The War Circle
The Return
La Paon landed in a low crouch in a back alley is Paris. Two distinct thuds either side of her told her that Timber Wolf and Constrictor had landed. Timber Wolf was a young man with dark hair and golden eyes that showed the wisdom of a leader. His suit was a mix up of armour and casual clothing, with armoured boots and arm braces, he had black trousers that met up with a white shirt that was covered by a layer that was a mixture of Kevlar and chain mail. He had a dark grey trench coat with a hood and a metal mask covering the lower half of his face, his eyes narrowed.
Constrictor looked over the area impassively. If it not for the pieces of armour that was located on her form one might mistake her for a gymnast, she had a green scarf covering the lower half of her face. Her suit was tight to her body, a mixture of greens and yellows. She had some daggers and a whip attached to her waist.
La Paon found if difficult to believe that the two were between the ages of thirteen and fifteen, she had found them when she was patrolling and heard gunshots. If she hadn't arrived, La Paon was sure that the two would've slaughter the gang they were fighting.
"He's here." Said Timber Wolf, his voice gravelly behind his face guard, "I can smell him."
"Anubis shouldn't know we're here," Said Constrictor, her teal eyes cold and red hair tied up in a bun, "We could go in a break his neck."
Paon rolled her eyes. Even she knew that having the War Circle active, even if it was only two out of however many there were, was a bad idea. She didn't even know how, when or why they got their miraculous'. Paon's thoughts drifted to her five-year-old son, who she knew was as sleep, under the watchful eyes of Gerald and Nathalie.
The only thing Paon knew about Timber Wolf and Constrictor was that they had already killed people and most likely planned the same for Anubis.
"It would certainly be easy," Timber Wolf agreed, "But we are doing this for Ivory Horn."
Paon winced at the mention of the Miraculous user who had been killed by Hellhound, Anubis's right hand.
There was a moment of silence, before the three rushed in. Constrictor wrapped a couple of Anubis's dust creations in her whip, before stabbing them with her dagger. Timber Wolf swung the broadsword he carried at his waist, making quick work of the dust.
"This is easy." Said Constrictor, her eyes narrowing.
"Too easy." Timber Wolf agreed, sheathing his broadsword, his hand twitching to grab the claymore attached to his back.
The three were silent, before two people landed behind them. Paon recognised one at Reaper and the other as Scythe, two members of the Death Circle.
"They want to play…" Reaper hissed, his hand going for his sickle.
"They want to die…" Said Scythe, reaching for another sickle.
The two charged, with Timber Wolf and Constrictor meeting them halfway. Constrictor's fighting style had a large amount of jumping and dodging, while Timber Wolf used a mixture of strategy and brute strength.
Constrictor hit Scythe in the stomache and sent him to his knees. Fear flooded into Scythe's eyes as Constrictor plunged the knife into his throat, while Timber Wolf removed Reaper's head. Then there was a loud bang, a bright flash, and La Paon letting out a scream.
Timber Wolf and Constrictor went to investigate, but something compelled Constrictor to look back.
And there, in the place of the two Miraculous wielders, were a couple of civilians, laying in a pool of their own blood. Timber Wolf looked back as well, just as the twin laughs of the real Reaper and Scythe echoed throughout the area.
/*/
Caline then woke up with a short scream. She could feel herself starting to panic and started to take in large gasps of air. A green bracelet sat on her bedside table, and next to it was Boaa, the Kwami that inhabited the Miraculous.
Today marked ten years since she gave up her role as Constrictor. Ten years since she killed an innocent man.
Across Paris, a man in a blue/grey trench coat and a casual looking suit underneath was looking over Paris. The man watched as a couple of teenagers fought an Akuma, his hand twitching towards his broadsword.
"How interesting." Said the man, before jumping down into an alleyway.
"Wynnter, fangs covered." Said the man, detransforming in a flash of ice blue light. A man with black hair and grey/silver eyes looked around him, a small wolf Kwami floated next to him.
"You don't need to keep looking around for spies, Michael." Said Wynnter, looking up at the man.
"Force of habit." Said Michael, walking to the end of the alleyway "Besides, I plan on dropping in on Mum and Dad, give them a little surprise."
Wynnter grumbled, "There better be ice cream."
Michael rolled his eyes and smiled. As he reached the door that lead to the apartment above the bakery, someone said his name.
"Michael?"
Michael turned around and spotted Marinette, staring at him from the bottom of the steps.
