Scent

by K. R. Smith

  “They did.” Grandpa confirmed.

  “What color did they turn?” I asked out of curiosity.

  “Turquoise, like your great, great grandfather Flint Riverclaw’s eyes.” Grandfather announced.

  “They did too!” Mum recalled as she looked from Grandfather to Uncle Julian. “I forgot what colour Great Grandfather’s eyes were.”

  “Same coloured eyes is a family trait in Lokoti Werewolves.” Uncle Julian informed his twin. “I have yellow eyes like another Riverclaw ancestor had. Dad has blue eyes like his Dad did. Now, B has Great Grandfather’s turquoise colour.”

  “At least she’s keeping it in the family.” Mum joked.

  “At least we know she’s a Riverclaw Werewolf that way.” He chuckled back.

  “And not a Werewolf from the ‘Milk Man’ or something?” She laughed.

  “THAT’S not even funny!” Dad rolled his eyes at his wife and brother-in-law’s sense of humor.

  This just made the twins laugh even more as they elbowed each other in their brotherly/ sisterly banter.

  “C’mon kids.” Grandfather smilingly pulled them up. “Let’s focus here.”

  “The ‘Milk Man’!” Mum couldn’t stop laughing.

  “Actually that IS pretty funny.” Vincent even ducked his head as he chuckled. “Pity the poor man should he ever have an affair with a Werewolf’s wife!”

  My father emitted a low and dangerous growl as he glowered at our Calculator.

  “It wouldn’t happen.” He said staunchly. “We would smell it as well as sense it. Hell, I can smell your testosterone stink on Jess after you hug her or kiss her on the cheek.”

  That quickly put an end to the laughs, from both his tone of voice and the dangerous look he was giving Vincent.

  “Moving right along now.” My Calculator cleared his throat as he straightened. “B should start her training as a Circulator now that her ability to phase has started.”

  “Yes, about that.” Grandpa spoke up. “We need to find a way to stop her.”

  “Stop her?” Vincent gave the older Werewolf an incredulous look for suggesting it. “Now I see where Hunter gets it from when he tried to stop you from training your ability.” He looked to Mum.

  Grandpa ignored this as he glared, “last night B ran right for Alma. She ran as a new Werewolf from the bloodlust as she ran as a new Circulator in the speed of light.”

  “Oh.” His face fell as he now caught their meaning.

  “We need to find a way to stop B from running in light speed to Alma until we teach her control over the bloodlust.” Grandpa said firmly.

  “I see.” My Calculator frowned as he thoughtfully stroked his chin.

  “Vincent, what did you have to talk to Mum and I about?” My mother queried.

  “What?” He gave her a funny look.

  “When we first arrived and you walked through the door to the Lab, you started to say that you needed to talk to us about something.” She reminded.

  “Oh right! Yes!” He suddenly remembered. “I needed to talk to you about B.”

  “What about me?” I asked.

  “I can’t calculate for B properly using the Viewing Room or with the Circulate Mainframe because her energy signature in the timeline keeps disappearing at odd intervals.” Vincent announced. “And now that I’ve found out she’s now a Werewolf? That might explain it.”

  “What do you mean her future keeps disappearing?” Mum asked concerned.

  “B is the Last Circulator.” Vincent began to explain slowly.

  “Yep, we got that memo.” Gran said coolly. “What’s your next point?”

  “And now she’s the first female Lokoti Werewolf.” He went on.

  “Yep, we also got the notification for that too.” Dad crossed his arms.

  “I didn’t see this happening to B.” He said, looking flustered. “I can’t see half of what’s going to happen to her, because there’s something blocking my sight as well as the Circulate systems. B’s future is cloudy because her bio-electromagnetic frequency is not just high - it’s not just in temporal flux - but because of this Werewolf business, it’s like there’s something that’s not permitting us to see her future.”

  Grandfather and Grandpa sucked in their breath sharply.

  “Our father the Lokoti Wolf is guiding her.” Grandpa decided.

  “It would explain why the Last Circulator would be picked to be the tribe’s first female Lokoti Werewolf.” Grandfather agreed.

