Ack, a week of coursework and I've clocked over 9 full days on Crusader Kings! Phew, I need a life, anyway, enjoy chapter 5!
Mackdoodle (No but seriously, its just Mack.)
"Master, master, where's those dreams that I've been after? Master, Master promised only lies."
Master of Puppets by Metallica
Captain Jerom Kirrahe waited. His nerves were more than on edge.
His Commander had simply left him in charge, in charge of a mission that had high chances of being a trap, set by bloodlusting monsters.
The young elf wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Are the scanners working yet?" He asked a nearby warlock who simply shook his head.
"D'arvit, do we know the problem then?" Another shake.
The Captain turned towards where the meeting was supposed to happen, glancing at his communicator, fifteen minutes till contact.
He spoke into his com, "Okay ladies, I want team one ready to make contact, team two, shield and be ready for shit to hit the fan." A chorus of acceptance as well as a chuckle from the warlock to the human curse.
After five minutes, the mood had not changed. The scanners didn't work, and there was no sign of wolves.
The snap of a branch behind the Captain made him pale. The warlock was watching the contact zone with him, and he turned. In Kirrahe's peripheral vision, the face the warlock pulled was enough for him to begin praying.
"Captain Kirrahe." Growled a distinctly female voice.
The elf turned quickly, and pulled a salute. The sight of Silver Stride and a young brown wolf was too much for the warlock, who fainted, hitting the floor with a dull thud.
Kirrahe blinked. Silver Stride was not supposed to be here. And who was this other wolf? Silver Stride was thought to be an outcast... who would help him?
"We have a message for your leader..." The young wolf growled, bearing her teeth, red eyes baring on him.
"This is a trap. Gardner will slaughter every member of your thirteen man-or elf team." Silver Stride snarled, leaning forwards on his claws.
Lycans cannot be trusted. They are intelligent and want nothing but flesh and blood. How did he know our numbers?
"How do I know you aren't here to kill us?" He asked. Silver Stride nodded at the elf's courage, although it looked like he was appraising the quality of a slab of meat.
"You don't, but I assume that you can't scan?"
The way the elf's face paled even further was enough for the brown wolf. "Get the hell out of here Captain! There are at least..." The wolf frowned, sniffing the air. She looked up at Silver Stride who was about twice her size.
Kirrahe watched the way Silver Stride took the role of a teacher, and it confused him, what do they gain from helping us?
"Five?" She looked at Silver Stride.
A single sniff of the air, "Seven, I think two of them fed on a few squirrels."
Kirrahe's communicator blared.
"Sir, team one is under attack!"
Kirrahe disregarded the two wolves. Kelp wouldn't be happy, but he's replaced Root perfectly. "It's trap. I want team one out of there now, two, take to the sky, covering fire."
"Tell them to stop shielding, we can pinpoint your elves from the noise alone." Silver Stride informed him.
Kirrahe nodded, his training taking over, "Shielding attracts them, plus they can smell us anyway. Move, double time!" He shouted.
The Captain began to run, but caught himself, and he turned to the wolves. "Thank you."
The two wolves nodded to him, and Kirrahe ran, unconscious warlock in his arms. Kelp is gonna kill me.
He can do what he likes, Silver Stride and his ward saved us.
As Levi nodded towards the young Captain, he watched his young Alpha. She watched the Captain leave, and her eyes betrayed no emotion.
For Fairies being emotional creatures, she showed less emotion than he had expected. So far, he'd seen her show amusement, anger, frustration as well as glee. Her Lycan body gave her the power to be more athletic, and that was, so far, the best benefit.
As the elven captain jumped, his wings activated, a wolf jumped from the trees, lacerating the arm of the unconscious warlock. Kirrahe did not hesitate, and he fled, the warlocks magic healing himself.
Levi disregarded the new comer, and watched Short's reaction.
She narrowed her eyes, before opening wide again. Levi frowned, but then he smelt the warlock's blood.
He put a claw on her shoulder. "Self-control lass, we can wait." She nodded, but Levi's voice attracted the other Lycan.
"Hey, get there and grab an elf before we eat them all!" He chortled, but Levi strolled up to him.
