Lycanthrope: Cover of Night

Roxanne looked over to other side of the taxi cab. Zaac’s gaze was lost in the passenger window’s view.

“Poor dear Josie,” she said to Zaac. “I wonder what’s going through her head right now?”

Zaac laughed.

“Probably questioning the stability of her background checks when it comes to hiring volunteers.”

It had been an interesting morning. It was the end of Camp Summerset’s two-week session and the kids were leaving for home that Saturday. Both Zaac and Roxanne were ready to head out as well. Roxanne had been packing her things together when the huffy faced, stocky head counselor unpleasantly barged into the cabin.

“So just upping and leaving now, is that it?” Josie demanded.

Roxanne rolled her shorts into her luggage. The job was over and she didn’t have to worry about saving face, plus the lack of sleep was starting to make her grouchy.

“What do you want, Josie?”

“I just got back from talking with one of my staff rangers,” she huffed. “He mentioned how he spied a red-haired woman sneaking back in this cabin during the late hours of the night.”

“Tell him if he likes the color, I’ll refer him to my stylist, Yancine,” Roxanne replied sarcastically.

Josie narrowed her eyes.

“He also mentioned that size eight heeled hiking boot tracks were found matching the ones circling the camp,” Josie added, looking down at Roxanne’s shoes.

“You certainly are drawn to those woods at an inconvenient time. Were you part of that commotion that occurred the other night?”

“No Tracks! Roxanne,” she thought and then replied.

“I’m an insomniac. I have to go on walks to rest my nerves, besides nothing bad happened. Your rangers got a little riled up, that’s all.”

“If it were a medical issue then you should have come forth with it. Seriously, what makes you think you have special privileges?”

“Look, all kids are accounted for and have left with pleasant memories. The return rate is favorable and your daddy’s allowance to you is secure,” she remarked.

Josie was pretty pissed now.

“Why of all the nerve. You know, you’ve aroused quite the attention. I think there are some people that might take some interest,” the woman said, maliciously.

For a brief moment Roxanne felt her guts rising and jumped to conclusions. What if Zaac had lied and really was a tracker? He could have reported her whereabouts that morning and a squad could be already coming in.

“I’m going to add a word to your transcripts, Carly. I don’t think they’re going to take an insubordinate punk like you,” she spat, venomously.

Any other time, Roxanne would have been ready to counter with a verbal attack, but the tension she had felt was immediately released when Josie addressed her by her fake name.

Roxanne laughed with relief as she grabbed her suitcases. Josie looked at her with a question.

“Wow, even hitting some rough patches, everything was kept intact. This initiation was a total success,” she announced to herself as she bumped past the thick woman.

Before leaving she turned to face Josie one last time. “Oh yes, when you plan to contact the university try not to sound too befuddled when Social Security informs you that Carly Mason doesn’t exist.”

Roxanne turned to face the warm morning, and hummed herself a jaunty rock tune as she left the head counselor standing in the doorway, looking dumbstruck.

* * *

The taxi pulled up next to a log cabin resting below the lush tree branches of the forest. Zaac jumped out and opened the door for Roxanne. She was a little surprised by his chivalry but smiled. After paying the driver and retrieving her luggage, she joined Zaac and approached the front door. They rang the doorbell and an older man answered.

“Zaac, it’s good to see you again,” he happily said, giving his grandson a half hug.

“How you doing, Swinger?” Zaac asked.

Carlisle patted him on his shoulder and then seemed to be awestruck when he saw Roxanne.

“Pleasure to meet you, Miss Gwenvi,” he said offering his hand.

The lycanthrope accepted the handshake.

“Pleasure’s mine.”

She could see the resemblance in Zaac’s grandfather. He had a small and muscular frame, intelligent hazel, almond shaped eyes, and though his hair was graying, she spotted a few hairs that were chestnut like Zaac’s.

Carlisle’s gaze lingered on her for a moment as if he were remembering a long-lost friend. Then he addressed both of them.

“Well, I imagine y’all have had a trying time. Care to join me for a venison lunch?” he offered.

“Venison sounds divine!” Roxanne happily answered before Zaac could.

Carlisle smiled and ushered them into the dining room.

***

“So that was the last image Roxanne left for that familiar, a retrieved compass in his face, and a literal middle finger,” Zaac laughed.

Roxanne smiled.

“I had you to thank though. If you hadn’t distracted it, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

Carlisle shook his head in astonishment.

“I’ve heard those things can shred a man. Must have taken guts to confront him.”

“That and some Porswine blood,” Zaac declared.

“Well, congratulations on your success,” Carlisle complimented.

She shrugged but didn’t bother covering up a smile. “Zaac mentioned you are both remnants. Were you ever able to shift?”

“I’ve done everything from training myself to track smells, bring down prey, and change form for a short time. This venison is a result of one of my hunts, but I didn’t use any weapons.”

Both Zaac and Roxanne marveled at his words and the very meat they were consuming.

“That’s amazing!”

Carlisle nodded gratefully.

“Zaac’s been coming up here every summer to learn the same.”

