The Last Umbrian

by Jason Buckland

  “I should have done with him. It’s crazy for the two of them to go alone” I protest for what must be the hundredth time to Ryan sat across from me a cup of coffee in his hand. “You did what any one would have. You done what he asked” Ryan replies reassuring but I still can’t help the feeling that something’s going to go wrong. “But I…….if I……” I start trying to think of a way to protest but my words fail me. “They will be fine Luke. Two Umbrian’s. One of each race, Jason wouldn’t have gone if he didn’t believe they could pull it off” Ryan says total faith in his, our alpha and friend. “I still don’t like it.” I spit “ you don’t have to like it just accept it” Ryan says sharply before sipping his coffee and grimacing in a face that sends me chuckling and he smiles “ there is hope for you yet then” he laughs and I can’t help but smile. “Your right. I should have a bit more faith.” I smile bracing myself for the snippy remark but I don’t get one as he sits there his ears almost pricked up listening a concerned look on his face. “What’s wrong Ryan” I ask my heart racing praying it’s not what I fear “they’re back but something’s wrong” he says his hearing much better than mine. The words have barley left my mouth when I disappear out the door darting through the hallway into the courtyard where Aaron stands a new pack of wolves around him growling and snapping at anyone that gets too close Lucy appears beside me giving me a start moving so silently even Ryan didn’t hear her. “What’s going on?” I shout pushing past the crowd in front of me so I’m face to face with Aaron. “Jason is dead. I’m alpha now” he says a smile on his face as wails of sorrow come from behind me. From Lucy. “No he isn’t” a voice says in the crowd and slowly hobbling through the crowd appears Connor his leg mangled. “He’s alive even though you tried your best to kill him” he shouts and a sinister smile crosses Aaron’s lips. “Really? I thought he would be easier to kill. I’m impressed” “you bastard!” I cry charging towards him my mind filed with anger and betrayal and he doesn’t move almost happy to take the challenge but as fast as I move I’m not the first one to him as Ryan flies out from the crowd tackling him to the floor and I’m about to rush to his side when I catch sight of Connor with Lucy waving for me to go to them. Looking back at Aaron and Ryan only to have my heart shattered as Ryan lays there his throat in Aarons throat blood dripping down his neck his lips quivering as he chokes out his last words “ go. Run. Find Jason and keep him safe” before the fangs close and his soul leaves his body and fighting every bone in my body, every instinct in my soul with Connor and Lucy I run. We run round the house hopping over the wall into the field but Connor struggles to keep up limping on the bumpy surface as the wolves close in eager to reach us for their own bit of bloodshed “leave me. Run go to the forest where you found Jason. A friend will be waiting” he says prepared for his fate “no. no one else is dying today but them” I declare looking to Lucy. “Do you think you will be able to carry him” I ask her and she nods “I won’t be able to move very fast” she says and I reply with a sinister smile of my own “you don’t need to. When I’m done there won’t be anyone following us” she changes there and then he clothes a worry for a lesser time and Connor as quickly as he can pulls himself onto her back and in a slow jog they leave me with three wolves crowding around me and I tut “ three? Is that all you think it takes to kill a lycan?” before changing not even attempting to put a cap on the animal inside that I have spent years learning to do. Nothing more than a spectator in my own body. The three wolves don’t stand a chance. Full of arrogance they try to toy with me walking around me in a circle trying to get me spinning but I stand my ground one leaps from the side a skinny excuse for an animal as I catch it in one hand and squeeze no quarrels in my mind what to do dropping its lifeless body to the floor. One of the two remaining wolves distraught at the sight of its dead friend dives for my leg but I’m faster moving the leg back out of reach before launching a kick to the side of the wolves head, I can hear the bones in its neck snap and it lays there breathing but not doing much else. It probably never will again. The last wolf starts to back away afraid but I’m full of bloodlust and I’m not going to let it go that easy it turns to bolt and the chase begins though it only lasts a few seconds as my claws catch it in the back digging in deep like a hook stopping it is its tracks before slowly pulling them out blood welling up in the holes running down its side like five small waterfalls. It lays there whimpering in pain and as the beast retreats giving me control once more almost grateful for the release I change back not worried about the clothes hanging of me in rags and run to re-join my friends the anger in my heart supressed for now but the sorrow in my soul pushes. It makes my tears flow running down my cheeks onto the grass below, it sets my lips quivering and drains my throat of moisture. The only thing holding it back is hope. Hope that Jason is alive. Lucy and Connor have moved faster than I had expected and drained from the fight I can manage nothing more than a slow walk. My feet filthy rom walking on the mud, my skin covered in Goosebumps from being exposed to the cool wind but I carry on determined to reach them. As I clamber clumsily over a fence between two fields I fall landing face first on the floor only to get a heart attack as I lift my head to find a cow stood there staring at me full of curiosity and it makes me chuckle. “Sorry cow. I was just passing through” I laugh pulling myself to my feet brushing off what tiny bit of dirt I can. “Don’t worry. Are you okay?” a voice asks and I look around me puzzled as to where the voice comes from. “What happened to you? You look like you just went through a wood chipper” the voice says light heartedly and the source steps out from behind the cow. An old man covered in just as much mud as me in his mouldy green wellies, checked top and dark grey overcoat his grey hair long kept tidy and his chin covered by a slowly thickening stubble. “It’s complicated.” I reply smiling thinking how it must look to him. “I’m sure it is. Here” he says tossing an old pair of boots at me stinking of sweat but I put them on gratefully “ I think