The look of recognition cut the wolf's laugh short. "L-Leviticus... s-sir..."
Levi waved his hand, wary of Short's eyes on him now. "I need you to do me favour, young blood."
The young wolf's eyes widened. "The A-Alpha... S-sir..." He took a deep breath, "He said you betrayed the clan."
Levi gave the wolf a sad smile, "What about Eos? Aegis? The entire council is dead, all because Rud Gardner was killed... by an elf."
The wolf glared at him, "Where is your proof traitor?!" He spat, fear momentarily hidden behind the lunacy of the thought.
"She's standing behind me you fool!" Levi growled, standing aside, and allowing the wolf to get a view of Short.
She walked up to him, and stood up straight. The young wolf wasn't tall, but he was still taller than Short. He glanced at her, but other than her small wolfen stature, she wasn't special.
"This puny creature? I don-"
"Short, order him to spread this around the clan."
She snarled, "Young blood, you are to spread this information around Garder's opponents."
"What is thi-" The Wrath of Alpha took him to his knees. Levi leant and whispered in the young wolf's ear.
"We will restore the Clan to its former glory young blood. Luna forgive us all."
The young wolf scrambled to feet, staring at Short. He showed much more terror than Levi could have wanted.
"Y-yes my Al- my Alpha." The young wolf bowed once, before sprinting back to his clan.
Levi watched him leave, before turning towards Short. Her eyes were on a mark of blood, from the claw of the young wolf, blood of the warlock most likely.
Levi frowned. She was strong, he did not doubt that. But she needed to feed... even if was a glass of blood. Although, feeding from a fresh corpse was optimal.
A howl made her panic. She looked at him for instruction.
"We should leave, before a less... impressionable Lycan joins us..." She simply nodded, glancing back the blood streak. All of her earlier focus had gone.
Levi grimaced. She needed to feed sooner than believed.
She felt Silver Stride pull her, but her thoughts were swimming.
Go on, it's only a little bit... No one will get hurt...Why shouldn't you? You need to have some eventually... or else your date might be a little different from what you're used to.
Another tug from Silver Stride, he said something, but Holly didn't care.
It'll be so delicious... and that warlock won't miss it... it might even help with controlling your new condition... If he doesn't live, perhaps Kelp will let you have the leftovers-
Levi slapped her. She stared blankly at him. "Snap out of it!" He growled, "We need to go. Now!"
She nodded, and let him pull away from the splatter. As she felt her senses come back to her, the horror of what she wanted to do hit her harder than the slap of her new ally.
"I wanted t-to-t-to-to-t-"
Levi didn't waste any more time. He threw the elf over his shoulder, and ran.
Holly did not notice the action.
"I w-would have- would have- w-wo-would h-ha-have-"
Levi ignored the elf as he ran. She was young and she was scared. No one can stay strong indefinitely. He did sympathise with her, for she helped him start to sow the seeds of dissent among the wolf clan, as well save her elven friends. Whatever she thought of herself now, she'll have to get over it. Today, she showed she had the makings of an Alpha, and few people take the curse positively, at least after the downsides become evident.
With the extra weight, he did not reach Fowl Manor until almost dawn. Keeping his form was exhausting, and he ended walking the rest of the distance.
The rhythm of his footsteps as well as her ordeal, the young wolf slept silently. The lass returned to her elf form with little fuss. As a wolf, she was much easier to hold, and as she transformed she took some of his fur with her. While a fairy, she was much smaller, so he had to hold her in one of his arms. Her original suit hadn't survived the first transformation, leaving her naked. The benefits of walking allowed Levi to keep her warm against his fur.
He found himself glancing at her. I've been a bodyguard too long... but she needs to go back to her people, or at least young Fowl. With their eyes, I assume he knows about Fairykind, and if Butler is as good as his reputation says, he should know too.
Holly looked like she had rolling in dirt. A thin layer of earth covered her body, but it was thicker on her hands and feet.
At the sight of Fowl manor, Levi struggled to think of a way to inform the younger Fowl about this. I might as well just be honest, he won't be happy though.
Levi drifted towards a stable in the Fowl gardens, and lay the sleeping elf under a pile of hay. He watched her breathe for few moments, before allowing himself to become human again.
