Sonic Series Fan Fiction ❯ Visions of Darkness, Dreams of Light ❯ Thrown to the Wolves ( Chapter 10 )

Chapter 33

"HELP!!!" The lupine shrieked at the top of her lungs. "Get a doctor! Now!!!"

"Lupe! What's wrong!?!" Sally shouted as she rushed up to the frantic wolf.

"It's Marcos. He's hurt." The wolf managed, panting. Her husband Lobo was holding their son wrapped in a blanket. "We don't know what happened. He and Maria were playing out of our sight and we heard him scream. When we got there, Maria said she saw something in the bushes… We need a doctor." The wolf finished, almost pleading.

"Of course. Sonic, tell Dr. Quack to get ready for a patient. Are there any obvious injuries?"

"He has a swelling like a snake bite, but there are three marks instead of only two. I don't know what could do this." She managed, almost weeping with fear. It terrified Sally to see the usually so confident leader of the pack in such a condition. But in all honesty, the wolf was managing to keep her head on well enough to have brought him here… "We were on our way to see you when it happened. We were going to camp for a day so we would be well rested for our visit."

"Oh, Lupe… I'm sure everything will be alright…"

"I hope so." The alpha female whispered. "I hope so. Madre de Dios, I hope so.

At the hospital…

"I'm sorry, ma'am… I really don't know what to tell you." The Dr. consoled the weeping mother. "If it were just a poison… but it's 3 different poisons. Either Robotnik has a new weapon, or he was bit by 3 snakes at the same time… but the how doesn't matter."

"But will he pull through?" Sally asked slowly. The duck turned slightly to her and gave a slow shake of his head.

"I'm sorry, Lupe. I'm trying every method we have, but… his chances are poor. We need to find a sample of the venoms, or poisons, or whatever they are before I can even give him a weak chance of living through this, and even then he might be disabled."

"How long does he have?" The wolf choked out.

The duck sighed. "A few days, at most. I'm sorry." Lupe lowered her head into her hands, sobbing softly. Sally was horrified. The pack leader had left her children with her mate to help fight to preserve the kingdom when the coup happened, then they had gone missing, she'd finally found them, and now… it was too much for anyone to bear. The princess had no idea how to help her older friend through this. Lobo held his wife to his chest stoically. Sally could tell from his eyes that the male wolf would do anything to take his son's place in the bed.

"We'll find a way, Lupe. We have to." The princess whispered. <We have to.>

Suddenly, a tall figure ran in. "Whoa, Sal, sorry! Forgot about the you-know-what. I- whoops!!!" He barely missed running over Maria. He crashed into the wall. "Jeez, kid. That smarts. You need to be more careful."

Lupe bristled immediately. "My daughter was just fine where she was, boy."

"Back off, lady. No harm done. Jeez. Not like I actually ran into her."

"Oh, noooo. It's not like you've done anything wrong." The wolf snarled, causing Drake to take a startled step back.

"Look, lady, don't start this anti-human crud with me right now. I'm not in the mood."

"Anti-human? Anti-human!?! You son of a-" The wolf snarled and took another step towards him before Sally stopped her.

"Lupe! Lupe stop it! Drake! Calm down! What the hell is wrong with you!?!"

"Damn it, I'm tired of all this crap. I just don't wanna hear it." He glared at them for a moment before sighing. "Look, I'm sorry, ma'am. It's been a rough week. I just snap-"

"I don't want to hear it!" The lupine shouted back before storming out the door. Lobo glared angrily at the human as he followed her with their daughter.

"What got into her?" Drake grumbled.

"Come here, Drake." Sally stated icily.

<Uh oh.> "What'd I do now?" He asked nervously as he followed her into the hallway. She stopped a room over and gestured for him to go in. Drake glanced at the name on the door curiously, then shrugged and went in. He stopped upon seeing the young wolf cub in the bed with a mask over his mouth and nose. The heart monitor beeped regularly.

"This is why she's so angry. This. Her son was poisoned by something. Probably something Robotnik made. She left her mate take care of her children while she went to fight the Overlanders in the great war. When she returned, Robotnik had taken over, and her husband and children were missing. When she finally did manage to find them, she was roboticized. After all that, her son is going to die." Drake's head jerked towards hers in shock. "Yeah. He's going to die. And you just about let your vampire side take her out."

"I didn't… I wouldn't have… it wasn't like that! I'm in control!"

