he felt the wolf stiffen, lifting its head a sniffing the air. A howl came out of his throat as the eyes of a pack turned to him.

The largest grey wolf walked into the moonlight, followed by others that cowered behind him, almost quivering in anticipation of a fight that was to come. The large grey lowered his head until it was level with its shoulders, snarling, its lips curled up, saliva dripping from its mouth, his eyes flickering between Remus and the females. Remus heard the females behind him whimper, and crawl towards him, their front legs and stomachs on the ground, their rumps in the air. Stepping between them and the large grey, Remus felt a surge of adrenalin and fought not to attack.

Two of the smaller wolves stepped in front of the grey, one sped toward Remus, its mouth open, its eyes wild with hunger. Remus waited until the last possible moment then let his wolf loose, lunging at the other's throat. When his teeth sunk into the flesh, he rose up on his hind legs, shaking his head as he did, deepening the wound and ripping the flesh. He tasted blood and heard the cry of pain. As he felt the wolf stop struggling, he released it and allowed it to run off, then turned with a snarl to face the other.

The large grey sniffed the air and started to move to the right, keeping his eyes on the youngest female, while two more of his pack moved to the left. Remus hunched his back, snarling at the grey, standing over the female as he snapped at the older wolf. In a flurry of dust and fur, the grey attacked, not prepared for the human response in the wolf that instead of going for this throat lay down and bit his soft underbelly, ripping the flesh and not stopping until the grey yelped in pain and defeat.

Remus watched the pack draw back, leaned his head down towards the female, letting his wolf lick their faces before turning back to the pack that still waited. He knew Greyback recognized him in the same way he had recognised the older wizard. Now he saw the fear in his eyes. Never had his position in the pack been questioned, never had a younger male vied for power. Now, he faced with loosing not only the pack of half-drugged wolves but also the power he held over them as men.

Remus stepped forward, lifted his head to the moon and howled, wanting to fist the air and cheer. He knew at that moment that Greyback in wolf form was his for the taking. If he gave into his wolf, he could become the alpha and control the pack. He hesitated, wanting so badly to reduce Greyback to nothing, to banish him from the pack and make him start over, to take away his power and position. At the same time, he knew by the instinct of his wolf, that he would then assume the role of leader and have no way out.

In an instant, they all turned their heads to the sky, feeling the waning of the moon. Taking the chance that the rising sun gave him, Remus turned his back on the pack, showing no fear and by this act demonstrating that this was his victory.

He yelped to the females and began to run. Reaching the ridge as he began to change back to his human form, Remus heard the smaller wolf begin to whimper in agony, unable to get through even the first small changes of fur to skin and paws becoming hands. He stopped and lowered his head, licked her snout and pushed against her side, instructing her not to lie on her stomach to make it easier. Hearing the larger female's soft growl of protest when he touched her, he trotted to the far side of the outcropping and began his own journey back.

Panting with the residual pain, he sat up quickly, inspected his arms and legs, twisting around as far as he could to inspect for damages, seeing his own self-inflicted bites, and knew they were beyond his healing skills. Standing, he slipped on his boots and trousers before walking out to face the females, dragging his shirt behind him.

The older, which he had only seen as the larger of the two, had her back to him as she knelt down in front of the smaller, a young girl Remus would judge at twelve or thirteen. He squatted down with them, taking the older girl's arms and doing what he could to heal the small cuts and scratches before turning to the younger, keeping his eyes on their faces or arms, trying to ignore their bodies.

"It's okay," he said in nearly a whisper as the young girl flinched as the touched her. "If I wanted to hurt you I would have already done so. It's over for another month, just hold on to that."

The girly squeezed her legs together and bent her knees, turning her nakedness from him as much as she could; all the while, she kept one arm over her breasts. He held his shirt for her, gently coaxing her into it as he turned his head. Once she had it on, he tipped up her chin and smiled at her.

"There is nothing to be ashamed of. Remember that. Not this, not anything that has happened is your fault so no more tears," he said, waiting until he saw her nod, then released her face and smiled encouragingly. "Now, where did you leave your clothes?"

"In the meadow," she whispered, her face flushed red with tears, only now more at ease and able to look at him.

"It's safe now. Why don't you run and get them?" He saw the blood that covered her thighs when she stood and waited until she was half way down the slope before finding the flannel he had used to muffle his screams the night before and transfigured it into a shawl, which he draped over the older girls shoulders.

"You are her…what? You are too young for a…"

"Sister."

"You shouldn't have brought her here. Especially tonight, not when she is having her menses. I know you don't remember anything but you need to know that the alpha…stop!" He held up his hand to still her protests. "She is fine, and so are you if that is your next question."

"Who are you?" she sobbed.

"That doesn't matter. What matters is that I was on Wolfbane and found you first."

"I…I don't remember anything. I…" she cried unable to finish.

"Listen," Remus sighed, sitting next to her. "They smelled the blood and went after her. As far as they were concerned, she was a bitch in heat. At her age, she is a full-grown wolf…not some little cub that needs watching over. You…you happened to be there or I don't think you would have been in danger tonight, not until your time. You have to understand the wolves here are like us…werewolves. Only…some take Wolfbane, others…like you and your sister don't, and there are those that…at least I think… are given just enough to follow human command and keep the instinct of the wolf. That or it is an inferior brew that lets them act like that."

"And you don't?"

"I…I take the potion, but use the wolf. It's hard to explain, but I have learned to control him, use his senses and instincts." He looked down the slope and saw the young girl getting dressed. "Before she gets back we need to talk. How long have you been coming here?"