“Slowly getting there,” he smiled.

“And what do you do when you’re not learning how to run on all fours?” Roxanne asked.

“Traveling the world the rest of the year. I’ve come across some interesting relics. Seal of Aclarenchia sound familiar?”

The werewolf dropped her fork and studied him.

“Are you messing with me?” she asked in a dead serious tone.

“I would never think to be that cruel to a guest in my own house.”

“We’re talking about a seal that shows up maybe once a century, if we’re lucky. The very means of passage to Aclarenchia’s temple?”

“That’s the one.”

The werewolf remained quiet, studying him curiously.

“Someone want to fill me in?” Zaac asked.

“Every time the lycanthropes have attempted to find a way to remain in Allosfaire, they would have to summon her first because they’d never find the answer without doing that,” Carlisle filled him in. “It’s the seal that allows them to enter the tunnels of the Talisman Mountains where the mother wolf resides.”

“And the Seal of Aclarenchia has been lost for some time,” Roxanne continued.

“Why do you think that is?” Zaac questioned.

“According to history, it’s because the mother wolf wants to make sure we don’t draw too much attention from the humans and other realms,” she answered. “Every time in history some tragedy occurred and we ended up with less Lycans than we started with.”

“Exactly,” Carlisle stated, rising from the table. “If you’ve finished, I would be happy to show you my study and you can see it for yourself, Miss Gwenvi.”

“Make me a believer,” she replied, following him.

“You don’t mind clearing the table being that I went through all the trouble preparing supper, do you, Zaac?” Carlisle called.

Zaac realized he was being left out.

“No, not at all,” he grumbled as he started to clear plates.

“Good, follow me please, dear,” Carlisle ushered.

He led her into a large well-lit library with lovely wood work. Roxanne was in awe of the fine collection of literature.

“You must have some important scripts, being so hidden in this part of the valley.”

“I like to think of it as privacy, though I am holding some important artifacts,” he replied, turning to a locked case.

Inside, he retrieved a small slab of stonework with a bluish hue to it. Just like the bigger founding piece, it had the ancient cryptographic language carved into it. He handed it to her, as she cupped it gently as if it were some rare bird.

“Oh my god, I can’t believe I’m holding this,” she said awestruck. “Do you know how long it’s been since the lycanthropes last took on the trials?”

“Approximately one hundred and thirty years ago,” Carlisle replied.

“How did you find this?” she asked.

“In my youth I did quite a lot of traveling with humans and Lycans. With my certain company it was only a matter of time that I would come across something noteworthy.”

“You need to come with me to Ipsum.”

“No, my time for running on these quests is over. I’ve been retired for a while and have grown fond of it,” he said, shaking his head.

“I would suggest you take my grandson. He’s well trained in the ancient languages and in self-defense. I think he will be of use to you though I imagine you are already aware of that.”

Roxanne exchanged glances and then nodded her head as Carlisle assured her.

“Through my own series of events, I’ve learned one thing. When you start to doubt yourself take my word for it that you will make it further than you think.”

Roxanne appreciated his encouragement.

“Will you take Zaac with you?” Carlisle asked.

“Sure. It will be nice to keep him around, though the next place I sure as hell can’t take him,” she replied twirling the seal between her fingers.

***

“Wow. What a view,” Axel declared, looking down over the steep slopes.

Roxanne scrambled up behind him to look.

“It’s beautiful,” she admired. “Hey, if you look just that way, you can see the Porswine herd.”

Axel stared over her index finger.

“I’ll bet it’s the same one you saw three weeks ago.”

“Those things don’t remember scents, right?” Roxanne asked.

“No, they’re not elephants,” he laughed as they advanced forward.

“So how does this work?”

“With what?”

“The seal. Do we just hold it up in front of the entrance and say the magic word and voila?”

“Sort of, that and a blood offering marked on the door.”

“Hmm, charming,” she said sarcastically.

“It’s for recognition, so that only lycanthropes may be permitted,” he explained.

“Who else comes up here?” Roxanne asked.

“Hopefully no one today,” Axel answered, offering her a hand as she climbed up a rock.

They walked on a little way before Roxanne smelled a scent and ran ahead. She was determined to show that she wasn’t intimidated on what Allosfaire might let loose.

She changed form as her ears grew and nose stretched into a muzzle. “Hey Axel, do you smell anything?”

“Get down!”

He knocked his weight into hers and brought her to the ground. Roxanne looked up startled. With a loud crash a rock had been flung and imbedded itself in a crevice. If Axel hadn’t moved, the rock would have struck her in the head.

“What the!?”

“Satyrs,” Axel growled before she could finish her sentence.

Shielding her from any more attacks, he led her under the safety of a towering rock below the path as they readied their weapons.

“Damn, missed her!” one of the satyrs cursed.

“What? How could you with her pointy ears sticking up in the air?” the second asked.

“The brute with her knocked her out of the way,” a third called.

“Why you want to kill her anyway? She’s cute. We ought to keep her around for a little while.”

“Are you nuts? You want to keep a werewolf for a pet? No thank you.”

