Lurker of the Dark

Perfection was the word that rang in Your mind, as You and Muninn basked in the Apollo's interior. A smooth orange glow cast a warming gleam on the clean black leather seats.

Moonie cheesed at you, as the garage door slid open at the behest of an app on your phone and off you went the Apollo screaming out like a bullet, pushing you and the beautiful blonde out into the night, flying out into the darkness.

"This thing really gets going!" She called with a laugh as you gritted your teeth with a smile, swerving around the corner and towards the long driveway slamming your foot all the way down.

Moonie threw up her arms, letting out a joyous squeak as her back was **** into the back of the seat. You could barely help but smile, gripping the wheel tightly and speeding off on the lonely road through the Black Woods.

You listened keenly to the Blonde Raven as she spoke about the myths of the Black forest as you dashed among tall, low-hanging trees "It was called the Blackwood's because of its proprietor... this wasn't exactly a normal bloke, he didn't have warm blood cruising through his veins. Originally he was a high-ranking Vampire in an older clan long disbanded, but nobody ever really knew his true name. He came into town in 1936, working his way among human ranks to maintain the vast forest that surrounds the city, eventually, he realised his ability was far too great to coast along the bottom and so he used his wisdom and power to overtake ownership of the land... it was Hughie and I who came with him."

She was clear as day, just as always, Muninn had a talent for sounding switched on.

"This is the guy we're gonna see? Sounds like a man that gets results." You noted.

"Results... is a word for it yes."

You raised an eyebrow "You don't sound so confident all of a sudden. Very reassuring."

"Look the guy isn't exactly Gandi but who among the blooded is? We aren't in the safe little human cushion anymore, Charlie. If we fall off the wagon, things get bloody. It makes it hard to survive let alone thrive when one wrong move brings pitchforks and torches, but Woden is different, these days he doesn't associate with vampires... some even say that He has been blood fasting for nearly twenty years now."

"That's possible?" You immediately asked. You'd had your doubts of course, but if Muninn's words were true, it could make the first glimmer of hope rise to the surface in what felt like a long time.

Moonie shrugged, looking slightly conflicted for a moment "Woden taught me many things, he was the one who schooled me in the ways of the Vampiric arts, directed me in the history of the undead and the inner workings of our cursed biology; I mean sure he showed us how to curve the hunger a little... but He pushed Hughie and me out a long time ago."

The trees whizzed by and You decided to take the smoother route rather than the short and complicated one, spending time with Moonie was like snuggling up to a fire in winter, she never failed to make you feel at home; you didn't want it to end so soon, not again.

"So why do they call it the black woods then?" you asked curiously.

The beautiful blonde rubbed her fingers with an evil look "...if you asked a human it would be because it was acquired by the Blackfeather wildlife protection foundation since 1948, buuut since you asked me... it's actually because the woods are owned by Woden "Black Feather" Wyse, the woods and they're..." She paused again mischievously "...Residents are under his protection, it's why the older generation keep away from the trees-"

You realised what she was saying "You're saying, he's housing other monsters there? I didn't know there were more vampires hidden in the city"

Her eyes burned with a wicked implication "There isn't. These people he tolerates, are of a more... bestial nature."

Your foot eased off of the gas as the midnight streak that was the Apollo pulled in softly to the road's shoulder, surrounded by tall, dark trees. You looked to Muninn with a serious face "Are you trying to tell me that this is werewolf territory!?"

She smiled, relaxing into the leather seat "Well technically no, they tend to gravitate more towards Boston, but yeah they share territory, which should say enough about Woden, Werewolves really don't like sharing."

"And telling me about this earlier didn't occur to you... why?" You barely knew a thing about them, sure you knew about Boris but-- a wolf and a bear were two very different things.

"Look, it's not like we haven't snuck into each other's territories before. Come on don't make that face, Woden's place is just a few miles northwest, we could walk from here."

"I've studied a lot about Vampires to be confident enough in a fight, but werewolves... the only thing I think might actually know about them is very clearly one of the nights where we shouldn't be sneaking around without contacting them first,." You pointed a claw up to the Pale orb lingering in the sky, half-hidden by a nest of insidious black clouds. Moonie looked, beholding the utter brilliance of the full moon "It would be idiotic and dangerous."

