Silver City

((this seemed like a good idea late last night when I was sleep deprived – looks longer than it is – but for a quick summary please go here: silver-city-info-open-people-needed-t33249.html ))

Kendria tried hard to keep her eyes from closing, when she dreamed they tracked her down. Her eyes drifted closed, pulled down with the weight of exhaustion, she was a sleep for barely a second before it appeared. The wolf. No matter what she did, no matter where she was, she always saw that same wolf. The others were barely more than shadows in the back ground, smoky images that shifted smoothly in one long blurry form around that one.

The scenery changed, but those eyes, that wolf, always remained the same. The fir was mottled grey-brown, shaggy and long, covered sometimes in leaves, some times clean, sometimes mud and worst of all, blood. The pale amber eyes bore into her like it was reading her mind. The furry lips drew back and she caught the glimpse of white, sharp teeth and a red tongue.

The wolf’s breath steamed in the cold night air, clouding around its muzzle. And she felt it, pulling at her mind, tracking her down. It let out a low howl to the pack and disappeared from her view. Kendria snapped awake to the sound of screams. She didn’t know how long she’d been a sleep, it felt like moments, but her sister’s side of the bed was cold and empty.

She snuck a peek over the edge of their loft room to the room below. Wolves were swarming around her house, her family lay dead, their blank eyes stared up at her, their throats torn out, the blood congealed around the wounds, faces pale as some of the wolves started to tear off chunks of flesh., fighting over fingers and feet.

Kendria felt bile rise in her throat, she chocked it back down as tears started to fall. She’d slept right threw their cries of agony. She slid back from the edge, she had no idea how long it would be before they found her. Fear raced threw her veins as grief gripped her heart.

The wolves where busy fighting each other, but outside she could hear more of her village dying. The attack had been expected, but no one had been prepared. The last reports where that the wolves were still two towns over. They’d used Kendria to cut straight to her village, a place much less prepared for fighting.

As the last cry’s died out a howl lifted into the air, the wolves below stopped their fighting and ran out the shattered door. Breathing shallowly, Kendria slipped down the small ladder. Her feet slid in the blood of her family, it squelched between her toes and she tried not to vomit as she manoeuvred over limbs, she daren’t look more closely than that.

She could just make out the wolves around the side of her house. Besides their barks and howls the village was silent. She was the only one left.

She slipped round the side, hoping to avoid being noticed, but walked straight into another wolf. She stopped breathing. It was the wolf from her dream. It stared art her intently and she noticed grey flecks in the amber that she had never seen in her dreams. She thought it would rip her throat out then and there, but it just lopped away behind her.

She let out a loud breath, hyperventilating after her narrow miss. She didn’t stay to wonder why she had been spared, she had a pretty good idea it was so she could lead them to more humans. She snuck towards the woods on the edge of the village when she tripped over a body, it was still breathing.



Kenrria knew she should leave; she should get away while she could, but she couldn’t bear to leave someone else to be killed by the wolves. She didn’t know the girl all that well, she was one of many in their village, she was covered in blood, bitten a little on her arms and legs, but nothing life threatening.

Kendria and she were about the same age, she put an arm under her the girl’s armpits and lifted her uneasily, her body shook with the effort, but she slowly pulled the girl away, resisting the urge to drop her and run to save herself. The werewolves didn’t bother them though, they went back to their feasting and Kendrai could hear the snapping of bones and the biting of flesh a long way into the forest.

When night fell Kendria led the girl down. She still wasn’t awake and her breathing was laboured. Kendria was exhausted. She’d walked from dawn until night, and still didn’t feel she was far enough away from the wolves to be safe. She leant back against a tree and with no food or fire she drifted a sleep.

She woke up to more screaming and for a moment though the day before had been a predictive dream, when she looked around in the dark she could see the girl thrashing around, Kendria rushed to her to hold her down, clamping a hand over her mouth, she didn’t need any werewolves catching them.

The girl bucked around beneath her, and Kendria could feel her mouth changing under her hand. She leapt back as the girl slowly started morphing. Kendria realised her mistake too late. She hunted around for a weapon, but could only find a fallen branch. It wouldn’t kill a wolf, but maybe if she struck while she changed she stood a chance.

She lifted it above her head, it weighed a ton and her arms shook under the strain, her muscles burned. For a moment she didn’t think she could do it. But as the girl thrashed on the floor, she could see her body shifting slowly. She brought the branch down on her head with a sickening squelch, she hit her repeatedly, splashing herself with blood and brains as she beat the monster to death while it was still partially human.