"Are you really, Drake? I'm not even sure all of the time, anymore." Sally snapped.

"What is he doing in here?" A cold voice hissed, causing both to spin.

"Lupe, I was just telling him-"

"I want to apologi-"

"Spare me. Just get out of here." She spat at Drake. The human wilted.

"I'm very sorry ma'am. I really, truly am." He slowly walked towards the door.

As the door was closing, he heard a voice say "I don't want to see him in this room again, Sally. Ever."

"Lupe, he didn't mean any harm…"

"That's what you think! How can I be sure?!?"

Drake's eyes burned crimson with barely controlled rage…

Chapter 33

Drake calmly sat on the tree branch, watching the people below him scurrying about without really seeing them. His eyes flashed with anger every so often as he continued thinking. He idly changed his fingers into their claw form and back again, only vaguely caring that someone might be watching him. Finally, as the sky darkened, he made his decision. He hopped from the tree branch and made his way into the center of Knothole.

"Sally, can we talk?"

"Of course Mina. Something wrong?"

"Well, yeah. You know how your father summoned Drake?"

"What? He summoned Drake? When?!"

"About… two weeks ago. Not quite."

"Why didn't anyone tell me this?"

"I figured you knew. Anyway…"

"Sorry."

"Drake's been kinda… cold… since then. He's been moody. Even more so lately."

Sally sighed. "Lupe and him had a bit of a… incident, as well. I don't know what dad did, but Lupe… you know what's happening with her. She snapped at him, he snapped back. I think Drake's upset with himself for that. Lupe is to the point where she'd probably strangle him as soon as look at him. It's just that he said the wrong things at the wrong time."

Mina sighed. "I don't know what's happening, Sally. I think he's afraid. He's scared about his family. I think that what happened to Lupe is scaring him even worse. I mean, his family doesn't know where he is, or if he's even alive either… or vice versa. He's gonna go through what she did… and he's already upset her."

"So… where is he now?" The princess asked slowly.

"He's thinking about something. He said something very important came up that he needs to make a firm decision about. Something he can't even joke about. He said he'd make his decision today. He said he'd probably be home after dark, but… it's almost ten."

Sally felt an cold shiver run up her spine. "We need to find him, Mina. Right now."

Lobo had convinced his lover to get some rest, as her son would want to see her in good health if he woke up. Lupe had originally protested the idea, but the doctor had agreed that Marcos would likely be happier if she looked well rested, and possibly heal better, too. However, the alpha female was tossing and turning as a nightmare racked her. Lupe awoke with a gasp. She grabbed her lover and started shaking him. "Lobo. Get up. Something's wrong. We need to get to the hospital." Lobo looked at her for a minute before launching himself to his feet and getting prepared. After being married so long, he knew better than to question her now.

Drake eased himself into the air ducts, somewhat disappointed that they were still uncovered. <Somebody has got to tell them about this… later.> His eyes still flashed faintly as he moved.

"Any luck?"

"No! He wasn't in the same tree as before. I checked all the spots I can usually find him, but I don't know where he went. I'm starting to think you might be right about something being wrong…"

"Did you check the hospital? Maybe he went in to feed?" Sally asked slowly.

"…No. I can't believe I didn't think of that. He went in yesterday though, didn't he?"

"I don't think he actually ate. I was pretty cross at him, after all…"

"I think we better go check." Mina stated. She was becoming very worried.

Drake pushed open the doors as he searched for the room he had been in the day before. As he opened the door, he pulled a small knife from his belt…

"Lupe, calm down. We're almost there, and I'm sure Marcos is fine."

"I can't calm down! Something is about to happen, can't you feel it?!?"

"I…" Lobo stopped. <She's right…> There was an almost palpable sense of… something… in the very air itself. "I can feel it… Lupe… what's going on?"

"I don't know. But it involves our son. I just know it."

Drake was almost done. He smiled darkly to himself. Suddenly, the door flew open as Lupe raced into the room. The wolf took one look at the bloody knife, cub, and human before tackling him. Drake had no time to respond as the wolf began viciously beating and clawing him in an attempt to protect her child. Lobo rushed over to their pup to see what could be done.

Lupe had just put a set of four deep gouges into Drake's cheek when a confused voice said "Mama? Where are we?" The wolf froze, then slowly turned towards the bed, where her husband was staring in absolute shock at their son.