On a whim, you pulled out your phone, quickly dropping a text just in case things got hairy...

You: The Black woods, 20 minutes.

The blonde's eyes became softer, and warmer, she lent into your space, filling it with the smell of strawberries and cream. Her hand flowed like water across to your thigh and rubbed ever so gently "Since when were you scared of a little danger?" She bit at her lip subtly, luring you in with her touch; soft as a feather.

You watched as she glided in like a pale ghost, gorgeous, with flowing golden hair tied in long braided pigtails. Moonie was odd, it was difficult to describe her but after putting in the time with her enigmatic personality, you were beginning to understand... it was as if she had two faces; in the light, her eyes were a stormy grey, they were kind and patient; always assertive.

But the second face only appeared in the darkness of low light, here in the car she had a magnetic white-toothed smile and mischievous eyes which upon deeper inspection, had subtle white ripples like the roots of a great tree slithering through the stormy grey of her iris; somehow, you knew that this was Moonie's true face, one that hungered for everything.

You reached up, touching this face, ashen and cold; almost ethereal. "If I see you get hurt..."

Her lips hovered, just teasing ever so gently against yours "Protecting myself isn't exactly an old avenue to walk for me, White Knight. Plus, I'm sure Cleo and Rudy are lurking around somewhere nearby."

The need to draw her in grew stronger and stronger to the point where you grasped her waist, pulling her nimble form over. She moulded into you like wax, throwing a leg over to sit on your lap.

She sighed as if some great weight had been lifted from her shoulders, pushing her hands into your chest, sliding up to rub the stress from your collar bone and shoulders "You're so tense, I don't know how you walk around like this so carelessly. Usually, Frenzy drives undead mad within the first few days... but you're still here, with me."

"Every time we see each other, I never want it to end, it just feels like-" You struggled to find the words, you wanted her to know how much you appreciated her, to understand the impact that her help had on you.

But Moonie hushed you in the sweetest way. When she kissed you, there was no aggression, only a soft passion; whenever she pulled back making you preserve the taste of her tongue in your mouth, she planted two smaller kisses on the corners of your lips "...Home?" She whispered.

You smiled and nodded, she did feel the same, and with that, you needed no more reassurance.

Moonie's embrace only grew the longer she stayed in your presence, massaging your chest and arms as you played with the small of her back, brushing taloned fingers carefully along her spine, up into her silky blonde braids.

"So..." You whispered in a half-growl as you kissed her neck "You still didn't really tell me why it's called the Blackwoods."

"You really want to know? ...hmmm." She hummed, pushing into the wedge where your member had started to grow, nurturing it between her legs.

"I love it when you tell your little stories." You grinned.

Moonie cooed as she captured your lips, offering you her tongue with intermingled with yours "Before Woden came here... ah, it was called the Wolf's wood...." There air within the car filled with the scent of desire, her speech pausing only to fill your mouth with her tongue again, long lines of spittle breaking; your hot breath steaming the tinted windows "The hounds obviously didn't want a vampire encroaching on their land, but Woden protested... mmf he said... no he showed them the utterly poor condition which the forest was kept in, how unsubtle the wolves had been in protecting the grand Charade that makes humans think they are the apex predator on this planet--fuck!" The blonde groaned writhing alluringly as you slipped your hand into the front of her jeans, touching at the bald entrance of her drowning sex.

"Continue..." You whispered.

"...H-He, proved his point, with a few subtle words and some rallying, Woden let it slip that something unnatural lived in the woods. The Human mob was there as soon as the sun rose, but by then, the trees had already turned to cold ash."

"The Fire of 49? Woden was responsible for a Myth told by kids who chewed gum they found under the tables in preschool? Burning down a forest only for it to still be standing the next night, the bark burned black, but they all stood anyway-"

Moonie snatched your cheeks between to fingers, mushing her lips into yours as her moan echoed down your throat, you loved how she grasped at you like you were the only thing that she ever wanted to touch in the entire world. Her moan rolled into an alluring growl as she whispered to you, running her fingers through your dark curls "You drive me crazy, you know that, I can smell how hungry you are, You're like a great white shark swimming in a sea of blood... hmmmm, how the hell do you stay so calm?" she moaned as your fingers crept down her clean pubis

Bloody arms slithered around your neck, as a bloody face peered over your shoulder, an icy numb feeling crawled through your bones.