“We are passing through, there is no need for hostilities!” Axel shouted from behind cover.

One of the satyrs called back.

“Passing through? Like hell, we know why you’re here. Take a hike back to that shitty little world of the humans if you know what’s good for you.”

“If it’s so shitty than why are we constantly having to kick you out of it?” Roxanne growled and then turned to Axel.

“Why are they even here?”

“They have the bright idea that if they stand guard in front of Aclarenchia’s temple that we’ll be trapped in the mortal world.”

“Shows how much time they have on their hands,” Roxanne mumbled.

“We’re going to break through eventually,” she called at the opponents. “You’re not exactly keeping on our good side.”

“Huh, you two legged dogs think you are all so powerful. Even your own wolf mother abandoned you to the mortal realm.”

“Hmph, he’s got a point,” she whispered to Axel.

“Stay focused, Roxanne,” Axel said.

“Fine, let’s try to flank them. We can take them out easier if we have more of an angle,” Roxanne suggested.

“You sure you want to do that? It might be safer to stay together.”

“I’m sure, besides you can’t babysit me forever,” she said.

“It’s not babysitting. It’s a matter of watching each other’s back,” he called as Roxanne darted behind the next boulder a few feet next to them. barely missing the satyr’s sling shot rounds.

Axel shook his head. “But have it your way,” he said softly.

She shot at her enemies with her crossbow while ducking out of the way of their returning fire.

Even though she took some down, they started to advance and Roxanne knew she would have to maneuver to avoid being surrounded.

“Watch out for their bombs. They have them scattered all over the rocks,” Axel said telepathically. His advice came a bit too late as Roxanne accidently set one off by a rock. Black smoke erupted and a heavy force knocked her a few feet back. She shielded herself from most of the blow but it caused enough commotion to get the satyrs’ attention.

“They’re over there!” one of them called, rushing to her position.

“Oh shit,” Roxanne grumbled, moving fast and staying low to avoid them spotting her.

Keeping her muzzle extended, she combed the ground to pin point the black powder fused from their remaining bombs. Axel wasn’t exaggerating by much. Those walking goat men had placed them in the majority of the area.

She moved until she was behind a small narrow passage that funneled downward. Roxanne caught the scent of one coming closer and readied her crossbow. She lay in wait as it made an appearance and shot it straight in the throat. There was a brief gurgle, but the noise was kept to minimum and Roxanne was able to retrieve her arrow.

“You still alive?” Axel asked.

Roxanne reached back to him. “Of course, a little stumble but I can manage.”

“I had no doubt,” he chuckled and then continued.

“Little advice for ya. The satyrs will be careful not to tread on their own bombs. However, if you spot one walking closely to one you can set it off by taking a shot at it.”

“Thanks, but I’m not in the best position to maneuver. Do I really want to funnel them all down here?”

“I’ll be in shortly, if you can keep them distracted in the front it will really make a difference,” Axel declared.

Roxanne started to feel nervous. “I don’t know Axel, are you sure?”

“Roxanne, trust me,” he replied simply.

She had heard him say that before and knew that he could keep his word. She set off the bombs as one unfortunate brute stumbled in front of it. The rest came in a fury as Roxanne took her shots at them. Then, to her dread her pistol clicked empty.

“You’re ours, wolf bitch,” the satyr shouted.

“Spoke too soon,” came Axel’s voice from above them.

He brought two down in his lycanthrope form as his claws slashed their throats. The ones in front were startled by the assault and attention was turned briefly. Roxanne took it to her advantage and lunged forward in her own lethal attack.

The blood stained beneath her nails. Roxanne mindlessly ran her tongue beneath it in hopes to clean them, then spat it out when she remembered how bad satyr blood tasted.

She turned to Axel.

“Your sneak tactics never disappoint.”

“Neither does your trust in me,” he replied. “You weren’t too worried, were you?”

“Nah, I knew you would show up,” Roxanne sighed. Axel seemed to notice.

“You alright?”

“It feels different here,” she replied. “In the human world, it’s a matter of protecting our identity and land. Here I can’t help but feel a little guilty. Does that make me a wimp?”

“No, it just means you have a working conscience and be happy you have one, it’s one of the few things that separate us from some of our less pleasant family members,” he replied, referring to rabids.

“I tell myself that,” she declared.

The satyrs’ scent filled the air once more.

“Axel?” Roxanne asked.

“I can smell them,” Axel answered. “You got this?”

“Hmm, hmm,” she hummed before taking her position. The young Lycan pulled the tactical wire from her holster and her false lead bottle and strung it between several rocks while avoiding the attention of the advancing satyrs. One of them was only a few feet ahead before Roxanne rustled the bottle’s contents. It sounded like stones skipping over rocks.

“Did you hear that?” one of the beasts asked.

“Yeah, it came over there,” he growled.

Roxanne stayed crouched as they came closer. She waited until they were just close enough to the trip wire.

“Hold up what’s that?” one of the called in an alarmed tone. They must have spotted her. Too late. She triggered the trap and the wire snapped up, bringing two down in a tangled heap.