  “Oh yeah THAT would really explain the meaning of life!” Vincent sneered.

  Suddenly he was met by the sound effects of the dangerous growling being emitted by four unhappy male Lokoti Werewolves.

  “Vincent.” Mum raised her eyebrows. “Please don’t diss somebody else’s religious beliefs. That’s one of the reasons why War is fought.”

  “True.” My grandmother said coldly as she gave him the ‘skunk eye’.

  “Quite.” He cleared his throat once more as he looked downwards.

  “So you’re saying you didn’t see B turning into a Werewolf just like other parts of her future are cloudy to you?” Mum wanted to reconfirm.

  “Yes.” Vincent clarified. “I can calculate your future, Jess. I can see what’s in store for you, Arabella.” Next he looked my way. “But B’s future is hazy. I could no more see her turn into a Werewolf like I can see if tomorrow she gets hit by a truck.”

  Gran was the first to notice the threatening growl to come out of her mate as Grandfather looked on Vincent in displeasure at his choice of words… especially since his own father died this way.

  “OK.” She said firmly to take control of the situation. “Let’s take affirmative action here.” All of the male Lokoti Werewolves looked on her for leadership. “Vincent, I think Fern is hoping to borrow some DYSTAR to give to B during the full moon to prevent her from running away and eating somebody before they can train her.” Grandpa gave a nod to show his agreement to this. “Jess, we should be on stand-by since we’re the only two that can catch B.”

  “Right.” Mum gave a nod as she and Dad put their arms about my shoulders.

  “Em.” She looked to her husband next. “Jess, Vincent and I can try to contain the Circulator element in B, but you should keep the pack updated. Just incase we need them as back-up.”

  “The pack are already aware of the situation and are ready.” Grandfather said seriously.

  “Very well then.” She said primly, before she looked our Calculator’s way again. “Vincent?”

  “Yes?” He stood to attention.

  “The DYSTAR if you please.”

  He frowned but after another moment he reluctantly turned away from our circle. He walked over to a medical cabinet on the other side of the room. When he returned, he was holding a tiny glass vial of blue liquid and a futuristic spray/ syringe.

  “There is enough DYSTAR in this vial which should weaken her ability to phase for at least seven days.” Vincent spoke gravely as he placed the spray/ syringe and the vial into Gran’s awaiting hands.

  I felt my stomach shrink as my shoulder muscles tensed up. “What’s DYSTAR?”

  “It’s a drug which can temporarily halt a Circulator’s ability to phase. This also means you won’t be able to run in light speed either.” She stated.

  “Oh.” I looked down at the blue liquid in the tiny glass vial. My eyes widened as I blanched upon the sight of the deceptively small medicine bottle. “Um, do I really need it?” I tried to point out, “I mean it’s not like I’ve actually gone into phase yet. All I can do is run really fast.”

  Grandfather’s face was a mask of consternation, “that’s part of your ability to phase, B.”

  “It is?”

  “You have the ability to change your biological body into one made of light.” Gran said matter-of-factly. “From this, you can phase through time and space. It’s also linked to your ability to move in the speed of light since you become light.”

  “Oh.” My mouth turned sick
eningly salty. “Well um, how about I just promise never to do it again?”

  The male Lokoti Werewolves all looked worried as Grandpa spoke; “when the bloodlust controls you, you lose control over your body.”

  “B.” Uncle Julian looked wary, “the pack can train you as a new Werewolf but we can’t contain you as a Circulator.”

  “But first things first,” Dad said gruffly, “first we ride out the full moon’s pull on the bloodlust of a new Werewolf. Second, we temporarily stop a Circulator from using their new ability to phase just as the moon goes through its phases. Then we’ll begin your training as both a new Werewolf and a Circulator.”

  My shoulders slumped as I looked on the blue liquid. “If you say so.”

  “Fine then.” Vincent said in annoyance as he looked on my male relatives. “We’ll do this your way but I want to come with you. I want to be the one who administers the DYSTAR to B. This drug can be dangerous if handled incorrectly.”

  “As you wish.” Grandfather gave a nod.