■ Look at this pretty broken little toy? pity pity pity that's all they have for us, Lover boy. in their eyes, We are nothing but a broken toy, like them, like Humpty Dumpty after his great-great fall hehe. We should rip out her tongue and kiss her dry. ■

You shook your head, smiling darkly, penetrating her with your crimson eyes "I'm not calm, I'm not even stable. I am just so Hungry, hungry to fight, hungry to learn, hungry to fuck, and the bad part is... I think I'm starting to like it, maybe starvation has its merits."

The Blonde paused, the subtlest of frowns crossing her face before she lent down placing a kiss on the tip of your nose "You're going crazy over this you know, You're strong but-- the Curse is stronger, it must be driving you up the bloody wall. If you weren't already so mad, I might be a little concerned."

"You are literally sarcasm incarnate, you know that right?"

She shrugged and the both of you slowly sniggered, sharing a laugh inside the glowing lowlight, bodies pressed into each other.

Maybe that is how you got so distracted?

Where once everything was simple, even fun, a wave smashed into you. A deeply unsettling feeling that send shivers down your spine and made Goosebumps flare on the back of your neck.

Muninn noticed it two "My god, there it is." Moonie muttered while thoroughly drawing in clarifying inhales, biting her lips and grasping your fingers, which just touched the wet corners of her sex.

"What is it? It feels like... well I don't know what it feels like but, it tastes lean, thick on the air?"

"It's one of them, one of them already found us? but that's impossible they shouldn't have caught Our scent this fast?"

Your lips stretched to show your cringe, slowly pulling your hand out of Moonie's jeans, the two of you frozen as if under a massive gleaming spotlight.

"do you think they see us?" Muninn whispered, still tightly holding your wrist.

A long, deep breath of air confirmed it "It's just one, I think, and no, but I'd bet it knows we are here. We are well hidden but -- you know on second thought it is a little, musky in here?"

Both eyes Grey and crimson looked at your sticky fingers "Oh, right." She bit her lip and swept in, pulling your fingers between her full lips, sucking so gently that it felt like dipping your nails in warm butter, her tongue skilfully and dexterously curving at your fingertips before pulling them out with a loud pop.

She stared with those big grey eyes and licked her lips "Problem solved"

letting out a long sigh, you lent into her, pecking her lips "You really know how to pick your moments huh?"

"One of my many talents."

You didn't want to linger, and so moved to step out of the Car. But Moonie held you in tight with her legs "Don't, Charlie."

"If they attack us, we'll be stuck in a metal box fighting off what I'm guessing is a giant angry wolf man. I need to be able to move, Moonie"

But Muninn wasn't having any of it "This isn't a normal shapeshifter, Charlie, these wolves are especially old and extremely sharp. If one of them wanted to kill us, they are one transformation away from ripping, no blooded has ever defeated a fully formed werewolf and lived to tell the tale, we need to be cautious or we could set it off. Look, you're strong but-- One fully transformed werewolf can wipe out an entire clan, even with both of us, if we meet it here on its own turf, we won't even get within a mile of Woden."

You bit your lip and huffed "Good to know. Now listen to me, wait right here I'm gonna scout before we leave the road."

The Blonde sneered "I told you-"

You pecked her lips again, silencing her "Yeah yeah you can take care of yourself, just sit tight until I call on you, please? for me." The Car door slid open with a click, sliding upwards as you faded into a cool mist, flowing steadily and calmly out of the door, quickly beginning to reform, leaving Moonie sitting, mouth agape on the driver's side.

"Dickhead." She muttered.

You swung your head back inside, pointing a talon and glaring playfully "You won't get away with that. Neither are we done here" her lips curved as if to hold in a smile, but shooed you off and folded her arms.

"Promise?"

The door closed you out of the comfort of the Apollo as you stood in the shadowed woods. The shimmering of leaves tickled your ears, the smell of green, of damp twigs and moss; the Pale crescent moon hung in a charcoal sky, with each star bathing the scarred black barked trees in cold silver like a cathedral of gleaming spires.

Eyes tuning into the darkness, mind open in the night breeze, You scanned the treeline which seemed to go on forever.