Artemis, Butler, Foaly, Kelp and his two guards had not slept. The Elves had arrived at the Fowl Manor just before the meeting with their informant was supposed to take place. As he checked in with Captain Kirrahe, he learnt of it was trap, but the entire team escaped with overall minor injuries, the biggest was an unconscious warlock who had a vicious wound which may have been infected.
Kelp took his officers back to Haven, and flatly ordered Artemis to find Holly.
Foaly had not said anything sarcastic since before his friend's disappearance. He was taking everything more seriously, and mixed between typing and pacing. Butler was doing something similar, mixing between patrolling the grounds and pacing with Artemis.
Artemis was obviously taking this the hardest. He hadn't told the others what happened, but if he hadn't... Artemis felt it was his fault.
A loud knock at the door made both Butler and Artemis sprint towards the door, but Artemis Senior got there first.
"Levi!" He cried, pulling the Scotsman into a hug, who just laughed at the affection. "Where did you disappear to?!"
Levi pulled away, glancing at both Butler and Artemis walking down the staircase, "I'm going through some pretty big changes, forgive me..."
Artemis waved his apologies, "Of course my friend, I understand, I need you to choose a guest room to stay in at least, ah, good morning Artemis, Butler."
"Thank you." As Artemis Senior strolled into the dining hall, Levi turned to Artemis. Butler moved to draw his gun.
"Where is she?!" Artemis hissed.
Levi raised his hand, "She's in the stables, under a pile of hay, she was sleeping when I left her." Both humans released waves of emotions, Butler became angry, and Artemis paled. Levi's eyes widened at the implication, "I didn't hurt her!" He frowned sheepishly, "But she did tear her suit, so take a towel or something..."
A moment of silence, then Artemis threw a lift hook at the Lycan. He saw it coming, but he didn't dodge. For anything, he deserved it, not that it had much power behind it. He cracked his jaw, "Go and get her, make sure she gets home safe."
Artems stormed out. Butler regarded the man with suspicion, however, he did not see any signs of deceit and he guessed neither had Artemis, but why his charge would hit a someone...
"What happened?" He asked simply.
"Other than she wanted information, it's not my place to tell." Butler nodded.
If someone would go off with a dangerous stranger because they wanted to know something, it was the young LEP Captain.
The seven wolves strolled into the makeshift chamber. Nick 'Ravager' Gardner sat upon a throne, taking the mantle of Alpha further than his father ever did.
The wolves bent onto one knee in front of their leader, and one by one they turned back into human.
"Did you get him?" Gardner asked, leaning forward. The young Alpha was in his wolf form, and had been since the Gathering.
The tallest of his minions stood. "No, my Alpha, they reacted quicker than we expected."
"So you failed me?" Garder asked coldly. The Alpha stood, and began to approach his followers. A few of the younger Lycans looked visibly scared.
The speaking minion did not flinch. "We believe it was Levi."
Despite his skill in the art of deception, Gardner did flinch. The minion took it as a sign to continue. "We found him as their commander fled, we felt that attacking him would have been futile." He paused. "None us have even close to his skills."
Gardner did not hear him. He pushed past the speaker, and sprinted away, leaving a group of surprised speakers.
In the moments of surprised silence, the lieutenant spoke quietly, "I guess we won't tell him what Levi told us..."
His team simply nodded. A certain wolf nodded a bit more than his comrades.
24th August 1814, Washington D.C, USA
"Fucking yanks, get the hell off me!"
"Shut him up Aegis." Captain Dunkeld could not see his attackers, and he struggled when a ribbon of fabric was wrapped around his mouth. Levi continued to struggle, but he knew it was useless. So did his captors.
"Stop wasting your energy Jock, we just want to offer you the deal of a lifetime." A man strolled in front of Levi's view. He looked to be in his thirties, and had silver hair as well as dull blue eyes. He had a scar running down the left side of his face, from his forehead, through his eyebrow and eye down to were one would expect dimples. He had the stance of leader and Levi could not help himself from involuntarily sitting up straight.
