by Wilson, Tia
“Do you ever think about the ones we lost,” Tom said feeling a heaviness in his heart.
Silas turned away from Tom and said, “All the time.” When he turned back his eyes were red and he was close to tears. “I was filled with hate for a long time after the warriors upped and left. I think a lot of us were. Times were hard around that period of time, Europe was ripping itself apart at the seams. I think both humans and shifters thought this was the end or at least the end of a way of life for a lot of us. When they left us behind it was a betrayal of the highest order. I lost brothers and friends when they chose to walk off into the sunset. No matter how bad any of us thought the strife was between our clan no one expected that to happen. I was angry for so many years after it. I came close to going and finding a cave and going into deep hibernation for a hundred years or more. I didn't want to deal with what I was feeling and what it did to the remaining clan members.” Silas cleared his throat and wiped away a tear as it rolled down his wrinkled cheek.
“Do you think they will ever return?” Tom asked.
I never want them to come back he thought as he looked out across the park. They should never be forgiven for what they did to our clan.
“I’ve thought about it long and hard,” Silas said and sniffled, “and I doubt there would ever be the option for them to come back. You know how it went down, you’ve heard the stories. Deeds were done on both sides that are unforgivable. As much as I miss some of those who left it was them who decided to break away from the clan. They destroyed any chance of returning when they choose that path.”
Tom nodded his head and glanced at Silas. Seeing him get upset always effected Tom. They had a contentious relationship for decades but now he saw him as almost a grandfather figure.
Silas ran his hands down his face and coughed. “Enough about the past we need to look forward now. There is more information about the boy and his school schedule at the usual drop point. Memorise it and then burn it. I am awaiting on some more intel from our other team before we make any kind of move. Once we have that I expect everything to fall into place very quickly so be on high alert for the usual signals.”
Silas unfolded his arms and Tom took this to mean the meeting was over. He got up to leave and Silas reached out and grabbed his arm. “Sit for a little while longer.”
Tom complied and sat back down. He kept his expression as blank as possible but he couldn't help feeling anxious.
“How are things between you and Nathaniel?” Silas asked.
Be careful with everything you say he thought, Silas seems to be giving you less of the picture then usual.
“He’s a bit high strung at the moment. I think we both are, the city will do that to the best of us. He’s been keeping to himself more than usual. I marked it down to missing his family and being fed up sharing such a small space with me. I can be as hard to get along with as him,” Tom replied.
“Anything out of the ordinary?”
Tom kicked a pebble and it bounced across the footpath and landed in the yellowing grass. What is he digging for he thought and knew it was best to be as honest as possible with Silas. The man had a way of looking at you that would cut through any lies your were about to say even before they left your mouth. Should I tell him about the late night trips to the bar and then coming home blind drunk, the constant fights he was instigating and the time he came back with blood on his knuckles.
“As I said he has been a bit angrier then usual. Other than that theres nothing to report. Why are you asking?” Tom said and he hoped he betrayed none of the emotions bubbling under the surface.
Silas stood up and looked down at Tom. “Standard procedure. I’ve asked Nathaniel the same questions about you. I have to ensure that my two best trackers are operating at peak capacity. It might be a while before I see you again. Stay sharp Tom.” He turned and walked away before Tom had a chance to reply.
Tom let out a long sigh when Silas was gone from view, every muscle in his body had been tensed and he knew it was because of questions about Nathaniel. How long should I keep covering up for him he thought. Tom leaned back on the bench and watched the humans of New York pass him by.
16
The Mongrels
The sound of screams had woke Nasak up, a scream from within his own nightmares. After that he could not get back to sleep and for the last hour he had lay in bed staring at the ceiling. Clarence snored gently from the other side of the room and Nasak listened to him with some envy. His friend had always had no problem with falling asleep, even in some of the harshest conditions he always found the embrace of sleep with ease. Nasak had seen him curl up under a piece of rusting corrugated sheet metal and fall asleep in a matter of seconds as the rain pounded down on it with explosive force. Nasak had spent the night huddled under the same metal covering as his friend slept and he sat beside him soaked, cold and unable to sleep.
Nasak's nights were haunted by dreams filled with screaming women who faded from view whenever he tried to catch a glimpse of them. The screams were ones of disgust mixed with horror at his twisted and deformed body. In these dreams he would be forced to walk down an endless street crowded on both sides by tall buildings with soaped out windows. As he walked along the endless street he could feel a multitude of eyes watching him and always judging. Screams that came from close to his ear would make him wheel around only to be faced with an empty street stretching on into infinity. Most of his nights were broken by dreams of that sort and he would wake up with a cold film of sweat covering his body and his breath coming in sharp ragged breaths. Sleep would never come after one of his scream filled nightmares and Nasak would sometimes get up and roam the forest at night to try to calm his mind.