When she lay still Kendria dropped the branch at her feet, panting and sickened. The dawn was weak and grey, devoid of light or colour. Kendria had a vague idea of where to go, her parents had mentioned moving there as the attacks drew closer, but weren’t sure if they could find work in the city.

Kendria didn’t know what chance she stood of being given employment, an orphan with no practical skills they might not even let her in, but as she glanced over her shoulder and saw the red mass that was once a head, flies dancing around, feasting on the gore, she shuddered and realised the alternative was ending up like her.

Silver City glinted in the weak sun, looking pale gold; it flashed and blinded Kendria as she made her way towards it. The massive gates were open, allowing the small stream of people entrance to the city. Silver City was surrounded by a huge silver wall. No one had any idea where the mayor had found the money to build the place, but then no one dared ask for fear they’d be chucked out.

Kendria stood at the end of the queue; she was smaller than the rest and couldn’t see beyond them. The line moved slowly, but when it was her turn the guards peered down at her with little interest. Without a word, one of them grabbed her arm, she kicked and struggled, but he was stronger. He pressed her hand to the city wall, it was cold and smooth, and sent goosebumps up Kendria’s arms. There were black hand marks all across the wall, Kendria stared, fascinated.

Eventually she was pulled away and shoved threw the gate for the next person. Rubbing her sore arm, Kendria walked up to the next man inside the gate.

He was tall and thin, carrying a large number of papers strapped to his back, he peered down at her the same as the guards had.

“Race?”
“Human,” Kendria muttered.
He reached behind his back and drew out a scroll.
“You must find work within one week,” the man standing to the side told her, handing her the rolled parchment, “Failure to do so will result in you being immediately evicted from the city,” he handed her some coins.

“Those coins are for you to find a bed for tonight that is enough for only one night, so find yourself a job fast. You will be asked regularly to display your parchment as proof you are employed or have been allotted a time scale in which to be here to find a job, if you loose it, you’re out. Carry it with you at all times.”



He handed her a map, “this is a map of the city, marked are some possible places of employment, I understand the mayor is looking for a new maid, you might find employment there, the last one lost her parchment, thrown out and torn to shreds all in the same day, so don’t think working for the mayor will mean you don’t have to carry that thing around.”

Kendria nodded, trying to take in all the information.

“Area’s marked in red are restricted areas. One warning and then you are evicted, area’s marked in blue are restricted on certain days, if you’re not sure which days, you shouldn’t be there in the first place! Again, one warning, then eviction. Area’s marked in yellow are places of accommodation. Any questions?”



Kendria wanted to ask him to repeat what he said, but instead asked, “why are there burn marks on the wall?”

He stared at her, like that was the last question he was expecting her to ask, “Because werewolves are allergic to silver, when they touch it it burns their flesh and the silver they’re touching,” he said in a tone that suggested she was very stupid girl.

Kendria took her papers struggling with the large bundle. She went to the first inn she could find, only indentifying it because it said ‘inn’ outside. She got a cheap room for the night, a lumpy mattress, a thin and scratchy blanket and a hard, flat pillow, she tried to stay awake, but the last two days had exhausted her and at last she fell a sleep crying.

She woke up the next morning, the wolf was tracking her still, she saw it in her dreams again the night before, but she felt safe inside the silver walls. She made her way to the mayor’s house, making sure she carried her documents with her, stopping and asking for directions every few metres.

At the servants entrance a maid let her in, and lead her to the mayor’s wife, who apparently insisted on vetting all employees personally.

A small interview in which Kendria’s background was minutely investigated and she assigned her job, a room and a brown uniform of trousers and a cotton shirt. With nothing else to do that day as the linen had already been sorted, Kendria was sent to her speak with some of the other servants.

Only Ellie that took any interest in Kendria and that was very little.

“You’re lucky you are, not many people have got a job as good as ours, not many people live in a house of silver.”
Kendria looked around, but couldn’t see any, she mentioned it to Ellie.
Ellie rolled her eyes, “its inlaid, small veins of the stuff, enough to keep were’s back if they get threw the wall, which they won’t.”

Kendria tried to have as much faith in that as Ellie did, but having seen the slaughter first hand, it was hard to think a wall of silver could be enough.

When Kendria woke up screaming in the night, the wolf had been there, mouth covered in blood, Ellie was leaning over her, her dark eyes shinning with malice and intrigue.