  *****

  Our Calculator prepared a medical kit to take with him before we instantaneously phased back to my house in Alaska.

  “Before we can give B the DYSTAR she has to be unconscious.” Vincent advised, as he loaded up on more drugs to take with him.

  “How come you didn’t say that before?” Dad watched him suspiciously.

  “Why didn’t you tell me that the Lokoti Werewolf gene was in every Lokoti, even if it were only the males who were usually activated?” He retorted.

  Dad rolled his eyes before he turned back to Mum, however she had to quickly look away to hide her laughter. She had always thought it was funny, the constant fighting between her Lokoti Werewolf husband and Calculator.

  When we were all transported back to my house in Alaska, Vincent was holding onto Mum’s arm too.

  The sight of the futuristic Medical Lab disappeared and reformed into the semblance of my living room. Medical beds and the sterilized smell of the Lab were replaced with the vision of couches, the dining table and the smells of recent cooking from our kitchen.

  Our house was decorated almost the same as Gran and Grandfathers; Nana and Grandpa’s or even Uncle Julian and Aunt Danika’s was… country style with a pine furniture and second-hand couches in the living room. Our house was simplistic, spartan and yet homey as it was kept warm with life, food and company. Plenty of family photos adorned shelf space or sat over the mantle piece.

  Everyone released their hold on Mum or Gran as Vincent immediately set to work by opening up his medical kit on our dining table. I watched hesitantly as he prepared two futuristic syringes which would spray the drugs at high pressure into the applicant’s skin. One syringe was filled with a knock-out drug and the other with DYSTAR.

  “Um, do we need to do this right now?” I asked nervously.

  “It’s best to, especially since you need to be asleep for the procedure.” Vincent replied as he filled the futuristic syringe/ sprays with the drugs.

  I subconsciously took a step backwards away from the scary looking blue liquid… when I accidentally walked into Dad who was standing behind.

  “It’s only temporary B,” he squeezed my shoulder, “as it’s only for two more nights of the full moon cycle.”

  “Uh huh.” I tried to swallow but my throat felt constricted.

  Just then I jumped when we heard; KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

  It was pretty loud too, so loud that our front door shook from the impact. Uncle Julian went to answer it. He didn’t say a word as he simply stood to the side and held the door open.

  My eyes widened when I saw the ten other members of the Lokoti Werewolf pack led by Uncle Harry, walk into my living room. Oh and Declan was here too.

  He walked in last as the honorary member of the pack. Declan threw me a quick glare before he went and stood behind Uncle Fin to avoid eye-contact with me. That bastard! He’s the one who kissed me and HE’S the one who’s acting like it’s the other way around!

  “B.” Uncle Harry greeted with a nod.

  “Uncle Harry.” I gave a polite nod back.

  “You are the first female Lokoti Werewolf.” He said.

  “Yeah, so I heard.” I almost rolled my eyes but Dad nudged me to mind my manners.

  Uncle Harry smirked, “and you’re the last Circulator born in human history.”

  “Um yeah, I heard that too.” I muttered and this time it was Grandfather who gave a warning look.

  “You are the fifteenth member of the pack.” He continued, unperturbed by my petulance.

  I looked from him to the other members, but I purposefully skipped over Declan. To be honest I felt a little self-conscious standing there in my jeans and the papery smock. Especially now I would be the only female in a male dominated pack.

  “So.” I forced myself to sound cheerful. “Do I get a membership kit or something? How about a name tag that says, ‘Hi I’m Bianca the First Female Lokoti Werewolf?”

  “Yeah, it’s in the post.” Uncle Ian snickered and then so did several other members of the pack.

  Considering that postal deliveries were sketchy at best since the War? It made me smirk at the, ‘don’t hold your breath’ quality of the answer. I pressed my lips together as I quietened.

  “The Lokoti Werewolves have a long history as well as a noble one.” Uncle Harry said seriously. “We uphold the tradition of protecting the Lokoti Tribe. We were created to protect all that a Lokoti Wolf holds important, his mate, his young and his territory.” Uncle Harry’s chest expanded in pride. “As Circulators have the responsibility to protect the timeline, you Little Wolf are now part of history by becoming one who fights as part of the pack.”