“Get out of there!” another called.

Axel and Roxanne were already on the move. They quickly made sure the couple that had been tripped stayed down permanently.

“What you were saying before about how it’s different when you’re protecting your own land, well this isn’t their own land. They defile the grounds of Aclarenchia with their presence and would seek havoc if they were permitted inside her temple,” Axel explained, comforting her.

“Good point,” she replied. “You would think with how vast and promising Allosfaire is, that we would try to learn to live without eviscerating each other.”

“Oh, not all of the shape shifters want each other dead. We have a few pacts with some other tribes in the human world, and with the Linxei here in Allosfaire,” he reminded her.

“Yeah, you mean the cat people?” Roxanne asked jokingly, referring to the child-like term.

“Yes, the ‘cat people’,” Axel answered.

“Is there any chance that I’m ever going to meet any of them, after hearing from you and Lucille about their existence?” she asked.

“Now that you are a valid member of Grexis, it seems only natural they have the honor of meeting you,” her mentor said flatteringly.

Roxanne smiled as they walked on.

“How long before we reach the entrance?” she asked, looking at the world growing smaller.

“It’s close. We have to reach the highest point, then it’s downhill from there.”

“Let’s hope so,” Roxanne shrugged.

Just up ahead another horde was lying in wait.

“Geeze, how many of these damn things are we going to have to go through?” Roxanne groaned.

“We’re almost there. Just stay focused,” Axel instructed.

There seemed to be more toward the end. Axel pulled his sawed-off shotgun from his coat and took aim at what looked like the last one. The buckshot smoldered the satyr’s hide while Roxanne took a stab at him from behind. He was left in a bloody state, as he unknowingly staggered a little too close to the edge of the cliff.

Axel raised an eyebrow as he called to Roxanne. “Best kept for a bigger fish,” he said returning the gun to his holster and then offered a hand to his accomplice. “Milady.”

“Good sir,” Roxanne replied while matching his tone and taking his hand. The satyr just regained his composure as he readied himself to attack, but the werewolves were ready.

As the beast lunged, Axel placed his free hand behind her back and spun her around so her aimed feet struck the satyr straight on. Roxanne’s heels slammed into his chest as he lost his balance and tumbled over the side of the ledge.

“Happy landing!” she called dryly.

It seemed peaceful for a moment, but two remaining brutes sneaked up and aimed at Roxanne’s head. Axel would have jumped to her aid but another brought his sickle behind his right shoulder. He gnashed his teeth as the blade cut his flesh.

“Oh, did that hurt? My sincerest apologies,” the satyr crowed and was about to strike again.

It was a foolish move, because Axel’s adrenaline had kicked in as he spun around. He knocked the sickle out of the satyr’s reach and gripped the scruff of his burly neck with his claws.

“I need no sympathy from you,” he hissed and then forced the satyr’s head into the side of a rock.

Meanwhile Roxanne quickly composed herself and rolled out of the way before the other satyr could bring his mallet on her again. Grabbing her knife, she flung it into her adversary and rolled on to her feet to join Axel.

“Whew, is that all of them?” Axel half laughed.

“Can’t get any scent of them,” she replied. “Well, not anymore live ones at least.”

“Good, though it wouldn’t matter anyway now that we’re here,” he said turning to the entrance.

“Dang, that goat clocked you good. Are you going to be okay?” she asked, concerned.

“I’d being lying if I said it didn’t hurt like a son of a gun, but yeah I’ll be fine. Besides it will save me the trouble of making a cut for a blood offering.”

Roxanne laughed. “A pin prick is a bit different from a war gash, but still.”

She pulled the seal and placed it in a cleft where it appeared to have been broken from the rock.

Axel reached behind his shoulder and wet his fingers with the blood, before running them above the seal leaving red streaks marked across its surface. Roxanne did the same and stepped back to watch the stones begin to shift.

The mountain trembled as several rocks tumbled away and the doorway appeared in front of them. Just beyond the darkness they could see the tunnel drift lazily into the mountain. It was like a big gaping mouth waiting to swallow them whole.

“Ladies first,” Axel declared.

Roxanne didn’t say anything, though she was a little afraid as she stepped into the tunnel and breathed in the cool air that probably hadn’t been stirred in a century. Axel took one last look behind him to make sure nothing followed before joining her as the stone slab shut behind them.

It was black as a moonless night inside. The werewolves sniffed to get a scent, as a strong mineral smell fumigated the air.

“Do you have your lighter on you?” Axel asked.

“Of course,” she replied, already flicking it open. “Maybe I could wrap up a torch?”

“No need.”

When he lowered the flame to the side, Roxanne jumped when a fire sparked into life and snaked down the tunnel.

“Resin’s flammable,” he grinned.

If they were expecting a spectacle to be inside the mountain then they were not disappointed. For it truly was a sight worth taking in.

The tunnel opened into a glorious, spacious cavern. Smoky violets and deep crimson hues gleamed from the rockwork. Eight-foot-long stalagmites and stalactites rose high and hung low. The two entered the underground wonderland.