"I don't want to hurt you, but we've been scouting out for new bloods to join our... group." The leader spoke, before sitting, crossing his legs, in front of the bound Captain. "My name is Rudolph Gardner, and I lead a clan of Lycans." The Captain gave him a blank look, "Werewolves. All of my friends and I are blood thirsty wolves."
Gardner would be damned if he wanted a reaction. Werewolves? What the fuck is this game. The Captain simply stared at his captor.
Gardner shrugged. "You showed signs of good leadership and could follow orders, we could use that." He stood slowly, talking as he did, "We will meet back at your garrison after this farce of a war is done with." He turned to his followers behind Levi, "Aegis, untie the good man, I'm hungry and there are fields of soldiers to feed on." He gave Levi a final glance, "I hope you do join us, I'm sick of pure bloods, a bit of fresh perspective is always welcomed." He nodded towards his prisoner and left.
Levi watched the group of three leave, and he was simply confused. "Werewolves?" He said, "I need to start drinking again."
"Captain? We were worried sir..." One of the privates welcomed their Captain into the commandeered halls.
"Couple of guerillas, don't worry bout it." He waved off his subordinate's worries. He had a reputation of getting in trouble with guerillas back in Spain. coordinating resistance back in Iberia and Germany was a lonely job, but some of the rebels did not like their daughters cavorting.
Levi smiled at the thought of some of his conquests. It was only three girls, and Levi actually loved the first one. Frogs and Yanks, bastards. The lot of them.
Trying to ignore his loathing of the killers of his lovers, he turned towards his company. The 1st Bermuda Liberators. It wasn't a real unit, more so a group of volunteers led by their wayward Captain. They were more of a nationalistic militia, but who on earth would invade Bermuda? They were mainly soldiers who were sent away from the frontlines for insubordination, or simply because the upper echelons of the Royal Army didn't like them.
Levi smiled at the praises of his men, but his thoughts were led astray. He could not be promoted past his current rank because of his father's inadequacies. The drunken coach driver sold his son into the Army to pay off debts aganst a corrupt offical. To be promoted, Levi would have to attend officer school, and considering that Levi hadn't even finished school, the chances of that were next to none. Perhaps these werewolves were the way up?
"So Cap', where d'ya get caught?" Laughed one of the sergeants.
"Couple of blocks from the White House, nabbed by a couple of locals, don't worry, they won't be doing much damage anymore." Levi smiled, but he could not focus on anything but the thoughts of the Lycans.
"Only you Cap', little Sean was telling us bout his sister, nice!" A drunken trooper shouted, earning Levi a disgruntled look from the aforementioned Sean, the son of an Irish Priviateer. His sister had been a resistance medic back in Bavaria. Levi's most recent lover.
"Lovely gal, great with her hands." Levi winked at the now angry Sean, earning them laughs from both the Bermudians and other Redcoats.
"Captain, we need no details of your exploits," Everyone turned to the newcomer, "God knows I've heard stories before you joined us."
The room erupted in cheers for the Rear Admiral, George Cockburn, both his victory and his humour. While Levi served in the Royal Army, everyone had heard of Cockburn's opinions on corporal punishment, and he knew how make sailors work efficiently without the threat of violence.
"Thank you sir, but I'm sure you have similar stories." Levi chuckled at the indignant look on his leader's face.
"Please Captain, I am a gentleman and an officer, ladies throw themselves at me." Levi laughed at the Admiral's feigned arrogance.
A man standing on a balcony above his Admiral made Levi's smile falter. The silver-haired man smiled. "Excuse me sir." The admiral waved his hand and Levi saluted.
"Leave the locals be, Captain." The Admiral chuckled, earning him laughs from the onlookers. Levi snorted as he walked away.
Levi strolled through the mass of celebratory troops, heading towards a set of stairs. His thoughts in turmoil.
What if this is a sick joke? I mean... Werewolves? People who can turn into animals?
Levi shook his head as he rested his hands on the balcony next to his kidnapper.
"Did you think more about my offer?" Asked Gardner.
Levi took a breath. "I'd like proof..."
