Fan Fiction ❯ Shape Shift 2: La Manada Nina ❯ Chapter 5

Discord crouched in the bushes, his quicksilver eyes following the humans in the clearing. There were at least 20 of them, all armed with what seemed to be silver bullets. "Stupid mortals. Too much T.V. rots the brain," he mumbled. "Okay, listen up!" The leader seemed to be speaking. "We know these animals are killers, so we show no mercy! Kill the adults on sight. We only want the young alive. Remember, this isn't a game! This is a life or death situation! All right, let's go!" They dispersed in groups of five.

Discord stepped back, deeper into the shadows. He nearly screamed when he felt the jagged metal teeth of the bear trap close around his ankle, cutting to the bone. Twisting to get to the lock and pull it off, he fell, suddenly dizzy. The trap seemed to have been laced with something, maybe poison. Breathing raggedly, Discord passed out.

"There they are," said Prank, quietly. Storm and War nodded and the three of them inched forward, toward the group of armed men. They were afraid. Their fear was so thick it could almost be tasted on the air. With a little smirk, Prank reached out to a tree and deliberately broke a dry twig. The men froze, staring around, sweating and breathing hard. War grinned and stepped in some leaves. Storm threw a rock into the group. "Jesus!" one man yelled, aiming at the darkness with a shaking rifle. "Cool it, Rob!" another guy said, grabbing him from behind. Rob jumped and the rifle went off.

And Prank and Storm were upon them, tearing, clawing and ripping cloth and flesh, until none remained standing. Not one of the men was able to fire another shot. Leaving the bloody pile of flesh and bones, Storm and Prank retreated to the trees, where War lay on the ground, bleeding from a gunshot wound to the throat, from the first shot. "Hold on, War," Storm said. Prank grabbed Storm's shoulder and pulled him back. "It's too late, Storm. He's dead."

"Did you hear that?" asked Kismet, her head snapping up. "A gunshot," said Jinx. "Sounded like a rifle," Trouble added. "Let's move," Chaos ordered. She was uncontested.

They reached War's body in 15 minutes. Prank and Storm were still there. "What the Hell are you doing out here?!" Storm demanded, pulling Kismet close. "Following you to make sure you stay alive," said Chaos, kissing Prank. "Did he suffer?" asked Trouble, looking at War. "No," said Storm, quietly. "Where's Echo?" asked Jinx. "With Diablo, on the south slope of the mountain," said Prank. "Bloodbath and Winter went after them," said Kismet. "What about War?" asked Chaos. "Kismet and I will take him home. Trouble, considering your circumstances, you should probably come too," said Storm. She looked at him. "Discord told you?" "He told us," Storm confirmed. "Where is he?" Trouble demanded. "We don't know. He went lone Wolf," said Prank. "Shit," she muttered. "Go with Storm, Trouble. Just to be safe. We'll find Discord for you," said Chaos. "Yeah, we'll send his ass home," said Jinx.

Another gunshot rang out across the mountain. "Let's get going," said Prank. "I'll see you at home, Trouble," said Jinx, following Prank and Chaos. "Yeah, sure," said Trouble, as Storm lifted War's lifeless form and they began the journey home.

They met Echo and Diablo running through the woods. "What happened? Why are the girls here?" Diablo demanded, as Jinx propelled herself into Echo's arms. "Because we never listen to you," said Chaos. "Did Bloodbath find you?" "Was she supposed to? Is she out here too?" asked Diablo, suddenly more worried than angry. "She went after you tw-" Jinx began, but a scream cut her off. As a unit they turned and ran toward the sound. They skidded to halt just in time to see Bloodbath drop a mortal beside his hunting partner's demolished body. "Bloodbath!" Diablo grabbed her and pulled her close. "Where's Winter?" asked Jinx. Bloodbath looked at the ground behind her. "Sonofabitch," Chaos muttered, staring at the body of Winter, a large hole in her chest. "Let's get the fuck home before anymore of us die," said Prank, quietly.

"Who the Hell are you?" Chaos demanded, as she walked into the house to see two unknown vamps sitting on the couch. The guy stood. "I'm Shadow." He had dark brown hair and green eyes. "This is Angel." She nodded, a beautiful young vampiress, obviously new, with long blond hair and pale green eyes. "And..?" Jinx prompted. "Your brothers sent us," said Angel. "What's wrong?" "What happened?" "What's going on?" Jinx, Chaos and Bloodbath chorused. Shadow held up a hand for silence. "It seems that your children have run away. Demon, Psycho and Fury are looking for them as we speak." "Hold on! Are you tellin' me that Fury lost my son?" Chaos asked, incredulous. Shadow nodded. "Looks kinda that way."