“If I wanted to get buried somewhere exotic, I would say this is the place,” Roxanne declared.

“Aclarenchia isn’t dead though, this is just where she reigns until summoned,” he corrected.

“Yeah, I know. Let me rephrase that. If I were to have some exotic place where I could catch up on some of the latest console releases, this would be the place,” she clarified before turning to him. “What about you?”

“I don’t play video games.”

“Yeah, I know, I meant what would you do if you had some free time?”

Axel chuckled dryly. “Free time isn’t a luxury I’m necessarily granted. Even if we are able to stay in Allosfaire, we’ll still have to make a claim there too against the other tribes, as you should know.”

“I’m aware of that,” she said defensively and then stopped. “Do you think I’m not?”

Axel turned back to face her and spoke in a more confiding manner.

“I think you have the edge and the capability, but I don’t think you should have the need to prove anything. I for a fact know what that road can lead to.”

“I appreciate that, but I don’t think you should worry yourself with how I personally am motivated.”

“As your official mentor, I cannot help but look over that. Keep in mind this trial has been attempted before, and three times no one has ever been able to find the rabid cure. We may be in over our heads.”

“If you’re worried about the risks, why are we even working for Grexis?” she asked.

“Risk nothing, gain nothing,” he said with a sliver of a smirk.

The two descended the burgundy limestone staircase and beheld the sight of the cavern. From the angle they were positioned, the opening appeared as a low maze with corridors made of stalactites and stalagmites. In the far center of the cavern, where the minerals had dripped and summited from the ground, a towering, funneling, rock formation had actually come together from both the ceiling and cave floor.

“This is amazing,” Roxanne exclaimed, absolutely breath taken.

Even Axel allowed himself to enjoy the sight. “It truly is.”

“My only question is, where is Aclarenchia?”

“Look over there,” Axel pointed. There was a tunnel lit with torches. A broad, elaborate stone work engraved the entrance.

“Her den should just be through there.”

As they explored the cavern, they both scavenged a few supplies scattered amongst the stonework.

“What are we looking for?” she asked.

“I told you, crushed up limestone is perfect for ‘hiding dust’.”

“Right, to throw off enemies like with the false lead.”

“Yes, but this isn’t for trackers,” he told her. “Some of our enemies have the luxury of using their noses just as much as we do.”

“Thanks for the reminder,” she replied, placing a few of the rocks into her side bag for safe keeping.

As they continued, a very strange sight grabbed their attention. One of the corridors contained several wolves frozen in a stance. Roxanne and Axel stood silent, waiting for the wolves to turn on them, but they didn’t.

They just stood there.

Gathering courage, they advanced with caution. The wolves were stone statues.

“What in the other realm are these?” Axel asked.

“You got me,” Roxanne declared, walking over to examine one. “Goodness, they look so real.”

“Yeah, they do. I wonder why they’re here.”

“Don’t know. Eek, they’re giving me the creeps. Let’s keep moving.”

The two walked on, when an unsettling cracking came from behind them. They stopped in their tracks and turned to see a split running down the wolf statues’ bodies. Slowly the split splintered and bits of rock began to peel away.

Beneath the life like stone, fur was bristling up.

Roxanne’s eyes were glued to the statue. Axel snapped her out of it.

“I have a bad feeling about this, come on,” he said, grabbing her arm.

Just in time, the two took refuge in a circle of stalactites. Roxanne peeped over and saw a horde of the wolf creatures sniffing and snarling as they paced the caverns.

“I think they’re looking for us,” she declared.

Axel scoffed and reached into his pocket. He placed the limestone on the floor and ground it with a rock. Taking the fine powder between his fingers, he scattered the contents in a circle around them.

“That should buy us some time.”

“Will that work on them?” Roxanne exclaimed, not knowing how the tracker dust would play out for the stone creatures.

The sniffing became louder as one of the wolves approached their hideout. Roxanne and Axel held their breath as it came only an arm reach away.

He sniffed once and turned tail and paced in the other direction. They both allowed themselves to breathe.

“Huh, I guess it does work,” Roxanne said, relieved.

“They’ll pick our trail back up soon enough.”

“Flank them?”

“Yeah. You get the ones on the right. I’ll handle the left.”

Roxanne felt her stomach go into a knot, but she nodded. Swiftly and quietly, she navigated to the far right. Something carved into the stone surface caught her attention.

“She imprisons us all,” are what the words read.

Roxanne noticed there was more carving at the far side of the cavern.

“Beware the so-called mother wolf.”

“Who wrote that?” Roxanne asked, puzzled. “The stone werewolves?”

She took out her false lead bottle, placed it by a pile of stones, and waited patiently as the wolves drew near. She pulled the string and rustled the bottle, causing a wolf to turn its back to her.

She pulled out her crossbow and fired. The beast snarled as the arrow reflected off its fur and went flying. The only effect it really had was angering the beast. Roxanne felt her hair bristle in return.

She took form as her body compressed and expanded in the form of a wolf. The stone canine lurched and the werewolf was caught in a rough tumble.