"Hey, little one," Said Michael, smiling slightly, "miss me?"
/*/
Caline grumbled as she rubbed her eyes, Boaa taking up room in her pocket for the first time in ten years, her morning had not gone well. First her shower stopped working, so she wasn't able to have her morning wash, then she ran out of coffee, so she had to go to a café to get a cup, which she then managed to spill on herself and then, to top it all off, she found she left her staff ID at home and had to go get it, using the time to change into a clean set of clothes.
"Sorry, I'm late," Said Caline, as she walked into the staff meeting, "My morning has been hectic."
"You're not the only one." Said Mendeleiev, bags under her eyes, "I left my marking at home, so I had to collect it, then I received a call from my partner, she wanted me to check if she put the washing on and I nearly got into an accident with the new IT specialist."
Caline froze, "Wait, he's arriving today?"
Damocles then walked into the room, a face from Caline's past behind him.
"And this is the staff room, the one place no student is allowed to go." Said Damocles, turning around to face the other man, "Now, there's one thing you should know when working here."
"What?" Said the man, his eyes looking around the room and pausing on Caline.
"Should any child of any member of high society get in trouble," Said Damocles, Caline, Mendeleiev and D'Argencourt all winced, "such as Chloé Bourgeois, Lila Rossi or Samuel James, should not be punished in any way, shape or form."
The man froze, before letting out a laugh, "Pardon me, sir, but I think I mis-heard you. I thought you just said to not punish any bad behaviour."
"That is exactly what I said." Said Damocles, leaving the room, "I trust that you can get to know the teachers."
The door closed, before the man turned and faced them, "Was he being serious?"
"Yep." Said Caline, leaning back in her seat.
"Really?" Said the man, looking around, "Just stand by and hope that everything blows over."
"Caline got suspended in her first month after giving Ms. Bourgeois a detention for sticking gum in another students hair." Said the Art teacher, looking up from his crossword, "Eight letter word for shock."
"Damocles." Muttered the man, before walking over to the seats, "Hello, Caline, how are you?"
"Aside from the shit morning I've had, I am fine Michael." Said Caline, trying to ignore the incessant need to break someone's neck at the mere mention of the three biggest troublemakers in the school.
"Those three names, I recognised the first one, but who are the other two?" Michael asked, both he and Caline ignoring the inquisitive looks from the other teachers.
"Samuel James is the son of the head of the largest bank in Paris, sexist, opinionated and believes that the sun shines out of his arse." Said Mendeleiev, handing Michael a cup of coffee.
"And the other?" Michael asked, getting a sigh from everyone in the room.
"Lila Rossi," Said Caline, "the resident pathological liar. Skipped out on school for the majority of last year, tells larger than life tales, will do anything to become centre of attention and, to cap it all off, is untouchable because the contact details for her parents are for a Chinese and Indian take away service. Tried going to Damocles about it, but he brushed it under the rug."
Michael took a long swig from the coffee, before setting it down, "Well, we need to contact Ms. Rossi's parents to get her grades."
Everyone froze, before looking at him.
"And, how do you plan on doing that?" Mendeleiev asked, resting her chin on her knuckles.
"I just happen to know someone incredibly light fingered." Said Michael, getting to his feet, "Besides, I have to embarrass he in front of her friends at some point."
Michael left the room, before Mendeleiev turned to Caline, "How do you know it each other?"
"We went to the same university," Said Caline, telling a half-truth, she had known him longer, but she wasn't going to say how.
"Oh," Said Sandra Pierce, "He's one of those friends."
Caline blanched at the comment, her face going red.
"The look only confirms that he has seen every inch of you, dear." Said Sandra, getting a laugh from the other teachers.
"I am a hair away from committing murder." Caline Muttered, before standing up and heading to her classroom, hoping that there wouldn't be any form of confrontation there, she did not have the patience to deal with it at this time in the morning.
/*/
Michael felt Wynnter scratching at his chest.
"Alright, out with it." Said Michael, looking around to make sure no one heard him.
"Boaa and Caline were right next to you and you all but blanked them." Said Wynnter, making Michael frown.
"I said hello to her, how is that blanking her?" Michael asked, looking down at the Kwami, both unaware of the person approaching them.
"You know what day it is today." Said Wynnter, her tiny arms folding.
"Yeah, casually talk about how two people died in the middle of a populated room." Said Michael, as the person stopped behind them.
