Veronica stared at the two shivering pups huddled together on the newspaper covered floor, not really seeing them. Grateful that, at last, they had quit whimpering and succumbed to sleep. Her plans had started to come together and for that, she was pleased. The little white pup snuggled closer to his black furred sister and Veronica held her breath. While her acquisition of the two children in front of her was serendipitous, it was also outside of what she had planned. She needed some time to fully consider her options and she would be unable to do that with two pairs of terrified eyes staring at her and constant yipping. She'd already had to clean up two 'accidents'.
With that, Veronica crossed the room and passed through the still open door. Seconds later, Jail-house entered and put a pile of clothes and covered tray just inside the door. Pulling out a mean looking flick knife, he slid the tip across the soft skin of her flaring hips, slowly tracing the outline of Red's ample curves before reaching above her head and cutting the rope suspending her from the ceiling.
"Papa said we have to be strong."
Veronica walked down the corridor, past the warren of small rectangular rooms that had been used for holding stock, archives and other various necessities of the factory. At the other side of the building was the sturdier meat cellar that she had put the girl in. Dan, she knew had taken one of the empty rooms nearer there.It dawned on her, as she approached his 'room', that it should be him coming to her. She should be summoning him. Her pack may be newly formed but there was no question in her mind, she was the Alpha. The Association had made it so. But, in her eyes, Rick and Dan seemed to be showing a distinct lack of respect. Constant questioning, having to order them twice before they'd act; An Alpha doesn't tolerate
The human, he could have fun with, Rick smirked to himself. But children, what use are they?Reaching the door, he yanked it open to stare into the dark interior of the office. His eyes, although better than human, still took a few seconds to adjust to the dim room. There was paper everywhere and an acrid stench of piss. Growling at the work he'd have to do, he looked for the culprits."Stop hiding or it'll be worse when I find you."Two noses, one black and one pink, poked out from a particularly large pile beside the overturned filing cabinet. Crawling forward on their belly, the pups silently obeyed."I should tie you in a bag and throw you in the river," Rick spat with disgust "Yer just lucky Veronica can use you."He stepped toward the frightened pups, who instinctively shuffled back, until they hit the wall. Seein
The human, he could have fun with, Rick smirked to himself. But children, what use are they?Reaching the door, he yanked it open to stare into the dark interior of the office. His eyes, although better than human, still took a few seconds to adjust to the dim room. There was paper everywhere and an acrid stench of piss. Growling at the work he'd have to do, he looked for the culprits."Stop hiding or it'll be worse when I find you."Two noses, one black and one pink, poked out from a particularly large pile beside the overturned filing cabinet. Crawling forward on their belly, the pups silently obeyed."I should tie you in a bag and throw you in the river," Rick spat with disgust "Yer just lucky Veronica can use you."He stepped toward the frightened pups, who instinctively shuffled back, until they hit the wall. Seein
Beth skipped down the corridor, which was no small feat considering she was carrying an armful of books. She hummed a joyous tune as she went; she was engaged to a good man! Finally! In the months since she'd become eligible, her suitors had been of increasingly questionable character.It was ironic. She had always dreamed of being rescued from an evil dragon by a gallant knight. Instead, she had been rescued from an evil knight by a gallant dragon. And despite being a dragon, Seth seemed as wonderful as any man.And -- if the stories were true -- she was in for quite a treat on their wedding night. She felt a familiar sensation in her loins at the thought. Her fingers were nice, but her maids were clear that fingers were no match for a man who knew what he was doing. She hoped Seth knew, but she was more than willing to let him practice on her after they were married.She imagined lying in bed as her gallant dragon lay on top of her kissing her and
The ice cold water hit Seth like... well, a bucket of ice cold water."Get up boy!" a voice said.He snapped awake and leap out of bed. It took almost a second for him to get his bearings, and when he did he realized it was still dark outside. He had been sleeping in the trainee barracks of The Bank. It looked like a medieval version of every barracks he'd ever seen in a movie."We're burning daylight, now stop wasting time," Heinrich said.Seth shivered and instinctively shook much of the water off like a dog or cat would. The action peppered the entire room in water, much to the consternation of those who hadn't been woken by the commotion."It's time for training," Heinrich said."But it's still dark outside," Seth yawned.WHACK!Heinrich's fist smashed into the side of his face and knocked Seth clean off his feet because he wasn't ready for it."What was that for!?" he shouted as h
Miranda watched the ceremony from the balcony as everyone in the temple below rose to their feet. The building was constructed entirely of whitewashed stone and adorned with gold implements, including candle stands and torch sconces. The many massive windows bathed the entire room in the light of the afternoon sun. A single massive stained glass window depicting the great God Illuminar radiating light dominated the head of the temple.The wealthiest members of the town occupied most of the sanctuary. They sat on comfortable padded pews while the few commoners lucky enough to be inside were crammed into the back, which was standing room only.Moments later, the music began and Beth came walking down the aisle in a long white dress. Her face was beaming and there seemed to be a spring in her step. Miranda couldn't help but smile at the joy on Beth's face... but she was utterly disgusted by her too.The cognitive dissonance was overwhelming.