Finally, she snared her jaws under his neck and clamped hard.

Stunned with pain, the beast gurgled and retreated off on his own free will as he found a quiet place to lie down and curl in a ball. The sound of the dog like whimpering and his sad eyes threatened to break her heart.

They weren’t full of rage or blood lust. They appeared scared and human. The dog turned his head to the side and, suddenly, a cool light formed at the wound in the neck and spread across his back to the tip of the tail.

She reached out to touch the fur. It was cold and hard as rock once more.

“What happened to you?”

The sound of Axel’s voice breaching her mind pulled her out of the trance. “Did you get one? I heard a noise.”

“Yeah, but they don’t die. They just revert back to statues.”

“I found that to be the case too. I also noticed bullets don’t work on them.”

“No, they just reflect them. Axel, do you know what happened to these Lycans?”

“They’re not the typical rabids,” he replied. “A symptom of being a prisoner, perhaps?”

“But why would she jail them here?”

“I’m sure we’ll find out. Anyway, don’t forget to use your tracker dust. For a safe zone, should you need it,” he said, letting go.

Roxanne sprinkled the dust in a small perimeter.

Once or twice when venturing away, she would retreat to the safe zone to throw off her scent from the stone wolves.

“I’m not going anywhere if I have to keep retreating.”

Roxanne remembered how fire worked when she had dealt with the rabids back in Anchorslotte half a year ago. She sprayed an aerosol can along the cave floor, pulled out her dagger, and pricked her arm to run a blood trail near the spray can streaks.

When the rogue came close enough, Roxanne switched on her lighter.

“Little closer,” she said and set the line ablaze.

The fire snaked and caught the rabid underneath. She jumped and lost her footing as she yipped in pain. Roxanne leapt forward and tried her dagger, which worked underneath the throat.

Roxanne watched in pain as she rolled out beneath the rabid who reverted back to stone like the other.

“If you use firearms, catch them off guard when their fur isn’t bristled up as armor,” came Axel’s voice.

“I’ll remember that. Also meet me in the stalactite tower,” she told him.

Heeding his advice, she knocked the ones she caught at a distance with her arrows.

“I’m sorry for this,” she said as she retrieved her arrow before it could solidify. The rogue looked up at her before the gray stone work took over his body.

“Don’t stray too long,” he managed to say.

Once Roxanne found Axel, the cavern seemed quiet and still.

“Well that wasn’t something I was expecting,” Axel said, gravely.

“I can handle hunting and killing, but the idea that they’re trapped here. That’s just messed up.”

Axel turned his head.

“Do you think Aclarenchia is keeping them here?” Roxanne asked.

“It’s possible, after all, she’s the only one here.”

“But why would she want to?”

“I don’t know, Roxanne.”

Roxanne shut up.

The two kept walking until Roxanne felt her whole-body shake. Axel noticed.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I feel really nauseated.”

“Smell of blood, perhaps?”

“There wasn’t even that much, I don’t know what…” Roxanne started and then stopped cold. Right behind Axel was the familiar she had seen back at Camp Summerset. He grinned maliciously at her as he prepared to lunge.

“AXEL, BEHIND YOU!!” she screamed.

Axel whipped around. “Another rabid?!”

“NO, it’s a fam...EAAHHH!” she shrieked as it pounced forward, causing her to stumble backward.

Axel tried to grab her, but she lost her footing and tumbled down a steep chasm.

Luckily, she landed with only a few scrapes and bruises.

“Roxanne!” Axel called above her.

She squinted as her eyes adjusted to the dark. “I’m okay, I just though… shit, I must be losing it.”

“Hang on, I’ll try to see if I can find a way down.”

“No, there’s no point of us both being stuck down here.”

“Well I can’t just leave you,” he huffed.

“Look, there’s a path heading away. I can follow it and sees where it leads.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“Axel, the sides are sheer and it’s too far for me to throw any wire up,” she sighed. “It’s the best I have right now.”

“Okay, I’ll be waiting for you up here.”

Roxanne looked down the tunnel and narrowed her eyes.

“Oh, this is going to fun. Trapped in a place where I’m hallucinating and separated from my one alliance. What could go wrong?” she thought sarcastically.

She headed on and kept her senses open. “I hope I don’t run into any of those damn stone wolves.”

All of a sudden, the sensation of a migraine spread through her head, causing her to crouch and hold her head as she moaned.

“Son of a bitch. What is happening to me?!” she cried and gritted her teeth.

She lay on her side as she tried to cool her nerves and wait for it to pass. The headache did, but only to replace her pain with terror as she felt the whole tunnel tremble.

“It feels like an earthquake.”

It wasn’t one though. The image she saw was the corridor expanding and then being completely taken over by a particular sinister looking vine. Tendrils shot down the hall and expanded to every free surface as cat eyes shot from their stems and stared at her intently.

“Oh God, don’t tell me he’s here in the caves,” she gasped as the vines snaked behind her. She shook her head in disgust and frustration, but the message was clear.