Gardner nodded his head. "Of course." He looked over towards the Admiral who was at a makeshift bar, set up from looted alcohol supplies. His back was towards the balcony. Gardner closed his eyes, and Levi watched his ears twitch. "Look the Admiral by the bar, he's ordering... heh, a glass of whiskey."
Levi watched the bartender, a young Quebecker, checking each of the barrels. He found what he was looking for, and held a glass under the keg. A familiar looking golden liquid was poured into the glass.
"Do you see the label just above the tap?" Levi kept his eye on his superior but nodded. Glancing at the label, there was small logo, as well words, but it was too small to read. "Smuggled Black Bush."
Levi frowned at Gardner. He turned, went down the stairs of the balcony and wandered over to the bar.
"Black Bush." He asked the barkeeper, who nodded.
The Quebecker strolled over to the same keg. Levi paled. If the barman noticed the change in Levi's complexion, he didn't mention it.
Levi did not blink as he swallowed the liquid. Ignoring the burning sensation in his throat, he returned to Gardner.
"So, where do we stand?" The Lycan asked, an amused expression on his face.
Lycan fur is extremely similar to that of natural wolves, which have dense fluffy winter fur, with short underfur and long, course guard hairs. The underfur is substituted by natural chest hair, which covers the Lycan hide. Lycans shed every spring.
Their hides are similar to that of elephants, being very tough and in some places, extremely thick. Larger males can have skin almost an inch thick across the back of their head. Despite it still being tough, piercing and slashing weapons have the potential to easily damage the Lycans.
Wolfen claws and bones are both made of Keratin, the same component in human hair and nails. Their claws are relatively straight, only gradually tapering into a point, and are extremely narrow, transversely flattened.
Excerpt from The Complete Works of Wolfenkindby Dr. K. Kopple.
Nick burst through the doors.
"Always Levi. That fucking mongrel always had it out for me." He roared. "I'm Alpha by right, so what? He thinks he can win? He knows to avoid me, I could just order him to follow me." Nick transformed into his human form.
He stood in the dark room covering his face. He ran a hand through his sweaty hair.
"Fairy law has its uses eh?" Nick chuckled humourlessly.
His listener did not react to his presence. Nick growled. "Why do you not believe in me?"
No reply.
"You helped my father, what do I need to do?" He slammed his fist onto the table, spilling a glass that covered a plate of truffles in a purple liquid. Red eyes watched him.
Ravager was scared. Scared of his companion. Scared of Levi. Scared of what could happen if the truth got out. Scared of the power of the fairies.
"Levi is the only one who knows... he could ruin our plans..."
The red eyes narrowed. "Our plans will not fail, I did plan them..." Nick's companion chuckled as if she was a comedic genius, "Your friend is nothing but fly on the wall."
She rose from her seat, and strolled over the nervous Alpha. "He does not know about me... we have advantages that the fairies will not expect... you do want this for me don't you?" She purred.
Nick growled. "I'm doing this for me. You have your goals and I have mine."
The female dropped her niceness act. "You are doing this for me. If you do well, you get what you want." She snorted. "You need me, you flea ridden monstrosity."
Nick snapped. He lunged at the short figure, but she was quicker. She sidestepped at the last moment, sending the Lycan sprawling. She stood above him, a snarky glare against the Alpha's barely controlled fury.
"You are alive because I allow it. You are but my puppet and I am your master, do you understand?" She growled.
The Ravager did not reply with words. He threw a fist towards the elf, but she threw a ball of electricity into the Lycan. Nick cried out while his body broke into spasms. "Do you understand?"
He tried to turn into a wolf, but another bout of electricity made him writhe, sending pain throughout his now helpless body.
"Do you understand?"
"Yes!" He shouted. His master simply smiled.
"Good. Now, go crawl back to your throne and control those creatures." She commanded, her voice layered with sarcasm.
Nick tried to move, but his body shut down due to the pain. His master cocked her head towards the pathetic Alpha.
She tittered, dancing on one foot to the other. "I control the Werewolf clans!"
Opal Koboi sat, and leant back in her chair. Look out Fairies. Especially you Foaly, my biggest pet is looking forward to some Centaur Salami.
Her chuckling turned into malicious laughter. Had Nick been conscious, he would have doubled in terror.