"Marcos? What…? You were..." Lobo grabbed his son's bloody wrist and poured alcohol over it. "There's no mark…" He moved the sheets to check his calf. "It's gone…" He whispered softly as he turned to slowly look towards Drake and Lupe.

Lupe's eyes moved in unison with her husband's. She watched as the wounds she'd inflicted on the human slowly pulled themselves shut, the deep gouges on his cheek healing last. Lupe took a slow shaking breath. "What… are you?"

"A friend." He whispered softly. Suddenly his body seized and his eyes began glowing as he hissed in pain while fighting his vampiric side for dominance.

"Drake!" Mina shrieked as she opened the door. "He hasn't fed!" Upon seeing the blood covering the wolf's claws, she shot her a viciously accusatory glance that shocked the confused wolf into moving off the human's chest. Mina quickly raced back outside and retrieved a bag of blood, which she quickly placed near the human's mouth. Drake bit quickly and fed hungrily. Mina loosed a huge sigh of relief. Throughout the process, the wolves simply stared. The human's eyes faded back into their normal color. He sighed softly. Sally opened the door, panting hard. She quickly assessed the situation and asked the only thing she could think of.

"What's going on?"

Chapter 34

"So… he's a vampire." Lupe stated. "And you did this to him?" She gave Sally a curious look as she stroked her son's headfur as he slept. The wolf had begun crying upon realizing that Drake had saved her child at risk to his own life, where she had attacked him in a mindless rage. The princess nodded. "But… why did you save my son?"

Drake sighed. "Sally told me some things… I'm in a similar boat to you, after all. I have no idea what's going on at home, if everything is alright, or even if they know what happened to me. For all I know, that portal could have sucked everything into different dimensions. Anyways… I hate to see kids hurt, and I heard it was terminal. I did what I had to do. I wanted to apologize, and I didn't know any other way. And no one should lose their family after all that."

Lupe wiped her eyes to rid the tears of shame. "I thought you were hurting him… In my hatred, I knew not what else to do…"

"Speaking of hatred, Drake… what's been going on with your eyes?" Mina asked.

"I guess I was so angry at myself for how I acted before that I was giving in a little bit. I was kinda angry at the whole world." Mina gave him a curious look, and he waved his hand to show he didn't want to explain yet.

"I… have done you a great dishonor." The wolf stated. "I… my family… is in your debt."

"Forget about it." Drake stated congenially. Sally elbowed him when the wolf drooped. "I mean… I just did what I thought was right. You don't have to owe me anything."

"You're wrong. I owe you everything." She stated forcefully. "You saved one of the three most important things in my life." She stated with a gesture to her husband and daughter.

"Not bad for a monster, eh?" He joked.

The wolf looked at him oddly. "I have known men who have used the love and family of others to commit evil things. Yet you used your anger towards myself and others to save my child. If all monsters acted as such, I would never fear for my pack." Drake blushed, and Mina gave him a nuzzle on the cheek. The wolf nodded. "I will find a way to repay you. The pack's honor demands it." Lupe finished with a small yawn that she had obviously fighting for some time.

"Well… we better let you get some rest. After all, you've got some sleep to catch up on." Sally said with a smile to the mentally and physically exhausted pack leaders.

(A few days later…)

"Full moon." Drake acknowledged.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Mina responded with a small cuddle.

"Nowhere near as beautiful as you." He smiled. Mina blushed.

"Guys, keep the affection to a minimum for a little while, could you? Lupe invited us to this ceremony, and I don't know how it's gonna be. The pack went through a lot of trouble for this, and I don't want Lupe to think you aren't taking it seriously. And if we're late, I won't be happy."

"Sorry." Mongoose and human responded as they entered the clearing. The entire pack was standing there, a large campfire in the center of the clearing. Lupe was dressed in some very (in Drake's opinion) intimidating ceremonial clothing, the rest of the pack only slightly less well-dressed. The Knothole residents all felt very under-dressed, to say the very least. Drake felt his attention moving to a large silver chalice that set near the fire, warming whatever might be in it. He tried to smell the contents from where he stood, but the only scents he could pick up were mongoose, squirrel, and a very thick lupine scent. Lupe motioned for the group to sit.

"Thank you for coming." Lupe smiled. Drake nodded.

"We aren't late, are we?" Sally asked, causing the others to shoot her a dirty look.

"How could you be late? This ceremony is for him, after all." A pink wolf grinned. Lupe chuckled.

"Me?!? Wha? You went through all this… for me?" Drake whispered in shock. Lupe nodded.