"Only this one time. We were at this place. It's across the creek and up a ways. Deserted it is, but there are berry bushes and…'

"I am familiar with it," Remus muttered, knowing she was talking about his old home.

"Anyway, we lost track of time and on the way back… that's when he got us. Both of us."

"How long ago?"

"Two moons. This is only our second."

"Second?" Remus looked back at the young girl, wrinkling his brow in thought. "It takes longer to reach the full wolf. Don't lie to me."

"I'm not. There was a woman…she helped us after the…after he…it got us. She had a potion she said would speed it up…that it wouldn't hurt so much," she choked, as tears flooded her eyes. "But she was wrong. It hurts. I hurts so bad I just want to end it."

Remus picked up her hands and turned her palms up, exposing the scars on her wrists he had seen when he healed her. "So, you think killing yourself would be better?"

"The pain would stop."

"And your sister's? Could you kill her too?"

"It hurts…I can't…"

"Yes you can, and you will," he said harshly. "Are you registered?"

"No."

"You need to be. Once you are, you can go to St. Mungo's and get the potion. The pain will still be there, but you will keep your mind and not have a repeat of what happened tonight. You have to understand that as a female, things are…different for you. You have to face things I don't. If joined a pack I would expect a beating…if you do…you would be submissive to the leader and any other pack member he would let mount you."

"Is that where you get your potion?" she asked with a visible shudder at his words.

"No. Before they give it to you, there is a …medical procedure. You and your sister will be sterilized."

"No!" She spat, scooting back from him, suddenly fearful when he grabbed her arm in a vice like grip.

"You can never have children. What the fuck to you think would happen during the moon? Go to St. Mungo's and take care of it. That is unless you want to runt like an animal in heat."

"She…the woman…she said there is a place we can go. She said all the werewolves live there. That's where we…"

"She lied! Tell me her name."

"She said not…"

"She lied to you. She wants to set up a ….a pack…for Greyback, I would guess. This bloody farm is where he runs every month he's not out looking for young girls to eat so it would make sense it is him she is working for. Did she tell you were this…this place was?"

"No," she said, nodding to her sister that was running back with the rest of the clothing. "Don't tell Sarah about the…you know. She doesn't need to know about that."

"Then you take her to St. Mungo's, because I can guarantee if they get her in the woods on the next moon they will use her and use her well. Only it won't stop there if you are so fucking stupid as to go to this…this place when you change back."

"The woman, she said…"

He grabbed her upper arms and shook her, dislodging the shawl and letting it slip from her shoulders. "Her name?"

"Mrs. Spencer, Martha Spencer," she sobbed as he pushed her away in disgust.

He ran his hand through his hair and turned his back on her, giving her some privacy to stand and get dressed. Hearing her call to him, he turned back and stood up. "Where are you two living?"

"Mary?" Sarah said in a question.

"We move around," Mary said, avoiding his eyes.

"What about your parents?"

"No," Mary muttered, shaking her head. "We can't go back there."

"When was the last time you ate?"

"Yesterday," Sarah offered. "There's this place over by St. Andrews that lets us…"

"Muggles," Remus sighed deeply.

"That's what the woman said. She said she was a witch and that…"

"Stay away from there," Remus said evenly. "Use the old farm over the creek until you know what is happening to you. I'll see if I can find someone…bloody hell. Listen, that Spencer woman…let her talk. Don't tell her you saw me. Act as if you are considering what she is saying, but don't go with her. What ever you do….do not go."

"Why should we trust you and not her?" Mary lifted her chin defiantly.

"I don't know," Remus laughed. "It's your choice. Tell your sister you will take her back out there and let them have at her. I'll forget I ever saw you."

Mary blanched and nodded her head. "We'll wait. But I have to go into town and get some things."

"Take her with you," Remus nodded to Sarah. "Greyback is dangerous even in his human form and my guess is he will try to finish what he couldn't as a wolf. Travel together, and get to the Muggle area as fast as you can. He is likely to follow you there."

He waited until they had disappeared over the second ridge and knew they would be at the creek before he turned back to the Spencer farm and started to skirt around it. If Greyback was staying here, and now had a pack, he knew they could not be living in the house. He remembered the day in Hogsmeade he had seen him with at least four Muggles who he had assumed were werewolves, and knew that last night there were many more. They would have to have an area larger than the main farm complex.

Remus made it to the far side of the farm, where the same creek that lead to his old home, looped around the back of the property. Laying on his stomach, he watched the encampment in front of him, committing to memory what he saw.

There were half a dozen shacks, each of which looked to be no more than one room. The hovels stood clustered around an open fire pit in which a large pot hung on hooks, tended by a woman that he guessed at around thirty. Two young teen-aged boys lounged nearby while two more women were washing clothes in pails of filthy water. He scanned the rest of the area, seeing a small shed hidden behind the living area. Staying in a crouch, he stayed hidden until he was as close to it as he could get.

He heard someone crying, and begging to get out, promising that their family would pay whatever price they asked for. Remus felt sickened to realize that whomever they held would either wait for the next full moon or meet a fate that he dreaded to think about. Watching the women in the clearing, he noticed they did not seem to hear the pleas that came from the poor soul, but went on with their daily chores as if everything were normal.

Not seeing any men, Remus felt it prudent to leave before they came back, not knowing if they would come the same way he had. Keeping to a low crouch until he was far enough not t be seen or heard, he apparated to Hogwarts.