“You were screaming about were’s,” she whispered like an accusation.
“I-I”
“You’re a were, aren’t you, lord knows how you got threw the gate, but wait until I take you to the mayor,” she grabbed Kendria’s arm and dragged her from the bed. Tugging the small girl as easily as a teddy.


She ordered another maid to wake the mayor and forced Kendria into the parlour. She stood there, victorious with her prize held captive. The mayor entered, bags under his eyes from being woken in the middle of the night, his sharp eyes fell on Kendria immediately and she withered under his intense stare.

“This is the one?”
“It is m’lord,” Ellie replied, curtsying awkwardly with Kendria in hand.
“How did you make it threw the city, how did you touch the silver?”
Kendria was too frightened to answer.
“Answer me girl!” he bellowed.
“I-I’m not a werewolf.”
“I heard her shouting about werewolves in her dreams sir.”
“My wife tells me you’re family was attacked by werewolves, your whole village in fact, and only you survived? And now we here you screaming about werewolves in your sleep.”
“I-I dream of them…sir…I always have, I see them before they attack and after.”
“What a load of tripe,” Ellie muttered, eager to see blood drawn.
But the mayor seemed to be musing on Kendria’s words.
“Ellie, back to bed with you, I’ll repay you for your services later.”
Ellie looked as though she wanted to stay and watch Kendrai being tossed out on her butt or tortured to death then and there, but she curtsied quietly and left.

The mayor crouched down in front of her, “Now tell me Kendria,” he said softly, all friendliness and warmth now, “how old are you?”
“Ten, sir.”
“Ten? And how long have you been dreaming about the wolves?”
“All my life sir.”
“Can you tell me where they are now?”
“No sir, I only see them when I’m a sleep.”
“Asleep?” he mused quietly, then took Kendria’s hand gently, “Come with me Kendria.”

It was late, the house was sleeping, but as the mayor led her into the pits of the house, Kendria could see a light flickering at the end of the hall. She could hear the odd moan and groan and jumped, but the mayor tightened his grip on her hand until it was painful.

“Benjamin!” the mayor shouted and a door opened slowly. Kendria almost screamed, the man had huge bulging eyes, his face was thin, the skin stretched taught over his bones, thin like paper, and slightly yellow in the pale light, he loomed over her and she could evil flashing in his light eyes.

“This girl, I want you to train her, she sees the wolves, but only in her dreams, I want you to ‘teach’ her how to see them all the time. When your done return her to me.”

Kendria didn’t like the sound of that, but before she could protest, Benjamin had wrapped skeletal fingers around her wrist and was drawing her threw the door.

He led her down a stair well and threw a dark tunnel under the city; she could hear water dripping and rats scurrying around. Benjamin pulled her onwards without light. His skin almost glowed in the dark.

He rattled some keys and opened a door. Cells lined the walls and Kendria could make out shapes behind bars, everything non human was down here and it struck her for the first time that she’d only seen humans in the city, though her own village had been filled with all kinds of creatures before the attack, not that it had done any of them any good.

Benjamin pulled her past two lounging guards and shoved her into a tiny cell with straw for a bed and no light.
“Sleep well little one, I’ll be back in the morning to begin your lessons.”
Benjamin turned to the guards, “keep an eye on her, I’ll be back at sunrise,” the outer door creaked shut and Kendria was left alone in the dark.

After that night Benjamin returned every morning and dragged Kendria from her cell.

“Close your eyes, what do you see?”
“Nothing.”
Smack.
“What do you see?”
“Nothing.”
Smack.

The routine was the same, some times the beatings were so savage Kendria had to be dragged to her cell, other times it was some form of new torture that Benjamin had read about in his dusty books, or some potion meant to heighten her abilities that left her vomiting for hours until all that came up was blood.

Eventually Kendria started to see images more clearly when she slept, she could count the number of wolves, she could see their locations during the day, but never their human faces, that was always barred from her, but eventually she knew enough to satisfy Benjamin and the mayor.

She was lead back up the tunnel and presented to the mayor as his new security weapon.

Ten years later

“Tell me Kendria, where are they?”
Kendria stood stock still her red hair fell to her shoulders and she let a little of it hide her face. She wore long robes of cotton in beautiful colours, only the best for the mayor’s number one weapon. That’s what they all were. All the nonhumans and the gifted humans. Weapons to make the mayors life easier, to make the human’s lives easier.