"You know, Boaa is the same." Said Caline, making Michael jump, "Always tried to get me to take about it in the middle of a meeting."
Michael threw Wynnter a smug look, before looking back as Caline.
"It's nice to see you again," Said Michael, his tone quieter than before, "I've missed you."
Caline raised he hand a gently touched his cheek, before slapping him.
"Okay, I deserved that." Said Michael, staggering backwards.
"You left." Said Caline, going to slap him again, "You left, and you didn't even bother saying goodbye."
Michael caught her wrist before she could slap him again, "I would've said goodbye, if I could. I had no intention of being away so long."
"Oh, so what were you looking for?" Caline snapped, both her and Michael unaware of Marinette hiding around the corner.
"I heard rumour," Said Michael, getting an angry roll of the eyes from Caline, "A rumour that one of the Guardians survived the fall of their order, A Guardian that had the Miracle box with them."
Caline calmed down slightly, "And?"
Michael hung his head, "I found nothing, aside from a few tomes and a couple other boxes, but nothing else."
Michael then went very still and inhaled sharply through his nose.
"Marinette, I know you're there." Said Michael, making said girl jump and tumbled to the floor.
Both Caline and Michael shared a look, before walking up to Marinette.
"You're up early." Said Michael, helping Marinette to her feet.
"What?" Said Marinette, "I'm late, as in really late, it's 9:15 and Ms. Bustier is going to-"
"I'm not going to be angry, Marinette," Said Caline, making Marinette go silent, "And it's 7:30, not 9:15."
Marinette froze, before she slowly turned and looked at Michael.
"Sorry," Said Michael, looking anything but sorry, "I couldn't resist."
Caline looked between the two and frowned.
"I take it you two know each other then." Said Caline, making Michael freeze. He had made sure that no one knew who his family was, not even his closest friends.
"Yeah, Mike's my older brother." Said Marinette, making Caline's jaw drop and shouting;
"WHAT?!"
/*/
Lila smirked as a girl who had been crushing on Adrien ran away in tears. It was really easy to do, pretend to be Adrien's girlfriend, accuse her to trying to split them up in front of her 'friends' and let the rest fall into place.
The girlfriend lie was more of a half-truth at this point, as she was well on her way to securing that. Originally, she had tried the same with Marinette, until the girl went from trying to disprove her lies to being really accommodating. Trying to isolate Marinette seemed to be impossible, isolation Adrien on the other hand was actually very easy. Lila already had placed some doubt in the minds of her classmates, a few lies about Adrien and his personal thought here and there and almost half the class was keeping their distance. Lila still had to separate Adrien from Nino, Alya, Chloe and Marinette, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem, Lila's main problem was with that Tsurugi girl and the others from Adrien's fencing club.
Lila continued to smirk as the yelling behind her got more and more heated. The smirk fell when everyone heard Ms. Bustier shout.
Lila poked her head around the corner and spotted Marinette with Ms. Bustier and what looked like another member of staff. Lila felt dread pool in her stomache, if Marinette was telling a teacher about she threatened her, she would be doomed.
"Yes, Marinette and I are siblings, Caline," Said the man, Lila had to admit he was somewhat attractive, "Although, I believe that is another conversation for another time."
Ms. Bustier nodded, before the Akuma alarm went off.
Lila decided that she'd have to be more careful, if Marinette's brother worked here. The wall next to Lila crumbled as the Akuma punched through it and grabbed her. Marinette, Ms. Bustier and the new member of staff all whirled around and spotted Lila and, more importantly, the Akuma holding her.
The Akuma left, with Lila clenched in their hand.
"Igottogobye!" Said Marinette, running off to the toilets.
Michael looked at Caline, "For old times' sake?"
Caline was torn, she didn't want to fight, but she wanted to help.
"At most, we'll observe, only stepping in if their lives are significantly threatened." Said Michael, holding his hand out.
Caline smiled, before saying, "Boaa, Coil tight."
A flash of teal filled the area and Constrictor smirked at Michael under her scarf, "Are you coming?"
"Wynnter, Fangs bared."
A flash of ice blue filled the area and Timber Wolf opened his golden yellow eyes.
"Let's see how effective they are."
/*/
The fight was not going well, Ladybug had already left to get Carapace and Rena Rouge and she and Chat were debating on whether to bring Queen Bee out of retirement. Ladybug was so distracted by the debate, she didn't clock Mayura behind her, until the older Miraculous user had pinned her down.