First light found Red and Makaran seated on the house-sized boulders in the midst of a nearby river. The wood was beginning to wake as the wind changed with the rising of the sun. Small creatures crept amidst the giant rocks, and birdsong began to accompany the rush of the river. There was still a chill in the air and Red saw Makaran's breath in vapor as he spoke."First I must ask a potentially awkward question. How comfortable are you with being naked?""I have nothing to be ashamed of," Red shrugged."Good. I spend so much time in other skins, that I do not actually own any clothes. Obviously I had to borrow these from Mother Hannah. Shape changing in clothes does not work at all. They do not change with you when the Spirit transforms your body.""Spirit?""Aye, Spirit. That is what Mother Hannah and I have reckoned this to be. I have a very strong animal part to the Spirit inside me, and it allows me to wear its skins.""How many?"
It was during one of those rambles through the woods that she had come upon the castle. The trees had thinned, melting into brush and then into a meadow, unkempt and overrun, and there it stood ... in the middle of the sun drenched clearing – solid, unforgiving, a wall of unremitting black broken only by thin embrasures from which arrows could be fired at unwelcome intruders. As she stood within the fringe of trees, concealed by the broad trunk of an ancient oak, peering at the battlements, she felt a shiver run down her spine. It was a clear sunny day, but around the castle, the air seemed to thicken and she wrapped her arms around herself against the sudden cold.Her first instinct was one of flight, but her curiosity overcame the sudden rush of panic and she settled herself to survey the place more carefully. The castle was laid out in a rectangle, its smooth straight lines broken only by the swelling of the towers that marked each corner. There was no sign of life.
Somewhere in the Cathalian wilderness...Red swept her red cloak out of the way as she stooped down to pick another mushroom. She added it to the collection of its kin in her basket and danced off to find another. Soon it would be too warm to wear her cloak and hood, but her mistress insisted she wear it this evening in case she got caught out after dark in falling temperatures. Spring had just begun, after all, and Winter still thought it ruled the night.Indeed a chill did seem to be creeping through the wood. The sun was fast setting and the shadows were long. The red dusk peaked through the newly budding branches of the hardwoods and colored the girl's pale skin in bloodtones. Soon it would be dark, and Red did not know that she was being shadowed.The monster had been following her scent for miles, and now its luminous yellow eyes spied the girl in the gathering gloom. Her red hood bobbed along in the undergrowth as she worked her way toward the cottage in
Once upon a time...Three massive wolves stalked through the village streets, growling and snapping at the frightened citizens that dared peer through their windows. A young beggar ran across the street and the largest wolf, wind rushing through the shining black fur, pounced, pinning him with one large paw and leaning his head down, tearing out the young boy's throat. He let out a howl and his companions joined him, howling up at the moon, full above them. The eldest of the three, who was as black as his nephew, though the smooth fur bore streaks of silver, paused, lowering his gaze to a young woman who stood calmly in the middle of the street. A long hooded cloak of vibrant red silk hung from her slender frame and beneath the hood the wolves caught glimpses of soft blonde curls and blue eyes, dark as the sky above. She stepped back and they stalked closer, sniffing curiously."Creatures of the fullest moon, great wolves, I offer myself, my body in exchange for the sa