And yet as You looked out through the endless trunks of dark wood, you didn't find anything out of the ordinary, a few birds tucked into their nests in the high above branches, a troop of ants descending into their hills... the woods were shrouded in an eerie silence.

The Smell was thick and gamey as ever, and it was not at all far away, but either way, you felt something different, something familiar calling to you.

Oddly, you felt the urge to step towards the front end of the Apollo, you felt your hands drawn to the smooth bonnet, slipping under to find an elusive button.

The front of the car's storage opened wide into a maw of metal, to reveal a sight that made you involuntarily grin.

Packed neatly in the wide compartment, was a long armoured black coat with lines of gold flowing where silver once was, thick gloves and boots sat beside them; all wrapped in dual shoulder holsters of rich brown: The Armour of the Black star.

Sat on top was a note which read: "I knew you couldn't keep your grubby little paws off the Apollo. Treat her well, she was your Dads pride and joy. Do us both a favour and try not to get yourself killed, believe it or not, we still have matters to discuss when I return from my little trip.

I mean it, kid, do not get killed, we fall when trying to run with wolves.

Good Hunting
A.D"

"Sneaky old bastard." You grinned as you kicked off your shoes. Just as before the Armour of the Black star fit like a glove, still slightly charred at its tall collar where the black fire had scorched the silver into gold.

Tightening a ponytail behind your head, you finished your preparation with a flourish of blood, drawn from the tip of a claw-cut finger.

"Mhalia."

You drew three streaks of blood that began to form the instant you whispered that mysterious word, the first, around your hip which hardened into a thick leather belt, contorting out from the left into a long sheathed sword of hot black metal, engraved with the flaming sun.

The Second; were your two long-barrelled pistols. You checked both extended mags, observing the silver shell casings within... another moment of Deja Vu, You muttered as if in some kind of quote, like a ghost that had slithered from the unknown region of your mind.

"Yes... I hate the stuff, it's as deadly for me as it is for you, though I don't burst into flames, we aren't that dramatic...."

While embraced within the burning talons of your hunger, you found that things were oddly... clear.

Your thoughts were intense, emotions off the rails, and yet there was an explicit clarity in your acceptance that this was in fact a memory that you had no memory of.

There were only a couple of options, You were either even crazier than expected - Or you could succumb to the strange reality that your current self, wasn't the only identity you have had.

"How is that even possible? What did Nox say in that one journal? I'm heading down the right path, it makes you think. All of this Undeath shit just gets more and more fucked the further you tread."

Huffing, you looked out into the woods and closed your eyes. Your fingers, smeared with blood rubbed across your cheeks, leaving red streaks on your nose. The blood boiled on your pale skin and wrapped it in the Black gold of the broken Black Drake, long tips of fractured metal leaving a jagged edge where the horned top plate was broken. You stood a looming dark figure, with gleaming red eyes glowing through small circular lenses; a lurker of the dark

Suited up, you began the walk up the small slope of tangled moss up and into the woods, making sure to turn around and sneer so that Moonie knew that you could hear her fingertips touch the door.

As you slid out under the tall black leaves, striding along the moss and up the brambled path out towards the strange scent that led further up the embankment.

It was rough terrain, difficult to navigate without focus, but you were feeling ballsy tonight, out in the majesty of the night with a thirst for something terrible, what could go wrong?

After a while, you began to adapt your footing, dashing in long strides around the tall trunks, the small sounds of crunching leaves and broken branches echoing up into the starry sky. The Scent led you through what should have been unrecognizable ground, but somehow... you could memorize every tree, every dip in the soil, every centipede and ant that crawled across the stumps, but in time you came to a clearing, a long wild stream cut through the earth, leading to a roaring waterfall which reflected the stars above.

■ There it is up on that cliff, there's our prey. ■

"Whatever it is, it isn't prey, it's just... another hunter. The Last thing I need is to start another war on something I barely know anything about. And... it wouldn't be a fair fight."

■ Pft Fair, we could have some real fun here, to show the pathetic little pups who is the real Monster. Honour doesn't matter, desire matters. You know, soon I will be the one behind the wheel, and when that time comes, I'll just have to show you how deep this rabbit hole goes. ■

You turned, looking up at the blood-red form whose feet dripped from an above branch, it's long hair dangling over like a matted mask.