"Are we almost home yet?" asked Mayhem, sitting down beside a creek. Rascal sighed. "Shouldn't be long now." "That's what you said yesterday," said Scamp, sitting beside Mayhem. "Well, we gotta be close! Look over there! You can see those mountains from home!" Scamp shrugged. "Whatever. Let's just sleep for now and go home tomorrow." "Sounds good to me," said Mayhem, already halfway there.

"How long have they been missing?" asked Bloodbath, pacing the room. "Two days," said Shadow. "And how far away were they?" asked Jinx. "About a day's run for a grown Wolf in top form." "You mean they kept them that close? Why the Hell didn't they cross the Goddamned country!" Diablo sounded a little frantic. Chaos sat down with a sigh. "But they aren't grown Wolves in top form and they wouldn't run! They'd walk and save their energy for an emergency, just like Diablo, Echo and Prank taught them." "So, what now?" asked Trouble. "We go after them," said Prank, heading for the door. Chaos stood to follow and he stopped her. "No. Stay here, in case they make it home." "But-" she began. "Don't argue, Chaos. Please, not now. Just stay here." "Fine," she said, softly, sitting down. "What about Discord?" asked Trouble. "I'll go look for him while you three find the kids," said Storm, getting up. "Take Shadow with you," said Diablo, glancing at the vampire, uncertainly. "Whatever," said Shadow. "Hurry up, Echo. Find my baby," said Jinx. He kissed her. "I promise, I will."

Discord drew a ragged breath. His veins burnt like acid was flowing through them instead of blood. His stomach clenched, painfully. He could feel his death instinct kicking in; the urge to shift into Wolf form and die like a warrior and he knew it was over. Still, he fought it. He fought for Trouble, for his baby and for his Pack. They had to know what the humans were planning. They had to know that they were in more serious danger than they had imagined. He felt his body begin to change and even as he tightened every muscle to stop the shift, Discord's heart ceased to beat.

Storm and Shadow glided silently through the trees. The human hunters were gone, some dead, others just gone home. The woods were quiet. Too quiet, Storm realized. No crickets chirping or deer moving in the underbrush or any other night sounds of the forest. He grew wary and stepped more carefully. Shadow picked up on his tension. "What is it?" "Something isn't right here. It's too quiet," Storm said, quietly, walking toward a clearing. "The hunters were here," said Shadow, looking at the ground, which was covered in footprints. "Looks like they met here first," Storm agreed. Shadow looked around the clearing, carefully. His vampire eyes, made more for seeing in the dark than even a Wolf's, saw a flash of white in the bushes. "There's something there." He nodded toward the spot. Storm advanced slowly, Shadow right behind him. They parted the leafy branches.

There was Discord, trapped in a half-shift. His hands were gone, paws in their place. His jaw was slightly elongated and his hair had begun growing down his back. He wasn't breathing. "He's dead," said Shadow. It wasn't a question. "Looks like he fought it to the end. God, he was in pain," Storm whispered. Shadow looked at him. "It hurts to shift?" Storm shook his head. "Only if you fight it."

Scamp sat up, abruptly. "Rascal, what was that?" Rascal sat up beside him. "What was what?" A branch cracked behind them and both boys leapt to their feet. Mayhem still slept, in the leaves. "What the Hell is going on?" asked Rascal, turning, slowly, trying to find the hidden enemy. Neither boy was expecting it when they were hit, hard, right at the base of their skulls, effectively knocking them out, cold.

Trouble, Chaos, Jinx, Kismet, Angel and Bloodbath all ran for the door when they heard someone trying to open it. "Did you find them?" "Discord?" came the jumbled cries. Storm and Shadow stood in the doorway, looking somber. The girls froze. "Where's Discord?" asked Trouble, shakily, already half-knowing the answer. "We left him at the graveyard," said Storm. "I have to see him," said Trouble, already halfway out the door. Shadow and Storm both grabbed her. "No. You don't want to see him this way," said Storm. Trouble slowly backed into the house, sitting down on the couch. Chaos and Jinx moved quickly to her side. Angel moved close to Shadow. Bloodbath sighed and sat on the windowsill and Kismet slid into Storm's arms. "Another one," Bloodbath mumbled. "The last one," said Chaos, standing, suddenly and pulling on a sweatshirt. "Where the Hell do you think you're going?" Bloodbath demanded. "I'm going to find my son and Prank and bring them home," Chaos said, walking out the door. "Chaos, get your ass back here!" Jinx yelled after her. Chaos' ass continued on its merry way.