Chapter 8. As I fall

"Catch me, as I fall. Say you're here and it's all over now. Speaking to the atmosphere, no one's here and I fall into myself".
-Evanescence, "Whisper"

Canis hadn't moved, even when the darkness began to take her. She felt herself change, but didn't understand why she was changing now. Either way, it didn't matter now. She wanted to die, more than anything. Die by the hands of nature instead of the one she both cared for and despised. Breathing became hard, the air around her heavy. Her senses dulled for the first time in a long time. She felt…human again. For the first time in ten years, she felt like that ten year old girl she once was…

He had to find her. She was too accident prone. If anything, she'd be getting herself into some form of trouble or other. Hopefully he'd reach her in time, before she got into any trouble. But after his encounter with Conn, Bane wasn't sure if she was safe anywhere. If she took silver again, he didn't want to think of the results. He'd lose his opponent and there was no honor in beating an already defeated enemy.

He had two items in his hand that he'd stolen off the body of Conn's dog: A black leather leash and a black leather collar with ivory spikes. Stereotypical, but he thought it'd fit one like her. The full moon was close, she'd be nearly shifted by now. Searching by night, she should've been an easy find. But to his surprise, she wasn't. He searched in all the places he thought she'd hide to keep her transformation away from prying eyes. So far, nothing. The girl had suddenly become an expert hider. Bane would have to commemorate her on that later, if she wasn't dead when he found her.

The cemetery…that's where he found her. Or, at least he hoped it was her. It was a black wolf, covered in snow. Its eyes were closed and at first it didn't appear to be breathing. But when Bane got closer he saw its body move like it was breathing. The wolf was alive, barely, but it was. He put the leash and the collar away and reached his hand to brush off the snow. But as he did, a golden eye opened for just a moment, and went wide at the sight of him.

"Welcome back, Pequeña Lupa. I feared I lost you for a moment".
She whined in response.
"Oh don't be like that. I'm here to rescue…again".
Canis snarled deeply, baring fangs.
"What? Do you want to freeze to death out here?"
She gave a subtle nod, but he caught it.
"I won't let you".
She growled, threatening to bite him if he touched her.
"Oh bite me then! I know you won't".

Canis suddenly jerked up and her mouth went for his hand. Bane had seen that coming and grasped her jaw with his large hand in a very alpha-like fashion. According to what he'd read once, an alpha wolf would bite down on a subordinate's muzzle to say that they were they alpha and what they were doing was wrong. He applied pressure, but not enough to entirely injure her jaw. He gave it a small squeeze and she tried to move again.

"Stop…" it was a simple command and she obeyed it. She didn't have a choice, instinct was her guide now. Canis stopped squirming, determining it was best to submit…for now at least.

"Good girl. Now…I went through a lot of trouble getting this" he pulled out the collar, "Be a good girl again and let me put this on you so there's no problems with anyone who tries to snag you" Bane let go of her muzzle and went to put the collar on.

Canis loudly objected, snarling savagely as if the collar was a torture device and not simply a strip of leather. Her tail was out and every bit of fur was on end. She looked ready to attack.

"Swallow your pride, as it will do you no good in this case. I'm trying to keep you safe".

She didn't relent, if anything, it only got worse. Her eyes blazed with anger and her mouth was dripping with venom. Canis wanted to bite…so bad. Bane sighed and put the collar away.

"Fine, you win this round. But this by no means the end of the war. I came to help, not fight. I know, a first even for me".
Canis stopped snarling and gave him a questioning look.
"I don't know what it is about you, Canis Lupa, but you're so damn accident prone that I fear you'll get yourself killed by the time the full moon comes. It's only a few nights away now. In fact it looks almost full now".
She looked up and found it kinda did. Maybe that's why she was in this form now.

Of course it wasn't her full moon form. This was only used in emergency cases, when occasions demanded. The She Wolf was partially in control, but had Canis' ability to understand Bane. As a full moon werewolf, she wouldn't understand him.