"Maybe... But I'm not gone yet, and that means..." You huffed as your legs curled and you sprung up into a leap, soaring briefly above as your feet landed silently on the steep rocks leading upwards towards the roaring waters.

The Bloody phantom was splayed naked on the rock waiting for you, a curious look in her spiteful red eyes

■ ...Means what exactly, lover Boy? ■

You peered at this thing, the way it called you 'lover-boy' made your fists clench and your skin crawl. Real or not you longed to sink your teeth into flesh again, to taste the full body of the gore given as a gift by your victims, it was creeping into you, peeling away the layers of Charlie and putting something corrupted in its place, but somehow you found yourself smiling.

"It means that I still have a chance to beat you, and one chance is all I need."

The Red whisper went to speak, but you pushed on ignoring her shrill tone as you took as deep as a breath you could and began the climb up the tall cliff; all, soggy moss and brittle stone.

At first, your lean arms pulled your weight with relative ease, but as you ascended, your grip became unsteady on the slick vegetation, sprayed by the nearby water which fell heavily from above, and your stomach roared, begging for a feed.

After a time, you found it difficult to push on, fingertips slipping on every crack that you tried to grasp... that was until She came.

"You often get stuck, climbing cliffs?"

Your head darted up, and you saw immediately who had spoken, a shadow on the moonlight; feminine, but tall and lean with muscle... You could tell right away that the woman wore little, although from her hooded head, down to her thick thighs was draped in what appeared to be a cloak of thick grey-Red fur.

Two iridescent dots stared down unblinkingly.

Grunting as your fingers spasmed, you pressed your chest against the rocks, clinging on like a gecko "Of course... only-ugh, every other Tuesday."

"Really? I thought you'd be much more practised if that were the case." The voice struck you, as heavy, deep for a woman and strange... it seemed to lack any real identifying features, it was animalistic; a playful growl trailed after each sentence.

"Yeah well, I've been a little under the weather lately so... ah!" Your heel slipped as rocks tumbled down the steep drop, and your claws penetrated the slick walls just in time, leaving you suspended above the jagged grounds below. A fall here would mean a serious injury in your condition.

"I see. Well If I was curious when I caught your scent, I'm downright fascinated now. Say, I couldn't convince you to allow me to lend a paw could I?"

You couldn't shake her scent either, it was difficult to see her face hidden inside her huge hood, but you could taste the life oozing from her pores, the smallest bead of sweat falling down her flawless skin. You could even see the faintest hint of her breast as her thick hide cloak curled to reveal a small portion of her torso.

"Damn, It's like walking into a feral dog kennel but... she's definitely alive, and she's definitely one of them."

"Not.... particularly. No. I haven't really encountered anyone of your nature before and from what I've heard it wouldn't end well."

She nodded "Fair enough. Well, it's not every day I encounter a Vampire--or whatever you are, so I'll admit, I am technically obligated to Kill any leeches that crawl into our woods but I'm not unreasonable, unlike my younger brothers who have already been stalking you since you crossed the forest threshold. The way I see it, you have two choices: either you fall, probably causing serious injuries, after which my Brothers will tear you and that lady of yours back there limb from limb, brainless idiots that they are."

You nodded impatiently, your grip was giving way more and more, the threat of **** loomed even heavier now "Or...?"

"Or, I can give you a sip of my blood, you will likely gain the strength to get up here in two seconds if what I know is true, we have a little chat as if we were actually somewhat decent, then we settle the matter , what do you say?"

"Fuck no comes to mind. I have no idea what will happen if I drink your blood" You called.

Her head tilted "Me neither to be honest, but it's worth a shot isn't it? Come on, I'm already taking a risk even talking to you right now, let alone offering my vein juice. Is there no way I could change your mind?"

"Not likely, My mind changes itself on a regular basis, I'm not sure you'd be able to keep up... tssss Jesus, i-if we're being honest."

The eyes that shone like the hidden dots of a wolf brightened and her tone became softer, more sincere "I swear on my mother, who was killed by someone I've never seen, heard or smelt, I swear on the vengeance that burns in my veins for the shadow that took her from me and the Love of the family that the Moon has seen fit to leave for me."

You paused and huffed, you saw your father's face flash through your mind "How will you get it down to me?"

The figure spoke with a smiling voice "How about I come down to you!"