“I see bushes, grass, tall golden grass, and water, a lake, pale and sparkling.”
“On the map Kendria, show me on the map,” the mayor said threw gritted teeth, he was growing impatient.
He’d only recently decided to use Kendria to give locations of the were’s to launch an attack. Each day more people died, the survivors demanded action, blood.

She let her finger rest on the map, “there,” she opened her eyes, right next to a lake, she didn’t let her relief show, it was still so hit and miss.

“I’ll dispatch men there immediately.”
Kendria held her breath, waiting.

“I’m still worried about the level of your skills Kendria,” the mayor looked at her carefully, she was his best weapon, he didn’t want to kill her, but that didn’t stop him having her beaten. It wasn’t like she could run off, not with the magic bracelet he’d had welded to her skin. Her wrist showed a faint line just under the skin, she’d have to cut herself open to get it out and know the right words to get it off.

She was used to pain, but that didn’t mean she wanted to inflict it upon herself. Having it put on had caused her to black out, and the agony before was tattooed to the inside of her brain, taking it off was rumoured to be worse.

“Go to Benjamin. I want you to try his newest potion.”

Kendria smiled tightly, and curtsied before leaving. Disobedience again caused more pain. She followed the same track she followed most of her life to Benjamin’s dungeon. He liked to experiment on her with potions, and the mayor allowed it. Benjamin was the mayor’s pet and an expert poisoner, no one dared cross him.

She was let in swiftly. Benjamin was absent, so she sat on the table and waited for him, the guards regarded her carefully, like a wild animal. The long sleeves of her robes covered her heavily bruised arms; her ribs still ached from being kicked. She got up gently and examined the contents of some of the cells

A strange russling could be heard from a nearby cell.

"Nya?"

For a second nothing else could be heard. Then there was a loud hissing sound followed by the sound of an angry cat.

"NYA! NYANYANYA!!!"

"Ok, ok, I'm up!" Responded a man in the cell across from Kendria. He got up from the ground, and brushed himself off. "What's got you in such a fuss?"

The man looked at Kendria, a disinterested look on his face. In the dim light it was difficult to make out his actuall appearance. From what could be seen, he appeared to have black hair, cut short. He seemed to be rather dirty, most likely a result of being in this dungeon for a very long time. His clothes, like his hair, were black, and around his neck he wore a silver pendant in the shape of an eye.

"Oh, it's a girl." He said. The man examined her. "That's a slave bracelet, isn't it? I used to have one of those myself, but I'm a wiz with restrictive magic, so getting it off wasn't that big a deal. That's why they threw me in here."

"Nya nya nya, nya nya."
The man shrugged. "Yeah, she does seem to be having a rough time of it, huh?"

For some reason, the source of the cat's sounds could not bee seen, though it was clearly coming from a cell on the room opposite the man.

"Nya nya, nya nyanya nya."
"Neko-sama says he can help you break free. Of all of it, including the werewolves. I'd take him up on his offer. I've seen Neko-sama do some crazy stuff in the past."

The man went to the back of his cell and sat down, his legs crossed.

"If anyone can help you, it's Neko-sama."

Kendria jumped at the strange creature. Was this one of Benjamin’s experiments? She shuddered to think. The last poor creature had had the mercy of death, eventually. With limbs growing out of inconceivable places and breathing so laboured that it hurt just to hear it.

She glanced around. The guards were dozing off; they had no interest in Kendria. She was beneath scum to these and other people in the city. She saved their lives, worked for them every day, but if they ever found out what she was they would have beaten her to death.

Kendria returned her attention to the cell…a break from the wolves and a chance to escape…she rubbed the bumped skin where the bracelet lay just underneath. The white hot agony flashed in her mind, so real that for a moment she almost cried out in pain.

Just a memory, she reminded herself, just a memory…if she had it taken off it would hurt worse, and if Benjamin ever found out…well that pain would seem like pleasure in comparison to what he would do to her to make her pay…

The alternative was being a permanent spy camera and trying potion after potion for Benjamin…she didn’t think she could handle another concoction. She wasn’t sure what was worse, the actual effects of the potion or when he told her what was in it!

She recalled the last one had been made out of spider’s legs and cockroaches, or something equally disgusting. She wasn’t sure they were even necessary; Benjamin just liked to make things extra disgusting. Like the one with the finger still floating in it…

Kendrai cringed away from the memory. How long did she had until he arrived? Not much time to think, not much time to choose…



“Does it hurt?” she whispered, glancing again at the soldiers. One was snoring now, the other trying to stay awake and failing. Who could blame them? This was the boring shift, no one dared defy Benjamin for fear of the consequences.