  “OK…?” I tried to swallow again but my throat was too dry.

  Next, he stepped up so he could place a heavy hand on my shoulder. “You will always be remembered in stories of the pack, just as you will be remembered as one of the tribe’s Light People. You are both the Last Circulator born to the human race as you are the first female Lokoti Werewolf to the tribe. You are legacy, Little Wolf.”

  My breath caught in my throat as my eyes widened, before I looked from Uncle Harry, to Ian, to Grant, to Fin, Quinn and the rest of the pack until my gaze ended with the males in my family. With the Werewolves differing ages, some in their twenties to others over a hundred, I truly did see history in my very own living room.

  “I am First.” Uncle Harry proclaimed. “Your Grandfather is Second to the Lokoti Werewolf pack.”

  I nervously licked my lips, “OK…?” But I was completely clueless what all of this meant?

  Uncle Ian recognized the lost look in my eyes, “it means B that when Harry gives an order, we follow it.”

  “Oh.” I said puzzled. “But I always thought that you lot were empathic and operated on a group consensus or something.”

  “All organizations need a leader, do they not?” Uncle Harry smiled in amusement.

  Next I looked at Grandfather, “so what does Second do?”

  “I make sure the will of the First is adhered to.” He said simply.

  Oh…then for some reason I next found my eyes sneaking towards Declan to see how he reacted to all of this. I couldn’t imagine him obeying just one person. I always thought it took the entire will of the pack to keep him in line. To my surprise, I found Declan looking on Grandfather with the same kind of respect of a son looking on his father in admiration.

  “So um,” I tried to keep my voice from wavering, “does this mean that I’m going to start patrolling the borders of Lokoti land too?”

  Suddenly the reaction from not only Uncle Harry, but all of the male Werewolves took me off-guard. They all growled loudly by the very idea!

  “No.” Uncle Harry proclaimed as if his word was law.

  “No?” I echoed.

  “You are the pack’s one and only female Lokoti Werewolf. You may be faster than us also being a Circulator, but we are stronger than you. As a female, you will not patrol.” He declar
ed.

  As uneasy I was feeling being the only female Werewolf in this room full of males, I was also curious. So like a beginner, I put up my hand to ask my questions.

  “But why?” I queried. “Mum helped the tribe fight off the 500 marauders just before I was born. Gran helped ready the tribe for the Third World War and she was the one who took down the European Werewolf which turned Declan. So why can’t I patrol?”

  “Because you are female.” Grant spoke.

  “Because not only are female Werewolves rare in this world, let alone this tribe…” Uncle Quinn added.

  “…healthy human females are fought over thanks to radiation sickness.” Uncle Fin ended.

  “You will not be seen by outsiders or strangers.” Uncle Harry said firmly.

  “No non-Lokoti may know of your existence.” Grandpa agreed.

  “Just as the identity of the Lokoti Werewolves are protected by the tribe…” Dad spoke up.

  “…as are the identities of the tribe’s Circulators are hidden from outsiders,” Grandfather finished, “the tribe’s Last Circulator and first female Lokoti Werewolf must never be known to the rest of the world.”

  Then all of the male Werewolves in the room including Declan, gave a firm nod in agreement.

  In the pack, I saw uniformity as well as a hierarchy which served as a support structure. The male Werewolves in the room shared a comradeship from years of fighting together in their roles as the tribe’s protectors. To be honest, right then I didn’t want to make waves especially since I was the first and only female Lokoti Werewolf, which really threw a spanner in the works. So I too gave a nod to show that I would obey the will of the First.

  Grandfather, Grandpa and Dad came to stand behind me as they placed their hands on my back. Then Uncle Harry gave me a wink before he turned and departed from my house. The eleven other members, all followed him out as they left as a group.

  Declan was the last one out as he closed our front door behind himself. He passed me one last look, before he gave Grandfather a nod. Then he too disappeared.

  “Oh well then.” Mum looked to Gran. “That was nice wasn’t it, by welcoming B like that?”