"This was easier than expected." Laughed Mayura, before a jet of ice hit her side and knocked her into a wall.
"Remove your hands from my kin." Growled a deep and powerful voice.
Mayura started to get up, before a whip wrapped itself around her ankle and dragged her away from the young Miraculous wielders.
"I wouldn't." Said a female. The young team found her familiar but didn't know from where.
"I had planned on observing them during this… battle," said the man, "but, you appeared, so what is your business with the earrings, thief?"
"I am no thief." Said Mayura, as the other woman wrapped her whip around her and then threw her to the side.
"That Miraculous doesn't belongs to you," Seethed the woman, a dagger appearing in her hand, "La Paon was partnered with Duusuu and she was lost in an encounter against Anubis of the Death Circle."
"Not to seem rude," Said Ladybug, as the woman placed her foot on Mayura, "but who are you?"
The man and woman looked at each other, before the man looked Ladybug in the eyes. He could tell that she knew who they were as civilians, but she wanted their hero names.
"Forgive me," Said the man, "I am Timber Wolf of the War Circle, the lady pinning the thief is Constrictor, also of the War Circle."
Chat nodded, before saying, "When did the Guardian give you your Miraculous'?"
Ladybug really wanted to hit him.
"He didn't, we stumbled upon out Miraculous before we encountered Anubis." Said Constrictor, keeping Mayura pinned.
"Wait, you referred to Ladybug and your kin." Said Rena, "Are you two related?"
Timber Wolf looked at Ladybug, her eyes wide and mouth open slightly.
"Little one, I suggest you close your mouth," Said Timber Wolf, "Yes, she is my younger sister."
"Not to seem rude, but I think this could wait until later." Said Carapace, "We need to find the Akuma."
"And the girl." Said Timber Wolf, just as Mayura slashed Constrictor's leg with her fan, before she escaped.
"Fuck." Curse Constrictor, "Now we have to find her as well."
"The thief can wait," Said Timber Wolf, "I doubt she's going anywhere far."
Nathalie arrived back at the mansion, her thoughts clouded. As she entered Hawkmoth's lair, he was silent.
"The two new ones know what happened to Emilie." Said Hawkmoth, "but they also mentioned another."
"Anubis." Nathalie confirmed, "Their appearance may be a blessing in disguise."
Hawkmoth only nodded, his thought on the last time he saw Emilie healthy, which was little under ten years ago. The last time he saw her healthy was shortly after that incident near those warehouses.
/*/
Timber Wolf and Constrictor folded their arms and looked at the four heroes.
"So, to recap," Said Rena, looking at the two, "There are Miraculous 'Circles', you two are from the War Circle, you were active before now and you were fighting some guy called Anubis."
"That is correct." Said Timber Wolf, nodding.
"Who's Anubis?" Chat asked, looking between the two.
"Anubis is…" Said Constrictor, trying to find the right word, "complicated."
"He is head of the Death Circle and final member of the Plagues." Said Timber Wolf, "The Plagues are a set of ten different Miraculous users, each modelling themselves after one of the ten plagues of Egypt."
"So, we have a guy who can turn things into blood, a guy who will cause people to break out in boils, a guy who can make frogs appear, another guy who can summon a horde of locusts, someone who can kill animals with a wave of their hand, a guy who can literally make fire rain down on us, someone who can summon animals, a guy who can call upon lice and/or gnats, someone who can cover entire cities in complete darkness and, finally, a guy who can look at you and kill you in an instant." Chat listed off, looking at the two.
"Out of those ten, only three remain." Said Timber Wolf, "Anubis, Midnight and Frozen Fire are the ones that we seek, or at least we did seek."
"What do you mean?" Rena asked, moving forwards.
"Ten years ago, we found Anubis, and we went to confront him," Said Constrictor, "we ran into what appeared to be two of Anubis' lackey, but it was only after we killed them, did the illusion drop and showed us two innocent people."
"After their deaths and the disappearance of La Paon, be retired ourselves from active duty and tried to move on." Said Timber Wold, the ears on his hood flopping down.
"What happened to the other seven?" Ladybug asked, making Constrictor and Timber Wolf look at her.
"They are dead." Said Timber Wolf, looking Ladybug in the eye, "Their deaths were carried out by themselves, they appeared to be unwilling to face Anubis after we found them."
"How many Circles are there?" Chat asked, while Ladybug made a mental note to speak to the Guardian.
All were unaware of the person watching them from high above.
'They've returned…' They thought, 'Good.'