For the last hour he had been staring at the ceiling and thinking about home, the home he had been banished from. They need to be reminded that we exist he thought as he stared at a thin hairline crack that ran across the ceiling above him. A red dot bounced across the ceiling and moved about in a jittery pattern. Nasak got out of bed and went to the window and looked towards the forest on the ridge out past the boundaries of the ranch. The red dot hit his chest and spun around in tight circle. Nasak raised his hand and the laser dot disappeared.
“We move out now,” Nasak said in a gravelly whisper.
Nothing. The snoring continued.
“Clarence,” he said louder.
The snoring stopped and he took a sharp intake of breath. “What is it?” he said sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
“A signal from Benson. Lets get the hell out of here,” Nasak said.
Clarence looked at his friend with sleepy eyes and said, “What about Tulimak?”
Nasak stretched and cracked his knuckles. “He can wait. We will deal with him all in good time.”
“Do you think they have eyes on us?” Clarence said getting out of bed and putting his modified shoes on to his twisted feet.
“Security for the whole complex seems extremely light. Thats the cockiness of Tulimak on display. I can see half of the complex through the back window and we look all clear. I think Tulimak would be happy with us disappearing back into the woods and never showing our faces again. Did you see how he looked at us when he addressed us?” Nasak said.
Clarence sighed and said, “i wouldn't even say he bothered to hide his disgust with us.”
Nasak eased open the door to the cabin and looked out across the complex. The two main building were dark and the only sound was the hooting of an owl.
“All clear,” Nasak said stepping outside. Clarence joined him and they made their way across the open fields back towards the forest. When they got to the base of the ridge a laser dot danced around in a circle and they went to its position and climbed the rocky ridge above it.
When they got to the top they looked back at the compound and there was no activity at all. Nasak had been expecting shots to be fired at them as they crossed the field and the absence of gunfire was another sad reminder of how unimportant the mongre
ls are to the members of the white bear clan.
Jay Benson stepped out from his hiding place as Nasak and Clarence got close. He was dressed all in black in a form fitting jacket and even in the dark his highly polished shoes where visible. His blonde hair was styled tight and the fragrance of vanilla and cinnamon wafted from the copious product in his hair. He opened his arms wide and Nasak grabbed him and pulled him into a tight bear hug. Clarence followed up with another hug and the two men slapped each others backs.
“What is that shit in your hair? I could smell it half way up the ridge,” Nasak said in a joking tone.
“I’ve got to look the part if I want to blend in. You could do with something a little sweet smelling yourself, you are both smelling a bit ripe,” Jay said with a broad grin. His teeth were capped and perfectly white and when he smiled women noticed and men felt a pang of animal jealousy. He could walk into a room and all eyes would be on him, watching him as he crossed the room in the fluid way that he traversed any space. His one green eye and one blue eye gave him an exotic air that offset his rugged handsome looks. He dressed well, looked good and could charm his way into and out of nearly any situation. He was one of the mongrel tribes most important members and one of the few that could truly move within the ranks of humans without being discovered. His brother wasn’t so lucky. His transformation left him a twisted and gnarled creature that would give any human who stumbled upon him nightmares for life. The pain of banishment for both brothers was just as strong as the white bear clan didn't care how small or subtle your manifestation of the properties of a mongrel were. If you displayed the properties of a mongrel they wanted you gone as soon as possible.
“We all can’t look like models some of us have to do important work,” Nasak said patting his friend on the back.
“Its good to see you both,” Jay said, “It’s been too long. How did Tulimak treat such honoured guests?”
“As good as can be expected. He showed us barely contained disgust even after we dropped him a a prize worthy of such a gilded king,” Nasak said.
“He’s just like his father,” Jay said with a sneer.
“He’s worse. Any restraint that his father had is no where to be seen in the son. He’s a dangerous foe,” Clarence replied.
Jay nodded and said, “Was I right about the woman? Did Tulimak buy that she is a part of the prophecy.”
“I think he has as much respect for the black bear clans stories as he does for us Mongrels. He is happy to have something in his grasp that is meaningful to his enemies. I don't think he believes any of their stories,” Nasak said.
“Do you believe them?” Jay asked.
Nasak turned and spat into the undergrowth. “She is not my problem, her and her friend are a means to an end. Tulimak would of never allowed any of us to get within a hundred yards of him without an offering to sweeten the deal. If I didn't have the human to give up to him I would of never got a chance to look him dead in the eyes and see what kind of creature he is. If you want me to feel something for the two we handed over to him, I’m afraid I cannot. The path that we proud mongrels have to walk upon takes precedent over all other matters. I don't like it anymore than you do Jay,” Nasak said.
Jay raised his hands and shrugged and said “I didn’t mean it like that. I believe in the cause as much as any member of our group.”
He is like a brother to me Nasak thought, but he can never fully understand what it is like to live with such afflictions. Humans don't run away in terror when they see him among them. Don't let your jealousy cloud you that is what the white bear clan would want, mongrel against mongrel until we destroyed ourselves.
“I think you have been spending too much time around humans. Maybe it is making you a little soft,” Nasak said in a half playful tone.