The weight was too much to bear, ten fingers became seven, then four, until your index and forefinger were all you had holding you there "That... seems.... kind of.. counter-intuitive!"

In a flash the She-wolf closed in, sinking a clawed hand wrought with muscle to throw herself into the mossy walls. Her Cloak bellowed, it made her a mirage; difficult to see. The Woman halted just above you, clear to see.

Her long Fur cloak was wolf fur and it was entangled all across her body. Her face was soft and tame, her nose was sharp and slashed with several scars, the lips were a dark magenta curling into a small smile as her Green-Yellow eyes; huge and aware like an animal's, met.

Thick auburn hair, wild and long fell from the Hood, which now was very obviously crowned with the ears, empty eyes and muzzle of a wolf head. The Beast clung to the stone as if it were made of Velcro, her huge wolf cloak covering her like a vast quilt that betrayed none of her bodily features, save for the strangely innocent face, neck wrought with strange tattoos and the fading memory of many deep scars, the smooth collar where the arch of her bust was seldom revealed, lastly, thin arms and legs, narrow but lined with muscle.

The She-Wolf smiled, gazing through the red lenses at your eyes, thrusting out a powerful, long-nailed hand which you darted up to catch as your body slipped from the rocks held only by the Woman's impeccable strength.

With no difficulty at all, She pulled you up with one arm toward her, curling her bicep in offering as both hands let go. You looked up in shock to see her toes dug deep into the wall holding both your weights, you'd never felt power like this before, watching as she raked a claw across her skin, drawing her bright red blood. "Just a sip, I don't want you sinking your teeth into me you hear?"

In awe of this woman and her oddity, you mustered the strength to push your mouth into her wound which sang like an angel, begging for you to taste it. When your tongue touched the vibrant blood, a fantasia of taste exploded down your throat and rocked your perception. Pleasure seeped into every pore, strength filling your bones as insane images and sounds began to fill your mind, consisting of screaming, deep pains, bloody scenes, but also laughter and family, the warmth of a brother and a sister, grief for a mother... there was so much stability, a feeling of peace in the self that you had forgotten could even exist.

Your eyes flashed so suddenly that the She-wolf flinched letting you go.

■ NOW THAT RIGHT THERE IS THE RIGHT STUFF ■

Like a shadow, you vanished before the She-wolf's very eyes, dissipating into a cloud of darkness which slithered up the walls faster than even she could track. Grinning curiously the She-wolf followed with **** enthusiasm, darting up beside the roaring waterfall to find a gloved hand reaching out from the cliff.

You looked down at the fur-clad woman who reached out and took your hand, pulling her up with renewed strength. You hadn't realised how tall she was, nor how physically strong she clearly was... not to mention the fragrant beauty of her form, the weight of her chest and the curve of her hips slightly hidden by the red-grey cloak.

"Thank you." She said with a small grin.

The two of you were surrounded by tall trees, subtly moving on the silent wind. The small river bank was wrought with small flowers, and cracked logs; moss shrouding the weaving slope which led to the waterfall's beginning.

Your head nodded, but your hand gripped the handle of your sword.

The wolf put out her hands, showing her long fingers "Hey, there's no rush just yet, some of my brothers are fresh in their furs today, there's nothing like that first moon, nothing else ever compares to it, but they'll be very easily distracted. However I must warn you once they catch a scent there's no stopping 'em. Why don't we take a seat on one of those logs and chat until they clear off?"

You let your sword go "Alright then, after you."

Sharing a log by the rapidly flowing waters, You wandered around looking for sticks as the She-wolf lay on her side across the wooden length, her hood was lowered so you could see her in full. "I always did find vampire's obsession with wearing masks and being insidious slightly pretentious but it's just plain bad manners to hide your face during a conversation."

Her neck stuck out and somehow, she went from being a rough woman of perhaps 35, with vibrant auburn hair braided against her scalp before exploding in waves down her back, to a wild beautiful beast with eyes of ocean blue, and full smiling lips. She let her huge wolf-skin cloak fall a little, revealing her marble-smooth shoulders, two hairless legs with sharp-clawed feet crossed alongside one another as she lay on the log like a lazing hound.

Placing the small bundle of dry wood on a patch of soft soil you paused only to look at the She-wolf, the roaring visage of your fractured mask gleaming ominously in the low light "If I've learned anything during my short time on this earth (compared to some any who) it's that some mysteries are better off preserved."