“Nowhere to go but forward.”

Avoiding the vines wasn’t easy when she had to dodge haints, who suddenly infested the tunnels with her.

“How is that possible?!” she cried as she took the putrid, wall-crawling ghouls down. Forgetting about the vines, she found herself strung up by the tendrils. The haints crawled around her and slashed at her brutally. One climbed up her legs and pinned her arms back as it stared down with cold dead eyes.

Another haint above her held her head so she had to look forward. The longer she gazed at the one in front the more she felt her strength drifting away.

Fighting through the spell and not pausing to think, she snapped her muzzle forward and bore her teeth into the creature’s skull. The taste was beyond horrid imagination, but it did the trick as the haint fell away lifeless and Roxanne was able to free herself from the trap.

Shooting the vines helped keep them from snaring at her, but they lurched back and forth until Roxanne used some of her aerosol and lighter tactics on it. That seemed to be what finally made the vines let go and shrivel up.

Roxanne glanced down and inspected her lighter and spray can.

“I’ll have to remember to pack more next time,” she noted.

Cautiously, she continued to gain the upper hand on the vines and haints. The sight of the end of the tunnel brightened her spirits.

“Almost out!”

She ran in a full sprint until a figure appeared in front of her.

It was the familiar again.

Roxanne’s heart beat wildly. “No, you’re not here.” she told the demon.

The thing grinned in response and took a step forward.

“It’s just in my head,” she tried reminding herself as she backed away.

The familiar laughed.

“Right, because it’s only your mind at stake,” he warned, and then pounced.

***

When Roxanne woke up, she found she was in the exact place that she had rested.

“Where… What?” she asked, looking around and frowning.

“Great. I’m in the exact place that I left off.”

She climbed to her feet and then looked around in a dark and vine free cave as she walked forward.

“Oh well, at least I’m not having any more mind flips.”

The further she walked in the dark lonely corridor the more she felt like she wasn’t alone.

For all she knew that wasn’t out of the question. Amongst the darkness, she imagined a fanged grin and a clawed hand reaching out to snatch the back of her neck.

That creepy image she conjured was all it took for her to suddenly take off, running as a wolf.

Finally, the tunnel began curving up and Roxanne pushed away a few rocks to find herself in a cavern.

She froze in place when greeted by a wolf staring back at her.

“Oh, thank heavens,” she sighed, never so happy to see those damn stone wolves again.

As she looked for Axel, she found him peering through every nook and cranny, trying to find an easy route to where she had landed.

“Made it,” she called, unable to hide a grin.

Axel whipped around and then relaxed.

“I’m glad for that. Are you okay?” he asked, walking over to meet her.

“Few scrapes, nothing broken, but boy am I going to be sore tomorrow,” she replied and then asked. “Did you see it by chance?”

“See what?”

“It was a familiar right behind you. It knocked me into the chasm and I had another spell like before.”

“There wasn’t anything there, Rox,” he told her. “You must have imagined it.”

“But it was right here… wait a minute,” she paused. “Axel, how long have we been here?

Axel took out his pocket watch to confirm.

“We left around 9 this morning and it’s now after 3, so a little over six hours.” He checked his pocket watch and noticed her grave expression.

“Axel, what if I’m starting to become rabid?”

He studied her with serious eyes and tried to shake off the thought of what happens when werewolves stay too long in Allosfaire.

“No Rox, it takes much longer for that to happen. Days at least, not several hours.”

“We don’t know that. It could be different for everyone.”

“Lots of scouts and other werewolves have ventured for at least two days and they all came home safely.”

“Were any of them recently infected by a familiar?” she asked.

Axel paused.

“It doesn’t matter, because I wouldn’t leave you here,” he declared.

“Feral and spotting fur and fangs, I would haul your ass right back to your awaiting paperwork.”

Roxanne laughed politely, while realizing it was more of a reassurance to himself that she wasn’t turning.

His rare jokes made her nervous.

The longer they remained, the more she wanted to leave this strange world. As usual she tried to distract herself with a little small talk.

“Do you think Zaac will be okay?” Roxanne asked.

“Of course, the Pack will have him working in tap wiring,” he replied. “He’ll be safe and useful. Tracking solar storm activity and keying on news reports.”

“Even after all that he helped us with?”

“You helped me a great deal too and risked your hide as I recall, and you had to work your way from the desk job.”

“If he does well, where will he go from there?”

“That’s up to Zaac,” he replied.

“Even with him a remnant?”

Axel turned toward her. “Like I said, that’s entirely up to him.”

Finally, they entered a large cavern slick with marble. The two examined it with awe, though Roxanne wasn’t sure what they were supposed to do now. Axel turned in a circle as he looked the place up and down.

“Hello!” he called.

His voice echoed until they felt everything began to shake.

Roxanne braced herself for what would come next. They both turned as they saw a light glowing from a tunnel leading into the cavern and stepped back as she came forward.

From the darkness, the beaming, female dire wolf trooped forward to receive them.