Jay didn’t push the issue any further and said, “I’m parked no too far from here. I can have you back with the group by daybreak.
The three mongrels headed in the direction of the dirt road that ran along the edge of the forest. Clarence hung back behind Jay and Nasak as they talked.
“What have you found out during your time among the humans?” Nasak asked.
“Tulimak has been imbedded in his corner of the city for the last couple of weeks. Helicopters have been coming and going on the hour and unloading crates each time,” Jay replied.
“Weapons?” Nasak asked.
“Could be. I had some low level guys twice removed from any of Tulimak's inner circle tell me that he is keeping some sort of bald freak on a chain. He keeps this creature by his side at all times now,” Jay said.
Nasak nodded his head and said, “Any ideas what it could be?”
“I have some, unfortunately its all speculation. Security around Tulimak has stepped up. He's now employing a small army of humans to patrol the perimeter of his complex. Inside he has nothing but the most elite back breakers and cold blooded killers of the clan. Something big is coming and at the moment Tulimak is operating inside a black box.”
“Do you think he is going to make a move on the black bear clan?” Nasak asked.
“Signs point to something as crazy as that. He has considerable forces on his side and with his father out of the picture now would be the time for the son to cement his legacy and do something that Tannis was never able to do. You know what this means,” Jay asked.
“It will be all out war. When they defeat the black bear clan there is no way that Tulimak will rest. He will want our kind wiped out until we are nothing more than a scary story told to young cubs,” Nasak said.
“Do you think Tulimak has a chance of taking out the other clan?”
“We strolled in and snatched two of their own minutes away from their town. One of the women we grabbed is the closest thing the black bears have to a saviour and we got her with close to no problems. I’d say they have little to no chance of surviving an attack. They aren’t prepared for any kind of attack on their own soil. They have gotten soft since they brokered peace with Tannis and his clan,” Nasak said.
“I’ve heard so many stories about them over the years. I’m surprised they let the clan get to this state,” Jay said.
“I think they grew tired of fighting and when the chance at peace arose they were blind to everything else. I can see that happening. Do you not feel the same with us? Our group has been through so much hardship, suffered so many loses that the idea of peace is alluring. The difference between the mongrels and the black bear clan is I know that the only way to ever have a lasting peace is if Tulimak and all his kind are destroyed. There is no other way,” Nasak said with a growl.
The three mongrels got to the edge of the forest which opened out into to a clearing with a dirt road leading up into the hills. Parked at the far side was a beat up car that had seen better days. They hung back in the dense growth at the edge of the forest and watched the car and its surroundings. Everything was still. They crossed they clearing and put some distance between them and Tulimak.
17
Grace & Anne
“I never thought I’d see you again,” Anne said as she sat up and winced in pain. The room had two simple beds with straw filled mattresses, a sink and toilet in the corner and a single flickering bulb lighting the room.
“I didn’t think I was going to get out of that room alive,” Grace said as she slowly got up from the floor, each movement exploding bombs of pain in her joints. Seeing Anne sitting on the corner of her bed looking haggard and in pain hurt Graces heart. She sat down on the bed beside her and the two women held each other in silence for a few minutes.
“Did you see anything when they lead you here,” Grace said after awhile.
“Nothing but a whole bunch of locked doors. There is not a lot sound coming from the rest of the place. We must be out in the country somewhere, well away from civilisation,” Anne said.
“Have you picked up any more scents that might help us?” Grace asked.
“No. I have picked up the smell of the mongrels that
captured us. The scent is fading fast. Apart from that I have nothing that can help us,” Grace said and looked at the raw skin on Graces wrists. “Are they very painful?” She asked.
“Yes they feel like they are on fire,” Grace said looking down at the damage.
“I’m going to do something that you might find a but gross but will help you. Do you trust me?” Anne asked.
“I trust you,” Grace said looking her friend in the eyes.
Anne lifted Graces arm up to her mouth and looked at the wounds. She stuck out her tongue and then gently licked the damaged area in a large sweeping motion. She lifted Graces other arm to her mouth and did the same.
Grace looked at the wet glistening patches on her wrists and smiled. “Oh wow. I can feel a tingle and the pain is fading away. The burning is gone and it’s down to a dull throb. What did you do?” she asked.
“I healed you. Shifter saliva has a weak healing property and some pain killing traits. It works wonders on small injuries, burn, scratches stuff like that. Your wrists should be healed by the morning,” Anne said giving her a weak smile.
“What about you? Can you heal your injuries?” Grace asked.
Anne shook her head and said, “Not with this device embedded in my flesh. I’m too weak to heal such massive damage. I think the doctor injected me with something to keep me in a weakened state. I can feel something like lightening dancing behind my eyeballs. It keeps erupting every couple of seconds, unexpected jolts of pain. It’s stopping me from focusing and healing myself.” Anne winced again and gripped the side of the bed her knuckles white with the strain.