"Come on, a girl lets you taste her blood and you can't even give her a name?"

Shrugging, you felt a strange urge possess your fingers, warmth turned to heat in your knuckles as you pressed your palms into the wooden bundle, allowing the fire within to stretch out in black tendrils which sparked with shadowed embers; an umbral flame rising above.

The She-wolf smiled deeply as I nodded, tasting the lingering red on your salivating tongue "I don't think giving name will be necessary as weird as it sounds, I can taste recognition."

"You're a descendant! I knew I recognised that armour, great mother moon if my mama could see me now, breaking bread with a Drake; the up and coming Dark-Sun no-less. You could tell that I'd suspected? just from a mouthful of blood?"

Dark-Sun? is that what people wanted to call you now? well, it made sense since you started bursting into flames on a bi-daily basis, although it did make you feel a sense of pride, as your dad was a Black star, you were a Dark-Sun, his living legacy. "I can tell a lot more than that it seems." standing you walked over to the log and sat down close to the She-wolf.

Her animal eyes looked you over quite thoroughly as if hunting for some kind of answer to a mystery she couldn't place.

Still, you hunched over, feeling the heat of the small black fire you created gently warm the leather of your cold glove. "The Elders spoke of blood memories, My brothers said that only an abomination could eke out someone's secrets before even knowing their name, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious...." She whispered expectantly; excitedly

Echo's of her blood permeated your mouth, lingering on your teeth, allowing the lingering impression of the She-Wolf to rumble in your mind, deciphering words and whispers "Ffffff.... fffffffflor... Flora, the furless?"

"Now that is some creepy shit! haha. I mean for fuck's sake I thought my lot was bad, can you taste the memories of all you feed on?" She asked innocently.

"So far, I think so. Hey, why are you so candid and friendly, usually try and kill me the minute they figure out where I'm from, sometimes even before that."

Flora swung up straight, leaning in so she could whisper; her smell was overwhelming, the heavy scent of wet fur mixed with something even more primal "My mama was different than my family, what we call a 'welcomed'; a Human blessed by the Mother Moon, to bare two wolf-kissed children. One was born of the blackest new moon seen in a thousand years, the second of the Full, not long after.

One day, My Mama kicks my Pa In the ribs, chucks a bucket of water over me and my sister, she tells us that we stink like wet fur and to get our dog-asses out to the west river to bathe, not to mention the bucket fish we gonna bring back if we knew what was good for us."

"Tough old gal by the sounds of it."

"Like you wouldn't know. But she was kind in a way you couldn't understand, she showed us the merit of respecting sportsmanship before snarling at the world and tearing our skins. A human living here with us, it isn't always good.... we sometimes can't help but make it that way, that's why the three of us flew out the door.

As strong as we are a frying pan to the head still hurts something fierce. So we let our brothers and sisters know that we are heading out, one elder, five soldiers; the best we had."

You watched as the smile melted away from her lips, the joy burned away by the monochrome firelight as she continued. "...My Sister and I dove for hours in that river, we filled seven buckets of bass while our Pa sang from the shore. We were all singing and dancing by the water before noon came, that's when we headed back home. We smelt it before we saw it, blood in the air, putrefied flesh... we never saw what killed them, but I saw my mother and brothers in a way that cannot be unseen. My Pa was so angry he tore off his own flesh right there at noon, a time that does not belong to us, and took off on four legs to find the scent of her killer.

You see... Forcing the change always has a price... and his." She paused in discomfort, you watched how her was that he would never walk in human skin again.

My sister left us, said that nothing tied her to these woods anymore; that she'd seek her own justice. But I stayed with our Pack, just in case it comes back."

Her eyes were fixed on yours, and you were suddenly severely aware of the midnight sky, shadowed by small clouds. A great crack laid bare the open vastness of space; dotted with small glowing stars.

The circular moon, full with light began to spill sluggishly out of a cloud. Goosebumps flushed across your chest, swollen with a heavy feeling of danger as the She-wolf Flora's face changed in the dark firelight.

"I was hoping to stay for a little while longer." She whispered, the low growl of a hungry dog. You inched back, nodding as the Full moon was unveiled a little more by the clouds above, revealing its bulbous glow.