She pushed her hand between the rusted bars, bracing herself as best as she could, she didn’t care how much it would hurt, she wanted it done. She’d work out the rest of her escape later.

“Do it, please, take this damn bracelet off and get rid of this demon bond I have with those savage wolves.”

She held her breath, waiting for the impact; this was going to be hell.

The man stood up, walking over to Kendria. He took a moment to examine the slave bracelet in detail. He shook his head.

"It's a new model. I can take it off, but not here. I need to get a hold of a few herbs. I can, however, shut it off for the time being." He said. He placed his thumb and forefinger on the surface of her skin. Suddenly the bracelet shone through her skin.

He looked over to the cell from which the Cat noises had emerged. "Neko-sama. We need away out. Now. My deactivation of the bracelet will alert whomever controls it."

"Nya nya nya! Nya nya nya nya, nya nya?"
The man rolled his eyes. "I know you're not your brother. But you're just as powerful. I'm sure you can think of something."

After a second, there was a crashing sound. Kendria could now see a small white cat throwing itself against the rusted bars of it's cell. Again and again, the cat threw itself against the bars, and every time, the bars bent, little by little.

"Don't worry about him." The man assured Kendria. "Neko-sama's body is invulnerable to harm. No matter how hard he's hit, nothing will ever hurt him."

Suddenly, the bars gave way clanging loudly to the ground. The guards awoke, leaping into action. However, the cat lept in front of Kendria, inhaling deeply, and releasing a loud meowl that was so powerful that it threw both guards against the wall, knocking them unconsious.

The cat then jumped up onto the lock of the man's cell, and quickly picked the lock.
The man stepped out of the cell. "Why didn't you just pick your lock too?"
"Nya nya nya nyanya nya nya."
"You don't like sneaking?" The man shrugged. "Whatever. Let's just get out of here."

"Nya nya nya, nyanya nya."
"Neko-sama says you may want to stand back a bit."

Neko-sama suddenly exploded in a puff of smoke, and a huge swarm of differently colored copies rushed out of the smoke cloud, rushing up the stairs, trampling anyone in their way, bringing down anyone who dared stand against them.

The man grabbed kendria by the hand.

"Come on. Those copies won't clear a path for long." He led her quickly after the cat swarm. His grip was gentle, but firm enough to reassure Kendria that everything would be alright. He turn his head a little, a smile now on his lips. "By the way. My name is Hikaru."

Kendria wasn’t sure what to do; it was all happening very quickly. One moment she had her hand threw the bars, the next all hell had let loose in the form of many little cats.

Had she taken one of Benjamin’s potions? Was this another of his damn side effects?

The hand on her wrist felt real enough as she sped up the stairs, running, but not quite sure why. She’d left her brain back in the cell.


“Nice to meet you, I'm Kendria,” she managed, face scrunched up in confusion, “I’m Kendria…this is happening isn’t it? I’m not dreaming am i?” was she really escaping? How long had she dreamed of escaping? She could hear Benjamin at the top of the stairs, his voice was muffled by the thick walls, but he sounded mad.

She cringed a little at what he would do to her when he caught up with her, but shoved it aside. Even if she begged for mercy, even if she swore she’d never intended to escape or promised never to leave the cells again he’d still kill her.

She’d seen it all before. He was subtle, careful, all his poisons untraceable, but you always knew it was him, even without proof, because it was always someone that had disobeyed or displeased him that had been killed, usually in an agonising way…

What would he do to her then? The prize spy…he’d never let her fall into someone else’s hands…

She had to distract herself, “do you understand the cat?” it should seem ludicrous, but she’d seen so much it was more like a poor question…

They rounded a corner she thought they were almost free, when Benjamin’s bony hand shot out and wrapped tight around Kendria’s ankle. He’d been knocked to the ground in the cat stampede, but his eyes glowed with malice, already mentally listing the poisons that hurt the most, the torture devices that damaged the most…

Kendria kicked out at him, screaming hysterically, only vaguely aware that that would draw more attention.

“How did you do it?! How did you deactivate it you little witch?!”

“Let go of me you walking graveyard!” the touch of his skin on hers made her shiver with disgust.

“You’ll tell me Kendria! You’ll tell me everything as you beg to die,” he smiled evilly at her, his yellow teeth standing crooked in his skull, “you’ll never be free of me Kendria, I’ll track you down as easily as those wolves!”

