Carn seeks Wisdom... but is he wise enough to understand it?

Carn'el realized that he had just revealed too much and laughed at his brothers.

"You believe everything, do you?" he beat his chest and took his youngest brother into a sweatbox which he fought hard against until Carn finally let him go. "Carn only played a joke on you!"

Cursing and growling the rest of them attacked Carn and so a fierce fight ensued that would have caused serious injuries if it wasn't for the crypto wolves. This was one of the reasons why Karen and her children were still living outside the city. Even other werewolves could be torn to shreds in such fights if they were not careful. Satisfied that Carn had understood the lesson, Karen watched her children playfully fight each other. Of course, Carn emerged victorious from this fight. He had been right about one thing. He was exceptionally strong. He was the ideal crypto-wolf. Although he always pretended he didn't speak human language very well, he did. He was the fastest learner of all and had read more books than Karen even knew. He was also by far the strongest of the pack physically. However, he was by no means an opponent for Karen. The fact that he was the son of Bruce made him a half-Kryptonian.

The resulting difference in strength was enormous, even if he did not want to admit it. But this time he had gone too far. If Dracula had learned of this crime, he might have returned, and the last thing mankind needed was a second monster war. Maybe she should talk to Bruce about this.

The next day, Carn was rethinking his plan. His mother had warned him more than clearly and even though he was not afraid of Dracula at all, the Wolf King was a completely different caliber. He didn't want to mess with him. The question was if he would manage to leave the city without anyone noticing. In theory there were no barriers, only the word Bruce demanded from all his descendants. The fact that his wives made sure that this word was kept was enough for him.

His mother had retreated to the spirit world for a few days to talk to the king. Probably more to get her mind fucked out of her head, but that was not his business. No one would notice if he left town. It wouldn't even be hard for him to explain his absence. In his youth he had often been out in the woods.

However, he was torn in this situation and so he decided to seek advice. If someone in Gotham needed advice, there was only one person to go to.

The Were-Cats sure got a good look when Carn-El landed in their yard. Immediately, the keepers of peace stood up and marveled at the mighty Crypto Wolf rising before them. The scales glistened in the moonlight while his eyes looked down at the Wer-Cats. Only a few of them had ever seen a Krypto Wolf at this distance and knew only the stories of Power Girl.

"Carn'el, son of the daughter of Krypton. What brings you to me?" there was a female voice that even gave Carn a shiver. From the roof of the building a black shadow fell to the ground, slowly rising. Even his superhuman hearing had trouble hearing the movements of the cat. The pitch-black fur of Bastet did not stand out in the slightest from the background. Only her green eyes glowed in the light.

"Carn here for advice!" growled Carn, who didn't know exactly how to deal with Bastet.

"Then I suggest you stop talking like an idiot. She doesn't like it very much!" He heard the voice of Umbra standing on a nearby roof. Unlike Bastet, Umbra was clearly visible. Carn could not help but take a closer look at Umbra. He was considered one of the strongest Lycans in Gotham and had a reputation for enforcing the laws established by the Wolf King and Dracula with merciless force. However, he was rather disappointed. Compared to a werewolf, these were-cats were slender and unimpressive.

"Says who?" he snarled arrogantly towards the umber who was just grinning his mouth and it seemed as if he was grinning superiorly. This made Carn growl even angrier. He wasn't used to being made fun of.

Bastet stepped out of the shadow slowly and came towards him on all fours. Every movement of her majestic body was perfect. Her long tail slid slowly back and forth. Her green eyes had bored themselves into his. Carn just couldn't take his eyes off her when this huge panther came towards her. Since she was only on all fours, Carn outdid her many times over, but he suddenly felt uncomfortable in his skin. He slowly backed away from her as Bastet stood directly in front of him on her hind legs. Still about 3 heads smaller, the physical difference couldn't seem to be much bigger. But those eyes. They burned into his soul and ignited a feeling of panic in him that he had never experienced before. Not even his mother could intimidate him like that.

"He... is... my... father... and... you... will... pay... him... respect... or... HE will... ...put... you... in... your... place."

Every single word was like a dagger piercing his indestructible skin. Suddenly, Carn understood why no one in Gotham stood up to the Were-Cats. Or why the Wolf King and Dracula also sought her advice.

"I didn't mean to insult your father," he finally said, turning his head to the ground. Unable to look her in the eyes for any longer, he was ashamed to the core. If his brothers and sisters would learn that he was afraid of such a woman, they would laugh themselves to death.

"If you had done so, we would not be speaking to each other here, Carn'el. You are the most powerful and strongest in your clan, but it is only one clan among many. You retreated to the cave to be among yourselves, like the dying race from which you descended." Bastet said and turned his back on him. Slowly she walked back to the manor.

Unsure what to do, he just stood there until he heard Umbra's voice telling him to follow her. In a bad mood he followed her and watched as Bastet sat down on a pile of cushions and licked her paw before she looked at him again.

"What brings you to me?"

After Carn had explained everything in detail to her, Bastet seemed to need a time to digest all this new information. It sounded very adventurous what this young wolf had told her, but she was sure that he didn't dare to lie to her. This changed a lot. The path this young wolf took had many branches. Some were harmless but many of them led to a new war. But this war would be unlike any before it. She closed her eyes and tried to find the path that would cause the least suffering. But no matter how hard she tried, there was no perfect path. It was all in the hands of this young Crypto Wolf.

"You have apparently been touched by fate," people would say. "It's up to you now, how I will unfold this story. I will reveal one of the possible fates. You will choose which one it will be.

"Why just one?" Carn asked curiously.

"Because you are only a small wolf, and not the Wolf King. You're lucky I receive you at all." She smiled calmly, and her eyes flashed threateningly at those words. "And now choose! I don't have all the evening."

"I... choose the fate that awaits me when I see Lois again." He said, after some thought.

"So be it. I see Dracula will find out... there will be a fight between the two of you... I see it clearly... I see that fight will end fatally for one of you... who thinks he is strong... he will die... he will die ignorant... he won't even have time to realize how wrong he was..."

Smiling Carn'el stood up and hit one of his claws with a fist. "I wanted to hear that! I knew this Corpse King was no match for me!" With these words he left the room and left Bastet behind. A short time later Umbra came in and leaned against the wall.

"So, he's going to die?"

"I never said that. Why do you think that father?" she asked with a smile.

"Bastet. I am your father. I know you and your every word. Dracula does not have to believe that he is strong. He has proven his power and strength in a thousand battles, but that boy there ... He knows nothing of the power of Dracula or Bruce. He knows only the stories of his mother."

Softness and pride covered Bastet's beautiful face as she looked at her father. "You make me so proud right now to be your daughter. Too bad. He could have brought balance. Now he will damage it. But it's growing into something bigger. I see it clearly. In many ages, the Kryptonian race will have passed, but there will be their Sons and Daughters, living in the Hands of the Goddess of Love... that will help the Earth in its darkest Hours. I see them clearly. the Kryptolupins. Children of Venus!""