"It's okay, Flora. I understand. I really do, just a shame, that was some good conversation. I'd be so lucky to meet someone as friendly as you again."

She tried to put on some sort of a smile, but it creased awkwardly. Pale foam began to leak from the corners of her mouth, where her left eye was green, the left yellow, now both shone with an unnaturally dark brown; bloodshot and blank. Her breaths were heavy and panting, a sudden jolt striking through her and making her spring up to her feet.

"Woah! that never stops scaring the shit out of me haha" She laughed -- or maybe, howled? it was difficult to tell, she lurched back and forth, as if rocked by some otherworldly **** that kicked her from the inside.

"What can I do?" You asked bluntly, worrying for the woman you spoke to before, and cautious of the beast that was to come.

"Nothing that can be done... I'm afraid, once he starts coming nothing can stop him. Not tonight, but." She paused her brow twitching, goose bumps flooding her neck and face as it turned up to the moon, rocking her mind and body, commanding it to change "I know you're not alone, I c-can sense your friends nearby so my brothers soon will to--but listen to me, when the wolf comes do not try and fight it directly... If you're looking for the man I think you are, then you'll have to weave through the west paths as fast as you possibly can, there you'll find a log cabin surrounded by a circle, only when you're in that circle, only when you're inside will we not be able to reach you-do not. leave. the path, if you try and outrun us the wolves will catch the scent, there isn't anything that can be done after that, we'll know where you and your friends are for the next 6 months until the trail runs dry."

She bent unnaturally then, groaning and moaning as her back cracked like the last echo of a falling tree. You backed away feeling the growing scream of danger ring on your ears "West path. no leaving the path, got it. Look, I uh, if the rest of your people ever want to... to talk like we did, then do so, bad things are coming and-- I might be an executioner, but my parents died too, and they wouldn't want us to be enemies when push comes to shove."

The She-Wolf did not scream again, but instead roared out in pain lurching forward as her bones began to rumble in her body. You tensed moving forward, but a huge clawed hand blocked you, as Flora pulled up her wolf-headed hood and smiled; her canines long and jagged, drool leaking from her snarling maw. "Go, everything.... will be okay. Just go and don't watch, tearing skin is p-private and I-I don't want you to see me like that. T-Thank you, Charles, I mean it."

You nodded, grasping the handle of your sword as you crept back towards the west "Charlie, Flora" You corrected "I hope our paths cross again."

The Wolf-skin... tightened, grasping on the muscles, constricting around her body as Flora let out a bellowing, demented laugh; her quivering form falling down to the mossy floor "gO NoW!!!"

Your aunt taught you that to run in the face of danger was not the way of executioner, but it was your father's memory that drove you to sprint away into the tree line, leaving a screaming Flora behind, her voice slowly behind torn away, replaced by animalistic yowls, followed by one final croak, before only silence remained.

The fire flickered in the lounge where you sat on your father's lap, where he read from a heavily bound tome. Your small form jittered there in discomfort and boredom, why did he always insist on reading you the long boring books without pictures?

"You are not listening." Roman muttered to your small form, in his direct and commanding tone.

"This book is boring, I wanted to read the Gruffalo again!" You moaned in the disinterested tone of a child.

"You've read the Gruffalo a thousand times, the Pros Edda is much more engaging, and important for your coming studies. You need to nature your ability to hear the world around you."

"I was listening!" You argued petulantly.

He had not grown out his beard yet, you still remembered the hard lines above his lips, one of the only reminders that he too grew old, although his youthful face remained unwavering "I said hear that time, not listen. That is the difference between a good man and a great one, which you will inevitably grow to be, if you prove it. Recount the chapter."

You huffed petitely and took a breath "It's about, trust, the Aesir gods wouldn't trust Fenrir the wolf to not go through with his destiny, so Tyr made a sacrifice of his own hand in the jaws of the giant wolf so that he could get all chained up. but..."

"But?" Roman questioned lightly.

"But if they had just made friends with Fenrir, raised him to be good and giving him a chance, then they wouldn't have had to chain him, in the first place..." That's when the realisation was born in your young mind "If they had just listened-"

Roman placed a calloused hand your black hair, and nodded in approval "Heard, not listened, Charles. Now come on, Diana reads the Gruffalo better than me."