"Yes, but Leeta…" She shot the younger pink wolf a glare. "Decided to ruin the surprise."

"He's still surprised." A very similar wolf to Leeta argued good-naturedly. Drake was again startled to see two Overlander girls by her side. <That would explain Lupe's reaction to me calling her anti-human… man, am I stupid…>

"I suppose you're right, Lyco." Lupe smirked. She was obviously quite pleased with Drake's disbelief over the entire matter. "Now, let us begin."

"I can't believe you did this." He mumbled as Lupe started her speech.

"Members of the pack! I present to you the man who saved one of our youngest at great risk to himself. While I was taken with my own anger, he used his own to save my only son. Marcos would not be with us today, were it not for his valiant efforts." Drake blushed furiously here. This was not unnoticed by Mina, who giggled until she saw the glare the princess gave her. "Such actions are much respected by the pack, and I would ask you, my pack, to choose… shall he be considered as one of us, yay or nay?"

Drake felt his heart leap to his throat. He waited as the wolves debated for several long minutes. Suddenly, the answer became evident as the pack answered with a resounding `Yay!' Drake felt tears in his eyes. He'd borrowed Nicole from Sally to read her info on the wolf pack during their stay, and he understood the great honor they had bestowed upon him.

Lupe nodded. "We shall welcome you among us at any time, Drake. You will not be looked upon as an outsider, but as any other son of the pack." She slowly made her way to the silver cup near the fire. Drake watched curiously as the wolf brought the large gilded chalice to him and offered it. Drake took it reverently with both hands and stared inside.

"This is…"

"Blood. Every member of the pack has donated enough to fill it. The goblet itself is a relic from centuries ago, one we have cared for and used in ceremonies for as long as any can remember."

"Every?" Drake gaped at her. "That's… a lot of wolves. Lupe, you didn't have to…"

"We did you honor that was well deserved, and now we give you a gift that will serve you well."

Drake stared, unsure of how to respond. "Lupe… I'm touched. This means more to me that you can understand…"

"Hurry and drink so that I may prove to the rest of the pack that their leader has not gone loco, talking about vampires." The alpha joked.

Drake looked into the cup and sniffed without being able to help it. The warm blood smelled fresh, clean, and very, very good. He licked his lips and felt his fangs lengthen slightly. He nodded respectfully, raised the cup to his lips, and drank. As he drank, he felt the combined energies of the entire pack rushing through his body, along with the respect and reverence they'd felt as they had done the task… and something else that he couldn't recognize. Drake tried to stop for a moment but couldn't, the sensation too overwhelming to do more than think of slowing. He was somewhat glad that he hadn't fed heavily lately, as the slight bit of hunger he had felt made it all the more wonderful. Before he finished however… *snap* He dropped the cup from nerveless fingers, a small amount of blood dribbling from the rim. He grimaced as he fell to his knees. "What…?" He winced again as another loud crack resounded from somewhere inside his chest. He felt as though his body was setting itself aflame from the inside out… it felt… incredibly familiar, but in what way, he couldn't figure out… Another set of cracks and snaps began emitting, and he let out a roar of agony which quickly degraded to a scream.

"Is he alright?" Someone shouted.

Lupe frowned. "What's wrong? Is this normal?"

"No!" Sally shouted. "This doesn't usually happen!" She struggled to reach the human through the throng of wolves. Drake's screams of pain were growing more agonized. She saw the human fling himself to his feet as his skin seemed to be stretching as she watched his ineffective struggles.

<It's burning me! There's something wrong!!!> He struggled to remove his shirt, and ended up tearing it off. The pack drew back in shock as his chest began rippling as his ribs cracked, broke, moved, and reset themselves… His spine began twisting and throbbing in his back, apparently not attached to any other bones. His skin bulged in places, the swelling subsided in others, his screams being the only constant that any present could notice.

Drake looked at the princess, Lupe, and Mina with pleading eyes before they pulled shut in agony and his face began to bulge. Mina screamed in horror. Drake covered his face and let out another roar of pain.

They all stared, unable to think of what to do or who to turn to for help. Drake let out a final bellow… which suddenly transformed into a howl of release as the metamorphosis was completed…

In a heap of blood, sweat, tears and torn clothing, a light gray wolf lay unconscious. The silver chalice that had been so painstakingly cared for by the pack lay crushed beside him, finger and claw marks sunken into the soft metal.