She kicked him savagely in the head, getting the blow just under his bony chin, sending his head snapping back, the bones cracking in his neck. He slumped to the ground, his hand going limp.


Breathing heavily, Kendria approached him, was he dead? His hand gripped her ankle again, pulling her closer, she screeched and pulled it free, stamping hard on his hand, crunching the bones under her feet, long after his body had gone still.

Regaining some composure, she turned to Hikaru, “I think it’s this way to the main entrance, unless you know any secret ones?”

Hikaru looked at the unmoving Benjamin.

"Wow. That was a nice shot." He said, no real emotion on his face. "I always thought he'd go down easy, but that was ridiculous."

He turned, looking for some sign of where Neko-Sama had gone. An orange Neklone stood in a nearby doorway, waving for them to follow. Hikaru took off after it, dragging Kendria along with him.

"To answer your question, yes, I can understand Neko-Sama." He said, breaking the short silence. He had to hurry in order to keep up with the fast moving cat. "I'm not sure why, but I seem to be the only one who can understand him."

He ran down the hallway, and looked around franticaly, unsure of which way the cat had gone. He suddenly turned the corner to find that the group of cats had gathered at the end of the hallway, and were all facing the far wall. They all inhaled deeply.

Hikaru grabbed kendria, pulling her back around the corner. Just then there was a crashing sound as the Neklones unleashed their sonic attacks all at once. Bits of rubble and stonework blew past the corner, colliding with the wall opposite Kendria and Hikaru.

"Jeez, I wish he'd give me some warning. That many supernyas at once always causes blowback." He said, peeking around the corner to make sure it was safe. "Alright, come on. Neko-sama made us an exit."

He led Kendria around the corner again. At the end of the hall there was now a gaping hole leading out into the open air. In the hole now stood a lone Neko-sama.

"Nya nya nyanya nya. Nya nya nya."
"What?" Hikaru shouted. "No way! I'm not just going to leave you here!"
"Nya nya nya! Nya nya, nyanya nya." The cat rebutted.
Hikaru had a puzzled expression on his face. "Kuro? What does your brother have to do with any of this?"

"Nya nya nya!"
"Fine, but you owe me." Hikaru responded. He grabbed Kendria by the hand and ran out into the open alleyway. Neko-sama could be seen running back into the castle. Hikaru took refuge in a small side alley, obscured from veiw.

It was strange, but hikaru now seemed to be healthier. Kendria hadn't noticed before, but his skin had been pale while he was in the castle. Now Hikaru seemed to have gained some color.

"Finally I'm out of that restrictive field. Now I can use some more effective spells."

His arm glowed green as he waved it through the air. A green mist settled over the two of them. Hikaru breathed a sigh of relief, glad to be out of harms way for the moment.

"Alright, we should be safe for now. My spell will keep anyone from seeing or hearing us, but you shouldn't touch anyone."

Hikaru peeked out around the corner. A group of guards had gathered at the breach in the castle wall, and were searching for the escaped prisoners. Hikaru smirked.

He turned back to kendria. "So, I'm sure you have a lot of questions for me. I'll try to answer as best as I can, but even I don't know everything yet."

Hikaru sat down, tired from running. "First of all, my name is Hikaru Tamora, and I am a witch. I'm not the best witch in the world, but I know a couple of really difficult spells."

He looked up at the gray sky, as if searching for something. "My family was killed by werewolves when I was little. Since then, I've been searching for the source of these vile beasts."

He turned to look at Kendria, a look of feirce determination in his eyes. "And I believe that you can lead me right to him. To Fenrir, king of all wolves."

2 months ago...


A small group ran through the forest as a huge pack of werewolves pursued eager for blood. One of the party member readied a silver arrow only to be crushed under the combined wait of the pack and a fes stayed behind to ravenously dig in.

One by one, the party members were eaten alive until four were left of the original 20. The leader, a young fox looking creature pulled out a sword and ran one through.

Going too fast, the other werewolves met the same fate at the end of spears that over the chase the party had been readying. Soon, the slautgter was over with blood smeared over the forest floor and one of the members crawling over to a tree with a maimed leg.

The leader looked at that and saw that it had been torn off and on victim's sholdur was a savage bite. " Your going to change soon." The victim looked up smiling. " I know, do what you have to do." He smiled at the other members and readied himself for the inevitable.

The leader readied his sword and brought it down as the other two looked away and the headless body collapesed. They quickly buried the bodies and fled towards Silver City as the howls of other werewolves could be heard. There would be no phyrric victory now.