I might have an old coat in the back of the car that you can have come on” he says holding out a hand to help me to my feet not leaving any room for an argument. “Why help me? I’m just a stranger?” I ask curious the kindness of a stranger confusing me. “Because if someone found me or someone I cared about in that situation I know I would be grateful.” He says over his shoulder leading me through the field the boots far too large for me and walking is cumbersome. Coming to the gate out onto the road he slowly starts to pull it back obviously struggling so I step in lifting the heavy with one arm, both out for show and slowly move it back before dropping it to the floor “thank you.” He says tipping his hat as he walks round before I close it behind us. His car a beat up beamer older than my parents the engine spitting and spluttering a huge ball of smoke coming from the exhaust. “Here it might be a bit big for you but it’ll fend off the worst of the cold.” He says smiling holding out a thick black coat the material starting the wear but I slide it on grateful for the strangers generosity. “It’s a perfect fit” he says smiling like he’s passed a family heirloom onto his son as I brush off any light dirt and smoothen the fabric. “Thank you so much….” I start before realising that I don’t even know the man’s name. “Shaun. Where you heading I could give you a ride? I’m heading back home that way” he says his kindness knowing no bounds as he points back down where I’ve come from “ I wouldn’t take that road” I warn eager to warn him of the danger but if I tell him wolves are out on the streets we will surely ignore me. “There doing roadwork’s down there and it takes an age to get through I lie hoping it’s enough “I’ll take the longer route home then. Thanks for the tip” he smiles climbing into his front seat “ thank you for the coat” I shout struggling to be heard over the engine and with a friendly wave I watch him drive off into the distance before starting my journey again. As I walk my mind can’t stop thinking about Ryan. He didn’t deserve to die like that. He didn’t deserve to die at all. He had thought so hard for the pack, for me. He saved my life countless times but I couldn’t save his. The idea of going back fighting them myself is tempting, very tempting but my loyalty to my alpha is stronger. I have to carry on and reach Jason. As I walk drawing closer to my goal I wonder if maybe it’s all been a lie. Am I leaping out of the frying pan and into the fire? Connor is a hunter the people that caused the pain and hatred in the first place. They killed Ryan’s sister, they killed Jason’s parents so why did he trust them? I can only trust my friend’s judgement and pray that he’s right. Coming to the outskirts of the town I find the streets deserted, all the curtains shut. A light breeze shaking the branches the only movement, the only sound. I pass through alone lucky not to been seen walking around in wellies and a coat. The forest seems different this time and as I retrace my steps I can almost see the events that day. We hadn’t changed to kill or even frighten Jason. We changed because we came under attack. The hunters came after us. It was only by chance that we ran into him and I lost control I don’t know why I changed him but I’m glad I did. The forest has changed in the week since we was last here and I’m unsure of where I’m supposed to be going following only memory and instinct as I push the low hanging leaves and branches out of my way till I find Connor, Lucy and an old man whose face I don’t recognise are stood together waiting presumably for me “ Luke” Lucy cries running across the space between us throwing herself at me locking her arms around my neck crying into my shoulder “ where’s Jason?” I growl heart racing my worst fears seem to be realised “he’s inside. He’s….he’s” Lucy starts before bursting into a fresh torrent of tears. “He’s in a coma. Aaron and his gang attacked him. He fought back but the numbers where too great” the old man say with both admiration and scorn for his actions “no. he can’t be. He…..he” I stammer at a total loss for words. “Come we should get inside and I’ll explain everything” the old man finishes waving us inside and against my better judgment I follow them into the lion’s den. Connor and the old man lead the way with me and Lucy following behind holding each other in comfort for the terrible news. The smell of chemicals and silver hits us in a wave filling my nostrils and lungs making me sick to my stomach and from the look and colour of Lucy’s face I can tell she feels the same but we continue to follow. “Why are you helping us? You tried to kill us last time we met hunters.” I ask confused “that wasn’t us. That was Aarons pack. He’s been pulling all the strings from the start. He’s the one that had you attacked. He’s the leader of a pack of what we call rouges. Werewolves and lycan that despise humanity and want to take it over” Connor explains as we walk drawing curious glances from those we pass many dressed in a strange army uniform socialising or working on something “but he’s Jason’s brother. Why would he want to kill him?” I ask the explanation only raising more questions. “He isn’t Jason’s brother. Alpha lied.” Connor says his voice drifting off at the mention of his friend’s name. A pain I can relate to. “Why? Why would he tell him that Aaron is his brother?” “Because alpha was a rouge as were many others that we trusted. They knew if he had family to chase he would.” “So who is his brother?” I ask wondering if the whole thing is a lie “that’s just it. He doesn’t have a brother. He was an only child” Connor says and I feel Lucy go cold. “Aarons known everything from the start because someone’s been on the inside since the start” Connor growls as I push Lucy off in complete shock. “You told him he had a brother Lucy” I say so close to rage but the guilt in her eyes makes we wait a second “I was sent to get close to him. To get myself into his life and report back but I after that I didn’t say a word. I fell for him okay. I fell for the person I was supposed to betray so I couldn’t” she pleads hoping that we would understand and my heart is so torn I want to tear her head for even the intention of betraying us but the fear of hurting my friend when he wakes up stops me “Jason can decide wha
t to do with you when he wakes up. When you tell him” I growl and she nods obediently “where is Jason? I want to see him” I growl but the old man only smiles “of course. This way” he says leading us further into the network of corridors. No one says a word as we walk there and when we do get there I’m glad I saved my breath as I see him lying there. His eyes closed laying there perfectly still the only indication of life the constant beep of machines and the rising of his chest and as shocking as that is there is one thing even more shocking. He’s in him human form other than his right leg that is still a lycan leg covered in the same jet black fur the only difference is the size perfectly in tune with the rest of his body. “We don’t know what happened with his leg. It was extremely wounded so it might have stayed like that to heal. We don’t know” the old man says reading my mind as I stand there looking on at my friend laying there wondering if he can hear anything that’s going on.