She was huge, as tall as Axel, even walking on all fours. Her ears came just above his head. Her fur was snowy white, from the tips of her ears all the way to the end of her tail. They only part of her that wasn’t white were her startling blue eyes.

Roxanne’s heart began to race. She couldn’t take her eyes off the beautiful mystical wolf or find the words to speak. Out of the corner of her eye, Axel looked just as awestruck as she did. Roxanne felt her legs tremble and lowered herself in a curtsy. She felt a little silly but didn’t know what else to do. To her relief Axel also bowed politely.

Aclarenchia grinned slightly. “Given the time, I figured I was due a visit.”

Her voice was deep and rich, and somewhat whimsical. It was as if she could speak both vocally and telepathically at the same time.

She walked towards Axel. “Axel Mayleim, I presume Grexis is well considering you’re still leading it?”

“Thank you, ma’am. We’re still hanging in there,” he chuckled.

“And you made it this far too…” she noted, smiling, and then turned to Roxanne. “For someone who considered herself shut off from her kind, you certainly made use of yourself at your university.”

The young werewolf looked at her questioningly. “How did you know about that?”

“I travel here and there from time to time in a few forms, Miss Gwenvi,” Aclarenchia replied, and then added. “I like to see how my family is progressing.”

The word ‘family’ stuck for a moment in Roxanne’s mind. She remembered the tortured look on the rabid’s faces as they turned back to stone, as well as the disturbing notes they had carved into the wall. If this was the kind of fate that lay in store for her own kind, what would happen to Roxanne and the pack should something go wrong?

“If you wouldn’t mind entertaining a question of mine,” Roxanne began. “Why put the pack and your descendants through all this strife because Romulus messed up?”

“Part of me does regret punishing the shifters of the human world for Romulus’s sins, but by that time it was too late. As you both know, Allosfaire will never be a true home until the energy no longer corrupts the shifters into rabids,” she told them.

“What’s important now is we do what we can,” Axel informed her.

“Sadly, the trail to the cure is long and wild and only the familiar’s queen, my opponent, holds the secret.”

“You came from Allosfaire. How do you not know what she knows?” Roxanne asked her.

“She’s older than myself and part of the corruption is her doing. She knew about the original secrets but hid them for her own gain of position.”

Axel looked puzzled. “Couldn’t we reason with her?”

Aclarenchia shook her head. “It’s all a game to her and she won’t give anything away for free. Only currency she accepts is the thrill of watching her competitors suffer. If I could force her to give up her secrets I would, but I myself am also bound to the laws of balance.”

Roxanne felt the scar behind her shoulder. “If you can’t figure it out as her equal, how do you propose we find out? These guys don’t play fair and are full of dirty tricks.”

“It’s been a long time since the pack attempted this and she’s itching for some excitement. If your pack is willing to entertain her, she’ll indulge you and open her gates,” Aclarenchia told them. “She’s probably already at work now that you’ve summoned me.”

The Grexis shifters stared back, pondering the events that would soon follow.

Aclarenchia spoke again.

“But you don’t have to just wait around. The kitsune can provide some insight, and aligning yourself with other shifter tribes can’t hurt. It’s going to take a full pack to take her and her minions on. I can guide you from time to time, but no direct assistance is permitted.”

Roxanne crossed her arms in annoyance.

“Is cutting yourself off for centuries permitted as well? Those stone wolves are left imprisoned.”

Mother Wolf flattened her ears. “There’s no order without chaos. If I never ceased my activity neither would the familiars. Putting no limits on these attempts would devastate and exhaust the pack to the point of extinction. Think of the in between time as recovery.”

“Recovery? More like biding our time in a world that persecutes us,” Roxanne protested.

Axel put his hand on her shoulder.

“Roxanne! Please.”

The large wolf didn’t appear to be put off by Roxanne’s stubbornness. “I have a good feeling about you and what you will bestow to your Pack.”

Axel shook his head. “She has a lot of potential. If only she could work on her rash attitude.”

Mother Wolf’s muzzle stretched into a grin. “It’s not a problem. I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a rough road ahead. . . well, rougher.”

“The familiars will pay you their own visit to push you to your limit. Whether traps or mind games, stick together, know your enemies, and remember familiars often hide their answers in plain sight. Bit of a sick joke.”

With that, the great wolf turned her tail and made a portal appear beside her that would lead them back to the human realm.

“I’ll keep tabs on you from time to time to see how you are progressing. Farewell and good luck.”

Roxanne and Axel stepped through and found themselves back in their office in Ipsum. Roxanne’s tired-out mentor collapsed into his chair and let out a long yawn.

She frowned and added dryly.

“At least she was nice enough to permit a short cut.”

“Roxanne, I don’t even know how you have enough energy to have sass.”

“Call it adrenaline from squaring off with death a twentieth time.”

“Really? Only Twenty?” Axel asked, half awake.

Roxanne chuckled.

“One hell of a trial ahead,” she added, leaning against his desk. “But I think we can make it through.”

He stared at her with his deep dark brown eyes. “Nothing to fear from Trials,” he noted, closing his eyes. “It’s the execution that kills you.”