As they neared the edge of the forest, a group of guards burst out with their spears pointing at the party's throats. " Hmm, non-humans. The mayor may want these guys." The leader drew his sword and suddenly spears lunged killing his companions and a spear butt knocking him out.

The lone survivor was dragged to the mayor who the "guest" was forced to kneel to. " Welcome to Silver City, one of the last human havens. " What is your name?" The creature spat on the mayor and was rewarded with a slap. ' One more time." Hissing, the creature said, " Marcel de Louise."

" Oh, hello, forgive the brutality of the guards who killed your friends, but we need someone to do our work. To actually hunt and then kill a were, not just hunt like some girl we have here. I offer you a choice, work for me under unconditionaly terms, or you can die along with your friends."

Marcel looked up and replied shoving a guard off and there was a sickening crack of bone as the guard flew hard into the wall and cracked his spine. " We were just traveling away from the weres, not for some mercenary job, nearly all of my race is dead or infected. I think not." The mayor then turned around. " I'll give you some time to think over it, while you are punshied for insulting my hospitalty."

The fox smirked and then a few minutes late,r was locked in a room with nothing but a bowl of dirty water and a bucket. He cracked in two days. And after that, he was more or less a tool to hunt and kill weres an unnamed human found.

Present

Marcel ran the scimitar through the werewolf's chest and decapitated another as he strode through the burning village. He'd razed it killing any remaining human survivors, better safe then sorry. Screams echoed as he saddled his horse and lanced the last werewolf in town and painted the population sign, " 0" with blood. Then galloped back to Silver City leaving a trail of dead bodies behind.

When he returned, the guards searched him for any bites and sent him on towards the mayor's quarters who asked why it took so long. " I razed the entire village. Convient stack of torches." The mayor sighed and said, " We could've still used that town you know. Go check on Benjaman, somthing strange is happening."

marcel stiffened at the name and actually shivered. " Ye-- Yes, very well." Walking in, he saw a rather big mess with Benjaman still and some of the cells broken. And that wall with a big hole. A guard running by informed him of the escape. " Oh. Thank you. please forgive this." He broke the mans neck and threw him out. It was time to leave, Benny boy was either dead or near dead, the only one he feared. Kicking open the door to Benjamans study, he found the book he wanted and torched the rest smiling.

However, he had no skill in magic and probaly couldn't do it, better to look for an expert. He cut open another guard and started riding away through the chaos.

leila walked up to the mayors office "father" the mayor cringed at leilas sodt gentle yet strong voice.
"yes my dear" the mayor turned aroung his smile tight.
"i heard there was an escape is everyone alright? i thought u released everyone like i asked. . ."
"honey u know father must use the nonhumans to keep everyone safe"
"thats no ecuse for treating them like slaves. treat them with respect please i do not even care if thy be a werewolf. give it a proper meal and bed" leila walked down the dungoen all of them were imprisoned in and saw so many killed by a wereman they say. she helped all those who needed to be healed to a docter and her dress was damaged in blood. she went out looking to find a place to wash her dress and got lost running into the man who escaped before, he one saying he didnt fancy in magicm
"hello sir" leila smiled at him "do u know where i could find someplace to clean up myy dress" it took her a while to notice but she did eventually t that this man was a wer yet she didnt care, she continued to act nicely and then spotted the necklace or braclet thing that kept him bound "ah, seems u were a prisnor at my fathers town. would u like me to help u remove of it?" she smiled sweetyly at him once again.

((OOC: Sorry for the late reply, i was away and thought the place i was going to have net, but it didn't sorry))

Kendria looked down at her feet, covered in dust from the rubble, she watched passers by none of them seemed to have heard the news that there had been a break out of supernatural prisoners…did any of them even know about the creatures that ran their city from behind the sceens?

They kept them safe, kept the wheels of this great city turning smoothly with their blood…would they even care if they did know? Somehow she doubted it. Humans were strange creatures, she’d lived with them, been one once, so she knew.

Nothing really mattered outside their own little worlds, as long as things were the same every morning who cared if a rare creature was cut up to mince meat and made into a cure for spots, or if someone’s child was turned into a survalence weapon, as long as it wasn’t their own, they couldn’t vare less.

When Hikaru mentioned the wolf leader Kendria felt a cold sweat breaking out on her skin, fear prickled her flesh and she jumped up from where she was sitting, suddenly panicked like the wolf’s teeth were already closing around her neck.