When Red awakens she can only see darkness. As she come to she can feel the smooth silk bedding beneath her and then she realizes that her robes and undergarments had been taken from her. She was here in a strange place, naked on silk linens. When she tries to cover herself her hands were halted but the leather bonds around her wrists that were connected to the chains that hung from the wall behind the bed. This came as an amazing shock. But what was the biggest shock was when she discovered that a steel rod separated her ankles so she couldn't close her legs. Now she was fully awake and terrified.Then, in the middle of her terror a light came from the hall. Dimly at first be then growing brighter. It wasn't long before she heard footsteps approaching. She did her best to struggle against the chains and bracer, trying to hide herself from whoever was approaching. But it was too late. A candle's flame peaked it's way around a corner and behind it followed a man so dashing tha
"What does that mean?""Young dragons--well, relatively young, to you they would be very old indeed--have the great desires. It is they who kidnap princesses, crush knights, sack towns and generally make nuisances of themselves. Not unlike young humans, they have to find their way and that often includes some temper tantrums and fits of pique. Over time, they mature and the need to prove their potency to themselves diminishes. Like old humans, they get set in their ways and a nice long nap in the sunshine seems a much better way to spend a day than burning knights to a crisp or gobbling up maidens.""I don't mean to be rude, but I thought dragons were evil? Don't you...do things just to be bad?"The dragon laughed then, so deeply and completely that small flames shout out of his nostrils and smoke curled up. When he had mastered his mirth, he at last spoke."We're no more evil than any other race. There are good and bad among us. The good can be very good
Red looked at Seth and said,” You need to begin the ceremony now..”Samuel was going say something when Seth growled at him and said,” For that we will have to do this in a different setting altogether..are you ready to take a trip in fantasy?”As soon as Red nodded she was covered in a fine mist ad everything was gone.They came for her while the sun was still high. Proctor Vesle, Constable Varlet, and the town elders. She saw them coming long before they arrived and her sobbing mother begged her to run, but it wasn't in her nature. Someone would have to die today, and she couldn't allow this mantle to fall onto one of her friends.She made tea and had it poured and ready by the time the men arrived. She could smell the sweat, see the stains in their somber attire, and sense their fear and hate. It no longer bothered her. She knew very well she was signing her own death warrant when she refused the Proctor's advances
Samuel’s POVI smell blood. A wounded animal. An easy kill. The blood is still fresh. Not dead yet. A noise ahead, whimpering. Getting close. Big animal. No not animal.The part of my brain that is still human tries to comprehend. No fur. Clothing. Human. Must not kill. It's female and injured. Blood covers her ragged clothing.Smells like sweat, blood and desperation. Can't smell her. Can't smell animal on her.She trips and I move closer careful not to frighten her. A twig snaps under my feet and she sits on her heels terrified. The terror leaves her eyes almost instantly when she see me and is replaced by hope. She reaches a hand towards me and I see the other arm is being held awkwardly. It is broken and the bone has torn through the skin.Wolf. Not pack. Strange wolf. Injured wolf. Not pack. Not enemy.After sniffing her skin I move closer letting her palm glide over my head, down my neck. She screams an
Samuel’s POVThe moon was luminescent, casting its silvery shadow over the trees like some snowy net, lighting a dirt path that wound deeper and deeper into the thick, dangerous forest. But the cloud covered orb was robbed of its full lustre, far too darkened by the wispy fog rising in off the marsh to the east.I pulled my flashlight from my knapsack and let it shine a reflection of precious light, causing snakes to coil away, and poisonous spiders to rise on silky strands back into hiding.The sound of her panting breath, still hot and desperate, led me uphill toward the meandering stream, whose running water echoed like some rushing wind, rustling fall leaves until a hundred colors struck the ground.I was closing in on her, and could almost see her now, smelling her running shapely curves as she weaved and bobbed past dangling branches that tore, gouged and scratched her human flesh. But still she pressed on at full speed, her slender, racing an