"You can choose to stay out here and freeze to death or you can stay with me until the moon comes…perhaps maybe a little afterwards".
Canis stepped away from him, snorting a little and standing tall as if to say she wouldn't budge.
"Look, I'm trying to be…nice, here, Canis Lupa. I don't wish to fight you when you're like this. You're strong, but not at your best. And that's when I want you".
She looked down and scraped her paw against the snow, making a line and shot air out of her nose, shaking as she did so.
"I won't leave until you come or we can both stay out here, which ever you prefer. I got all night".
Canis simply moved her shoulders a little as if shrug and lied down, curling up.
"I see you wish to do this the hard way. Very well" Bane sat down a little ways away from her line, "Have it your way. We'll see who breaks first".
She narrowed her eyes in response to his challenge.

Silence reigned for nearly half an hour. So far, neither one of them budged. Bane looked over at the wolf before him, unsure what to say. He was surprised she could understand him. But then again, maybe she kept a human mind. Staring at her drenched ebony fur, he remembered how her hair had changed from a dull brown to jet black.

"So…your hair color changes with the moon phases. Black is your primary color?"
Canis looked up and nodded.
"So then the color of the wolf's fur is determined by your natural hair color".
She shook her head.
"Enlighten me then. Speak with your mind, I know you can".
Canis looked confused.
"Just try…you can do it".

Canis reached out to Bane's mind with hers. She wanted to communicate with him properly. The wolf wasn't going to cut it, not all the way through. Besides, there was much he didn't know about her. Things she wanted to tell. At last, she managed.

Can you hear me?
"Yes I can".
Black isn't my natural color. It goes by whatever color your hair turns to. I'm actually blonde.
"Ha! I can't see you with blonde hair, not at all".
It's true. I was blonde when I was human.
"Ah. Would I be bald as a wolf then?"
No. What's your hair color?
"Same as yours, black".
Damn…
"What?"
I was hoping you'd be a brown one.
"This isn't Canis, isn't it?"
Not right now. She just let me have a little control. I'm the opponent you seek.
"Ah, the one destined to be my pet".
Fat chance.
"So you think".
So I know. You can't possibly match up with someone who is both beast and man.
"I'll try".
I admire your determination, Bane. But rest assured, it will do you no good.
"Let her back in control. I wish to talk to Canis, not her wolf".
So you'd take the human over me…typical.
"What is?"
I was right about you…You really don't want anything to do with us. You just wanna beat us to a bloody pulp and leave us broken.
"I planned to keep you".
Werewolves aren't house pets, Bane.
"You have me all wrong, wolf. I do want something to do with you…but what exactly that something is I don't know".
You're a strange human that's for sure.
Bane chuckled. "I was never one for ordinary".
Not quite unlike Sarantha.
"Who is that? I heard her say that name before".
Sarantha was her human name.
"Ah Canis Lupa is just an alias".
Yes. Her human name was Sarantha Reynolds. She was a ten year blind girl when she was bitten.
"I see".
She's gonna be angry about me telling you, but I think after what you've done for us you deserve to know some things.
"Why would she be angry?"
She gets…different around you.
"Ah…I see".
She's seen you differently recently. She wants to learn more about you. I think, in a way, she's grown to care for you.
"That'll be her weakness".
She has a habit of turning weaknesses into strengths. I'm sure she wouldn't mind being your pet, Bane.
"It's you I plan to tame, not her".
So if you had to pick which one of us you could have for your own, all your own, who would you pick?
"That's not important".
It is to me.
"What is it you wish to prove?"
That I'm right and she's wrong.
"About what?"
You…and all humans. You can't possibly understand a werewolf, not our way of thinking.
"You think I'd take her over you?"
I know you would.
"You don't know me".
I do know you. I have since the day I bit you.
"How do you know me?"
Let's head back to the tunnels…and then I'll let you talk to her some more. How's that? We'll stay with you…and we'll see what happens.