She almost brushed a passerby, but managed to pull herself back just in time, being invisible was a weird feeling. If he’d felt her presence, he didn’t show it.

She’d seen what he could do, first hand, she’d seen what he did more clearly as the years passed and Benjamin’s experiments increased, there were times when she couldn’t even shut out the screams, they echoed in her head with no escape.

“you want me to face that beast?! That monster?!” she wanted to pace, but wasn’t sure how far this invisibility thing stretched, so she rubbed her wrist instead, the bulge beneath her flesh felt almost natural now.

She gave Hikaru pleading eyes, but pulled herself back from self pity and fear, she doubted she’d get much sympathy from him anyway, it wasn’t like he actually needed her, she’d make his job a little easier, but she was hardly essential to his plan.

She could spend her life running from her demons or she could help end them. Indecision chased around her mind until it spun and she had to sit down again.

She sighed heavily, she was shaking, the weight of her decision weighing on her, “Alright, I’ll do it,” she said softly.

Then to take her mind off the impending doom she’d feel from her choice she asked him, “how did you end up in Benjamin’s cells?”

She glanced around them, guards were milling around the people of the town, trying not to alert suspicion, though a gapping hole in the wall must be pretty hard to hide. The mayor would be doing his nut.

His precious city was crumbling around his ears from the inside out. She thought he would have locked himself and his family away if there was a place safe from all the creatures he had condemned to torture, how many of them would like to take their suffering out on him?

Her fists clenched so tight she could feel her muscles pressing against her bracelet, and the ragged nails on her fingers drew blood. She wished she’d spared the time to make him take a few of Benjamin’s ‘special’ potions, but time had been essential…

Still there was one in particular that made you feel like your guts were going to rot right out of your stomach and one that made you so hot you practically boiled your eyes from their sockets…she shook the thoughts away, that would be being too much like Benjamin and she was determined not to be him.

Hikaru considered Kendria for a moment.
"You need to calm down." He said, shaking his head. "We are a long way from facing Fenrir. First of all, Neko-sama has to find the spell that will let us harm him. Fenrir is indestructible as he is now, and without the right potion, we won't be able to make a scratch."

Hikaru reached into his robe and pulled out a piece of torn parchment. "I've got the ingredient list here, so I know what I need to make the potion. However, the preperation instructions are a different matteer."

Hikaru sighed, shaking his head. "In addition, I doubt either of us could get past the hordes that protect him. That is why we need to find Neko-Sama's brother, Kuro. He's got an army of his own, and with him on our side, we just might stand a chance."

Suddenly, Hikaru perked up. The sound of a wagon's creaky wheels could be heard, growing louder as the wagon neared.
"Perfect." Hikaru said, standing up and peeking around the corner. "That's just what I was waiting for."

The wagon in question had the insignia of the Silver Guard, a group of infamous Were hunters. They weren't the most well liked group, but they were good at what they did. The wagon passed by the alley in which Hikaru and Kendria were hiding.

"Come on, quickly." Hikaru said, grabbing Kendria by the arm for what was probably the fifth or sixth time. He jumped up into the back of the wagon, pulling Kendria in with him. The inside was filled with all sorts of anti-werewolf weapons; Silver tipped spears, wolvesbane potions, as well as a number of nasty looking swords.

Hikaru settled in, breathing a sigh of relief. "Alright, this should get us out of the city. once we are outside, we should be able to find my wagon and get going. I think I know where to find most of the ingredients I need, but finding Kuro will be a little more difficult."

There was a moment of silence, during which the only sound was the squeak of the wagon wheels as they rolled over the cobbled streets. After a moment, something occured to Hikaru.

"You wanted to know how I got locked up, right?" He asked, smiling. "Well, it's not easy to explain. Neko-Sama decided that the easiest way to get into the castle was to get arrested. Unfortunately, what he didn't count on was that there was a restrictive field over the castle that prevented me from using some of my more useful spells. After we were arrested, Neko decided that we should wait until we had a better plan before we made our escape. It's been a month since we were arrested, and if you hadn't come along, we'd probably still be in there."

Hikaru leaned back, resting against the wall of the wagon. "To be honest with you, I don't entirely understand Neko-sama. He doesn't use magic, and yet he can do things I could never dream of doing. It's really quite strange, but I don't question it. He's gotten us out of some tough scrapes, and he's saved my life more than once."

Hikaru shrugged. "I don't know, he's just kind of weird, you know?"